Loving Outloud

 Jane celebrated a big birthday in a big way this year.  At 84 she decided it was time for a tea party and invited just about everyone she knows.  There were about 80 people that attended although "word on the street" was that she invited 200!

 When she asked me early on if we were going to be back in NC in January by any chance I told her that we weren't and that I wouldn't be able to make it to her party.  But when I mentioned it to Krista and she showed interest I decided to see if we could make it happen.  Elissa and Jenna got on board and with Catherine's approval we all showed up to surprise Jane on her big day!  She was overwhelmed!  I am so very glad that we went, wouldn't have missed this for anything!

And this is where loving outloud comes in.  Jane has loved all of us for all of our lives and we feel the same about her.  I am so glad that we showed up for this special event to demonstrate just how important she is to us!  Loving outloud is showing up, getting involved and letting people know just how special they are!  My dear Jane you are very special and we are so blessed to have you in our lives!!!!!

 

 

Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick

                          We planned this trip several years ago but decided to put it off.
                       This was the year to make the journey and we had a wonderful time!!

We flew into Boston and just started driving north!! Our first stop was Acadia National Park.  The views were stunning....

 Prince Edward Island was pristine and beautiful and even though Dorian (hurricane) decided to join us.  Our little motel room was a calm place to be during the storm, 85mph winds and torrential rains, the performance of "Anne of Green Gables" was canceled but we were safe.....the power was out for a day and there were only 2 restaurants open but we loved the adventure.  We tried putin (uck!!)


The highlight of the trip was at the Bay of Fundy, Hopewell Rocks.  John told me how spectacular the shift in tide was and he was right.  The shift from high tide to low tide takes 6 hours and it is known in this bay to be the most significant in the world.  As planned we arrived at high tide and this is what it looked like.....

Six hours later this is what it looked like......nature gave us the opportunity to walk on the ocean floor.
Fascinating!! We could walk beside huge boulders where live seaweed was clinging.  The tall rock formations twisted by millions of years of ocean currents were captivating!  We were fortunate enough to drop in on a guided tour that we will long remember.  I didn't want to leave!

It was a wonderful trip!  We enjoyed some of the most wonderful seafood that I have had in a while and played together and explored anything in our path!!!  It doesn't get any better than that!!!!  As we returned to Boston to fly back home we headed to Boston Commons and dropped in on Cheers, a place where everybody knows your name.  It was so much fun to enjoy my handsome husband in new ways!!  Love you sweetie!!!  

Carolina BalloonFest

 Hot air balloons are fabulous, beautiful and fascinating!! This was our second attempt to take it all in and we had so much fun!  I regret that I don't have any pictures of the Spencer family but it was a  cold, fun filled weekend with them.  The competition to hit a target as the balloons swoop down right in front of our eyes was so much fun to watch. The first night the event was attended by 25,000 people and at one point 40+ balloons in the air!!! Like I said, Fabulous!!

Camping with the boys!!!

This year we chose to take the guys back to Clabough's Campground in Pigeon Forge, TN. We had a great time, but it was a lot of hard work. 

             A check in with mom before we head up the mountain is always a good thing!

                                          One cannot spend too much time in the lazy river!

      Sam could not get enough time feeding the ducks.... 2 lbs. of frozen corn made for happy ducks!

                                            And a good race on the bounce pillow is a must!

                I think the best part of the NASCAR track were the water boats!  It was a hot day!  They evening before we left we all went to Dolly Partin's Dixie Stampede.  They were sold when the food started showing up, biscuits and your own roasted hen were a hit and they loved the racing pigs!!!!

I just love these guys and we have had a blast camping with them each summer for the last 4 summers.  We may have to reinvent our summer trips with them but for now summer 2019 is in the books!  Happy summer Jack and Sam!!!

Camping with the girls!

Our camping trips with Celia and Lily are such a highlight for us!  This year we went to Lake Ridge RV Resort in Hillsville, VA.  This particular campground is in the mountains, the weather was beautiful and they have a water slide......and it did not disappoint. However our first stop was in Mt. Airy, NC at Barneys Cafe.  The girls were barely aware of The Andy Griffith Show but pictures on the walls and our stories about the television show made the burgers and fries more interesting, and who doesn't like a malted milkshake.

  The girls had a blast on the water slide and I was eternally grateful that the weather cooperated! They wore themselves out waking back up the hill but where can you go and slide as many times as you want with virtually no waiting line.  The looks on their faces when they went down the first time said it all!!!!!

