Sunday at the rally...

First of all, here is the crystal bracelet I made in class yesterday using clear and tanzanite beads. Pretty, huh? I had some glass beads here in the coach, so I made this blue/brown bracelet to give to, um, someone. It was just a fun, free-form bracelet that I hope that special someone will like! If not, I'll keep it. So there.

After class I drove to Zephyrhills to visit my 98 y/o aunt, cousin Pat and her hubby Fred. Aunt Nene can hardly hear, and she probably won't remember that I was even there, but that is OK. I was indeed there and I got to see her, and that is what counts in my heart. She is a mighty special lady. And I am sooo upset! I took photos, of course, and they turned out very well, but when I tried to download them into my compter, they had disappeared! I have never had that to happen before, and now was not the time for it to happen. Bummer. Pat, send me a photo, pretty please!!!

Today's agenda is very simple...breakfast with the club...then a day to relax. We are all being given a $20 coupon for the Hard Rock Casino that is only about 5 miles away, so Dick wants to go there. It won't take long to make our deposit, look around...and partake of the buffet that is supposed to be quite good. I would also like to see a bit more of Tampa, since it has been decades since we've been here. Literally. I think Haley was a toddler the last time we were here.

Amy and her family are enjoying Disney and camping at Ft. Wilderness. We will meet up with them TOMORROW!!! Can't wait to get some good sugah from 'da boyz' and hear all about Mickey and company.

Mayberry has gotten some snow this week. I feel a little guilty enjoying the good life here in warm South Florida. OK, not guilty enough to go home and be cold! I'm not stupid!!!

Enjoy your Sunday, and go out and have some fun!

Likes bling...plays with beads

So today after breakfast, a local lady is going to give us gals lessons on how to make a Swarovski bead bracelet and earrings. We chose our colors yesterday from her samples, and I picked clear and tanzanite beads. It should be fun, and it is something I've wanted to learn how to do. Why not? Bee, we'll have to have a jewelry making session when we both get back to WPB, k?

Then I plan to drive nearby to visit a cousin and aunt, one of two of my dad's remaining siblings. I'm really looking forward to seeing them.

Traci asked what we ate at the Colombia Restaurant. I had Pollo Tropical: char-grilled breast of chicken, marinated in fresh garlic, oregano and orange juice, topped with mango and pineapple chutney, served with rice and vegetables. Dick had Boliche "Crillo": Eye round of beef stuffed with chorizo and roasted in a flavorful gravy, and served with black beans and rice, topped with onions and plantanos. Also had fabulous Cuban bread, 1905 tossed salad (had never heard of that, but it was good and loaded with garlic), and flan for dessert. That was heavenly...and certainly not on the WW program!

Tonight's dinner features roast beef, mashed potatoes/gravy, green beans almandine, rolls and strawberry shortcake. An all steel band will entertain us afterward. I love that! I wonder if anyone will try the limbo. Naw, not at our age! Have you ever tried the limbo?

Happy Saturday. Life is good!

Columbia Restaurant and other stuff…

 

Isn’t this tile wall beautiful?  It is a whole wall on the outside of the restaurant.  The inside had loads more tile, stained glass, pretty chandeliers, and loads of intricate woodwork and pottery.

The food was pretty good, and the dancing wasn’t half bad; the company was great, so all in all, it was a successful evening.

We had our business meeting after breakfast and got that out of the way this morning, then 15 of us ladies headed to town for a nice luncheon at Grill Smith Restaurant and a fun time.

Tonight’s dinner features BBQ ribs and chicken, baked beans, cole slaw, corn on the cob, garlic bread, and nanner puddin’ (we’ll see if it is as good as mine!).

We eat well at these rallies, as you can tell.  And we’ll be entertained by a trio after dinner tonight!  Lucky us.

Our Friday has been fantastic.  I hope yours is also.

Tortellini Tuscan Stew

Yummm. Boy, was this good, especially since sous-chef Dick did all the chopping for me!

