Old Port Cove to Riviera Beach ~ 6 Day Stay

Friday, 1/17/20 ~ Dog was walked and anchor up by 7:50. The winds that were predicted, arrive around 4 this morning.  As we leave they are probably 15-18 mph out of the SSW.

Sunrise in Old Port Cove

     Riviera Beach Marina sent an e-mail this morning stating that the dock hands will be available by 8 AM.  Attached was a diagram of the marina with an arrow showing our path through the marina and into slip N 45, our assigned slip.  What a great idea!  We radioed in and the dock hands were waiting to help up dock.  Even with the winds, it was an easier docking as the current was slack. 9:10 AM we are secure in the dock for the next 5 days.

Better to check our the bikinis!

 
     The Marina Office is now located on the fuel dock.  It is a beautiful and modern office and ship's store, but it is also quite a hike all the way around the marina. It is more than a 1/2 mile. The bath house and laundry is still in the same place.

Screen shot from Passage Weather
These are the winds predicted for 7 PM tonight

      Pete arranged for a rental car at 4, so we can head back to Ft. Pierce to shuttle our car down. Until then, he had some work to clean up and I did some reading after a few chores on board.
      Winds have continued to build as predicted.  The boat has actually healed in the dock. Winds are gusting to about 35 mph and will continue through Saturday.
      We were picked up around 4 for the rental. We were up at Fort Pierce by 5:30. As we pulled into the parking lot, we met up with Janet and Robert.  We felt bad that we hadn't had a chance to say good-by when we left on Wednesday.  We will stay in touch and maybe meet up down in the Keys.
      We were back at the boat by 9. Dog was walked and we called it a day.

WIND Today

Saturday, 1/18/20 ~ It was very comfortable sleeping with the hatches open. Well, that was until it started to rain.  It was only a shower, but there might be more.  Around 4 AM the winds must have been steady at 30 with gusts 35-40, but they lessened by 8 and continued to lessen throughout the day.  By 5, the winds had dropped down to 10-15.
     Pete took advantage of the drop in winds to bathe Bailey.  She is now fluffy and sweet smelling, but shedding like crazy!.

1600 Horses!

     We are docked next to a 40 foot open fishing boat, with 4 - 400 hp outboard engines. They came in around 5 PM with 10 sailfish flags flying. Two of the crew were fishing while docking. Within 10 minutes they had another six, large fish to add to the bait box. Two of the lines caught at the same time! This Thursday, Friday and Saturday was the Sailfish Fishing Tournament.  They told Pete that the seas were rough with 14+ ft. seas. At one point they were completely airborne over a wave and slammed down in the trough. They were so lucky none of the 6 crew were tossed overboard as it is a completely open fishing boat.
      
 
     I spent most of the afternoon, writing the blog.  I made great progress.  I hope to be caught up before we leave on Wednesday.  I am getting close!

Sunday, 1/19/20 ~ After breakfast, I scrubbed the bathroom and exercised. After lunch, Pete went to do laundry.
     I spent the rest of the day on the blog.  I am just about caught up.  Tomorrow I will reread what I have written and put in the photos.  Hopefully, all but this entry will be up on the blog tomorrow.
     I was so focused on the blog, I forgot that this afternoon, they have the Farmer's Market and Band Competition.  I heard the music, but assumed it was from the boats over on Peanut Island.  I feel bad that I missed the Market again.  When we were here last time, I went up thinking that it was in the morning.  We left before it got under way in the afternoon.  I will have to be more aware of activities around the marinas.  I will maker sure that I put it in my calendar with a reminder next time we are here on a Sunday!
     After dinner, Pete had a call from George, SV BAYWIND.  George said "Someone here wants to say Hello!"  Pete, with a rather quizzical look on his face, said OK  It turns out that Lisa and Jim from SV SEAFORTH are at the same marina in Canaveral as George and Lisa as well as Debbie and Hugh, SV SIMPLICITY. Lisa and Jim met both couples and only today found that we are also friends.  I think it is cool that our friends are beginning to overlap! We've known Lisa and George for at least 14+ years though our sailing club on the Chesapeake;  Deb and Hugh from Stock Island Marina 2 years ago, Lisa and Jim in River Dunes, Oriental, NC, also 2 years ago.  It was great to catch up with them. Hopefully, we will be crossing paths in the not too distant future.
     Just as we were going to watch the Downton Abby Movie, we heard fireworks.  Just south of here there was a great 25 minute constant, multiple display. Then we watched the movie.  We really enjoyed the final chapter of the PBS Show.

