Fall Foliage

Janet & I stopped to take some foliage pictures on the way back from the Warner Fall Foliage Festival on Columbus Day weekend. It was a beautiful day and the colors were still bright although the wind was sometimes a problem.

This first picture is looking towards Newport from Country Kitchen parking lot.

These were taken at Mt Sunapee State Park.
Not bad for just my little camera and only out the car window. I do miss traipsing thru the woods to get "perfect" pictures but these please me just the same.

This was on the way to Bradford. The day before I noticed how bright the colors were in the morning when the sun was lower and the sky more blue but the colors this year are some of the best I've seen in awhile.

Yesterday we went to a local "Run What You Brung" where anyone can drive a vehicle to see how fast it will go on a quarter mile. Dougs first try with the 1977 Dodge Aspen wasn't too successful because he tried to manually shift the automatic and went into neutral. Oops. But I though I got a good video of it, (never tried it on this camera before. ) so I have to show it. The second time was much better and his brother Dave immediately said he knows just what to do to make it faster next year. The winner drove a Corvette at 129mph.
It was a beautiful September day and we enjoyed watching the variety of cars, many are just peoples every day car, even I could have tried it but I don't really care how fast my car will go. LOL

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This was the 2nd run where he turned 94mph. He was much happier this time.

We went for a ride today about an hour north to Sharon VT but the color is actually prettier around home then it was further north. Not to say it's gone by but in fact hasn't started to change. So I got this pic just a few miles from home. The view outside my window is gorgeous right now. We used to own a hunting camp up in the Downer State Forest and drove up to take a look. It's still standing.
We had lots of great memories from there and a lot of fun. It was nice to reminisce and enjoy the great day. Actually hit 86, quite a high for us.
On the way home we stopped at a huge garden center and I got some mums to put in my window boxes.

Bring on the sun!

We've been home almost 2 months now and are still busy with landscaping. That's because I keep buying more flowers to plant. I didn't realize my raised beds would hold so much! I still have a few more things to plant but here's what it looks like now. We need to wait for everything to fill in now but with the all day rain today and predicted sun tomorrow we should be on a roll.

This is a new rose we got. I just love the color and the fragrance is yummy. I keep wanting to sniff the picture. Doug transplanted the rest of my roses along the ramp so I can actually reach them from the ramp or from the lawn with my scooter. I'll take a picture later. Right now they are traumatized from the move and not doing so well. This rain will certainly help though. I'll probably be taking lots of floral pictures along the way. I'm looking out the window right now at a beautiful peony and some blue delphiniums. Across our driveway is my enormous rhododendron that we gave to the neighbors. It's in the middle of their lawn and right in my line of sight.

Happy Easter

Hi everyone, we are finally on our way home, taking our time to get back and hopefully avoiding the muddy road. We are currently at Myrtle Beach at a humongous campground. Will know how we like it better tomorrow.

For some reason I haven't been able send emails, I'm receiving but just can't answer anyone. I'll keep working on it though, otherwise I'll be back home by the weekend.

Hope everyone has had a wonderful Easter. It's been beautiful up and down the east coast. (now that the rain has stopped).

The weather has finally turned around and it's HOT! So we took off for a ride to Marco Island. We tried to visit Sanibal Island last month and it was bumper to bumper traffic so we came back. I was hoping this would be nicer and it was. This island was not as developed, there were even empty lots available. We wanted to try a restaurant on the water (I'm always a sucker for waterfront dining) for lunch. It was only 11:30 when we arrived but there was already a wait.

As usual I had a grouper sandwich with french fries and salad bar. We've decided haddock is better but grouper is quite good too and I can't seem to get enough fish.

On the way down we came across several of these signs. "Panther Traffic". We didn't see any but have heard on the news that 3 have been hit by cars in the past month. Interesting wildlife here.

Doug has been starting tomato plants since January in Sarasota but they kept wilting and dying. He finally has some good plants going and now that it's hotter we should have a good start on them when we get home.

