Sun, Fun and Great Parking!

The secret to great parking at the beach is getting there early. We found a great parking spot without driving round and round the lot. I also found this little car on the beach, looks like they had an all nighter at the beach.


Our day at the beach was made easy by this magnificent fishing cart that Mr. Hygiene got for us this past week. Only one trip from the truck to the beach with no heavy lifting or multiple trips to the truck. We worked a little on customizing it by adding a chair hook to the back, it can hold up to 4 chairs, its removable and adjustable as well as being a place to hold Stacy's sand wedge. I have more plans for this little cart but for now this is how it looks.


Just getting ready for his big glass of Lemonade. Casa de Prince is set and ready for enjoyment.

It was a very nice day. Wish I could go every day and someday I hope to have a little place on the beach.

Perfect!

One more perfect thing for my picnic basket. I found these Antique Silver Spreaders today while I was looking for something else. These will make a great addition to my collection of Picnic goods I have gathered over the past few years to make a day at the beach, regatta or park an event worthy of time spent with family and friends. I like to make it nice. No paper plates here. We like the real thing. I am tempted to go back and get the cork screw, I love it. It says "One good turn deserves another" but most of the places we go do not allow the kind of beverage one would need to truly enjoy this tool.

SEN10R Prom!

Prom. Prom. Prom. There is a lot of work that goes in to Prom. Hair, Dress, Shoes, Nails, Photos.


Oh did I say Photos. We did not plan enough time for all the photos Paige and her friend Ryan wanted. Poor thing having to climb into this joint with her heels. Love her smile.


Just enough time for a few quick shots in the new concrete drainage pipes that have not been put under ground yet. Then also a few at the bus stop as well.


No pool screens, retention ponds or palm trees in these photos. Nope. They got what they wanted and I think they even had a good time at Prom.

On Broadway

Paige had another concert this past week. We came, She sang, We went. Repeat. Two nights of songs from Hairspray, Rent, Mama Mia and others.


I can not believe how good a high school production can be. I have to give a big shout out to Mr. Kilpactrick He is an amazing teacher and not only love by the kids but the parents as well.

Class of 2010

Where does time go? How could I be taking Senior class photos of Paige?



Shouldn't she still be 6?

A day with friends

It was a beautiful day here in sunny Florida. We were so excited to get to see our friend from Kansas City, Shelby who was here on her Senior class trip.


The manatees are not at the springs at this time of the year, they are out and about leaving the springs open for land mammals to enjoy.


We enjoyed our few hours with Shelby and hope we get to see her again tomorrow at the beach.

This week at the beach

Three pelicans were released.


Two turtles got sent to swim with the fishes


I forgot my kite again, someone remembered theirs.


Championships were won


And one little boy asked Stacy if he lives on the beach.

Balls!

Yep, balls. Well they are really called cake pops but balls sound funny. I made these for Stacy to take to work for the 4Th annual Mini Masters Golf Tournament he puts on at work. This year in addition to the trophies I made cake pops that some what resemble golf balls.


This was the first time I have made them. I have seen them on several blogs and decided to give it a go. They are easy to make just time consuming.


I started making them last night, I made the cake filling and rolled them in balls and put them in the fridge over night.


Then this morning I put them on the sticks and covered them in the white chocolate bark. Stacy and Paige have had a taste and love them and the people at Stacy's office enjoyed them as well.


Here is a photo of them in action in Stacy's office at the winners table.

I love the beach

Days like this could almost make me like Florida. The beach was perfect Saturday, absolutely perfect! We had our usual picnic, yum! Paige got to bring along friends and Stacy and I took a long walk. We spotted some land that we liked and imagined how we could use it. I want an amazing deck with a outside shower, a fire pit, an air stream trailer, little lights surrounding it, a long table full of wonderful homemade food and chairs filled with people we love and one chair for Pearl. The beach is where I get to look at this smile, I love this smile. I wish life could be like this every day.

The Easter Beagle strikes again

Can this already be the third year of egging people? The Prince family tradition continues and Easter Beagle Paige was in true form today. We had a few issues with egg distribution, I think it the spider webs, dog surprises and weeds did not help in even distribution.


We added two little girls to the egging this year it was particularly fun filling the eggs with girlie little surprises. We hear that the little girls loved it and the parents were pleasantly surprised as well. Hurray!

