Catherine Lombardo

I love to get up at the crack of dawn, the air is much cooler and everything is so quiet...I was lucky to catch this image on the way out to Highway 60 from West Lake Wales. The pastures stretch as far as you can see, and cows and horses dot the landscape. Often they look as though they are floating on the fog, I hope to capture the image one day! I seem to miss my photo opp everytime!

I wanted to share this with others interested in Florida to show the diversity of our landscapes and dispel the theory that we are all about palm trees, beaches and Disneyworld! I have talked about the "Real" Florida in previous blogs and plan to focus alot of my posts on that subject. Tune in again and spend some time "Living Nicely"!

The air is crisp and cool, trees are budding and azaleas are blooming! It's one of my favorite times of the year

here, so much is going on and the weather is fantastic! There were more Easter Egghunts than one could count!

Our annual Lake Wales Art Festival around Lake Wailes is on March 29 & 30. It is abound with talented artists with

amazing original works and very well organized. I am looking forward to going this Sunday. I have organized another

event for the Lake Wales Elks called the Spring Fling Flea Market, so I will be busy Saturday. It is a fundraiser and

our first ever, so I am excited! I hope if you are in the area you will visit our quaint, historical little town with big ideas

for the future and lots to do everyday! Until next time, I hope you are "living nicely"!

Thanks to my dad, I have a great maiden name: Nicely!

That is why I am calling this blog "Living Nicely"... I am also launching a website under the

domain name livingnicely.net. I have been living nicely in Florida for 32 years! I started out

living in Key Largo for 12 years, then moved to High Springs, near the Ichetucknee River and

the Sante Fe for just about a year. Since 1989, I have lived in Central Florida, first in Orlando,

then Bushnell, in Sumter county, and for the past eight years, in Polk County. I have settled in

Lake Wales and love it! It's a charming small town with lots of big city amenities and proximity

to everything you could ask for! I am also an Aquarius, so I love the fact that Polk County has

544 lakes, countless creeks and rivers and we're less than 100 miles to either coast! Sounds like

heaven, doesn't it?

So many people think of Disney when they think of Florida, but the

"Real" Florida is what I love. We have so much more! Of course the beaches are beautiful, but

here in Central Florida, people are always amazed by our lush pastures, oak hammocks, and

brilliant flowers! The smell of orange blossoms evokes a tropical sensation, especially on a sunny,

breezy day...and most days are! Florida has become a year round home to many- not just a

vacation destination. Industries and corporations have found our cities appealing and our schools

are becoming the best in the country. Cultural activities, civic organizations and recreational parks

and facilities are endless, and often there are too many events to choose from!

I look forward to using my blog to share some of the local color and "inside

information" with those of you longing to be "living nicely" in Florida, like ME!!