Just Checkin' In

Good evening. We're just back from having a nice drive in heavy fog, after going to a delicious Mexican dinner. Then we stopped at a house that has magnificent Christmas decorations that must have been professionally done, and probably took a month or longer to put up. There's a sign out front that advises to tune to a local radio station, which is playing Christmas music. As the music plays (and especially if it's a tune with a boogey beat) - the lights display and change & it's a wonder to watch. We visited this place last year too, as it's close to where our kids live.

Yesterday was sunny & think the temp hit 80. I had my coffee out on the patio, reading & watching the boat traffic.  Thought I'd share a  few pictures of what we see from the patio, as I don't have any cards to share.

- Bird Sanctuary with a boat wake

- Where I had my coffee and read. Had to wear my sunglasses it was so bright outside. Got rather hot as well.

- What is on one side of the kids' place. This belongs 2 doors down from them. Glad we don't have to fuel it up.

Construction next door. The pink house is 2 doors down. The neighbors next door bought an old Florida beach house, just to get the property. They had the house torn down, and are building a house that will have parking underneath the main floor. The codes now will not allow a house to have the main floor on ground level (which is a good idea to my mind!). However the kids had remodeled their house before this code was enacted, so in case of high tides during a hurricane, guess what's likely to happen here?????

 

 

Looking the opposite direction about 3 doors down. And many of these people are not at home just now. What a big waste in my opinion. Oh well. No, our kids don't have a boat. And we HOPE they don't try to get one. It won't be one of these, fer sure. They are of the 'old Florida', but lots of immigrants to the State have bought in this area, torn down the beach houses. Built up some big ones, so that the natives are struggling to be able to live in the area. The property of an older places is worth more than the house that sets on it. A bit sad really.





I hope that all my lovely readers had a wonderful & blessed Christmas day, and were able to spend it in good health and with their loved ones. Expect we shall be traveling back to South Carolina on New Year's Day - according to my chauffeur. I'd prefer to go a day before or after, but since he's the driver, I will get in, keep my mouth shut and go to sleep! The trip goes a lot better that way and nobody gets too aggravated. I tend to be a white-knuckle passenger! Lots of crazies on our interstates.

Thanks for joining me. In case the sunshine is making anyone feel envious, we'll be returning to winter weather at home! So don't feel too bad about it! Come again soon, and hope to have some cards when we get back in port. In the meantime, Happy New Year and be safe with whatever you're doing. Big Hugs & God Bless.

Santa Chuck Says Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

 

Chuck  put his Santa hat on last evening, and asked if I would allow him to convey his very best wishes to all the sweet bloggers who visit here. After looking into his soulful eyes, I could hardly say no, now could I?

 

 

 

So here's Chuck in his holiday hat, sending doggy Christmas kisses to all who visit here.

 

Now the other guys/girls weren't having any of that, so they had to get in the act too. Ogie got dressed in his holiday outfit, and after asking me to be sure to spell his name correctly this time, sends his Merry Christmas out as well. (He was quite cross with me for not knowing how to spell his name. He tells me he was famous in his racing days -  I didn't have the nerve to admit to him, that I'd never heard of him before. Oh these temperamental celebrities).

 

 

 

And when he is 'at home' and not posing....

 

 

Evidently this is how he likes to sleep

Dallas & Reilly said their outfits are a bit too tight this year, so they'll just send along their good wishes au naturel. Not sure which is which in this picture as their Mommy took it.

 

Ossie said he didn't care to dress up, he was tired of having us take his picture (he's an old man), but he would be pleased to say Merry Christmas just the same.

Now lest you think that South Florida is always warm sunshine and dolphins...here's a few scenes of what it looked like here Christmas Eve about 4:30pm. We watched this storm roll in and it looked fierce. These pictures were taken from inside looking out through the sliding glass doors as it was thundering.

 

The greenery is an island bird sanctuary, and each evening, the birds flock back for the night's roosting.

 

#3 was snapped just a few seconds before the rain started to pelt down along with the thunder too. It was actually much darker than these pictures show.  In Florida, it can rain & thunder and in a short while there will be sunshine again. Since this happened so late in the evening, it was rather gloomy until dusk settled.

 

I would like to extend a warm welcome to a new follower: Jennifer Spivey. Can't find a link to get back to Jennifer if she has a blog' so Jennifer, if you'll provide me with a blog address, I can share it with all my blog friends, and they can meet you too. Thanks so much for becoming a new follower here.

 

Hope you enjoyed the pictures and are having a wonderful day with your loved ones. This is a scheduled post, as I plan to spend the day with those I love most as well. Big Hugs, God Bless and Merry Merry.

 

 







Christmas Eve

Good afternoon, and the Big Day is nearly here. So whatever you've not finished, I hope you can stop, take a breath, calm down and enjoy a little calming time to really enjoy tomorrow. My wish for all my lovely visitors is that you have loved ones to share the day with & that you have the health to enjoy a peaceful & happy day. I'm truly thankful that my family & I are able to do that. It's what Christmas really means to me. It's lovely to have tiny ones about to enjoy the magic of Santa and the presents. Watch their eyes widen as they see the tree Christmas morning, with all the packages. I do remember that thrill with our daughter when she was small. Yet growing older brings its own pleasures too. We are just the four of us together and will be missing our best friend - who is DD's godfather. He is someone DH met when he was stationed at Pensacola, Fla in his navy days prior to his tours in Viet Nam. Our friend is a staunch New Englander, so it was really odd that the 2 guys hit it off. He's had some health problems recently and just not up to a trip at the moment. However, I'm thankful that at least the 4 of us can enjoy being together. That is always my special Blessing.

