Thursday, Travel Day

We are on the road again.  Left yesterday from Summerdale AL, spent the night outside of Tallahassee  Fl at a KOA campground.  It was our first time to use a KOA.  Price was a little steep, but it did supply us with needed conveniences.  The trip yesterday entertained me with some of the following... lots of mistletoe in baron trees, many, many flooded areas, mounds of ant hills, lots of new or looked new army jeeps and other vehicles, too many rvs of all kinds to count, and we passed a warehouse or distribution center for Family Dollar Stores that looked as big as 5 football fields or longer.

I have to share our just happening.  We are on I-10 and were detoured off to a coupled exits down the road.  Law enforcement of all kinds, helicopters, tv station vans, were swarming the forest near the ramp we used to enter the interstate. It was almost like a human fence.   We are thinking bad guys were hiding in the trees.  EXCITING huh!!!  Am going to google Jacksonville news to see what I can come up with.  Wow, that was fun.  Now, back to smooth sailing down the highway.

I will post this note now, so please return to check out the rest of the day.

Have a wonderful day each of my loyal readers.  Love y'all..........

Update on detour...12 mile high speed chase west of Macclenny, FL. ended in a crash, armed driver fled, manhunt underway.  Now tell me, how exciting is that.  Just like on tv.  Think that is another first for me.  Again, love my firsts.

Please com back, more to come...

We are settled now for a couple nights at Pecan Park in Jacksonville.  It's a huge place, some 180 sites.  The largest resort we have ever been in.  No, maybe Charlotte Speedway, that had many sites also.  But these sites are all filled.  Row after row of motor homes, 5th wheels, trailers and even long trailers that house five to eight single units.  Tim said they may be used by carnival workers.  Interesting.  Chose Mexican for dinner out.  A lady in the office told Tim of a special place, the best in the area to go.  It was not far away.  She was so right.  The best chimmichanca, I sure killed the spelling of that word.  my speell did not even recognise it.  Chimichanga, thats better.  I did have the best dinner.  That was four hours ago and I'm still stuffed. 

Some photos of the park

                                                                      Our site #201

                                                                      And here we are

                                                              Lori, this one is for you
                                                            He is singing his heart out
                                    In a tree next to my coach, hope he is there in the morning

                                                  This sign says catch and release only
                                         If I catch a baby gator, gonna take it home to Jacki
                                                                Not givin it back

                                This park is in direct line of Jacksonville International Airport
                                          Some of folks here think the planes are annoying
                                                 Me, I love it.  Only lasts a short minute

                                                   Have many plane pics, just share two

                                                     Awesome image on back of a coach

 

Chips and salsa before dinner

Forgot to get image of meal

 

 

Getting late, stopping for now.

 

Life is good

God is great

Nite all



Tuesday, Beauty Seekers

Good morning family and friends.  And a good morning it is!  First beautiful sunrise in a while. We took advantage of it and started our walk early.  In this neck of the woods and this time of the year, never know how long the sun will shine.  Remembered to take my camera along during my walk.  Found a few beauties to capture.  I love the phrase, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.  For me it's, beauty for the observer.  When walking alone and looking for wowness, it seems to be everywhere.  A squirrel ran in front of me, stopping to pick up a nut, and birds singing in the treetops.  A few camping neighbors popped out to greet this beautiful morning.  Even the annoying barking dogs next to the park, was music to my ears.  Wellllll, almost.   Ran into Lori around the bend and she spotted a leaf filled with water on the drive.   It reminded her of a boat.  There is beauty all around us, we just need to open hearts and our eyes will see much.  We had to make a quick trip to town this morning and saw lots of flooding.  Sure needed my camera. 

We have friends coming to the park today, Rob and Karen.  We met them at the racetrack campground in Charlotte last year.  Saw then in Sioux Falls in May, I think.  They were staying in Brunswick GA where we are heading out for tomorrow.  Different campground, same city.  It is such a small world.  Looking forward to seeing them and having dinner with them. 

If any of y'all are Castle fans, that's the tv show, pretty exciting last 2 weeks, huh.  I have a tendency to snooze around the nine o'clock hour.  But not watching the last two episodes. 

