Ta-Daa......

Delivery day came earlier than planned.    We checked into the mega RV one stop shopping center early this morning and by 4 pm, we were moving our stuff into the drawers and exploring all the buttons and gizmos that this beautiful toy has to offer.    We started the "walk-thru, orientation" with a very knowledgeable 'tech' and put it thru it's paces  trying to find stuff that needed fixing.    There hasn't been much so far and we will finish it up tomorrow.    

 They parked us side by side , door to door, to make it easier to transfer everything.    We had already emptied and cleaned our coach so we only brought a few things with us to set up housekeeping.    We'll gradually fill up more of the ample spaces but for now, we have most everything.

It is really really pretty.....   It has many of the same features,   washer/dryer, fireplace as our Suncruiser but in a more  luxurious package.    Now, one thing needs to be clarified.....we did not spend our kids inheritance on this.....and altho it was not cheap, (Paul is a master at making a good deal, plus we had a really good trade-in), it is not in the category of those high end coaches.....nor as big.    We can still fit into ordinary campsites and maneuver in relatively tight places.   But with the more powerful diesel engine, we can tow the Ford instead of the Honda and climb mountains faster than a snail.    AND. ....it has a bath and a HALF !!.   So  we each have our own loo.......  We took it for a test drive and it was so smooth.....and fast.   We never go over about 62 mph and Paul had it up to 73 before he realized it.    And that's why we'll use cruise control.  
Anyway, enough about our new vacation-beach-mountain- home.....I'll take some interior shots in the next day or so when I get it put together.  

Why would we leave....

.....when the weather is picture perfect, the golf was not terrible, the lunch with good friends was a treat  and the dip in the pool made for a lazy afternoon.      But, we know that it won't last.    We've had unusually low humidity and moderate temps for most of the month.    Once the heat and sweltering southern climate kicks in, it will be unbearably uncomfortable anywhere out in the open.    I will declare my golf outings over until fall and will take up "winter activities".    It's not a bad thing but if there is an alternative, we'd rather consider it.   

The new blogger is giving me fits.....I don't exactly know what I am doing and too lazy to spend some time to figure it all out.    I'd rather watch Mr. Gecko cavort in my Jade plant.    Yesterday, I counted 6 of the reptiles inside the lanai....they do eat bugs and such but I'm afraid they need to be evicted......or worse (for them) before we leave.   

Because you wanted to know........

The big taste test had to wait 24 hours......no gas for the grill. 

 I was glad to have Rian chime in as my personal gourmet chef expert and suggest  a maple syrup / soy mixture.   I happen to have 'real' Vermont maple syrup on hand, added some soy and basted it on the fish as it grilled.    When it was thoroughly caramelized and flaked easily, I sampled it and was happily surprised.    It was delicious.   I think I have avoided it because I detest the smell of it while cooking in the house and just assumed it tasted as bad as it smelled.    To my amazement, it was meatier and milder than some other 'white' fish that I eat.     The syrup was the perfect touch.    I highly recommend you try it !! 

We're getting closer !    We will have our new moho on the 31st, 2 weeks from today.     It will be driven to our dealer in Tampa on the 24th and they need a few days to 'prep' it and with Memorial Day in the middle, we'll have to wait a few extra days.      The area rugs that I ordered (special thanks to Erin who has them in their  beautiful coach) arrived today and tomorrow the Ford gets the equipment attached so we can tow it instead of the Honda.   I bought new Corelle dishes.....less chance of breakage as we go over those rough spots.    I have a set already but wanted some prettier ones.   I still have to decide on towels / bedding / and throw rug colors....   and...tomorrow I get my last color and haircut in Florida until October !!!    

Still here..........

Not  much happening at the homestead these days.    I'm trying out the new blogger and finding it a bit more of a change than I particularly wanted and I'm sure I'll screw up the blog somehow and have to spend way too many hours fixing something.     I really admire those of you who have mastered blogger and have brilliantly choreographed blogs with all sorts of detail and  exciting headings and categories and links and such.    Mine is the vanilla variety and it's as good as it's gonna be............

 We are finally getting some precipitation.....not of the heavy variety, just more a misty drizzly type.    We are in a  drought and can water just
once a week.   The golf courses are seriously brown and hard-packed and the retention ponds are dried up.    We are entering our rainy season and hopefully, central Florida will once again become tropical.   As the above picture indicates, we are kind of in a donut hole with the heavy rain amounts going around us.....

This is a traveling family.    Some is business related, as in Michael and Jon but this week, it's vacation time.     Jeff and Jennifer are enjoying a break in Cabo from the Washington spring weather.     Mike and Jenna are celebrating 25 years with a trip to Hong Kong.    We will travel along vicariously.
    
And we are also looking forward to some serious traveling in a couple of weeks.     We are awaiting delivery of our shiny new 40 ft motorhome.     We debated many moons over this and decided :
1)   We thoroughly enjoy the lifestyle
2)   Our Suncruiser has many comforts and we know it's quirks
3)   Our Suncruiser is getting to be high mileage, accumulated over 5 years
4)   Our Suncruiser has some issues that can't be changed
5)   Our Suncruiser still has value as a trade-in
6)    We made the mistake of going to a huge RV show in Tampa

So, after debating brands, models and other modes of traveling .........
we decided on the Phaeton model of the Tiffin brand.    Those of you in the world of RVing will know it well....  It is the most popular model sold of all the Class A motorhomes in the past few years.  It has all the bells and whistles and then some.    You probably expect some pictures but the ones available aren't representative of ours so I'll post the real thing in a couple of weeks.    We hope to get it in early June from the factory.  After working out some of the bugs (and there will be bugs), we will head north......and of course, take you along.  

