New Years Eve

Our New Years Eve couldn't have been any more quiet.  We watched the New York celebration at midnight - Eastern time.  Then we had some snacks and a bottle of champagne to see our Central time zone midnight.  Then went to bed.

We commented that our motorhome in Florida was in a different year than we were!

Errands

Time to run errands with the thought that we will be leaving soon.  First we took some clothing and stuff to charity and then we went to the grocery store, CVS Pharmacy, Sam's Club and Menards.  Streets are cleared of snow well as are parking lots.

Snow, breakfast and Josh's birthday

We did get the snow, about 8 inches.  We heard the snow plows clearing our street and driveway about 4AM.  It snowed on and off most of the day so our roads and driveway were cleared again as well as our sidewalk and front stoop.  Nice not to have to do it ourselves although Don feels the need to "clean up the edges".

We went out for breakfast with Brenda and Rebecca.  Roads were a bit slick and snow packed but nothing careful driving couldn't handle.

In the evening we went with the Dennis' to Osaka Japanese Steakhouse for dinner and then to there house for cake and ice cream to celebrate grandson Josh's birthday.  Brenda and Rebecca joined us.

Rebecca and Brenda at breakfast

Trees by our townhouse

Josh and his birthday cake

Cold and snowy day, but where is the snow?

It was clean our very dirty house after taking down the Christmas decorations.  Then we waited for the snow forecast to arrive at 2 pm.  No snow until sometime in the dark.  It was a cold day with a high of 19 degrees.

I made a pot of stew for dinner, good meal for a cold day!

Christmas pictures:

Good/sad day

It is good to get the Christmas decorations put away for another year but sad to see the season over.  Good to see the house back to normal, but sad to not have the color and lights.

The job is done except for those irritating little decorations we will find in strange places!

Now we are thinking of what we want and need to take to Florida.  Then things that freeze divided

from the rest so we know what to take into the motels.  One more week and we are in the car.

From this to this:

Day after Christmas

I did what people are suppose to do on the day after Christmas---

Drank strong coffee

Went to Walmart for Christmas items sales

Looked over gifts, put some away

Had leftovers for lunch

Took a long nap

Put more gifts away

Cleaned up wrapping paper table

Ate dinner at home

Relaxed.

Christmas Day

We went to the Dennis' for a great brunch.  Brenda and Rebecca were also there.  We all took some food and had plenty!  Afterward we opened gifts.  As always our family was far too generous.  We received many nice things.

Then it was home, make a salad and take a short nap before going to Ken's brother Greg's home for dinner.  They had a crowd.  Food was great, visiting great.  Then us tired people came home for the day!

Christmas Eve

We spent the day doing things around the house and then in the evening we went to the Dennis' church with them.  It was a meaningful service as always.  The church was beautifully decorated.

Following church we went to the Dennis' for our annual fondue and crape dinner.  As always we ate too much as the food was great!

The weather outside is frightful!

Rain/sleet/snow was forecast so we decided to get what groceries we needed before it all hit.  It was raining but rain does not make the sidewalks slick!  There were a lot of people at Walmart and Cub Foods getting their last minute gifts and groceries.

About noon big snow flakes were coming down on the wet concrete which froze into a slick miss.  One could skate on our deck.  I got done what I needed done.  We had leftover turkey for dinner and stayed safe inside.  I'm sure the streets and roads are slick.

Getting stuff done

Monday was a "stay home and get stuff done day".  We got the house cleaned and some things organized.

Today our only outing was for car gas and picked up lunch at McDonald's.  Still working on getting stuff done.  I cooked a turkey breast in the crock pot for the first time.  It turned out good, done just right.  There is a surprising amount of meat on a breast so we have left overs for awhile.

Zion National Park - looking a lot different when we were there in 90 degree weather!

Nutcracker

The girls went to The Nutcracker in downtown Minneapolis this afternoon.  We started with lunch at Crave.  We had a great visit and enjoyed the ballet!

