9 days until Christmas

Hi!   Winter wonder land in the North.  51 degrees where we are.  To be in the low 40's tonight.  We are glad we are South.

I want to go out at night soon to see Christmas decorations.  Usually find some pretty ones.  One home that has always had too much in their yard does not have anything this year.  So what happened?  did they move? an illness ?????  when you see things each year you miss it when it is gone.
I relate this also to driving any one place several times during the year.  Usually Ernie is driving so I notice the scenery.  This farm needs sprucing around the home, have the crops been planted, are they growing, and then harvested.  What has happened in the towns and cities that we pass through.
Always looking for changes and/or what stays the same.  Kinda like visiting your siblings and other relatives.  What have they been up to or how are they feeling these days. 


We have been blessed with 80 degree weather the past few weeks.  Hard to get in the spirit of getting my Christmas cards done.  I did send a few e-cards, and then did finish over the week end.  The little Methodist Church I attend here in Thonotosassa had their Christmas cantata last week.  Enjoyed by all.  The director/pianist wasn't sure what to arrange.  She had one member with a good speaking voice give a history of favorite carols.  Then the congregation was invited to sing along with the choir as they sang these carols.  There were only 10 in the choir and half of them are snow birds.
After Christmas there will be closer to 20.  If Easter is not too late, they have a good choir for that cantata.

more later.
jkc

8 days and counting.    About 3 am this morning I heard a bump, clunk and bump.   Thought, what was Ernie doing out in the living room.  Nope, it was not him, he was in bed with me.   So I got up, could not see a problem and then I heard the heavy patter of feet on top of the RV.   I think it was only one raccoon.  After going to the front of the RV he ran to the back and bump, clunk and bump went down the ladder.  His dirty paw prints were on the ladder.  We are across from the area of the dumpster.  The coons climb the shrubbery and get into the dumpster.  When they get in when it is empty they cannot get back out until the trash builds up again.  We had not seen them for the last week or so and were hoping that they were gone.  HA!
On our RV  that is where one was last night.

One of our first trips to Florida we were at Myakka State Park.  We were warned not to leave any food out, even in coolers as the coons knew how to get into them.  Around 2 am I awoke and saw a coon looking at me thru the roof vent.  He left in a hurry, along with a friend or two, off the back of the old Georgie Boy. RV.   Not my favorite animal.

It was cool last night.  Actually wore my jeans all day.  To be warmer  this week end and then cool off  for Christmas.  We shall  see.
Not much else going on.  To Plant City Wednesday for the flea market and a stop at Parksdale for strawberries.

Friday Dec 20
It was 86 today.  Just not right.  I am not complaining, but I do like cooler weather for Christmas. 
Have my Christmas cards done and 5 boxes of sweets sent to Indiana and Illinois.  If I eat any more chocolate I may start breaking out in zits like a teen ager.  Oh well, it tastes good.

Have a Merry Christmas,

jkc