Top Sail State Park

Headed to the Beach!

Top Sail was recommended to us by my friends, Peggy and Dave White and we stayed there from October 1-3 (Tuesday through Thursday nights).   We did not have the best sites in the park but we really enjoyed our stay.

The Beach

Tuesday after getting moved we drove into Destin to have lunch at Pompano's Joe's (also recommended by the White')  Great seafood and we sat overlooking the water.  After we ate, we ran some errands and stopped in at Walgreen's for a flu shot.

Henderson Beach State Park where I stayed in January was close by so we drove through so Jeannine could check it out.  She has been scoping out places for her family to camp.  It is my favorite of the parks I have stayed at in Florida even though they do not have full hook-ups.

Crab Cakes!

We spent the rest of our time at Top Sail at the beach!  Beautiful white sand beach with views of Destin in the distance.    It was a little over a mile from our campsites to the beach so we usually rode our bikes.  Quite a feat hauling an umbrella and chairs but we managed with a few bungie cords.  Thursday morning as I headed to the beach to see the sunrise, I saw two black bears.  Talk about doing a quick u-turn. After waiting a couple of minutes, I continued on.

Belgian Waffle with Bananas and Pecans

A great local seafood shop was close by so I bought some fresh crabmeat and made crabcakes one night.  Yummy!  We also had breakfast at a favorite of the locals.  Sinful!!!!

With Hurricane Karen wandering around in the Gulf, we left a day early to avoid any hassles it might have caused.

Grayton Beach State Park

Doesn't get much better than this!!

September 28-30 found us camped at Grayton Beach State Park.   This was a nice state park with pretty beaches.  The water wasn't as clear as normal because of rains the week before.  We did a lot of walking on the beach.  I went swimming a couple of times but there was lots of "stuff" in the water.  Not so pleasant.

Lucy had some water issues this time around.  Her coffee pot shifted during the move and turned on the water faucet.  The sink was covered by her cutting board so by the time Lucy got in the trailer after hooking up her water, she had quite the mess to clean up!  Like we keep saying, its a learning experience!

Top your salmon with Moy Ploy
Sauce and Asian Panko Bread
Crumbs.  Bake at 400
until salmon is done.
Delish!!!

We drove around the little seaside towns around us and found a seafood market and bought salmon and steamed shrimp.  One night I fixed the salmon using the recipe fellow WOW member, Ann Nolen, gave me.  Always a winner!!  We had several meals of steamed shrimp and salad.

Monday morning I went in search of wi-fi so I could download the final episode of "Breaking Bad" before I saw any spoilers on the internet.   Perfect ending to a great show.

Perfect place to walk!

Big Lagoon State Park -

The next day we drove to Big Lagoon State Park near Pensacola, FL for two nights.  Not what we were expecting!!!  It had lagoon in the title for a reason.

We had a couple of Lucy and Ethyl moments.  Jeannine gets to be Lucy because she is a natural redhead.  Poor Ethyl couldn't figure out why the water wasn't working in her trailer.  Lucy takes a look and says it might be that kink in the hose:)  Always a learning experience.

Lots of booths at the Seafood Fest

We drove into Pensacola the next day and stumbled on the Seafood Fest.  Fun day!  I even bought a sundress and flip flops so I would be an official tourist.  We had crab cakes but they weren't as good as my mother used to make.

We also drove out to the Gulf Breeze National Seashore and saw the exhibits.  We did some hiking around the park and visited with the other campers.  The young couple across from me were living in a converted bus - it even had a deck on top.  There was also a retired truck driver living in his Casita.

Converted bus - nice young couple.  It even has a
deck on top!

On the road again . . . September-October, 2013

. . . on the road again!!!

After much planning, Jeannine Mayo and I left September 25th for our first caravan adventure.  She bought an R-Pod over the summer.  Her sister, Suzanne Thompson, will be joining us in Cherokee, NC.   The plan is to go to Florida, Great Smokey Mountain National Park, and up the Blue Ridge Parkway.  After that, we will split up.  I am going to visit a friend in Winston-Salem, NC, and then to Huntsville, AL for the winter.  Jeannine and Suzanne will head back to Texas.

Convoy!

We met at a rest area off I-10 and  headed for our first overnight stop at the KOA outside of Baton Rouge, LA.

KOA -Baton Rouge
Jeannine presented with a cool
"31" bag for my birthday

Goodbye Kiss!