In my attempt to eat healthy these days, I have decided that I will TRY and eat some salmon.   Paul eats it regularly and orders it frequently when we dine out.    I haven't acquired a taste for it in the past and prefer white fish.   But tonight , I will make an effort and have some grilled salmon.   Results on the 10 o'clock news......

Bug juice......

Just got off the golf course and altho the golf wasn't so bad, the company was creepy.   It is love bug season and they are pervasive.    Getting back into the golf cart, the seats are covered in them, as are the windows, your clubs and they are crawling on your legs and your clothes.    Everytime I tried to grab my phone for a pic, they would wander off to some other haunt.    Fortunately, they don't bite .     May and Sept are their season.   

We've been home almost a week.    The train to the bus to the plane was very efficient.   I listened to a conversation in the seat ahead of us on the train.   Two 20 somethings, one hispanic, one kind of scruffy, who didn't know each other at the outset, settled into a conversation for the 90 min ride and I learned that the one had done 9 months in Mexico for cocaine but got out of a 20 yr sentence by paying $8500 to someone....the other was currently in some sort of rehab for drugs and was out again and heading to see his girlfriend.....he had been in rehab 32 times!   He has a brother who "always did what his parents expected" and was now in finance and making 7 figures and altho they loved each other, they had nothing in common.   His goal was to earn enough to go to Costa Rica and live "naturally" with his girl and raise a family on a farm.   The young Mexican seemed to be on a more straight  but very narrow path and initially said he didn't do drugs anymore , just a beer or two but as the chat continued, he did admit to doing coke a bit.      It was fascinating to hear them talk so openly and honest and with no apparent regard for others listening in.   I feigned indifference with my nose in my Kindle and others seemed equally occupied or maybe they've all heard it before.  
Based on what I heard, I don't give the one kid much hope of ever getting to Costa Rica.  

We are working on a new adventure and currently in the 'hurry-up and wait'  period.    Stay tuned.............

Do you remember what you wore....

...to your Prom ???












Bet it didn't look like this !!

( pics are clickable of Alex and Meredith )

Guess who our dates were for our Jr and Sr Proms ..??

Waiting.......

The days are gloomy and dreary and cool.....




The cats and I are waiting for the sun......




In the meantime, the walk from the recliner to the refrigerator is my most strenuous exercise and soon , Madge might look like a role model......




(Oops , I should have given credit for the Madge clip as I lifted it from a favorite blog....www.sandeedee.blogspot.com. )

Location:Sandy Hook, Ct.

Worth the drive

Jon and I zipped over to the Hudson River yesterday to take in the awesome sight as it passed overhead. It was higher than I expected it to be








and Jon was using my longer lens so I shot this with the trusty iPhone. ( pics are clickable). It flew very slow and we saw it twice as it flew up and then down the Hudson before landing at Kennedy.




And despite near freezing temperatures, it was off to the field at 9am to watch the fledging baseball players. Despite wearing a winter coat ( that I keep here) our behinds got very icy from sitting on metal bleachers....you'd think with the taxes we paid and what they pay, they could provide some heated, padded seating.

Location:A cold but sunny place.....

What a difference 2 hours makes.....

Hopped on the early dawn flight and landed in the cold North ..... Altho I am bundled up in jeans, sweater, sox and sensible shoes, I am freezing.
I came up to Connecticut to help out when work schedules collided and I get my grand kid fix. But altho it was 90 last week, it is now about 40, drizzly and gloomy. However, in driving around town, it is evident that spring has arrived. The dogwoods are in full glory, the azaleas are vibrant and the daffodils stand tall ......I hope to get out tomorrow to capture the beauty.




Went to karate with the boys.......who knew they would play Aerosmith to practice their moves?? I thought it would be a bit more zen-like.

Meanwhile, P stayed home and is able to spend another day with Dean and Diane. They introduced us to the RV lifestyle 5 years ago and held our hands and showed us how to empty the grey and black tanks and how to drive and especially, how to relax and enjoy it all. Living in Pa, they have finally been able to shed some of life 's restrictions ( like jobs !) and get out on the open road... We had a fun two days catching up and hope to meet up again soon around a campfire somewhere.......




Meanwhile, I'm really glad there's an electric blanket set on high pre-heating my bed. I'm going to go sink into it.

Location:Someplace cold

Yeah, well raisins have wrinkles too......

.....but no one turns down oatmeal raisin cookies !!

It was birthday week around here. Is it really possible that we are this old ?? And next year, we will fall over into that next decade which brings on all sorts of challenges. But for now, we are younger every day and vibrant and life is good and we continue to be optimistic that somehow the golf game will get better.

Generosity was abundant, including these flip-flops with more Bling that any girl deserves......they definitely match my inner sparkly self :)
Roses, orchids and magnolia blossoms stopped by.......and a wealth of good wishes.

Despite my determination to learn my current lens for my new camera before looking at anything else, a delicious 60mm 2.8 macro lens showed up and it is amazing. I have tried to avoid lens lust but....... . Can't wait to find bugs !

And to top off a great week,.......IT'S RAINING !! yeaaaaaa!