Merry Christmas

A bright and sunny day. Temp about +2 but windy. Rained most of yesterday,still lots of snow left. Mom has been working in the kitchen most of the morning. Produced the Christmas turkey with all the trimmings, and wine as well. And her usual christmas pudding with rum sauce. We are now ready for a little nap. Merry Christmas to all.

Made It

Left this morning at 8.30. for London. Arrived here at 12.30. Didn't start to snow till the last 30 miles. The road was fairly clear, and no blowing snow. Was a fairly easy run. Lots of snow plowed by the side of the road. Some places about 5 feet high. Mom had a nice meal for me when I arrived. Has been windy and blowing snow ever since. Supposed to have 6 more inches tonight and then freezing rain over Xmas. Glad I came today even though it was -16 . A little cold carrying things in and out of the Van. Mom has the turkey thawing in the fridge. Should be a food filled Xmas .!!!!!!

And more snow and cold.

Last night went down to -15 and with the wind chill was equal to -26. Now that is COLD. Is blowing and snowing again this afternoon. No sun in sight. I am packed and almost ready to hit the road. Just need a big break in the weather.

Snow, snow, snow

Enough... When is this snow going to stop? Started about 9 this morning and is still coming down. I can hear the snowplow in the parking lot trying to clear the lot. Unfortunately there is no place to push it to. Really only got about 8 inches of the white fluffly stuff today but has been very windy, so have drifts of 4 feet in places. At present there is a pile of snow at the end of the lot about 10 feet high and the plow keeps trying to push more on top of it. Think they will have to get a front end loader to dig it up and place on a dump truck and dump it some where else.... No one can get their cars out but doesn't really matter cause the roads aren't plowed anyways so couldn'tgo anywhere even if we could get out. Supposed to be cold but clear tomorrow and snow again on Sunday. Today it was -15 with a windchill equal to -25. Brrr. Now that is cold. Sure makes visiting Arizona and California sound like a wonderful escape. Now if I can just get a break in the weather so can do the 3 hour drive to London safely on Tues or Wed. Time will tell.

getting ready for on the road again

It is the middle of Dec. and have had enough cold snowy winter weather to last me till April. Am packing the Van to be ready sometime after Christmas to make a run for the warmer South. Just need a break in the weather. Don't fancy driving through 5 days of blowing snow and slippery roads. Stau tuned for daily reports once I hit the road for Arizona. This time I have a laptop to keep my family informed of my whereabouts, and any interesting happenings on my travels. .

Shell hunting

Another hot and sunny day here. Rained last Monday and sprinkled Tuesday. Has been wonderful Florida weather ever since. On Thursday we went to a beach at Fort De Soto Park. It's near St.Petersburg , about 2 hours from here. Crossed over Tampa Bay, where it joins the Gulf of Mexico , on a fabulous bridge. Took some pictures , also seen a paddlewheeler boat out on the bay. Eileen thought it was a tour boat of some kind. Lovely sandy beach and not many people on it a 9 in the morning. Collected lots of sand dollars and a few other pretty shells. Now the trick is to get them home intact. We are off to the library today. So nice to sit around and read in the warmth. I am just bone idle and loving every day of it.

Saturday Feb. 9th.

Another hot sunny day here in paradise. Robert and Linda visited last Tues. They also took a little " detour " on the way here so I don't feel so bad about my "detour " on the way to Springs... They , like us ,also wanted to travel home in the daylight. 3 hours here , 3 hours to visit and 3 hours back home. Of course they would be driving the last bit through the Occala National Forest with the deer jumping in front of the car headlights at night. A bear had been spotted near the camp as well.. We had a nice visit . They got to see some of the cats including a few of the feral cats.
The pineapple plant in the back yard is growing a pineapple. Eileen has 6 plants that she started from the tops of pineapples. I didn't think they were that easy to grow, but must be as she has a black thumb instead of a green one...I have taken a picture of it as it is just starting to pop out of the centre of the plant. Don't know how fast they grow but will take another before I leave here.
Yesterday went to see a movie. The Bucket List. Really enjoyed it. We have been discussing what we would put on our list before we kick the bucket. It seems I have a list and have been slowly marking them off.... Who'd have known it... Wouldn't you just love to know what else I have on my list?
This morning we went to a arts and craft fair in Sebring. Was interesting and not too hot. Had my first "funnel cake" Must be a thousand calories in it. Was good but even I couldn't eat it all. we should of got one between us, live and learn. Don't think I will be having another one soon though. Sat in the park munching it and watched the really large people walk by. felt really bad but kept right on munching. Sebring is a funny little town. the centre of the town is a circle with a park in it and the streets go out like spokes in a wheel, and the outer streets becoming larger circles. Cute, but hell for traffic.
It is getting hotter out now , glad we came home early. Eileen is trying to have a nap and I just might too. Ah ,,the wonderful life of the retired in Florida.