Let me help.

The hardest part of leaving was saying good-bye to Doug, Leigh Anne and Caden.  It was great getting to see them so often and watching how Caden has grown over the summer.  What can I say - I love that little boy!

Baby Shower Time!!

After Janet and Nick, did their baby boy reveal in Colorado the doctor told them she had made a mistake . . . it is a girl!!!  Hannah Grace Cassiano is due in early December.

It's a girl!!!

Leigh Anne volunteered to host a family shower in September if Janet and Nick could arrange a trip to Texas.  Things all fell into place and we gathered to celebrate the new addition on September 21st.  A wonderful gathering of family and very close friends.  Nick's mom, Pat, drove in from Devine, TX in torrential rains.  Cousins drove in from Austin and Fort Worth - also through horrific rains!

My crew with Suzanne Armour - our neighbor in Foster Creek.

Melissa, Janet, and Sara
Three best buds in high school.

Family and Friends

Janet and Nick

Janet and Nick with the grandmothers!

Rubber gloves for Nick:)

Some of our favorite people!

The next day was my birthday.   Breakfast with my children and Pat before Janet and Nick headed back to Alabama.  Dinner and a "Breaking Bad" date with Drue.  Perfect day!!!

Weekend in Phoenix

Susie and I - margaritas at happy hour

The last weekend in August I flew to Phoenix, Arizona to spend the weekend with Susan.  We met last summer working in Yellowstone National Park and became good friends.

Such a fun weekend!  We talked and laughed and caught up on each others lives.  The first afternoon we watched her sweet little grandson, Jackson Dupps.  Jack was diagnosed with cancer in January, turned two in February, and is undergoing chemo and all that entails.  Such a tough fighter - affectionately known as Action Jackson.

Ate and had a beer at this brewery.
Research for Sarah - honest.

Susie and I packed a lot into a short weekend.  We managed two hikes - both first thing in the morning to beat the heat.  
Really fun.  Susie didn't even complain about how slow I am.  She leaves most people in the dust!!  Afterwards, we went and swam laps to cool off.  We also did some eating and drinking and a little shopping.  And laughed.   And talked.

We had quite an adventure getting back to the airport - but we made it on time.  Major traffic jam.

Arizona!!  I made it to the top.

Sunday morning's hike.

The cactus - and me.

. . . and the rest of Summer 2013

After returning from Colorado, I spent the rest of the summer in Houston.  It was hot!!!

Doug and Leigh Anne went to New York City for three days and I babysat for Caden with a little help from my friends.  It was great fun.

Popsicles with Caden - this might have
been one of his first.

I moved my Casita to an RV park in Spring, TX near The Woodlands Mall.   Bill and Amy had asked me to help them with a project for a few months but that didn't work out for various reasons.  I kept busy piecing a baby quilt for Janet and Nick's baby, visiting friends and family, etc.

A friend suggested I might like to watch "Breaking Bad".  Drue and I watched the first three episodes together and were hooked.   After watching the first five seasons in three weeks, I was caught up with the final season - Drue did it in two.   Amazing show and I became totally consumed and addicted!!! (as did Drue)  Totally consumed!!!  You can't imagine:)  My family and friends got sick of me talking about it.

My other project while in Houston was to have my name changed.   My parents named me Margaret Lamond Chance but always called me Peggy.   I filed papers in Polk County (I am a resident of Livingston) to change my name to Peggy Lamond Chance in May.  After a few snafus with my fingerprints, it finally happened.  So, I am officially Peggy Chance.   I can fit my signature on one line once again!!!  (and for those who are wondering - I checked with my children before I did this and they are all fine with it).  The hardest part is changing my name on all my bank accounts, etc., etc. That is going to take awhile.

It's Official - Peggy Lamond Chance

Chance Family Reunion

Rainbow Lake from our cabin.

Janet & Nick
Elevation 9,300 ft

The first Chance Family reunion was held the last week in June at Rainbow Lake Resort in Buena Vista, CO.  We had all spent summer vacations at Rainbow Lake for years but not all of us at the same time.   Maynard ended up having to be in D.C. for a meeting and Sarah was already back in Alaska but most of us made it.  We had a great time!    Each family unit had their own cabin so we were all still speaking at the end of the week.

It's a boy?  Maybe not!

Janet and Nick did a baby "reveal" the first night we were there.  They had been told there was a 90% chance it was a boy but not to buy anything yet.  Guess what?  Next doctor visit the 10% won and it is a girl!!  We are all exited for them.