I unsealed DH's card to take a photo this morning, and here it is:

 

Still haven't located the pictures I took the night before we left, of which this card was one. Tried to take a photo outside where the light was better, and too windy. So the background is on DD's counter.

- SWilson Bevel die cut the kraft card base. Red glitter paper placed behind the cutout and some 'jewels' added.

- Tattered lace Peace die cut from the same red glitter paper. (took me 2 tries to get this as I did it on the wrong side of the paper first time! You have to look to be sure the die is positioned on the proper side of the paper that you want to show- especially if it is a sentiment!). Happy to report that after a couple rolls through the machine, the die released very nicely, even though this is one of the thicker glitter papers. Had a bit of concern about that at first.

- image  colored with copics, some WoS added, die cut with a S/B scalloped circle. Bottom portion of the card seemed to 'need something' and this was an image that was colored earlier. DH always likes to have something done with copics on his cards. Debated on adding a die sentiment of "husband" with the red glitter, and decided to leave as you see it. I think he'll like it.

Thought you might enjoy seeing what SIL did to amuse himself this morning.

Thanks for all the prayers & good wishes for DH. Thankfully he is improving some every day. He will be seeing our own doctors when we get back home. Don't know if the 12 hours of sitting on the drive to come south had anything to do with his problem. He felt well enough to go out yesterday with DD & me to go to some of the stores (oh the crowds). There are quite a few Michael's stores in the area, so whenever one is close, I have to check it out. Stock is pretty well picked over & nothing interesting. Yesterday after a quick stroll through one, walking to the exit - I spied a few Stampendous Christmas stamps - 70% off - on a counter end cap. I managed to get three that are normally $14.99/$15.99, paying about $4.00 for each.

Hope you're having a grand day whatever you may be doing. Thanks for joining me, and in case I don't get on the computer tomorrow, a Big Merry Christmas to all of you. If you don't celebrate the day as such, then Happy Holidays as well! Big Hugs.

PS: As I've been typing this post, we've watched dolphins playing out in the water in front of the house. So graceful & what a thrill.

Longest Day of the Year

Good afternoon on the longest day of the year,* official first day of Winter and a nice Sunday afternoon. Sorry, no photos today.We have had a quiet day after a very exciting one on Saturday (NOT!).

*My Bad: I should have written longest night of the year. I do know it's the shortest day! Please excuse this old senior! Thanks to the sweet blogger who caught this boo-boo.

 

 

Friday afternoon we visited Sparkle n Sprinkle in Ruskin Florida - which is about an hour from where DD & SIL live. Nice ride in what still looks like rural Florida. Not much of that left in the State nowadays.  Mr. started having plumbing problems on the way home, which caused quite a few quick bathroom stops. The situation worsened overnight, and neither of us got much sleep. Tried unsuccessfully on Saturday morning to persuade him to go to an Emergency Room. Finally SIL & I both noticed he was pale &  very bloated in the abdomen. With SIL's insistence, we drove to a walkin clinic. We walked in at noon & were told there would be a 2 hr wait. Sent SIL home to return later. Lots of patients coughing, sneezing, blowing noses. Errrgghh ..will we walk out with some germ we didn't bring in? So we availed ourselves of the face masks and antibacterial cleaner. Mr. finally got seen at 5pm. Very uncomfortable waiting time. After the clinic doc saw him, ordered an xray, THEN we are sent to another Emergency Room for a CAT scan as he thought possible bowel blockage or obstruction of some kind. Not happy news to hear at any time, but definitely not when away from home!

Called SIL to pick us up and then head to the ER. He was seen very quickly there. (No, I did not say "this is where we should have come to start"...but SIL did! Bless his heart). The medics there said "Put in a catheter first, drain the bladder, then do another Xray." Things would then be clearer on this xray, before doing a CAT scan. Having a catheter inserted for a male is NOT a fun thing to do. (DH has said that will NEVER be done to him again). By the time the bladder was drained, another xray done, the hospital medics didn't think it a bowel obstruction. Not 100% certain, but they sent him home with some medication and if the problem doesn't resolve in the next 24 - 48 hours, we are to return. Or if he gets pain or nausea, get back PDQ. I think he is a little better today, but very unhappy about the pain of the catheter, some side effects & still having frequent bathroom visits. Just not so bad as previously. We are saying thanks  be that so far, no emergency surgery to be done by doctors we don't know, and then convalesce here away from home.

On another note, in case you haven't seen the news over at DeeDee's Digis, the shop will be closing as of January 31, 2015 - due to the upcoming changes in the European VAT tax laws. While this is a very sad time for those of us who love these images, it also means it's a chance to scoop up some of your best loved images at a fabulous price reduction. I do strongly encourage checking out the link and taking advantage of the sale. I can personally attest to how easy these designs are to use. You can dress up the pre-colored designs as you desire or use the outline images to color as you choose. There's great sentiments in each set & some sets have digi papers as well. So do check out DeeDee's Digi's. There is a design to fit every card occasion.

In the meantime, have a wonderful afternoon. Thanks for dropping by for a visit, and big hugs.