VACATION - Last Day with the Folks in Florida

This post is about Monday and Tuesday as we prepared to leave Florida.  (just getting around to it today to post it)

Monday morning we had our nice breakfast with sister Tonya and family... and they headed out to the airport.  Seeing as we had an afternoon to fill up, we asked Auntie Lois if she wanted ONE MORE WALMART RUN????  (we had done both of the Ocala and Gainesville Walmarts, but hadn't hit their "home base" Walmart in Chiefland)   Of course she wanted to go!!!!

There is a nice little fruit stand in Chiefland that I wanted to get more fresh produce from, plus they carry  HOT Cajun Peanuts that Steve enjoys.  That was a stop on our list.  We also hit a new thrift store, and I found some great denim material to go with the flannel pieces I bought 2 weeks before at the quilt shop.  So now I can make a heavy denim and flannel quilt.  Then we needed to stop at the Dollartree for a few things, and that killed another hour. We finally hit the Walmart and made our loops and turns  and laps around the store.  We didn't lose any one this time!   LOL ....  soon our packages were loaded and we headed on home.

The guys had been busy with a few projects too... they are working on a big air compressor and sand blaster, and then headed out for a big welding machine and plasma cutting tool that Steve found on Craigslist for Lowell to add to his array of tools. Steve has enjoyed helping Lowell spend his money... tee heee!

 After we cooked up a supper, the guys decided to take THEIR turn in the kitchen cleaning up duties!  They cleaned up the dishes, stowed the leftovers and made it sparkling purty.... (see Mom's Pillsbury Dough Boy Collection?)   It was such a great treat to have THEM do it on our last night.

Mom's feet were really hurting from our shopping marathon, so I took in some good foot lotion and gave her a long massage while the guys banged and clanged around the kitchen.

Thinking they are on a cleaning jag or something....  

but I think they just wanted second helpings of dessert.  Hmmmmm?

The doggers have been having an absolute blast here!  The back yard is pretty well fenced in so we could let Finney off the leash with our supervision.  As long as we had his new favorite toy, he stuck around to play.  My nephew Blake showed us how his dog loves to play with a plastic soda or water bottle.  Finney is in LOVE with this wonderful new crackly sounding toy!!! Duke lunges to take it away, and Finney can grab it back by the nozzle area of the bottle.

He has learned to twist and turn and jump in the air, flipping the bottle around and chasing it, totally entertaining himself.   This is one happy puppy------

As we settled in for our last night sleeping in the folk's yard, 

we took out our mapping software (Microsoft Streets and Trips) 

and planned our way home.  

As much as we didn't want to, we know the work-a-day world is waiting

and I do admit--- I miss my house. 

On Tuesday, we woke up to a sunshiny Florida morning, with birds singing and warm sand under our feet.  Reluctantly, we had our last coffee clutch around the table with the parents.  We had spent the last 20 days starting out each morning around this table with them. Quite a nice routine. 

As we packed up our gear, stowed our power cord and chairs and topped off our fresh water tank, and dumping our holding tanks, it was time to gather the last of our items from the house.  We did a doublecheck to make sure nothing was left behind. 

The neighbor ladies who Steve and Lowell installed the washing machine for had a bit of an emergency.... so Mom and I did what we could to help.  Later that day, they finally convinced the lady to let them bring her to the hospital for better care, which they did.  She is resting comfortably now and under the care of her doctors. 

We moved the motorhome out onto the street, and got the Tracker hooked up.  Double checking our connections, we then said our goodbyes, as much as we didn't want to. 

Choking back tears, Mom shoved a handful of homemade Easter cards in my hands for the great-grandtots.  And a special one she made for us, thanking us for all the help we did for them. Awwwwwwww  how perfect for us! 

(I treasure her homemade cards) 

It's always hard to say goodbye... and after spending 20 days with the folks, it was very hard to turn around and get into the rig and head north.  

Now they owe us 20 days at OUR house in May!!!!!!

