Polk County invites residents to two heart-awareness events this month, Winter Haven Hospital’s Heart Smart Days Festival and Lakeland Regional Medical Center’s Matters of the Heart.

Kicking off National Heart Month, Winter Haven Hospital is holding a series of events to promote heart awareness beginning with “An Affair of the Heart Ladies Luncheon” and lecture on Friday, February 3 at 12:00 p.m. Heart Smart Day will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 11. The festival will continue with Heart-to-Heart Cardiac Support Tuesday, February 14 at 3:00 p.m., and will come to a close the following week on Tuesday, February 21 with a community lecture at 5:00 p.m. The Heart Smart Days Festival proceeds will benefit the patients served by Winter Haven Hospital’s Bostick Heart Center.

“Matters of the Heart” is a one-day community health event Friday, February 10 at First Presbyterian Church, 175 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, in Lakeland. The health fair will take place from 1:30-2:00 p.m. and will be followed by presentations from Lakeland Regional Medical Center’s Heart Center Team: Andres Medina, MD, cardiovascular & thoracic surgeon and Rajesh Lall, MD, interventional cardiologist from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Andrea Oliver of Hall Communications will be the emcee for the afternoon. The event is free and open to the public, but reservations must be made in advance.

Be sure to take advantage of these opportunities to ensure you are living a heart-smart lifestyle!

Baseball fans that can’t get enough of the national pastime on February 18 can enjoy baseball themed exhibits and memorabilia from February 11-19 at Polk Outpost 27. While at Polk Outpost 27, visitors will also be able to get all the latest information on the 2012 Spring Training season including schedules, Spring Training guides and other baseball information including complete schedules for the 2012 RussMatt Baseball Central Florida Collegiate Invitational that features more than 200 college baseball teams competing in Polk County from mid-February through the end of March.

All of the events and displays are free of charge and will be open to the public during normal hours. Polk Outpost 27 is open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and is located on Highway 27 a half-mile South of I-4 at Exit 55. For more information call Polk Outpost 27 at 863-420-2586.

Enter the Spring Training Getaway to Sunny Central Florida for your chance to win:

• Two round trip airline tickets on Delta Airlines flying out of Detroit Metro Airport
• Seven night stay at the Hampton Inn Lakeside Village in Lakeland, FL
• Two tickets to the Tigers BBQ event February 28th
• Two box seat tickets to the Detroit Tigers vs. Florida Southern College game on March 2nd at Joker Merchant Stadium
• Two box seat tickets to the Detroit Tigers vs. Atlanta Braves game on March 4th at Joker Merchant Stadium
• $50 in gift certificates to Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grill in Lakeland, FL
• Two tickets to LEGOLAND® Florida
• Two tickets to Bok Tower Gardens
• Two tickets to Fantasy of Flight

For more information about Central Florida Vacations, check out www.visitcentralflorida.org.

I really didn’t know what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised.  I had called my mother about an hour before and asked if she would like to go.  I also suggested that she could buy dinner for us afterward.  She laughed and obliged.  Thank you Mom.

My mother and I wandered around the exhibit for about 20 minutes before Hughes, a professor of art at The University of Texas at Tyler, spoke briefly about his new works.  The artist has entitled the new body of work Neocryptofunk.  What a cool new word.  All of the new sculptures on exhibit were fabricated from steel during the recent holiday break.  View a few of the detail images from Neocryptofunk on the artists website.

I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibit and recommend making a special visit to Melvin Gallery at Florida Southern College before it closes on February 24.  Gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm when school is in session.

While you are there, stop by the “Child of the Sun” Visitor Center located in the William M. Hollis Exhibition and Seminar Room.  It’s a short walk from Melvin Gallery.  Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida is home to the largest one-site-collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world.  View photos of Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Child of the Sun” architecture on the beautiful campus by clicking here.

I’m a proud 1999 graduate of Florida Southern College. It was a beautiful campus back then and I am amazed to see the beauty expand over the past 12 years.  Drop by to see for yourself why The Princeton Review recently honored Florida Southern College as the #1 Most Beautiful Campus in the nation.  And, don’t forget your camera.  You’ll take home some beautiful memories.

