Honeymoon and Sponges?

Quiet time....... just for us.




While here at my FIL's I frequently leave the premises to go exploring. I can't stand to just sit in the house when there's so much I haven't seen (and there's also the frequent trips to Bealls).

Miss T and I took off for Honeymoon Island. Bethe couldn't meet up for lunch since she was expecting company and spring cleaning so it was just me and my baby.

After a lunch at Chick fil A (which I had to use my GPS on my phone to find) we were off to Honeymoon Island.



There are picnic areas and swings for cozy time. The kids that were there were enjoying running through the Crape Myrtles.



Very nice, quiet, secluded. But...the water's edge is loaded with rocks, so it's not like you can run out into the Gulf. That's ok, it actually helps protect the island. There are shells galore! It was such a peaceful trip.

Since Bethe is near, we drove up to her Abode for a chat and a tour. What a nice peaceful area she's in....sigh.......



Miss T walking Jasmine (Bethe's dog).

Too short of a visit, but Bethe had to get busy for her daughter's arrival and Miss T wanted me to take her back to Tarpon Springs to the Sponge Docks. "Sponge Capital of the World" and indeed it is...loofa's everywhere. It's a Greek area full of Greek goodies and pastries.....yes I did! Baklava Tiramisu...delish!!






These pelicans were aggressive .... feed me Seymore!

Safe & sound and having fun!

I am so very proud of Miss T.

She got on the plane! I didn't tell her she was flying until about 30 minutes before we were to leave for the airport. She cried alligator tears and said outloud her fears.....running out of gas, crashing etc.

My Mom was there to take us to the airport. Luckily she helped talk Miss T into the flight and I promised her if it was the absolute WORST thing she'd ever experienced that I would drive her home. My Mom also said that "45 years of her life was spent being afraid to fly" and she decided that she didn't want to live in that kind of fear, so she took a short flight. Miss T seemed to listen to our rationalle and walked, head high, fear still showing, but brave, into the airport and onto the plane.

She almost tore my arm off holding on when we took off and when we landed.
I was sitting on the wing window seat and was able to get some great pictures.




The pilot announced were were coming in over Daytona Beach to begin our decent to Orlando. I've been to Daytona several times and quickly recognized the bridge and the racetrack! It was awesome!



It was an hour and oh, 5-15 min flight. But it took us over and hour just to get OUT of Orlando and on our way to Nokomis. The rental car wasn't ready....and by the time it was we were heading out into 5pm traffic straight through I-4 and the Orlando hub-bub of theme park and after work traffic.

Finally reached our hotel at 8:30pm....ahhhhhhh.....

Merry Christmas to ALL!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Tom is watching his tradition of "A Christmas Carol" to help him get into the spirit of the holiday.



So far this has been an easy day. Miss T and I cut out cookies and baked them. I made a dressing for a mixed fruit dish that was a hit tonight at Nanny's. Also the sweet potato and apple casserole was deeeelish! 2 new recipe's I tried that turned out well!!

The sweet potato/apple was easy...sliced 1 large peeled sweet potato and 2 granny smith apples and layered them in a casserole dish. Sprinkled Allspice, Cinnamon and a bit of Nutmeg on them; sprinkled 1/2 cup of brown sugar over that; added dots of butter (1/4 c cut into small pieces) and a handful of Craisins. Baked at 350 for 30 minutes covered....nice! Bet it would be just as good in a pastry too!

The fruit was effortless too...blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, grapes all mixed well. The dressing was a sugar/water/honey/lime juice/zest concoction that boiled for 1 minute then was cooled in the fridge for 1 hour. I poured it into the fruit. It called for individual fruit bowls and "add your own", but I figured let em marinate!

So I had enough of the juice leftover tonight and cut up 1 apple and 1 orange into it so that hubby and I can have that tomorrow night with our leftovers from Mom's.

I plan to tell Miss T about the plane ride tomorrow at Mom's. All those people can "help" convince her that it's OK. I hope and pray she doesn't panic. Sometimes it's hard enough to get her on an elevator! Imagine a PLANE!

Well, it's getting close to Santa time here on the East Coast...guess I'd better go to bed so the big guy can make a drop off.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a GOOD NIGHT!!

"Twas the day before Christmas Eve.....

Counting down the minutes until I leave work
Boss didn't come sign checks, the jerk;
So I did and that's that jack...
We'll all have a Merry Christmas till we get back!

