A GREAT Christmas For All

We are finally back from our daughters house where we stayed for the last 4 days. We had a peaceful Christmas day since our son-in-law had to work at the fire station. A letter was wrote to Santa to please come on Christmas Day eve so that the whole family could celebrate Christmas together. Santa said he would be glad to do that because he thought Fire fighters, Police, Military and Nurses all did heroic things for all.

So on Monday, after Santa had stopped by, we all woke up to a bunch of presents and daddy was home to enjoy it with everyone. All 4 boys got all they wanted and more. As you can see the twins and Cade got new bikes since they had all outgrown their old ones. Jacob got a new saxophone case since he is now in high school band and the Pinellas All County Band. Only the best in high school bands get into that program.

Dominick ~ Wyatt ~ Cade ~ Jacob & Wyatt again

The boys had a ton of fun opening their presents ~ they all got what they wanted and more

Poppy & I got a new Coffee Maker, a Hand held Vacuum, some Pandora Charms for me and smelly stuff for Poppy... a GREAT Christmas for us. Mom & Dad also got a lot of wonderful gifts ~ a watch, movies, games, Kuerrig Coffee Maker and much more....

After all the presents were opened and the paper all thrown away we started cooking our Christmas dinner; Turkey & Stuffing, Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Corn, Relish trays, deviled eggs, stuffed celery, Rolls. For dessert we had Cookies, Pumpkin Pie, Apple, Pie, Chocolate Mouse in a chocolate cup YUM!

We spent a wonderful day together enjoying family, friends good food and but most of all celebrating the reason for the season ~We are hoping your Christmas was wonderful too!
Have Fun, Travel Safe & Stay Healthy!!!

Merry Christmas

We are going to our daughters house for the next couple of days and I just wanted to stop by and wish to all of my Bloggin friends and family the best of the Holiday Season....



’tis the season…to celebrate the birth of our savior, the wonder of Christmas and the joy of having a family & friends like you all. Thank you to all my followers... Your comments throughout the year has made my blogging experience a true treasure.

May the warmest smiles, the sweetest dreams, and the happiest heart

be yours at Christmas and always.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas Cookies ~ YUM!!!

Today I drove up to my daughter's house and we spent the day baking cookies... It is a tradition to bake cookies & yummies for the holidays as it is at many homes... We include the kids and let them cut out the sugar cookies and decorate them. They really have a great time!

Every year we add a new cookie to our collection of recipes and this year was no different. This years featured cookie is the melting snowman and boy is it ever cute. Those are melted marshmallows on top ♥

We all had a great time baking & decorating the cookies ~ just wished my younger daughter and her family could have been here too. We will be going to visit her in January for a month so we'll do some more cooking & baking then... Hope your days are filled with fun!

Happy Holidays

Have Fun, Travel Safe & Stay Healthy!!!

Christmas Lights and Other Happenings...

It's been a busy week ~ getting things done for the Holidays, Birthdays and just enjoying the days as we count down to Christmas & New Years... This week I watch the Grandsons Tuesday afternoon and then take them to school Wednesday morning. We'll be heading from there to North Florida to visit some friends and family for a few days...

Here is a house in Van Buren Arkansas near my daughter's house

The Hodo House ~ took this with my little Nikon so it is a little shaky...

I have been busy this week getting my cards mailed, shopping and wrapping gifts...

Last Wednesday my little grandsons turned 6 ~ the time is flying by!!! They got their first report card and did excellent as did my Grand daughters in Arkansas. My oldest grand daughter made all A's and 1 B... We are so very proud of all of them.

Here are the boys with their birthday cake ~ Cars!!! Oh how they love cars...

Sunday when we went out to the Post Office to mail the cards and we took a ride down to Fort Desoto Park. It was a cloudy day but it is always beautiful down there. The campground was not full which I was surprised about... Great ride and we got to see a few dolphins which I wasn't fast enough to get their photos...

view from North Beach and the Skyway Bridge to Sarasota

view from campsite and the new Campground Store

Me & Ralph out at the point


Another video of Hodo Christmas display taken Dec 2009

Have Fun, Travel Safe & Stay Healthy!!!

