This old house...

...is getting remodeled by Amy and Jason...and now Brian is here to help get it finished so they can move in (next door to us!). I am keeping the wee boys periodically this month so that Amy can go slap paint on the walls. Who's getting the better end of that deal?! Stay tuned for some updates.

Enjoy your Tuesday...here come da boyz!

Stupid sign...

Joy saw this sign at I-75 in Marietta and got a good laugh out of it. Like, where would anyone go???

Happy birthday to you...

This lovely young lady is our first born, and she is celebrating a birthday today! She is a wife, mother, school teacher, entrepreneur...the list could go on and on and I'd sound like a proud mama, which I am.

Dad and I are blessed to have you, honey. Enjoy your special day 'cause you sure are special to us and to lots of other folks!

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you....come on, everybody SING!!!
Happy birthday, dear Haley.....
Happy birthday to you!!!

We love you!
Mom and Dad

And thanks again for the delish birthday dinner last night, Amy. That key lime pie was awesome, but the best 'sugah' came from all my kiddies. It is sooo good to be home. Life is GRAND! Have a great Sunday, y'all!!!

Little Red School House flag...and on the road again!

Remember when Bob, Lynne, Dick and I went to the Little Red School House when they were down in WPB and it was locked and we tried to see the flag inside that Mom Bell made? Well, Dick and I went back by there the other day and the door was open! There was a docent inside hosting a class of kids, so we could only do a quick snap and then had to leave. Here is the flag...

...I was thrilled to get this lonely photo and will make an effort next winter to go back for a closer inspection.

Last night's dinner was delish...Lynne and I are a good team, and we wound up having 10 folks instead of six...Holly's parents, and Scott and Molly. Oh is Molly a charmer (she is 3). Holly had taken Mason to a soccer game, so we didn't get to see them, darn it. It was a fun time, but that always happens when good people gather together with food!

Y'all know that we are on the road today, heading to No. Georgia, and will hit some rain en route. WillThink4Wine, watch for me to wave to you as we cruise through your berg. Wish we could stop and chat...we'll definitely have to plan that next time. Amy is cooking dinner for the whole family tonight, so we've gotta keep rolling and get on home. Boy, will that feel good. I get to load up on some good 'sugah' tonight! Happy Saturday! Make it a fun day!!!

Missy is packed and ready to roll!

Missy thinks this packing and loading up business is hard work. Whew, she is pooped!

We've got it all together and are rolling to Orlando this morning. Bob and Lynne will meet us at a campground, where Lynne and I will put together dinner and take it over to Don and Carolyn's house. Carolyn has been under the weather with some bronchitis issues, so we'll be Meals on Wheels for them tonight....and we don't mind that one bit.

There were 10 of us for dinner at the Grumpy Grouper last night. It is always hard saying goodbye, but that was what we had to do. Dan and Joan will be in Mayberry next week, so that will be only a short goodbye...and JT and Susan promise to get up to see us this summer, so we'll hold them to that promise!

Enjoy your weekend. Ours will be 'on the road again'......life is good!

Packing day!

Yes, today is the day we have to remove all the patio stuff, take the large umbrella over to Wade's storage locker, stow loose objects inside the coach, and generally prepare to pull out at noon Friday. Time to leave the Treasure Coast and head to Mayberry, where daffodils are dancing in the sun and dogwoods will be soon be blooming. And grandkids are waiting for us! Now y'all know the REAL reason for us to go home...and well, that work thing.

Our own RV park opens on 4/1, so we do have to get some preparations done ahead of that. Amy, Jason and Brian are working on getting our old house finished so A/J can move in, and I'll be playing nanny to Scooter on Wednesdays and Fridays for the next month. Throw me in that briar patch! Feel free to either come by and paint a wall, or join me in chasing Scooter boy! We'd all love the company...but it'll be more fun at MY house! You'll find the three of us on the back deck watching the lake fill up!!! Cheers...

Hump day and other stuff...

Yes! We finally got to collect big hugs from Empress Bee and Sarge at brunch yesterday and it felt sooo good. Needless to say, we talked, ate, laughed, ate, compared travel plans, ate...
Sorry to talk so much about that eating part, Haley. Oh boy, was that cinnamon-nut French toast good. Oops...no, I didn't get you take out from John G's as you requested because it just wouldn't be so good on Sunday as your birthday present, but I do have something else that you wanted! Plus you get Dad, me and Missy back home in time to celebrate with you.

