Anniversary & Happy New Year

Yes, today is Barbie’s and my 38th anniversary. On December 29, 1973 in the beautiful surroundings of Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring, Florida, we tied the knot. What a great 38 years it has been. It has flown by. I’m so fortunate to have my best friend at my side since then. We’ve both had careers in education that have allowed us to lead comfortable, satisfying lives. Now we are able to live our retired lives doing what we have grown to love---the rv lifestyle. We’ve made many new friends. We still have so many places to go and things to see. Happy Anniversary Barbie-I love you!

 

 

 

 

These are some of our favorite pictures taken within the last couple of years. My plan was to post a wedding picture and others since then but many are pre-digital age and at our sticks-n-bricks home.

It’s hard to believe that New Years Eve is just a couple of days away. Big Daddy DJ will provide the music for the party/dance here at Rock Crusher Canyon RV Park.

Big Daddy DJ is trying to decide which outfit to wear for New Years  Eve. What do you think?

  OR    OR 

From Boldt’s RV Castle, Barbie, Kozmo and I wish you a healthy and Happy New Year! Thank you for checking in and following our adventures.

We salute each and every one of you!

‘Til next time-next year…………..

Merry Christmas

To our family and friends and all who read our blog, we hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

For us, we’ll be spending Christmas here in Rock Crusher Canyon RV Park with our fellow rvers. Enjoy the holiday season!

‘Til next time…….

Cedar Key, Tablet, Steps & Boat Parade

Barbie is writing here today. I wanted to get you caught up with some of what we have been doing lately. First, we went to Cedar Key two Saturday’s ago to meet up with friends Steve and Cheryl Beringer and their puppy McGee, whom we met at our summer/fall home park, River Vista RV Resort in Dillard, Georgia, last summer.

They summer/fall in the Clayton/Dillard area and winter in Titusville, Florida, at the Great Outdoors. They were staying at a fairly new campground in Cedar Key called Cedar Key RV Resort. We had beautiful weather that day and sat outside and talked and had a great time. They took us to a place to eat where they have a fish market next door to a restaurant, which was about mile away from the campground called Robinsons. Everyone had shrimp and crab cakes, except for me. I had the shrimp but no crab cake. Their hush puppies were absolutely delicious! Soups ranged from clam and corn chowder to grouper chowder and it was good. Of course, we brought Kozmo along and she and McGee got along fantastically! Cheryl gave Kozmo a snack from Blue Buffalo. It was a pumpkin and cinnamon biscuit, which she really liked. It was so cute to watch McGee eat a baby carrot. He just puts it between his paws and chomps away. Apparently that is his daily afternoon “happy hour” treat. Kozmo just doesn’t like raw carrots, but occasionally she will eat cooked ones. Steve and Cheryl got us hooked on the Blue Buffalo products since they have natural ingredients which are very healthy for dogs. Jeff and I took Kozmo to the Pet Supermarket in Inverness to stock up on some Blue Buffalo canned dog food and treats for her. She absolutely loves the beef stew and chicken with vegetables. We also got her some pumpkin with cranberries soft chews and bacon, egg and cheese biscuits. I swear, Kozmo is so spoiled, but she deserves it. We thanked Steve, Cheryl and McGee for a very nice day and hope to see them in Titusville during the winter months, or if not at River Vista in the spring. They just recently bought a site at River Vista.

A few days later, we went to Spring Hill to do some shopping. We stopped at Best Buy and Jeff purchased his first Tablet. I swear I didn’t know the difference between a Tablet and an IPad, but now I do. His is an Acer Iconia 10 inch tablet. It is a neat device which will definitely be used everyday. It is very addictive to play some of the free games that Jeff downloaded, like Poker Square Solitaire or Tabby Cat Solitaire. Jeff was even getting involved in a game racing app where you drive a car by “steering” the tablet as his car races on the course against other cars. Crazy for sure!!! While at Spring Hill, we went to Pet Smart and got some more Blue Buffalo products there for Kozmo. She went inside with me and I tried to entice her with toys, but she snubbed them. That girl just doesn’t like toys. I purchased two new cans of the Blue Buffalo food and out we went. We can’t believe how nice the Spring Hill area is set up. It is only 40 minutes away from Rock Crusher and an easy drive until you get to Spring Hill. That is when it starts getting congested on Highway 19, but it was more bearable than Highway 60 in Brandon. We stopped at a place called Olive Tree Diner and had their specialty gyro sandwich. I had a cabbage soup with mine, which was good and Jeff had potato salad which was also good. However, the gyro was lacking. The meat tasted like it had been in water to keep it warm and it lacked a good taste. Needless to say we won’t be going back there again. It prides itself on having the best gyro in town… we wonder if they make the only gyro in that area.

