Hangin' out at the Whistle Stop Cate

 After sign class at the Safety Harbor Library today, the Owens Clan (minus DaDa but including Nana) headed to the Whistle Stop Cafe.  E and I discovered this place many moons ago when we first moved here.  We read about a wine tasting and village tour and, one Sunday, headed over only to find out the wine thing was only on Sat.  So, we found this lovely place to eat and have taken several of our visitors there over the years. 

Today was the initiation day for the Grands.  Leighton had Mama juice in the car while the rest of us got ourselves settled in .  We were good students at sign class so this was our reward.  The boys shared black beans and rice and a fresh fruit cup while Mama had a turkey wrap and Nana had the Fried Green Tomato Salad...oh, and shared it with the boys.

 We think Colvin may have aspirations for Indy 500...he amazed by keys and trucks, fast cars and motorcycles all of which are referred to as ZOOMS

 Leighton is currently working on teeth, finding the middle ground between crawling and walking and growing hair. 

 I was getting ready to smooch on Landon here but he was far more interested in the keys!(Look Auntie Janet Miller...he loved our key chain!)

But, they always kiss their Nana and Papa bye bye. 

What a difference a day makes...24 little hours...

 Sing along if you know the song!  Our water levels are way down.  Today's news said our town got 14 1/2 inches over the past couple of day.  Only Brooksville got more.  Part of the reason the water has receded here is that the Anclote River spilled over its banks further up in Elfers displacing many residents there .  So sad.

The news is also saying this is the worst beach erosion since 1995.  When our beach here opens back up (which should be soon) I'm going to head that way to walk.  Meanwhile, the sun is out, the breezes tropically balmy and we are all drying out.

Tropical Storm Debby in Tarpon Springs Tues.

 I took my morning walk early.  The sun was out now and then and sometimes I could even see a patch of blue in the sky.  I headed to Spring Bayou to see the flooding there I had been hearing about.  The tide was outgoing this morning so the water was down. 

I headed home via the Sponge Docks and the roads are overflowing.  I waded through some places where the water was up to my lower calf. 

I had hoped we were done with the rain and the wind but more is coming now.  While it has been windy all day, it has picked up in intensity .  Hopefully this is Debby's swan song on our coast.  The flooding is even worse south of us and sink holes are opening up north of us.  Stay dry my Florida friends!

Tropical Storm Debby in Tarpon Springs

 These are just a few pictures I snapped this morning on my walk.  I didn't get to walk at all yesterday as I'd have ended up swimming instead due to the torrential downpour that lasted for what seemed and eternity.  This morning we have sunshine and balmy breezes but the clouds are arriving now (not quite 10:30 am) and more storms are due before too long.

 The tide was going out when I shot these but, according to reliable sources (some city workers I spoke to on my walk), the flooding was worse last night than you see here.  One of our favorite restaurants which sits right on top of the Anclote River got 2-4 inches of rain inside the main dinning room.

 The storm drains are pretty backed up as there is no place for all the water to go.  We have some sandbagging going on. 

 Apparently, E and I slept through at least one tornado alert last night.  The river has not crested yet, I have been told.  Depending on the amount more of rain we get ....right now we've gotten somewhere between 12-16 ...it could exceed cresting levels by at least a foot to three by this time tomorrow.  Opinions vary on this.  It looked pretty high to me today as it was up to and over several seawalls that I saw.

I'll update when I can.  We are high and dry here so far.  Our home is on an elevated area but we are fairly close to the river .  Keep safe and dry my Florida friends. 

A couple of new layouts and a GREAT FIND

 It's summer and I get to crop every Wed. now with the gals at Posh Scraps in Palm Harbor, Fl.  We have been doing our Wed. crops for at least two years now and, when we are not watching the kids on Wed. during the school year, I get to play too.  I had such fun with this one layering and cutting and using some die cuts.  It is lighter than this IRL. 

 The word you can hardly see is "Happy".  I used a lot of the transparent die cuts from the same paper line for this one and could not resist putting the big glasses one on Leighton...lol.

 This brings me to my GREAT FIND.  As you may know, my beloved Blackberry phone (beloved because I knew how to get it to do the things I wanted it to) got shorted out a couple of weeks ago when I got caught in a torrential downpour.  The nylon jacket I had taken along did nothing to keep either me or the phone dry.  Since it was close to my birthday, E gave me a new phone and, while I do love it as it is faster than a speeding bullet (hmmmmmmmm Maybe I should call it Superman...or better yet, Clark Kent), I am a bit over my head in all it can do.  Off to get lessons from our near by expert, son Rob.