Dick has another rental committee meeting to attend this morning, and of course I go with him since it is open to the membership and it is fun watching the interaction. I really hate it when folks get on a committee with the sole purpose of pushing their own agenda, not what is good for the overall opertion, and that is what is going on here. Dick isn't in that 'personal agenda' category, of course. Sheesh. He sorta feels like the Lone Ranger in there, but he has enough backbone that he points out how overall unfair some of their suggestions are. He is restraining himself quite well without using the word IDIOT once! Yet. Stay tuned though. He has another opportunity today!!!

Y'all enjoy your Hump Day. Ours will be fun, as you can see. Despite the idiots, life is good!

Where's lunch?

This elegant visitor to our patio snagged a slow lizard for his lunch yesterday...

Hmmm, was he wondering which chair to enjoy during the digestion process?Next, he checked out this area for dessert...then left us for perhaps greener pastures next door.
And today is another sunny day in paradise. It will be filled with friends and food...always a great combination. Go out and enjoy your day. Life is short; make fun of it!

Sneaky girl, Missy...

Missy likes my fluffy scarf and tried to sneak off with it but I caught her! It looks entirely nice with her coloring, however I feel it is a bit too long, don't you agree?

Good afternoon from sunny south Florida where the overcast is now gone and gentle tropical breezes are flowing ever so nicely, not the gusty stuff we've been having almost all winter. This has been a cold, windy winter for sure.

I just read online that Lance Armstrong cracked his collarbone today in a pile up in Spain. Oh dear, that may knock him out of the Tour de France this year! Brian had that happen to him, and it is no picnic.

Dick took the jet ski over to Dan's place yesterday and got it all loaded up on Dan's trailer...to the detriment of Dick's back. But he'll get over it and the jet ski and Kubota will get delivered to Mayberry and Dick will be a happy camper.

We had lunch with Neal and Judie today, and will go over to dinner at Serge and Julie's place shortly to say our farewell to Wade and Ginger, who leave tomorrow for Carabelle. Our own departure is Friday, but there will be more on that later.

That is our Monday...Tuesday will be great, because we are meeting Bee and Charlie at John G's for a late breakfast. Life is good. Smile, y'all!!!

Dick 'n Dan on the prowl...

Here is my fine, 'new' ride. Dan picked it up for us, and here are Mutt and Jeff taking it out for a wee spin in Dan's neighborhood. Oh, the trouble these two can get into! Handy, dandy Dan is gonna deliver it to Mayberry for us. I think my Chuck Wagon is being replaced and it will go to our park. Dang, orange isn't my color, but Chuck (our park manager) needs a Chuck Wagon, don'tcha think?


Our Florida time is running out. We just made plans last night to visit sister Carolyn in Orlando on Friday night, putting us in Mayberry on Saturday. Let's see now...it is 38 in Mayberry right now and 65 here in WPB. Hopefully spring will hurry up and spring back home this week!


So now we are off to church, then lunch with Dick and Chris. The sun is shining after yesterday's rain and yuck, so hopefully we can watch the race today sitting on our patio. Not many patio days left...


Enjoy your Sunday. What are you doing for fun today??? Do tell!

Thanks, Wade!

A few friends got together to put on a surprise thank-you party for Wade, who just got off the board here at the park in FL. Of course there was cake...and pizza, beer, salad, music, wine, fun, dancing.......

Wade and Ginger dancing...

Hey Dick...look over here...

See all these folks dancing, Dick?

Come here, big boy! Yes, YOU........I wanna dance!!!

And so we did. It sure was fun, and we sure were tired by the time we hit the bed, but it was all worth the effort. Wade was truly surpised, and pleased that 96 folks showed up to say THANKS for a job well done. Happy retirement! Watch out, fish. Wade is heading out to sea very soon!

Life is very good...and our time in FL is growing short.

Grouppa Sistas

The Hampton Inn may never get rid of all of Julia's yellow boa feathers! They were floating around everywhere...

It was so much fun meeting new sistas, putting faces with names we see online almost daily, and getting acquainted in the 'real' instead of just through cyberspace. Of course some of us have met at other gatherings, but for the most part, this was the first time to lay eyes on some of these gals.

We are a group of 75 Beta Sigma Phis in an online chapter...got that? An ONLINE chapter...we meet monthly on the computer, have monthly socials and programs, and certainly do a lot of chatting online. And every year, we try to get together to meet in person. Next May, a gathering is planned for Toronto that would be so much fun to attend, but that is too far away for me to make plans just yet.

Jennie and I were giving Julia a big hug in thanks for all the hard work she did in putting this gathering together.