The Southern Smokers BBQ Competition kicks off Polk County’s competitive barbeque festival season on Saturday, January 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Dundee at the Dundee Ridge (Winn Dixie) Plaza. Sanctioned by the Florida BBQ Association, a maximum of 45 teams are expected to compete.

The 16th Annual Lakeland PigFest, on Friday, January 27th and Saturday, January 28th at the Tiger Town Sports Complex in Lakeland, is the area’s largest barbeque competition. Lakeland PigFest is a Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctioned event and the KCBS is the largest international organization of barbeque enthusiasts. Each year PigFest welcomes close to 200 teams to compete in the Pro Division, BackYard Division and the Kid’s Q competition and proceeds benefit Lakeland-area charities.

The 8th Annual Budweiser Smoke on the Water BBQ Competition returns to Winter Haven on Saturday, February 4th as the 2012 Florida BBQ Association State Championship. Funds raised benefit the Citrus Center Boys & Girls Clubs of Winter Haven, Lake Wales and Haines City. More than 80 teams from across the country will compete for the Florida State Grand Champion title. Unique entertainment includes a Cypress Water Sports Ski Show on beautiful Lake Cannon.

The 4th Annual Ribs on the Ridge takes place at Lake Eva Park in Haines City on Friday, February 24th and Saturday, February 25th. This growing event has been the Florida BBQ Association’s largest competition for the past two years; with approximately 100 teams competing. Don’t miss performances by The Pork Chop Review featuring “Oink” the singing pig!

In October 2012, the festivals start over again with the Florida BBQ Association sanctioned Fine Swine at the Pit in Mulberry offering up more delicious barbeque to please your palette. Visit www.fineswine.org.

Polk County offers numerous barbeque restaurants so you won’t have to suffer withdrawal in the off-season. Historic eateries include Peebles Bar-B-Q, a Central Florida landmark that has been serving up barbeque for more than 55 years, and Jimbo’s Pit Bar B-Q, a Lakeland tradition since 1964. Brock’s Smoke Hut in Winter Haven was recognized in 2011 by National Barbecue News as one of the “Best of the Best Barbecue Restaurant’s in America.” Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q and Woody’s Bar-B-Q are familiar names with locations all around Polk County. This list hardly scratches the surface. For a comprehensive listing of restaurants in Polk County, go to www.VisitCentralFlorida.org.

When pulling up to East Stanford Street in Bartow’s Historic District, you will spot a quaint yellow house with blue trim and a spacious front porch at the entryway. This 1906 Victorian house that is situated on a cozy neighborhood lot has now become the picturesque setting of The Stanford Inn & Tea Room. This bed and breakfast may also be recognized as the home in the 1991 film “My Girl” starring Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis, Anna Chlumsky and Macaulay Culkin.

For guests looking to stay overnight at the bed and breakfast, The Stanford Inn offers six rooms with features that include: a fireplace, queen bed, private full bath, cable television and wireless Internet access, along with a three-course, gourmet breakfast local fresh fruits, vegetables and eggs.

Aside from a delicious breakfast and special room features, guests will notice one-of-a-kind antiques, artwork and furnishings throughout the inn, along with an outdoor pool surrounded by tropical gardens. Bed and breakfast guests can unwind in the pool or on one of the many rocking chairs on the expansive front porch.

Visitors dining at the Stanford Inn will can also enjoy the pleasant atmosphere as the Inn transforms into a tea room at lunch. Guests can sit inside the historical house or out on the porch, which could be the perfect decision on a nice afternoon. Choose from lunch, tea or Sunday brunch at the Tea Room or opt for dinner at 555. The Tea Room features traditional English high tea and light lunches of soups, salads and sandwiches.

The Monte Cristo at the Tea Room is a must-try. This lunchtime favorite is stacked with layers of turkey, ham and cheese and comes with a side of raspberry jam to complete the overall taste of the sandwich. Other options include the Chicken Salad Croissant, Roast Beef & Havarti or the Turkey sandwich. Try the signature Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Bisque soup or the Soup du Jour along with the Spinach and Fruit Salad or the pasta salad as well. 

