Our Trip to Florida and More

Things are going swimmingly here on Campbell Street with each new day better than the previous one. It is just plain glorious. We just gave yet another tour to friends with Tammy proclaiming it was like a fairy tale. I could not agree more.

That said, because of the moving process I never had the time to give our trip down to Florida its' due. Mostly we went out to eat with friends and family. We missed the twins 45th birthday on April Fools Day so we made up for it with a trip to the Tap Room at Dubsdred. Gosh it was good to be enjoying delicious food with our loved ones!

That would be me, Bruce, David, Michelle, Fallon and Bill around the table. We ran into Bill and Fallon in the parking lot and the light was so nice I could not resist photographing the new-soon-to-be parents! 

Actually it is not really so soon but it is in the works. Yes, you read that correctly, if all goes well we will be first time grandparents at the ripe old age of 70! Actually my sweet husband had a birthday on Saturday and is now 71. If you are the praying kind please keep them in your prayers! 

We enjoyed a lovely evening with Joe and Cynthia at a tasty Mexican restaurant situated lakeside in Baldwin Park.

Joining Keith and Patty at a nearby restaurant called Cava, they regaled us about the joys of being grandparents as their daughter gave birth about three months ago. We also met up with them at the Dover Shores  pickleball courts where we were greeted warmly by the gang. Those were some very fun days for us and apparently folks missed us in our absence. The feeling is mutual.

Rene and Lisa are so much fun to play with,

as our Keith, Patty and Maryanne.

Sunday we spent the morning playing pickleball in our community,

followed by lunch with Mary at Johnny's.

Another day we made a visit to Orlando Wetlands Park in order for me to see some big birds for a change. We were not disappointed as there were plenty of them, beginning with this Sandhill Crane and their teenager who greeted us almost as soon as we began our walk.

There were so many Wood Stork and plenty of Roseate Spoonbills too.

And what exactly do I mean by plenty? This is but one spot where the nests were plentiful.

Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Anhingas, you know, all the usual suspects at this time of year! The Red-Winged Blackbirds were having plenty to say.

No trip to the Wetlands is complete without gator sightings.

Vultures too! Holy cow there were a bunch.

I did some roaming around the community which was lovely. In case you are new to this space, and are wondering what I mean, there are two lakes, two swimming pools, tennis/pickleball courts along with folks who have garden plots. While there, look what I came across.

I took this one below at the big lake,

and the one below at the small lake on which we have our place. 

I spotted the Wood Ducklings and Mama one day and it was two days later that two ducklings were missing. Missing is a bit of a euphemistic term for what really happens to ducklings so often. Lots of predators around including the otters in the lake and the hawks in the skies above.

I've seen a bunch during our time living in the village, but opening the front door to be greeted by a Peahen was a first!

Actually, as I recall there were four of them! 

Aside from cleaning out our storage space, seeing friends and family, visiting doctors/dentist, Bruce wanted his tools and I wanted more clothes. He won the car space battle, but I did manage to bring this batch up here to North Carolina.

I was blessed by a visit to Patti's remodeled condo which is fantastic btw, with Susan coming over to join us. Connie came downstairs on more than one occasion, gifting us with soup that she knows Bruce loves. And there was a visit to Hawkers with Nancy because those are two things we cannot do without while in Orlando. 

Then it was time to head back to the mountains with Bruce doing one last check of the door before departure.

Although we have called it home now for five years the only thing that bothered me before leaving was the thought of all of our pretty things just sitting there. More than one person has asked if we are planning on selling it but now that we are going to be FIRST TIME grandparents, for the near future, the answer is no. 

Breaking with tradition we took the interstate all the way to Macon in hopes of making it in one day. One thing I did neglect to mention, and while it won't be much interest to you, it will be a reminder for us in the future. Bruce took the Subaru into the dealership for an oil change and in a bit of a disappointment, to put it mildly, they pointed out all manner of maintenance that needed to be done. Not only did it delay our departure while waiting for a part, it put a pretty big dent in our wallet to the tune of $2,500. While that hurt a bit it is good to know that we won't have to do much in the near future. 

Anyway, the drive was lovely in Florida with wildflowers roadside,

but always my favorite part of the trip, no matter the route, is when the mountains first come into view.

This was a pleasant drive since we avoided Atlanta and before long we were on the winding roads that have become somewhat familiar.

During our ten day absence the trees burst into GREEN and so many shades of green.

It was just glorious to my eyes! Our plans don't include heading back to Florida for some time but when we do, this route might just be the ticket for both scenery and speed. 

This afternoon, the windows and doors are open to a lovely breeze with the sweet sounds of the ever present birds filling the air. Furthermore, the last of our purchased furniture should be arriving in the next few hours and then I will give you another tour. Gosh, it is just lovely although it does still look a bit like a showroom but personal touches are coming in here and there. Tammy will be arriving soon with some daylily and iris bulbs from her garden to ours, some of which are 85 years old. Growing up in West Virginia, both her mother and grandmother grew them. Does not get much more personal than that, right?

Praise God from whom all blessings flow is what I'm thinking right about now!

your friend,

Gail

 

A Busy December

Ha ha...you may recall that earlier this month I wrote something about we might go camping this week.

Not happening! 

That was wishful thinking by a long shot. At least we could if we were not too busy, a blessing for sure because we know several people who have had Covid recently and we are reading that it is spreading again. What we need is to make time to get our second booster shot, especially because we have our family arriving from afar at the end of this week! Maybe Wednesday afternoon would work following my teeth cleaning appointment. Actually it was Bruce's appt., however, I jumped in line and will be taking his place. About a month ago mine was cancelled because our hygienist was having wrist surgery at the same time that our hair stylist was out with a broken wrist. What are the chances, right? 