We are all truly Sisters of the Heart. We are blessed.

The surprise party went very well last night. Will post about it tomorrow after downloading pictures.

Enjoy your weekend. Go out and have some fun!

Thursday things...

Girls having fun...Cathy, Jackie and Julia on the joggling board in Charleston in the gardens at the Russell House...

What a big smile from Scooter boy...showing off two teeth that are popping through...

And here is my favorite leprechaun...Joy's dad, Roger. He just turned 88, and loves his computer. God bless you real good, Roger! You are a dear.

The party plans are going well...food, music, beverages, name tags all in place for the evening. A group of us will go over and decorate the hall this afternoon. Wish all of you could join us!

Life is short...make fun of it! We sure will.

Ray of Sunshine...

Good rainy morning! Anonymous Ann's sweatshsirt is about the only sunshine we're gonna see today...it is RAINING...and south FL needs it soooo badly, so this is not a complaint. See, Ann...I told you I was gonna blog your chest...so to speak! Ann is a new 'sista' we all got to meet in Charleston on our fun weekend, and what a hoot she is, right Joy and Jennie?

Hope y'all had a fun St. Paddy's evening last night. Bill is out of town, so we picked up Barbara and met JT/Susan and Dan/Joan at Fanigan's last night for dinner. Dang...why didn't I think to take a picture of us? OK...imagine us sitting in a booth with loads of good food in front of us. Yes, that is it!

Today, Dick is off buying a Kubota ATV type for our RV park that Dan will deliver to Mayberry for us, along with the jet ski. And I am working with a few friends on a surprise party that happens tomorrow night.

So that is our day...I hope yours is filled with fun and sunshine. Life is good!

Happy St. Paddy's Day to ya!

An Irish Toast for St. Patrick's Day

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrock that grows,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
May your neighbors respect you,
'Troubles neglect you,
'The angels protect you.
May you never forget
What is worth remembering,
Or remember what is best forgotten.
May you never make an enemy
Where you could have made a friend.

Life is short...make fun of it! Blessings to everyone...cheers!

Monday stuff...

Here is the gang at A. W. Shucks last Thursday night, doing what we do best--eating! Table One...

And Table Two...yes, there were just a few brave guys there. The GA Peaches are on the R in this picture...we had sistas from all over the country join us for some Beta Sigma Phi fun.

I don't recommend my routing return. My 9:13 plane got cancelled due to mechanical problems, and we were told that all outbound flights were full and it would be Monday before we could get rescheduled! NOT...I wanna keep moving, so I did. I was mighty tired when Dick picked me up at 10:30 last night. And today screams UNPACK, DO LAUNDRY, SNAILMAIL...when I just wanna go catch up on my fave blogs. Dang, fun will have to wait.

Happy Monday, y'all! Later...

Another city, another airport!

So my flt to ATL gets cancelled due to a mechanical problem. I called Jennie for help. She and Joy picked me up as Dick was searching for rerouting out of Greenville. The gals dropped me off and here I sit, but I am going to WPB by way of LaGuardia. Last time I checked, that was still in NY. Am I having fun? NOT, but that is all part of traveling, so this is just another adventure. Come along for the ride! Life is good
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Hyman's and Jimmy

The gang is all here at Hyman's where the rich and famous dine. Buffet has not been spotted yet, but we are dining at his table. Cheers!
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Doin' the Charleston...

We have been eating our way around Charleston! And why not?!

This morning we toured the lovely Russell House, then after lunch went on a horse drawn carriage ride. Pics will have to wait as the hotel internet is out more than it is on. Urrggghh. Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Joy, jennie and I are about to go to bed. Aren't we th party animals!

So, how did y'all spend your Friday the 13th? Hope it was fun!

Waiting @ Logan Airport

Here I sit, early for my flight to Charleston after tossing and turning all night. I do that when my mind is worried I'll oversleep and miss my departure. No fun, especially since I am not a morning person.

Joy and Jennie are driving there today to meet me and 18 or so BSP sistas to have a mini convention this weekend. Think we'll have fun? You can count on it. And the hotel better have wifi. I could not get online last night. Bummer.

Later y'all...enjoy your Thursday. Zoom, zoom.
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Heading into Newicks...

...For some yummy fish chowdah! Wish y'all were here...

I had to add the picture to my computer and upload from there. See the snow?

