Sunday - Another Gorgeous Warm, Sunny Day!

Ken was up early again and finished most of his reading and devotions.  I did my stretches and we got ready to go to church.  We were at Edgewater UM Church by 9:15 and had a good time chatting with our friends there.  

After the service, we met up with Burt and Pat, the folks from Maine that we had visited this past summer.  They had arrived last evening and it was so nice to see them again.  They need some days to recoup from the long drive and then we will plan to get together in the near future.  Pat did invite us for New Year's Eve, which was so nice, but we already have plans to go to Rick and Joyce's for a card party with 2 other couples.  

We decided not to go out to breakfast this morning, so came back to the campground, packed a light lunch, changed, and headed to Manasota Beach.  What a gorgeous beach day.  After setting up our chairs, we both went for a walk looking for sharks teeth.  We go our separate ways because Ken always takes a longer walk and it is hard to stay together when you are on "the hunt"!  We had gotten there at 12:30 and by 3:15 we were on our way back to the campground so I could watch some football.

The water was such a beautiful color today!

The beach was crowded for December!

Ken always likes to take this photo when at Manasota Beach!

We showered and then I worked on this blog while watching the Bears/Vikings game.  Unfortunately we were unable to get the Eagles or Steelers game.  I guess those 2 teams aren't that special in Florida!  But, Matt Nagy, the coach of the Bears is a graduate of Manheim Central High School, where Ken and I graduated, so that always make their games interesting.  I was so excited that the Bears and Eagles won, because now the Eagles are in the play-offs, but they play each other next week!

After dinner, Ken worked on some messages for his CR buddies back home and I finished one afghan and started another one for Knots of Love.  I also made tallies to take to our New Year's Eve Party to give to Joyce as a Hostess Gift!  We watched the Colts/Titans game until about 10:30 and then it was time for bed.

I did have a nice conversation with Cindy and Noela.  Cindy and John will be in northern Texas tonight (about a 10 hour drive) and then head to Brownsville, TX in the morning where they will stay until the beginning of April.  Ernie and Noela left Canada this morning and drove 10 1/2 hours to Hagerstown, Maryland.  They hope to get to near Brunswick, GA tomorrow, then pick up their 5th wheel near Homasassa, FL on New Years Day and arrived here at the CG on Wednesday.  

Ken and I had a great day and are looking forward to the New Year's Eve Party.

Saturday - Gorgeous Day Spent with Special Friends!

Ken was up at his usual early hour and I joined him around 7.  Time for stretches!  Ken worked outside putting out the awning (it has been too windy) and all the "decorations" that we hang.  I vacuumed and cleaned inside.  Then together we strung lights on the tree on our campsite.  We attempted to hang our fishnet but that didn't prove to be very successful.  We need to do more thinking on how to make it work!

We decided to take a walk around the CG before lunch and it was already 80 degrees and very sunny, an absolutely gorgeous day!  We ate our lunch outdoors and then we showered, Ken rested, and I finished getting ready.

Rick and Joyce arrived at 2 and it was so good to be with them again.  We sat outside chatting and catching up on life.  We had planned to play shuffleboard, but it was in the 80's, humid, and very sunny, so we came inside Wilbur and played a game of double deck Pinochle which the women won.  We left and headed to one of my favorite eateries, Sonny's Barbeque, where we all enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich on garlic bread.  It was even better than Ken and I remembered and it was a 1st X for Rick and Joyce.  All of us really enjoyed our food.

When we returned to the campground, it was dark!  We drove right to the shuffleboard courts, turned on the lights, and the fun began.  The women won the 1st game and we didn't get to complete the 2nd one.  Unfortunately both teams were having trouble staying away from the 10 off!

Back to Wilbur for another game of Pinochle and this time the women lost by a huge margin.  I think I might be considered a "wild" bidder!  I definitely am willing to gamble and take chances!

