Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Good morning! Mark intended on hunting this morning but when his alarm sounded at 4:30 it was a no go. Ha! (He'd gotten into Jack Daniels Honey whiskey at Ken's.) So, I left him sleeping and took the kids out at 7 am. 

At 9, when I put the dogs on the bed to wake him, "we" discovered our appointments were 10 o'clock (not 1 like I thought!) Whoosh ... dogs fed, walked and off we went just to wait at the dermatologistt's office. The office's internet was down and staff was doing things with paper and pencils. No one is capable anymore without their technology. Fortunately, we both had a good check ups and don't have to go back for a year! Yay! Sunscreen! 

I think I may have finished my Christmas shopping today. Yes, usually there's something last minute but other than that, it's done! 🎄✅😁

 

Holy shit. At 4:40 PM a big American Bald eagle flew over our yard! Egad, people flock to Alaska to see these birds and here they are snowbirds in Florida. I can't believe I didn't have my camera ready. Well, I saw him coming for quite a ways but I wasn't sure I was believing my eyes! Mark has gone for an evening hunt, so it's a party of one +2 Scottie dogs on the front porch. I've been keeping busy today listing items on eBay. The kids have been enjoying rawhides this afternoon, but of course they want the same one. Just like children! 

Before Mark left, he started a crockpot with meatballs and sauce. So, my dinner is ready. Nice eh? 

My evening was spent with Comcast's tech support as our living room TV had audio but no picture. After being passed around and put on hold, to no avail, we need either a new Comcast box OR a new TV. Obviously, we hope it's not our TV as it is not very old. We shall have to dig up the receipt and see if we bought extended warranty. 

So ... we're happy we have A comfortable place to sit in the sunroom and watch TV for the evening. Ta Ta. 

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Good morning! It's NOT sunny but cloudy and windy! See, Florida has her moods too. 😁🍁

For the past three weeks, we have had a crazy mockingbird tapping at our living room window. I hung a peacock decoration in that window hoping to show that mockingbird that this location is taken, but I think he's in love with the Peacock. 💕🙄 

Mark took a Santa sized sack of goodies to our humane society store for their sale. It was good to go through things and tidy up my craft room and now they have plenty of news items to sell. 

Meanwhile, we had RAIN ... monsoon-type for an hour and Mark got caught at the grocery store in it. He arrived home with everything wet. (It's 82 and sunny an hour later.) 🌴

The Scotties are nearly ready for their big reveal; yes, they had Christmas haircuts! Now the Aussie Christmas bow ties should fit again. Well, maybe tomorrow. 

Pat and Ken's dinner party was fun. Nancy was there too which meant lively conversation. Pat had great appies and then salad, potatoes, apples and pork loin for dinner. Their English Springer, Sadie, was very funny when she humped the sofa pillow. 😂

It's now 1130 and time for bed. Tomorrow's another day. 💋

Monday, December 5, 2016

Good morning. I'm sure you're all sick and tired of me saying how lovely it is this with the sunshine, blah blah blah. Right? Haha ... well, it's not just lovely, it's Fantabulous! 😁 I hear Mark washing the car on the driveway ... ah, the sounds of the seasons. 

After chores were done, we headed out on the boat for lunch at Palm Gardens. This is the very casual place where the dogs may sit in chairs at the table. Yes, it sounds silly, but they love it and it keeps them cleaner. Ha ha. Just like the "K's!" 

 

Having chicken, shrimp and fries at Palm Gardens. Arooo. 

 

Just cruisin' with Dad. BeeZee liked the floor, out of the breeze today. (Tomorrow is haircut day, so maybe her hair blowing about was annoying.) Robbie sits with Mark IF grooming tools are not around. Ha!

 

Canal cruising ... Robbie loves the boat!

Back home, chores began again. You know, when you're a homeowner there's always "something." Mark began washing the fence with a new product that is working well ... 30 Second Cleaner. Of course some elbow grease is needed, but it's a good product. 

Me? I'm listing again on eBay. It's not difficult, just tedious. We're both sitting with heat on our backs tonight. Such is life. 

Sunnyday, December 4, 2016

Good morning. Mark and Lew were up by 430 organizing for their trip to the Ocala forest, just 20 minutes away. Mz Beez and I got up then too, watch the news while I drink a soda and then we went back to bed! It was a gorgeous start to the day for the fellows at about 60°F. 

 

Round two of our morning included fried eggs with the front door open. Leaves are steadily falling from our sycamore tree now and lie littered on the lawn. (Years ago, we would rake and bag them. But now, our lawn man mulches the leaves as he mows and our lawn is better for it!) Chores ✅ ... it's hot tub time. 👍🏻

 

But mom! We're waiting for Sammy to walk by! 

Mark and Lew arrived home at 11 o'clock having seen a couple of bears and a doe. He started a pork butt roast on the barbecue for tonight's dinner and took a nap. 

Today's project was sorting out the craft room and packaging donations for the Humane Society's store. Randy stopped in about 1230 after having dropped Dawn off at work. He is busy putting lights on the Christmas tree later today, I think. Yesterday, he set the tree up and fluffed it but apparently Dawn did not notice when she came home from work. Ha ha! "Poor Randy" as mom would say. 😂

At happy hour, we sat on the back patio in 82° and enjoyed our wine. Mark won the ring toss contest with eight out of 20! Drat! My best was 5/20. Mark wondered how Bob is doing with his ring toss in the frigid cold. 😬

 

Glorious fall colors 🍁 from our Sycamore! 😁 

Marky's "experimental" dry rub pork roast on the BBQ was very good!

