Dolphin Cruise/Tarpon Springs

 We are still doing our Florida day trips!  My goal is to at least do 2 a month.  It's really uplifting and good to plan and be able to do some little trips.  A few weeks ago Jon, Shad and I took a dolphin cruise.  We used  Odyssey Cruise/Dolphin Cruise in Tarpon Springs.  It was a 2.5 hour cruise.  Part of the time the boat is docked on Anclote Key State Park-which is only accessible by boat.   We had a blast!  The cruise was well worth the money and it was relaxing.  We went on a Friday since Jon and Shad were both off that day and it wasn't too crowded.  We also got the first boat ride of the day so that helped too.  When we docked-it was easy to tell the next boat trip would be completely full.   We only saw some dolphin on the way in but it was a great trip.  

Anclote Key State Park -no filters 

The boat

Shad

He's so cute

It was gorgeous

The Gulf of Mexico

Our favorite restaurant and bakery conveniently right across the street from the Dolphin Cruise!  

The inside of the restaurant is cool looking in a retro way

But we like eating outside unless it's too hot

This is an iconic picture.  This shop has been family owned for decades.  the young man who owns it now is very proud and motivated   They also do fishing tours.  They have a bunch of stray cats they take care of and I love that of course.  All the sponge you see the owner harvested it.  

Dolphin Gift Shop 810 Dodecanese Blvd Tarpon Springs Florida

You might guess I like the Tarpon Springs area.  It's a fun area with so many different things to do.  I've not even touched on the beaches right there.  I'll try and get to them before the summer is over.  

One of my friends snapped this picture of Shad out with his friends.  I just love it for some reason LOL  He just got a 2nd job working at our local movie theater.  I love it!  He said that it's a family tradition to have a 2nd job since Jon and Steve both work two jobs.  Growing up my best friend's family had a movie theater in the next little town over from us.  Occasionally I got to go and "help" them" on the weekends.  That was fun for me.  I also worked for a short time at our movie theater in my home town before I went to college.  

And our oldest son is on vacation out west....I'm sooooooo jealous!  I'll post some of his pictures in the next blog.  They are amazing.  

Have a great weekend!

Memorial Day 2021

This Memorial Day I'm thinking of some men from my family who gave all!

Raymond Hines died in WWII

He would have been my grandmother's cousin

John Hines was also my grandmother's cousin.  He and Raymond were brothers.  

Thomas Corbin was brother of one of my cousins from his mom's first marriage.  He was killed in Vietnam on his very last day there!  

Jon and I both have other family members who have fought for our country in almost every war.  We are so blessed to have a legacy like that!  Recently I learned who my birth father really was and I'm honored that he was in WWII also!  For a girl who is a WWII buff it really made me happy!  

So Memorial Day is much more than "a long weekend" for us!

Sarah and I have on matching patriotic shirts:) 

 

Yesterday we had a big day at church with a missionary and a luncheon so today was a laid back day for our family.   Actually our oldest is on vacation with some of his college buds in Las Vegas.  Shad worked today, Jon went and walked the woods and I grocery shopped then did meal prep and some meals!  

Sarah still eats pureed food so I do a lot of stews for her, cook, puree and then freeze.  That way if we have meals that aren't good for pureeing she still has a good meal.  Today I did a big pot of chicken and dumplings and pureed some for her for later.  I also did a beef stew and pureed most of that, just kept some out for her and Sam's lunch tomorrow.  I actually bought an extra fridge to keep her meals in.  This week I will also be cooking and storing Brunswick Stew, Hamburger Stew, Taco Chili and regular chili  She often eats what we eat but there's some things she doesn't like and some things don't puree  very good.  Mostly take out doesn't work for her.  It's not that hard to meet her dietary needs if I plan ahead of time.  I do sometimes buy frozen meals for her and Sam for lunch because the meals often are easy to puree but I prefer home made.  As she has progressed she can eat a thick puree like thick oatmeal, and often we can just smush  some things down  with a fork like baked beans or bananas.  Traveling with Sarah is not easy we eat mostly Chick Fil A (soup) or Wendy's chili.....  But it's ok

Tomorrow Sam returns to horse therapy after several months break! If you remember he had some major issues we had to find out the cause- it seems he had vertigo or something....who knows the doctors can only guess.  But we gave him a break.  So now he's starting back once a week to see how things go.  Sarah will continue to have 2 sessions 2 times a week  They've also starting vision therapy with two different teachers.  Believe it or not it took me years to get this service for them.  It's rather unbelievable and too complicated to even explain.  It totally ticks me off but at least now we have it with some teachers we know and who know the kids.  They will be busy over the summer.  

Until next time..... stay safe and thankful!

May Shenanigans

Lord have mercy as my old granny would say look who has his real license!  He is now the proud driver of a 13 year old mini van-we did the same with his older brother, safe ride LOL  But I have to say he is so helpful to pick up things for us at the store and it's great not to have to chauffer him around between his job, friends, and other things!  I'm totally spoiled! 

More exploring Florida...

This time me and my friend went to Ulele Restaurant and Armature Works in Tampa.  Armature Works is this big Industrial building that has been turned into a food/wine place with several restaurants and bars.  My older boys took me there one afternoon over Christmas break and to be honest I didn't really care for it (they thought it was the bomb)  To be fair I was probably already sick with Covid and didn't realize it so I was so tired and didn't enjoy the long walk from where we parked .  Plus I had on boots so my feet were killing me. It was loud and had so many small restaurants that required standing in line for your over priced meal. (don't worry there were no outbreaks of covid from me being there!)  So my friend and I thought we'd try it together.  I still didn't like it nor did she.  Maybe we are just not hip enough LOL  It still was loud, over priced and too annoying to have to stand in line like you would at a mall food court for very expensive not that great food   You can watch their video  Armature Works you might be cooler than we are and enjoy it!