They left around 10 and we were in bed by 10:30, did some reading (I hadn't done my devotions earlier) and then it was lights out!  What a fun day!

Friday - A Warm Day Here in Florida!

Ken was up at his usual time, 5:30, and did his reading and sent his daily devotion to his buddies!  I only appeared at 7:15 after a very good night's sleep.  

I started my day doing my stretches, something that hasn't been happening for the last several days - it was time!  We got ready, had a light breakfast, and went to get some needed groceries and reduced price Christmas lights at Wal-Mart.  We wanted rope lights to decorate the tree in front of our campsite and lights for our awning.  So, Ken got gas and waited in the car while I shopped.  From Wal-Mart we went to Save-A-Lot and Costco.  We were  back to the CG by 1, put all our purchases in their proper places, and then at lunch outside.  

I decided to go to a different Wal-Mart to return some of the lights I had purchased because after a discussion with Ken I realized what I had bought was not going to work.  While there I got the right lights and a beautiful plant for outside Wilbur.  I also stopped at Michael's for a fishnet and then to Marshall's .  While I was gone, Ken had rested and made salads for tonight and tomorrow.

We went for a long walk around the campground but it was not a great night for photographing the sunset - it had really gotten cloudy.  The day had been very warm with temperatures in the 80's and lots of sunshine. When we returned, Ken grilled a steak for me and salmon for himself.   Earlier today Ken did take a picture of our resident alligator that suns himself on a rock beside Ernie and Noela's campsite and an anhinga. 

I called Joyce and we are going to get together tomorrow afternoon to play shuffleboard here, go out to dinner, and then back to Wilbur for some card playing.  We are really looking forward to spending time with them again.  

We watched Jeopardy and then played Hand and Foot.  We completed the game we had started last night and Ken declared me the winner.  He did some reading and I did my devotions that I didn't take the time to do earlier today.  More reading and then it was time for bed.  Tomorrow is supposed to be less windy so we hope to set-up the outside area including the awning and our lights.  We also want to hang the fishnet from the end of the awning and weave lights through it and add shells we have found on the beach - hopefully our idea will work.

Thursday - Our 1st Full Day Back in Florida!

The best thing I can say about doing this trip in one day is how well we sleep that night.  I was only awake 1 time and only got up at 8:45.  Ken slept through the night and was up at 7:15, late for him.  Neither of us felt very "peppy", so we enjoyed a hot beverage while doing our devotions.  Then we spent some time finishing the unpacking.  I can't believe we found a good place to store everything and we had plenty of stuff!!!

Because I hadn't done any walking for over a week, we only took a short walk around part of the CG.  Upon our return, it was time for lunch and then needed naps and some reading time.  I did talk with Cindy and they are in Tennessee where they have their motorhome stored.  They are taking it to a Ford dealer today for a recall with the wheels to see if they could have a potential problem.  When that is resolved, they will be heading to Waco, TX for 3 days before going to Brownsville, Texas for the winter.  We will miss having them here in Florida.

I did some work on this blog, and sent some messages while Ken corresponded with friends from his I-Pad.  We decided to take another walk around the CG and I did about a mile. 

Ken went across the canal and did more walking and took some great photos of  some of the birds we see on the canal behind our campsite ....

Kingfisher!

Ibis

Anhinga drying his wings!

Blue Heron!

A bald eagle across the canal

...and the beautiful sunset -

So much pink in the sky and reflected in the canal!  Those
are permanent homes here in the campground!  They
have quite a gorgeous setting!

After showering, we had supper and then Ken did some "catching up" on e-mails while I did some work on the computer.  At 8 we decided to play Hand and Foot and after 2 rounds I am ahead by 2500 points!  Wow!

I finished this blog and was in bed by a little after 9.  It has been a good day of recuperating! 

PS - Did hear from Cindy and their motorhome did not have a problem, so they can starting tonight, they can live in it for the winter months and be on their way to Texas as planned!  Hallelujah!!!