It is no surprise that there are numerous flavors of tea options to try at this tea room. The Stanford Inn Strawberry-Orange Blend, composed of strawberries and oranges along with kiwi, rosehips and a bit of dried apple, is the signature tea. Other teas include Rose White, Duchess Grey and Apricot tea, to name just a few. Be sure to choose your favorite flavor to complement your meal.

For dinner, 555 features five options in each of the three categories (appetizers, sides and entrees), and the chef specials change each evening.

The Stanford Inn also hosts weddings and special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, reunions and getaways and celebrates numerous events throughout the year including the upcoming Christmas Eve Dinner on Saturday, December 24. More events at The Stanford Inn can be found on our Events Calendar .

The Stanford Inn offers a charming experience for an overnight stay, an afternoon meal or a special occasion and hopes you will visit this “beautiful place for beautiful memories”.

Stay up-to-date with what’s happening at the Inn, be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

Right now I’m enjoying Florida Avocados on bologna sandwiches, but Christmas will be here soon and I’ll be able to get some really fantastic Florida oranges to bring back some of my favorite Florida memories.

At Christmas, my grandmother always made Orange Pound Cake with freshly squeezed Florida orange juice from the groves around her house.  I always got to help when I was lucky enough to be here for Christmas.  As an adult, I’ve made it a point to keep the tradition alive by making a few of these delicious cakes for other family members.  And, I’ve taught both of my daughters how to make this wonderful cake.  Below is the recipe.

Orange Pound Cake
1 Cup butter or margarine
1 Cup sugar
5 eggs
1 tsp lemon extract
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Cups all purpose flour
5 tbsp freshly squeezed Florida orange juice

Cream butter or margarine.  My grandmother swore by Blue Bonnet for her pound cake and I am afraid to try anything different.  Stir in one egg at a time. Then, add the extracts and the flour.  Mix well and add the freshly squeezed orange juice.  You can use orange juice in the carton or bottle, but make sure it’s from Florida.  Turn into a tube pan and bake at 350 degrees (according to grandma) until done (toothpick comes out clean).  I forget how long that is, but the pound cake will be a beautiful golden brown when it is done. My Aunt Gladys always baked her pound cake at 325 degrees, but I think her oven must have been extra hot.

My dad always said, “Don’t mess it up by putting anything else in there,”  but every once in a while my grandma would put fruit, nuts, raisins or something else in her recipe.  We would all be unhappy and then she’d make her regular recipe for us.  I suppose she ended up eating the other cake by herself.”

Give the recipe a try.  Every bite brings back wonderful memories of my visits to Florida as a young child.  I found out many years later that when she made the cake she always made herself a little separate piece in an “Easy Bake Oven” pan that she would hide from the rest of us.  I do the same thing now, when I make a gift cake and no one but me, and now you, is the wiser.

Next time I make my grandmother’s pound cake I’ll take a photo. I know I’ll be making one soon, since Christmas is just around the corner.  I can tell, because we have a lot of visitors down here for the beautiful weather.  Welcome visitors.  I hope you are having a wonderful visit. And, drop me a line if you try the recipe.  I’d love to hear how your cake turns out and if you like it as much as I do.

The weather may be cooling off but the bite is red hot. The water level is still a little low but better than its been in a long time. On full day shiner trips we have averaged 30-40 fish with most being around 2-3 lbs. Bigger fish up to 9 lbs are starting to show up more frequently as well. Full day artificial bait trips have been producing 15-30 fish on average. Jerkbaits, rattlebaits, spinnerbaits, and deep diving crankbaits have all been productive.
 Submerged eelgrass or hydrilla beds are holding the highest concentrations of fish but some of the bigger bass are still relating to offshore structure such as ledges or shell beds. In green water lakes try slow rolling white or chartreuse spinnerbaits over and through the grassbeds from 4-8 ft. Ripping a rattlebait through the grass can be deadly also. Deeper cattails, reeds, and kissimmee grass are worth a shot as well with a flippin stick.
 In the clear lakes fish a little deeper. Grassbeds growing from 7-12 ft have been holding good numbers of fish. Work these areas with shad colored jerkbaits or deep diving crankbaits. Also keep an eye out and a rod ready for schooling bass. Junebug, redbug, and watermelon colored soft plastics on Texas/Carolina rigs will produce in these areas too.