Monday, 1/20/20 ~ We have been keeping an eye on the weather forecasts.  Wednesday is not looking good for departure. The winds are supposed to increase and be steady between 25 and 30 mph, with higher gusts.  I spoke with the Marina Office and was able to book an extra day.  We will leave on Thursday, when things calm down.
     While Pete was busy with work, I headed over to Publix to finish provisioning.  I just want to make sure that I have everything we need as we will not have access to a grocery store for 10 days. The yogurt, fruit, cold cuts, bread and dog food were my priorities. Once back, I once again used the scientific method of organizing, packing the refrigerator.
     Once done, we headed down to Delray Beach. We are having a final dinner with Ann and Howie. Pete had hoped to stop at the UPS store to return stuff to Amazon before meeting up. Unfortunately, this return required the Return Shipping label, which he did not have on him. Instead, we went over to Walmart to pick up the dog's food. They usually carry the large bags of Blue Buffalo, but all they had were the 25 pound bags. That will definitely keep Bailey fed until we are in Key West.
     We decided to head to Taverna Trela, formerly Zorba's Greek Restaurant. They moved into larger quarters and Chef Robert Irvine, of  the TV show "Restaurant Impossible," helped them turn things around. They just opened 4 days ago.  The staff is still getting into the routine,  Service was slow, but the wait was worth it. All the food was delicious.  From the home made Hummus and Pita bread, to the Greek meatballs, my Gyro, Pete and Ann's Moussaka, and Howie's Kebabs. The Baklava was delicious and not swimming in honey!

Tuesday, 1/21/20 ~ Pete was busy with work this morning.  He was flush and feeling feverish. We checked and he had no fever, but his blood pressure was elevated.  We decided to check it out  Everything was good, except the elevated BP, which had fallen as time when on. It remained elevated just enough to warrant some medication and a followup appointment.
     The winds are continuing to increase and the temperatures are not climbing as usual.  We have stayed in the 60's but with the winds, it seems colder.  Waves are splashing onto the north docks.

Not a good time to be out in the Atlantic and in the Bahamas

Wednesday, 1/22/20 ~ The winds continue, but the temperatures have fallen. It was 42 this morning.  The National Weather Service in Miami had issued an unofficial "Falling Iguana" Warning. Apparently, they are cold-blooded and when the temperatures drop to 40, they go into a form of hibernation. This report actually made the National News.
       I went to the closest LabCorps, which was on the west side of 95 on North Lake Avenue.  As I pulled into the side street, I suddenly realized that this was the same strip mall as Lola's Seaford.  I called Pete after my lab visit to tell him where I was.  Needless to say, we had a delicious Lobster Rolls for lunch.
     After lunch, I continued working on the blog, Pete ran the final errands, UPS, Walgreen's, and his follow-up with the MD Now Urgent Care. I also filled up the water tanks and had the dock hands do the pump out.
    The high today was 59 with winds 20-25 and damp!  The cold definitely chills to the bone. It is cold for this area and for us.  We have become Floridians with thin blood. We might have to put down the enclosure in the morning.  The winds continue to drop, but the temps will still below and rain is a possibility.
     Well, I have finally caught up.  I will complete this entry and post tonight!  Unfortunately, the next time I post will probably be from Stock Island Marina in Key West.
     Good night all!

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~  P & K

Fort Pierce to Old Port Cove, North Palm Beach ~ 2 Days

Wednesday, 1/15/20 ~ Bailey was walked as I prepped for departure. Once Pete and Bailey were on board, lines were released and I pushed off. It was 8:16 AM. It is a mild, clear and calm morning.

 Calm, bright morning and cool reflections on the water ~ & a  determined fisherman
              


     Traffic on the ICW was fairly light.  We were only passed by 4 other boats. We had discussed doing an outside jump to West Palm Beach, but it is another hour to head north to the Old Port Cove Anchorage.  We might as well enjoy the scenery from the ICW.  The only negative is the 7 bridges. We had between a 5- and a 25-minute wait for the bridges. Everyone was polite and passages uneventful.