Wednesday - Florida, Here We Come Again!

After a short and restless night, we were up at 1:30 and out of our driveway by 2:10.  It was a cold morning that required a lot of "scrapping" before we could see out of our windshield.  

The drive around DC was very easy as there was hardly any traffic - Dah, it was early!  We stopped well below Richmond for breakfast at a Denny's and wasted no time.  Ken actually got gas while I went inside and ordered our meal.  We made numerous bathroom stops throughout the trip, mainly at rest stops, had lunch at Subway (got gas there too!) and all went well until we hit South Carolina.  We were detoured by Goggle off I-95 3X's because of accidents and that certainly increased our travel time.  

Ken drove most of the trip (about 16 hours), as I only drove 1 hour earlier in the day and then all of Georgia (113 miles).  Sometimes Florida can be terrible on I-75, but although there was a lot of traffic, it moved well.  We stopped at a Chick-Fil-A for a very "nutritional" dinner around 8 - chicken tenders and a large peppermint milkshake!  It may not have been healthy, but boy was it good!

We finally arrived at the CG at Port Charlotte at 10:30 and we were thrilled to be done driving.  We unloaded most of the car and put somethings in their proper place, made the bed, and by 11:15 we were headed to dreamland.  

We felt exhausted, thankful and blessed to have made it, but sort of promised each other that we won't do this trip in one day again.  (Until the next time, probably!)  It does take a toll!

Hard to imagine that it was 26 degrees when we left PA and the low during the night was 65 degrees here in Port Charlotte!  I like it!!!!!

Christmas Day - A Day to Visit Both Girl's Homes!

Ken had a restless night and went to the LR very early, did a little reading, and then fell asleep on the sofa.  I got up at 6:15 and got ready for another busy day.  We both did our devotions and then I spent time packing some craft items for our return to Florida.  I decided I would like to make greeting cards while there and that requires taking soooooo much "stuff".  It took quite awhile to decide what I needed and what I could eliminate.

We left at 8:30 and went to Jamie's to see what Bria and Cali had gotten for Christmas.  Bria was very busy putting together an amusement park Lego set which had over 900 pieces.  She loves the challenge of doing them on her own!  Cali had gotten a jeep for her American Girl Doll that you can actual hook to bluetooth to listen to music and has workable windshield wipers, horn, lights, etc.  Sue, Dan and Brent stopped by too and we all had a nice time visiting before before Ken and I left around 10:15 to go to Lanie and Bob's.

We were excited to visit them and see what Samantha and Katelyn  had gotten for Christmas.  They are really into the L.O.L. dolls this Christmas and that is what they got plus a huge Barbie Dollhouse.   They were so happy with all of their gifts.  Lanie had made chili and tossed salad for lunch and then there was fresh fruit and some more of her delicious cookies for dessert!  We had a nice visit and by 2:00 we were back home!

Then it was time to finish packing and load the CRV for our trip back to Florida.  I can not believe how much we are taking back.  I thought most of our "stuff" was already there - wrong!!!!  Plenty of food to take with us, additional clothes, toiletries, electronics, and all those crafts.  Once loaded, it was time to clean out the refrigerator (we unplug it while we are gone!), spot clean, eat leftovers for dinner, and make sure the apartment is organized.  I did have time to work on our blog.

This is just some of the "stuff" that needed to be loaded - 

We watched some TV and went to bed around 8:00!

Monday -Hosler Christmas!

Ken and I were up by 6:15 and got ready for our family Christmas Celebration.  We took time to watch a bit of the news and then did our devotions.  We loaded the car and were on our way to Jamie's house by 8:15.  We stopped at Wilbur's storage area and left our extra car there while we are in Florida.  We also dropped off a Christmas Calendar I made for Doloris and Fred.