Couldn't help myself. Sometimes you gotta poke fun at your self or your day to get through it. I'm pretty sure I'm ready (not) for Christmas (not) Eve dinner at Nanny's and (not) Christmas Day (not) at Mom's. Planning the dinner goes like this:
"What do you want?"
"I dunno, what do you want?"

"I dunno either....what do you want to fix"
(Doesn't this bring us back to the original question, but in a "back in your court" kind of effect?)

"Well, I'm cooking a ham and a turkey breast and your stepDad wants some kind of potato that we can top with cheese, so I'm suggesting Baked Potatoes....what else do you want?"

(Round 3)

Keep in mind, my family is used to the "old fashioned" way of cooking. Nothing fancy, we have field peas or collards with our meal; probably a sweet potato of some sort usually the casserole with the pecan topping; we don't get into the all day affair....that's kind of sad in a way. Plus now we have 2 under the age of 4 to feed and they won't want to eat brocolli ala anything.

My Tom is used to the Northern way...the Italian's cook all day and you eat all day. This Suthern stuff is, well, foreign to him. My mom always tries to have a dish that he would especially like or want to have to keep him "in tradition". I think that's neat.

My Dad called me today.....same old story with him, as usual. Funny, my Mom and I just mentioned that yesterday how there's always a story with him for the holidays.
Seems he is under the weather (and not drunk SURPRISE) and taking BP meds along with some lasix so he's afraid to travel far especially with traffic. He did seem genuine about meeting up maybe tonight or......

HEY!

I just had a thought!

Why not Christmas Day?

After lunch, there won't be anything else to do (but nap) and we can come into town to meet with him.

BINGO! Unless of course he is "celebrating" or "on vacation" as we've been known to call a drunk spell.

It's always sad for me at Christmas just for a bit, because of all the Christmas' past where he's promised to show up and didn't.

We'll see.

Have a Merry Christmas Y'all!!
Martha - Don't drink my Sundrop!!!!

Silent Night Tag

It's beginning to look a lot like....

My Tree....full of white lights and red decorations.
Red is the official color of Christmas, at least to me! Miss T fusses because there's "no other colors"...well when she has her own place........

I cannot believe it is this close to Christmas already. Ready? Sorta. I have the presents wrapped...the meals are in the planning stages.

We'll go to my Nanny's for Eve dinner and gifts and my Mom's on Christmas Day. Ham and Turkey for Christmas and stepDad said "fix baked potatoes"
HUH?
OK I guess that'll work.
I'm going to make a fruit dish (with honey, sugar and lime juice poured over berries and melons)--a new recipe I found. (Remember last year when I said new recipes shouldn't be tested at the holidays??) Maybe a chocolate pie and take some cookies I've baked....and whatever else Mom decides we need (sweet potatoes etc).

It's also going to be in the high 70's here! Chili today hot tamale...geeeesh.

Cross your fingers that bossman comes up with a good bonus on Monday. I'd sure love some traveling cash since we're on da plane to Florida day after Christmas! Pray for a safe trip....pray that me and Miss T will get on that plane -- our first! (I'm getting nervous - tell me I'm silly)

Pray that Martha's gang doesn't drink my SUNDROP that I mailed to her house!

I can hardly wait to be on Casey Key!

Christmas Card

http://www.dancingsantacard.com/?santa=64668

I guess since Unc Sam and Co won't bail out little ole me, you'll get THIS card for Christmas.

ROFL....Missie did hers and she Rocked! So....here's to you!

Hot Bird

This morning as I was sitting at my table enjoying my everything bagel with link sausage I looked out my back sliding door. The temps were in the high 20's so there was frost everywhere. A rather plump bird had perched on my deck rail and I thought "now that's a beautiful picture" and I pondered about getting my camera.

I said "If I move, he'll fly away...maybe...."
Then I remembered my stepDad was on his way over for some coffee, so I said "well, he'll be here soon and probably scare him off before I can get the shot".

Needless to say, I didn't move or get the camera or the shot.

But I watched this bird with the background of glistening beauty. Then I noticed "steam"....the kind like when you're out in the cold and you can "see" your breath. I thought this was odd....can the bird be breathing that heavily??

Too be sure not?
But what?

Then he turned a bit and ruffled his tail feathers my way.
NO FRIGGIN WAY!!

YEP....the bird was crapping on my deck rail and the steam was coming from "you know what/where"!

Just messed up that perfect picture for me right then and there, damn bird.