December 18, 2015 - January 18, 2016

The thing about heading south from home is that you must drive north for half the day before you can actually head in a southerly direction. However, an early start got us heading far enough south that we spent our first night en route to Alabama, in Portland, Maine. The next two days were easy too and we landed in Auburn, one day ahead of schedule. For whatever reason, the traffic was much lighter than it had been in previous years and there were fewer big rigs on the road.

We always enjoy our time in Auburn, just being with Jessica and Nolan, and of course, the dogs. Two extra dogs in the house for the Christmas holidays added to both the fun and "dogdamonium" which is both good and busy. Unfortunately, Benjamin somehow broke into our bedroom and managed to devour an entire dark chocolate bar. Poor little guy ended up in pet Emerg, but thankfully he pulled through. A thunder and lightening storm had all four dogs looking and acting like scaredy cats, and yet a walk in Kiesel Park had them all acting like they owned the place. Dogs are fun.

                                 

              

Assembling a change table and looking at all the new things for my soon to be born grandchild was certainly a highlight of this visit, not to mention just the excitement of knowing that I will be a grandmother and will see my grandchild in March!

                

                         

           

After a great Christmas and New Years and many dog walks we left for Venice, Florida early on the morning of January 2nd. On the way, we stopped at our favourite pecan and peanut stand somewhere in south Georgia. The drive was an easy one until we met a long slow line of traffic about 25 km north of Tampa. Due to road construction and lane closures we averaged about 10 km per hour for two hours. Our late arrival didn't dampen our welcome as our friend Janet had a great meal waiting for us.

These past couple of weeks in Venice have been busy. 

  

We have played golf, gone on bike rides, taken some great walks, enjoyed an evening at the symphony, made some new friends and even witnessed a major storm. The storm was a tornado which passed just south of us at around 4 am. Fortunately, we spent the worst part of the storm in the park's clubhouse where we knew we would be safe if the tornado hit here. It came very close. We always have a lot of fun with Janet.