Twas the day after Christmas....

when all through the house all were moaning about all that they've eaten!

Not really, but I'm sure you all know what I mean.  The sun finally made an appearance which made the day more cheerful but the air was still chilly.

Anne and Scotty dropped by and we exchanged gifts

Our daughter Sonsearae made our gifts and we nibbled on the spicy nuts and chocolate bark all morning!  She also made us a soup mix, Southwestern three bean and barley, that I can't wait to try.

Our Christmas dinner was perfect!  We, along with good friends Anne & John Scott and Amy & Dan Farrell went to Hayashi for our Japanese Hibachi dinner.  We all ordered our favorites and took a lot of it home to enjoy today.  Good food, good friends and great conversations.

Back home Boo was glad to see us because it was dinner time!  We changed clothes and settled in to enjoy the rest of the day.  Coffee and TV

We did a first for us.....we Skyped!  LOL  I have a camera on my laptop so we set it up and Sonsearae called and we got to chat with her and Chris....A great way to end our Christmas

Merry Christmas!

I hope this day is filled with family, friends, frivolity and food!


Take some time to remember our Military men and women who cannot be home this time of year as they serve our country far and wide.










Wouldn't life be worth the living
Wouldn't dreams be coming true
If we kept the Christmas spirit
All the whole year through?
~Author Unknown

Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park photos

 Green Jays on platform feeder

 when we first arrived the hawk was tip toeing his way into the water while keeping a close eye on the jays and the sky above

 this little guy was trying his best to get to the package of chicken livers his human was fishing with

The water is down a little in the resaca but you can still canoe or kayak in the still waters

Gloomy Saturday

Last evening the drizzling rain started and it lasted through the night and it's still nasty out there. I'm glad I don't have to do last minute Christmas shopping!

What do we do when we have nasty weather? There are a list of options and after reading a friends blog about their small rig it got me to thinking.

We only have one tv so it's a tossup about manly shows or girly shows. We both spend a lot of time on our computers playing way to many games or surfing the web. You can go to the mall and watch people, but I'm not sure searching for a parking spot would be fun today. We usually go to Barnes and Nobles to sip a warm drink and read magazines because, as you know, full timers shouldn't have subscriptions!

But you can visit any number of local attractions where ever you are!

State Park

Yesterday Jim and I took a ride in the state park. We always stop at the Green Jay blind and we were in luck!

I'm not sure how many Jays were hanging around. At the time we were there I saw maybe a dozen, but it could have been the same nervous birds over and over again. You see, there was a hawk bathing in the pool and everyone was keeping a watchful eye!

Fog

This morning we have fog. It's quite beautiful....

I forgot to mention that we discovered leaks when the rains came on Saturday. First was in the loo, the fan in there dripped water all over the rug. Still trying to dry it! It's rubber backed so I don't want to throw it in the dryer. Jim took the unit apart and it hung for twenty four hours drying out.

Next was the air conditioning vent over the sink. About 30-40 minutes after the first leak this started. Jim figured the way the rig slopes caused water to run over there and drip out. Later in the day I kept hearing a drip and discovered a seam in the living room leaking. It's below the satellite dish that we installed a few years ago. This happened before about a year after the installation.

Once we get a sunny day and the roof can dry off Jim will get up there and try to fix these problems. I can't imagine how wet the insulation must be!

We have rain!

Jim worked last week Monday - Friday and the poor man had to endure the cold weather. Last week I also had my 64th birthday! Tuesday evening we went to BJ's Brewhouse for a dinner with beer tasting event. What fun! I'm not sure how many different beers we tasted 7-9 at least and then when the event ended we got a pint of our favorite! The food consisted of Buffalo wontons, Portobello pizza, Thai Shrimp wraps, pork chop with potatoes and green beans and a berry burst dessert.

We sat with Tanya, a lovely young lady and we had a good time talking to her and learning more about the area. We slept very well that night!

On Thursday I had a spa day at Spagos with Anne and Susie. Of course it wasn't an all day event but Anne, Susie and I each got our hair cut and styled. Susie and I had pedicures and had them polished with red polish and sparkles! Afterwards we had lunch at Ron Fu's Mongolian Grill in the same building. Also had stops at Harbor Freight, Sprouts and HEB. Whew it tires me out just reading it! But we had a lot of fun...

Saturday the rains started and it rained all weekend. I'm not sure of the totals but we had over 2 inches of rain on Saturday alone. It's still cold and gloomy today but it seems to be rain free so far.

