WINTER PANDEMIC BLESSINGS

                                   Amazingly this is our 10th winter in Florida!!

 

We get to live such an incredibly abundant life!!! Inspite of the pandemic we have had a wonderful winter, great weather that has allowed us to keep up with our walking and enough activity to feel engaged and actively involved in life.  God continues to bless us with good health and we were so fortunate to be able to get both Covid vaccine shots here in Solivita.  We live in a beautiful place and this sunset that John caught and grand shot that I got at the Shorehaven pond are perfect proof!

 

 

   We did a bit of redecorating, changed all of the colors in the living spaces and we both just love it!!

                       And then there were the art projects to keep me busy, I had so much fun!!  Stained glass was one of my things this year and I had so much fun, proud of the results!  I tried a bit of acrylic painting and had a blast!!  Fun results!

 

 

                 

We were not able to spend time with so many of the friends that we enjoy seeing during our time in Florida but we did get to see a few special people.

Gary and Ruth Swetnam - We met them at Highlands Hammock State Park for a walk in the woods and picnic

Don and JoAnn Cundy - We me at Selby Gardens in Sarasota, fabulous gardens and wonderful picnic

BJ Johns - We got to see BJ at her new apartment in St. Petersburg. It was soooo great to see her!

Candy and Darryl - Appetizers on our back porch, girls lunch at The Port and Thai dinner on their back porch before we left.

Carol and Mike - Creative get togethers, ice cream with Carol, lunch at The Port with M & C, Japanese on their back porch and catalog orders and zinnia planting with Carol.

Tom and Tris - Lunch at Bostons, so good to see them doing so well.

Burnadette and Brian, Pat - new neighbors that we loved getting to know, more good times to come

That trip of a lifetime

 What an incredible opportunity it was to take a month long trip out west ....during a pandemic.  We knew that risk was a part of this but when one has a travel trailer sometimes you just have to seize the moment!!!  Our trip lasted for 30 days, crossing 16 states, staying in 14 campgrounds.  Our highest elevation was 12,800 feet, traveling 7, 161.5 miles and we visited 8 National Parks.  To say that we had a fabulous time is an understatement!!  Here are just a few pictures of our adventure.

                                                                     Yellowstone

                                                                

                                                                           Glacier

 

 

 

                                                                                Arches

                                                                            Canyonlands

 

 

 Mesa Verde

 

 

One final opportunity to camp with the girls

 This spring,summer, fall have been crazy to say the least.  We had lots of summer plans that were dashed due to COVID but I don't give up easily.  With parental permission we kidnapped the kids and took them to the NC coast for a long weekend in October.  We always choose a destination with lots to do and there is not such safe option right now so off we go with no specif plans in place.  But the weather was perfect, the food was fun and we all had a fabulous time!

                                 When one doesn't want their picture taken this is what it looks like!!

This was a perfect fall day on the coast. The weather was unimaginably perfect, the water a bit too cool to swim but they played in it a bit anyway. We had never played bocce ball on the beach before but it was grand. We played putt putt golf,  even found a drive thru visit to a sea turtle rescue and took a walk on the beach after dark!  Just love spending time with these two!!

Camping during a pandemic and an anniversary

 Time with Jack and Sam can be hard to come by, especially during a pandemic.  But Black Forest Campground is not too far away and the pool is heated and the summer crowds had not yet arrived so off we go. 

We had a terrific time with the kids, the pool was never crowded and they had the deep end all to themselves.  

We just happened to be camping on June 25, 2020, which was our 20th wedding anniversary!!  What better way to celebrate than with your two favorite grandsons and banana splits for lunch!

Sam seemed to enjoy building a campfire all on his own.  No advice from anyone, no help from outside resources and he did a wonderful job.  He was so proud of his accomplishment that he woke his brother up from a nap to show him what he had done.... good job guy!

Winter 2020

                                             Jeri and John enjoying Old Town in the GTO

                                   Celebrating my birthday and Christmas at Celebration, Florida

                                              A little Christmas cheer at Gaylord Palms

                                                        Early Christmas in Raleigh...

                      Ruth and Gary enjoying that fabulous ride in the parade, tiara and all!!

                                                        Jane's BIG Birthday tea party

                                       Pat and Brian came to town and my did we have fun!!!
                                           Breathe, Stretch and Relax, the train to Winter Park and
                                          Turkish food for lunch, Bok Tower gardens and of course,
                                      a ride at Old Town!  We had a blast with the Princess for a night!

                                           And then Andy, Brooke, Emmit and Hanna blew in!!
                                   It was great to vicariously enjoy all of the fun at Universal!

                      Tom and Anne accepted our invitation and came to visit for a couple of days!! 
                          We taught them GOLF, took the train to Winter Park, enjoyed a day at Bok
                            Tower gardens and,  of course, went to Old Town.  We had soooo much
                                                                 fun with them!  Great couple!!

                                      Steve and Teresa were lots of fun, dinner with the Huggetts
                               and ice cream from Tastee Treat!  So glad they were able to make it!

                                                Then came the bathroom renovations!!!!!!! 
                                            Ralford did a great  job but we did a great job too!
                                         So very pleased with the way it turned out and
                                                      soooooooo glad that it is finished!!

We have had a wonderful winter!  Lots of walking, time with friends and great Florida weather! We are so very blessed!!  Sadly the Corona virus has made its way to our land ......and we hope and pray that this is soon a very unpleasant memory!

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!!!