Tilt'n Diner @ Tilton, NH

Lynne, Amy, da boyz, and I were out shopping, with Dick as our personal driver. Lunch was at this little piece of Americana, and was quite tasty. There is an outlet shopping center nearby, and each of us came home with something for 'show and tell,' a fun event we always do after our annual ladies trip.

Amy went out sledding with the big boys yesterday afternoon...not planning on it being a 69 mile trip, but that is what it wound up being--they got a bit lost. Hey, in the snowy woods, one tree looks pretty much like another, and Jay wasn't with them. They were all eating left-handed at dinner time, their R thumbs were toooo sore! Jay and Meg went out sledding after dinner, taking advantage of the moonlight...and Jay wound up rescuing a lost 18 year old guy, his second rescue already this year...not of the same guy though. This weather can be very unforgiving.

Jay, Meg, Amy and Jason are going out to dinner tonight and leaving the 'old folks' at home to take care of Doodlebug and Scooter, so named because at 9 months, he is crawling on his L knee, and R foot. He can scoot around pretty quickly in his crab crawl.

We brought Lynne's puter over to the new house and I just hooked it and the printer up for her. Next, I'll remove the Verizon modem she loaned me for my laptop to connect to the internet and go install it on her puter. Small price to pay for all the good cookin' she has been doing for us!

That brings y'all up-to-date on the Travelingbells...havin' fun in NH for today. Life is grand!!! So what is going on with YOU?

UNfrozen Ledge Pond!

No, the weather didn't turn warm overnight, as a matter of fact, it is SNOWING right now! We have 3" of new snow, with more coming down. I just wanted y'all to see what the dock and lake look like in the fall...really beautiful in any season.

The guys plan to go out sledding tonight. No thank you. I'll stay warm and dry inside the house.

We'll go out sightseeing shortly, so I'll be taking lots of photos. Having fun...happy Monday. What are you doing today for fun???

On (frozen) Ledge Pond...

The guys are back from their 'sledding' with Jay as their trail guide, and they all required afternoon naps. That playing is hard work!

Amy took Alex out for a spin here on the Pond, and he loved it. Don't be fooled that the ice is melting...it is probably 2 feet thick!

Having fun in NH...hope y'all are enjoying your Sunday!

All our bags are packed; we're ready to go...

In the wake of the recent Hudson River incident, the FAA is implementing new anti-bird measures for all airliners. I'll be checking out the front of our aircraft today before we board to see if it has this new safety measure.

We'll try to be 'quite' quiet as we stand in line to go through security at the airport this morning. We are heading to New Hampshire, arriving about the same time as Amy and her family arrive. Can't wait to see the wee boys!!! I hope Prince Will hasn't forgotten me.

I actually had to pack for TWO locations. I leave everyone Thursday and head to Charleston to meet up with some girl friends. Oh, this will be an exciting week! Come along for a new adventure...make that TWO adventures! Have a great weekend, y'all. Go out and have some fun. Life is good!

6th picture challenge!

I've been challenged by daughter Haley!

These are the challenge instructions:

•Go to your photo folder in your computer.
•Go to the 6th folder of the photos.
•Go to the sixth picture.
•Put the picture on your blog and a description of it.
•Invite six friends to join the challenge.
•Link them in your blog and let them know they have been challenged!

Ta da! The 6th picture in my 6th album just happens to be a photo of Haley's two cutie pies and her M-I-L, back in May 2002 on the River Rat's first birthday!

Both wee girls have grown so much since then, and just got their ears pierced last weekend. This grammie will for sure be buying lots of 'bling' for these princesses. I sure miss them, but will be back to Mayberry at the end of the month to collect some good 'sugah!'

So now here are the 6 people I'm challenging:

Empress Bee of the High Seas
Barb @ WillThink4Wine
The Dong @ Escapo 2.0
Callie @ Scrappin' with Life
Linda @ Are We There Yet?
Loving Annie @ truetraveltreasures

Happy Friday...I am packing today for COLD weather. Ah, the lure of grandkids!!!

Thursday things...

What's wrong with this picture? It is beautiful outside and not too windy or cool today, and here I sit on the puter...well, not ON the puter, just USING it. Not to play, but to take care of tax stuff. Blech. None of this is going to D.C., thank goodness. I'm not happy with those idiots up there. It is going to the State of Georgia, and that's OK.

Today was supposed to be my rubber stamping day, you know, like in making cute cards and scrapbook pages, but that hasn't happened yet. I did get a couple of cards made yesterday. Dick was supposed to go fishing all day with JT, so I was gonna sit and play. It was too windy this morning, so the fishing got cancelled, then a couple of other projects came up and that cancelled out my stamping. Oh well, that's OK, too, cuz I'm helping to plan a party for someone special. No details yet cuz it is a surprise.