 

Yummy pulled pork leftovers for tomorrow! (Maybe Dawn will read this and want some? 

Donations bagged ... dishwasher on ... it's time to watch Designated Survivor! 

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Brrr ... well not really; but I have the fire 🔥 lit, Christmas 🎄 music 🎶 on and a diet Sunkist on ice. 👍🏻 

It was a day or odds 'n sods ... but mostly relaxing as tonight we have another Christmas party. It's day 2 of Giant's RV weekend party complete with cocktails ... turkey dinner ... and another show! Last night, the founder of Giant was in the kitchen making sure everyone had plenty to eat! 

 

Mr Don McNamara is in the red hat. What a great guy!

At 5 o'clock Mark and I joined the fun again at GRW's party. Tonight was, of course, happy hour from 5 to 6:30 ... then turkey dinner ... and a big show with a 6 piece band and 4 singers ... the Atlantic City Boys. 

 

They put on a music show including lots of humor! We enjoyed ourselves sitting with friends Mitzi & Richard (Palm Bay) ... Dawn & Paul (Boca) ... Brenda & Paul (Sanford.) The party was continuing when we snuck out at 9:30 to walk our doggies. 

During this year, the group campouts raised $20,100 for homeless veterans. The GRW founder (red hat) matched the money raised! Wow! This has been going on since the Vietnam War ended in the '70's! That is true dedication to a cause. 

 

The gentleman in the black hat has, since he returned from Vietnam, been physically helping the homeless veterans with financial aid from the McNamara of  Giant Recreation World. He and his family find the veterans living "in the woods" and coax them out by feeding them, buying them new clothes, and giving them a Christmas gift. When it became clear that the homeless veterans most wanted a shower and a change of clothes, The funds raised were used to buy them what they needed and give them a Christmas dinner, a Christmas gift, and a night in a motel. One veteran told Mr. McNamara that he had 17 showers during that night! The picture below is from last year's donation.

 

So that was our day. We had lots of fun and were part of a very good event. 

 

Fun times! Ta Ta til tomorrow! 

Friday, December 2, 2016

Good morning. Yes, it's a bright beautiful sunshiny day but it's cooler since the front passed last night. Yay. It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! Mark left early for Ocala forest and I'm certain he's enjoying the cooler air. (Perhaps it was a tad chilly for his Florida blood. He's on his way home at 10:30.) 😬

Today is the anniversary of my nephew Gregg's passing last year after a lengthy illness. You are remembered with special fondness on this day Gregg. ❤️ I know it will be a very difficult day for Darlene and Crystal. 😢

Aside from needing an Advil after last night's Yaya's Christmas party, I feel pretty good. Haha. Tonight is the annual Christmas party at Southern Palms (near us) for Giant Recreation World's VIP Camping Club. Yes, we'll be there at 5 o'clock for the ornament exchange and cocktails with dinner following at 6 o'clock. There's a hayride after dinner. What fun. GRW's generosity is the real deal. 

Our friend Bonnie is undergoing surgery today for more stents. Roger is standing by keeping us informed of her progress. I wish I was there in Tulsa to help with the doggies. But, she should be home tomorrow after a night's monitoring. 🙏🏻

Before we went out for the evening, we heard that Bonnie would be home tonight. That's very good news indeed.

Sue and Wayne will be home this evening as Julius had eighteen teeth removed! The poor little guy has had nothing but dental issues for the last year or two. We hope he will feel much better once this is healed up. 

 

Having fun with my sweetie tonight! 💋 

Our doggies had a lonely night at home as Mark and I went for happy hour at 5 o'clock dinner at six with the show beginning from eight until 10. GRW served salad, garlic rolls and lasagna. 

 

"Rocket Man" ... an Elton John tribute band from Tampa put on a good show! They had played more than 2 hours when we snuck away for home!

 

"Candle in the Wind" ... wearing EJ's actual clothing! 

We sat with Titusville friends Karen & Jorge ...

 

That was a busy day! We missed the hayride ... maybe tomorrow! 

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Good morning! We have only part-sunshine at 9 a.m.  The cold front hovers keeping us at 77F. Maybe tomorrow we'll have more Christmassy weather. Anyway, I spent the first two hours wrapping a few gifts we bought yesterday. 

Randy & Dawn arrived just after 4 o'clock and we poured a glass of wine. Randy and Mark are going for supper at Crazy Gators while Dawn and I are going to our YaYa's Christmas party. 

 

Back row, Lynda, Sharon & Art, Meredith, Anita, Julie, Elaine, Helen, Karen, Nancy, Rose. 

Seated ... Florence, Pat, Dawn, (Sandra behind), Suzanne, Lynn, Kate. Pats cousin Ann took the picture for us! We had a Chinese auction for gifts, a cookie exchange, dinner and a plethora of wine. 😂

 

Florence, Pat, Sandra, Suzanne.

 

Julie & Sharon ... a selfie. 💕

 

Pat and Lynn having fun!

 

Dawn, modeling the Scotty sweater I bought yesterday. Cute!!!

 

Lynn and Dawn having a PARTAY! 

As you can see, we had a lot of laughs. The party only broke up when someone tried to get their car out of the driveway, and everyone had to scramble to get out of the road. LOL

Back home, we shared stories with the guys and had a lot of laughs. This was the last time we saw Santas hat from Dawn's wine bottle!

 

LOL. Yep! She's a Tawns girl by heart. We had so many laughs tonight. I came home with a lava lamp and Dawn came home with a beautiful candle in a silver container. It was a great evening.