It's lunchtime, see ya later...more to come, I hope.

                                                           Crazy fun at game night

                                                     First glimpse of this morning sunrise
                                                                           From this

                                                                             To this

                                                              Ending with this beauty
                                                           I love sunrises and sunsets

                                        Turn around Tim, get a shot of that gorgious beauty

                                                           Morning Entertainment

 

 

 

 

                                                                 My St. Patty's Day tree
                                                                       Cuter in person

More beauty to come, I hope

Our friends, Rob and Karen made it to the park this afternoon.  It was great seeing them again.  We all went to LuLu's restaurant for dinner.  Fried green tomatoes were calling my name.  They are sooooo yummy!!!  Didn't see any dolphins swimming up the intracoastal waterway.  BooHoo.  Wish we had more time here to spend with Rob and Karen.  Maybe another time we will meet up again. 

My evening will consist of packing up, getting ready for tomorrow's travels to Tallahassee .  Plans are to spend the night on the way to Brunswick GA.

                                                        An evening out with friends
                                                          Great way to end the day
                                                           The beauty of friendship

Life is good
God is great
Nite all

 

Sunday, Beautiful Day

This day did start out beautiful.  Went to church with Lori and Don with the sun just beaming down on us.  It stayed with us until early afternoon.  Then the gray clouds decided to return.  It's almost five and the sky is total gray or you might call it colorless.  But so happy for the awesome morning and the continued dry day.  I am cooking a pot of green beans.  First of the season...Tim just said they stink.  Think I won't serve him any, ha ha.

We are having a game night, after supper with Lori and Don.  Hope the stinky green been smell will be gone by then.  Sending out congrats to Jimmie Johnson on his win at Daytona.  My Jeff came in 20th.  Think I have a new driver to cheer for, Michael McDowell, # 98, the K Love car.  Jeff will always be #1 for me because he was my first.  Love my firsts.

Wednesday is our leaving day here.  Will end up in Brunswick GA for a week.  Then heading to NC. Should be there around the 14th.  That stay will last 7 months.  Then plans are to be in Ohio the month of October and back down to Daytona for November.  December is still up in the clouds.

This is all for now.  More later.  No pics today.


Life is good
God is great
Nite all

Saturday, Another Catch Up Day

Hello out there dear family and friends.  I know it has been since Monday that I checked in with y'all.  Even though I stay busy with this and that, not much to report on.  Our weather has been gray and wet all week.  We had a pot luck supper on Wednesday.  I brought mac and cheese cooked in my crockpot.  It was a first for me.  I decided to cook it in the clubhouse.  And wouldn't you know, fuse was blown.  Did not realize it until 15 minutes before suppertime.  Needless to say, mac and cheese needed more cooktime, but it worked.  There was lots of good food.  But you know, all the different types of food... and I had it all, did a number on my stomach.  Next time, think I will choose a few like items.  The brownies were my favorite dish of the night.
 
On Thursday, Tim and I went with Don and Lori to Vitolli's Pizzeria in Robertsdale.  That's the closest town near us.  It was like a real Italian Eatery.  The pizza makers were throwing the crust up in the air...crazy fun to watch.  They had the biggest pizza I have ever seen, 28 in, huge.  The pizza was really good.  We had a fun time. The leftover pizza served as my brunch and supper on Friday along with my mac and cheese from Wednesday pot luck. 

Rain, Rain, and Rain all day this week.  Not much fun walking Cleo in the rain.  But you do what you gotta do.  Supposed to have a little sunshine tomorrow.  Yahooooo.

