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.
- Happy Birthday Hubsters! In my sis’s kitchen. Port St Lucie.
- Visiting friends in Cocoa.
- Eating brunch with friends in Cocoa.
- Sam at a park in Lake Worth
- Daughter-in-love Maria and I out thrifting (looking for mugs see #9 and 10).
- To buy or not to buy? A joke – just a joke.
- Hubs and daughter-in-love Maria.
- Message rocks. A craze in Florida. Written messages on rocks hidden in public places! We found 3-4 of them.
- Son Michael’s fabulous bachelor apartment – I adore where he lives, I was just wishing he had coffee mugs.
- Hubs drinking his bowl of joe! Sidenote: I bought three mugs at the thrift store.
- City Place, WPB, Friday night. Lots of lights, people, activity. Take me home country roads!!!
- Michael, the bachelor of the very cool apartment.
- Breakfast with my boys – it doesn’t get better…
- Hubs showing off the ring he found metal detecting, in-between the boys and Sam. *Sorry Mark I couldn’t edit…
- A Mom and her sons. Twue Wuv…
- Hubs and his new waterproof metal detector
- Someone’s Valentine carnation washed up in the surf.
- Trying to make beach art!
- It really is waterproof!
- Pete.
- Sea Oats.
- Trump Plaza – yes, I worked for the Donald (1985-86) (You can read about that here.)
- Suwannee River State Park
- Suwannee River State Park
- Roots (a great blog post)
- The Suwannee River
- North Florida, heading north on I-75.
- Not sure, but isn’t it pretty?
- Beach on the Gulf of Mexico – in Crystal River FL
- 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
One of my dreams is to be “lostinCreston”………………………….
Thanks for sharing your great trip with us. LOVE THE PICS!
Kathy
You know the way.
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.
My prayer…
Love this post! Especially the pictures!
XO
Tammy
We would’ve stopped for a cuppa if you had been home!!!
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!
THAT, we do!!!
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.
Debbie, IF I had my way? I’d road trip to see you and many others I’ve met along this internet highway!!!
Sounds like a fun month! I am worn out just reading about it.
I’m still worn out, Melissa!!!
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
Exit 101…thank you – I do want to get THERE.
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!
Thank you, Beth – and you are warmly welcomed in my space any time!!!
Lost in Creston is the BEST place to be lost! What fun you’ve had!! Love all the pics!!
You were “found” in Creston – amen? xo
<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
We want you back. Bring LOML.
Happy you got to go. Happy you returned. For now. (:
We have 2020 Vision.
What a fun-filled, family-filled, friend-filled adventure! Sounds like the perfect way to celebrate your book!
Becky – yes! A celebration road trip for all the heart work!!!
Looks like lots of fun. Love the pictures!
Sarah, glad you stopped by.
I love your adventurous spirit. Thanks for letting us peek in. And thanks for linking up at #ThreeWordWednesday.
Thank YOU for TWW, Kristin!
You are Busy, Busy, Busy! Loving the pictures!! Our grandchildren always put a smile on our hearts and keeps us young!
They are the greatest of Papa’s gifts!!!
You were a busy little beaver last month. Glad you had such a great trip.
Two busy beavers and a dog!!!
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!
Oh yes, DK, I like a good cup of Joe!
Wow! What a beautiful whirlwind of family and fun! So many memories to enjoy:)
Gretchen – so nice to see new faces here at HopeHeartHome!
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!
Never a need to apologize! You’re a busy wife and mom.