VACATION - Meeting My Sis and going to Cedar Key, FL

I come from a combined family--- about 10 years ago my Mom married Lowell.  We don't do "steps" in our family, so everyone is a sister, brother, son, daughter. All family, no steps.  Lowell has sons and only one daughter, Tonya.  We have never met Tonya in person before, just through emails and facebook.

Tonya, her husband Mike, and son Blake were able to sneak away from snowy cold Ohio for a little spring break weekend to Daytona!   They flew in near Orlando, drove up to Daytona for 2 days, and then came to spend a night at Mom and Lowell's before heading back.  So we FINALLY got to meet each other in person!

Mom and Steveio made a nice meal of a baked ham dinner

complete with pineapples on top, mashed taters, veggies and biscuits! 

After our meal, we hopped in two vehicles to drive over 40 miles to Cedar Key, an island in the Gulf of Mexico.  It's a nice small tourist town but not too overdone or crowded.  The white sand beaches and dog-friendly atmosphere are welcoming and pleasant.  The sky was THIS BLUE, no enhancing, and the sands were THIS WHITE!  The temps were in the 70's and it was gorgeous.

Ooooh my feet just couldn't wait to dig my toes into the sand...

We played "tourist" and took some pics while we got our feet wet in the water... 

(but Steveio and Lowell didn't)

 I think Mom and Auntie Lois were two of the biggest KIDS on the beach! 

I scooped up some "goody bags" of pure white sand for the grandtots to enjoy... yes, I bagged it up into five smaller bags and mailed them out yesterday!  I put on a note that they should get some Florida Sand Between Their Toes.... I hope their mommies dump it on the floor and let them put their feet in it!   LOL

The guys hung out under a shaded palm tree....  we women took off to walk along the shops and buy a couple of Tshirts and postcards... Yup, typical tourists we are!

Cedar Key is known for it's gathering of pelicans and other sea birds along the pier that goes out into the water... We walked out to see some fishermen wrangling their catch from the swooping dives of the pelicans! LOL....  When the catch is too small, they toss it over to the waiting birds.  

I found a buddy while hanging out on the pier

play this little video clip?

We drove on back home for an evening of wine and laughter out on the deck...  with good wishes and sweet dreams we all crashed about 10 pm.  It sure had been a LONG day for all of us.

Knowing the next morning we would be losing an hour due to Daylight Savings Time, Tonya and her family had to get up and going after a big breakfast cooked by Chef Lowell.  

They had a plane to catch and we waved goodbye and wished them safe travels! 

I am posting this a day late, but I just hadn't time to catch up yet. 

Next blog will be about our last day in Florida. 

As I write this, we are safely ensconced in our rig at a Walmart north of Atlanta....

VACATION - Another Week at the Folks in Florida

So much for taking off to parts unknown, or camping out in the everglades or basking on the beach in bikinis....  we decided to just hang out this week at the folk's house again.  The weather isn't the warmest, and we are just happy and cozy to be here parked in their yard.

Steve and Lowell are having fun with more projects:

A neighbor lady going through cancer lives nearby with her elderly mother.  They were in need of a washing machine so Steve and Lowell went and plumbed in all of the hookups and drain line, and then went to pick up a used washing machine.  Although the guy said it worked, they wanted to test it before installing it.  So these clever guys ran a garden hose to the back of the machine, and set the drain hose off the side of the box.  It worked! 

They spent the rest of the day installing it, and hooking up their shower curtain rod and some other odd jobs.  What darling boys to help out the ladies.

Then they came back to solve our turn signal problem on the Tracker... with Lowell watching from the rear, they got all the loose grounds cleaned and rebolted and the plug cleaned out and contact grease put in the slits.  So now it works correctly!   Another task completed.

Check out that super duper body work and paint job on the lower portions of the Tracker! 

When Steve got a break, Mom set Steve to do a new task for her....

click on this video link to see what it was:

Yeeee Hawwww he got her old 8 track player working again!  

She was delighted to have her old songs to listen to.  

She was cranking the tunes and country two stepping all over the house now. 