Jim had a doctor appointment early this morning so we hit the road before 0800. After that we headed to IHOP for breakfast....not sure we'll do that again. But it was close by and easy to get to. Then a visit to the lab for blood work. Next Monday he has yet another appointment for an endoscopy. Seems he has acid reflux :-(

It's December already!

I'm not sure where the time goes. Our daily lives are pretty much the same. We get up, do chores and go to bed. In between we read, watch TV and play games on our computers. Every few days we go shopping. Pretty boring!

We did go for a ride on the bike trail the other day and I finally made it to Conway. Now this is an achievement for me. The round trip is almost 10 miles but I haven't done much riding and my first attempt ended short of that goal. In my defense it was very warm the first time I tried and I don't like hot weather.

December first saw the largest influx of rigs for our resort. All day long they were coming in. It's almost like going to an RV show and seeing all the different sizes, styles and color of rigs! We now have neighbors on both sides of us. Still the resort has a few empty sites. I know some folks won't arrive until after Christmas.

Last Sunday we went out to lunch at BJ's where we met up with old friends and new friends. Marilyn and Ed Dray arrived before us bringing Janet and Bob (new to full timing) and while we caught up in the chilly wind Joyce and Roger showed up. We four couples have DRV Mobile Suites. So it was a mini rally! LOL We had a grand time eating and chatting.

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow we're having dinner with friends.

The resort does have a dinner they host with Turkey and gravy. For tables of eight, you sign up and bring a side for your table and you get dinner without having to cook a lot of food for two. We've never done dinner at the clubhouse because our friend Anne can't eat poultry. So tomorrow we'll have dinner at her house and along with Scotty our friends Amy and Dan will join us.

Now are you ready for the menu? Anne will be fixing a ham, bread and a pumpkin pie. Amy is fixing a turkey along with some squash and I think a dessert. Since I am not eating meat I'm bringing some dressing along with mashed potatoes and gravy, steamed broccoli and a cauliflower salad.

Yesterday I made the dressing and will only have to heat it up tomorrow. Today I prepared the veggies and made the gravy....and boy is the gravy good! It's a new recipe for me and I wanted to make sure it was worthy of the title. Awesome Mushroom Gravy ( http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=27548.0) lives up to it's name. It's totally vegan and easy to make.

I don't think any of us will go hungry!

Jim is tired...he gets up at 0700 and his work day starts at 0800 and ends at 2200. The job itself isn't hard but he's on duty until 1700 and makes a round and closes the pool at 2200. He helps park the rigs and takes care of minor problems around the resort. He also gets to meet and greet everyone. Everyone who know us will see that Jim isn't getting the amount of sleep he normally gets.

Today the rig was washed by Nick and his crew. I'm sure it needed it! While traveling Jim tries to keep the bugs off the front and does spot cleaning but the roof can get messy. The windows are clean again!

I hope your Thanksgiving is all that you want it to be. Sharing with family and friends or a quiet dinner for two. We all have a lot to be thankful for

'Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace, the celebration of work and the simple life... a true folk-festival that speaks the poetry of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seedtime and harvest, the ripe product of the year - and the deep, deep connection of all these things with God.' ~Ray Stannard Baker (David Grayson)

Critters

It's 5o'clock on a Saturday, the temperature is in the mid 80's. Some like this warm weather and others can do without it. Oh the wind is blowing too, but that's normal for this area.

Around 0900 this morning Jim and I went for a ride on our trikes. It's been awhile since we did a long ride and we could feel it when we headed into the wind. I guess we need to get out more! We did almost 7 miles round trip and I was huffin and puffin at some points.

On the was back we came across this critter....it was the only picture I could snap off before he headed into the brush. I don't know what kind of snake he is, maybe two feet long.

This pretty critter came by yesterday and some say it's a hummingbird moth but it doesn't look like any of the pictures I've come across.
The above critters are pretty to look at and don't bother me. But the mosquitoes we have this year are about to drive me nuts! Even with the wind and breezes we have they drive you indoors most of the time. And there are some bugs down here that don't like me that raise a welt that itches for three or four days.

Everyone knows I don't like spiders so they HAVE to point them out to me! The other night at the dinner for work campers I had a tarantula shared with me....ewwwww

When we got back from our ride I headed out with Anne to pick up some groceries. Why do we shop on the weekends? Walmart was crowded but I have to admit they did have more than the normal amount of cashiers on hand. Anne still needed a couple items that Walmart didn't have so we stopped at HEB, but after searching for a spot to park she decided she could do without them for today.

