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What I Did in February 2017

March 8, 2017 by admin 38 Comments

What I Learned Did in February 2017

A plethora of activity!

The very first thing I did in February? I completed 40 Days of Lent – and self-published a paperback and e.version on Amazon. You can find the book here.

Once that work was done? It was time to play a little and there’s no other people on earth I want to play with than our grandkids. So, on February 3rd after work, we went down to our daughter’s, spent the night, and in the morning kidnapped Simon and headed for Lynchburg VA and Liberty University, home of Hannah! The four of us were going to a hockey game. Yay-hoo! G.Pa was as excited as a five-year old at a birthday party.  We arrived late morning, picked up our girl, and headed (1) to the small town of Bedford in search of a quaint, good restaurant and sure enough we found one – Liberty Station – complete write-up here. Food was excellent. Service to match and our table of four was perfect (2)(7)! After a leisurely lunch we went to Poplar Forest, the retreat home of Thomas Jefferson (3). We spent quite a bit of time in the Book Store (5), which was a mini museum. I did learn that my grandchildren know more about American History than I do! After that, we checked into our hotel ON campus and waited and rested until it was GAME TIME! A quick drive-thru Cook-Out for 3 milk shakes and then to the ice rink. GO FLAMES! Our seats were right at the glass, on the ice – perfect. Liberty University’s men’s hockey team won and we learned it was the conference championship game (4). GO FLAMES #1. Back to the hotel, some laughter, but it didn’t take long for all of us to fall asleep.

The next morning after disgusting hotel coffee, we checked out and drove to Historic Downtown Lynchburg for breakfast at Market on Main. If you ever find yourself in Lynchburg with an appetite for a hearty and delicious breakfast? This is your spot! (6 and 8) Delicious – lots of choices and every dietary challenge addressed! Great coffee too! We walked a bit, saw the James River, admired the old architecture of buildings, and did a lot of looking up as the city is built on levels all requiring stairs!

Now, for the sad part: we had to take Hannah back to the dorm. Good-bye’s and the three-hour drive home. A Grand Weekend!

On February 10th, my daughter came up to our house by herself to help me clean out a closet. A.Big.Closet. Saturday morning we worked liked women! And, got it done. She left our home with her Ford Escape filled with a load of Goodwill donations and a box of blankets for her local homeless shelter. Hubs filled his S-10 truck bed with trash and went to the dump. One closet down, two to go!

On February 14th, a blogger friend came to visit! StuckInIndiana arrived and she was StuckInCreston! Working her new FitBit, she logged tens of thousands of steps hiking our surrounding neighborhood. “C” and I had a great visit. Lots of good conversation and laughs. Poor girl, everything I fed her those few days? Had beans in it!!!! We certainly got a bang out of that. LOL! Then my hubs shows up on the last night from his business trip with BBQ takeout dinners – with extra baked beans!!! Good grief! “C” left mid-day on the 16th with at least 35,000 extra steps on her new FitBit and about 500 new photos to edit and I hope, a whole lot of good memories!

Between the 16th and half-day on the 17th we managed to pack for our Third Annual Winter Sabbatical road trip to Florida. I am not going into all the details but suffice it to say – WE HAD A GRANDIOSE TIME!

Our first stop was in Palm Coast FL where we spent the night with cousin Barry and Sandy. The next day we began our favorite trek through the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge only to find the drawbridge up and numerous cars parked on the sides of the road. We were just in time for a launch at the Cape! The skies were overcast so we didn’t see it but the ground shook and the atmosphere rumbled – it was all very exciting; however, we did not get to do our annual drive-thru viewing of gators, Spoonbills, wild hogs, eagles, hawks, Armadillos, and a zillion different water fowl. Onward and Southward.