Here is the recipe:

Tortellini Tuscan Stew

1(2 lb) butternut squash, peeled and seeded, cut into 1" chunks
1 large zucchini cut in 1" chunks
1 large yellow summer squash, cut in 1" chunks
1 large onion, diced
1 large red bell pepper, cut in 1" dice (I did not use)
4 oz thin green beans, trimmed and cut in 2" lengths
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 14 ½ oz can chicken or vegetable broth
2 Tbs fresh oregano chopped
1 ½ tsp chopped garlic
3/4 tsp salt
1 9 oz pkg fresh cheese tortellini
1 5 oz bag baby spinach
3 Tbs grated Parmesan cheese (I used more)

Combine all ingredients, except tortellini, spinach, and Parmesan cheese, in a 5 quart or larger slow cooker. Cover and cook on high 3 hours, or low 6 hours.

Uncover; turn slow cooker to high and stir in tortellini. Cover; continue to cook 15 minutes, or until pasta is almost tender.

Uncover; gently stir in spinach and Parmesan. Cover; cook 5 minutes until spinach is cooked down and tortellini is tender.

6 servings

Let me know if you try it, OK?

My shopping trip to Jo-Ann's was successful. It was a 'crafty' venture, not looking for fabric, but for ribbons and yarn. I found several colors of ribbons, and they were only fifty cents a roll! I'll post a photo of the project when it is completed. And for my half-off item (one only), I bought an ironing blanket. I know, not very exciting, but ironing is necessary occasionally and it is NOT one of my favorite chores. And at $8, it was the most expensive item in my basket, so I of course used it on that one.

So today we are stowing, hooking up the 'towed,' and pulling out, heading across the state to Tampa for a Monaco RV club rally that begins today and goes through Monday morning. The whole group will be eating at Ybor City's Colombia Restaurant tonight, complete with a flamenco dance performance. Alrighty. I'll let y'all know if it was hokey or not.

It will be fun seeing old friends...Sherman and Pat will be there, so we are excited about that! Then we are meeting up with special folks on Monday. Stay tuned...

Wonderful, windy Wednesday…

Last load of laundry going.  Check.

Dinner in the crock pot.  Check.

50% off coupon for Jo-Ann’s Fabrics.  Check.

I’m outta here!  See y’all tomorrow…

Read the directions!

And then you'll learn that the stew is to be cooked in the crock pot, silly. Boy, did I have a blonde moment at 4p yesterday when I started to prepare dinner. There was no way to do all the needed chopping, slicing and dicing and then have it simmer for a few hours and be able to eat it last night. Sigh. Fortunately I had a Plan B (leftovers reworked)...and postponed the stew until tomorrow. Cold shrimp tonight.

We are back to the moho after spending two hours at the local Social Security office. Dick turns 65 next month, so he had to go take care of business. Talk about chaotic and frustrating, that it was! Long lines, tinny sounding PA system...no fun, but I had a book to keep me occupied...and now Dick is all set with his registration with Medicare. He happily got to cancel his part of our medical insurance with BCBS. Woohoo...more travel funds!!!

Life is good!

Bud's chicken!

Dick had a hankerin' for Bud's chicken last night...heart attack on a plate, but oh so good! See those little balls on the L? Those are the bestest corn fritters on earth! One disappeared first, and I saved the second one for dessert. And no, I didn't eat all those fries...

Tonight will be a sensible Tortellini Tuscan Stew, a new recipe I found that I want to try out.

So what's for dinner at your house?

Just another day...

Ribbit. Ribbit.

I love this little fella. He can bring a smile to any sad face and probably ward off evil spirits.

It's just another windy day in paradise, not doing much.

Surely YOU are having fun today...so tell me what it is, k?

Preschooler test...

Preschooler test.............now think about it.

I already knew I was dumber than the fifth graders...but now it's the preschoolers.

A PRE-SCHOOL TEST FOR YOU

Which way is the bus below traveling? To the left or to the right? Can't make up your mind? Look carefully at the picture again. Still don't know? Pre-schoolers all over the United States were shown this picture and asked the same question. 90% of the pre-schoolers gave this answer:

"The bus is traveling to the left." When asked, "Why do you think the bus is traveling to the left?" They answered, "Because you can't see the door to get on the bus."

How do you feel now??? I know; me, too. But my excuse is that I always walked to school!

Have a nice Saturday!

Friday funny...

The Bagpiper and the funeral

As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a grave-side service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back-country. As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost; and being a typical man, I didn't stop for directions.

I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left, and they were eating lunch. I felt bad and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down, and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play. The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man. And as I played "Amazing Grace," the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished, I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full. As I was opening the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "Sweet Mother of Jesus, I never seen nothin' like that before, and I've been putting in septic tanks for over twenty years."