Back home I popped a pizza in the oven and Jim and I had that for a late lunch. I should have passed on it. I am mostly meat and cheese free and this pizza didn't set well with me. Smelled good! After I did the dishes I laid down for a nap....before long Jim joined me....that ride just tuckered me out....

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
~Irish Blessing

Just a normal day

Not sure why I got up at 0530 but I couldn't go back to sleep. I suppose it would be acceptable if I could watch the sun come up, but that would mean I'd have to get dressed and walk or ride to the back of the resort. I'm not that motivated that early in the day!

Even Jim got up early. Around 0715! Usually I have to wake him. :-) The temperature was in the upper 50's and kept dropping for a couple hours. The sun did rise and was out for a bit then the wind picked up and a cold front came through.

I fixed scrambled eggs and fried potatoes for breakfast. I had some fresh pineapple with mine. On Tuesday a produce vendor comes by and he has reasonable prices. For three bucks you can get a pineapple and he cleans it for you.

After breakfast I got busy doing dishes and laundry. I also made a loaf of bread. I found a simple recipe and the dough is kept in the refrigerator. So far it's working great for fresh bread but if we start gaining weight I'll have to slow down my bread making...

These pictures were taken a few days ago, the palms in early afternoon.

The sunrises here aren't as colorful as Cedar Key but they'll do!

For lunch I wasn't very motivated so I fixed beans and rice. Not sure why something so simple can make such a big mess, but it did! While I was cleaning the kitchen and doing dishes Jim decided a nap was in order.

Spent I quiet afternoon with Jim. After his nap he putzed around with the solar lights and did some work on our screen door. We have plexiglass inserts so we can keep the door open when the ac is running. The upper one gives us problems in high wind. One time it popped right out! So he's trimmed it out with some painted dowels. He also put springs on it so it closes automatically and a bar handle. We had coffee outside but the breeze was a bit cool and we came inside.

Spent the evening watching TV and went to bed before 2200.

Winter Season

It's official, the work camping season has begun. It started on the 15th and will continue through to the end of March. Last night the owner Mike and his wife Laurie hosted a dinner for the work campers and put out a nice spread of barbecue, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob and salad. We also had our choice of beer, wine and teas to drink. The new managers Guy and Juanita gave everyone a welcome mat. That was unexpected and quite nice.

Jim hasn't started working yet, he'll be on a five days on ten days off schedule along with Al and Eric. Not sure when he starts, if he told me I forgot! :-)

We've had one or two cold fronts dip down here in south Texas and while it's annoying for some to have to wear shoes and socks along with long pants, I don't mind. The past couple of days have been in the upper 80's maybe even 90+ and with the humidity it's been to warm for me. I don't suppose there is a perfect weather spot that would suit both of us!

Our resort is still quite empty as a lot of the snow birds don't come down until after the holidays. That family time is important to them. A few of our friends have yet to arrive.

I guess a cold front is coming through because since I've gotten up the temperature has dropped! Oh well, at least we don't have snow!

Veterans Day 2011

the moon setting this morning

Today find a Veteran and thank them - Pick up the phone, walk across the street, stop by the USO or the Veterans of Foreign Wars VFW and let America's finest know how much YOU appreciate their service. Take a moment to teach a child how men and women throughout American history have sacrificed for all of us. Take this day and make it count!

I had both flags out early today to honor all Veterans, past and present but especially those who gave all
moon setting on this special day.....11 11 11

It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you.

~Author unknown, sometimes attributed to M. Grundler

all set up for the winter

Well, not much is going on here. After the flurry of arriving and greeting friends we've settled in for the winter. Jim has been doing some work around the resort but he doesn't officially start work camping until the 15th. Jim, Al and Eric will be the three working 5 day shifts. They'll assist with parking and making sure, day to day, that the resort is running smoothly. They'll take care of minor problems and alert the manager to problems they can't handle.

Our outside patio is set up but I'm still having a problem with noise when the wind blows (and that is almost 24/7). It wakes me up at night. The lights still need to be put up and I'm sure Jim will get to it soon.

I'm not sure why but we have a problem with mosquitoes! Everyone knows about the drought in Texas but apparently not this area. Sitting outside is impossible even with the breezes we have here.

I've been having trouble with my left eye and finally had them examined. There appears to be a problem with my retina and next Monday I'll see someone at the VA eye clinic. On the other hand, my prescription hasn't changed!

