Thursday in the Sunshine State

I checked one more item off the list today: the new LeCreuset casserole that's on the large size. I have a lovely sized one that I use for most things but I wanted that giant that I would take out every once in a while. You know the one...the one that lives in the basement because there's no room in the kitchen-----THAT one!! We got to the Prime Outlets off Kirkman/Oak Ridge/International....whatever you call it; went to the directory, found it straight ahead, bought it and returned to the car. That was the trip to the outlets. Good with me. Already today we had gone to Whole Foods for an inspirational walk through, to the cigar store (where I waited in the car) and we had been in an unbelievable jam on #4. So much so that we zipped off at the Animal Kingdom and then proceeded to wander around till we found our way back out of the parks. Went to the Florida Mall, again just to have been there, and bought a gift at TeaVana. When we came out, we thought we had lost the car and spent the better part of twenty minutes wandering around. Who would believe that three sides of JCP all LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME. I was certain we had come out of the same door we went in through, but APPARENTLY WE HADN'T. Well that wasn't pretty. Not even a bit. On the way home we drove through Champions Gate, a golf community that seems rather swanky. Mike decided to go to the pool and as he was getting ready he said to me that he had mixed up a drink using the fruit juice and tequila mix that were in the fridge along with some dark rum and had ruined the taste of each of them!!! We both roared.

Supper will be here at 612 this evening. We ate lunch at the Orlando Ale House at the Florida Mall and had Reuben sandwiches which were really good. Tonight we will work at eating what's left here and I am going to make the fish cakes for tomorrow. Later I will dash over to Publix to get a couple of containers for sandwiches for the first day on the road. Don't know what we are doing tomorrow; afternoon will be to get Chris. He is taking off a bit early...then supper and spend the evening with them.

It's hot today. Beautiful. Hot. Not much more to add to that. Only a few more posts to come; thanks for visiting.

Another beautiful Wednesday

If I were home today I would be working on a quilt project with friends but instead I am getting ready to leave in just one small way...I am thinking about it and starting to sort.Visited with Wilma this morning and got caught up on her news and purchases. I had to change a pair of pants at the Bealls store in Largo and we drove home through busy traffic. Mike got tired along the way and I drove for perhaps the last third of the way. One blip on the highway can clog up cars for miles and miles. There was an accident on an off ramp and we were at a dead stop three miles from there; three lanes of traffic stop and go for three miles and then............away we went.

I don't like driving at high speed, by which I mean anything over 70mph, but there is little or no choice on the freeway or highway here. You become a traffic hazzard if you are driving at 60 or even 65 because cars and trucks are mounting up behind you. Cars still pass you like you are stopped. These must be very important people who are headed to do brain surgery or solve the nuclear problem in Japan because there could be no other reason for that kind of speed on a Wednesday afternoon in their Ford Focus. There are many many important people here in Florida. Whodathunkit!!??

Looks like we are in for the night and this might be an American Idol night. Dinner will be at 612TC. Tomorrow I have to make fish cakes to take to Luge Lane on Friday. We will pick Chris up from work and then maybe make those pickles he wants me to do with him. I still have two places to go: the LeCreuset outlet which will be on Friday on our way into the city (I am looking for the BIG round dutch oven at a reasonable price) and the Florida Mall. Not much to do there but I have one kiosk I want to visit and then a meander through. I always love to go to TeaVana to see the do-dads they have and to test the tea of the day.

No pictures today. Just the ramblings of someone who would love to be here longer!! So sad...one of us has to get back to work but he has been a great sport about the whole trip so that's not a complaint. More tomorrow; drop by if you have a chance.

Flowers in bloom and looking up at Pointe Orlando

Here we are

Great evening. Pointe Orlando is showing the signs of the economic situation...many empty spaces. When we were here two years ago, it was much more vibrant and it seemed to be a destination for visitors but it doesn't look that way today. The grounds are still beautiful but the people aren't there.

March 15th Already!!

We had a lovely day today. John and Judy Briand are in Kissimmee and have been staying in the same house for the winter months for several years now. They do the five bedroom thing and have friends/relatives/singles/doubles come and stay for week/weeks/months at a time, all of whom share in the costs of the house while they are there. It works for them really well. Their children come and this year, their inlaws are coming as well. Lovely for all.

