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.

Brooksville

We went to Brooksville today for the first time since getting to Florida.  After years of construction the main road is about finished, just a few small details left.

We got hair cuts and did a little shopping then had lunch and home by 1:30.

It rained all yesterday and on and off last night.  Finally this afternoon it has cleared off but of course hot and humid.

In response to Starbucks's plain red Christmas cup stupid controversy:

Eating

Our favorite Denny's has permanently closed so we decided to try another one.  Turned out it was 24 miles away in San Antonio (Florida).  Denny's can be very good or very bad (food and service).  This one was a good one thankfully after driving so far for breakfast.

In the afternoon we went to the parks Ice Cream Social but didn't get any ice cream as it appeared rain was coming our way and we wanted to grill our dinner before it rained.  Making it an early dinner.  It didn't rain until about 9 PM.


 

Breakfast, Ants and Pizza

Don helped prepare, with two other men, breakfast at the clubhouse this morning.  I went over and ate, when I came back I decided to sit outside for awhile and read.  I looked around my chair and there were no ants.  I was reading when all the sudden I felt the painful bites of fire ants.  I looked down and they were marching toward me.  I got inside as soon as I could but was in extreme pain until I got some medicine and ice on the bites.  I know I will suffer for several days now.

In the evening we went to a local, and very good pizza place called Monticello's in Ridge Manor.  By the time we left the place was packed with waiting for a table.  Too many people are finding out about their pizza.

I had DVD'ed some movies and so we watched Jersey Boy's (Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons) and also the first Fast and Furious movie which we had never seen.  Vin Diesel looked so young!

Heat and fish

The record breaking heat continues.   It keeps us inside with the air conditioner.  I hope it changes soon or we will be in MN where it is cooler.  I think the heat is getting to a lot of people, they are saying they are so tired and have no ambition.  That is me as well.

We went for a long awaited dinner at Captain D's tonight.  As always the fish was good.  They have the best hush-puppies.  

A waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park - right now I like pictures that make me think cold.

Escapees Chapter monthly meeting

This is the day we travel an hour to have lunch with people from our RV park.  Makes little since but it is a fun time.  We eat at Golden Corral, a a buffet.  As careful as I am I always end up eating too much.  We picked up a Subway on our way home for dinner but didn't eat it until later than our usual dinner.

While in Clermont we got our annual flu shots, not sure how much they help.  I sure don't want the flu so will take any precondition.  I also found a pair of long jeans which I will need when we go north.

May have very well saved my from polio:

Into Bushnell today

Today we went to breakfast at McDonald's and then to Walmart for groceries.  It seems like there are so many more people around than last year.  McDonald's was packed.  The store had been totally redone inside since we were last there.  Lots more seating area thank goodness. After Walmart we went to our favorite farm stand, still there.  Interstate 75 and the roads into Bushnell are being reconstructed so traffic is a mess.

Dinner we fixed at home for a change, just good not to have to leave the AC as it is still record breaking hot out.

Coyote Rojo

We went with a group of people from Sumter Oaks RV Park to Coyote Rojo's tonight for dinner.  They always have good Mexican food, reasonably priced.

Earlier we cleaned the motorhome inside, gets so dirty and things out of place when we move.  We are having unusual hot and humid weather.  Temps are breaking records.  Got up to 90 degrees today, felt like 96 my phone said.  Everything is still very green from all the rain last summer so fire danger is down.

Picture from Yellowstone this AM, looks good to me.

Dish

Dish, and not the kind you eat from.  We can only get on TV channel, we had planned on waiting to get Dish Satellite service in January but decided now is the time.  An installer came out, at first we thought he really didn't know anything but after he checked things out he figured out how to get a signal to our TV without string cords across the floor.  It works well, we are happy.