Everyone keeps asking about cruise pictures, most of them are just scenery that only means something to me but here's one of me snorkeling! This was the number one thing I wanted to do and thanks to Royal Caribbean, Doug and my brother in law Steve, I finally made it. Also thanks to Mount Ascutney Therapy Pool who lent me the waist belt so I could float. Unfortunately I didn't see any fish because the bottom was very rough and Doug was nervous about walking out deeper with me. The only time I thought I saw something move, I realized it was his foot. But it was very relaxing and I also got to swim on my back for awhile, until my legs started to burn. I almost wish we had more days right here. This was on Labadee, Haiti. Hard to believe the devastation that was on the other side of the island from the January earthquake compared to the beautiful beaches we enjoyed over here. It wasn't as crowded as it looks and we had a nice cabana too which I stayed under most of the day.

Doug reminds me that I haven't written anything for another week. So I'll start with today and backtrack a little. We've been gator hunting since we got here. We saw one the first week but didn't have a camera. I think because it's been cool and cloudy they didn't come out so today we took a walk on the bike trail and just before we got back we saw one! Apparently they aren't too dangerous when smaller because no one seems worried that they are so close. We were probably 20 feet away. The first time we saw it, it was just the tail but Doug went back later and got this picture. It's probably 3-4 feet long.

This is the bike/walking trail where we saw the gator. It's right in front of the resort and goes for quite a ways down the road.

!!HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

We have decided that we don't need a thermometer because all we have to do is watch Olive. If it gets below 50 at night we will find her in bed with us in the morning. If not, we are ignored. On sunny days she will be sunning herself on the seat, just soaking up the heat. One day we came home and couldn't find her. Here's where she was. Flattening out my new sun hat. We are very happy that she has no desire to go outside, makes it a lot easier for us not to have to shut her in the bedroom every time I go in and out.

Well, time is just passing by. It's been a nice week although 15 degrees cooler then average it's about 30 degrees above what we would have had at home.

Monday was nice and we went for a walk to find the second clubhouse. After a couple wrong turns we saw it and as I peered into the windows to see what was going on someone invited me in to play Mah Jongg. I said I didn't know how but they said it was beginner and not to worry, just try it. So Doug left me behind and I had a great time learning a new game. I even won one! So I'll be going back this week to play again.

Tues I had to get some blood work done and afterwards we headed to the shore. The actual beaches here seem to be mostly little islands. we went to Delnor Wiggins State Beach. They had boardwalks to the sand but it was soft sand so we couldn't go any further. Which was fine because it was like a sandstorm. Doug said it felt like his legs were getting sandblasted! But the sun felt great. We didn't stay long because I forgot my hat and sunscreen.

This is the entrance to the park. I was so excited to see so many flowers when we first got here.

Weds I attended a breakfast by the womans bible study. they had a singer - Lindsey Graham. She had a wonderful voice and it was very nice. We figured there were about 250 women there. I continue to meet so many wonderful people.

In the afternoon we did some errands and headed home for me to rest.

Thursday we exercised in the fitness room then went to the library to print something I needed. I've never used such a hugh library but at least we got it done, Wish I'd brought my own printer afterall. At Sun n Fun they had a computer room where you could print anything you wanted.

In the afternoon we were able to watch the Daytona races. Nice to be home in the afternoon!

Doug has been fishing up a storm. He keeps catching these blue gill. They say its a good eating fish but he's going to have to get quite a few to make a meal. He loves that he can throw out the line right behind the motorhome, come back in and then check it again later. Of course this method results in a lot of lost bobs but he has gotten several, including a few small bass that he throws back in.

At last he got lucky!!! He was holding out for the big one! LOL Actually this was at the Shell Factory in Fort Meyers. I went there 30 years ago and it was nothing like I remembered (nothing is), much more touristy stuff. We did have lunch there though, Doug had a Grouper Ruben. Quite good. I almost always order fish when we go out so this time I just had a salad.

Time for me to quit because I keep deleting my pictures by accident and it's getting tedious. We were trying to watch the race and would you believe that all the network channels are experiencing technical difficulty!!!!

We are now at Crystal Lake Resort in Naples. Beautiful sites, they are all landscaped and many are occupied by owners (as opposed to us renting a lot) Doug has been fishing already. Had a few encouraging bites so all is good. You can see the lake behind the motorhome. We attended a prime rib dinner this week that was excellent. good thing since we don't have a car yet and we were getting to last of the TV dinners. Actually, we aren't starving and the grocery store is only about 1/2 mile down the road. Doug walked over today. We are picking up a rental car tomorrow and will be able to check out the beaches and see some sights in the area.