(pretty soon the neighbors will be complaining) 

As they worked on projects, I was able to get the rest of my quilt finished.  At home in advance I had the blocks done and had it mostly pieced together.  Now I joined up the two panels, finished up the free motion decorative stitching (vines and leaves in red stitches on the dark portions)  and then I did the binding around all the sides and the hidden seam up the back.  It's done!   

I put it on the king sized bed in the motorhome for now, just to see how it looks.  But I think I am going to keep it as a cuddle up quilt in the livingroom or else maybe at home in our guest room.  Not sure yet. 

 I kinda made it to try out the templates of the Strip N Twist design from Nancy's Notions. 

Besides all of our projects and crafting, we have been computerizing-- mom is getting better and better at using the internet.  Today I came in and found her watching YouTube videos on how to make little animals from pipe cleaners!  All by herself!  I had never even started to show her about YouTube, but she found links and now with her little speakers we bought yesterday, she can hear the dialog and music too.  Today she also watched great grandchildren on YouTube of Allegra's dance recital, she saw videos of Jameson's birthday party, and Chelsea and Clayton watching cartoons. Then she learned to save Mason's 2 year old studio photos that had been taken at Target.  The internet is an amazing thing for older folks to keep in touch with the fast paced lives of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Besides all the fun, we have been computerizing and fiddling and of course cooking foods! We have been making all our family favorites---- I made a pot of creamy potato soup with ham on one day, and another day was grandma's tater tot casserole!

Smush raw hamburger in the bottom of a glass pan, sprinkle on dried or diced onions and some seasonings to your taste.   Gently spread on 2 cans of cream of celery soup.  Then arrange tater tots on top, garnish with some seasonings and parsley, then cover with tin foil and bake.  About an hour till it's bubbling good and the meat is cooked and the tater tots golden.  Let it set a bit to firm up and cut into squares.  YUMMMMMMM

Check out those hot pads!  Wonder who quilted some hot pads for Da Momma?

Another day we cooked up a whole huge turkey breast!  Mom made mashed taters, sweet potatos with marshmallows on top, and a pan of stuffing.  The stuffing was better the second day when we re-baked it in a separate pan in the oven with the leftovers.

And Lowell begged us for cherry cheesecake, a double batch please? 

Auntie Lois never fails to bring us a container of her famous peanut butter cookies! 

(I can't get the picture to flip, but they are good no matter direction you see them from) 

The dogs have an important job to perform each day too....

Shelties are working dogs that need to have jobs to be happy and feel needed.

This is very SERIOUS job that all of our dogs have been trained to do. 

They need to do "Sockie Wockies" where they need to sit still and hold a new sock on their nose, elephant trunk style!  Once they are told OK, we remove the sock and put it on our foot, while they wait patiently for the second sock. I have been wearing sandals for so many days now in Florida, they were getting out of practice.  My parents decided to help the dogs out by encouraging their routine. 

 They watch carefully as the sock is put on the foot. Then their job is done! 

As our departure date is nearing .... the folks have been putting on the pressure to stay longer and just drive home in one mad dash at the last minute.  Home is 1,400 miles away. We try to convince them that we like to drive 200-300 miles a day, rest up well, and take our time in between storms.  Dry pavement is a must, as motorhomes and ice and snow covered roads do not mix.  We are explaining it rationally .... and they are pleading and begging us to stay longer. 

They are so cute. 

VACATION - Starting to Forget What Day It Is

Yup, vacation mode is really setting in now, 19 days into our time away, and we are forgetting what day of the week it even is!  THAT is true vacation brain and you know you are really relaxing!  We forgot it was only Monday, and Steve was thinking it was Tuesday to watch his one and only tv show he likes to watch (Person of Interest).  Oh well, now he can watch it tonight.

You might not think this is relaxing, but Steve is having a great time with Lowell. They are two peas in a pod, and love to have projects to work on.  If they don't have something to do, they are at odds with themselves and can not just sit and twiddle their thumbs.  Here they are washing a truck that Lowell is fixing up to sell.  When they were done washing it, they started working on the body here and there....

