Friday - January 3

It's so good to be back in the warm sunshine!    We ran some errands this morning, including a manicure for me while Mark had breakfast at First Watch.     Did a Publix run and picked up our rental car for the next 3 months and I came on home.    Mark ran more errands and then we both dug into making Flo and she shed all presentable and organized.   Did some laundry, too.....we're almost "settled".

Met Martin and Rog our new neighbors from near Branson, MO.    They moved in while we were gone.    The park has really filled up.

Temperature reached mid 80's again and a nice breeze. 

My wheels for the next 3 months - Chevy Malibu

We drove downtown and met Beth and John, Charlotte and Doug at the 2nd Annual Seafood Festival.    It was a beautiful night and sooo many people wandering around all the craft vendors and food, food, so much food.    John luckily got a table for us and we sat, enjoyed our drinks and food and of course, lots of chatter catching up.    Charlotte and Doug will be leaving Monday for 2 months in Marathon on their boat.     A very fun evening with these dear friends to kick off our social season in Fort Myers!

 Beth, Charlotte, Pat

Mark, John, Doug

Sure miss these little darlins'

Thursday - January 2

We are HOME!!!    After a leisurely, stress-free day of travel yesterday on the rural roads of NC, SC and GA, today was all about I-75.    Fortunately for us, traffic was very heavy in the northbound lanes - maybe folks were returning home from vacation?    Bowl games?    At any rate, we didn't have any major back-up going south.    Around Ocala, there was an accident which had a backup going north of at least 20-30 miles - unreal!    And then on the Peace River near Punta Gorda, a helicopter landed in the northbound lane and as we passed, they were loading a passenger.    Yikes - and our SB lanes were all the gawkers!      So happy to arrive safe 'n sound at 2:25.

We unpacked and got somewhat organized - there''s always tomorrow.     Late afternoon we ran some errands and had supper at Chili's - nothing like a chain our first night back in FL.  Ha!   But it was close, we were tired and what the heck?    Hadn't been to a Chili's in a long time and it was really good.

It sure was a wonderful Christmas both in IL and NC.    Liam and Connor are having a ball with Brady and all their NC kin and so thankful they could be with us for this week.     Hoping the nasty coughs will be gone very soon.

This morning as we were getting ready to leave the hotel in Douglas, Jim Cantore from the weather channel reported that today......the hottest spot in the nation would be Fort Myers at 86.     The coldest would be Alamosa, CO at -10  where we were this summer and ER for Mark's back injury.

So till tomorrow....nighty night from Cypress Trail!

Wednesday - January 1

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

We are in Douglas, GA tonight after a really good day of travel. 

Litle darlins - sad to say good bye to them and the rest of the family....

  Left Michael and Brooke's at 10 and had sunshine and up to 61 degrees.   Stopped in Rutherfordton, NC at "Small Town Coffee Roasters" for  coffee/latte fix.    Lunch in Saluda, SC.  Stayed mostly off the interstates and did rural roads thru little towns with very little traffic.

Next door to us is the El 1800 Mexican restaurant which was excellent (margarita, too). 

So happy to have Liam and Connor with us - they fly home Saturday.    Missed Anne, but glad she's enjoying some "down" time and keeping busy with friends, work, massage, mani/pedi, haircut, etc. 

May 2020 keep you healthy and safe as you make many fond memories...

Covered around 350 miles today with 400 left to go tomorrow..........Fort Myers, here we come!   

Sunday-New Year's Eve - December 29-31

Sunday - yucky day of rain, rain and more rain.     Dreary and foggy, too!    Oh well, a good day to hunker down and play games and just chill.

Lots of good eating too, as Brooke made ham and bean soup (awesome)!

Connor, Liam and Brady making grilled cheese

and then we made and ate sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies.

Electronic monopoly and the guys.... Davis was the winner

Another delicious supper prepared by Annette (chicken pot pie) and Brooke (Italian Wedding Soup)!

Foggy, rainy day at Lake James

More euchre at night - very strong competition going on...

Maeve and Uncle Ryan taking a break from the cards

Monday - all slept in and then Mark and I were off to Morganton and The Grind for coffee/latte and shared a muffin.    We ran a few errands and then drove to Black Mountain - love this charming, quaint little town nestled in the mountains between Asheville and Lake James.     It was an absolutely gorgeous day, enjoyed a very good lunch at Veranda and I browsed some shops while Mark went to the hardware store.    Stopped in Marion on the way home and back to the lake around 3:15.   

Liam, Connor and Brady having cereal and checking their phones

 Gorgeous tree

Connor, Brady, Liam and Luke playing cards

I did some laundry and Mark, Michael, Drew and I were off on a pontoon ride to visit their friends Rick and Danielle.    Philip, Annette, Ryan, Luke and Maeve later came in their pontoon.   We had wine/beer/snacks and the guys played corn hole.    We girls visited inside and played Maeve's new Penguin game which she absolutely loves,

Boating on December 30th

Back home and Michael and Brooke prepared another yummy dinner of hamburgers/hot dogs and all the fixins'.   Liam and Connor are having fun and so good to see the cousins enjoying each other.

More euchre and revenge tonight!!!

Maeve and Uncle Ryan taking a break from cards

Grandpa and the girls watching the popcorn "pop"

 

And then a cupcake break

New Year's Eve - another bright sunny day but cooler than yesterday.    We had a little photo session with the grandkids.    Luke, Blair, Maeve, Connor and Grandma made rollo pretzel treats.   Grandma  did some laundry, and everyone scattered to do their thing here and there.

A favorite family treat 

The uncles + Davis versus the cousins

Cousins won 2 out of 3

Another spectacular day at Lake James 

Mark and I are babysitting tonight while the adults (Michael, Brooke, Philip, Annette, Ryan and Drew) go to a party here at the lake.

Davis, Brady, Liam, Connor, Luke, Maeve and Blair, Grandpa and me are going to celebrate new year's eve with pizza, cookie cake and a slumber party at Michael's!!!

Luke, Connor, Maeve, Brady, Liam, Blair

ready for some

"Happy New Year 2020" cake

Tomorrow, Mark and I are on our way to Fort Myers

    Bye bye 2019

From our family to yours....

Drew, Jinx, Connor, Davis, Maeve, Blair, Brady, Liam, Luke

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Saturday - December 28

A beautiful sunny, warm (66) day in North Carolina.     I did some laundry; Luke has been hacking away with a croupy cough, so Annette took him to Dr. and he's now on prednisone.

Blair played with Maeve while Mark, Philip and I played Wheel of Fortune on the big screen.    Philip won.

This afternoon Mark and I moved over to Michael's.    Ryan returned from his trips and now staying  at Philip's.     Michael and Brady went to Charlotte to bring Liam and Connor back for a week.

We all went to 5:00 Mass at St. Charles Borromeo and then to Las Salsas with Bob and Judy (Brooke's parents joining us).    Great food and a whole lotta chatter.    Sooo good to have our IL grandsons here with their cousins and all of us.

Davis, Brady, Luke, Liam, Connor

Played euchre afterwards at Michael and Brooke's with Annette, Philip and Michael beating Ryan, Brooke and me 2 games.