Sights along the ICW ~ Big homes, colorful flowers, big boats,& lots of toys~
        

        

    

    

       
     We were able to drop anchor at 5:30 PM. We secured and immediately headed to shore.  Bailey needed to be walked, but more importantly I needed to walk to Publix for NyQuil, Pete has a cough that is troublesome once he lies down. We wanted to be back aboard before darkness fell. We made it with about 10 minutes to spare.
     It was such a beautiful night, we ate in the cockpit, then just enjoyed the view.

Thursday, 1/16/20 ~ We are staying put today. We relaxed and read for most of the day. I got in a hour of exercise before joining Pete in the cockpit. It is a beautiful day with pleasant breezes, but that is going to change. As dusk fell the winds died, but they are due to return in just a few hours.
     We relaxed and read for most of the day. I got in a hour of exercise before joining Pete in the cockpit. We watched about 10 boats come in to anchor to ride out the winds due to start overnight.  Using Passage Weather, it appears, that this area will be experiencing winds of 25-30 mph and waves off shore of about 12-15 feet. 
      Pete spoke with Riviera Beach Marina.  It will not be a problem to come in early.  The plan is to be anchor up and heading out by 8 AM.

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~  P & K

~ Stay in Fort Pierce ~ Week 8

Sunday, 1/5/20 ~ The weather wasn't that great today.  Pete decided to put in a few hours to get ahead on a project.  Once done he was able to enjoy the football games. It was quarterfinals. We were glad NE Patriots were knocked out, but unfortunately, so were the Philadelphia Eagles.
     I used the time to process some of the photos and prep more of the blog.  I even managed to post a couple.

Monday, 1/6/20 ~ Pete was busy all day.  I tried to do the laundry.  Unfortunately, only 1 of the 2 washers is working.  I went up 3 times and all three times there was a wait. No laundry today.
     We and Bailey left around 5:30 PM to head up to Cape Canaveral to see the night time launch of the Titan Rocket.  We were early and drove around Coco Beach before stopping to wait in a Mac Donald's parking lot. We were going to go to the viewing area and were in line, until we realized that tickets or military passes were needed.  We turned around and headed to one of the causeway islands.  We were one of many who were interested in the launch.  We could only park close to the causeway as the cars were already 4 deep.  We found a great place to watch.  I was all set with my camera and tripod, but I couldn't get it to work,  So once again I fell back to my trusty small camera that also comes with a phone.  We had trees blocking the view of the ground around the launch, but within seconds, a fireball cleared the trees and we watched her climb until she flamed out. The sound from this launch was dramatically more that then launch we saw of the Falcon Heavy Rocket, but Pete said it was nothing like the Shuttle Launch, which was simply unbelievably loud and vibrated one's organs.
NASA photographer got a great shot of te liftoff.  I filmed the ball of fire as it climbed ~
          Totally Awesome!

Tuesday, 1/7/20 ~ We were up early as we had an appointment with my Cardiologist in Miami at noon.  He was pleased that I didn't gain as much weight as I thought and understood my lack of exercise this past fall.  We set up appointments for the end of February to repeat the Echo cardiogram and check my pacemaker.
      We decided to meet Ann and Howie halfway between Ft. Pierce and Delray Beach. Lola's Seafood Eatery is located in Palm Beach Gardens. They have the most delicious Lobster Rolls. We had a fun and delicious visit.

Wednesday, 1/8/20 ~ This morning something weird happened to my phone. I heard Pete get up and checked my watch. It was 7 am.  OK, I could catch a few more winks. The mechanic is not due until 9:30.  I must have dozed as Pete woke me saying that the mechanic will be here in less than an hour. I checked my watch again It was 7:40.  I told Pete we still have time.  "No we don't! It is 8:40."  Needless to say I argued, but grumpily got up. Somehow my phone decided to switch to Central Mountain Time. Go figure!  I thankfully was dressed, when the mechanic arrived at 8:50.  After introductions between Pedro, Pedro, Pete and I, Pete wanted me gone.
     I grabbed my breakfast, the laundry and headed to Sunshine Laundromat.  I figure with lots of machines I wouldn't have a hard time finding 2 available machines. they must have had 40 machines of varying sizes.  Today was my lucky day, Wednesday the smaller machines are just $1.99.  They and about 8 driers will take quarters, They too, are discounted. For the rest, you need to buy a card for $1.00 and put money on the card. Since this was the only time I will be using their machines, I decided to use the quarters. I used 3 washers and 2 driers. I was done in less that 90 minutes.