There you have it. When we come here it's like living in any neighborhood. We have happy hours, sometimes we party but mostly we hang around and do pretty much nothing

Bentsen Palm RV Resort

We left Victoria shortly after 0900 Tuesday morning. Our drive was around 230 miles so the early start (for us) was necessary. The trip was uneventful and we only made one stop for lunch.

My job when traveling is to spot birds! I saw a lot of red tailed hawks and once we got south of the Corpus Christi area I saw the first Crested Cara Cara of the season. http://www.birds-of-north-america.net/crested-caracara.html We see them a lot here in the Rio Grand Valley.

When we arrived at Bentsen Palm we had to wait 10-15 to get into our site. No one was in the office and we weren't sure which site to set up in. After we got that all squared away we started setting up for the winter. Most of it was done when our friends started dropping by! First Pat Shearer, she let us know we were a day early and our happy hour party was Wednesday. OK, the fun has begun!

Still working albeit a little slower when Jeni and Don Wilson showed up. Well that put an end to any work as we sat and chatted and drank beer. When they left we made some coffee (no more beer, please!) and drove over to see Ann and Scotty. It's odd not being parked next to them!

We sat and chatted with them until hunger pangs sent us home just before 1900. We still had to take the trikes off the bed! That chore was done and then I re-heated some leftovers for dinner.

Whew! After dinner we showered and relaxed for the evening with both of us just waiting for bedtime because we were just plain tired....

Yesterday I was up just before 0400 for a bathroom break. I went back to bed but couldn't sleep so I got up at 0440! YUCK! I had coffee did a gazillion things on the computer and by this time it was only 0700.....so I ate breakfast. I woke Jim at 0800 and once he was up I started with some laundry and other chores.

Jim headed outside after his coffee and started gathering up all the stuff we left behind in storage. So far we haven't located all we need to set up the screened patio. It will happen, just not today!

We had our dinner at lunch time and after that I did dishes then crashed! Don't know how long I slept but when I got up Jim said he napped for about 45 minutes. We were getting prepared for happy hour later....

The happy hours here include foods that everyone contributes to. I made some spiced walnuts to take. When we arrived there were veggies and dips set out, chicken salad and crackers, M&M's, etc. As more people showed up more food arrived! Oh and the beer was flowing as was some wine and cocktails. I was being good just drinking water.....

After awhile Pat brought out the tequila so those who wanted to could do shots.....well I only had two! That sure warmed my tummy. Around dusk the party broke up and everyone headed home. I hit the shower and Jim followed. We watched some TV and headed to bed at 2200.

I'm happy to say I slept until 0700 this morning!

So we are settling in here and staying tired....I think we're going to dinner tonight at Hayashi's, one of our favorite Japanese grill houses.

Victoria, Texas

yesterday after a leisurely start we left Turtle Bayou and headed into Houston until we found hwy 59 and then headed south.

Turtle Bayou is very pretty but the campground itself is in need of some tlc. Great place to stop for a night or two! I thought the roads were a bit narrow and crumbly but Jim didn't have a problem navigating them.

Our drive was an easy one and after a stop around noon for lunch we drove another 100 miles or so until we got off on hwy 185 and stopped at Lazy Longhorn RV park. From what we've seen so far it's a crammed park. By that I mean the sights are close. There is some grass between sites and there are trees. I'll get some pictures posted. Both Turtle Bayou and Lazy Longhorn are Passport America parks so we got the lower rates which helps the budget!

Haven't seen any cactus or Cara Cara's yet, guess we aren't far enough south.

Went to dinner at Guadalajara #9, nice friendly place and the prices were good too.

Texas

We left Louisiana around 1030 this morning. Not without incident! Jim noticed I had a flat tire and after trying to put air in it decided we needed to carry it inside on the bed. At this time the slides were already in so it was a tight squeeze to bring it inside. When we tried to put his trike on my rack it didn't fit so inside with his trike too!

The drive over to Turtle Bayou in Wallisville, Texas didn't take long. We made one stop around noon for lunch at the Texas welcome center. we shall be in Texas until next April.......

The above picture is our view for tonight. In the morning we leave and head south

More Beer!

Saturday we decided that we needed to take the Abita Brewery tour. This means we got to drink more beer! We took the first afternoon tour and for an hour we enjoyed the hospitality of Abita. When they let you in you get a wrist band and a go cup. The line fills up quickly and you can help yourself to all the beer you can drink.

You do have to listen to some of the history and take a tour but that takes about 10-15 minutes. I'm not sure who drank the most!

Sunday we packed up and left Fairview-Riverside SP. It sure is a beautiful area and you should stop if you're in the area.

