Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park

While most of my friends have been experiencing winter type weather, here in Florida it has been in the upper 70s or low 80s with lots of sunshine.  Definitely no complaints from me.  Peggy, Dave and I have been out seeing the sites.  One day we went to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.  It was a gorgeous day!  We enjoyed a short boat ride out to the park and spent the day.  A park ranger gave information about the manatees and we were able to see a couple.  Sorry, no decent picture of one - yet!

Lou - the hippo.  The only non-Florida species in the park.
A former movie star about to celebrate his 53rd birthday.

 This is one of those places you could go several
times and see something new each time.

Pink Flamingos

Bald eagle - many of these
animals were injured.  All the
eagles we saw, had lost a wing.

Boat ride out to the park.

Peggy Manatee

Happy New Year - New Adventures!!!

2013 is the year of La Casita.  The plan is to travel around and spend some time exploring.   Since I don't know where I want to live or what I want to be when I grow up,  I am going to have some adventures.  Hope you travel along - and I'll try to be better about posting.  Santa even brought me a new camera.

After several more cold, foggy days at Monte Santo State Park, I headed south towards Florida.  Along the way I stopped at Blue Springs State Park in Alabama for two days.  This was my first backing fail and also the first time I tried it totally alone.  Fortunately, there were some pull-through sites.  Practice!!!

My destination was Rock Crusher Canyon RV Park in Crystal River, FL to meet friends, Peggy and Dave White for a two week stay.  (January 6-20)  With the help of Onstar, I found the park.  With the help of Dave's directions, I got backed into my site and unhooked.  I am still learning all kinds of stuff about this RV life.

Hanging With the Big Guys

Glamping up La Casita

Time to glamp up the Casita!!!  While I was in Houston, I ordered some pillow ticking to recover the seat cushions.  There were so many little upholstery shops in The Heights I wimped out and just had those done.

Janet and I went shopping for curtain fabric but couldn't find what we liked - so we ended up with some drapery panels.  As many of you know, Janet loves to decorate.   I spent a couple of days at her house sewing - yes, sewing!!!  It's been a while:)  This was easy stuff - I used the drapery panels (from Target) for curtains and then made pillow shams with the pillow ticking.

I like it!!!

This is the sleeping area.

Dining area (guest room, desk, and sewing area:

December in Houston

 (I'm trying to get caught up)

The new house (built in the 40s)  And, that's
my Casita back there.  I actually backed up
through those gates and got it back there - with
LA's direction.  Way proud!

December was spent in Houston.  Doug and Leigh Anne just bought a new house in The Heights.  I was able to park la Casita behind their house and help with the move - mainly babysitting Caden while they unpacked, organized, shopped and tended to other things with the move as well as the coming Christmas holiday.   It was great getting to spend so much time with them and having the Casita right there.

Reading a Christmas Story.

Christmas morning - isn't this typical.  New
toys and he is having great fun sitting
in a gift box.

Spending time with Caden was great fun!  The little guy is super active and doesn't stay still for long.  Not sure how I ever managed three.  (well, I was a lot younger!!)

These two have the same gorgeous
color hair!

Christmas morning was spent with Doug, Leigh Ann and Caden.  Doug made us a great brunch.  Then I was off to spend the day with my siblings at Barb and Jim's.  Doug, La and Caden spent the day with Leigh Ann's family.

Uncle Nick finally gets to meet the little guy.

Black Bear, Black Bear what do you see?
Love reading to my favorite little guy.

Janet and Nick arrived on the 26 so we had Christmas with them.  We missed you Sarah!  Nick had to work so headed back to Huntsville later in the day.  Janet stayed for a couple of days and she and I headed to Huntsville towing la Casita.

I ended the year camped in Monte Santo State Park in Huntsville.

AL/TN Bound

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, I headed to Alabama to see Janet and Nick and then went on to Tennessee to see friends.   Its a 13 hour drive and I have decided to break that up into two days from now on.  Am I getting old?

Janet and Nick are doing great.  I had not seen them since their visit to Yellowstone NP in June.  We had lots to catch up on.  One of the days I was there,  Janet and I made new Christmas stockings for the two of them and their cat, Callie.  About half-way through Janet comments "Mom, if you weren't helping me I'd have just ordered these".  My reply, "if these weren't for you, I'd wouldn't do this".  We persevered and they came out cute.

New Stockings for the Cassianos

Cathy and I

After a few days in Huntsville, I headed to Spring Hill, TN and stayed with Cathy and Ted.  Picked up my mountains of mail - and I mean mountains.  Cathy's new quilt shop The Dancing Bobbin is doing great and has grown since I left.

I also had dinner one night with some of my "movie buddies' and my "bike riding buddy".  Great fun to see everyone.

Saturday I headed to The Quilting Squares where I use to work part-time for their Christmas Open House.   For all my Houston peeps who keep asking about me running into country music stars (funny, they don't seem to go to the same places as me) here is a pic of Steve Wariner.  His wife, Caryn, is a quilter.  Super nice guy.

Steve Wariner 

After lunch with a PR buddy, I headed back to Houston with an overnight stop along the way.

Thanksgiving with the Family

Maynard and his supervisors.

My brother, Maynard, hosted Thanksgiving at his house this year.  The first time my siblings had been together for quite a while.  You would think we would have taken a group pic, but we didn't even think of doing that.

The Texans were playing:)

Caden's first Thanksgiving.

I was in charge of making the dressing and the pies.  The pies were made the day before but I was the first one up Thursday to get the dressing ready for the turkey.  The crew showed up early so they could watch the Texans play (and win in a cliffhanger)

If any of my family has more pics, forward them to me!!!