I have never met so many "Judy's" But I can tell you they are all in the same age group, we figure we were all named for Judy Garland. There aren't so many activities here but I think there is more to do in the area - we'll see. They do seem to have a lot of dinners though. We are going to a fish fry and something else.

Weather has been high 70's and even 80 today but lots of wind. Expecting clouds for the next week but who can complain with temps where they are. So sorry to hear of all of you in the snow, really I am.... Uh huh.... We have to keep pinching ourselves to remember that we have 2 more months of this and that it is really still winter.

this was our last day at Sun N Fun. We liked this site because of the proximity to the lake. The neighbors on the right were pretty close but actually there is a fenced in area then a porch so they weren't really that bad.

I took the lake pic standing right in front of our lot looking north.

Just before we left we went around and took pictures of the resort. Here is one of the hot tubs and part of the hugh heated pool

For everyone who has asked about Olive, you can see that she is adjusting very well. Doug now has to fight for his seat in the sun. Doesn't this just make you want to cuddle her? I guess she still knows it's winter because she hasn't even thought about heading for the doorway. When we have the lift open we close her in the bedroom, just in case.

Weather continues to be very nice. It's so hard to remember that it's winter and that's it's not so nice back home. Sleeping with the windows open is wonderful. Yeah, I'm rubbing it in. Doug is just getting over a cold that I shared with him. Last night we went to a comedy/piano show and last week to a murder mystery dinner. Doug has been doing a little bit of fishing, no luck so far. I'm trying to talk him into going deep sea fishing before we leave here. He hasn't tried out the pool yet, it seems that we are always doing something during the day. They have karaoke by the pool every evening and we haven't made it to that yet either. I've been going to cardmaking/scrapbooking and jewelry making classes. I had a massage - the spa is right across the street and Reiki which is free. Went to a nice beach yesterday - all handicap accessible. Didn't have my camera handy. Then had lunch at dockside restaurant.

It might be cool but at least it's not snowing! Doug is fitting right in, here he is going to check the mail in the morning, just like at home. The sun rises right over this lake and streams in the front windows of the motorhome so this is where I sit to eat my breakfast. The outdoor thermometer read 90 degrees in the sun yesterday so it is definitely improving. Of course in the morning it was 31-32 and all flights out of Sarasota were delayed until the sun could melt the frost off the planes. No de-icing here.

There are so many activities going on here. We went to a show last night - Elvis meets Tom (Jones) Elvis was fantastic. Tom not as much but I never was a Tom Jones fan anyhow. Today I went to a jewelry making class. All free except for materials. We will be picking up a rental car tomorrow so will be able to do some exploring around the area. We've met lots of nice people. we find we can spend the whole day visiting and not get anything done but I guess that's what this relaxing is all about!

We finally made it to FL, unfortunately with the frigid jet stream reaching all the way down here, we still haven't warmed up yet! We are staying in St. Augustine tonight and it is supposed to get down to 22 degrees. We had planned for Daytona but got held up almost an hour in construction (yes on Sunday) so we will still be at "Sun n Fun" in Sarasota early tomorrow and I can finally get a shower and wash my hair! It's been so cold that we couldn't use water in here - still full of antifreeze.

Last night we stayed at the "famous" South of the Border. I'm sure anyone who's driven the I95 route will be familar with this tourist trap but we needed a place with a store so what the heck.

Well, we are now officially "snowbirds". Been keeping an eye on the weather looking for a couple of clear days and we managed to take off early Weds morning (12/30). I think I overwhelmed Doug with all the packing to be done, mainly because there were so many things we couldn't put out till the last minute or they would freeze. We took off 8am with the thermometer reading zero degrees. It was so cold that for the first 2 hours we could see our breath inside while driving. The dashboard heater just couldn't keep up with heating such a large area. Luckily as the sun came up we got warm again. We are heading first to VA to visit Karen & Dakota and then on the Sarasota, FL.

Olive has settled right in without a care. We got her a cage and put her bed in there. We keep it closed only when there is a chance of her slipping out -not very likely in these cold temps. The rest of the time she has been sleeping on the bed of if it was too cold back there she slept in the cage right between us and right in front of the heater. No she's not spoiled.. . . This is her testing out the cage before we left home. Apparently as far as a cat is concerned anyplace she can sleep is fine with her!