Happy Birthday, Amy!!!

We also celebrated Amy's birthday.  She is the youngest of that generation but she is getting quite a few candles on her cake.

Lily, Holly, and Caden (the next generation) had a great time playing with each other.  Nana (Ardell) and I (GaGa) did some babysitting so the cousins could all go out four-wheeling, fishing, shopping, etc.  It was a tough job but we loved it.  One day we were talking about what Lily and Holly were going to call me.  Since Caden calls me GaGa and the girls are into princesses, I am officially "Lady Gaga" or "Lady G".  So cute coming from those little girls!

Holly, Christie, Lily and Ardell (Nana)

Ben, my brother-in-law, decided to go home in the middle of the week as the altitude (9000 ft) was really bothering him.  Ardell stayed and drove home with me.  I had driven up with all my family's stuff.  On the way back to Houston, we detoured to Pagosa Springs, CO to have lunch with a former neighbor and his wife, Larry and Terrie Kolvoord.  Larry, Terrie and I had all gone to high school together and hadn't seen each other in years.  Larry's mom was instrumental in teaching me how to swim.   It was nice seeing them and their retirement home.

Doug and Caden

Leigh Anne and Caden feeding
chipmunks

Doug and Caden trying to convince Leigh Anne that
they need a 4-wheeler

Our cousin, Terri Lamond, came to visit

Another shot from the "reveal party".

We all decided we should have another family reunion - next time we are headed to the beach!!!

Sarah's Visit-June in Houston!

Sarah, Janet and Doug 

In June, Alaskan Brewing Company, sent Sarah to Houston to work the Houston Beer Fest and a couple other events.  I picked her up Thursday, hugged her neck, and then dropped her at her hotel in the Woodlands.  She had a beer event that evening.  Friday night, friends joined me and we went to see her at the "Suds and Sliders" event.  Great fun.  After Doug picked up Janet at the airport they came out, too.  Love it when all my kids are together!! As Amy said, I was in full mother mode.

Bill, Amy, Terry, Sarah, Me at
"Suds and Sliders"

Back row:  Caden, Doug, Sarah
Front row:  Janet, Me, Leigh Anne

Janet and Sarah

Sunday we had a family event at Doug and Leigh Anne's.  The family all gathered for fajitas (from Lupe Tortillas)  and we had a great time.  Of course, I forgot all about taking pictures until everyone had gone home.


 The rest of her time here Sarah spent time playing with Caden, visiting her Houston friends, spending a day in Galveston, etc., etc.

We also met a group of friends at the Papacito's in Sugar Land for dinner one evening.  Great fun!

Sarah and Ted talking beer.

Caden and Auntie Sarah

Aunt Joyce/Cousin Sue

To update on my lovely Aunt Joyce and Cousin Sue's status:

After almost a month my aunt was released from UVA Hospital in Charlottesville, VA and sent to Augusta Health Center in Fishersville, VA.   Augusta Health is much closer to her home in Staunton.  After a couple of weeks of therapy,  Aunt Joyce was sent home on hospice care.  She has since bloomed!!!  Her doctor's response when he saw her - "we should have sent her home months ago!"  She still needs round the clock care but was able to attend a high school graduation party for one of her granddaughters.  Aunt Joyce also rides her stationery bicycle every day and plays the piano!!  My mother and aunt took piano lessons together when they were little girls - even played a duet in a piano recital.  The video my cousin sent brought a tear to my eye.  I remember how much my mother loved her piano.

Sue and Aunt Joyce (Sue's 60th Birthday Party at hospital.)

My cousin, Sue Lamond, was admitted to UVA Hospital in Charlottesville, VA about the time my aunt was released.  Her health has been deteriorating for years.  Sue was sent home on hospice care the week after my aunt (they lived together).  Sue died peacefully on June 6th surrounded by family members.

The two months I spent in Virginia with my Lamond family were truly a blessing.  My older cousins and I had spent time together as children so know each other.  The two youngest - Cheryl and Joyce Lee - I did not know as well.  It was great to be with them and they are truly amazing women.  I also got to spend lots of time with their children.  It was a privilege to be able to help them.

I left Virginia on May 9th.

Suzanne Lamond

To update:  My lovely aunt, Joyce Garvin Lamond, passed away in July.   A very special lady who was loved by all.