Cousins!

My cousins from New Orleans are here again. We got together with them a couple years ago when they were bringing the oldest daughter to college in Tampa. She's a senior this year and they were here to help her furnish and get settled in an apartment.

It was fun reminiscing about New Orleans and interesting to hear of the progress post Katrina. All three homes were destroyed by the storm but everyone is in a new house and impressed by some of the progress made. Granted, there are still areas that haven't been rebuilt but from what I heard the rebuilding was an opportunity to update and improve.

My cousins were talking about City Park and how, because of Katrina, many people and organizations supported upgrades to the park as well as restoration and replanting of the old oaks. This probably would not have happened without the storm, or if so, would be slower.

Of the three schools I attended while living there (St. Anthony, St. Leo the Great, and Sherwood Forrest) only Sherwood Forrest remains closed. My cousin's estimate is 80% is rebuilt and bragged about the number of unique restaurants and shops that have appeared in the rebuild.

I'm excited to go visit - it's been a very long time. Jerry's never been. I think he will have a blast.

(Photo is my cousin Bill's wife Thania on the right; her daughter, who is my first cousin once removed, Denise, in the center; her husband Chris on the left. The twins are Margarette and Luke and the little guy is Calib - my first cousins twice removed.)

Lordy, Lord, Look Who's Forty!

Last Saturday we went to a birthday party for my friend Christina's 40th birthday. It was held at the Bonefish Grill in Clearwater. It's funny because many of the people there attend her annual Halloween party but I don't recognize them because I know them only in costume :)

Halloween Costume Party (for humans)

Tonight we attended the annual Halloween party at Christina's house. We went as hippies.
I made the "suede" vests, my purse, and turned Jerry's jeans into bellbottoms.

Christina on the left as a flapper. Don't know the gangster on the right. Christina and I met at the dog park circa 2003.

I don't know catwoman.

Ami, Christina's husband, as a ghoul of some sort in lederhosen. Perhaps Hans the vampire?? (Christina & Ami are the couple I married on 4th of July.)

Rikki as the mad hatter. Met Ricky at dogpark.

Cupid, don't know her either.

Cupid's husband the rockstar.

Cavewoman, another unknown.

The house is pretty dark - most light from candles or seasnal lightening; however, the camera performed pretty well.

Steve & Natalie. Dog park friends.

Gary & Craig. Met Gary at dog park before he met Craig.

Christina goes all out, indoors and out, decorating for this party. I wish I would have taken photos of just her handiwork :) Maybe next year.

I Did It!

I performed my first marriage ceremony yesterday and it almost went off without a hitch. Luckily the only hitch was something no one else would even have noticed. The bride is my friend Christina and her new husband Ami seemed to enjoy the ceremony and the dinner party after. The fireworks were fantastic! We saw them from three different places.

The wedding was supposed to be at the Florida Botanical Gardens but we had rain that could best be described as a monsoon. So, the ceremony was changed to the restaurant where the dinner was served. Even driving into that parking lot we had to cross a river of runoff.

The food was remarkable. It started with 4 appetizers (conch fritters, pot stickers, calamari rings, and skewered pork with peanut sauce) and then we had a choice of salmon, stuffed chicken, mixed grill, or two sizes of sirloin steak. Jerry chose the mixed grillw hich included lamb chops, a skewer or terrikayi steak, and shrimp. I had the smaller steak but it more than I could eat even though it was delicious. The entrees came with wasabi mashed potatoes or this very light, delicate rice. We will be going back to that restaurant again for sure.

What's For Dinner? Cake!

This is what I had for dinner...well, not literally this cake, but cake. Went with my friend Christina, who is getting married on July 4th, to do a taste test at the bakery after work. She wanted a vanilla cake but wanted to taste some fillings. She went wtih a really tasty and creamy filling called French cream which turned out to be a mixture of Bavarian cream and whipped cream. Yummy. I also liked the fresh strawberries in a glaze. Actually a combination of both the French cream and the strawberries would pretty much be perfecto!

Did i mention that I would be performing her wedding ceremony? Yup, Florida is one of eleven states where Notaries can perform weddings. This will be my first and I believe I am more nervous about this than the bride! LOL

Green Thumb Sunday - Poolside

WARNING: If you are one of those unforunate people who is having a wet, cold summer so far, you may want to pass on reading this entry. If you do choose to proceed, don't blame me if you charge an airline ticket to a tropical vacation on your credit card ;)


It's so hot here in central Florida that our pool water is OVER 90 degrees. Sitting here on the porch under a ceiling fan helps a lot but the pool is the real star during these pre-rainy season hot days. After years of inviting people to drop by to use the pool we actually had two people take us up on it!

I was a little embarrassed when my friend Christina and her fiance came because the pool garden is SO overgrown - so much so that you can't even walk around the perimeter of the pool. It is WAY to hot and humid to fix it now. That is my story and I am sticking to it!

See? Bad gardener, BAD gardener. It's to the point where you are in danger of being "pushed" in by the foliage if you try to trim it. It's like it's alive and exhibiting a self preservation technique.

Later today (when the sun goes on the other side of the house) my Cousins Erica & Sarah are coming over to swim a.k.a. cool off.

Here's a decent shot of Woody enjoying the hot sun. Eddie spent most of his time hunting in the overgrowth, Daisey loves the sun and lays out on the patio everyday, but Woody tends to stay inside and venture out for only moments at a time. It was a neighbor's barking dog that got hiss attention and caused him to hang out for a few minutes.

Can you believe these plants? A little water and some sun and they try to take over! LOL

Do you see Daisey in this photo? She tries to stay away humans when we are in or around the pool. She doesn't appreciate the pleasure of a swim. I guess we really need to get some professional help for this yard because so many of the plants are now huge and unmanageable.