So, where is our trip, you ask? Well, we fly to NH on Saturday to go snowmobiling, joined by Amy, Jason, Doodlebug and Prince Will! I will probably spend most of the time inside playing with our two wee boys though, and enjoying Lynne (SIL), while Bob takes the guys and Amy off playing. You can bet there'll be some snow pictures posted next week! I hope Bob and Lynne have their internet up and running by the time we get there, otherwise, it'll be phone posting all week! Oh yes, life is GRAND!!!

Wednesday washing...

And I'm not talking about clothes, but that is also going on. See the top of the mojo, way up there? It was raining this morning, so Dick climbed up and scrubbed the roof. Of course it didn't go smoothly. He had to move the water hose and somehow it caught around the upright PVC holding the faucet. Yep, snapped that puppy right off and created his very own personal geyser. All he needed was a bar of soap for his now outdoor shower! Needless to say, he was not a happy camper but he was able to get the flow substantially small till the park fix-it guy got here to do the permanent fix. Dick's wet duds are now getting clean. Life is never dull here at the Fun Factory.

I went to a new eye doc this morning and had good news/bad news. Good news is that my eyes haven't changed, and he identified that I have clogged tear ducts, making my eyes water and overproduce tears in compensation! Hmmm, wonder why my regular doc didn't know this, as this is not a new problem:( Anyway, the 'fix' is simple (this doc has the same problem) and doesn't require Rx, so I'm gonna work on the fix. The bad news is that my old, cracked lens couldn't simply be replaced, so I had to get new frames and lens, but they are still cheaper than what I can get in Mayberry. I don't like to spend $$ if I don't have to. I'd rather use it on our travels! Oh yes, there is another trip in our near future...stay tuned!

Not so happy Tuesday...

The day started off with two board members of our park association resigning (righteously so), and also with a problem at church back home.

We met with our financial planner to swallow the bitter pill of seeing our 401K become now, what...101K? What are those idiots in Washington thinking??? At least lunch at Stresa's was good!

Then tonight dtr Amy called to say a sweet neighbor of ours in Mayberry had died, so that was just the frosting on the crappola cake. Tomorrow will be a better day. I just know it. Rest in peace, dear Jan. We'll miss you. A lot.

The black bra...

GIRLS CHAT:

I had lunch with 2 of my unmarried friends. One is engaged, one is a mistress, and of course, I have been married for 20+ years. We were chatting about our relationships and decided to amaze our men by wearing a black leather bra, stiletto heels and a mask over our eyes. We agreed to meet in a few days to exchange notes. Here's how it all went...

My engaged friend: The other night my boyfriend came over and found me with a black leather bodice, tall stilettos and a mask. He saw me and said, 'You are the woman of my dreams. I love you.' Then we made love all night long.

The mistress: Me too! The other night I met my lover at his office and I was wearing the leather bodice, heels and mask over my eyes, and a raincoat. When I opened the raincoat, he didn't say a word, but we had wild sex all night.

Then I had to share my story: When my husband came home, I was wearing the leather bodice, black stockings, stilettos and a mask over my eyes. As soon as he came in the door and saw me he said, "What's for dinner, Batman?"

Tip of the hat, er, mask, to Joy's eighty-something dad, Roger! Happy Monday, y'all!!!

Low, slow flying...

We took off under light winds yesterday and headed to the big city of Pahokee. I actually flew there back in '75 on my first cross country. You have to go a certain distance, land twice and get your log book signed by someone on the ground to verify that you did indeed land there. My other landing was in LaBelle before returning back to W Palm Beach. Boy, that was a looong time ago!

We made 4 water landings, then one water landing with a full stop, all good practice for our pilot. We both gave him thumbs up on all of his landings. Next stop was at the Pahookee airport to pick up a bit of fuel before heading back east.

Here is a shot of the airstrip at Wellington, where Marc is building a house, complete with moho bay.We landed and did a quick house inspection, then hopped back in the plane for the trip back to No. County.


The wings on the Lake are swept back pretty far, so I had a good view out the window from the rear seat. Top speed on the Lake is only about 90-100 mph, and it drops like a rock when power is cut back. Marc flew this baby all the way to AK a few years ago...don't you know that was a lot of slow flying...with lots of stops! He loved it...
It sure was fun to be back in the air on a beautiful day...but always nice to be back on the ground. Hope you enjoyed the adventure with us!