 So we went next door to   Ulele Restaurant on the banks of Ulele Springs.  It was much more our style.  We sat outside  and enjoyed our lunch in the beautiful surroundings.  The lunch was great and the prices more appropriate. 

Right beside the restaurant is Ulele  Springs Water Works, there's another park just sough of there all along the Riverwalk.  

We  took a stroll on Tampa's River walk.  There are swings that you can sit in and watch the river traffic and solve all the world's problems.  But you can walk for several miles in each direction if you'd like to!  We didn't that day

This year I am purposely trying new things and going new places.  I don't know about you but I can get stuck in a rut and if I do go out I go to the same places I've gone to for 30 years or more.  Luckily both my husband and one of my closest friends like to do explore new places.  It's funny my husband would rather explore new nature/outdoor things and my friend likes outdoor stuff but also is up for little shops and restaurants.  I like to do both so I can go with the flow and be happy with both LOL

Living in Florida it's amazing the things that are in our own backyard!

We had a little scare with our Ginger.  She's the big girl on the top left.  I noticed one day that she was not acting like herself.  See how her tail was drooping?  That's a hug sign a chicken is not well.  

(Dumplings is on the top right looking away.  Shorty is on the bottom left and Frenchy is on the right she is my little girl)

It seemed like I could feel something on her backside plus she had a bald spot.  Previously I'd thought she had lice or mites but couldn't find any one her or the other girls but I treated for it anyhow.  I tried giving her a bath in Epsom salts just in case she was egg bound.  Even though she did not feel good she did not appreciate my care LOL  Nor did I appreciate having to clean the bathroom after she got away from my and flapped all over the place  

So my husband took her to the vet for me.  Again I can only think what my family would have thought about me taking a 7 year old non laying hen to a vet!!!  And I admit while I love animals, the dark places I've seen in this world reminds me that humans are so much more important.  There's a balance somewhere and I probably was a bit off balance with Ginger.  But let me tell you about Ginger, last year I went through a deep valley - our whole family did-  Ginger greeted me every day, every time I walked outside and made me feel a little better.  I felt I at least owed it to her to have her put to sleep humanely.  BUT!  After a day at the vet some tests, two shots she is totally back to normal!  I am having to deworm ALL four chickens (there's alot of squawking pecking and fussing going on....and the hens are doing it too hahah!)  What a JOB!  Have you ever had to give medicine to a chicken?  Yeah me neither!  I've given medicine to dogs cats and terrible children but giving liquid meds to chickens is a whole 'nother ballgame!  

But Ginger is happy and healthy!  They all love watermelon so they've been getting a half one a day.  

Hope you are having a good summer thus far!  Our temps are in the 90's but that's ok I know how to live with heat.  I don't know how to live in cold weather....what do you wear?  It's so complicated for me!  For example when we were in NY in January in a "blizzard" it was awful outside but hot inside.  So if you wore a sweater under your coat, it was too hot when you came inside.... In Florida just wear shorts and flip flops so much easier!!!  

Spring 2021

Easter 21

smallest group picture we've had in many years!

For years I've felt like our house had a "disjointed' look about it and this was the year I've decided to redo some things.  One of those things was Sam's room.  He sleeps in a hospital bed because of sleep apnea.  But everything needed an update.  I like how it turned out!

Jon and I are continuing to explore new places in Florida.  A few Fridays ago we went to the Anclote River / Tarpon Springs area

Key Vista Nature Park

this is a real Florida beach

There is a tower there

the pier is a little south of the first park Anclote Gulf Park

Then the docks of Tarpon Springs

Our FAVORITE restaurant and bakery

We finished the day at Anclote River Park that has a small beach on it right where the river meets the gulf.   Everything was free except parking at Tarpon Springs and the Greek food!  Actually if you eat at Hellas restaurant they have free parking in the back!

Molly modeling for us

Me and a few of my babies lol

My sweet girls

More backyard pictures

Bruno one of my real rescues.  He came up or was dropped off and looked awful.  I was actually afraid of him because he was so large and feral.  But since I'm the cat whisper somehow I was able to connect with him and he is now the sweetest boy.  I don't' really want to rescue animals, they just come across my unwilling path and I have to take care of them  Sometimes I'm able to find homes for them like a recent cat and her newborn kittens but it's rare when that happens.  

THIS is why I have no garden I'm growing chickens!

This year we went to the annual banquet for Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Stables   It is always a lot of fun and our Sarah was featured again!

A picture with Laurie and Lisa the therapists - we clean up good LOL believe me most of our time spent together is times without make up or dressy clothes 

Sarah's favorite thing HORSE

This video was shown at the Banquet

Sarah's video Please watch this video about Sarah and Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center  If you ever want to donate to them-it would be a blessing they do so much for so many people!  We are so blessed to be a part of this!!!

Look who is home!  We are so glad to have Shad home after his freshman year in Arizona!

Mother's Day 2021 I have 5 reasons to be happy on this day and I'm so thankful for us all being together

My sweet Sarah

He's a Keeper

So glad to have our boy home!

the One who started it all my bearded baby

my stinker Sam

Sweet Selah She was not enjoying the sun

 

Prayer Request

 Over the past year I've found out an incredible amount of things regarding my family lineage it's a story for another time  and it will be INTERESTING!  But right now can I ask you to please pray for a family member who is very ill and in the hospital on a vent.  Over the years I've learned God hears our prayers and I'm desperate for God to hear this request to spare my relative's life and bring complete healing!  Thank you for your prayers!!!

Yvonne

Thank you for your prayers unfortunately my relative did not survived this illness.  I'm devastated about the whole situation.   One day I'll share my story when it's appropriate.   My heart is very sad about this loss.