Judy is a shopper and so is John. She has seven grandchildren now and has seven piles of clothes she buys for each. Also she does all of her Christmas shopping and all of the birthday shopping. I am tired just thinking about it. Again, it works for them.

Lynn Mersereau is there this year as usual but this time, he is without Joan whom you may or may not know, passed away before Christmas. He is very lonely and decided he would drive down rather than stay home alone. It's a difficult time for him; the year of firsts is a hard year.

We dashed home here around three, changed our duds and headed to Pointe Orlando for dinner with the fam at Maggianos. Then to Chris's for a continued visit. We will see them one more time before leaving on Saturday.

So....tomorrow....we will be heading to Largo; I bought pants there a couple of days ago that have to be returned and this time hope to get to see Wilma and perhaps the Smiths on the way back. One thing in Florida...you rarely have to say, in the month of March, I will see what the weather is like and if it looks good, I will head out early!!! No sireeee, you don't have to say that!!

And the days dwindle down to the precious few.....

Running

We just don't have the time I would like for this trip. I feel like I am running and running to keep up and to check things off the list. Getting into the car at the end of this week is going to be a rest for me. We wanted to spend as much time as we could with Chris and Laura and Jocelyn. With them working, it's hard to visit in the evenings as they are tired after a full day of work and Jocelyn is winding down as well. Additionally that puts us on the road during the absolute worst traffic time when people are leaving the parks or leaving they city or whatever these thousands and thousands of people are doing. Chris and Laura took a day off last week for Sea World and we had a great outing. We had supper together on Friday; Saturday they were busy getting ready for the party and on Sunday they had a housefull of people. Laura was wasted by 4pm. Her rest was going to work on Monday! So here we are: it's Tuesday and we are heading out in a bit; tomorrow we would like to go to the beach. I thought we were leaving on Sunday and had planned to spend Saturday at Luge Lane but it seems we are checking out that day. I've been trying to contact the owner of the condo to see if we can stay another day but she isn't answering my email just yet. YIKES!!!!!! Tick Tock!!! This always reminds me of the little message I saw on a post card a long time ago:
VACATION consists of:
2 weeks during which time you are
2 busy, and after which you are
2 tired
2 return
2 work
and
2 broke not
2!
It looked funnier on the post card!!!

There will be plenty of time to rest up. We are having a really swell time. Sorry you checked in and got the rant today!!! I will be cheerier the next time!!

Monday of week two

I can't believe it's week two already. The thought of packing up for the drive home at the end of this week is just too much to think about. The weather is spectacular and for the next five days, it's going to be in the low 80's. Wonderful!!

Today we headed to Largo, hoping to see Roger and Maureen; however, Mike isn't into phoning ahead and as a result, we found their driveway empty and only the golf cart standing guard. I also missed out on getting Maureen's coupons from Joann's which she wouldn't be using anyway. Seeing them gone, we headed to Dunedin to Rainbow's End which was on my wish list for this trip. I haven't been there before and I know some of you have...also I haven't been to Keepsake Quilting. You may or may not agree...Rainbow's End is one beautiful quilt store. After doing some damage there, we headed back to Largo and one or two more checks at the Smith's abode with no luck. Then to Sweet Tomato for a great lunch. The last time we were there, I met a lady dragging a bag behind her which contained her late husband's ashes. She volunteered this information to me, in the ladies room!! It was my chuckle for the day. Nothing like that today but we had a great lunch and headed back. Great traffic again today. WE have been lucky the past two days.

Tomorrow we are having lunch with John and Judy in Kissemmee and then to Maggianos with Chris and Laura. That will put Tuesday in the bag.

I am pretty well done shopping till Maine. Getting a bit weary of the stores and seeing the same things in many places. I have bought a few things: Ann Taylor of course; some capris and shorts and of course, a few shirts. A few home things. I still have to go to Whole Foods to check off a few things and in Maine I will get the pablano peppers. The list goes on; in Maine I am looking for fabric bargains. I got none of those today so I will deserve a few when we get there!!

Hope your day is great. HOpe the snow is gone!!! The holiday continues.