Cocoa Beach ArtFest

This weekend was the Cocoa Beach Art Fest.

Guy worked Friday setting up the food booth for the Elks Club

Saturday we both worked, cooking sausages, burgers, dogs and

Philly cheese sandwiches...

Sunday Guy went back cooked and then helped break

down the booth. Streets between A1A and Brevard were blocked off

and over 100 Vendors setup their booths and tents

plus all the organizations that were selling food.

Quite a crowd to say the least....

This is a huge money-maker for the Elks organization....

The weather was perfect for wandering around,
enjoying the bands, shopping and of course, eating...

Thanksgiving and time to decorate for Holidays!

John and Linda Higgins from Bldg. B invited us to share

Thanksgiving dinner with them.

We were going to go out to a restaurant, and

when we were invited, jumped at the chance to enjoy a home cooked meal

with friends. John was the Chef and presented quite an array of traditional food.
Enjoying a glass of wine on the deck before dinner....

Julie called and I spoke with her a few minutes....

Delicious!

I made a pumpkin pie and a Rum Cake...

We again, have a lot to be thankful for this year.

A healthy family (we rec'd good news that Uncle Al

would be going home in a few days)

Healthy Children and Grandchildren.

Our blessings are many this year....

for which we do not take for granted...

Time to decorate for the Holidays!

Guy volunteered to help..

working on the Club House....

an accident just waiting to happen.....

It actually looks pretty good..

Good job Guys....

The Club House

This is what our balcony looks like from the pool area....

We've decorated our palm tree...closest we could come to a Christmas tree....

Christmas Cruise

We've decided to celebrate Christmas by going on a Cruise:)
After a lot of discusion, checking rates, hemming and hawing, we've decided to JUST DO IT!!!

We'll be leaving on Dec. 20th via Ft. Lauderdale
on the Celebrity Cruise Line...Solstice Ship
Eastern Carribean....coming back on Dec. 27th....
Our Itinerary will be:
Dec. 20th....Lvg at 4PM
Dec. 21st ...At Sea
Dec. 22nd...San Juan
Dec. 23rd...St. Maarten
Dec. 24th...Tortola B.V.I.
Dec. 25th...At Sea
Dec. 26th...Labadee, Haiti
Dec. 27th Home

After making the reservations, we then realized we wouldn't be able to
talk with Family on Christmas Day....
We hope everyone will be flexible with this....
We're hoping we'll be able to "chat" via email.....

West Coast Weekend

We left Thursday morning, heading to the West Coast for the weekend.

Destination: No. Ft. Myers and Sanibel Island.

Arrived at NFt.Myers mid-afternoon to stay with Carol and Sid.

After getting caught up on latest news, we headed over to

the Shuffle board court.

I have never played before and even though none of us

were too certain of the rules, we made up our own

and played 4 games. It was a fun time and we got

a little exercise along the way..... You'll notice Carol is wearing a boot on her left leg...but it

didn't stop her from giving her all....
A little body English helped the score!

Back at home, we got all watered up for a steak dinner...

Sid and Guy did the honors at the grill.....

We left the next morning to spend the day with our friends

KB and Nila (boating friends from SoPo)

who are vacationing at their condo on

Sanibel Island.

Nila made a delicious scallop salad with mango dressing...

Yummy......

After a tour of the Island by auto, we headed to the beach.

The Sanibel Lighthouse is certainly not as picturesque

as the ones we enjoy in New England.

KB and Guy appear to be in a serious

conversation...I'm sure it had

something to do with boating.....

Nila and KB

Back at the Dobson's on Saturday we decided

to visit Ave Maria, the religious city we

visited back in 2008 and see what

additions have been made.

We were able to visit inside the church this time...

an absolutely beautiful structure.

We left Sunday morning, arriving back home mid-afternoon

in time to attend the Welcome New Visitors get-together

we were invited to at the Clubhouse.

I had been attacked by
a team of vicious red ants at Ave Maria on

Saturday and was still suffering the effects....

so after unpacking and getting settled, we decided to

pass up the gathering and just relax and veg out in our

comfy surroundings.....

1500 Club resumes...and more Cruise ships....

Guy is obsessed with Cruise ships this season.

Every afternoon he and Jim ride their bikes

down to the Port to watch them leave their berth

and travel down the canal out to the Atlantic.

Wednesday was no different, except at 5PM Jetty Park

opened free to the public to celebrate the newest

cruise ship to join the Cape Canaveral fleet.

We walked down to Jetty Park with our chairs

sat and enjoyed the music, festivities along with

the laser light show. About 7PM, the
Dream appeared with lights blazing and fireboats alongside.

What a magnificent sight it was.

Here is Carnavel's "Dream" Ship

The newest and largest of it's fleet

3652 Passengers

1369Crew

1823 Cabins

1004' Length

122' Beam
22.5 Knots

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The 1500 Club has started up again for the 2009-10 season.

It was held at our Condo and the boys

enjoyed their 3hour "meeting".

I made myself scarce in the kitchen

baking Holiday Rum Cakes.

Some unbelievable Shuttle Shots

It's always nice to know someone in high places...

especially when they are able to get these shots of the Shuttle

Click on each picture individually for a fantastic view....

Atlantis on the pad at sunrise, beginning the countdown

I have had plenty of time to engage in my very favorite pastime...

and have finished my 1st quilttop of the season.

Lime green, black and white...

Friday Joyce and Jerry drove down from Port Orange...

we were supposed to go into Orlando to take part in the

Tea Party Express, but I got the date screwed up

and we missed it:( We were soooo disappointed....

Instead we walked over to the Port and watched the Cruise

Ships go out....Guy's favorite thing to do...

Thankfully, Guy was able to direct the Captain which way to go....

Jerry insisted we take a picture of the dinner table....

so here it is Jerry!

Enjoying breakfast on the deck Saturday morning....

Saturday evening, we celebrated with Jim & Karen

who just signed on their new home...

They will be moving in around Christmas...

We went to one of their favorite restaurants

(which is now one of ours)

"Florida's Seafood Bar & Grill"

They specialize in shrimp and it was quite

a decision on which dish to try
but made easier knowing we'd be back soon......

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Atlantis shuttle took off on schedule this afternoon.

It was "iffy" for awhile but the clouds finally parted and

it was a go!

We went up on the roof of Bldg C to watch and had an unbelievable

view. It was so close....the sun made the vehicle look like it was on fire.

We just never get tired of watching these take off.