Next stop-Tyler State Park

The drive to Tyler was uneventful but I did stop for gas for the first time - baby steps!  I've decided I much prefer to drive on larger highways or the interstate.  It is hard to pull over to let people pass on two lane roads.

Steaks on the grill.

Its been many years since I have been to Tyler State Park.  It is the first place my kids ever went camping - Doug was about two.  Its very pretty with lots of trees and a lake.  We got all set up and Ann met us there early in the evening - she is another member of the WOWs!!  Ardell and I have decided she and Suzanne will be the group's chefs.  We ate very well all weekend:)

Gourmet eggs.

Saturday we drove into Tyler and did the grand tour.  Ardell and her family lived there for about 10 years.  She was amazed with all the changes.  I, of course, bought more gear for my Casita living.  This time it was an EZ Up shelter.  Yeah, right.  Not so EZ Up but it was EZ Down so I guess that counts for something.  Its going to take some practice for me to be able to put it up by myself.  Also, got some real marshmallow forks so our  s'mores would be easier to make.

Cheers - Mimosas!  Ann and Ardell are under my new EZ-Up.

Sunday after a gourmet breakfast (including Mimosas) we hiked around the lake and just lazed around. Ann fixed another gourmet meal that night and we enjoyed another campfire.

Monday morning we got packed and headed out.  Much easier this time - I had never unhooked:)  I drove back to Houston and went to my brother, Maynard's, house.  I did let him back the Casita up his driveway!

Another fun adventure!!

Lake Somerville - COE Park

View from my back window in the mornings.

My second camping spot was at Lake Somerville Corp of Engineers Park.  One of the good things about being older - you get a 50% discount.  I like it!  It was about a 4 hour drive to Lake Somerville so it was good towing practice.  This was my first back in experience - Ardell directed me and I did pretty well for my first time.  Two of the men camping nearby complimented me - we won't mention the third guy who stared at me the whole time.

Caden and Leigh Anne

Me, Caden and Doug

This was a really fun week!  Ardell headed to Austin to babysit for a few days but I had lots of company. Barbara (my sister), Doug, Leigh Anne, and Caden all came out to spend the day.  Doug and Leigh Anne stopped in Brenham and got bbq for all of us.

WOW!!!  Women on Wheels (or wine)
Suzanne, Jeannine, Peggy, Ardell

Ardell's Tent - double decker blow up mattress, dresser, night light!

Lots of deer in the park.

Suzanne came out to camp for the week.  Her sister, Jeannine, and I are good friends.  This was her first time to came in her new trailer.  Jeannine came and spent the week with her.  One of my high school buddies, Diana, came for the day.  Ardell came back mid-week and camped in her tent.  Lots of fun and laughter during the week.  We call ourselves the WOW's - women on wheels - or maybe that should be women on wine.  We're not telling.

Those Dwyer Sisters!!!

Friday morning we packed up and headed to Tyler State Park.

Home, Sweet, Home!!!

Jeanne (salesperson) and Victor (trainer) teaching
me all there is to know!!

 

My sister, Ardell, and I drove to Rice, TX to pick up my Casita on November 6th.  A friend had given me a towing/backing lesson the weekend before (thanks John!!) so I had at least towed once before I picked up my Casita.  Jeanne had all my paperwork done and Victor had it ready for delivery.  Ardell was the super note taker so, hopefully, we wouldn't forget anything!

I'm supposed to do what???

I'm not sure she's got this!

Victor took us all through the Casita and showed us how it all worked, hooked it up to my car and made sure all my lights, etc. were working, and then sent me on my way.  We headed to Navarro Lake with a stop for propane along the way.  I made it!  My first site was a drive through so I didn't have to think about backing up my first time out.

Al, Elaine & Clancy

Right across from us was another Casita -  Al, Elaine and their dog, Clancy.  They were so helpful and taught us a lot.  Al even checked my hitching and showed me how to do it properly.  Navarro Lake was really a pretty spot.  We stayed there 3 nights with trips into Corsicana for camping supplies.  Ardell slept in my "guest room" the first night and then moved into her tent.  I'm sure that means something:)

Hitching up - look at that backing job!

Ready to head out - Lake Somerville here we come!

One last chore!  Dumping was probably the easiest thing I learned.

October in Houston

Checking out the bed for me.

I think he approves!

Its been a busy month in Houston!  I arrived in time to keep my date with my grandson.  Doug had to work and couldn't make the event but Caden and I had fun while Leigh Ann was at her church retreat.  The following week Leigh Ann and Caden went with me to Rice, TX to order a Casita travel trailer.  I am hitting the road!   It is a 17 feet long Spirit Deluxe so is teeny, tiny but my plan is to live in it full time.  Wanderlust has struck!!!!  It will be ready for pick up on November 6th.  In the meantime, there was lots to be done.  A new car capable of towing a trailer, Texas residency again, three trips to the drivers' license bureau before I got that done, etc., etc.

My new TV (tow vehicle) a GMC Acadia

I'll take one!!!

Caden and I on the swing of the
house Leigh Ann and Doug
put a contract on.  He approves!

It hasn't all been work, though.  There have been lots of visits with family and friends.  Somehow, a lot of those involved food:)  I've seen friends from high school days, college days, former neighbors, sewing buddies, siblings, etc., etc.  Doug and I drove by the Foster Creek house where my children grew up and ate Chinese at one of our favorite restaurants.  I've watched Caden while Doug and Leigh Ann went house hunting.  They are in the process of purchasing a house down the street from their former rental in the Heights.

This was Caden's first Halloween.   He had the cutest giraffe costume but he refused to wear the hat even after Doug showed him how it was done.  Just like a guy!!  It was fun seeing him all dressed up, though.

Thanks to my friends and siblings for letting me stay with you!!!