     

I found art work near the museum during my walk

        The mechanics were done before me.  They put in the bracket, made the adjustments, and told Pete to ground the heat exchanger as it should be and wasn't currently. He also gave Pete the name of a local battery store that would give a discount if he used Pedro's name, as well as a place in Annapolis to have the generator worked on. (Apparently, there is coolant in the cylinders which is why it diesels and can't generate sufficient power.  We can't use it so we will have that look at once we are back on the Chesapeake.)
     Once back, I contacted Verizon Tech Support. She was wonderful and within a half hour we had the issue with my phone corrected.  Unfortunately, I needed to repeat the process a second time in order to permanently correct the time problem.

     As I walked up to the bathhouse, these two photo opportunities happened ~ The fire department was doing familiarization on the dock, while the heron just wanted to chill on a soft spot.
          
   
     As if one electronic problem wasn't enough, Pete's computer keyboard refused to work.  Thankfully, he has a separate keyboard that did work in time for his conference call.
     Around 4 we headed up to Cape Canaveral to meet with Deb and Hugh from SV SIMPLICITY.  With traveling and business commitments, it has been too long.  Deb made reservations at a local restaurant in Canaveral called Sage Bistro, a great farm-to-table with delicious offerings. I had a Salmon on rice pilaf with grilled asparagus that was fantastic, Pete had Beef Bourguigon over home-made egg noodles, Hugh~  Lamb Pot Roast with Parmasian potatoes, and roasted vegetables, while Deb had Mushroom Risotto with beef sirloin and Gorgonzola crema. Everyone enjoyed the good food with great friends.  Too soon, we had to head back.

Sunrise this morning

Thursday, 1/9/20 ~ Pete's day was full with work. I was able to do some light cleaning, but due to a headache, laid down for a nap.

Friday, 1/10/20 ~ Pete said my wardrobe was looking less than stellar. He encouraged me to see about some new clothes.  I didn't need any more encouragement.  I headed to the Outlet mall not far from Fort Pierce.  Once there I realized it was a square with the shops outlining the parking lot.  I figured I would start at one corner and work myself around.  I saw the Nike store and figured I would stat at the store next to it.  Due to the trees, I didn't know it was Chico's until I started to cross the street.  Well, 2 hours later, I had a pair of dress, wrinkle-free, black dress pants, a dressy, lace and satin jacket, 2 long sleeve tops, and 2 short sleeve tops.  All for 35% off!
     Soo...I didn't visit any other Outlet store. I did need to pick up vitamins at GNC and a few item from Publix. Since they were all at the same shopping center I headed there next.  I also found a Beal's store and decided to just take a look to see if they might have any shirts for Pete.  I also had to pass the women's department and found another 2 tops for me.  Unfortunately they did not have anything that would work for Pete.
      Once back, I put away the food, quickly modeled my new wardrobe, which Pete approved.

Sunshine, Rain and Rainbows.

Saturday, 1/11/20 ~ When we first woke, it was raining, Thankfully it subsided and we were able  to head over to the Farmer's Market.  The OJ, Bear Claw for Pete and the Almond Croissant for me were great.  They did not have any Cinnamon Raisin Bread, so I bought a loaf of Rye Bread.

We drove past the SEAL Museum

     Pete needed a haircut so we headed to Super Cuts. I waited in the car while he went in.  He was in and out in less than 20 minutes.  Since we haven't explored, we decided to ride up to Melbourne and take A1A south along the shore line.  It was a nice ride, but very little water views. We traveled it south all the way to the Ft. Pierce inlet.
     After dinner we settled in to watch the Titans play #1 seed, Baltimore Ravens. Everyone was sure Baltimore would be in the Super Bowl. It an amazing turn of fortune, Baltimore played the worst game of the season,  Titans beat them 28-6.

Sunday, 1/12/20 ~ After breakfast I helped as Pete replaced the water pump.  Slowly , over the past year, the grinding noise of the pump has gotten louder,  Janet actually jumped when it made noise during our dinner with her and Robert last weekend.
     After cleaning up, showering and reading for a short while, we headed back to Melbourne.  It is a halfway point between here and Cape Canaveral. Friends from CCYC, Lisa and George of SV BAYWIND, are at the same marina as Deb and Hugh.   They just returned from up north and this was our chance to catch up. We met at Grills Riverside Deck and Tiki Bar. It has been a long time since we have been able to get together. WE didn't lack for conversation.  The food was delicious, Lisa had Shark Kabobs, Pete and George had the Cat 5 Hurricane Cheeseburger (with bacon, frilled onions, mushrooms, lettuce, tomato pickle and mayo), while I had the Smothered Island Yard Bird Chicken - (breast smothered with mushrooms, bacon, grilled onions, Swiss cheese and honey mustard.) We also had the Tahiti Taters, which were potato wedges with bacon and melted cheese.  Everything was outrageously good!  Once again it was time to say our good-bys.