I am so proud of Jeff. This past week we went to Home Depot and spent an hour in there looking around for the materials we needed to build some wooden steps for our entrance into the fifth wheel. He was on his feet for an hour and then helped load the wood into the truck and never had a problem with his back. I think his endurance has really improved. He used to just stand and walk around for a half hour before his back started to strain. And, we certainly don’t want a repeat of the back issues he had from June of 2010-October 2010 when he couldn’t even walk at all for a while. After we bought the wood we ate at Arby’s and had a very good Philly Steak sandwich. We have eaten those type of sandwiches in shops that specialize in Philly Steak sandwiches in Crystal River, but we can’t believe how much better the Arby’s is compared to those places.

We worked on the steps for two afternoons and then ran out of screws before we could finish the railing. So out to Home Depot again to get some more screws. It looks fantastic for two rookies who haven’t built something as big as this in a long time. The thing is really sturdy and heavy too. See the picture below. The only thing we have to do is stain it. But already we just love it! And, Kozmo prefers these wooden steps to the slippery metal ones on the fifth wheel.

 

We ate at Kim’s Café for breakfast on Friday and then went to get our tags renewed for the truck. We didn’t know you could renew our truck tags in Citrus County even though it was issued in Hillsborough County until this past week when we went to pay our taxes on the Rock Crusher site. It was very convenient for us. We could have renewed on-line but this is so much easier. The line for Citrus County tax office was very minimal. I only waited three minutes. After the taxes were paid, we stopped at a Sweetbay Supermarket in Crystal River. I had never been in this particular store and probably won’t go back again. It is an older store with narrow aisles. They were nice in there but the Homosassa Sweetbay is much roomier. I usually shop at Publix, but it is good to try out something different for a change.

Yesterday we had breakfast in the clubhouse here in the campground. They had blueberry pancakes, eggs, sausage, hash browns, potatoes with onions and green peppers, grits, fruit salad, coffee and juice for $5.00. They also had a 50-50 raffle and we won a free breakfast. Two weeks ago we won $10, which paid for the breakfast. Luck is on our side. We have new neighbors, named Roger and Judy who are from Massachusetts and they dined with us. She is a retired paraprofessional who worked in the library system. So we talked a lot about books which I absolutely love!!! Following breakfast, there was a craft show & sale held in the clubhouse. Campers could sell items they have made. I came out with 2 rings, one bracelet and a coin purse—all for only $15 total!

Last night, we went to the Homosassa Christmas Boat Parade and took Kozmo with us. We went last year and it was great! The no see-ums weren’t bad this time and we had a great time! Jeff took some great pictures while I held Kozmo in my arms for an hour. She actually met another dog named Max, who is a 6 month miniature pincher who absolutely loved her. But the most precious thing was Kozmo falling asleep in my arms for the first time ever. She even gave me a kiss, which she has never done when I hold her. She usually just freezes in my arms. Talk about a “Kodak” moment!!! Too bad we didn’t get a camera shot of that. Check out our favorite boats below. As always, click to enlarge the view.

 

 

Which one is your favorite?

We are headed tomorrow to the “stick” house in Valrico. Jeff has a dentist appointment at 3:30 and then a doctors’ appointment on Tuesday at 12:30. So hopefully we will get back to Rock Crusher late Tuesday afternoon. I am trying to get a doctor in Citrus County so I don’t have to travel to Valrico if I get sick.

It’s another gorgeous day in Rock Crusher Canyon here in Citrus County. Folks are really getting in the holiday spirit here in the campground. See…..

 

 

 

‘Til next time….

Country Rocks the Canyon

Well, let me start by saying WE survived the weekend! From what you ask? This weekend, specifically Saturday, the “Country Rocks the Canyon” music festival was held in the open-air amphitheater sitting in a small canyon formed by digging an old limestone quarry adjacent to the now Rock Crusher Canyon  RV Park here in Crystal River, Florida. Below is a view from the sky that I got from Google Earth of the area. Click on the picture to enlarge it. I’ve labeled key landmarks. You really get no feeling of being in the canyon which you are in the area labeled “lower level”. Plus, behind the covered stage is a rock wall of the quarry. Where the campground area starts (on left edge where lower level meets trees) sits a hundred or so feet above that lower level as well.

The campground, which is our winter home (we own our site), has 398 full hook-up sites. You see only a small, lower left corner of the campground in the picture above. Next is a view of the lower level and covered stage area. This is a view of the seats right in front of the stage only. To get a proper perspective look back at the overhead shot.