Our destination was Kinder, Louisiana and the Red Shoes RV park at Coushatta Casino. Since arriving I've done laundry, laundry and more laundry! No sewer hook up at the state park.

On Monday Jim cleaned the bedroom and this morning he did the dishes, so we've both been working while here.

Yesterday we awoke to overcast skies and a little spitting rain, a front started coming through and we ended up putting on jeans and long sleeved shirts when we headed to the Casino for lunch. Jim had jambalaya with mac and cheese and slaw while I had a bowl of gumbo and some fried okra. We thoroughly enjoyed our Cajun treats! We then headed to Feather fuel to pay only $3.56 for diesel. Last stop was the Market Basket for a few groceries.

The temperature continued to drop all day and by the time we went to bed it was in the mid 50's. Over night it did drop to the mid 40's and when I got up shortly after 0700 it was 45 degrees outside and 56 degrees inside. Time for the fireplace! I also made a blueberry coffeecake for breakfast just to turn on the oven.

Abita Brewery

Last Friday we went to a beer tasting at Abita Brewery in Abita Springs Louisiana. The event cost $15 each and it was a lot of fun!

The tables were all set up with buckets, glasses with water for rinsing. four glasses for the beers and an Abita pint glass for comparison.

It was interesting to taste how different the beer is in the Spiegelau glasses. Even the smell was different! Kinda like tasting wines.

The first tasting was SOS, "This unfiltered Weizen Pils is made with Pilsner and Wheat malts. It is hopped and dry hopped with Sterling and German Perle hops. It has a brilliant gold color, a sweet malt flavor, and a pleasant bitterness and aroma"

The second beer was Purple Haze, "a crisp, American style wheat beer with raspberry puree added after filtration"

Third was Amber, "a Munich style lager brewed with crystal malt and Perle hops"

The last one was the 25th Anniversay Vanilla Double Dog, "Turbodog is the inspiration for this robust dark ale. It is brewed with generous amounts of pale, caramel, and chocolate malts and Willamette hops. Whole natural vanilla beans are added during the aging process.This combination provides a rich body and color with chocolate, vanilla and toffee-like flavor"

This last one was new to us and we both liked it!

There was a slide show and we learned a little bit more about the glasses and how they enhance the flavor of the beer. Also they tend to keep the beer cooler longer.

All of the glasses came home with us along with a bottle opener. Not bad for the price!

Fairview-Riverside State Park, Madisonville, Louisiana

We left Alabama yesterday morning under cloudy skies. Our trip wasn't long, about 166 miles. We stopped for lunch and we arrived at the park around 1430. Within an hour we were set up and sitting outside enjoying a cold beer under sunny skies with balmy, pine scented breeze.

This is the view we had...

After a dinner of leftover stir fry and egg rolls we went for a walk. We saw evidence of high water from the Tchefuncte River. Walking along the boardwalk you can see the waters edge has been eroded in spots.

the cypress trees are still lovely

not sure what this is but I've seen a lot of them in bloom along with the goldenrod

Tchefuncte River

This morning I was up early enough to see the Moon about to set

This oak looks mystical to me in the morning mist

Jim asked if I'd like to drive across the lake to drive down Magazine Street and visit Whole Foods Market. Well duh! So after breakfast, dishes and getting dressed we headed across Lake Ponchartrain to visit some familiar areas.

To me New Orleans is home. We spent over twenty years here and I've never lived longer anywhere else. We drove around the Garden District, even managed to hit new streets due to an accident. Don't you love exploring new areas?

We had lunch at the Louisiana Pizza Kitchen on Carrollton Ave before heading to Whole Foods. I love this store and had fun shopping there. I didn't even go down all the aisles because it tempts me to buy more than we need!

We stopped at a light I saw this beautiful home. You could spend a lifetime taking pictures of all the beautiful homes in New Orleans!

Lazy Days

When we left Tallahassee we brought some of it with us! Spanish Moss drips from the oak trees and apparently we caught some on our way out of Big Oak RV Park.

This is our set up here at Hilltop RV, Robertsdale Alabama. Nice enough campground, the site are a bit close so wintering here would be ok. Certainly not like where we currently stay in the Rio Grande Valley. But this area of Alabama is very nice. Pensalcola and Mobile are about an hour's drive and of course Gulf Shores and the beaches are just down the road.

Last Saturday we headed into Spanish Fort/Daphne to get some dry food for Boo. The shopping center there has a PetSmart. We also had lunch at Olive Garden with both of us having a glass of wine and an entree. It was very tasty!

