~ Home Again, Home Again ~

From cool northern air to warm southern sun and back again.  Again this year my sister and I made the trip with our Dad to Florida, where he stays to keep warm while we head back north to endure enjoy the seasons.  The transition as we (they) drove (while I crocheted in the backseat) from cold to slowly warming up temperatures was one thing, but hopping a plane in T-shirt weather and being picked up by your Hubby holding a winter coat….well let’s just say it takes a while to adjust!

There wasn’t time to complain, I hit the floor running.  I had three days till Thanksgiving, and family dinner was at our house this year.  I decided to add to the fun by getting  our Christmas tree early and having the house decorated for the event (so early I might add that no one around us was set up selling trees yet. The perk was that our friendly, local tree farmer escorted us into the woods, helped us pick out our tree, and then gave it to us!  Gotta love favor!).  Let me just say…I have NEVER had my tree up for Thanksgiving, even when the kids were little!  My oldest son reminded me that it was two days before Christmas when we put up a tree last year. So WHY, do you ask,  did I decide this was the year to surprise everyone with being ahead of the game?  I’m blaming it on the temperature drop between Florida and home, maybe shock.  But in hind sight…I’m now relaxing by a warm fire as I write this, sitting next to a beautifully decorated tree in the warm glow of its lights. So that’s one thing crossed off the December to do list.  Here are some highlights from the trip…

Day dreaming

First and foremost- I got to spend a week with my girls (my youngest daughter and her now 9 month old baby girl)-highlight for sure!

Florida

 Of course there are never any complaints about having to spend time at my brother and sister-in-law’s place.

Florida Florida Florida Florida

He even popped the cork on some bubbly while we celebrated some much needed sibling fellowship time on the dock.

Not to mention their 35th wedding anniversary!

I’m oh, so grateful for both of them!

Florida Florida Florida

We took the baby girl to the beach…..

...and we visited one of our favorite places in St. Pete, Mazzaros Italian Market. All that goodness under one roof!  LOVE this place!  It would be dangerous to live close to.

FloridaFloridaBeachThe Beach

So I took some pretty pictures…

saladchip and salsa

and ate some good food.

Mexico

Unfortunately the neighbors were away, so no fun visits with them.  (They were sorely missed!)  I took this photo for you, Bob & Pat, hope you are having a great time!

 We did get to meet the neighbors on the other side and it seems they are Mazzaro fans also.  So lots of great “foodie” talk.

shops

We shopped a little.

My ManI found this sign, which made me think of the Beekeeper.  So…

Blue eyes

…I said a tearful good-bye to this little cutie…

Main St

…and headed back to the “Not So Little Brown House” on Main ST. EB,  to another cutie.

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~ Florida Fun ~

 St. Petersburgh PreservationSt. Petersburgh PreservationSt. Petersburgh PreservationSt. Petersburgh Preservation

Back in Florida….My sister-in-law picked me up at the airport and drove me to downtown St. Pete for a surprise….my brother and their wonderful neighbors had a place reserved for us at the park for movie night.  Chairs, snacks, wine, the trees lit up with little white lights and Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in “Sleepless in Seattle”.  What a great, “welcome to town”!

Delilah

Next morning I get to see my granddaughter, who’s now almost 3 months old!

boat tourboat tour Sail boat and the Don CeSarboat tourboat tour boat tour boat tour boat tour boat tour boat tour boat tour

Bob and Pat (the neighbors), took us out on their boat for a great tour of Pass-a-Grille (my favorite) and back up to Treasure Island for lunch.  It was a beautiful sunshiny day, perfect for a boat ride….we were even entertained by some dolphins who decided to follow the boat for awhile….it was so awesome to see them up close!   We’ve had dock time and yummy dinners, great conversation, lots of baby cuddling and still days left to enjoy with our sister, who arrives tomorrow night.  What fun things will we find to do next?

~ Sun, Sand and the Sea ~

~ Sibling Love ~

Breakfast out

Great start: Breakfast with my big brother…..I do love chick-fil-A chicken biscuits! (sadly, we don’t have these in NY)

Pass-A-Grille BeachThen…one of my favorite places….Pass-a-Grille Florida (ahhhhh…deep breath)….there’s a little art show at the beach today.

Pass-A-Grille Beach

Pass-A-Grille Beach

vintage brooch

I found this vintage brooch and it’s going back to New York with me!

Dinner out

And I finish the day with a great dinner with my sister……  Vacation is a great thing!

~ What to Do in Case of a Storm ~

Rain on my Florida vacation!

Florida FloridaFlorida

What to do now!

PERFECT!

Florida

                                              The sun goes down on another great day!

~ Change of Plans ~

On our way to JFK

On our way to JFK

I was supposed to be arriving in Florida today to wait out the last two weeks of my daughter’s pregnancy.  Due date for my first granddaughter, March 4th.  Excitement was in the air.  Ticket was purchased….Newark to Tampa on Sunday afternoon….  baby shower Sunday night….then shopping for the finishing touches for the nursery…and wait …wait…wait!

So,  Wednesday I’m in the middle of lunch with two of my “horsey” girlfriends and I get a call from Florida, my daughter saying, ” Mom, don’t cry, but I’m at the hospital. I’m in labor”.  So my girlfriends helped me pack, cleaned my kitchen and proceeded out to the barn to feed my little herd while the “beekeeper” rushes home.  I buy a second ticket because it cost more to change my ticket than to buy a new one!!!  We’re off to JFK, which was the only place I could find a flight to get me there as fast as possible.  While sitting in NYC traffic…my granddaughter is born!

~  Delilah Ruth  ~

~ Delilah Ruth ~

I arrive within hours…to this precious face…. and now I am spending  the next several days holding this sweet little gift from God….Happy Nana!