While they worked so hard,

here was MY view, from my lawn chair! 

Yup, the sky was THAT blue... ahhhhhh! 

This bug is another project car that Lowell worked on and repainted.  

He likes it so much, he don't want to sell it now.  LOL 

He has a case of  "too many vehicles" 

I count eight vehicles and a travel trailer in the yard at this time.....

Mom and I have been busy, working on crafts and projects, in between cooking meals for the guys and running errands.  It's been great spending a lot of days in a row with Mom.  Usually we have to cram in our visits to a few short days when they stop by as they head up to Michigan.  This has been a wonderfully long visit.  I know we have not been doing a lot touristy things, or items of travel interest to blog about for my RVing friends.  But my fiber and crafting readers will love some of these----

I set up my sewing machine on a folding table in the livingroom.  Working on some quilts and hot pads... 

While Mom is working on her addiction:  doggie critters made from pipe cleaners! 

and these jungle ones:

I even came in yesterday to catch her googling new patterns and animal shapes to make more!  She is getting better and better at the computerizing and using the internet to find out stuff.  I am proud of her!

I have been working on my quilt--- it's all together into two large panels, and now I have been working on the free-motion machine stitching of vines and leaves around on all the dark sections.  I am stitching it in rich shiny red threads on the dark black/brown portions of the quilt, and am about halfway done.  I hope to be handstitching the binding by the weekend.  Once each side is done, I will join them and butt up the battings to each other and seam the back by hand so it doesn't show through to the front. The dogs both approve when I was laying it out flat to check matching something between the blocks.

The dogs are really enjoying this Florida weather.  We leave the door open so they can go in and out at will, but we do keep Finnegan on a rope tied to the deck to keep him around. Duke is reliable and won't leave us, and Finney is getting better about hanging close too.   

A neighbor's dog came into the yard to visit yesterday, and it sure got these guys all excited to have a visitor.  Sniffs all around before the other dog was grabbed by it's collar from it's owner and hauled back home again.  Auntie Lois has come over to visit, and is also spoiling our dogs rotten, finding the cheese puffs!  She's just as bad as my parents!!!

Steve has been doing the outside cooking on the grill we brought along.... while Mom and I have been making goodies like fresh beans from Trader Joes, and Mom's traditional potato salad.  Steve has been grilling up burgers, steaks, chicken and other goodies.

I decided to bake up some apple pies, and Mom had some frozen apples so I used those for a couple pies.  Boy oh boy the house sure smelled good, and I shared a couple pieces over to Auntie Lois and Uncle Sam's when I went to untangle a little something on her computer.  She is doing good too!

Last night we settled in for an evening of crafts and some tv watching.  Lowell was watching his western show "through his eyelids" while Mom and I were working on our things. So Steve decided to help out Mom with another project of his own.  Mom had bought a cuckoo clock while visiting Germany a number of years ago, and somehow during moving households, the chains had jammed up inside of the clock mechanism.  She was quoted $200 from a clock repair shop to fix it.  Steve took it apart, and within the hour he had it working again!

Now we are kinda anxious to see if the little bird popped out on the hour like it's supposed to!  We wandered out and went to bed before the hour for the bird to do it's cuckoo thing.

In our family, we don't use the label "step" although Lowell is my step dad.  He has children from his first marriage.  This weekend, his only daughter and her husband and youngest son are coming to Florida for a quick visit.  So now I will be able to meet my step sister in person! We have sent emails and photos and are friends on Facebook.  Looking forward to extending our family even wider.

We told Mom that fish and company start to stink after three days, and we should be moving on soon... she won't hear of it and wants us to stay even longer.  I admit that I do enjoy the sunshine, warmth and ability to wear shorts and tshirts each day.  Kicking off the sandals as I walk into the house is nice too.  Far cry from bundling up in snow boots, heavy wool socks, sweaters and parkas.  Ahhhhhhh  Record cold temps up in Wisconsin make it hard to imagine leaving here.

But------ I think we will start to head north early next week.  Hope the ice and snow are held at bay, so we can have dry roads to travel on.