Day One

Met up with Kip, Teri and Michele at the Tampa International Airport around 8:30 Friday morning and we headed up and away towards N.Carolina. Jill has asked several of us to join her for this weekend as a thank you for picking her up, giving her places to stay and trips back to the airport so she could attend HIlltop and KnKcrops in Florida. No thanks were necessary but we are sure enjoying our stay. We are joined today by Gerri-ann, Barb and Sonia.

We've had several surprises through out our day : Janet at the airport, flower bouquets for each of us and the hot pink stretch limo to fetch and carry us through the day. Our first stop was Archivers in Cary, N.C., where I dropped a couple of bucks and for lunch we dined at Ted's known for the buffalo burger. Janet and I shared one and some yummy veggies. We also had a chance to shop at Swoozies which I loved. We chatted away the afternoon and went out to supper to a darling little local place called Mama Mia's. The owner kissed our hands when we entered, gave us a tour of the backscenes and entertained us throughout the meal, which was wonderful.

Having coffee now with Jill and waiting for the rest of the crew to awaken.

Have a great day!

Off and running

Will leave here for the airport in an hour or so and then on to N.Carolina with some of the gals. Next post from there!

And the last tree...

and this one is for all those Wine Thirty lovers.

Lots of little stuff to take care of today. A few phone calls to make, some errands to run, packing my clothes for E to take to the beach, and some last minute cleaning to do and then we should be all set. We have a nice list for our favorite house sitter, my son Rob and the cats know him so all should be ok with them. They do pout when we leave and are firm in punishing us for our desertion when we return by ignoring us for a few hours. We've gotten use to how they react. Hope to get some scrapping in later in the week down at the beach when the afternoon rains start but most of all, looking forward to morning walks with my honey, long days of relaxing surf and pool side and a few cold libations at some of our favorite haunts. I'll have my lap top so watch this spot for updates!

And Sandy, had a great time yesterday...many thanks for hosting Film Club. I loved all your red, white and blue yummies! Pics to follow I hope as soon as I figure out how to get them off my phone...lol.

And now for a couple of the trees from the Christmas Store

Not quite sure how the pictures loaded but there should be two of the beer themed Christmas tree and three of the Starbucks (or coffee) one. Tomorrow I'll put up the wine one, dedicated to all those of you out there who have joined me on-line or IRL for Wine Thirty!

And, because I've had a couple of people ask, here is the contact info for the store...Robert's Christmas Wonderland/2951 Gulf to Bay, Clearwater Fl/727-797-1660/wwwrobertscw.com

Have fun!

The only grocery store I love

I hate to grocery shop. Probably part of the reason is lack of interest and part is also lack of interest. When E does make me go with him, my parting words at the door are, "look for me in the magazine aisle". BUT, I do love to go to Fresh Market...it is a beautiful place to visit. While E hunts for the elusive flour or seasoning or rice, I take pictures of everything I love about this store. Today, he lured me into running errands by promising me a stop at Fresh Market. And I barely made it past the entrance. I touched all the lavender plants lovingly...I can still smell them, envied the roses and paled before the hydrangea, and just wanted to throw myself into the rest...just like in the movie, Bed of Roses. But, dear gentle reader, I showed great restraint and, in order to do this, took pictures in the candy section! An elderly gentleman (at least a year or two older than I am)kindly moved out of my way so I could get the shot down the jar after jar after jar of forbidden fruits! lol

And before that we went to the Christmas store on Gulf to Bay...another of my favorite places to oooh and aaaah. (and Barb, they've gotten in new pieces for you village...the one you want! you know!). But those are blog posts for the future.

Fat Tuesday...

That is what E and I have nic-named my Weight Watchers meeting and check in day. This is not because of the amount of weight I lose or do not lose but rather that after weigh in, this is the one day of the week that I do not follow the program as closely as I do the rest of the week. If E is going to do ribs on the charcoal grill or fix one of his yummy desserts, this is when he does it. That way I have 6 days on program to maintain my loss. I know that one should follow the program 7/7 but with E and his cravings, this one Fat Day helps us stay more true the rest of the week. So, Happy Fat Tuesday to all!

The last of my reveal for July

This is my 4th. layout with the July kit. I've done a card (see my altered blog plus directions), a mini album (tribute to Goof with mini from add on kit ) and the four layouts I have posted here over the past couple of weeks. I know I've said this before but...wow, lots of stuff in these kits!

The desk top in here is clean...well, stuff is sorted and ready to be put away and then a good scrubbing on the counter top is in order. I need a new craft mat. I've used my old one so much I've rubbed holes clear through it cleaning it. I have my 50% off Mike's coupon and will be heading that way later today. Jo's didn't have any and the manager of the store kept trying to tell me there was no such animal...he needs to talk to his suppliers!

All packed for North Carolina Girls Weekend and clothes organized but not packed yet for the beach and CHA clothes all grouped in my closet. I think poor E does not know what to make of all the organization and planning on my part. He is the list maker, the detail man in our dynamic duo and I am the fly by the seat of my pants type gal. But organizing myself for 3 weeks has taken planning (and shopping...got some cool plaid shorts!)or I'll end up somewhere with nothing on...HEAVEN HELP US then! lol

Off on our morning bike ride...love to all!

Hope you had a good 4th. of July

Other than the fact poor E gotten eaten alive by No Seeums, we had a great evening. There was a nice breeze off the Gulf, the music was fun, the beer cold and the fireworks wonderful. Most of these were taken on the top deck of Capt Jack's restaurant and tiki bar on the Anclote River here in Tapron Springs. Although Tarpon Springs did not have a fireworks display this year, from our bird's nest perch on the Lido Deck (as it is now called), we had a great view of four or five displays in surrounding towns. Capt Jack's now owns the old Pappas building across the river from where we were and that is where the owner had his own fireworks display which was super!

Quieter day here today. We are trying to tie up all lose ends by Wed. evening so we can head out to the beach concert at Sunset Beach. I am all packed for N.C. and all my scrap stuff is packed for the beach. I won't pack up my clothes until Thurs. to diminish the wrinkles as I won't be unpacking that suitcase until I get to the beach last Monday. We have our list for our house sitter, Rob so all should be well there.

And, the Queen of Procrastination, moi, even has her clothes ironed and sorted for the five days in Orlando for CHA. I am so proud of me...lol

Have a good one!