After one more stop at Publix for groceries we headed home. The weather has been just gorgeous with slight breezes, sunny skies and temperatures in the low to mid 80's.

Monday was bed day so I started early with laundry. We also decided to drive to Magnolia Springs, http://www.townofmagnoliasprings.org/. Perfect day for a drive and I only wish we could have taken some pictures of the homes we saw. Narrow streets prevented stopping, where do you park a big truck? It would have been nice if we had brought our trikes and rode around the area. Along the river homes still have mail delivered by boat!

We had lunch at Jesse's Restaurant http://www.jessesrestaurant.com/ and I was very surprised at the menu. We both enjoyed our lunch, Jim having sweet tea (we are in the south!) while I opted for water.

After lunch we walked down towards the river where you can pick up your meal from Jesse's after calling ahead.

These mushrooms caught my eye

The sun filtering through the trees was very pretty

Today it's a drippy, gloomy day so far. No plans other than getting ourselves ready to head to Louisiana tomorrow. We have a beer tasting to attend!

Nothing new here

We're enjoying some beautiful weather and yesterday we just stayed home. Jim worked on cleaning the rig (darn old love bugs are hard to remove!) and the truck. I did some laundry which seems to be a daily thing.

We both read some, Jim is reading the latest Ken Follet novel and I'm reading book by Maureen Ash, Murder for Christ's Mass a Templar Knight Mystery.

Forgot to mention that we got diesel fuel the other day for $3.55 a gallon. That's the lowest we've seen in a long while. Hope it continues to go down!

Had spaghetti for dinner last night along with a salad. I chopped up some pork loin for Jim's and I tried Gardein's Tuscan Chick'n. I didn't care for it and won't buy it again. Of course it wasn't really chicken and the taste and consistency wasn't to my liking. And the sauce was something I'd have to get used to. My sauce is better!

needed to mail a package

After doing our routine chores yesterday morning we headed out to find the Post Office in Robertsdale. Turned out to be a simple task! We took some back roads, winding our way among the roads being constructed, taking detours for I-10 (?) and viola! there it was, almost on the corner of hwy 16 and hwy 59.

After that Jim headed south on Hwy 59 with no particular destination in mind. We stopped and a visitor center mostly to see if there were any fairs or festivals going on in the area this weekend. No luck there. We've been to this many times but it's always nice to see something new.

About this time we needed some lunch. We stopped at Peng Garden for a Chinese buffet. Fell off the vegan wagon again by having pork dumplings, chicken spring rolls and wonton soup. But it was sooooo good!

After lunch we pulled into Tanger Outlet Mall (Foley Alabama) to stroll around, the weather was lovely and after our lunch we needed to walk. We both managed to find something to buy!

We checked out the Oakley store for sunglasses and I may be able to get some but first I need an eye exam. I have such a narrow bridge that it's hard for me to find glasses that fit.

We had leftovers from the Japanese restaurant for dinner....

Alabama

Around 1015 yesterday we left Tallahassee and headed to Robertsdale, Alabama. Hilltop RV Park http://hilltoprvpark.com/ was our destination and we made it good time arriving around 1330. Of course we're back in Central Time Zone! We made two stops, one after an hour or so to check the new tires on the truck and another for lunch an hour or so later.

We are parked so the sun is on our street side but it will do for a week. There isn't a lot of shade here but there are trees planted for that purpose, just have to wait for them to grow up. I didn't notice it yesterday but this morning I can hear the traffic on I-10. There are 8 TV channels but our new dome satellite dish for Direct TV works just fine! They say they have free wi-fi but we've not been able to get online with it.

Dinner was simple last night, garlic mashed potatoes, peas and carrots, sauteed kale and Jim had some pork loin. Although I'm not completely vegan I'm working on it. I still love seafood! At home it isn't a problem but when we eat out, like our dinner at Osaka Japanese Steakhouse Tuesday night I just have to order shrimp teppan yaki! It was a delicious dinner we shared with Sonsearae and Chris. Each couple could have shared a dinner and still be well fed. We'll probably have our leftovers today for dinner. I'll let Jim eat my shrimp....

Not sure what we'll do while we're here. Jim mentioned going to the USS Alabama as we have done that in a few years. Maybe we can find some kind of fair this weekend.

The Wedding 27 Sept

We did some arranging of potted plants Tuesday afternoon. Pat moved them out onto the dock for us and a heart was drawn and Robyn arranged flower petals on it. The ceremony was performed by Roy Stanley. Roy, Susan Stanley, Chris and Sonsearae wrote it. Part of the vows were from Broken Arrow, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_Arrow_(1950_film)

This film influenced me as a teen and it's where I got Sonsearae's name.

