Sights of the Season

Santa table

Christmas tree

Christmas village

Nativity

Gingerbread house

Santa rug

making his list!

We Gather Together

Thanksgiving 2013 was celebrated at Mom and Dad's. A delicious traditional meal was ordered from The Vinoy, in St. Petersburg. Mom set a beautiful table complete with turkeys, Pilgrims, and little gourds. And candles.

Remember the Publix Pilgrims!

 

The food was very flavorful and expertly cooked. We devoured it- - not much was left over!

For dessert, there was pumpkin pie ...

    ...  and fancy boxed chocolates!

After all the feasting and clearing away, teams were chosen for a corn hole tournament. Never played before, but being outside in the sunshine, laughing, and trying to get little bean bags into little holes was very entertaining! Allan and I lost - big time!

 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Two Dollar Tuesday

Most Tuesday evenings this year have been spent with the same small group of family and friends enjoying wine, craft beer, and California tacos. On nice days we gather on an outside sidewalk patio. We all come strolling in between 5:30 to 6 pm., greet each other, and place our drinks order. We talk, laugh, and share our days experiences with each other. We all have our favorite tacos and always order the same ones. Most of us also order the same drinks, in the same order. This is a comfortable, friendly time that we all look forward too.

Our dear friends, Diann and Bill O'Conner, join us about each week. Only my sister, Mary Jo, was missing, due to a cold! What a nice tradition this has turned into! Come join us this week!

Fall Festival, Market, & Concert in the Park.

On the third weekend in October, you can count on several events each year: The St. Raphael fall festival and the Pops Concert in the Park. Allan and I look forward to these all year long! We love being outdoors with family and friends, great music, good food, rides, and fireworks!

Wine time on Friday night at the fall festival. Dave and Linda's second visit to the fair!

Look at me! One for each hand. A cool treat for a warm evening!

Fun photo booth. We did end up on Facebook!

The next morning we set out early for the Saturday morning market. Found a yummy breakfast waffle. Bananas and cream!

Beautiful fresh sunflowers in the vegetable stand.

We went shopping for dinner to take to the park. We found empanada's - in chicken and blue crab, fresh salad fixin's, fresh local honey( for a pretzel dip) and Halloween brownies! Just added wine, and cheese and crackers. What a feast!

Dave and Linda came back the next night for our favorite downtown St. Pete event. The concert was fantastic, as always! Wine and good food and thousands of cheering music lovers!

Allan getting into the spirit! Cheers!

The sky always lights up with fireworks after the 1812 Overture!

Viewing through a rainbow filter lens - this is what I saw:

Can't wait til next year!

Fall mountain trip

It's a little over a month til my sorority reunion trip to Asheville, North Carolina. We have reserved White Stone Lake Manor for all of us during our five - day stay. We will be able to enjoy the surrounding area, including the Biltmore Estate, FSU football via TV, and relaxing with college friends. Fun over wine, home cooked meals, and group outings! I look forward to this event all year!

My favorite jeans jacket has never gone to this reunion group before, so I know it will be a hit. I plan on wearing it on the plane on the way.

Also, my new Brighton satchel I got as a bonus from work will be traveling there. I even scored the matching wallet! Will also be wearing my new "Bobs"!

Found this cute paisley tunic and legging jeans on sale. Tunic is cozy, soft knit and leggings have traditional jeans top-stitching.

For evenings out, I got this peasant knit sweater top. Will look great with jeans or black velvet skinny pants.

Now, if only the fall weather would come!

Fall, Y'all!

I know everyone is waiting for my next decorating post. Today I got all the fall and Halloween stuff out. I was just going to use a few things here and there - but I've got a lot of really fun things and before long most of it was on display. Big round table in corner holds most of it - and some things under it!

I find that I use lots of string lights - everywhere! Adds a fun, festive touch. I even mix different styles and colors. The lights above are candy corn!

My entry was kept simple with just shiny glass pumpkins and glass vase with fall leaf branches. I love my red glass lamp with this arrangement. Happy fall, y'all!

Labor Day Weekend Show

Nothing keeps us from not showing up at Caddy's on summer holiday weekends ( okay, maybe work)! We get up and going early so we can beat the parking lot attendant and park for free! Also, to beat the crowd and enjoy the beach before it fills up.

Our beach camp was waiting! And the coffee was fresh and hot. Everyone ordered breakfast and visited while we waited to be served. After a short rain storm the weather turned into a beautiful beach day. And the gulf was perfect!

We had two tables this year. We had some newbies to the group:

Matt and Jessie and their three children! Good to see you guys!

Five month old baby Will

The water was the best part! So refreshing and crystal clear!

Caddy's supplies the beach loungers and umbrella's!

Many sand castles were made and destroyed!

We had a great time and can't wait to come back!

We left around noon, when the beach was starting to fill up. We still had plenty of time left in our day to do other things - like see a movie (The Butler) and watch FSU rout Pitt in its football season opener. Yes, it was pretty much a perfect day!

Boston to Bermuda 2014

A week or so ago, Allan and I booked our next cruise. In celebration of our tenth wedding anniversary, next October, we are cruising to Bermuda, from Boston, on a seven-day voyage. Linda and Dave, from CruiseOne World Journeys Florida, took care of all the details, and got us a super rate. For the price of a balcony room, we were upgraded to a mini suite! We are sailing on M/S Norwegian Dawn - offering freestyle cruising. With three days in port, we are looking forward to exploring every inch of these beautiful islands! Of course, Rudy will be joining us!

Pass-A-Grille Beach Escape

We loaded up with beach supplies, casual beach clothes, and wine and snacks to enjoy at sunset!

Our destination, located on quaint Pass-A-Grille beach!  We checked in early afternoon, July 4th.

Our charming room! Place was very quiet and right across the street from the beach.

 

First up ... cold fruity drink and walk on the beach!

Next up, 4th of July barbecue supper and fireworks in downtown St. Pete with ...

Mom Mom

and Pop Pop.

 

We waited for the show on the veranda with coffee and champagne!

 St. Pete put on a great show! Hundreds watched from the downtown waterfront.

 

The next morning, there's nothing like hot coffee overlooking the sea! Had breakfast, then it was off to the beach!

Was a beautiful beach morning. Water was very refreshing. We got there before the crowd!

 

That afternoon, our wine time was spent on our hotel front porch .

We mingled with other guests, and one of the locals wandered by ...

Meet Smuggs. He was very friendly and happily posed for pictures.

Dinner that night was at Sea Critters. Maybe some lobster pasta ...

or some grilled salmon. It was all delicious!

Saturday morning breakfast - back at the Paradise Grille.

Was going to be the best beach day yet! Never did rain. Just plenty of sunshine and gentle breezes!

Water was very calm and slightly cool! We spent quite a bit of time cooling off in the surf.

Our beach camp. Comfy seating and shade from the sun!

Linda and Dave joined us for wine time and dinner for our last night in Pass-A-Grille.

Another beautiful sunset to close another wonderful beach vacation!