It goes without saying that more would get done around here if not for playing pickleball so often. Choices, choices! So far, pickleball is winning out. The weather has been chillier, and for sure, the morning skies on our way to play has been, on some days, seriously dramatic.

A case in point.

So really, how can you go wrong with both birds and a sky filled with color and drama? 

It wasn't much later that Anne accused me of not concentrating hard enough to actually hit the ball. Another case in point!!

Actually, as we were driving the 3.5 miles to the court, the sky was just beginning the transformation from gray to fuchsia.

Heavenly hosts sing hallelujah! You think?

Remember I mentioned the church event? "A Walk Through Bethlehem" has been a tradition at FCCWP for some time now, and it takes a lot of work to pull off, not to mention scores of people. 

For example, the luminaries took several people to fill the bags with sand, place the candles after which time I placed them on the sidewalk surrounding the church, while others put them on the steps. Then another woman came along and lit all 100 of them! I don't know where they got the wooden camel, but it took another volunteer to make the creche. 

These are my comrades in arms from the pottery booth, Gail and Cynthia.

Dressed similarly, my head gear was not nearly as stylish! This would be someone you know hawking fish.

A guide leads groups of ten or so on the walk which includes a stop to see the real goats, chickens and a donkey. It really is something to witness, and I am just glad they only do it every two years!

Another thing I touched on, while we are on the subject of church, was that Bruce and I lit the second candle of Advent doing a reading at the same time. A very special moment for us that later on I watched on the church website. Fascinating listening to one's spoken voice. I am so behind, this past Sunday the fourth candle was lit.

Community Christmas party anyone? Yup, that happened as well. A week ago Sunday or so I think? 

That would be our son David talking with Yvette and my sister Nancy wearing the Christmas headgear. The committee, comprised of myself, Patti, Susan, Ellie, Diane and Sherry put it together with a few planning sessions and some shopping and decorating! Our goal was not only to have neighbors mingle while listening to the locally famous Caroling Company,

but gather donated toys as well. As it turns out, our pickleball friend Tony (l), along with his daughter, are members so that was really fun. As was the "Ugly Christmas Sweater" contest. How do you feel about Bruce's sweater?

Some called it cute, but to my eyes, it is pretty darn ugly! Mine was as well, however, the contest was not won by either of us, instead the prize went to Peg who had fun altering an already ugly sweater.

Diane opted for an entire ensemble, courtesy of a visit to the Goodwill boutique in Winter Park.

Ellie is standing next to the table and by the end of the party it was laden with gifts galore. Close to 100! The following day the folks at the Orlando Union Rescue Mission were delighted.

Connie had a ladies get together last Thursday night, outdoing her previous efforts, a difficult task for sure, on the delicious appetizers,

as well as the guest list! The gang was indeed all there. (note Peg rewearing the sweater and rubbing it in!) 

While at Connies, I noticed, not for the first time, but it may as well have been, that she had pushed her dining table against the wall at the end. The very next morning I asked Bruce if that might work in our kitchen, Heck yeah it did!

Instead of having just three kitchen seats available, we now have four! Seriously, we have been here four years and this idea just came to mind? Sheepishly, I have to answer in the affirmative! Anyway, the set table above was for the potluck breakfast we were hosting for our new Dover Shores friends. The table in the "dining" room was set as well.

The tree was lit with the amazing array of presents wrapped, not by yours truly, but her darling husband.

More than one person this season has asked if they are real presents? 😀

The twisted bacon was ready too. Leaving the party the evening before, when I mentioned the breakfast, Sandy immediately said that twisted bacon was not only all the rage, but it actually lives up to the hype. It did work nicely, allowing me to cook an entire pound on one jelly roll pan in the oven, leaving no mess, not to mention no tending too!

I will leave the "googling" to you!

Although various calamities kept some ladies from attending, we had a marvelous morning of getting to know one another better. Mary set her camera on a timer, allowing me to be in the shot for a change.

When Bruce returned a few hours later, while we were tidying up, he opened a hostess gift from Rene and said, as is his custom, "oh wow!" Oh wow indeed.

Honestly, I could not have been more pleased! 

During a visit to Hobby Lobby for a few Christmas items, we found this guy at 70% off and thought, "why not?"

If some weather predictions hold true, this very thing might happen, although I seriously doubt the forecast will prove true. That said, miracles do happen!

The lights are looking good.

Should you be wondering, most people living in here, do not do much in the way of outdoor decorating, however, we just really love outdoor lighting this time of year. 

Next up on the agenda was a birthday dinner for our daughter-in-law Michelle last night. Originally Bruce had an engagement, but he canceled that in order to be here for her.  Only problem was that I had to think fast and these days my quick thinking is not what it used to be. Nonetheless, I thought of one of my favorites, hoping it would become one of hers. Dirty Risotto mise en place below.

While it has been featured here in Camera Crazy in the past, for those who missed it, I highly recommend Giada's recipe which you can find here. She will shoot me for posting this photo, which I took while no one was looking, but here goes anyway.

Roasted green beans, along with some bakery bread from Publix made for a meal to remember. Which is to say that David and Michelle loved it. A homemade chocolate cake with crushed peppermint on top held the candles.

Do not ask me why I chose to use that waxed paper! Plus, the cake looked way better in person. Or is that me looking at it through rose colored glasses?

Busy, busy, busy. 

Your story as well. 

Yet four mornings a week, we arrive at the crack of dawn to hit a ball back and forth over a net. 

Isn't it great to be alive?

your friend,

Gail