Sheila, Sue, Brenda

Rebecca, Kazia, Brianna

Cookies

Don and I went to Dennis' home this morning to witness the annual Frosting of Cookies.  Turns out I got in on the action.  Stopped for pizza for lunch.  I was so sugared up!  I came down from the sugar high and ate more cookies in the evening.  Oh well, its Christmas time!.

Too bad we weren't in Florida to experience the winter.

Add caption

Done

Cold outside!  Don ran some errands but I stayed home to finally complete the Christmas gift wrapping and Christmas cards.  Took most of the day but I got all done!


The big news is Star Wars is finally out/  How about this take?

Cold, wind

Don had a doctor appointment today for a check-up.  I went along as I needed to get the last of the Christmas gifts.  I went in the doctor's office to wait, it was cold outside.  There were several people there sick with colds and one young boy that wanted to spread his germs all over the place.  We used hand sanitizer on our hands and took a vitamin C when we got home.  Sure hope we don't get colds!

It was not only cold but the wind was blowing.  I about froze going into the stores but got everything done.  We ate lunch at Red Lobster, had clam chowder and shrimp salad.

Our fireplace mantel

Visits

Saturday Brenda came over for a visit the afternoon.  She brought along some home made pepenear, trying to make it like her grandmother Ino did.  She also brought me a poinsettia plate, looks great on the coffee table.

Today Sheila and family came over with home made Christmas cookies.  Sure tasted good!

I think my Christmas shopping is done and I have gotten all the things I ordered on the internet although they came one or two items at a time.  Glad I'm not paying shipping.

Plate Brenda brought me.

Movie and dinner

We did something today we do about twice a year, we went to a movie in an actual theater.  We saw the James Bond movie Specter.  The movie was good, typical James Bond.  The theater was cold, it was a 2 1/2 hour movie so we were frozen by the time we left.  Then we ate at our favorite Chinese place, good as always.

More running around

This morning we went for breakfast at Little Six Casino (Mystic Lake).  The have the best French toast!  Then I went to Kohl's in Shakopee as different Kohl's have different things.  It took awhile but I found what I wanted.

We then went to CVS and Aldi's Grocery store in Shakopee.  The whole trip took all morning!

In the evening it was more running around.  First to the Post Office and then to Jo-Ann Fabrics for some hemming tape and finally to Arby's for sandwiches for dinner.

YES, finally Abi is voted off the island (on Survivor)

Running around

I don't know why we have so many errands to run all the time.  Today we went to Walmart, Target, Menards with more places to go tomorrow.  Part is Christmas shopping but a lot is just stuff we need.  We brought home some KFC for dinner, always good - perhaps not so good for us.

It makes me shiver just glancing at the picture:

December 7 - Pearl Harbor Day

An important message in 1941 that resounds today as well.

(Also would have been my Dad's birthday)

Sunday in Apple Valley

Breakfast at Cracker Barrow and then to Fleet Farm, Walmart for groceries and a quick stop in Menards.  Then it was time to digest the Sunday paper and all the ad flyers.

We just stayed around home.  I made some beer bread from a mix and had baked salmon for dinner.

Weather is staying above freezing so the snow is slowly melting.  Cloudy all day, if the sun came out the snow would be gone.



Roaring Mountain.  We arrived in Yellowstone early one day the end of September when it was still cold outside.  The steam from this mountain was incredible, all the trips I have made to Yellowstone I never saw this view of Roaring Mountain.

Slow Saturday

We did stuff around home all day and then in the evening we went out to eat at TGI Friday's.  We especially like their Jim Beam chicken and shrimp.  They were having a very busy evening.  Back home for the evening, not an exciting Saturday.

Evening concert

We went to the Rosemount Community Band concert this evening, a choir from Rosemount High School also performed and friend Chuck Brooks read "The Night Before Christmas" with appropriate music from the band inserted at various points.  The concert was in the Rosemount Steeple Center, a former church.  It has been redone and decorated for Christmas.

