Returning to Paradise

This can actually be taken as a double entendre. Returning to Paradise...

My hubs David, and I, recently took a trip out west.

Was going out West returning to paradise? Or was coming Home returning to paradise?

We drove out West for a reason. We towed a cute charcoal grey 2006 VW Bug to our granddaughter, for her 16th birthday! We are so thankful we could do it!

Photo credit Ali Ann Teuscher

I'm sure some people see that part of the country as their idea of Paradise. It is beautiful, at this time of year, from one side of our great country to the other. Everything is lush and green, where it is normally dry and brown for most of the year. Many places across the Mid West and Plains were at flood stage. Rivers were spilling over their banks, and at many bridges, were running close to the bridge. The construction zones were endless, as always. The price we pay for decent roads!

But as I watched the landscape pass by on that 5000 mile round trip, I knew it would be the last time I saw that part of the country from this perspective. Never again will I see the majestic beauty of the mountains, and enormous rock formations up close and personal. I will fly next time! We have made 12 trips from one side of the US to the other over the last 34 years. That doesn't include miles upon miles of vacations with the kids, or trips north to see my family.

We pushed too hard, drove too many miles a day, to get there in 3 days. The end of day 2, my Lupus was flaring. Running a fever, nauseous, throwing up, unable to eat, and in severe pain....and I was already in pain before setting out for this long journey. (but it was so worth it!)

It was a great trip aside from the fact that I didn't feel well, lol.

Three weeks into June, and there was STILL snow on the mountains!

So very beautiful!

But being out West, at a higher altitude, where the air is thin, and it's closer to the sun, is not my idea of Paradise. I NEED my humidity!

While we were out there, we also visited family in Idaho. While we were in Idaho, we bought more Idaho Flagstone, to finish my pathway. What I had, was what we brought with us when we first moved back to Florida.

Now my side yard project can be worked on/completed! I just wish I felt a wee bit better. I do have a few plants and flowers to replace after being gone, and after having the AC guys here...but that's another story.

We had a lot of fun, and a lot of laughs on our trip. But I am so glad to be home.

Over the River

If I didn't have such a great time, I would say my road trip was a complete bust. But, the Florida scenery and having Momma P with me made my trip very much enjoyable regardless of the fact that I didn't get what I went after.

We crossed the Oklawaha, and then the St. Johns (twice!) before finding the location of my idea of Xanadu. A magnificent shell shop stock full of everything from air plants to sea fans! Unfortunately, they were closed....and it wasn't mentioned on the home page of their website that they are ON VACATION this week. You have to dig through the pages of their website to discover this tidbit of info.

We did have a great day, saw several places we'd like to visit again, and had a superb lunch at Aunt Catfish's Fish Camp. A quaint little eatery in an upscale little plaza, with great food. I had catfish of course, one of my faves, and some alligator. The gator would have been better had it been tail meat, and yes there is a difference. My uncle made the best deep fried gator tail there ever was! Some cooked greens of some kind would have completed my meal, but two kinds of coleslaw sufficed.

I did find their light fixtures to be interesting enough to snap a few pics.

Pretty cool, huh?

Old milk bottles suspended in a framework with chandelier type lights in the center. Nifty, man!

I would have loved to get more/better pics of the art on the walls, but people were starting to stare I swear. (What? Haven't you ever seen a blogger in action before???)

Some old Florida photographs blown up and framed were on the walls. I didn't get pics of every one of them. It was really cool, though.

Since I can't take pics and drive at the same time, this is all I got. I know, so sorry. I do plan on having hubby drive us over that way one day, and I will be the passenger!

If I can't find my supplies this weekend, I won't be participating in the Great Glitzy Hack Off :(
So, tomorrow I am heading to Daytona to search the shops....and while over that way, there is a derby bout between the Sintral Florida Derby Demons and the Ocala Cannibals. I'm so excited for the bout!!!
Go Cannibals!!!!