I love this crazy tragic, sometimes almost magic...awful, beautiful life..

Today 16 of us headed for Daytona and a luncheon cruise on the StarLite Princess Authentic Paddlewheeler www.StarLiteDiningCruises.com . Another beautiful day, with lots of sunshine!!
I don't want to go back North and lose my tan :( (but I do want to see all my kids!!)

Boarding the ship.....

The tour was good....the food, not so great.....

I told you and I were out "house hunting"....what do you think?? Yeah right! This is a mansion that was being built by a Daytona doctor and his wife. Before the house was completed, the doctor was in a small plane crash and was killed. His wife had the house finished and it is now for sale for somewhere between $14-16 million.....

This ship was actually propelled by the paddle wheels. Many times, on these tours they are just for show......

After dinner and the information part of the cruise, the captain invited anyone who wanted, to come up and take the wheel....since no one else did, I figured I would, just so his feelings wouldn't be hurt....LOL

Off hand, I would say Jim was enjoying the day!!!

and so were we!!!

Terry and Sue.....

LeRoy and Kathy....

Gordie and Carol......

Gene and Ruth....

After the cruise we drove over to the Canaveral National Seashore. It is one of the most beautiful, serene beaches in the area. We didn't have a lot of time today, so we plan to go back over on Wednesday with a picnic lunch and our beach chairs....

Terry, strolling barefoot.....

A Stingray that washed up on the beach....urgh, they remind me of a bat!!

I hope I can get this guy back up North for a couple of months.....

Florida is bursting with wildflowers, and they are SO beautiful!!

Pelicans in flight......

If it's the beaches and sand you want...then you will have them....

Salt, Susie and I spent the day at New Smyrna Beach....it was a perfect beach day on a beautiful beach!!

I am starting to make reservations for our stops on the way back to NY....We will be stopping in Myrtle Beach, VA Beach and a couple of days in Owego. The weather in Clayton has been beautiful (80's). I guarantee it will be back to normal (cold, wet and muddy) by time we land.

Every year we leave a little later and still leave too soon.....

Hooray for Pizza Day....the best day of the week...

Yesterday was our second annual "Bob's Buying Pizza" day. Bob Hillis, every body's favorite "Dad", "Grandpa" and "Friend", treated us to pizza at Stavros. Pizza was great, company even better. Thanks Bob!!

After lunch, Salt and I made a quick trip to the Lake Square Mall, where I had a hair appointment with Jamie....my last for the season.

Today, we are off to New Smyrna Beach with Susie (Terry is playing golf). Working on the tan!!

Palm trees are growing...a warm wind is blowing. I picture myself sitting there...on some beach, somewhere..

Salt and I wanted to take a drive to Clearwater and check out some of the modular homes, as we have pretty much made up our mind that we will be putting a new one on a lot in Hawthorne. Since the weather forecast was so nice, we decided to go a day early and have a day lounging on the beach in St. Petersburg. We invited Terry and Sue Muldoon to go along and had a wonderful two day getaway!!

View from our lunch table.....

We stayed at the Sirata right on the beach....it was a beautiful resort!

Sue's birthday was Tuesday so we celebrated with a dinner at PJ's, a wonderful seafood restaurant!!

We did find a house we both absolutely love.....we are not however, going to get too excited until we sell the house up North. We have the floor plans, so we can give the go ahead once we are ready. Tomorrow we are going to New Smyrna Beach before the rain comes on Friday. Friday, we go to Hawthorne and pick a lot!!!

The angels upon the tombstone said "He's risen just like He said...Quickly now go tell His disciples that Jesus Christ is no longer dead....

As there were 17 of us gathering for Easter dinner, Doug and Darlene generously offered their home. So that we could still enjoy the beautiful sunny, warm afternoon, they decided to set up in the garage and driveway.

A table full of delicious food....

Kathy and Le Roy's daughter-in-law (Meghan) made the cutest cupcakes....they would be great for a dessert at a spaghetti dinner. They are actually cupcakes; the frosting draped like spaghetti, topped with a chocolate Roche and then Strawberry preserves used as the sauce....some people are SO clever!!