The concert (which included my daughter Sheila on the clarinet) was very enjoyable.  Daughter Brenda and husband Dan also attended.

Afterwards we went out to eat with Sheila and family.  We had already eaten so had appetizers.

Christmas decorations

It was a Cub Foods visit this morning preceded by a Dollar Store visit.  The Dollar by Cub Foods store has good stuff for just $1, especially Christmas wrapping, ribbon, boxes, etc.

I fixed dinner again, this is becoming a habit!  Too dark and cold to go out for dinner is guess.

Christmas decorations in my home town of Belle Fourche South Dakota when I was a kid.  I could hardly wait for them to go up every year.

Tragic

Another mass murder.  This time in California.  When will it stop?  

NRA (National Riffle Association) says "Don't blame us, guns are to protect us, not kill."  And yet guns are killing.

Republicans say "Close the boarders, it's those illegal people causing the trouble."  And yet most of the mass murders are not illegal people.

Obama says "This has got to stop" but doesn't tell us how.

We all need to get together to compromise and look for a solution.  The United States has 5% of the worlds population and 33% of the worlds murders.  And we claim to be a civilized country.

Freezing rain

We got mostly freezing rain overnight.  Our kids said the roads were terrible.  Glad we are just staying home!

I found Love, Money and Fun.  Sounds like I will have a good 2016!!!!

Sunday to prepare for the storm

We had breakfast at Cracker Barrow and then did a little shopping and got some groceries.   The weather forecast is for freezing rain and snow tonight and we don't want to be out in it.  We want to be prepared to stay home for a couple days until roads are clear.  That is the best of retirement, we don't have to go out to go to work.

This is what it could look like tomorrow, beautiful but not fun to be out driving.

Saturday

We put up our new tree and got it decorated with what we had in the motorhome and a box of stuff I had saved from when we had a house 15 years ago.  Those decorations were all a surprise to me as I had no idea what I had saved.  The tree looks nice, perhaps a few more ornaments would help.

Brenda and Becca came over in the afternoon for a visit.  Becca will be heading back to college for three weeks before Christmas break.

We went out to Chili's for dinner.

Black Friday

We got out fairly early and went to Home Depot and got a artificial Christmas Tree that went on sale and then we went to Menards Home Store.  Menards was PACKED but I did manage to get through the store and pick up a lot of things I wanted.  Then on to Kohl's.  Their parking lot was packed and being slick I decided to go home and shop on-line.  That was the end of our Black Friday shopping.

Thanksgiving

We watched some of the Macy's Parade, I finished my salad and then went for Thanksgiving dinner at daughter Sheila's house.  All the other guests beside my grandchildren were family of our son-in-law - a good group.

The food was wonderful, everyone brought something the Turkey was great.  Had a nice visit as well.

Wednesday

More shopping every day.  Getting the cupboards and refrigerator full.  We got some light snow today, just enough to make sidewalks slick.  I am taking a salad for Thanksgiving tomorrow so needed to get that started today - grind up the cranberries and add sugar and mini marshmallows.

Survivor tonight on TV.  This is Joe, my favorite.

Getting settled in

We worked on getting stuff put away and also went for groceries.  We got a lot of groceries but I betting we will find out we didn't get everything.  Had some errands to get done.  We went to Menards, it was so busy you'd think it was Back Friday.

We aren't accustomed to the cold yet but it feels better than the hot hot hot for Florida.  It was too cold to grill so I cooked the pork chops in the oven and they turned out fine.

Brenda came over for awhile in the afternoon, great to see her again.

Home

It snowed all night and was still snowing a little this morning.  We were lucky to get out of the motel parking lot.  The Interstate was better but still not great.  There were many cars and trucks in the ditch.  One big car carrier was blocking a lane, looked like it jackknifed.  As we headed north things got even worse for awhile and then started to get better in northern Iowa.  By the time we got to Rochester, MN there was no snow.