Have a fun Friday!

This story will warm your heart...

...and put a smile on your face. This is about a boy who was given lemons and made lemonade in a very interesting way.

This is a "must see" video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xwCG0Ey2Mg

Find out how blessed YOU are!

The people have spoken!

Maybe we can now get some common sense back into government. The product and the process have both STUNK.

Wake up, Congress! The people have spoken!!!

Fishermen's Stew

Just look at this bowl of yummy delight...shrimp, clams, mussels, scallops, fresh mushrooms, fish...all swimming (couldn't resist that) in a creamy broth that is filled with basil and other delightful herbs. And served with garlic toast. This bowl is to die for, and I seriously mean that. And we made converts out of Mike and Jennie today for lunch. We each had a bowl of this stuff. I warned M/J to leave a little toast to sop up the goodness at the bottom of the bowl. They didn't disappoint me. I like friends who listen and follow directions.

They may never leave, especially after sampling breakfast at John G's this morning.

Houston, we have a problem!

The drive along the beach was just perfect yesterday. The weather has been fabulous (I hate to rub that in), and the forecast is for more sunshine and warmth this week. What's not to love?

Our neighbors invited us over for happy hour, so we invited them to have dinner with us. It was the right thing to do, especially with Bob/Lynne still MIA (missing in action). The Cuban pork was a big hit, as was the companionship. And we still have leftover pork. I think I mentioned a large butt!

So, we'll putz around for the afternoon...hope that Bob/Lynne make moho progress and we that get to see them soon, and enjoy another evening outside on the patio...and watch the election results from Massachusetts. May the best man win!

That's it today from paradise. Life is good! I hope yours is the same...

Mighty oaks...

Here are the oak trees, Haley. This big one was moved from the trailer by Dad using the front-end loader. The other two were moved (rescued) from a piece of property that Dick and Bob were clearing over on SR 7 (441), which is now a six-lane highway! It is always good going back to the farm and seeing all the lakes that we dug all those years ago, and watching all the changes made over the years since we left ('86). It was a great place to raise kids at the time, but I wouldn't want to live there now. It is far too crowded! But, our family has good history there, and those memories can never be taken away from us. That is, until we get old and can't remember anything! Then we'll be especially grateful for photos.

We left the farm and drove Hypoluxo Road OVER the Turnpike (Dad never thought that would happen) all the way to SR 7, and of course went to Willis Gliderport and visited Lyn. Mike and Jennie both enjoyed seeing our old stomping grounds and meeting some of our old friends.

Today we plan to take a ride over to the beach and maybe end up at John G's for lunch. Bob and Lynne are having moho troubles, so they are still MIA but hope to be here today.

Have a fabulous Monday! Life is short...make fun of it!!!

Hello from the farm!

Mike, Jennie and Dick standing on our old boat ramp. The clubhouse behind them replaced our house. It was fun seeing the oak trees Dick planted in 1979. Lots of good memories here. Life is good!
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Cuban pork...

I thought I posted this before, but if not...here it is:

Fresh ham or Boston Butt

Marinate overnight in a large plastic bag or Tupperware:
Rub the meat with olive oil, then salt and pepper; put in bag and add a slice of onion and 3-4 cloves of garlic then add one bottle of Goya Citrus Marinade.

Conventional oven: place everything from the bag into a pan and bake covered for 5-7 hours at 300 degrees (I have never baked mine).

Crock Pot: place all of the ingredients into the crock pot and cook on medium for about 7 hours. Maybe longer, if using a large butt (snicker).

The meat should fall off the bone.

Remove from pan and cool enough to remove the fat from the meat. I have used two forks to pull the pork apart, then put it back into the juices to keep the meat moist.
　
Serve with coleslaw. Bask in the rave reviews...　

Flying clouds...

Aren't these the neatest clouds? I snapped this yesterday about 5p, looking to the NE. Dick and I both said that we had never seen clouds in this configuration. The big one reminds me of the blimp. Hmm, I should have cropped out the tip of our window shade over there on the L. Oh well...

It rained on us last night, so Dick got out this morning and cleaned the outside of all our windows. Gotta love a guy who'll do windows! Thanks, honey. I can see clearly now the rain has come.......oh yes, Bob Marley will be playing in my head...........which will be a nice rhythm as I run the vacuum. I don't like that job, but it's gotta get done.

