Weekend with Friends.

Our friends, Tom & Raquel came to Tallahassee for a football weekend. They were very thoughtful and brought a few treats. Too bad they had those orange pawprints on them. :)

On Friday, we took them on a tour of Tallahassee and then to a museum/nature preserve (Tallahassee Museum of History) not too far away. The weather was beautiful and we had a nice walk through boardwalk and animal habitats.

Albino squirrel on top of the fence.

Big fat gator!

Florida Panther

Yes, those are foxes sleeping in the tree!

Black bear napping.


Note to self....don't bother going to see the animals after lunch. They're napping!

That evening, we went to Downtown Get Down (a street party on Friday's before home games) where we met up with the rest of the Usual Suspects. It was great fun, especially since we had another two degrees of separation - Tom & Raquel know couple in Rock Hill who are friends with Rick & Joanne! I'm starting to think the world really does revolve around Rick! :)

Just showing a little brotherly love.

After a wonderful dinner that evening, we headed back to the apartment, but not before stopping at the Holley's to see Dan and Eddie who were in town to go fishing. It was great seeing so many friends in a short period of time.

Saturday morning came quickly and we had lots to do to get ready for the game. When our backs were turned, more of the orange pawprints appeared throughout the apartment! (On windows, mirrors, pictures, over our custom-designed stained-glass Seminole, anything FSU, everywhere!) Guess it was payback for the 4 itty bitty Seminole stickers I left for Daniel to find when we were in Portland.

After getting sidetracked with the stickers, we prepped the food, loaded the BDT, smooshed in and off we went! I think T&R were a little surprised with all the stuff we have/do for tailgating. I do have to admit, it is quite the operation, but we've gotten it down to a science and are quite the envy of those who pass by. It was a special treat for the Ruggeri guys to escape the man cave and join us for a visit.

While it didn't relate to Clemson, our theme was Italian as Ron & Lynne offered to make scrumptious Italian sausages (with red & yellow peppers of course). They even brought the toaster oven so we could melt cheese over the sandwiches. Now that's a classy tailgate! The rest of the spread was delicious! (Roasted veggies, hummus and crostini, olive-cheese platter, speared tortellini and in honor of Bobby Bowden's birthday - red velvet cupcakes with yellow cream cheese frosting.)

The game was touch and go, but in the end, FSU successfully tamed those Tigers! Go Noles!