                                                            The only sunrise this week

Don and Angel

Isn't she a beauty

Potluck supper







Life is good
God is great
Nite all 

Monday, Catch Up Day

Happy Monday morning to y'all.  Hoping yours is as beautiful as mine.  Any morning with blue skies and no rain is beautiful.  My NC family and friends experienced some snow falling on Saturday.  What a treat.  Snow and not on a school day.  Yahoooooo!  We have enjoyed a few days of bright sunshine.  I can say yahooooooo to that.  Supposed to have clouds and possible showers this afternoon.  I will be sure to get my walk in this morning.  We have ice cream social this afternoon.  Rain or shine.  Last week it was raining with mushy ground to walk on and still had a successful ice cream social.  As they say, the ice cream must go on.  Well, maybe they don't say that.  No that's, the mail must go on.  Unless its Saturday.  ha ha   

Being catch up day, I will start with Friday.  Lori and I had a girls day out with lunch and a movie.  We laughed a lot and cried a little.  I cried a little, Lori a lot.  Friendship is sooooo wonderful.  Just makes one happy inside and out.  We started with lunch at a restaurant that specializes in fried green tomatoes and their secret recipe for SWAMP SOUP.  Who would ever think I would try anything with a name like that?  In this new life style I'm game for new everything.  Oh, you are asking whats in it and how does it taste.  Well, it is good.  Have had it twice now.  It has collard greens, small white beans, maybe great northern, and black beans and some kind of sausage.  And it does look like swamp water.  Might even smell a little...not appetizing.  I will have to say if you can pass all that, it is yummmmmy.  The only description for the fried green tomatoes is, out of this world.  Next came the movie Safe Haven with Julieann Hough.  Strictly a chick flick.  It was a peaceful, almost calm couple hours of entertainment.  A pleasurable way to spend time with a dear friend. 

Saturday, let me see, I think that was a heavy chore day.  Also had a fresh up course on crocheting.  Hopefully I can do that in the evening and not fall asleep.  Has only worked one time.  I have a bad habit of that, then have a hard time sleeping through the night.  But one out of two nights is not bad.  I will improve.

Sunday, cooked a big breakfast for Tim, church and out for lunch.  Came home, sat in the sun and crocheted for a couple hours.

Now, it's Monday morning, after my blog, will get my walk in.  My girls are out now.   Looks like I will do it alone.  But that's ok.  Music in my ears and the sun in my face, love it.  I really wanted to get my note out to y'all early.  Laundry will be after my walk.  Then cleaning, by then, lunch.

Will close for now...more to come, when it comes. 

                                                   Beautiful Monday morning sunrise

                                                                    Lunch with Lori
                                                                     Fish River Grill

                                                                  Lori and Swamp Soup

                                                            My fav fried green tomatoes

                                                  Cobb Movie House in Gulf Shores AL
                                                    Good place to go for Girls Day Out


Life is good
GOD IS SOOOO GREAT
Be back later
Have a blessed day

                                                                        BFF's walking
                                                   Actually posing for Tim to take this pic

                                                                 A beauty in the sky

                                                                            And another

Thursday, Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to each of my family and friends.  Day's almost over, so hope y'alls day has been or still is super great.  Our day has been one of those super great ones.  I went to the hair salon at 10:00, back at 11:30.  Left around 12:00, heading to Pensacola where the closest Red Lobster is.  That trip took a little over an hour.  Only a five minute wait at the restaurant.  Megan, our server was simply amazing.  I always get coconut shrimp.  The best, the real best is their dipping sauce.  Next, can't forget the cheese garlic yummmmmmmy rolls.  My meal could be made of just them.  My whole meal, crazy good.  It is 7:20 and I'm still stuffed.

As we were heading to the beach to walk off our lunch, who was right behind us, Lori and Don.  They also went to Pensacola, to a flea market and an antique mall.  My phone rang and it was Lori saying guess who is two cars behind you.  No way, is all I was thinking.  That was funny.  After the beach stop, we toured a couple RV Parks.  Tim is always looking for something better or different.  One was really upscale.  Out of our budget but it was good to see the possibilities. 

We also stopped by the Gulf Intracoastal Waterways and watched a tugboat pushing a doubled sided barge going right down the middle, taking most of the entire width of the canal.  Very intriguing !!

Now all of this wonderful day and of course...NO CAMERA.  Think I need an extra one, and always leave it in the jeep.  When I get back to NC, going to check Craigslist for an extra camera. 
Forgot to say we have had a mostly sunny day today...yahoooooooo

I still have a few pics from the Mardi Gras Boat Parade.  So hope you enjoy the final show...