  1. Happy Birthday Hubsters! In my sis’s kitchen. Port St Lucie.
  2. Visiting friends in Cocoa.
  3. Eating brunch with friends in Cocoa.
  4. Sam at a park in Lake Worth
  5. Daughter-in-love Maria and I out thrifting (looking for mugs see #9 and 10).
  6. To buy or not to buy? A joke – just a joke.
  7. Hubs and daughter-in-love Maria.
  8. Message rocks. A craze in Florida. Written messages on rocks hidden in public places! We found 3-4 of them.
  9. Son Michael’s fabulous bachelor apartment – I adore where he lives, I was just wishing he had coffee mugs.
  10. Hubs drinking his bowl of joe! Sidenote: I bought three mugs at the thrift store.
  11. City Place, WPB, Friday night. Lots of lights, people, activity. Take me home country roads!!!
  12. Michael, the bachelor of the very cool apartment.
  13. Breakfast with my boys – it doesn’t get better…
  14. Hubs showing off the ring he found metal detecting, in-between the boys and Sam. *Sorry Mark I couldn’t edit…
  15. A Mom and her sons. Twue Wuv…

  1. Hubs and his new waterproof metal detector
  2. Someone’s Valentine carnation washed up in the surf.
  3. Trying to make beach art!
  4. It really is waterproof!
  5. Pete.
  6. Sea Oats.
  7. Trump Plaza – yes, I worked for the Donald (1985-86) (You can read about that here.)
  8. Suwannee River State Park
  9. Suwannee River State Park
  10. Roots (a great blog post)
  11. The Suwannee River
  12. North Florida, heading north on I-75.
  13. Not sure, but isn’t it pretty?
  14. Beach on the Gulf of Mexico – in Crystal River FL
  15. My mom’s-in-love backyard. Yes, I love it there.

We took a new route homeward, up I-75 into Atlanta GA to visit my cousin. Aren’t cousins the very best? Our first best-friends and friends forever. Thank you Leigh and Dan for an awesome sleep over!

I beeped the horn and waved at Patti and Tammy as we journeyed home on I-85.

Eleven days and 2002 miles later and it was a wrap!

Home sweet home.

xo

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Filed Under: Heart, Home, Hope Tagged With: on the road, reflections, road trip, sabbatical, travel, traveling, Vacation, vacay

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kathy says

    March 8, 2017 at 6:53 am

    One of my dreams is to be “lostinCreston”………………………….

    Thanks for sharing your great trip with us. LOVE THE PICS!

    Kathy

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 8, 2017 at 8:59 am

      You know the way.

      Reply
  2. Michele Morin says

    March 8, 2017 at 7:10 am

    What a fun post! You certainly logged some miles and had some fun! I’m sure that your book is blessing many in this season of Lent, and that must thrill you to no end.
    Blessings, my friend.

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 8, 2017 at 8:59 am

      My prayer…

      Reply
  3. Tammy Mashburn says

    March 8, 2017 at 7:32 am

    Love this post! Especially the pictures!
    XO
    Tammy

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 8, 2017 at 9:00 am

      We would’ve stopped for a cuppa if you had been home!!!

      Reply
  4. Ali Battersby says

    March 8, 2017 at 7:53 am

    Wonderful to see the pics and hear about your full trip! You guys sure know how to make the miles count and pack it all in! thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 8, 2017 at 9:00 am

      THAT, we do!!!

      Reply
  5. Debby says

    March 8, 2017 at 8:09 am

    Thanks for sharing the joys of your life. It brings many smiles to my face and points of recognition bring sweet memories to me too. Lovely, Susan.

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 8, 2017 at 9:01 am

      Debbie, IF I had my way? I’d road trip to see you and many others I’ve met along this internet highway!!!

      Reply
  6. Melissa says

    March 8, 2017 at 8:41 am

    Sounds like a fun month! I am worn out just reading about it.

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 8, 2017 at 9:01 am

      I’m still worn out, Melissa!!!

      Reply
  7. Merry Geary says

    March 8, 2017 at 9:04 am

    You missed exit 101! Maybe next year. Looks like a great time, thanks for sharing. Your book is n transit from Amazon to me. Hugs Merry

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 8, 2017 at 9:51 am

      Exit 101…thank you – I do want to get THERE.