Monday, 1/13/20 ~ Pete has a couple hours of work, so I ran a few errands, processed photos from Christmas.
      For dinner, we enjoyed our leftover Tahiti Taters with steak, then headed to the movies. The kids have given us gift certificates to the movies and dinner. Tonight we saw Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.  The story took a while to get started as there was a lot of setting the players in place.  The acting was so-so. But the ending, though predictable, was good.  We and the kids feel that there might be another story line to now follow.  We will see.  We saw the first one back in 1977 and every one since. We weren't going to allow the series to finish without seeing it to the end.

Tuesday, 1/14/20 ~ I had ordered Bailey's medication on Saturday, and the new person I had spoken with told me that it would be shipped out later that day.  She called this morning to confirm the mailing address.  Instead of Fort Pierce Marina, I gave her Riviera Beach Marina address.  Pete was able to make reservations for this Friday to next Wednesday, so we have a good place to ride out the heavy winds predicted for then.  We also realized that instead of 10 days we had 16 days before we are due to arrive in Key West.  This will be a good layover, especially since Las Olas Marina has no openings until February 1st.
     Leaving tomorrow would be a problem if we were to leave this dock as we sit across the current.  With the incoming tide, we are pinned against the dock.  It would be impossible to leave. Since the harbormaster knew our plans, he moved us at slack tide to another dock just for the night. It is not a floating dock, but Bailey has no problem getting on and off.

Our last sunset in Ft. Pierce

     Just as we were getting ready to leave our old dock, Robert was heading out. He was excited as he and Janet were heading over to close on the condo.  We congratulated them and wished them well. I am just sorry I missed Janet.  I'll send her a note.
     We are all set to leave around 8 tomorrow morning.  This has been a great place to stay.  If we can, I hope we can spend December here.  I would like to see the local festivities for the holidays.  We'll see. . . .

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~   P & K

~ Stay in Fort Pierce ~ Week 7

Sunday, 12/29/19 ~   After a few days of beautiful sunshine and mild temperatures, the weather turned raw with heavy rains this morning.
     We had put all the car stuff into laundry baskets before taking it for the detailing yesterday.  Now, we need to put it all back into the new car. You know, the important things like: flash lights, tool bag, tissues, paper towels, dog's travel bag, eye glass cleaner, emery boards, Skittles.  They all need to be in logical places.
    Simultaneously, I also did a load of laundry prior to packing to make things easier once we get back to PEKABU.  So we also packed up our bags and loaded everything we could in advance of our 2 AM departure tomorrow morning.
     Once back, Chris, Kel and the kids headed out to a neighbors to watch some of the football post-season games. We watched the game while I made meatloaf dinner.
     The Crew came back around 6. After dinner, the girls had their baths and headed to bed.  We also headed up early and gave our good-by hugs. We will be gone when they wake in the morning.
 
Monday, 12/30/19 ~  The alarm went off at 1:30 AM as planned. I got up to go to the bathroom. As I opened the bedroom door Rubble rushed into the room. In the process he pushed the door so hard it banged. I though for sure the whole house would wake.  Thankfully, they didn't.
     We were out and on the road at 2 AM.  We never drove home from PA wanting to get on 95 so we were relying on GPS taking the most direct route.  We hadn't taken into consideration the fog, rain and the winding, back roads.  It was a slow 50 minutes to get to 95.  It would have been easier, faster and safer to take Rt. 896 South to 95.  Easier to see deer, too!
     There were only a couple of dense, heavy, fog patches along 95, but the rains were pretty heavy until we were south of Baltimore.  From there to about Richmond there were intermittent showers.
By the time the sun rose around 7, the showers had stopped and the trip continued with heavy overcast.  In North Carolina, we got stuck in 2-45 minuted delays due to minor accidents, but traffic was heavy.  For the rest of the trip, traffic remained heavy, but moved at, mostly, a decent pace.
    It was closed to 8 PM when we were approaching Ft. Pierce.  We decided to head to the next exit and grab Chick-Fil-A for dinner before unloading the car.
     Once back at the marina, the car was unloaded, placed on board where it would not interfere with or getting to bed, and then into the showers for us. We are tired, but have a week full of great memories heading to end 2019.
   