Back to the adventure…….  The campground was slightly less than half full last Thursday with snowbirds like us. Nearly all of the remaining sites will be filled with the arrival of the last flock of snowbirds at the end of December or the first few days of January. Last Friday, we were told that a couple over 200 rvs arrived to fill up the park for the weekend. Of course, they came for the festival. They were in all types of rvs (no tents allowed in RCC) and brought their golf carts or all terrain vehicles, bicycles, grills, coolers, boom boxes, fire pits, firewood AND lots of DRINKS. These country music fans know how to party! There were parties everywhere Friday evening. Quiet hours are to be from 11:00pm to 8:00am ---YEAH RIGHT. Not this weekend. Below, I’ve also listed some park rules that I feel were violated this weekend by underlining the violations.

ALCOHOL: Responsible alcohol use is restricted to those people 21 years of age and over. No alcohol will be served at any Park function, although participants may bring their own refreshments.

CAMP FIRES: All fires must be contained in an above ground fire pit with a mesh cover. Such fire pit must be of commercial manufacture or homemade of a design similar to commercial made units. ABSOLUTELY NO GROUND FIRES. Firewood may be purchased at the gatehouse.

SPEED LIMITS: The speed limit is 10 miles per hour for ALL vehicles (golf carts and bikes included).

VEHICLES: Loud vehicles of any type are strictly prohibited. ATV and four wheelers allowed only while on trailers. Golf Carts and Bikes require permanent head and tail lights after dark. All drivers must be licensed, and stay on paved roads.

BICYCLES: It is highly recommended that riders wear helmets and use head lights and tail lights after dark.

NOISE: Please respect your neighbors by keeping all noise at your site at a low level. Noise that can be heard beyond the boundary of your site is often disturbing to your fellow RVer’s.

NUISANCES: No one should become a source of annoyance which interferes with anyone’s peaceful enjoyment of their site or the park.

PARKING: Only one (1) RV and two (2) additional motor vehicles (auto or truck) and one (1) trailer (boat, motorcycle, utility, or enclosed utility) is allowed on any one site. No extra tents other than screen rooms which may not be used as sleeping quarters.

All of us that call this park home understand this one weekend and tolerate it for the most part. Park security was visible all weekend and Citrus County Sheriff’s Dept kept two cars of officers in the park all night Saturday. The partying Friday night lasted way beyond midnight. We took several tours on the golf cart during the weekend to check out “the entertainment”, meaning the guests. Ah yes, I remember those days. :-)

Saturday morning it was quite quiet. Sleeping before the concert I suppose. You see, this was a festival with music beginning at 3:00pm and going to midnight or so. Check out the line-up below.

2:00pm-Gates Open
3:00pm-3:45pm- Cason
4:15-5:00-Neon Truckers
5:30pm-6:30pm-Michael Ray
7:00pm-8:00pm-Colt Ford
8:30pm-9:45pm-Justin Moore
10:15pm-11:30pm-Eric Church

From about 4:00pm on the campground was quiet. You could hear the music from the canyon faintly from most sites. Down near the clubhouse you could understand lyrics etc. I will say the campground staff kept all non-registered camper vehicles out of the park. They had special windshield stickers for we residents and weekenders. No sticker-no entrance. As a matter of fact, good friends, Bill & Linda Forrest, from Auburndale came up to visit us Saturday and after we met for lunch at Dan’s Clam Stand in Homossassa Springs, they had to park outside the campground gates and ride in with us so we could visit a few hours. At about midnight Saturday, you could tell the concert was over as you could hear the folks starting the parties back up. Somehow we fell asleep and didn’t wake up until about 9:00am. From 9 until about 1:00pm today, Sunday, there was a continuous flow of weekenders leaving. At 3:00pm ( I’d seen enough of the Tampa Bay Bucs being destroyed by Jacksonville) we took a golf cart ride around the campground. It was back to normal in “our little piece of heaven”…..at least ‘til the second weekend of December 2012.

‘Til next time……..

Kozmo at the Keyboard

Can you believe it? I get to talk now. I’m on my little laptop and will write this blog.

I’m that cute little 15 lb, 8 year old terrier mix that was rescued last February by my Mommy and Daddy. I know you’ve seen pictures of me before if you’ve read our blog. Mommy and Daddy contacted Leonard, Sheldon, Howard, and Raj from the Big Bang Theory tv show and they asked them if they could create a device that could translate “doggie talk” into “human talk”. This has been an ongoing project for a few months now and the great scientists have done it! They created a machine that I bark into and out “pops” the words. Amazing huh? We are not sharing with anyone until the patent becomes a reality and we become billionaires.

