Honey, I'm home!

Aaahhh!  What a great week I had on the "Suncoast" of Florida.  I was invited by my sister-in-law to join her in Florida for a week of R & R.  It was wonderful!  I told her I had to keep pinching myself that it was real.  The weather was for the most part great, the water was inviting, the food was awesome and I had great company. :-)

I started out by flying into Hotlanta aka Atlanta, Georgia to join my sister-in-law for the first leg of our trip.  She picked me up at the airport and we hit the road.  Eight hours later we found ourselves looking out at the Gulf of Mexico with the palm trees swaying and the salty breeze blowing on our face.  How refreshing!  I felt bad for her though, because she drove through some pretty bad monsoons downpours that took expert driving skills to get through.  But we made it and it was worth it!

After sleeping like a log, we awoke, got dressed and headed out to breakfast.  We ate at the "Blue Dolphin Cafe".  I just love it when you are in an area that restaurants have the words "Blue Dolphin" in the title.  You know you are in a tropical location with a name like that.  We then headed to the nearby Publix grocery store for food and supplies.  I just want to say this.  Everyone I met in Florida was so friendly!  I don't know if it is all of the vitamin D from all the sunshine, but at every store, restaurant, whatever, everyone went above and beyond what was expected of them to make sure you were a satisfied customer.  And I saw not one of the self-serve cash registers that are so prevalent in my neck-of-the-woods.  I have issues with those, but that is for another post...

My sister-in-law needs to go into the hospitality business, because she made sure I was comfortable and kept me entertained.  We shopped until we dropped, ate at some of the best restaurants and laughed until our faces hurt.  I also got a nice sunburn.  I cannot go out into the sun without a burn, so that was totally expected.  If I left Florida without a burn, that meant I either spent the entire time indoors or it was a bad week weather-wise.  At least now I do not look like I belong to the Cullen clan in the "Twilight" books. ;-)

We saw beautiful sunsets.

Listened to some great music.

Ate food that was (almost) too pretty to eat.

And spent time on the beach.

It was heaven!  But as much as I loved being there, I was also missing my family and anxious to get home.  Hubby was wonderful and assured me that everything was going smoothly back home and to relax.  I didn't doubt that he and Ryan could handle it by themselves, but I missed them.  My sister-in-law was missing her hubby, too.  We packed up and headed back to Atlanta for the final leg home.

I left my sister-in-law at the airport already missing her terribly, but with wonderful memories of our time together. She will never know how much I appreciated her hospitality and friendship that week.

After a week of sun and balmy temps, my hubby told me that Michigan was in for several days of rain and cool temperatures.  Was I crazy for coming back?  As the plane was circling around and making it's descent over the Motor City, I could not help but think how good it felt to be back home no matter what the weather.

Now I have to go and unpack.  I wish everyone to have love, friendship and sunshine.  And I'll leave with a quote by Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz".    "There is no place like home."

Thanks for looking in.

Girl Time

By this time tomorrow, I'm hoping to be situated on the beach with my feet kicked up looking out at this view.  Yep, I'm going to the Sunshine State to spend some girl time with my sister-in-law. Yay!  Can't wait!  It was a kind of spur-of-the-moment decision.  With Ryan starting school and driver's ed (still have a hard time believing that.), I needed to be sure that the boys could hold down the fort.  Hubby reassured me they would. Frankly, I think they are looking forward to some male-bonding time.  You know, not turning on the t.v. and having the channel set on HGTV or Food Network.  Never having to worry about putting the seat down on the toilet.  Not having to worry about picking up dirty underwear off the floor.  Wait, I'm rethinking my decision to go away. :-P  Okay, I'm going to perish that last thought...

This will be my first time flying solo as well.  It will be a new experience for me, flying all by my lonesome. I've always had hubby or family to fly with.  Hopefully I will not get turned around at the airport and wind up on the tarmac. :-P

I'm looking forward to doing some laying around on the beach and by the pool, dining, shopping, dining, laughing until my face hurts, dining, catching up on some reading.  Did I mention dining?  Actually, I'm hoping to be eating healthier with all the fresh fish and fruits and vegetables down there.  Plus my sister-in-law is very health conscience, so she will keep me in line.;-)

Got to get going and finish packing.  Wishing everyone sunshine, warm breezes and great company to hang out with.

Thanks for looking in!:-)

Sunday Inspiration

Do not tell God how big your storm is, tell your storm how big your God is.

Unknown

Sunday Inspiration

Waiting for Ryan

Yesterday afternoon, around the time I knew Ryan would get off the bus, I noticed our dog was patiently waiting by the front door.  What makes this unique is because our dog is usually more engrossed in what is happening with the squirrels in the backyard than what is going on in the front of the house.  Unless someone is walking their dog.  Or the UPS/Fed Ex man appears.

He let out a sigh and decided to get more comfortable.

His ears perked up when he saw his best buddy walking up the sidewalk.

You can't tell, but his tail is going 100 mph.  He even looks like he's trying to open the door. lol!

Yay!  Ryan's home!  Time for jumping up and down in excitement.  That would be me. ;-)  (Good thing there is not a picture of that. lol!)

Ryan had a good first day of school.  He seems to like his teachers and classes.  I'm always anxious the first day, wondering what his day is like.  So far, he is always (kinda) glad to be back at school.  I hope he will continue to be this way.

Wish everyone would have a "welcome home" like this one!

Thanks for looking in!

First Day of School

It's so hard to believe that it is September and school has officially started.  Summer flew!  Even though it seemed that summer came and went just like that, I'm glad for the changing of the seasons.

We had a very busy weekend. Started Friday with spending the day at my sister-in-laws to take pictures of flower arrangements she will be making for my nieces' wedding.  They are gorgeous!  I will show them off after I get permission from my SIL.  Had lunch with my niece. Then just hung out and laughed and gabbed the rest of the afternoon.

Saturday was kind of a slow day.  Hung out around the house, did a little grocery shopping.  Sunday was spent at my sister-in-law's once again for a family get-together.  We had a great time eating, gabbing, eating, playing cards, eating.....you get the picture.  Blew my diet to smithereens. lol!

Yesterday we hung out at my neighbors for a last summer get-together.  Ate, gabbed, ate, played Apples-to-Apples, ate.  Another day of blowing my diet to smithereens.  I felt like I had a brick in my stomach.  Still do. In fact, I'm waiting for my ginger tea to finish brewing, hoping that will help.

Got Ryan off to first-day-of-school.  He got up and ate breakfast and got ready with no problem.  I was so relieved.  You know teenagers and their reputation of sleeping till noon.  No, that would be me. lol!

Here are some pics of the first day....

Isn't he handsome?  I love that kid.....

And our dog wanted to get in on the action...

Just because I whip out my camera and take a zillion pictures of my dog, doesn't mean that he gets to be in this one. lol!  We love our dog, though, and it's okay. :-)

Hope everyone had a safe, happy holiday.  For those with kids still in school, I hope it is a great year!

Thanks for looking in! :-)

Sunday Inspiration

                                                                  image source

Without labor nothing prospers.

Sophocles