As it was Kathy's birthday, we celebrated with a birthday cake.....

and what would Easter dinner be without a carrot cake?????

The horn, the horn.....wakes me in the morn...

I guess it's almost time to go back to NY...Betty said Emma got a little weepy, when we weren't there to attend her music concert...:( We will be there for "Grandparent's Breakfast" in May!!

Here she is with her "recorder", ready to go!!

Emma and her friend Mikalah with their flowers after the performance!!

It's a great day to be alive...you know the sun still shines when I close my eyes...

Catch up time again.....Another busy week here in the sunshine state. Thursday, Salt and I went to the Eustis Farmer's/Flea Market. While I was wandering the antique glass booths, Salt found a trolling rod with a Penn Reel....which he purchased for me. Will be using it in a couple of weeks when we head for VA and Myrtle Beach.....

Oh yeah, right after I saw this picture, I made an appointment to get my hair trimmed!!!!

Friday evening we went into Eustis, and after a stop at Olivia's Coffee House, we attended the Street Festival.

Olivia's is the coolest coffee shop/bistro. They have open Mike, Poetry reading and good entertainment. It's "almost" like being in the Village....

The Highs School kids were dressed up and selling tickets to Alice in Wonderland, the play they will be putting on in May!

These are the Hammerheads, a group of young students who build all kinds of inventions, using Leggos. They are #1 in the nation and are moving on to competing with all the various countries.

Here is one of their would be inventions which detects alcohol levels and automatically shuts off the vehicle.

Three different bands performed....take your pick!!

and maybe realize our dreams....You and me, girl, we'll be the Shuffleboard Queens...

Happy Birthday Gene....you're looking younger every day!!
Even though it was Gene's birthday, we let his sister Carolyn have her 15 minutes of fame....She made the Lake County news (The Outpost) with her bowling score of 222. Congratulations Carolyn!!

Gene and some of his buddies getting ready for cake and ice cream....

We heard an old familiar childhood jingle and down the street comes an Ice Cream truck....WHAT??? And what's with the dog in the window???

After celebrating, we headed to the Shuffleboard courts. I am really starting to like that game. It's a great way to spend a warm evening with friends. Lots of laughs!!

The Shuffleboard Courts overlook the lake where one fisherman was drifting along....how peaceful!

Today was the Farmer's Market in Eustis....check out the beautiful baby asparagus for $1.00/bunch.We are REALLY going to miss the great fruits and veggies when we head north!!!

If nautical nonsense be something you wish......

Yesterday,six of us (Salt, myself,the Starchers and Harts) headed out to Tarpon Springs to the Sponge docks. We toured the town, before having lunch and taking a tour of the museum and a trip on the Spongeoramma Cruise Line.....
Oh how I love Greek food.....We had the best Spanokopita (Spinach Pie) for lunch....brought home enough for lunch today....YUM!

One of the big sale items there, was all kinds of soaps and lotions made with olive oil. These were unique with pieces of sponge attached to the homemade soaps.

The boat tour took us out to Anclote Island, an uninhabited (except for one park ranger) and unspoiled island, where we were able to do some beach combing and shelling.

Along with many different shells, we encountered a lot of live creatures too.....

This was a sponge, which obviously had not been cleaned.....

and the largest jellyfish I have ever seen.....

Along with frolicking dolphins, we also viewed many of the beautiful homes along the waterway.....

Pelicans just waiting for the fishing, crab or shrimp ships to come in and dump the scraps.....

The crab boats go out and come back daily....the shrimp boats, however will stay out as long as 3 weeks at a time!

Ruthie, Carol and I enjoyed the shopping in the square....

This father/son team played some great Jimmy Buffett music. The young kid was amazing on the harmonica and drums.....

The movie and museum offered some interesting facts on sponges, how they grow and how they are harvested, as well as the different species.

These were my favorite....they were actually like vases or could even be used to grow herb gardens.