Tuesday - October 11

A very nice day for traveling - temps in the mid 60's, mostly cloudy with occasional sunshine.   We started the day taking Liam to serve 8:00 Mass and we, too, went to Mass.    Then to Coffee Hound for breakfast before starting the trek to Baltimore.

 

We pretty much split the driving today (450 miles) and only glitch was a major back-up on eastbound I-70 before and all thru Zanesville, Ohio - construction!

 

Tonight we are in Tridelphia, West Virginia.    We had dinner at Texas Roadhouse with great ribs (me) and rib-eye (Mark).    Love their salad and rolls.   We remembered our last time we ate at one of these chains (which we usually avoid), in March, 2015 with Drew in Melbourne, FL after the airshow.

 

113 miles away to our next destination tomorrow......heading to Shanksville, PA and site of the tragic Flight 93 crash on 9/11.    We heard it is a wonderful memorial and tribute to those who died and a "must see".

 

Today's picture of Maeve....

 

Sittin' pretty in navy/lime stripes

 

 

Monday - October 10

Happy "Golden" Birthday to "DAISY"

Miss Daisy is 10 on October 10th

 

Can remember so well this day 10 years ago when we picked her up in California.   Ahhh, the fun and memories we've had!

 

Philip took Mark and me to the Fort Lauderdale airport at 5 AM and good flight on Spirit Airlines to Chicago where the sun was shining and 50 degrees.   We got our rental car (with FL plates) and onto Gridley where we had a great visit with Barb and Roger and got the truck.    Returned rental to Bloomington airport, stopped at our storage unit and picked up Connor from school.   So good to see these guys (Liam is at the junior high).  They fished a little and Connor caught his first big catfish

(maybe same one Liam caught yesterday)?   

Then time for homework! 

Big honker....

Team effort with Dad

 

We settled in, Patrick mowed the lawn and we so enjoyed this beautiful fall day!

 

When we landed at O'Hare, Mark had an e-mail from Anthony (owner of Marine Propulsion Marina in Rockville SC) that all is well with Catrina.    Wadmalaw Island had a lot of damage with trees and power lines down but the marina was spared losing just a few tree limbs.    There's no power at the marina (and most of the island), but using generator.    We were relieved to hear this as very close nearby and also on Adams Creek, all the docks were washed away 

 

Pretty princess

Kiddies out for a nice evening stroll....

 

 We had Monical's pizza and salad for supper (family favorite)!   It was delish!!!

The Campbell Clan watching the Cubs/Giants game
So fun to hang out here tonight.
Tomorrow, we are off to Baltimore!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday - October 9

Nice sunny day and after breakfast, Grandpa and I took Luke and Maeve for some errands.....Daisy, McDonalds, Publix and Target.   Kids were so good - fun outing for all and gave Philip and Annette a chance to get some things done on the home front! 

 

 A shopping we will go....

Luke and his new specs from Happy Meal package

 

There's so much neat stuff at Target

Trying on Star Wars masks for Maeve

 

Luke was snapping away with my phone/camera taking lots of pics and selfies....

 Good one of Mommy

Luke selfie

Philip, Annette and Luke went to 5:30 Mass at St.. Therese.....

 

 Beautiful fall day in IL and here's my great niece, Leia having fun at a pumpkin patch!

This really makes me miss fall in the country......nothing quite like it 

 

Tomorrow we fly to Chicago to pick up our truck (at Roger and Barb's in Gridley) and then spend the night with Anne and family............can't wait to see all of them!   Liam caught  some fish in lake behind their house today (7 lb and this 9 lb., 3 oz beauty) -   3 catches in 2 days!

 

The newest fisherman in the family!    

 

So our time here in Lake Worth is winding down......Mark and I thoroughly enjoyed babysitting the kiddies.    It was a joint effort and Mark was a tremendous help!!!!!!!!!

 

Grandma is going to miss this little pumpkin sooo much!

 

Beautiful evening after another hot day but we enjoyed dinner on the patio.....tacos and Greek salad!

 

So pleasant outdoors as Luke played with his play doh, Maeve slept in the stroller and rest of us played euchre with Annette and Mark beating Philip and me AGAIN (last night, too).    We get so close.....but?   

 

Latest weather report is that Matthew is going far out in the Atlantic and may curve back, but should be no threat to the US, so...shutters coming down tomorrow!

 

NO word on Catrina!

 

 

 

 

Saturday - October 8

Philip was off to work around 8 (flight to Puerto Rico) and Mark took Daisy to a new storage place (closer to the kids than Indiantown which has been closed due to Matthew).

 

TV was tuned to Weather Channel all day watching the happenings in northern FL, GA and SC (Catrina is in the midst of Matthew and 40 miles south of where it finally made landfall near McClellanville, SC)

 

Liam, Connor and their fishing buddies out on a Saturday morning....

Way to go Liam for your nice catch!

 

While it was hot and sunny here all day, so hard to imagine what's going on north of here until you see the pictures and devastation in St. Augustine and Charleston.    Sad....really sad    They are such beautiful historic cities.

 

Maeve in her new little elephant onesie

 

and bottoms-up pants

 

Mark and I went to 4:30 Mass at St. Therese.   Philip got home at 6 and Mark, Luke and I picked up dinner from Chris Taverna's - wonderful gyros and Greek salad.    What a happening place this Saturday night with all tables inside and out full, many waiting for a table and lots of to-go-containers waiting for pick up!

 

 Rockville, SC (and Catrina) are on Wadmalaw Island - we imagine they have no power or phone  service.    The waiting continues...

 

Hurricane shutters are up all over the neighborhood and folks are leaving them up as no one is sure just where this hook that Matthew may take will actually end up?

 

GO CUBBIES!!!

 

So true...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday - October 7

We are very thankful that Matthew didn't come thru with the extreme conditions and catastrophe that were predicted......Philip, their home and neighborhood are fine.    We had minimal wind and rain in Fort Myers.    While Philip  was hunkered down last night, he made spaghetti so that will be tonight's supper.    We plan to move our caravan back to Lake Worth this afternoon.

 

Nice quiet morning on Daisy with Maeve sleeping her 11 hours overnight.    Annette and Luke enjoyed their resort amenities this morning before bringing sub sandwiches to Daisy for lunch,

I love sleeping and hanging out on Daisy!

 

Still a lot of concern as Matthew barrels up the coast with strong storm surge, etc.    Mark was able to talk to the secretary at the marina in Rockville this morning.    All boats were out of the water by Wednesday night and most of their employees have evacuated,     By tomorrow evening, we should know Catrina's fate IF anyone is able to check?

 

So, while we were disappointed we aren't in San Francisco this weekend, we so enjoyed our time in Fort Myers with Annette, Luke and Maeve....while Philip held it all together at home!    It's amazing how these things work out that we just happened to be here as Matthew was heading their way!  

  Yesterday, Becca Bernacchi (#1 Boss Ryan's wife) sent me 4 videos of Ryan flying (practice) with the San Francesco skyline in the background!   So neat!

Ready to go home...
 

Mark, Maeve and I traveled in Daisy w/Toad back to Lake Worth - Annette and Luke were ahead of us and we were all "home" by 4:30.   Got all our stuff unloaded, fed Maeve and enjoyed Philip's spaghetti!   DELICIOUS!!!

ahhhh...so happy to be back with Daddy

Annette, Mark and I played 3-handed euchre last night on Daisy with Mark the winner....tonight we played 4-handed and Mark and Annette beat Philip and me 2 out of 2......arrghhh!

Watching some of the devastation from Matthew is so heartbreaking...