                                                         Marine patrol ending the parade

                                      Tim threw this baby a moon pie, but he said no thanks

                                                    Who is this dried out drowned rat
                                             She has 7 pounds of beads around her neck
           Well not really, probably about 4 pounds.  Tim caught some.  Together we caught 7 lbs.
                                            Thinking back on that day, we had so much fun
                                                The end of Mardi Gras Boat Parade 2013


Life is good
God is soooo great
Nite all

                       Don't forget that huge hug for your sweet Valentine

Wednesday, Undecided Day

The weather for today could not make a decision whether it would rain or not.  The morning started with a little sunshine, then rain, rain, rain.  Then the sun popped out again.  Before lunch, I headed to Walmart for groceries.  The rains came again as I was returning home.  It stayed around till about 5:00.  Not raining at the moment.  The best encounters for me today...sunrise and sunset.

For all the gents reading this tonight, be extra special to your favorite gal tomorrow.  Make her feel appreciated and loved. 

                                                                 Awesome sunrise

                                                 Scarlet red skies through the clouds
                                                              Absolutely beautiful

Don't forget to always try to find happiness.  It is usually close by all the time.


Life is good
God is great
Nite all

Here are more pics from yesterday's Mardi Gras Boat Parade...enjoy

                                                Check out the outhouse on back of boat

                                          The above two barges followed the parade boats.
         Both disconnected the barges filled with coal and left them on the edge of the waterway

Guess the clouds or something in the atmosphere is sure making it slow to load these images.  Will try to complete this task tomorrow.

Tuesday, Happy Rainy Day

Knowing that I was facing two more rain soaked days, decided to start this day with happiness.  The day started with Tim walking with a light mist falling.  One of our neighbors chatted with Tim along the way, about her husband surprisingly sat in a chair of water.  The water came into the kitchen from a leak around his antenna.  Don, the neighbor is 77 and walks with a cane.  So Tim knew it would be impossible for him to climb on top of his rv to fix the problem.  So Tim hauled his ladder down to the end of the park and chalked up the leak.  That's my hero!!! 

Next it was my walk, mine and Lori's.  I think she said we did 17+ laps.  That makes over 3 miles.  The air was thick and wet.  Not a fun morning for a walk.  But wanting this day to be full of happiness, I kept my eyes peeled on the surroundings.  Saw a few robins in our yard.  Also found new red ant hills all over.  Because of the heavy rains, those little meanies are on the move to new homes.  The guys around the park will see to their demise when it dries up.  Or at least they will try.  So many times, those critters will just pop up in another location.  Saw a cute little squirrel hopping from one tree to another.  Way to fast for me to get my camera out.  Enjoyed him anyway.  Another camper was walking his dog Ellie, a gorgious gray standard poodle.  Did get a pic of her. 

Back at the coach, found Tim getting in a couple winks. Then breakfast, a few chores, and worked on a bead order.  Before I knew it, lunchtime.  We had made plans to go to the Mardi Gras Boat Parade in Gulf Shores.  But Tim said to much rain would probably cancel it.  Talked he into going anyway.  WOW...what an exciting time.  Forgot I was not 10 again and the fact that I do not like to get wet.  I was jumping up and down throwing my arms up trying to catch the beads that the boaters were tossing to us.  Doing a good job of it also.  Let me tell you what my sweetie was doing.  The beads that I missed that either fell in the water or just on the rocks, he was picking them up.  He also got his share of beads thrown to him.  All I can say is...FUN FUN FUN.  Another happy time for this rainy day.  I can't wait to count the beads and see how many I got.  Will share that with you tomorrow.

That's my happy rainy day news, now for some pics......

                                              Tim returning after his good deed for the day
                                              With Lori, coming to get her walking partner

                                    A few robins stopping by to say hi and grab a few worms

                                                                         Fire ant hill

                                                                And this is Miss Ellie

                                                                       A quick catnap

                                        Driving to the boat parade in the pouring down rain

                                                  Now for the Mardi Gras Boat Parade

                                                     Patiently waiting for the action

                   Having trouble loading more, am stopping now, will post the rest tomorrow
                                                           Don't want to lose the above


Life is good
God is great
Nite All