WHAT A WEEK!

I can't believe that it was less then a week ago when we left Lancaster to come to Florida. We left Circle M campground at 6:30 Saturday morning.  We wanted to get an early start, so we could get around Baltimore and Washington before there was too much traffic. As we were hooking up the car I asked Larry if he had seen Godiva. She always finds a place to  hide when we travel, but when I looked around I didn't see her any where. Larry said she hadn't gotten out and must be somewhere in the RV, so away we drove. A little while later and almost to Baltimore we get a phone call from the man who had been parked behind us that they had our cat. Larry found a place to park the RV, we unhooked the car and I drove back to Lancaster for her. Two hours later we were on our way again, so much for an early start.Luckily we didn't have any real traffic problems. We made it to our house Monday afternoon.

 One lucky cat to be in her house in  Florida.

Tuesday we unpacked the RV, I went swimming and Larry played golf. Wednesday we did a little grocery shopping and filled up the car. The stores were packed and long lines at the gas stations and for propane. All getting prepared for the hurricane. We felt very lucky with a sturdy house to be in, and with the RV there is lots of water and the generator if we lost power and needed it. Thursday we listened to the TV and all the warnings about Matthew, Even Disney closed at 5 and wouldn't be open on Friday. We are close to Disney but about 90 miles inland from Daytona. We got rain and wind in the evening and through the night, but we never lost power and had no damage. Picture of our house Friday afternoon. I am glad most people listened to the warnings and the storm hasn't done the damage they were expecting.

FAMILY TIME

 We enjoyed our week in Branson with Lynda. We stopped at Wolfie's campground in Zaneville, Ohio on the way home. Playing a bean bag toss game together was good exercise after a long drive.

 Grandpa holding the newest member of the Bush family.

 Averie Violet Bush was born September 13, weighing in at 8 lbs 6 oz 20 inches long.. She is a beauty.

 We watched our grandson play football on Saturday. Chase is #58. He was on the field most of the game.

 Since the weather has turned much cooler it was a perfect night for a chili, hot dogs and a campfire. Mark and Danielle

Chase, Brian,Irena, Brady and Dorothy.

 We celebrated Ashtyn's 2nd birthday a few days early.

 Daddy helped blow out the candles.

 She enjoyed every bite.

 Then there was a bag of presents to open.

 Some clothes

 and some books for the reader.

 We kept Ashtyn overnight, she is a delight to have visit and we will miss seeing her.

My turn to hold Averie and it hard to think of how much she will have grown when we see her next summer.

FUN TIME

 Tuesday afternoon this Phaeton pulled into the site across from where we are parked. When we saw who it was we were so excited for it was Joyce and Ken. They were part of our Blue Heron camping group from Florida. We had a good visit with an evening of dinner and cards. Unfortunately they only had reservations here till Friday and since it was Labor Day weekend the campground is full so they were unable to extend.

This is a very family friendly and active park. Saturday night there was a good country band and we did some dancing. Sunday evening they had a DJ outside, the kids were enjoying it.

 Then at 8:30 there was the launching of Chinese lanterns. They sold them at the office for $2.00

 When you opened it up there were strings on the bottom with a little piece of cardboard soaked with wax so it would burn.

 Larry lit the cardboard and waited for the air inside the lantern to heat up.

 Ready for the lantern to take flight.

 Up, up and away.

The sky was filled with a 100 of floating lanterns. It was quite a sight.

HAPPY 90TH

 M. Bittle started teaching at Octorara the year I was born. When I started my teaching career he was the  supervisor of the elementary buildings, there were five at the time. He had a part in hiring me to be the elementary special ed teacher. He has been retired 23 years now. A group of us get together at least once a year and he comes to the retired teacher luncheons they have every other month, so I have become friends with him more since retirement.

The family had a nice 90th birthday party for him on Sunday. I am glad we went, even if it was a little drive from Gettysburg to Christiana.

 Roberta and Bill looking good. His hat said it took him 90 years to look this good.

He is an award winning photographer and it was nice looking at 90 of his favorite pictures. Lots of memories. Even though my pictures don't show it there were a lot of people who came to wish him a happy birthday, for he has touched many lives in his 90 years.

SHOW TIME

 It has been a while since we have seen any of the entertainment they have at the campgrounds. We went to the Don and Roxy show they had here on Saturday night. We weren't sure what to expect. They played all types of  music from the 40's to today. There was dancing. They threw candy out to the kids and everyone had a good time.

After a break they put on the second part of the show which was much more of a show with a lot of audience participation. Here three guys were his puppets and when he touched them with the rubber bat on the head they had to open their mouth. It went to the music and was really funny,

 The kids also got to be part of the entertainment. Here they were given cookies to put on the top of their forehead with their head tipped back and work the cookie  to their mouth wiggling their face..

One girl was able to do get five cookies in her mouth before the music stopped.
 It was nice being around all the children, music and laughter.

PUZZLE TROUBLE

I worked on this puzzle for two days, before giving up. It was 1000 pieces, which is bigger then I like to do by myself,  I thought I could do it as two 500 piece puzzles, since the top was green and the snowman and the bottom was blue and houses. First the pieces were very tiny and they were mostly all the same shape. They did not lock together, so you could not move it around easily, and of course the edge was the shape of the puzzle. I did my usual puzzle putting together and found the snowman's face, hat,  birds and  hearts and even the houses in the bottom. but the rest of the pieces were all  red, blue and green Too frustrating, so I said this puzzle is not for me. I quit.

GETTING CLOSER

 We arrived at Gettysburg Farm campground just in time to hook up before the rain started on Sunday. A puzzle is always a good thing to do on a rainy day. Larry worked on the edges while I put the rest together. He did the hardest part of the puzzle, He will become a puzzle lover yet.

 I have worked on knitting this baby blanket since  March. At least I finished it before the baby comes.

 Yarn left over so I made booties and hats. Some big, some small, I am afraid none just right.

 Mystique, Eric and Ashtyn came over for a visit on Tuesday. Larry and Ashtyn had a nice conversation. She did all the talking, Larry wasn't sure what she was telling him.

 We gave them a new car seat. This one  grows with the child, so Ashtyn can use it now and the baby can use the other one.

Unfortunately Mystique was in an accident last week and totaled her car, luckily she and the baby- to- be were not hurt.. They wanted a bigger family car so with trading in Eric's car and the replacement of hers  they were able to purchase this 2016 Durango.