Here Come the Holidays

The Holiday season is approaching rapidly ~ remember when we were kids and it took forever for it to get here. I would love for time to slow down just a little now wouldn't you? Between decorating, shopping, baking and Holiday events it seems like there is no time to sit and enjoy the season. Well regardless it is a wonderful time of the year anyways.

This was Tassie all dressed up in Holiday fashion when we were on our other lot

When we were on another lot here at Rainbow Village we had a nice long site with a grass front and decorated the area for the holiday. Now our lot is rock which is easier to set up on BUT doesn't leave anyplace for me to decorate. I did put a few things on the front and of course the inside is all a glow with decorations & small trees..

Next year we are moving our winter residence north of here and our new lot is beautiful with lots of grass and a GREAT area for decorating... tee hee! It will be so nice to be up in the country and still only an hour from my daughter... No heavy traffic and no noise!
We'll be one with nature ~ LOL

Here are somemore of our little decorations inside Tassie

Have Fun, Travel Safe & Stay Healthy!!!

Just Hanging Around

Not much happening here ~ the cold weather has come down to visit and that is a nice change from the HOT!!! When you stay in one spot for the winter in a place you grew up you forget about the beauty of the area around you. Especially when you are still recovering from total knee replacement. We haven't been doing a whole lot lately ~ I still have a little pain but not taking any pain pills and that is a good thing... I try to walk every day and or do exercises to improve the flexibility in my knee. Everyone says I am doing GREAT and way ahead of schedule but if you knew me I expected to be pain free totally by now... I think I am super woman ~ LOL LOL.


One of our favorite places in Pinellas County is Fort Desoto Park... we have been camping at this park for over 43 years and think it is one of the most relaxing campgrounds around. When we first started coming to this place the girls were very little and it was very inexpensive. We camped here at least every other month and sometimes longer. We usually stayed 2 weeks during spring break and always a bunch of our friends joined us.... We have camped in everything from a tent to our 40 MH. We have a lot of excellent memories at this park.

Beautiful Beaches

Great Campsites

Gorgeous Sunsets & Sunrises


There is a lot to do at Fort Desoto Park ~

Fishing, Biking, Walking, a GREAT fort and beautiful beaches.

Have Fun, Travel Safe & Stay Healthy!!!

Thanksgiving Memories

~Let the Holidaze begin~

Welcome to my newest followers ~ Stephen Baird at Nikon Sniper ~ a great blog about photography, Allen & Lolita DeQuay @ Allen & Lolits's RV Journey , caterina serra @ visitatori dallo spazio and also welcome Rick & Kathy Roussau, no blog. Go pay them a visit and see their adventures....



Our Thanksgiving was a wonderful one ~ we may live in Florida and not have the snow but we have Family ~ Friends ~ Delicious Food ~ and Fun times together. The day was spent at my brother Kenny's house and most of it outside near the pool and outside kitchen/bar... What fun we all had taking about Thanksgivings past and what we are thankful for today.

The kids hanging out by the pool ~ My daughter Denise & Grandson Dominick

The guys watching football ~ some outside & some inside


I am thankful for a wonderful family, my friends, good health and a husband who loves me so much... I am also thankful for the two beautiful daughters that we have and how much they have accomplished in their lives... they have given us such wonderful grandchildren whom we are doubly proud of. I am also very thankful I am living the life I always dreamt of living!!!

My SIL, Kathy cooking in her outside kitchen ~ Wyatt peeking through the leaves


My daughter Denise smooching me ~ My brother Kenny, Me and crazy daughter!

Aunt Kathy showing off her BBQ'd Turkey ~ the boys getting a lesson on how to carve a turkey

Family and friends sit down to a fabulous feast ~ YUM!!!


The only sad part about our day was my youngest daughter was not here with her beautiful family to celebrate with us ~ however they had a great day at their home in Arkansas....

I am hoping your festivities were special and full of good food too!

Have Fun, Travel Safe & Stay Healthy!!!