We were at Jamie's by 9, about the same time that Lanie's family arrived.  What a fun day with family.  Jamie and Dane do such a great job of hosting 1st providing us with a delicious breakfast - an burrito type egg casserole, pull apart cinnamon sticky buns (monkey bread), and lots of fresh fruit that Lanie had brought.  It was yummy!

The happy sisters!

Such a good breakfast!

  

Lanie had brought a 500 piece puzzle that was a custom made one from a photo of our family at the beach.  Lanie, Jamie, Bria and I put it together, but without a doubt, Jamie and Lanie did about 3/4 of it!  It is amazing how clear the photo puzzle was.  

Puzzle time!

Loved it!

Then it was time for a scavenger hunt.  Ken took the girls and Samson for a short work while we hid the clues.  The girls had such a good job working together and getting to the final "reward"!  Lanie and Jamie had decided to not buy gifts for each other or exchange with the girls, so they are planning a fun day in early January where the girls will go to a shop and either paint a picture, a piece of mosaic pottery, or a wooden object.  Then to Jamie's to order pizza and watch a movie.  So, a flyer describing the event was in the bag along with 2 cookie decorating kits that they did in the afternoon.

Samson likes to walk himself when he gets close to home!

They took turns reading the scavenger
hunt clues!

After the "hunt", it was time to open presents.  Lanie and Jamie enjoyed the calendars I had made and the x-stitch jars.  Last week we took each family to either Sight and Sound or the American Music Theater and then for dinner as the rest of their gift.  We had a few gifts for our granddaughters including x-stitch jars I made for them that were personalized.  Ken and I received a gift card to Amazon from Bob and Lanie and a gift card from Jamie and Dane for Farlows by the Water, our favorite restaurant when we are in Florida.  We appreciated their thoughtfulness!

Katelyn loved her gift from PawPaw and Grandma!

So did Samantha - more LOL "stuff"!

We gave Bria and Cali sweatshirts with their swim team
logo!

Something struck Jamie's funny bone!

Opening additional gifts from us!

Looking at the photos on the calendars I had made for
Lanie and Jamie!

One of Katelyn's gifts was like a soap bomb and you had
to soak it in water to get the doll out of the "shell"!

We spent a lot of the afternoon just chatting and then getting ready for dinner.  The young ones went to the basement where each of them decorated 4 cookies and then the adults had to judge the best one.  All of them did an amazing job and Cali was the winner with a cute snowman which we failed to photograph!

They enjoyed eating them, but were only allowed one!

The happy cookie designers!

The tree in Jamie's basement!

The ladies chatted and "watched" the ovens while the men went outside to deep fry the turkey.  All went well until the turkey was submerged in the oil.  There must have been a little ice inside the "bird", because there were flames shooting and oil spilling onto the patio - what a mess!  Fortunately no one got burned and the turkey survived very well!

Waiting to submerge the turkey, but keeping warm by the fire!

Here we go!

Oh no!  Here come the flames!\....

....and the messy oil overflow!

Jamie and Dane's backyard!

Ken was so excited when he spotted a bald eagle sitting
in the tree at the back of Jamie's yard!

Samson was not too excited about anything!

The meal was so delicious - turkey, potato stuffing, roasted broccoli and brussel sprouts, corn, buttered noodles, and roasted sweet potatoes.  I made a pudding dessert, Lanie provided lots of cookies, and Jamie had made so many kinds of candy treats.  All of us had plenty of good stuff to eat!!!

Some of the group got very tired after dinner -

Lanie and Jamie played a card game and Ken and I played Uno with Bria and Katelyn and then Skip-Bo just with Bria. Ken and I were back home by 9:15 after an absolutely wonderful day with our family.  We are so grateful for Jamie's willingness to host the celebration!

Just a few additional photos from our day -

The girls were trying to follow the dance steps on a video
and points were scored and a winner named!

Jamie's upstairs tree.  Samson likes to rest
and relax!

Lanie and Bob!

Samantha!