New Year Eve

I went through the wonderful Christmas gifts and put away things.  Like Christmas all over again!  We stayed home for New Year Eve.  Had some treats and champagne at midnight and watched the New Year Celebration on TV.

Dark and dank in Florida

Back to Bushnell today and to CVS and Walmart.  We spent almost $100 for groceries - we NEVER even come close to that amount.  We had used up a lot of stuff before our trip and I got food for a few meals.

It has been a cold and rainy day with heavy clouds, you would think we were back in MN except it is warmer by a bit.  We are both so tired yet even though we have had enough sleep, hope we aren't coming down with the respiratory  flu that is going around the RV park.


Convince me of this:

Washer woman

Unpacked and washed and washed.  Used my little MH washer all I could.  The campground laundry had no hot water so we went into Bushnell and did 5 loads, otherwise I would still be washing.  The MH is still a mess, lots to put away and haven't even touched our wonderful gifts yet.

Home in Florida

We left Clarksville at 6:30 AM.  Was a hard day of driving again but at least the roads were OK.  We got into a little rain from time to time.  There were a lot of RV's on the road heading south.  We took a different road than usual south of Nashville.  Turned out OK, but then we took some back roads in Florida, it was dark and nearly got lost.  We finally go to the interstate which was bumper to bumper.  We got home about 8:30 PM.  All was well with the MH.  We didn't take long to get to bed again.  Everything can wait to unpack.

Snow on the roads

We left our hotel at 3 AM ---- yes 3 AM.  Heavy snow was coming down.  The hotel didn't have coffee in their 24 hour coffee pot so we went on to a McDonald's and got a breakfast sandwich as well.  It was nearly 4 AM by the time we were out of the cities.  Roads were bad, just ruts in the snow.  Some places a plow had come through but some time ago.  When we got to Iowa roads
improved, they weren't getting so much snow.  We exited to take the diagonal and slowly the snow got to be less and less so by the time we got to Cedar Rapids the roads were just wet.  We were in and out of the rain all day.  We stayed in Clarksville again, first we stopped for dinner and then went to our motel, got there about 8 PM.  We were in bed by 9 PM.  I didn't think I could sleep that early but next thing I knew my alarm was going off at 5 AM.

Not this bad-----

Telling family goodbye

We are ready to head south tomorrow.  Had dinner with the family and also pre-celebrated Josh's 18th birthday.  Sad to leave, time to go (snow is coming)!

Christmas 2014

Christmas Day started with brunch and gifts at our Daughter's home.  Then to her in-laws family for a super dinner - turkey, ham, all the extras!  

We got many, many fine gifts that we will enjoy all year.  Our family is way too generous!  

In the evening I talked to our family in South Dakota and niece Laurie whose son died a week ago.  How hard the day must has been for her.

Christmas Eve

What is Christmas Eve without church.  We went with our daughter and family.  The church was beautifully decorated and lots of music.  Afterward we had a crape/fondue dinner at their house.  A memorable Christmas Eve!

Elves and salad

We went to downtown Minneapolis for Macy's animated Christmas display with Sheila and Brenda and families.  Then it was the top floor for the great salad bar.  Fun day.  We just got ahead of the crowds for both the display and the salad bar.

Shopping in the rain

Did some shopping today, even for a Monday a lot of people were in the stores.  In the evening we went to the Dennis' for dinner and visiting!

It rained all day - yes, in Minnesota it rained.  Heard we got about half an inch.

The Dennis' tree ----

Sunday in MN

Don got to go to his Sunday Services "Menards".  Also went to CVS when we were out, will save other shopping for tomorrow.  Had dinner at Panda Express.  A good day to take a nap and catch up on your sleep from the trip and the bad night in Williamsburg.

MN for Christmas

After our unpleasent motel stay we had a great breakfast at Seven Corners.  We had their family meal, so much good food.  Then it was on the road to MN, about a 5 hour trip.  We stopped for lunch - an ice cream cone.

The weather held up, got a little rain/ice but nothing on the highway.

The Grandstay hotel where we have stayed before has been redecorated and is nice and fresh!

Brenda, Rebecca and Sheila came to our hotel this evening to visit us.  Great to see them again!!!

Amana Iowa

Another long day on the road - we left Clarksville about 8 AM and arrived in Williamsburg, Iowa at 5 PM.

We ate at Ronnenburgs in Amana this evening.  We had corned beef wrapped around a dill pickle and baked in gravy, can't remember the German name.  Ate too much as usual!