Tuesday, 12/31/19 ~ We were up by 9. After breakfast, all that stuff we schleped onto the boat last night needed to be put away.
     After chillin' for some of the afternoon, we dressed and headed to Ann and Howie's.  We were joining them for dinner and a Casino Night.
     Dinner started at 8, with waiters bring around appetizers of Tempura Shrimp, Beef Enchiladas, and Bacon Wrapped Scallops. Once drink orders were taken, we went over to the buffet. The variety and preparation of the "Tapas" servings was fabulous. Soups, salads, Shrimp, Scallops, Sea Bass, Beef Tenderloin, Lobster, along with delicious sides.  Then there was the desserts!
     After dinner, there was music from a DJ and a dance floor with cabaret seating on part of the floor, while other areas hosted Black Jack, Craps, Poker and One-Armed Bandits. Only fake money was used, but a good time was had by all.

It is hard to get photos of fireworks
when traveling at 70 mph on 95.

      Tiredness was catching up for Howie, Ann, Pete and I by 11 PM. We opted to head back to Ann and Howie's for a short while, but decided at 11:30 to head back to Ft. Pierce.  It is an hour and a half ride.   As we traveled along 95 north, the closer to midnight we got, the more we saw fireworks here and there, on both sides of 95.  At midnight, the most spectacular display of fireworks erupted on both sides of us, it seemed from every other house for miles.  The amazing display lasted about 20 minutes and 25 miles! I even spotted a number of drones, which I am sure were filming the show from above it.  Even though they were illegal, I would love to see the video.
     We finally were settled in for the night at 2 AM.  That's when it dawned on me that 24 hours ago we started our drive back to Florida.
     Well, it is now 2020. Our New Year's wish for all is that this year be best year yet!

Wednesday, 1/1/20 ~ Today was a scheduled "lazy day."  I got to watch the Rose Bowl Parade while Pete picked up a few necessities from the grocery store.  Then it was time for the football game.  I don't remember who played as I drifted to sleep before it started.  The nap was great.

Thursday, 1/2/20 ~ Pete had work so I was able to get in my exercise.

One of the regulars
 on the dock.

     He contacted the mechanic, who is still waiting on the part.  After a call to the supplier, the mix-up was identified and the part was shipped.  It should be in tomorrow.
     One thing Pete has been monitoring carefully, is the house batteries.  About 3 weeks ago, he noticed that the locker containing the batteries was warm.  It shouldn't be.  He checked the cells and found one cell was almost dry.  Not Good!  He has been monitoring them ever since.  They are loosing a charge faster and faster, even with the load reduced. Currently the only things using battery power are the water pump, shower pump and sump pump.  Everything else is on shore power.  We will need to purchase new ones before we leave here.
     While sitting up above, Janet stopped by as she was heading down the dock. As we spoke, I asked what boat was she on.  Her response was: SV EMERALD DRAGON.  I knew she looked familiar!  I told her that we had meet in fall of 2017, while docked in Morehead City Marina, NC in the laundry room.  They had reserve the loaner car and it was doubtful that their laundry would be done in time.  I offered to fold it once it was dried. She asked if we needed anything form the grocery store.  I asked for a hand of bananas and fresh basil.  She remembered.  We had a good visit and decided to get together on Saturday for dinner.  I offered to make something.  This is one of the reasons we love cruising!

An unwanted visitor
 on our mast.

Friday, 1/3/20 ~ Pete had a full day of work, so I headed down to Ann's to help with the Baby Shower preparations. This will be Ann and Howie's 1st grandchild.   Rich and Carol are to be come parents in March. After grabbing a bite to eat, we settled down to baby shower work.  We make a good team.
     I got back around 5 and already parking was at a premium.  Tonight is First Friday Fest ~ with food trucks, bands, crafts and activities for the kids on the square by the marina. After buying our $1.00 chips, we checked out the foods. Pete decided on Sausage and Peppers while I had a gyro.  Both were delicious.  The Band was great and a good time was had by all.
   
