Luxury's Lap

Does this not look like resort living?

We traveled to Florida for Thanksgiving holidays, spending a few days on either coast. First, DH's family (except DBIL Paul) met in Ormond Beach Sunday-Thursday. This included the typical rounds of easy company, shopping at St. Augustine outlet mall, dinners together at DSIL Eva's and a holiday feast at DSIL June/Bob, for which DD Laurie/family joined us. The weather was at first quite cool - we left fruit and excess food on the screened porch 'refrigerator' - but warmed as the week went on. All of our family gatherings seem to gather around food, and T-day just magnifies the proportion. What would T-Day be without dressing, smoked turkey, ham, onion pie, Laurie's fresh cranberry salad and desserts [many of which have evolved into low-fat/sugar versions]. I still vote with the kid who said she liked the bread the turkey ate best, though.

We hitched a ride back over to the gulf coast for a few days with DD Laurie where we were put up in luxurious style. The pic is a corner scene from the guest bedroom...no, make that suite. We rattled around in that suite in total privacy - an area about the size of our living quarters here at Teelside. There's a big ole recliner beside the brass bed and GF took up station there. We hitched a cold/respiratory virus on the east coast; my round was quite mild; his was anything but mild. For the duration of our stay the poor baby reclined with remote in hand. Fox News with a little CSI/Law and Order kept him reasonably distracted from misery. The programs were reruns, but since we've lived sans TV since 1999, that was not an issue.

Beside sneaking in LOTS of extra affection between kids/grandkids, I had the first-in-a-lifetime joy of attending a namesake's wedding. How sweet! Penijean and Brian were married on the Gulf beach - a warm and casually beautiful affair. The weather was perfect and in my sentimental state I could but believe that heaven was smiling on this precious pair.

Such lovely experiences lead me to wish I could be everywhere at once. We have such a wonderful circle in which to bounce around!!! But it's good to be home, too.