Touring with Diane

     My sister Diane arrived on Tuesday afternoon and we immediately started wandering around Titusville. We had grilled grouper sandwiches in a sports bar and toured the local Walmart for groceries and beer. Wednesday we headed for the Kennedy Space Center and had a very educational time. They had just hauled a new space vehicle out to pad 39a. It is due to go into space in early February. It was sunny, but the wind was cold. Still we wanted to see the ocean, and Cocoa Beach was the closest place. Captain J's had a view of the beach and we met a funny bartender and a guy from Pittsburgh. I thought the top of the bar was pretty, so naturally I took a picture. On the way back to Christmas, we saw a huge cruise ship in port. Thursday, we visited our cousin Larry Balewski at his real estate office, and he told us how to get to where the old store and gas station was on Ormond Beach. It's a restaurant now, but I can still picture my Aunt Jenny standing out in front. What was even more interesting was seeing the house behind it that I remember an old black lady living in. She taught me how to weave baskets out of palm leaves. Then we headed for Daytona Beach and ended up at the Deck Down Under. The sun was warm and we sat on the deck and watched the sea gulls and one pelican. It has been so cold that the aligators that were normally out at the Kennedy Space Center were hibernating. We checked out the Nature Park and Zoo which is located almost next door to the rv park. I think we're going to pass on the tour. After we dropped the boys off, we went to the Hard Rack Nite Club down the road. It was fun, and they had good music. We called our cousin Libby and are making plans to meet her on Sunday.

Time to play "Catch Up"

     The week before Christmas, Carman and I and the boys drove to Lake Alfred to meet Camille and Ed. We arrived at lunch time and I couldn't get a hold of the Provonosts to extend a lunch invitation. As it turns out, we had a wonderful meal at Luigi's, one of their favorite spots. Great wine and pasta! We got a tour of Ed and Camille's beautiful home and met her dad, a truly delightful man with a mane of white hair. Their Shelties welcomed us to the pack, and we took up warm residence on the south facing patio. I hope the pictures say it all.

     Christmas was quiet with phone calls to family and friends as a way of celebrating. The following week we went back to the winery to get some T-shirts. New Year's eve was balmy, and we sat outside while Carman cooked ribs. New Year's morning, we had torrential rain, but by afternoon, it was nice enough to tour Dade State Park just a short distance from Blueberry Hill. It is a battleground where they enacted a battle between the Seminole Indians and American forces back in 1835. Then I made some great gumbo for dinner. On Saturday, we had breakfast at local restaurant in Webster. It was quite good and the memorabilia was interesting. Then we headed for Lake Wales and Spook Hill. The idea is to put the car in neutral and drift BACK UP the hill. It worked! Don't know how. We stopped at a Best Buy so Carman could get his computer fixed and then headed for Bushnell. Saturday night was incredibly cold (27 degrees). Sunday morning Carman came over to check and inflate my tires. I then headed for Christmas, FL.

Saturday at Homosasa Springs

We started out a really great day by having lunch at Fisherman's Cove. We had eaten at this little restaurant two weeks ago when it was pouring rain. Taking pictures of the little garden began day of marathon digital delight. On a whim, I suggested Homosasa Springs hoping it was the same place that Gary and I had visited in 1992. Bingo! It was. We took a boat trip over to the park which I remembered as a manatee preserve, but there was a lot more. I'm going to let the pictures tell the story, plus Carman's video.

Never Mind the Weather

Florida weather is definitely different than New Mexico. We have had balmy warm moist air. I think I've even lost a few wrinkles! This past Monday we knew the weather was due to change, so we headed to Daytona Beach, an area that Carman is very familiar with. When we got there at 10 am, it was cloudy and windy, and the tide was high and stormy along the beach. So we headed to Ponce Inlet to tour the highest lighthouse and museum in Florida. After walking Marshall and Tux, it was time to find a restaurant for lunch and alcohol. We found a really great place called Inlet Harbor Restaurant & Marina; however, Carman didn't get enough hush puppies so we stopped at another place called the Bar Down Under where he got his fill and I tried to get some pictures of a dolphin who was cavorting with the pelicans. The dolphin didn't co-operate, but the pelicans did. I forgot that we went to a winery in Clermont last weekend. Neither one of us liked the wine, but they had some really great t-shirts. I need to go back some time just for a t-shirt. It was a benefit for a local humane society. There were vendors with jewelry and art, and dogs and cats to adopt. I took a picture of Carman, and an employee insisted on taking a picture of the two of us, but it came out blurry. Stay tuned; there's a lot more coming up!

More Adventures

I arrived in Bushnell last Thursday. Great sunset. This place is really nice. I haven't tried out the pool yet, but there is a wonderful room full of jigsaw puzzles! I'm right next door to a Walmart that I can walk to. Now that's dangerous. On Friday Carman and I ventured up the highway to find lunch, and we got a great dinner in a really cute place. It would have been better if it hadn't been pouring. Saturday, it wasn't raining, but it was rather cool, Sunday we went to Clearwater; it wasn't real warm, but it wasn't raining. Another picture of a bird. They just beg to have their pictures taken. Clearwater Beach and Crabby Bill's where we had lunch. On Monday, we went to the Webster Flea Market, and got some great veggies, a good lunch, and plenty of exercise. Yesterday was cleaning day: seeing how much dog hair a sweeper can handle. Today promises to be warm and partly cloudy. Time to check out Walmart again.

The Emerald Coast

One could really take her time enjoying the beaches, shopping, and bars/restaurants in this area. Unfortunately, I was trying to outrun the weather. I ended up in Carabelle with a great campsite, but a little late to do anything but walk and feed the dogs. The next morning I got these beach shots while the sun was trying to shine. That didn't happen. Notice who is riding shotgun. Not really. He was just watching me. I guess it's going to be one of those December's here in sunny Florida! Shame on me: think positive. I stayed in Perry last nite on my way to Homosassa today. I should be in Bushnell on Thursday.

Moving On

Time to leave Perdido Key and explore the state parks along the Gulf coast. The weather has been all over the place since I've been here, but it's been more normal the past few days. I actually wore shorts yesterday. We had a great dinner at the Crab Cage Saturday evening, and Carman left for Webster early Sunday. Plans are shaping up for January. I talked to Sandy last evening, and hopefully we might have a reunion with Linda. Naturally, I love to take pictures of birds, so check out my new feathered friends.