I hope when they are grown they remember these trips with fondness because we already are!  This is our fourth year taking them on a summer camping trip and I can't believe how blessed we are!  Love these kid like crazy!  Happy summer Celia and Lily!!!!!

LET US NOT FORGET........

What an absolutely incredible winter we have had! As we prepare to leave in 2 days I am reminiscing about all of the fun we have had.  This has been an exceptional time for us!  The weather has been simply wonderful!  Our exercise routine has been an important time for us as we do it together! And John and I have just had so much fun being together!!!  And these are some of the wonderful friends that we have blessed our time here with their friendship!

JoAnn and Don - So graciously include us in their holiday plans and this year our Thanksgiving was  special because of them.  Very grateful for their hospitality!  And they accepted our invitation to come for a quick weekend to be a part of the Solivita Car Show!

Tom and Tris - It has become our tradition over the past few years to join them for the Winter Park Christmas Concert but the concert this year was especially wonderful!  It was a crisp evening and the music was angelic!  And tomorrow we meet them at  Disney for lunch!

Ruth and Gary -Yummy dinners with a game of Golf.  And then we launched into our first Sunrail trip to Winter Park with a Lyft ride to Bostons for lunch...shrimp that can't be beat.

Ron and Diane - Seafood dinner in Celebration and on to Old Town for a celebratory ride through town in the GTO.

Riva - Always good to spend time with this sweet lady. It wouldn't be a winter in Florida if we didn't get to see her!

Jeri - Always good to meet her at Bostons to catch up on life and all of the kids.

Keith and Julie - We have visited with them in Naples almost every year since our winters in Florida began.  This year we got to join them on a Walk for Parkinsons and got to meet their sweet granddaughter. 

Candy and Darryl - Dinners and dominoes has become our routine get together but we loved helping Candy celebrate her birthday at Cheesecake Factory.

Carol and Mike -  Dinner with Johnny and then on to the Guys and Dolls holiday concert, what a fun evening!  Of course pizza at Tony's is one of our favorite things to do! Sunday acapella concert was a real treat.  An evening in Old Town and Carol was the queen in the parade. But Carol and I made the most of our Chair Yoga and shopping expeditions. She is always so much fun to be with!

Maureen, Ed and Char - What a nice evening, lovely meal, Nascar on television, fun walk with the dog and wonderful meal with long time friends.

Mace and Marianne - Sweet friends that we get to see once a year and catch up on life.

Steve and Teresa - What a special couple that make time to meet us for lunch every year.  I had no idea Steve and John had cars in common.  This may be a problem!

Deborah - Sweet lunch with a sweet lady!


Sometimes I feel like I really can't believe that I get to live this life.......so incredibly blessed!!

Panamal Canal #2

Life with John is ALWAYS an adventure!

This year our adventures took us back to the Panamal Canal via Holland America cruise line on the Zuiderdam!  Departure from Ft. Lauderdale with a stop at Half Moon Cay, teal crystal clear water that is as beautiful as I remembered! Next day a quick stop in Aruba....we had a fabulous day there on our previous trip which could not be topped so we decided to take a quiet walking tour. 

Williamstad, Curacao was the Queen Emma pontoon bridge, also called the Swinging Old Lady!A walking bridge that swings open to let boats and ships go through.  Fascinating!!

 

I had long wanted to be able to play with dolphins and now was my chance.  It was so amazing to be up close and learn about the training process and habit of these animals. What an exceptional experience that I will never forget!

That evening we got to enjoy the mesmerizing classical  music of Island Magic Steel Drum Band and later that evening stayed up until 1:15 to see a blood moon lunar eclipse.

We had never been to South America before and it was interesting to take a tour of the Old Walled City of Cartagena, Columbia! The people on the street selling their wares is almost overwhelming!  I fell in love with the beautiful old doors but John almost lost his head (see final picture)

On to Colon Panama where we took a tour and got to see the Aqua Clara locks.  These locks have been completed since we were there in 2007 and are 40' longer and 70' wider than the original locks.  What an amazing accomplishment!

Our final port was Puerto Limon, Costa Rica.  We traveled up into the mountains by bus, passing banana plantations, to the Tayutic Hacienda which is a sugar cane plantation. We enjoyed a demonstration on how sugar cane was processed long ago.  The vistas were beautiful, lunch was delicious and the temperatures were perfect.  So glad that we went!

What a wonderful time we had!! John and I complement each other pretty well!  We have gone places and done things together that neither of us would have done on our own. I am so glad that John has such a wonderful sense of adventure because he has taken me to places that I have only dreamed of!!

Thanks sweetie!!!!