You can read the vows here

Before the ceremony Chris and Sonsearae present her parent with embroidered hankies because they knew we'd cry! Matter of fact most of the pictures were taken before hand for this very reason!

Chris posted a lot of pictures on Facebook. Cindy and Pat Bonish did an excellent job. For that reason I didn't even pick up my camera.

After the ceremony and a few more pictures we toasted the Bride and Groom with sparkling wine. Some of us took time to clean up and off we went to dinner where the newly married couple treated us to a lovely dinner. For dessert we had a decadent chocolate cake and Italian cream cake to choose from. Both were yummy!

What A Week!

I shall attempt to start blogging about this past week. It has been busy, fun and emotional.

Last Monday the Bride and Groom arrived mid afternoon. Sonsearae and Chris are getting married on Tuesday right here at Low-Key Hideaway, http://www.lowkeyhideaway.com/. You see they visited us over the 4th of July holiday and fell in love with the place. Of course the managers Cindy and Pat Bonish are super hosts and have become friends with all of us. Now they are part of our extended family!

As we waited for other members of the wedding party to arrive we had a chance to talk and catch up. Soon we were getting hungry and decided to find dinner! Tony's Restaurant was our choice where we started the trend of ordering more than we can eat! Who knew the side salad was enough to feed two people!? Any way we had a good dinner and took some food home.

As we were leaving Jeff showed up and followed us back to Low-Key Hideaway. We all sat outside enjoying the weather and chatting. Soon Roy and Susan showed up. Roy is Sonsearae's poppa and he officiated at the wedding.

Tuesday morning we all headed out to breakfast at Ken's Diner. I think we all had a good time just discussing the plans and having some down time. I think we had lunch out but truthfully I cannot remember! Chris rented a golf cart and everyone had fun with that.

stay tuned! more to come

Cedar Key, Florida

We left Ocala Florida after lunch on Wednesday. It was a short drive of around 80 miles and we didn't want to arrive at Low Key Hideaway to early because we knew Cindy and Pat had just returned from their vacation. It takes some work to get your motel and campground spic and span when you've been away for awhile.

We still managed to arrive before 1500! Pat greeted us and helped stop traffic so Jim could back into 'our' site.

While he was doing that I took a picture of the SS Minnow.....we like this boat! In fact, we like Cedar Key, the wonderful people we've met here and especially Low Key Hideaway. Cindy and Pat are a couple of hard working people and they make everyone feel at home here.

We decided to have dinner at the Pickled Pelican. Jim had a shrimp dish and I had black beans and rice and some cole slaw.
I love the posters/signs they have on the wall

Yesterday I was up early enough to spend some time outside with my coffee and Cindy was watering. She pointed out the banana blooming and the wee bananas. So I went back later and took a picture.

I spent most of the morning doing laundry....bed day.
Last night we were at the Tiki Bar and Nicole and Kevin showed up. We enjoyed chatting with them before heading home around 2100.

Today more laundry and Jim spent all morning outside getting those love bugs washed off the truck and front of the rig. He also spent some time on the roof which always makes me nervous and Boo isn't crazy about it either!

Ocala Florida

We left McIntosh last Wednesday morning late. After a grueling hour or so of driving on I-75 we made it to our destination of Ocala Sun RV Resort, http://www.ocalasunrvresort.com/index.html

In no time at all we were all set up. It's very nice here. All the sites are grassy but they allow mats and it looks like you can install patio pavers as some sites have them. Some have screen rooms so I guess that's ok too! There is a lack of trees and the only landscaping is around the public buildings. Not sure how it would be for winter stays as the sites are close but staggered.

Wednesday evening we decided to eat out and Jim chose Carrabas. We both enjoyed our dinner! It was happy hour and we had beer to go with our pasta. Jim had a seafood dish and I had pomodoro (tag pic pac on the menu) pasta. We had brushetta to start and of course there was bread on the table. Our meals came with a salad and by the time we got the main course we were full. We ended up taking some home.

Thursday we went to the mall so I could find something to wear to the wedding. I just didn't like what I had in the closet. I did find a blouse and it was on sale too! After that exhausting trek we went to Barnes and Nobles for some down time. One more stop at Sam's Club and we were homeward bound.

Friday we went shopping for groceries. I did buy a lot of produce at Sam's Club but we needed some other items, so Jim found us a Walmart. Once home I put all our purchases away.