Anyways, my Mommy and Daddy are the best human parents in the world!!!

 

They love me unconditionally and I love them sooooooooooooo much. How many fur-pets do you know who get to travel all over and visit places like the Great Smoky Mtn National Park or walk on Virginia Beach like I did this summer.

 

I am so lucky to be a member of the Boldt family. They took me to the stick house in Valrico this past week and I had a blast! Mommy’s car was started for the first time since September since it has been there, and we all went to get it washed since it was filthy. Daddy and I stayed inside the car while Mommy washed it and I watched her but wasn’t afraid when the water looked like it was going to get me. The noise scared me a little bit at first though. Afterwards Mommy wanted to go to Target to shop for an ottoman for the fifth wheel. I stayed inside the car with Daddy, but I didn’t want to tell Mommy but I don’t like her car. It scares me when I am sitting between them on the middle console on my two pillows. The console is not big like the one in our truck. It is really short and narrow, and I don’t like the back seat---I can’t see back there. Plus, Mommy drives too fast and sits so low that I shake and shake and slide off the pillows sometimes. Daddy has to hold on to me and he doesn’t like doing that much-he says I make him nervous. I tried not to cry and be a big girl, but I couldn’t wait until we got back to the stick house. Mommy was back to the car in 35 minutes with her new ottoman and a few groceries. I saw that she got me some chicken to go with my Caesar’s dog meal and I couldn’t wait to eat it. It was good too! After we left Target we went to Marco’s pizza to get a salad and a pizza. Daddy’s mouth was beginning to hurt from the temporary crown that the dentist put on his tooth that morning so he needed some “happy” pills to make it not hurt anymore. Mommy called them aspirins. I gave him kisses until we could get home and he could get those pills. He said that I was his medicine right now. That made my tail wag!!!

Mommy and Daddy gave me some pizza crust and some pepperoni from the pizza after I ate my dinner. I was so good and didn’t beg so Mommy would give me more but then I burped. Then she stopped. Next time I will hide and burp so she can give me more.

I helped Mommy clean out the master bedroom closet. She had some pants in there and I told her which ones to donate and which ones to keep. She also cleaned out her jewelry chest and I was hoping to get some nice necklaces to wear on my collar. She said she would make me some necklaces since hers were too long for me. My Mommy spoils me.

Even though I met some new puppies while Mommy walked me in the complex those days, I was ready to go back to my real home with wheels in Crystal River. Before leaving for Rock Crusher Canyon, we came across a dog that didn’t like me. He growled and was going to bite me so Mommy picked me up and kept me calm. I don’t know what his problem was—just an old grouch I guess. That dog was a real bully but my Mommy saved me. We left at noon time Wednesday after talking to Dewane and Bev, our neighbors. We stopped at Camping World for a new clear plastic thing to put on the sewer hose. People loved me at Camping World and I was on my best behavior while standing in the cart. We stopped at Popeye’s chicken and Arby’s roast beef place which was at the Travel America gas station across from Lazy Days. Mommy and Daddy gave me some bites of chicken and roast beef. We drove through the entrance at the park and got back home to our fifth wheel at 4:05 and I just love being back. The squirrels were talking to me from the trees and I scared them when I tried to run after them when Mommy took me for a walk. Look at all of our trees when you come in the park. Lots of squirrels in them trees, I’m telling ya!

But, the squirrels  know who “rules this campground”… ME!!!

Mommy went to bingo last night and left me with Daddy for three hours. I was so tired from the trip that I slept most of the time she was gone. Daddy just watched tv and played some golf game on his computer. I don’t get it—he said he played the St. Andrews course in Scotland and the Kiawah course in South Carolina. I never saw him leave his recliner chair. Mommy didn’t win anything so they were talking about putting a sign on me that says “will work for food” and standing on Highway 19 to get attention. I think they were joking. Mommy only lost $4.00 from playing 10 games. When she took me out at 11 PM she had to put my t-shirt sweater on me because the temperature was 42 degrees. I did my business and ran back in because I was so cold and still tired from the trip. Mommy and Daddy didn’t have to ask me if I wanted to go “night night” upstairs like they do every night. I just took off and ran up there fast and fell asleep dreaming of chasing and catching squirrels.

Well, I better stop now because my Mommy and Daddy taught me how to type on the computer and my paws are getting so tired from writing this blog. Hope you like the pictures.

Til next time… I will “pant” for you.

P.S. Mommy helped me write this after the machine translated into human words.

P.P.S. Mommy didn’t have any drinks before she helped me with this blog….she’s just a little crazy sometimes! ;-)