Florida adventures

Our first stay in FL was going back to the Jacksonville area at WW Ranch. A beautiful setting where they have cattle, as well as a llama-alpaca cross, peacocks, and goats. It's really peaceful, even with the animals and the Motocross training facility. The owner is so gracious and we enjoyed 2 nights there just taking in the sunshine, watching the motorcycle training and walking around the ranch. 

Next stop was Ocala Florida where we visited the World Equestrian Center and experienced the training facility and lovely grounds 

We went to Silver Springs nearby and took a ride on a glass bottom boat. The day we were there the weather was unseasonably cool and overcast, so unfortunately we didn't get to see any gators or manatees, but the springs and a few turtles and fish and birds were lovely . 

We also went back to a place we'd been years ago, Big Daddy, Don Garlitz's Museum of Drag Racing. 

so many cars, I can't show them all!

This week we're in Bradenton Florida. It's near Sarasota and south of Tampa. We're not sightseeing, but we were able to enjoy time with my great nephew and his partner, plus this owl.

 Having fun, enjoying Florida, and loving life!

Snowbirds on the Road

Our week in the SC Midlands was great. The snow left and the weather was cold but clear. 

I had time to complete my craft project, this miniature fruit stand, that Jessie gave me at Christmas. Then I got another project and finished it too. It's called diamond painting and is sort of a mosaic idea with small jeweled dots that you adhere to a template 

We enjoyed visiting with some of my cousins and with our daughter and her family and my brother and his friends and family.

We camped at a RV park next to a big flea market that's been there for as long as I remember, the Barnyard. Sunday we walked through and we bought an old southern favorite from a food vendor, Boiled Peanuts. They're yummy , soft and salty. 

I don't have pictures of most of our meet-ups because I get so involved in visiting that I forget to take pictures!

I did get some photos of old memories though, when I drove to Columbia, SC, my home town, and checked on my old haunts. 

My childhood home 

My Highschool 

Middle School 

My Aunt BeBe's house I spent much time in growing up

My Grandparents home

My parents memorial at their church 

USC Williams Brice stadium, where I marched in the Carolina Band and Home of the Gamecocks!

It was good to enjoy seeing the city, it's growth, and remember so many good times and family and friends from there. 

We left SC yesterday, Feb 8, and came back to Florida. We're in Jacksonville area, once again at WW ranch, a Harvest Host with a Motocross training facility. As I type I hear the kids ripping around the track, as well as the ranch animals, wildlife , and a gentle breeze on the sunny day. It's quite relaxing and we're just chilling before we head deeper into Florida for more adventures. 

Snow comes south sometimes!

We woke up to snow today. We were still in Moncks Corner SC which is close to Charleston SC on the coast. As the next picture shows it was little more than a dusting, but snow is always a little exciting! 

  We left this morning and have traveled to Lexington SC for a week . The roads were clear and it was a pretty quick drive. We're at the barnyard RV Park.  It's snowed here too but the sun is out and it's melting away

Hoping to catch up with some of my kinfolk in the area this week and maybe the sun will keep shining! Happy Trails to all! 

January: Getting a little cold in the South now

I'm glad to be back at the campground with Mike after the holidays and the cruise. We are still in SC until the first part of February. Planning to leave the low country Feb 1st and spend a week in the midlands making a few more connections with family in that area. It's been very warm and nice here but the wind came in with a vengeance yesterday and it's cooling down enough to bring out the long pants and jacket. I hope the turtle I saw yesterday got himself dug in enough to stay warm! 

Happy New Year!

Here's to 2026! Hoping you all have a blessed New Year! 
I went on a Jeremiah cruise with my sister Linda, to the eastern Caribbean from Dec 27- Jan 3. We celebrated  2026 on board Holland America 's Koningsdam and enjoyed lovely ports while digging deeper into our faith with messages and music from David Jeremiah and his family and team. It was a wonderful time. I'm thankful to my brother in law Larry and husband Mike who sacrificed and kept home fires burning  to allow us this beautiful time! 

Wonderful Christmas

Here's hoping you had a marvelous Christmas! We sure did. Despite missing our Western family, we thoroughly enjoyed spending the holidays with our Eastern family! We love being Memaw and Pepaw to our 4 young adult grandkids and being with them and their wonderful parents was a blessing this week. 

So much fun!

Last weekend we had the opportunity to attend my cousin's family reunion. I hadn't seen them in several years and met new generations for the first time. It was a great time too!

I wish I had taken more pic but I was too busy catching up with everyone.

This morning was an early start. Mike drove me to Charlotte NC to catch my flight to Ft Lauderdale where I'm meeting my sister to go on an Eastern Caribbean cruise. What a week! I catch you up after I get some more photos and catch my breath.

 

Enjoying Short Stay Joint Recreation Area

We've had mostly nice weather here at Moncks Corner SC. Yesterday was cold and we woke to frozen pipes. We had backup water in the RV's insulated and heated tanks and we're thankful we could start the day making a pot of coffee! 

Mike fishes every day in the lake or the ponds around us. He has caught a few little bream, bluegill and bass, but they're all too small and he returns them to the water to grow up.  

This weekend there was a Christmas boat parade at sunset so we sat on the lakeside and enjoyed the view. My photos didn't come out too well but you get the idea

We drove down to Charleston yesterday to go to Costco and got our shopping done. We decided to come straight back to camp after shopping because the traffic was terrible. We've spent lots of time in Charleston in the past and done the tourist things before, so we didn't feel like it was necessary to fight the traffic to see anything else.