WE ARRIVE IN KEY WEST

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Fred and I arrived in Key West around 12:45 after a very leisurly drive from Florida City. My how the drive has changed in 40 years. Lots of stuff has been built all along the way. Unchanging over time...the blue skies and beautiful clouds are a sight to see.



Greg was on our minds all day...it's his birthday. He's 35 today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SON!

Saturday, June 13, we drove out to the Everglades for a little while. On the way we stopped at Robert Is Here Fruit Stand to have one of their special milkshakes. I can't think anyone could top their shakes. Fred and I had mango milkshakes made with fresh mangoes....luscious!

The mosquitoes were worse than ever out in the Glades...and we had sprayed with bug repellent. I had no idea how many had fed on me till later. We walked around Anhinga Trail, then headed out. We had laundry to do, and both of us needed some rest.



Saturday evening we drove out to Flamingo, at the end of the Everglades drive. We wanted to take a sunset cruise out into Florida Bay. We were the only two passengers aboard the Seahorse, with Captain Joe (a nice 30-year old) and his mate, Mark (18 or 19 years old), sailing out to the tune of Gilligan's Island. Oh, it felt so good to get out into the water. A huge storm threated our sunset, and we had to return earlier than planned, but the trip was wonderful...the skies put on a show!


1st: Looking to the right of us 2nd: The storm coming into Florida Bay

Sunset occured as we traveled through the Glades. When we stopped to take a picture we were set up by more mosquitoes than I thought possible. They didn't bite Fred, but they chewed on me unmercifully. My night was pure torment...so many bites, so much itching and burning.

We were up early this morning, packed and headed south for our major destination, KEY WEST. We are checked into the Southernmost Hotel by the Sea, room 161. The room is lovely.

Fred and I ate a "French Hamburger" at a French restaurant nearby, Banana Cafe. It was served on a French baggett, quite delicious and probably the most expensive burger I've eaten, but it was sooooo good!!

After a nice nap, we strolled down to Southpoint, the southernmost point in the continental US. We had our picture taken and then strolled up Whitehead and back down Duval. We are now ready for bed.



Upcoming events....Monday we do the trolley ride; Wednesday we take the excursion out to the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson; Thursday evening we eat at Marguaritaville.

SUMMER 2009's BIG TRIP

Wednesday, June 11, Fred and I finished cleaning up the last bit from the Party. Jeff & Deanna left for Atlanta Sunday evening. We tool Greg & Family to the Atlanta airport Monday afternoon. Tuesday, we straightened some but rested mostly. Wednesday we caught up with laundry, packed, took Augie to the kennel, and...

At 3:11 P.M., we headed for Florida, traveling through Hazelhurst, Baxley (ate seafood at Captain Joe's), Jesup, Brunswick, and ending up for the night in South Jacksonville.

Thursday we made the long drive to Florida City and The Everglades.

Today we DID The Everglades. What a beautiful place...but not in the same way as a visit in the mountains is beautiful. This place has a beauty that just can't be described; you have to visit here to understand what I am saying.

I took almost 200 pictures. We generously fed many mosquitos and saw all sorts of wild life. I will post more about the Everglades tomorrow.

OUR 40th ANNIVERSARY PARTY

Sunday, June 7th, was our 40th Wedding Anniversary.

Greg, Kelly, Max & Ash arrived Thursday night; Jeff & Deanna came on down Friday afternoon. Our house was bulging at the seams with family, but it was wonderful to have all of us under one roof.

Friday night we packed ourselves into two vehicles and headed for Montezuma and our favorite Menonite restaurant, Yoders. The food is alway excellent. Greg bought an beautiful Red Velvate cake...like what Aunt Carolyn makes.

Saturday we drove to Eatonton, GA, to visit with Kelly's dad, Bob & his wife, Lois. The Dairy Festival was to begin and they have always wanted Kelly and her new family to attend. The parade was fun, Lois's lunch spread was tasty, and the whole group of folks who joined Bob & Lois were like visiting with our "family."


1st: Fred introduces Deanna to Eatonton's Brer Rabbit. 2nd: All of "the family" is waiting for the parade to begin.

Saturday night we ate dinner at Warner Robin's new Cuban Restaurant. The food was delicious and the company was the best ever.


Deanna & Jeff; Kelly & Greg; Deanna & Jeff practicing parenthood with Max & Ash.

For the party Sunday we had invited a group of old friends and former teachers to gather for a little cake and other goodies. Fred had the house looking beautiful; the yard was sooooo pretty!


The one on the left is our original; 40 years later we have a beauty...the one on the right.

Our cake was a replica of the original wedding cake. The ladies at our Publix bakery out-did themselves creating a beautiful cake that was absolutely delicious!

Guests began arriving around 3:00, with the first one being my college roomy, Gay, and her son Robbie. As folks arrived and departed, we gave backyard garden tours and tours inside the house. Daughter-in-law-to-be Deanna, did a terrific job of replenishing the punch bowl and picking up used plates. Kelly kept up with the boys and visited with Bob, Lois, and Kelly's Aunt.


1st: Fred and I cut our cake. 2nd: College roomy, Gay and her son, Robbie

Good buddies, Jane & Richard, and Greg & Jeff's former drama teacher at Warner Robins High, Richard Mitchem, were the last to depart, but as much fun as we were having, they could have stayed longer.


1st: Friends & Neighbors. 2nd: A few more guests

All of us were exhausted, but the party had been so much fun.

4th of July Outfits

Monday Morning...Later than the Last Post

They're completed! The flag outfits Greg, Kelly, Max & Ash will wear in July at a family reunion in Jacksonville are all completed. They turned out so nice; the fabric was a dream to work with. I am proud of a job done. Sewing is still one of my favorite hobbies.

Kelly, when you read my blog, view the pictures and breathe a sigh of relief...you have your patriotic outfits so your family shine at the reunion. Take a look....


This one is Ash's little suit, a close-up of the bib front with the flag, and my label.


Here's the front and back of Max's overalls. He also has a flag on his bib pocket and Granny's label.


Kelly's blouse is sooooo cute. It will look great with jeans or cute shorts...maybe red or blue. Kelly & Greg have their own special label.


Here's Greg's shirt, with a yoke and tiny pleats in the back and the collar carefully tailored.

This has been such a fun project. I love sewing for the boys, but to get to sew up some goodies for my grown children was especially nice. I hope they are just what was wanted.

GETTING READY

Monday morning, June 1

What a busy week we have ahead! What a busy last few days! BUT, we are determined to have a great 40th Anniversary weekend...we may be exhausted, but it will be fun.

Fred has been busy doing what he has put off for quite a while: unpiling, going-through, eliminating, and storing all the STUFF blocking passage into the living room and two bedrooms. I am so proud of him...he has unburdened himself of so much junk and clutter. We have more to do...I have several piles of stuff to go through as well as straighten my computer area on the lanai. But Dad has really really done a jam-up job cleaning out and cleaning up!

I have been working on menus and recipies. We will have some goodies to enjoy on Sunday...a beautiful cake, little sausage in sauce (Greg & Jeff's favorite), a pineapple cheese ball, a party cheese ball with garlic and ham in it, a liver pate, and a sugar-free punch that will please everyone. We have nuts, M & M's, and some wonderful chocolate covered almonds we found in Mobile, AL, when we drove through going to New Orleans.

We did some shopping at Sam's yesterday afternoon. Lots of food was purchased and it didn't take long to top $120, but the list is still quite lengthy. I must do the rest this week along with all of the other chores assigned to me.

I want to put the finishing touches on the July 4th outfits for Greg & Family. More in a little while....