Best Inn Cozy House Williamsburg Iowa

What a disappointment.  We thought we were getting a special motel and it turned out to be no better than a Super 8 with a high price.  The bed was awful, dipped in the middle.  Old furniture, a table to put the computer on but no chair - we had to move the coffee table over for a chair.  No hair blow dryer, it has been probably 15 years sense I have been to a motel with no dryer.

Then the breakfast, it you can call it that.  Juice was sour, coffee was not fresh brewed but the kind that is made from concentrate.  Toaster waffles, cereal and that was about it.

We will never stay there again = NEVER.

Very sad news

We got the news that our nephew age 28 died of an overdoes of drugs mixed with alcohol yesterday.  It is such sad news as he was a great guy.  Our hearts go out to his mom and dad.

Today we started our trip to MN, spending the night in Clarksville, TN.  It was a long hard day driving through both Atlanta and Nashville.  No major cities tomorrow just more hours on the road to Iowa.  We are super tired so early to bed tonight at the Roadway Inn.  We left at 7AM eastern time and arrived at 5:30 central time.

Oakwood Smokehouse

After a day of packing for our trip to Minnesota, we went out to eat at the Oakwood Smokehouse with several couples from the park to say goodbye to friends who are moving further south.  Was a fun time a good BQ ribs.

Sunday Sun

I have warm sunshine thankfully to warm us up inside.  Record breaking cold air in Florida.  The lows have been in the 30's for days.

It was out to breakfast, read the papers and go to ice cream in the clubhouse.

Nutcrackers

Don helped prepare breakfast at the clubhouse again today.  They had hash-browns with onions, mushrooms and cheese - very good.  Also scrambled eggs and sausage.  

In the afternoon we went with some friends to Spring Hill to a play at the Community Playhouse called Nutcrackers.  One of the Nunsence series.  It was good and fun.  Afterward we all ate at the Buffet City (Chinese).  A fun afternoon!!!

Florida winter wonderland

Finally I got gifts wrapped today and ready to take to MN.  Most years when I wrap gifts it is way too hot.  This year it is cold so the work warmed me.  We went to the clubhouse for dinner of turkey and noodles, good bread pudding dessert.

Tampa today and yet another motorhome joke

We took advantage of the nice weather for a trip to Tampa.  Had lunch at my favorite Sweet Tomatoes.  Then it was Lazy Days RV and Camping World.  Those two were for Don!

New Motorhome joke

We went to Brooksville for hair cuts and also ONE MORE TRIP TO KOHL's.  Ate lunch and brought home Subways for dinner.  The weather has finally gotten nice again - cool, not much humidity and sun!

Been there ----

Fog rain

The fog was so heavy this morning it was more like light rain.  It stayed cloudy all day.  We went for breakfast at Denny's and ice cream at the clubhouse later in the afternoon.  Read our two Sunday papers and grilled some pork chops.  Usual Sunday---

The main street of Belle Fourche, SD as I remember it from my childhood.  It always seemed magical to small town me.

Crazy weather!

The day started out with fog which became thick by noon.  Then it lifted and the sun shown and then we suddenly were getting rain.

We went to Brooksville for dinner, tired of fast or nearly fast food.  We ate at Ruby Tuesdays and had some good ribs.  On the way home the sky was clear and we could see the full moon rising.  Beautiful!

Then it rained again.

Dinner in Dade City

It rained on and off today, very humid as only Florida can be (well maybe Minnesota in the summer).

We mostly stayed home until we went to dinner at Captain D's in Dade City a little way south of here.  It is getting busy with the returning snow birds, probably won't be able to get a seat in January.  That is until after 6 PM when the old folks leave.

I have no idea, just saw this on Facebook:

Clermont Escapees lunch

We went to Clermont to the Escapees lunch at Golden Corral today.  Then it was off to Kohl's and Target for more Christmas shopping.  Couldn't find one thing so will be ordering it from Target.  Someday I will be done, hopefully before Christmas.


 

Problems solved

Don got on the roof today, cleaned and oiled the air conditioner and now it works well!  I kept investigating on the internet how to fix the inverter.  We tried several suggestions and we still had the loud hum.  Finally we tried "reset" - the hum went away!!!  Now we hope both problems stay in the past.

Problems around the MH

We have been trying to diagnose and fix problems around the RV.  Our inverter has suddenly started making a loud humming sound and our front air conditioner doesn't work.  Never ask what next!

I have been wearing contact lens for 50 years and never lost one until yesterday.  My eye had been red and itching so that might have been the problem.  I had to call my eye doctor and order a new one.

We went to Walmart for groceries and a little Christmas shopping otherwise stayed home.