Happy birthday and goodbye for now...

My baby is having a birthday today. Thanks for the good wishes that have already arrived. Amy appreciates them all! Carolyn made a carrot cake that we all enjoyed last night. Sorry I don't have any to share with y'all today, but trust me, it was GOOD.

The guys took one Jeep and rode around the hunt camp, only seeing cows. Us gals in our Jeep saw a herd of turkeys, a few cranes, and the cows. I guess it was having the wee boyz with us that brought us such good luck with our animal sightings. The boyz were especially fond of seeing the baby calves...and driving through the mud puddles. Aunt Carolyn knows how to entertain wee ones!

So today we say goodbye and everyone goes in different directions. All good things must come to an end...and new adventures begin.

Everyone is healthy and happy...the sun is shining...life is good! Happy birthday, Amy. We love you and yours very much!!! Safe travels...

Heading to the hunting camp...

But first, Lynne and I are going shopping, since she missed the outing yesterday. Lynne is the official family shopaholic, bless her heart, and I need a few more jewelry making thingies. That aqua/brown bracelet that I showed the other day was a big hit with Miss Amy, as was the scarf I made her (I had my doubts about the scarf, but she said she liked it). Trust me, if she didn't like it, she would have said so. She looks like me, but she is Dick Junior, bless her heart. Tomorrow is her birthday.

Amy/Jason are taking the boyz out bike riding again to wear them out before we head to Don's hunting camp this afternoon, where they will get worn out again. Can you say "sleep well tonight?" They sure will.

Dick is doing moho maintenance on the internet satellite...Bob is over at their moho reading. I'm sure those two big boyz will find some kind of trouble to get into while us gals are out shopping. Sherman/Pat are going to visit their son/family nearby, so they aren't joining us in our doings today, and that's OK. Everybody can do their own thing.

At least the sun is out to dry up the rain, but I know two boyz who will still find plenty of mud to get into later on, just as boyz will do.

Dinner tonight at the camp will be hamburgers, beans, cole slaw and all the trimmings...yum..........

Enjoy your day...ours will be grand!

Biker boyz

The boyz were having fun after the rain stopped. Amy and gang just loaded boyz and bikes to go do some serious riding on a nearby trail.

Amy and I did some damage at Marshall's and Jo-Ann's this morning. Had fun!

We are all going back to Don/Carolyn's house for a seafood boil tonight. Yummm. Last night's dinner there was great...a good chicken casserole. They are great hosts.

Have a terrific Tuesday, y'all!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Time to move on...

The yellow roses celebrate the discovery of a BSP sista here at the rally, someone I have known for 3-4 years through our Monaco Travelers but we did not know we were sistas until this weekend. It was a delightful discovery. Sistas are everywhere!

Dick and I did go to the Hard Rock Casino...and the smoke hit me in the face the moment we walked in the door. That was not a good sign, and it only got worse. Needless to say, we did not stay long. Dick quickly shot our $40 in free money; added his own $20 contribution. The buffet was definitely pricey, and neither one of us were hungry enough to enjoy it, so we headed to the food court and enjoyed a really great Cuban sandwich and plantains. That saved the day just a bit.

Shampoo and shower to rid of us the smoke smells that were lingering, and yet another load of laundry...and then checking out a bead company online completed the day. Life's simple pleasures.

Today, we are doing the stowing and hooking up thing and heading to Orlando to meet the kids...and then go to Carolyn/Don's home for dinner tonight with a bunch of family. We'd better take two cameras, just to be safe. No, I didn't 'lose' the photos of my aunt/cousin in a strange folder. They totally disappeared from my memory card. And I know they were there, because I checked them out immediately after taking the photos. I even put the card back into my camera to check it out...and there were NO images captured in the camera. Maybe it is time to buy a new memory card! Stuff happens!!! But Pat promises she will send me a new photo when her granddaughter shows up with her digital camera. That's the best we can do.

Have an awesome Monday. Life is short...make fun of it!

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.