I can't remember which day it was that we worked. Jim did some outside cleaning on the rig. It's love bug season. I stripped the bed but Jim made it when we got home from wandering. Maybe that was Thursday because we were both hungry when we got home and I started reheating leftovers from our dinner out.

Saturday......I think we stayed home!

I was up early Sunday and was able to watch the sun rise above the clouds and tree line

After a breakfast of pancakes we headed to The Villages, http://www.thevillages.com/. According to the sign it was 16 miles down the road. It was a lovely drive and we enjoyed the scenery of horse farms and pastures. Jim had checked and we knew that the village was housing. We thought it would be fun to see the homes. But the homes we wanted to see were in gated communities with guards. We drove a little farther and we found a town square, http://www.thevillages.com/lifestyle/ssTownSquare.asp. It's full of shops and restaurants built around a square. I didn't have my camera but the buildings had a Southwestern feel and quite pretty to look upon. We strolled around for a bit but none of the restaurants appealed to us so we went in search of more!

We found Sweet Tomatoes. Neither one of us had eaten there. Inside the door Jim hesitated because there's a salad bar. I told him we could leave but he decided salads are a good thing. We plated up some salad (Jim did two plates) and we paid. Then we discovered all the food behind the wall! Soups, baked potatoes, breads, muffins, pizza, soft serve ice cream with toppings, fruit. We both enjoyed our lunch very much and I know I over ate but it was so good!

Back home I turned on the tv while Jim tried to nap. After he gave that pastime up we watched mindless tv while we occupied ourselves with computers and iPads. After Boo had his dinner I took him for a walk and discovered it was nice outside! Wonderful breeze and pleasant temperature. I told Jim to come outside and we both watched football (Houston/Miami).
We also had our dinner outside. Around 1900 I went inside and Jim followed.

I guess that about covers it. Both of us are looking forward to the new season starting on tv. Castle is on tonight. The NCIS shows tomorrow night.

McIntosh, Florida

I had a couple postcards to mail so we enjoyed another ride this morning. Of course I was sore from yesterday but I expected that. After ten-fifteen minutes I didn't notice the stiffness any more. While riding around I took some pictures of the buildings

This squirrel entertains me while I try to capture him with the camera. You should see him bouncing around on the canvas shelter on the rig next door!

Other than the ride we didn't do much today. Jim napped while I played games on the computer.

slight change in plans

We had to put off our departure from Tampa by one day. TS Lee even though traveling up the country was pulling moisture up out of the Gulf right across Tampa and the path we wanted to travel in. So we stayed one more night at MacDill AFB. During the night we had storms roll through and when we got up Wednesday it didn't look promising. The skies were overcast but it wasn't raining. We checked the forecast and decided to hit the road.

We took our time and left around 1015. Driving out of Tampa was under heavy skies and quite a bit of traffic. We'd been traveling about an hour when we finally hit I-75. The day was clearing up and soon we had sunny skies. Made one stop for lunch and arrived at Sportsman's Cove in McIntosh, Florida around 1400 or shortly thereafter.

It didn't take long to set up but it was warm so we sat under the oak tree and had a cold beer. There are a lot of mighty oaks around here and I've taken some pictures but I won't post them all today! They're just dripping with Spanish Moss and when there is a breeze it's very nice.
Our neighbors have a lot of potted plants and this butterfly was enjoying some nectar. Poor thing has a section of his wing missing
This is the meandering road into the campground. By the way it's call a resort.....but don't believe it! It's more like a fish camp. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure when there is water in the lake the fishermen will be here.
This is the lake......
There might be gators but I don't think there is any swimming going on
Boat slips are ready for gardening! There are no amenities here other than the wifi and cable. During the season I'm sure they charge for electricity. We've seen the meters at every site. We got Passport America Rates for the week which made it reasonable. It's 24 bucks a night for very close grassy sites

Over night the temperature dropped into the upper 60's! I started opening windows when I got out of bed. At first there wasn't any wind but when the breeze picked up it was nice having fresh air wafting through the house.

We went for a ride which didn't last very long as I couldn't pedal my trike! I know I haven't ridden much but I just could not make any headway up the slight inclines. Once back home Jim checked and my gear was stuck on high! No wonder I couldn't pedal....He fixed it but we need to have the shift mechanization looked at. Hopefully the weather will stay nice so we can ride more. There are some lovely old homes in the neighborhood.

Jim cleaned the bugs off the front of the rig while I sat outside and finished up my book. We both had a lunch of leftovers outside.