A menagerie of activities!

After returning from our respective trips, it was time for some football!  Thankfully the NFL ended their lockout and the schedule permitted our attendance at the Bucs' first preseason home game.

Our tailgate group has dwindled to a party of 2 and so our tailgate was, how shall I say, less than spectacular.

The saddest Bucs tailgate, EVER!

Team warming up.

Geno Hayes - enjoyed watching him play for FSU and

now we get to cheer him on with the Bucs.

 Team running on the field.  Sadly, I think there were more Pats fans than Bucs fans.

And unfortunately, the Bucs lost.  (But we did escape the stadium, arriving home before a huge storm hit!)





A few weeks ago, after watching the Today Show (more specifically Giada D. I think), Frank was inspired to make home made pasta.  As usual, he did his research on the best brand of manual pasta machine and where to get it.









Note to self - a "suction cup" bottom machine might be a little better.  This one comes with a clamp, but the counter overhang wouldn't accommodate so we attached it to a cutting board.

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

Mixing it up just like Giada and the recipe.

(Yes, I got over the whole "work directly on the counter" situation.) 

The next steps are sans pictures.  It was really a two-person job (one to crank the handle and the other to feed/catch the dough) and we didn't have our paparazzi on hand.

Cheese filled ravioli

Four foot long linguine

Then, a few days later, Frank saw Martha whip up a few one skillet meals.  We haven't used the cast-iron skillet in forever so it was a perfect opportunity. He decided we'd try the braised chicken (with olives, lemon, thyme and roasted potatoes).

Yummy! 

I've been thinking a lot about the upcoming FSU football season and tailgates.  Now that we have the TeePee with lots of good freezer space, I've wanted to "upgrade" our tailgate cocktails.  Knowing it will be rather warm the first few games, I thought about Popsicles and found some good recipes for the appropriately colored treats. 

Garnet and Gold Margarita Popsicles

(Pretty tasty and refreshing, if I do say so myself.)

 For a while, we've been having some problems with one of the older sets of doors.  The stars finally aligned for it to be replaced.

Inside - before

Outside - before

Matt Warhola (Palma Vista Properties) and Paul Martin taking out the old door and sidelights.

New frame in

View from the outside.

New sidelights in.

Sidelights and doors in.

Doors securely in.  Trim up.  Caulking and finishing touches to be done tomorrow.

New doors and sidelights with blinds inside. 

Little touch-up paint around the doorway and we'll be back in business!

So, as you can see, things have been quite busy with the Crazy Travelers!

From one side to the other

of the country that is.

Blog posts have been slim because I've been cross-country visiting with the Mooregons in Portland, OR!

We didn't see them in March because we were just there in December.  But an opportunity (albeit a sad one) presented itself and I decided to go.
Sadly, Kathy's father passed away last month and they planned a "Celebration of Life" this past weekend.  I wanted to help in anyway I could so that Kathy and her family could spend their time with family and friends that came from near (Salem, OR) and far (Juneau, Alaska).

It hit me Thursday morning that Chris and Nate aren't little boys any more....no toys in the tub and no big bins of toys around the playroom.  There were bunk beds and a big desk in their room.  :o(

But when they weren't at camp, we did get to spend time together.  (I was thrilled when Nate asked if I would help him count and organize their chapter books!  I don't think anyone saw me do a little happy-dance.  I just love to organize!)  :o)

Chris and Nate heading off to camp for the day.

Local park where the boys had camp.

While the boys were at camp, Kathy had several errands to run so it was "Take your Sister to Work Day" with Daniel.  We stopped by the office and I met many of the people he works with and we got to check on a few of his projects.  Amazing how many balls he juggles (for each project) and if something happens to one of the pieces, it can really throw a kink into the plan.  (And oh yes, even got to experience a flat tire!)

Picking up the boys early from camp. 

Chris and Nate have quite the vegetable garden, in several spots in their yard.  Tomatoes, beans, potatoes, zucchini (with HUGE blossoms), peppers, strawberries and lettuce.

Chris is quite skilled with a magnifying glass and piece of wood!  He's been able to catch the sun just right and burn some spots on scraps of wood.

 Nate likes to do it too, but the sun just wasn't as cooperative for him that day. 

Now that the boys are older, it's fun to take them to the movies.  This trip we went to see Mr. Popper's Penguins at McMenamin's Kennedy School.  (Kathy read the book to her class last year so she was anxious to see a current adaptation.)  It was fun and we all enjoyed pizza and popcorn while watching the movie.



Nate and Chris have lots of energy and they enjoy several sports, a few of which they can play in the front yard with Dad.

One evening it was football with Chris and me on one team and Dan and Nate on the other. 



In the huddle.

 Chris going out for a pass.  (Yes, I throw like a girl.)

 This time, it was a hand-off.

 Chris is on the run and Nate's trying to get the ball.

Below are pictures from the garden at the boys' school.  The PTA planted it and fruits and vegetables are available for school families as well as used in lunches.

 Chris describing the watermelon or pumpkin growing there.

So proud of their participation and helping with the garden.

Two full days followed with trips to and from Salem where a "Celebration of Life" for Kathy's father, Stu, was taking place.  It was great to see the members Kathy's family I hadn't seen in a while, and to meet people I had heard so much about.

It was a great trip and the weather was absolutely perfect!

Raising awareness and finding a cure

Last week, the Head Coach of the Florida State Seminoles football team, Jimbo Fisher and his wife, Candi, held a press conference to give details on their youngest son's recent diagnosis.  Click here for the video.
Ethan has been diagnosed with a rare blood disorder called Faconi Anemia.  Currently, he is a healthy, active 6 year old little boy and his blood is being monitored regularly.  But at some point, the tests will show his bone marrow is failing and he will need a transplant.

The purpose of this post is to bring awareness to this disease, to ask people to consider signing up on the bone marrow registry and to consider a donation to the foundation the Fishers have established (Kids 1st Fund).  The funds received will go toward research  efforts to find a cure for Faconi Anemia as well as alternative treatments to a bone marrow transplant.

Thank you for your time in reading this post.  It is one way the Crazy Travelers can help the Fishers!

For Sale - VuQube

Tired of schlepping that cumbersome and awkward old-school satellite dish to your tailgates or campsite? 

Frustrated having to find just the right spot for the dish to get the signal?  Annoyed with the time and aggravation associated with getting it to "lock on"?

VuQube is the solution!  Lightweight and remote-controlled, the VuQube makes setting up and connecting the TV a breeze!

Now that we have The TeePee, we won't be needed the VuQube anymore. 

If you're interested, please look at the ad on Craigslist:    http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/rvs/2515874762.html
Start your tailgating (or camping) season off right!