VW Camper Van - Florida Or Bust

OK I said I had something which I wanted to share with you.  Well here it is a trip around Florida, in a VW Bus, the Westfalia.  It will be one of the VW's below, either Green, Orange or Beige.  They also had a Vanagon, but both Rob and I agreed that we like the older ones.

We will be staying at State Parks around Florida.  I have not been to Florida for over twenty years and Rob has never been.  We are not going to Disney World and all those amusement parks, we're just going to see Florida, spend time in the State Parks, and some even right on the beach.

We hope to see the Everglades and maybe do a little canoeing or kayaking, if I can get my mind around those alligators.  Also Burmese pythons that were let loose and now invade the Everglades, apart from that I'm alright.

Do you like the Green, Beige or Orange?  I'm open as we do not know which one we will get.  We have two weeks to just take our time and drive around.  We are flying down, non-stop so that is great as it is a very long drive to Florida for us around 25 hours.

First of all we were going to drive to Florida and camp, but we wanted to rent a vehicle, our vehicles are getting too old for that kind of drive.  And as only Rob and I are going it is just too much for me to drive all the way down there; rentals do not allow drives under 21 to 25 years old.

Then we said well we'd fly, but we so wanted to camp, we had our hearts set on that.  When I looked at hotels in our price range, the reviews on them were all nasty, so I was wondering what in the earth are we going to do, when I came up with the idea of a Camper Van, which kills two birds with one stone, renting a vehicle and a place to stay.  But I don't like those modern camper vans, so when I found these old VWs to rent, I was so happy.  Rob is totally into it too.

So maybe this will be us.

Or this.

We hope to take lots of photos, Rob too and he also wants to do some filming.  So will share our travels with you.  May even find some Internet connections on our travels.

Will keep you posted.

Christy

Victorian Tea At The Clifton House

As I drive to work I pass the Clifton House, last week I saw a sign outside Victorian Tea, but totally forgot about it until last Friday, when I phoned.  Saturday evening after a busy day I went to bed early and who phones but the lady who is organizing the Tea for the Historical Society, she asked if I was still interested and said it was on Sunday, yikes.  So I said yes I was, unfortunately not enough time to get together with a friend, but I did go and it was fun.

 

This is the Clifton House, and at one time the road outside used to be called The King's Highway, probably pre-revolution, I don't think too many roads or places remained the King's anything after the revolution.

Here are some of the ladies who organized it.

One of the two rooms used for the Victorian Tea.

We even had a butler.  Somehow he reminded me of the Mad Hatter, or is it the Rabbit, with that great big watch.

I didn't have enough time to remotely pull together anything Victorian, with such little time to think about it.  I might have worn a hat.  I think they are having another Tea in the Autumn, so will prepare more dress wise and invite a friend or two along.

Sandwiches partly eaten.

A little shortbread Scottie and delicious deserts.

The hard working ladies in the kitchen.  isn't that a lovely old kitchen, yes I would love an old kitchen like that.

Me in a dressed up mode in our garden.  See those earrings, Trifari, in the 50 cent box, at the thrift, so fifties, I just love them.

The blossoming trees this spring have been beautiful.  I think because we did not have a very warm snap then cold, which tends to kill the blossoms, it's just been plain cold, but good for the buds.

Yamaha FZR 600 R Yoshimura Slip On

Rob's old motor bike see here

Rob's Get Fit Initiative

Rob's get fit initiative video here

Profile Of A BMW 318TI Owner

Rob had to make a short video for his Media class.

You can view it here

I think he did a pretty good job.

Several freinds helped him.  Going out to the country to film out of the side door of his friends mini van.

It's all about camera work, lighting, sound and editing.

So I asked when he's going to do one of his mum.

Christy

Largest Knitted Poem

 

Do you remember the wool shop of your youth?  Growing up in a village in England, this pretty much looked like the one my mum would buy wool at.  As you opened the door the bell would ring out, and the lady would step out through the doorway from the darkness.

The World's Biggest Knitted Poem here

 

In My Craft or Sullen Art

 

In my craft or sullen art

Exercised in the still night

When only the moon rages

And the lovers lie abed

With all their griefs in their arms,

I labour by singing light

Not for ambition or bread

Or the strut and trade of charms

On the ivory stages

But for the common wages

Of their most secret heart.

Not for the proud man apart

From the raging moon I write

On these spindrift pages

Nor for the towering dead

With their nightingales and psalms

But for the lovers, their arms

Round the griefs of the ages,

Who pay no praise or wages

Nor heed my craft or art.

 

Dylan Thomas

Christy

Baby Bunnies

I found this in my old filed photos.  I did not take it, but my, does that bring a smile to my face, baby bunnies.

Christy

My Spring Garden

Oh!  The joys of ones hands in the soil, why does that feel so good?  I would get a pedicure, not that I ever have but I would like one, but a manicure would be totally lost on me, it wouldn't last any time at all.  I know many call the above cowslips, but I always knew them as peggles, but when I looked it up I couldn't find that name but it must have been a colloquial name.

 I always wish for more blooms in my garden, but I'm happy with what I do have.

When my friends mum sold her house a while ago now, and it was bought by a business, she said come and take what ever you want, plant wise from the garden and this is where most of my primulas came from.

One lonely tulip, I really must plant more.

This is a blooming shrub, can't remember what it's called.

Celandines are everywhere.  When I come past the old mill from work, the woods are carpeted with them near the creek.  These are a few in my garden.

Some seed planting and a new little plastic green house, as our spring is prooving to be quite cool.

 My cherry tree.

And a little violet, that grow where they think.

My little joyful patch.

Christy

P.S.  I did plant my raspberry bush, or should I say stick.  We'll see what happens there.  I planted two before and they did nothing.

P.P.S.  Still have to share my news in reference to The Boy and I