Because I feel the need to carry a cell phone with me when I walk for safety reasons and, not wanting a repeat of the phone disaster of 2012 (as it shall henceforth be known), I headed to the boat and diving store near our house. "What do you have that will hold my cell phone and keep it dry?", I asked the gentleman who made the mistake of saying how could he help me. 

 A half hour later, I walked out of the store with this Plano Guide Series "Dri-Loc: thingy that is waterproof up to 30 min. at 1 meter.  Now for the really cool part, it holds both my new smarty pants phone but my Sony Cyber Shot too).  The price at 9.99 was the icing on the cake. 

The downside is that it is too heavy to hang from neck and too bulky to carry in my walking shorts pocket.  I'll figure out something but meanwhile, I am hand carrying it when it threatens rain and I want to walk.

Hope everyone is having a great week.  I had a fun class today at Posh and a beginners class to teach for the next 3 Sat. mornings.

Father's Day 2012

 E and I biked into town for breakfast yesterday because no Dad should have to cook on his day, or at least not have to cook breakfast.  Since Tuela's on the Trail is closed til July, we headed a bit further to Rodies.  The food was really good and, since I woke up weighing 4 under goal weight, we splurged a bit. 

 In the afternoon, the Owens Clan (I 've been corrected and Clan is the preferred term to apply due to the Irish ancestory...lol).  We swam in the pool, played on the lanai and had wonderful chicken from the grill, corn on the cob, pasta salad and fresh fruit for dessert . 

 I have another version of this "barely there" photo of Landon that I am saving to show his first girlfriend...lol...a tad bit more showing! Bad Nana, bad Nana

 Leighton loves the water and kicks kicks kicks like a pro. 

Hope those of you who celebrated Father's Day had a wonderful one.  I'm off today to get a much needed hair cut and then E is running up to Sam's with the kids to get some rubber mulch for their flower beds in their new yard.  Tomorrow is my final weight in at WW and I'll find out if I make Life Time...3.8 under goal weight this morning....it was breakfast yesterday, I am sure but well worth it.

Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer...

 The kids came over for swim time at Nana and Papa's and, when their daddy got off work, stayed for supper.  I love this picture I snapped of Leighton not too long ago...going to scrap it and call it " INCOGNITO".  Our little girly girl is cutting her first tooth and trying to navigate the intricacies of crawling.
  
Here is Papa and his "Bella".

 And working on that tooth!

 Colvin placing a phone call probably to China or some place else expensive...lol.

 Maybe he is calling the child abuse hot line because Nana won't let him take things away from his brother (and vice versa).

 Landon with his "colors only on the special paper" marker and paper that Auntie Linda Adams got the boys during her last visit.  By the way, the darling pink outfit Leighton is wearing was also an Auntie Linda gift.

Got the cutest towels for my birthday in the mail and the most lovely letter from our darling friend, Jadee, yesterday.  Thank you ...love them. 

Today it was a very small group at the NWTampa Scrappers private crop: small as in Carla, who established the Meet Up group and myself.  Carla II and Sherry stopped by for a visit and my Wed. scrap buddy, Cynthia, joined us for a bit.  Although I wish more of the gals could have made the crop, I did enjoy the time to get to know Carla so much better...what a delightful woman!  I got four layouts done, three of which are posted on my altered art blog. 

Happy Father's Day to all those out there! E and I are biking into town tomorrow morning and I am treating him to bteakfast.  Then, around 3, the kids will all be over for more swim time and chickie on the grill.

Hope your weekend is a good one!

Kim and Mitch's wedding

 Due to an error on my part, we arrived just as the actual ceremony had ended.  We came in dripping wet from a sudden down pour and they were taking the pictures in the lobby.  So, making the best of my mistake, offered apologies (accepted) and moved in to the beautiful reception. 

I have known Kim for far too many years to count.  Her son, Tommy, now a dr. at the V.A. in Columbia Mo. was in my sophomore English class and her daughter was on my second cheer squad.  In turn, my daughter's first apartment was in the complex in St. Louis that Kim managed. She also helped Chris pick out Kristen's engagement ring and ended up the train barer (long story) in Kristen's wedding.  It is almost incestuous we often joke.

KIM AND MITCH

 KRISTEN AND CHRIS:  married 9 years June 6

 MY DIVINE E AND ME: married 17 years June 1

 KIM AND E TRIPPING THE LIGHT FANTASTIC

 AND THE THREE OF US!

It is suppose to be good luck to have it rain on your wedding day.  It rained on ours, Kristen's and now Kim's.  If we are any example, she'll be with Mitch for eons and eons.  Blessings and Best Wishes to our dear friends, Kim and Mitch Day.