      Reply
  8. Beth says

    March 8, 2017 at 9:29 am

    Your months are always so full of fun and traveling, Susan. And I love hearing all about Lynchburg, because that’s where both my son and his lovely wife graduated from. Brings back memories of the times we went with them to fun little restaurants there in the historic district.

    Btw, I like visiting the places of those who comment at my place as long as they comment early. I carve out time on Wednesday mornings for blog hopping but have a busy day later on Wed and rarely can get back to the blog until the weekend. So I’m grateful for your kindness and patience with my busy season, but I’m going to pop by as often as I can, my friend!

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 8, 2017 at 9:53 am

      Thank you, Beth – and you are warmly welcomed in my space any time!!!

      Reply
  9. Cherie says

    March 8, 2017 at 9:47 am

    Lost in Creston is the BEST place to be lost! What fun you’ve had!! Love all the pics!!

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 8, 2017 at 9:52 am

      You were “found” in Creston – amen? xo

      Reply
  10. stuckinindiana says

    March 8, 2017 at 11:00 am

    <3 this post Susan… and <3 YOU!! Now that I know where you are, I'm coming back!! Had a wonderful time with you. I've really enjoyed reading this post & looking at the pictures. Isn't God great!! So many blessings!!

    Love you,
    c

    Reply
  11. admin says

    March 8, 2017 at 11:35 am

    We want you back. Bring LOML.

    Reply
  12. Kitty Lawrence says

    March 8, 2017 at 11:55 am

    Happy you got to go. Happy you returned. For now. (:

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 8, 2017 at 12:13 pm

      We have 2020 Vision.

      Reply
  13. Becky Hastings says

    March 8, 2017 at 12:07 pm

    What a fun-filled, family-filled, friend-filled adventure! Sounds like the perfect way to celebrate your book!

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 8, 2017 at 12:14 pm

      Becky – yes! A celebration road trip for all the heart work!!!

      Reply
  14. Sarah Donegan says

    March 8, 2017 at 3:03 pm

    Looks like lots of fun. Love the pictures!

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 8, 2017 at 3:37 pm

      Sarah, glad you stopped by.

      Reply
  15. Kristin Taylor says

    March 8, 2017 at 3:19 pm

    I love your adventurous spirit. Thanks for letting us peek in. And thanks for linking up at #ThreeWordWednesday.

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 8, 2017 at 3:37 pm

      Thank YOU for TWW, Kristin!

      Reply
  16. Helemarie says

    March 8, 2017 at 9:40 pm

    You are Busy, Busy, Busy! Loving the pictures!! Our grandchildren always put a smile on our hearts and keeps us young!

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 9, 2017 at 9:37 am

      They are the greatest of Papa’s gifts!!!

      Reply
  17. Tara says

    March 8, 2017 at 10:12 pm

    You were a busy little beaver last month. Glad you had such a great trip.

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 9, 2017 at 9:36 am

      Two busy beavers and a dog!!!

      Reply
  18. Debbie Kitterman says

    March 10, 2017 at 1:18 am

    Susan – Oh my word, that is a busy February! and I thought I was busy lol… glad you got to enjoy some vacation/travel time and sorry the hotel coffee was not great – I know how you love your coffee, or at least I think you do, from the Instagram posts I have seen. hahaha Thank you for linking up with #TuneInThursday today!

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 10, 2017 at 9:03 am

      Oh yes, DK, I like a good cup of Joe!

      Reply
  19. Gretchen says

    March 10, 2017 at 4:08 pm

    Wow! What a beautiful whirlwind of family and fun! So many memories to enjoy:)

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 10, 2017 at 4:09 pm

      Gretchen – so nice to see new faces here at HopeHeartHome!

      Reply
  20. Meghan E. Weyerbacher says

    March 11, 2017 at 11:58 pm

    Sorry I am late replying Susan, the link didn’t work before but I am guessing it was my internet because it’s fine now.

    Fabulous time and lovely photos. Love how you numbered them and listed them! Your daughter sounds so sweet.

    Blessings to you!

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 13, 2017 at 7:11 am

      Never a need to apologize! You’re a busy wife and mom.

      Reply

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