Our car was covered with road salt and still had some snow on it when we got home.  We took it to a car wash as we didn't even want to put it in the garage.

The house is in good shape, we knew that because our daughters have been checking it weekly.  It seemed strange for awhile to be back.  I'm slowly putting stuff away, Don is attending to getting clocks set from daylight time and doing other little jobs.

We had a huge breakfast at the Amana Colonies so skipped lunch and then had an early dinner at Panera this afternoon.


What it looked like this morning:

Amana and snow

We made it to the Amana Colonies area in Iowa.  Ten hours on the road today but no big cities and traffic was not too harsh.  We went out to eat this evening at one of our favorite places in Amana, a great German place called Ronninberg .  There were a few snow flakes in the air when we went in to eat but when we came out to go back to our motel it was a major snow storm.  It took awhile and a couple scares moments to get back to the motel.  Hope this is all over with in the morning, the snow plows have been out and all is well.

Watched a little TV and read the paper.  Good night.

On the road again

We made it to Clarksville, TN about 5 PM, stopped at a Subway first for a dinner sub and then went to our motel, Comfort Inn.  We left Sumter Oaks at 7 AM, got into a few traffic slow downs but nothing serious.  We went through Atlanta, Chattanooga and Nashville (at rush hour).  Of course some road construction.  Tomorrow's trip won't have so many big cities but freezing rain and snow are forecast in Iowa.  Tired----

Packing Wednesday

Packed to today for our trip to Minnesota.  It was SO hot and humid outside, we could hardly leave the air conditioner.  Rain was forecast so we pulled in the front slide as to not get water inside later.  So we were pinched in trying to do our thing.

It did rain like crazy later in the evening.  We went to bed early, it was still raining.

Monday Monday

Just a boring day at home.  We cleaned the house and did a couple loads of wash.  It was a nice morning but all the sudden it got hot and humid so we turned on the air conditioner.

We stayed in the park all day, ate dinner at home - some left-overs.  Trying to clear out the refrigerator and freezer.  We are trying to line things up and get things done so we can begin to pack tomorrow for the trip to Minnesota.

Sunday in Florida

We went to breakfast a Steak and Shake north at Wildwood.  The breakfast was very good so I'm sure we will go there again.  Then it was a quick stop at Walmart and home to read the Sunday papers.  In the afternoon we went to the Ice Cream Social at the clubhouse but we didn't have any ice cream as then we aren't hungry for dinner until 8:00.  It's a good time to visit with people.

The weather has been nice for a couple days, not too hot - not too humid.  I fear that is coming to an end.

A moment of silence for Paris:

Busy Saturday

Don helped as usual with the Saturday morning breakfast at the clubhouse but I didn't go as I don't like biscuits and gravy.  He did bring me home some grits.

In the afternoon I went with a group of women from the park to the play in Clermont "Menopause the Musical".  It was fun and the actors did a great job.

Then in the evening we went to the Hobo Stew supper at the clubhouse.  They had a big bonfire afterwards but we were so tired we just came home.

1 11 31 5

We went to Tampa today.  Lunch was at our favorite Sweet Tomatoes and good as always.  Ate too much as always as well.  Then we made a stop at Lazydays RV and home.  We usually stop at Parksdale Farms for fresh fruit and vegetables but sense we are leaving in less than a week we didn't want to load up.  Lots of traffic in Interstate 75 and Interstate 4.

Club House dinner

We did a quick trip into Bushnell for a few groceries.  In the evening we went to dinner at the Club House.  They had BQ Chicken, beans, macaroni salad, corn on the cob and cake.  Too much food but it was good.  We also had a nice visit with some people we didn't know before.

Still hot

The weather man said it was going to cool down this week.  It is Wednesday and still hot.  So Mr. Weatherman, WHEN?

We went north today to Wildwood to check on a place that might fix a couple things on our new motorhome but they don't do Fleetwood guarantee work, they do work on Fleetwoods under warranty or for a price.

We had lunch at Steak and Shake and then home.