I do hope that the Easter egging continues even with Paige going away next year. We have more fun than you can imagine and we get so much enjoyment planning, sneaking and wondering what people think when they wake up and step outside. Yes there is an Easter Beagle Charlie Brown and she lives in Orlando.

Bunny Truck

Poor Mr. Hygiene. I don't think this is what he had in mind for his manly truck but Paige and I could not resist. We surprised him yesterday and thought for sure he would have taken them off before he went to work but he was a great sport and left them on. Thanks Mr. Hygiene for being festive.

Footloose

Sunday at the park

After the last cold snap here in Florida in December I thought I would never be glad to see the temperature go below 45 degrees. Well after seeing the Manatees two weeks ago during a mild cool down I was ecstatic to see the temperature last night fall to 42 degrees because I knew the manatees would be out. Last time we were there the Park Ranger said some times when it is really cold the manatees pack in like sardines. She was not kidding. It was amazing!


Stacy got to come with us this time to watch the manatees and the people as well. There are always some interesting people here in Florida, tourist are everywhere and never leave us short of some sarcastic comment.


There is never very many manatees at the mouth of the spring but it is so beautiful. It looks like a vintage Florida post card. If you ever are in Florida when it is cold look up where the Manatees are and see them it is worth your time and effort. Way better than seeing them at SeaWorld.

New Music Monday on Wednesday

Have you heard Melody Gardot? Well you have now, you have no excuse to be with out this wonderful music. I saw her on Sunday Morning with out Charles Kuralt. My One and Only Thrill is the album I purchased and it is in the "New Favorite" rotation. Check out her web site and you can listen and fall in love with the sound of her voice.

Luck

I have felt good things about this year. Starting out the year almost completely pain free I can feel change in the air, I am lucky.

A few years back Heidi came to visit and we went to a art festival in Winter Park. She bought this lovely lucky horse shoe made by Betsy Youngquist. I have wanted one like it ever since. I looked for Betsy Youngquest every year since hoping to get one but she has not come back with her beaded art.


Well today her bead art came back to me. Heidi sent this amazing horse shoe to me for my birthday. I found a home for it right away, did not even take time to finish looking at the box of goodies she sent. I tried a few places and this is the place it wanted to live. I like it placed here because I will see it every time I walk into my living room, office and every night when I go into my bedroom. It was one of the most thoughtful gifts because Heidi loved it and still parted with it because she knew how much I loved it and wanted one. Thank you Heidi you are one of the most generous people I know and not because of this gift but you give from the heart. Thank you.

Manatees!

Finally! I have wanted to see the manatees since the day we moved here. We have seen them at SeaWorld but not in the wild. Leisa, Paige and I Packed a picnic and went to see the manatees at Blue Springs State Park.


This was a mom and baby under a dock along the banks of the springs.



We decided to rent a canoe to see the manatees close up, away from all the people. We could see them swim slowly around the springs and then they started to gravitate towards the canoe as if they were checking us out as well. They got really close, a little too close for me. I was a little worried about the stability of the canoe. Eek!


Great day, great weather and great company. Oh and the food was amazing.

Todays agenda

Get on Airplane. Check
Fly to Florida. Check
Drive to Beach. Check
Lounge in the Sun. Check
Have a Sea Side Repairitive. Check
Begin Yearly Holiday. Check


Laugh our Arse off. Check
Feel stress melt away. Check

Santas Helper

If you could see the look we got when the bow went on... Crusty loves to be in the middle of what ever is going on and this time of the year it is wrapping. We think her grumpy personality is because she was not a holiday pet. Tulip and Pearl both were Christmas gifts, Crusty on the other hand was not. What a joyful face. Such a nice kitty.

Thanksgiving pets

Tulip is our sweet cat she is the oldest pet in our house. Tulip was a Christmas gift for Paige from my mom around 13 years ago. Her fur is the softest fur I have ever felt on a cat.


Crusty is another story she is not sweet, her favorite thing to do is hiss and open doors and try to escape. We now have to lock our door to our garage because she lets herself out along with the air conditioning.


Pearl, wonderful, sweet Pearl is the nicest dog you will ever meet. Only wants love, food, naps, her nails painted and to sit in the sun.

We are thankful for our pets who welcome us home everyday, greet us in the morning, cuddle up to us when we sit still for a moment and accept us just as we are.