Enjoy your day, and please pray for the folks in Haiti. This devastation hit an already impoverished country. My heart goes out to all those affected. Have you made a donation yet? We have...and I challenge you to do the same, but make sure your donation counts by giving it to a reputable organization that will get it to the folks. They need food and water, those basics of life that we mostly take for granted. We are blessed!

Grumpy Thursday!

As in Grumpy Grouper. The dinner gang gets two surprise additions here tonight--Bob and Diana, long time friends who also both graduated from Lake Worth HS. Remember their names.

So, today is warm and beautiful. Just what Florida is supposed to be, right? Dick put up the table umbrella, put LED lights on our hedge, and generally got our patio shaped up so that we can actually get outside and enjoy it. That's good, since we'll have four folks visiting with us for a few days and eating outside is what we like to do.

Speaking of eating means that I am working on my grocery list and trying to decide what to prepare and what I need to purchase. Decisions, decisions. Rain is predicted for Saturday night, so eating out might be good for that night. I'm thinking Cuban pork for Sunday night. Yep, that sounds good. And it feeds a crowd.

Whatever you do today, make it a great one. Life is good!

Break out!

I left my moho cocoon last night for the first time since Saturday to enjoy dinner out.  It felt good.  Dinner tasted good.  I have re-joined the human race.  The couch potato has been harvested, as Barb put it!

And warm temps are on the way, so it is time for a pedicure to get my toes ready for exposure in sandals and flip flops.  Sorry to flaunt that to those still freezing, but I am in Florida for a reason—avoiding all that cold stuff!

Enjoy your hump day.  Life is good!

Photography 101

“Dick, why are you on your knee with the camera?”

“So I can get the sign in the photo.”

“No, don’t do that.  That is not a good photo angle!”   Too late…

So, I’ll get even.  I just had to do it…

See Dick?  See Dick wearing Sarge’s hair?  Hehe   Serves you right, buddy!

Bee and Charlie looked great, and Sarge is feeling better.  It was great seeing them again.

Our breakfast was fantastic as usual.  I didn’t forget that Haley asked what we ate—cinnamon-nut French toast, silly girl.  You knew that.  And fresh fruit cup.  We’ll go back next week, since Bob and Lynne and Mike and Jennie are all coming down here over the weekend, seeking warm temps.  Woohoo to good friends, good food, and good weather!!!  Bring it on…I’m ready!

Still chilly...still windy

Missy has the right idea. Snuggle up and sleep. She napped in my lap for about an hour this morning...I loved it! And now she is curled up in her bed, racking up some zzz. Dick is horizontal and watching TV. How soon before he is asleep?

It is sunny but still too chilly and windy to enjoy the outdoors, so in we'll stay.

It's OK to be a couch potato every now and then. I'm saving up my reserves to enjoy 70 degree weather on Thursday. Bring it on!

Poor me...

After two weeks of a nasty head cold and coughing that curled my toes and kept us both awake, I finally went to the walk-in clinic after our breakfast with Bee and Charlie. Enough was enough.

No fever. I'm not contagious, well, unless someone kisses me...like that's gonna happen! No danger there, as I look like death warmed over. I am on drugs...and they are working. Hallelujah...I can breathe; the coughing is almost normal; and I am at the computer for the first time today! Progress. I have been a real couch potato all day.

As Miz Scarlett said, "Tomorrow will be a better day."

Do I hear an amen?

Brunch gang

Fun and full tummies! And hugs all around. Weather was crummy, but not the company. Wish y'all could have been there!
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Friday comparison...

Brian sent me this photo of our cove, taken yesterday...some of that is ICE on the lake...
More of that stuff has fallen.

See photo of FL from yesterday's post.

Now you know why old people go to Florida for the winter! I rest my case.

Happy Friday, y'all! Stay warm!!!

Thursday things...

It was 38 here this morning. Even the critters are trying to stay out of the wind and cold. At 19 and possible snow back in Mayberry, we are thrilled with 38! Seriously.

We have a date this morning with our financial planner. We already know our 401K is only a 101K, but he and Dick like to discuss stuff and make predictions on where the economy is going and when it might recover and stuff like that. And we get a nice lunch, too!