Kissimmee Chain

The running water bite has, for the most part, came to a end. There’s still a trickle of current in some of the creeks which has a few bass hanging around the mouths and current breaks. Water has dropped a couple of feet but is still above normal pool. Surface temperature is varying from mid 60’s to low 70’s depending on weather conditions. Overall water clarity is better than it’s been in years throughout the chain due to last month’s heavy rainfall and the vast amount of water filtering hydrilla that is growing in all the lakes. The fishing remains phenomenal.
 With the abundance of water and cover available, bass can be found from shoreline areas all the way out to mid lake areas. They aren’t everywhere but once located you can really load the boat in a hurry. The fish seem to be grouped or schooled up according to size. Where ever you catch one big fish it is likely others are there as well. Full day shiner and artificial trips have been producing 20-40 fish on average up to 8 lbs. Average size has been 2-4 lbs.
 Topwaters, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, and jerkbaits have all been producing especially early in the morning in boat trails and along cover edges. Shad or shiner resembling baits have been best. During midday hours try Texas/Carolina rigged soft plastics around deeper or thicker cover. Junebug, watermelon, and black/blue colors are always good color choices. For bigger fish flip thick matted cover such as hyacinth, water lettuce, mud tussocks, and topped out hydrilla with 1-1 1/2 oz weighted Texas rigged craws or creature baits.

Central Florida is where you’ll find beautiful lakes, great bass fishing and Monte Goodman. Monte has made a career of doing what he enjoys and does best as a professional bass guide and successful tournament angler. Guiding and fishing competitively for the past 15 years has given him the experience, skill and knowledge it takes to be a great fisherman. Monte is also a vocal advocate of Florida’s habitat and conservation efforts, supports and practices “catch and release” himself and encourages others to do the same. A member of tournament trails such as FLW, FOMNTT, BFL, and B.A.S.S just to name a few. Credited with well over a hundred local tournament wins, was back to back Angler of the Year in the largest B.A.S.S. affiliated club in the world, and has won numerous Big Bass honors. Monte’s ability to adapt, his versatility and lengthy resume has earned him a reputation anyone would be proud of.

Many of the displays were centred around the small lake in the centre of town, and one of the most fascinating displays had the cowboys showing off their lasso skills and whip cracking. Their horses were patiently waiting in the shade, and there were some beef cattle chewing the cud across the other side of the camp.

I could have spent much more time listening to this traditional story teller entertaining the children with his stories of the wild animals. Many of the stories obviously had American Indian origins.

Cookery is an art too, so I made my way to the Baking competition tables, where cakes had to be baked with a Citrus theme, and the recipes had to be original. Mouthwatering cakes were set out with their recipes alongside them and obviously oneor two had won their blue ribands

Mmmmm, delicious

Moving quickly on, I walked to the Wood carvers room; again greeted by the most amazing wood carvings of animals and insects.

I spoke to one of the carvers, all from the Lake Placid Wood Carvers Guild, and he explained that he used Laurel wood for his subjects – at the time he was carving a large bird, and laurel is a non-splintering type of wood so very useful for carvers to use.

carved deer

Having spent some time with the wood carvings, it was time to take a look at some of the other displays that were edging the lake front. Lots of various art and artists, as well as a Polk County wildlife officer with a small alligator for brave children to touch. Another display with an child friendly area was that of the snake handlers; kids could handle a small python, or a baby king snake, and try their hand at drawing butterflies and other insects.

There were guided tours of the historical part of the town, and demonstrations of quilt making. I also watched a demonstration of clogging, a country dance style similar to Irish dancing.

The Festival ran for two days, and I found it all very interesting ; certainly there was enough to keep me entertained for several hours. Eventually though my stomach reminded me it needed something to eat, so wandering round the food vendors I came across a cupcake stand. Guess what…………. It was delicious!!!