Saturday, 1/4/20 ~ Back to the square we go as Saturday mornings is the Farmer's Market. Some of the same venders are here from last night, while there are a number of bakers, organic farmer, and fresh squeezed orange juice stands, as well as home made spice mixes, granola, jams, soaps, lotions, etc. Oh yea, local honey, too.  Across into the parking area, are the arts and crafts. There are easily 50 tents with all sorts of crafts.  We checked them out as we ate our huge Bear Claws and fresh squeezed OJ. Before we left I picked up red peppers and onions to use with dinner as well as a loaf of French bread.

         
     After getting back to the boat, I straightened up inside while Pete washed the boat. I also had everything prepped for making dinner. Janet and Robert, Pete and I enjoyed the company, dinner and the great dessert Janet created:  Carrot cake with fruit and granola, Yum!
     Robert and Janet are in the process of purchasing a condo in the area.  We hope it works out for them. We definitely plan on keeping in touch.

~ Stay in Fort Pierce ~ Week 6

Chris & Kel's tree

Sunday, 12/22/19 ~ The alarm once again went off at 1:30 AM.  We wash, change, make the bed, check the boat, grab our food bag, the cooler, the dog, our coats and head to the car.  By 2:03 AM we are on our way.
     We have found that 2 AM is the magic time.  By leaving this early, we miss the usually heavy, commuter traffic spots at Jacksonville, Richmond, and DC, whether we are traveling north or south.  We also usually get to our destination between 6 and 7 pm.  We listen to Audible books, which makes the time in the car much more tolerable.  Yes, we do stop for breaks, food and to stretch.
     Today, we had no delays.  Traffic moved well.  We were at Chis and Kel's by 6:30 PM. Kel made her delicious, one-pan, oven roasted Italian chicken, potatoes and string beans. YUM!
     Needless to say, Hadi and Riley are both excited with Christmas just 3 days away. Once they calmed down and headed for bed, we follow their lead about a half hour later.

Monday, 12/23/19 ~ Chris and Kel had work today. The girls were spending the day at Kel's Mom for the day with some of the other grand kids.

Ryder watching from
 his new favorite spot!

     We headed to Delaware to spend the day with Pete's Mom.  It has been a while since our last visit. She is a truly remarkable 93-year old. She really enjoyed our dinner out at Laurel Pizza. It is not only Mom's favorite, but also the rest of the Bruzik Clan.  We all enjoy the great food. Mom was hoping that we could take her to Walmart for some Christmas Gifts for the girls.  With the crowds and parking, Mom and I stayed in the car while Pete ran in for the 2 presents.
     Once back at the Manor House, we wished Mom a Merry Christmas again and said our good-bys.  She was tired and we had a 2 hour trip back to PA.

Tuesday, 12/24/19 ~  Hadi, Riley and I made the Pineapple Bread Pudding that Pete and I took with us up to my sister, Deneen's.  We made a triple portion knowing that Deneen's husband, Joe's family will also be joining ours.  They are all good eaters.  The continuing comment between Pete and Joe and us wives is:  Will it be a "Steiner portion" (skinny) or a "Murawinski portion" (restaurant sized)?
     Chris, Kel and the Girls headed to Kel's Dad's for Christmas Eve with family, while Pete. Bailey and I headed to NW Jersey to Deneen's. It was a beautiful ride up through the mountains, then across the Delaware Gap & River.  There was even some snow on the north side of the mountains that the sun couldn't warm.
     Bailey had no reservations about being back here, which was good.  That meant that she enjoyed her 3 month stay with Deneen, Joe, Shelby, Julia and their dog, Lizzie.  Shortly after our arrival, Joe's Mom, 2 brothers and their families arrived.  My Mom, Deb, her twins, her son, Jason, Ashley and their son, Eli rounded out the group of 22. The only one who couldn't make it was Joe's sister Aggie, who was under the weather. We miss you, Aggie! Feel better soon!

      

      

            

       
     Dinner was outrageously good.  There some leftovers, but the Pineapple Bread Pudding was gone. The cake from Palisades Park Bakery, as usual, was also a hit. It was a great visit and we finally left around 9:30.

Longwood Gardens and downtown Kennett Square ~
       
     We didn't get back until 12:30 AM.  Hurry to get to bed as the girls won't sleep late in the morning.