Well, it is also laundry day and time to pay homage to Publix this afternoon. Tonight we'll meet with a whole bunch of Dick's classmates/friends for dinner. We started Thursday night dinners together last winter, and they sorta kept it up since we left, so we'll get it into high gear tonight. Minus Dan and Joan, who are now in Mayberry freezing their hoohaas off. Y'all need to bring that Airstream down here, my dears! Forget that remodeling for awhile and come down and thaw out!

So that is Thursday from the moho. Oh yes, we loved It's Complicated, and laughed ourselves silly all during it. It has some really good lines and comical, adult situations.

Whatever you do today, bundle up and stay warm and make it a great day!

It's Complicated!

Hold on to your hats, kiddos. Dad and I are going to see It's Complicated! today with Wade and Ginger, afternoon matinee, of course. Old people have to save bucks, you know.

Now the last time the two of us were in a theatre was to see "The Aviator," how many years ago? I have actually been more often, seeing some Disney movies with the grands, but the two of us...naw. Not much being shown has tempted us.

Yesterday was a cold but good day, beginning with their famous Cinnamon-nut French Toast at John G's yesterday, our most fave place to have breakfast on the beach. The deserted beach. It was too cold for anyone to be out in the surf. Then we did a little shopping...Dick found a new flowered Florida shirt to add to his collection that he maybe can wear NEXT WEEK. Sheesh. What happened to global warming, ppl? Record cold temps are being recorded in lots of places, but that isn't widely advertised now is it?

Enjoy Epiphany...and stay warm, y'all! Sending heavenly birthday greetings to Mother...

Where are the Griswolds?

Any guesses? Life is very good!!!
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Brr, chilly chilly...

These two staghorns that Joan gave me last winter are not happy about the overnight temps and wind! A couple of the fronds are looking pitiful and will need to be snipped off...and there will be more of these temps for the next two nights. Hello.......this is FLORIDUH! The farmers out around Lake Okeechobee certainly were busy all night, with having to ice down crops and take care of animals. Farmers are terribly under appreciated.....and where would we all be without them? Think about it, ppl!

I mentioned this on Facebook but plum forgot to mention it here. Dick and I got to meet blogging friend Barb Saturday morning! Umm, yes, there should be a photo here to prove it, but did either one of us think about it? Heck no! We were too busy eating breakfast and talking...and talking...and laughing! Another missed opportunity, but we'll fix that next time. It is always fun meeting in the real. And did any of you know (besides Bee and Charlie) that Barb is almost 6' tall! You sure can't tell by her itty bitty bio photo, but she is. I had pictured her at about my height (5'6"), but I was wrong. She wears her height well. And next time I want to meet 'da boyz'.

My big outting today is maybe to Walmart to get a few things on my growing list. Whatever you do today, make it a happy one, and stay warm! And wash your hands often!!!

Chilly Monday...

Missy finds great joy in playing with the screen on the windshield, in between sunbathing. She is now in Florida and appears to want to work on her tan, and doing it inside a balmy moho is ideal for her during this cold spell. She is one smart girl that Missy.

We are back from a run to the local Sam's Club to see what there is to see and to pick up beer. You do remember that Mayberry is dry, don't you? That means that folks drink wet and vote DRY...and we get the trash and not the sales tax. Plain dumb.

So that is our big outting for the day. I still need to put a few things away and clean up a bit. I'm trying to pace myself.

Temps are supposed to be down in the high 30s tonight, so it will be a crock pot soup night.

Stay warm. Life is good!

Florida in fleece...

Brrr. Where are those tropical temps? Not here! But it is still better than Mayberry where they have had a dusting or two of snow.

The internet satellite wouldn't cooperate, so Dick had to go up top and manhandle it and much tweaking and cussing later, it is now working. Some transmitter won't cooperate, so we may have to have it fixed, since it is supposed to be automatic and not require any manhandling. He is great at fixing most anything...and has a determined attitude to git'er done.

He is enjoying his personal TV out on the chilly patio, as I am enjoying my own here in the warm coach. Wade and Ginger brought over our patio umbrella out of their storage unit, so Dick is taking care of the patio while I am...........catching up on my blogging friends. Fair trade, right?

Enjoy your Sunday. Ours appears to be a lazy one!

Rolling on...

Stopped in Tifton @ 11p last night at W/M. Dick is filling up the coach now in the same 30 degree weather we left last night. Quit following us! Prediction of 18 made us hightail it outta Mayberry. More later...yawn............
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