Fri - Mar 2/18

We were up early (for a Friday) and departed after 9 a.m. (to avoid early morning traffic).

Our first destination(s) for today was Yalaha, FL. The Yalaha Bootlegging Co. and the Blue Bayou Farms are at the same location next door to the Yalaha Bakery.

We wanted to arrive for the 10 a.m. opening to be sure that we could purchase pies. Our previous visits were later in the day and the pies had sold out. We were the first to arrive and had our choice from the full racks.

We bought a Blueberry and an ABC (Apple/Blueberry/Cranberry). If they taste half as good as they look they will be terrific. I am sure they will be and that is the reason they "Sell Out" almost immediately.

Charlotte also found 4 jars of various jams and preserves while I checked out the "Still Life" (grin).

David was measuring the latest batch. It checked out at 170 proof. There are free samples of their various products. We sampled and made a purchase on our previous visit. Check out previous blog @

http://arizonabill.blogspot.com/2018/02/thu-feb-118-its-beginning-to-warm-up.html

A "Shine Fest" coming up. It should be fun!

Our next stop was only a few miles down the road. Our destination was "The Howey Mansion" in Howey-in-the-Hills, FL for the 11 a.m. Guided Tour. After almost 10 years of abandonment, this nearly 100 year old Mediterranean Revival-style mansion, listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, that was built by William J. Howey in 1925, is now open for tours (Since Jan/18). The citrus grower purchased 60,000 acres in 1916 in Lake County, founding the town of Howey-in-the-Hills. The mansion was built in 1925. It has 20 rooms compromising almost 7200 Sq. Ft. 

In 2017, the house was listed for sale at $480,000. It reportedly attracted widespread attention, with prospective buyers traveling hundreds of miles to see the home. More than 10 offers were made on the home after just 9 days on the market. It probably sold for somewhere north of a half-million dollars and the in progress renovations will probably cost nearly 4 times as much as the purchase price. The new owner is committed to restoring the mansion to its former glory. Besides tours it will become a venue for weddings and events with possible B and B options.

Alexis, our tour guide, met us at the entrance. She was excellent. She was informative and allowed everyone the time needed to "enjoy the mansion" making it the most "comfortable" tour we have ever been on (and we have been on many).

When the house was young, former President Calvin Coolidge was among Howey’s prominent guests. Howey, an innovator in the citrus industry, was mayor from 1925 to 1936 and ran unsuccessfully for Florida governor in 1928 and 1932.

The house was built during Prohibition and it was prepared for that fact. There was a "Secret Room" in the basement. A hidden stairwell door was opened through an access "Key" behind a bookcase panel in the Library. 

Unlocked, the door accessed a spiral staircase. Then through a bank vault style door was both the "Wine Cellar".

In the wine cellar another hidden passageway led underground to exit away from the house. Presumably this was for an escape, if necessary, and allowed "Product" to be brought secretly into the house.

The "Main Ballroom", with its portrait of William John Howey, reminded me of the "Rosecliff Mansion" in Providence, RI (on a smaller scale). 

Needless to say, Charlotte and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour.

On the way back to the motorhome at OMS we made a quick stop at our usual Eustis, FL Publix for lottery tickets and Charlotte's weekly "Woman's World" magazine.

Lunch, as we did on the last few Fridays, was at the "Gator Grill" in Umatilla, FL for their Friday AYCE (All You Can Eat) Haddock special. We can only eat 2 pieces. Charlotte likes the "Crispy Grilled" and I go for the "(Deep) Fried". We aren't there for the AYCE, we are there because the Haddock is excellent. 

We left the top on the Del Sol and enjoyed the beautiful day on our travels; however with only a few miles left to go from the restaurant to the motorhome we left the top on and put the A/C on high. It was now above 80 F. The last stop before OMS was to fill up the Del Sol with gas a block from the restaurant. The car was on E(mpty) and we would need fuel for tomorrow's trip. 

A few minutes later we were relaxing in the RV.

We were still full from lunch so supper was just a slice of pie.

You guessed it! 

I knew you would! (grin) 

Just a Jeopardy TV evening to end the day.