Wednesday, 12/25/19 ~  The girls were up around 6, and against their Mom & Dad's orders NOT to go down, they did sneak down to check to see if Santa came.  They returned to stage whisper until everyone was up by 7.
     Santa wanted to make sure that each child got all the toys that Santa's Elves made for them. So, he wrapped his gifts in specific wrapping paper just for Hadi, just for Riley and placed them in specific piles.  Santa also counted to make sure that each of the girls got the same amount of gifts to open.  Once they started, shouts, screams, and "Look!" filled the family room.  Hadi flew through the opening. She was done in less than 5 minutes. Riley took a full 20.  One of Santa's gifts to Riley was a hand blown chicken ornament. (Riley nickname is the "free range chicken" while Hadi is the "climbing monkey.") Riley promptly announced "This isn't a toy! Santa only brings toys!" Even with this small glitch, the girls loved Santa's toys.

        

               

       

        

     Heather soon arrived and it was time for the rest of the presents to be opened. While they were being opened, I made 2 Quiches for breakfast while the chaos continued.  Thankfully, the kitchen and family room are a great room and I was able to still see everything.
     Around noon, Greg and Jenn arrived in a very audible fashion.  They had their car worked on so now "Belle" growled as she arrived.  It was now time for the adults to share gifts. Heather made everyone crocheted Afghans. Chris and Kel's is shades of grey, Jenn and Greg's is Navy and blues, our's is blue and aqua, while the girls have multicolored mixed with purple or pink. Beautiful, warm, ultra soft and cozy!
      Kel's family: Kel's mom, Sandy, her husband, Dan, and her uncle, along with Kyle, Amy and their 3: Kylie, Carter and Cammie. Presents were exchanged and a dinner buffet was set up.

Rubble & Chris

      The kids had a picnic on the floor, while the big people sat at the table,  Once the table was cleared, Greg and Jenn set out the cupcakes they made and helped the kids use the baker' bag to decorate the cupcakes. Needless to say, a great time was had by all.
     By 9, everyone had left except Pete and I. The girls were beginning to crash and burn. We sat and talked a short while before heading up, too!
     Merry Christmas to All!

Sunset over Kennett Square

Thursday, 12/26/19 ~  Pete and I left around 10 to head up to King of Prussia. We met Carolyn at Maggiano's for lunch.  It is always great to catch up.
     Once back, the girls convinced us to watch Toy Story 4 with them.  Just like the others, it was very well done.  Chris and Kel took advantage to pack.  They will be heading up to the cabin tomorrow for the weekend, after Kel's morning appointment. We are staying to watch Rubble as they couldn't get boarding for him due to the holidays.
   
Friday, 12/27/19 ~ The crew headed out around 1 for the weekend.  Since we now had some unexpected time on our hands, we decided to do some window shopping for cars.  My station wagon is 10 years old and has 160,000 miles.  She has been a great car, but age is catching up. Now is the time for research so when the time comes we can easily make a decision.
     We have been talking about it for a while and decided that we would like to go with a certified, pre-owned SUV that offers a quiet and comfortable ride, more rear leg room, slightly more storage and gets decent mileage.  I actually filled both sides of a sheet with hand written notes on most of the SUVs on the market.  I had Consumer Report's listing of the vehicles' reviews from 2013 to 2019, as well as Pro's and Con's as reviewed by Edmonds and Car and Driver.  We were able to knock a number of vehicles off the list based on the findings.
     Based on our research, we headed up Rt, 202 in West Chester to visit various dealer car lots.  . . just to peruse.  Well, you know what happened. . . We came home with a different car.  At the first place we stopped, we found a gently used, well appointed SUV, with a lot less miles that the wagon, and for a very good price.  We did the paper work, shook hands, transferred our stuff from the wagon into the SUV (which was a lot more than we thought), put on temp tags and headed home.
It was after 7.  The dealer was closed, the dogs needed to be walked and fed, we needed to be feed, and, since their shop was also closed, we were invited to return tomorrow so that the detailing could be finished.
     We drove home in this beautiful, comfortable, roomier and quieter vehicle, amazed, with no regrets and not missing the wagon!

Saturday, 12/28/19 ~ After the dogs were fed and let out and we ate our breakfast, we headed back to the dealer to have the detailing completed.  We also mentioned that last night we noticed the headlights were misaligned and the cargo area cover was missing. "No Problem." We sat in comfortable chairs while everything was taken care of.
     On the way home we stopped by Wawa for sandwiches for dinner.  Once back, we binged on most of Season 3 of Stranger Things.  It is really a great series, but we need great internet to watch it.  I wish we had completed the last 3 episodes.  I don't know if we will be able to finish the series tomorrow before the crew returns.