Singer Island visitors in February

Catching up on some of recent trips to FL. Don and I came down for two weeks at the end of Feb. We worked from the condo for part of the weeks and enjoyed a couple of long weekends. 

Carolyn and Jim were visiting her dad near Orlando and came down for a quick visit. Great to see them down here. This Carolyn was my roommate at Western and for a year afterwards ... and my Matron of Honour! She's now a Vice Principal at a Burlington school. Jim is a music prof at U of T.

The following weekend was a mini Nestle reunion - not the full gang - but a nice contingent! Craig and Linda were down the entire week, staying near Orlando, and Steve and Vera drove over from Fort Myers where they live for the season.

Both got the first-day tradition: Walk to the inlet, up the inlet to the walkway and over to the Sailfish Marina for breakfast. A route and destination that never fails to please! And it never gets old for us.

P.S. One more visitor in Feb:
A big fur ball who was good company until we started cleaning and preparing for our March rental.

And a photo of an interesting couple we spotted by the mall - couldn't resist:

Christmas 2013 - In Ontario

Christmas morning we drove to Mississauga in time to enjoy a Christmas dinner with Mom at the Marriott again. It was very nice, although we missed the Walnut Creek family!

The next day - Boxing Day - was Toronto Marlie day at the ACC! We had a bunch of seats all booked together and enjoyed a good game with free ball caps, followed by a post-game drink at the Real Sports Bar for the >19 years olds, and a shopping spree at the Real Sports clothing store for the <19 and="" nbsp="" p="" parents="" their="">

The following day, we were back at our fav morning coffee spot, Tim's, with our fav coffee drinker, who is now a whiz on her tablet, which was a gift from Christmas 2012.

And then we were off to Ingersoll for some Gill family Christmas cheer at Kathy's home!

Don & I, sisters Barb & Kathy with chocolate earrings, Doug & Barb
Delicious turkey dinner a la chef Kathy!

Having fun with "kids" and post-dinner antics!

24 and there's so much more ...

Bryan turned 24 years old this past week! Since everyone was in a different town last weekend, we celebrated this weekend. Carolyn and Tommy joined us from PSU. And we had a short overnight visitor, Andrew (a friend of Bryan's from school who is recently engaged).

It was a beautiful spring Saturday - perfect for a late afternoon fire. This was followed by a delicious tuna dinner, thanks to chef Don, and a creative birthday cake, thanks to baker & icer, Carolyn.

Happy 24th Birthday Bry! 24 candles throw off a lot of light!

 On Sunday, today, Bryan started his first batch of homemade beer. Here's hoping its a success!

Christmas Eve - 2013

Celebrating Christmas Eve at home before an early start for Ontario on Christmas morning - gifts, good food, fine wine, fun, and best of all, being together.

Thanksgiving 2013 - One more photo

Love this photo of Don with the VT gang, taken during the annual tree trimming party.

Annette, Barbara, Don & Cathy

Thanksgiving 2013 - Florida

We all managed to meet in Florida for Thanksgiving. Carolyn & Tommy drove down from PSU, Don & Bryan drove down from NJ and I flew down and drove back. We surprised Carolyn by bringing Toby down too, so we were really all together!

Couple of SI firsts on this visit ... first time having Tommy with us -

First day breakfast tradition at the Sailfish Marina - bird attack in 2nd photo

And first time seeing a pelican grab a fish too big for his gullet. This poor pelican tried and tried but could not swallow the fish. It was also too stubborn to let the fish go, despite its distress and the fish's flopping.

We could clearly see the too-large fish in his beak.

Dinner & Trivia Contest at the Tiki Bar at Riviera Beach

Toby - claiming his space under the coffee table on our new rug.

It was a great week. Lots to be thankful for.

PSU Visit in Nov 2013

Still back blogged ...

We took advantage of our last time to see a PSU football game while we still have a child attending - Carolyn's senior fall semester. It is also the first year that PSU has a D1 NCAA hockey team playing in a new arena. So we had a PSU sports weekend with our Kinnelon friends who also have a child at PSU and who are also hockey fans (who we practically lived with for 4 years while our sons played on the same travel and high school team). Friday night was hockey night in State College (vs UMass-Lowell) and Saturday was football game day (vs Purdue).

Carolyn & Don at Pegula Ice Rink - this photo is from October 2013
Saw our first game here in November

Next day, off to the PSU football game with Marty & Jennie Huber - a beautiful mild November day

Dinner that night with Carolyn's roommate, Kim, who is bound for Rutgers Law School this fall