NORAD's radars detected Saint Nick's sleigh departing the North Pole, shortly after he reviewed his flight plan with his nine reindeer. This particular agency's annual mission began with a "typo" 70 years ago. On Christmas Eve in 1955, a local Sears store in Colorado Springs ran a dial Santa ad. Except the number was a misprint; instead of listing the number for Sears' Santa hotline, it posted the number for the Continental Air Defense Command center. It led to Colonel Harry

I am near the town of Blountstown, Florida. It is located in the heart of Florida’s Panhandle, Blountstown serves as the county seat of Calhoun County. Just a few minutes south of Interstate 10, it has easy access to larger cities like Tallahassee, about an hour east, and Panama City, about one hour south. Old Calhoun County Courthouse is a beautiful point in town. The Apalachicola River, a vital waterway known for its biodiversity and good fishing, borders the city to the e

This sciatica is a pain literally a pain alright! I found it was too painful to climb the stairs so I have decided to just roll with the situation and enjoy what is in my path. Here is my accomodations for the near future. I have a very comfortable chair and ottoman & blankets, heated vest & heater to boot. Warm weather will be back & everything will work out. I do have the truck too to sleep in so... All is good. Nana

I arrived at my North Florida destination about 3:30 pm. It was just about time to get some of the Christmas packages out and find a nice spot. We rolled on into the local McDonald's for an early supper & laughter. Then we sat outside on the cool evening visiting. I was not thrilled for my body go up their steep stairs into the house so I opted for a night in my truck. It was not as comfortable as I had anticipated. The next day would be decisions to make. Nana

Callaway of Bristol, Florida, Torreya State Park is situated in the middle of what he claimed to be the location of the Garden of Eden as described in the creation story of the Judeo-Christian tradition. I just had to go see it. Nana

Today I have arrived in the Sunshine State but it was a misty rain day for me yesterday! Last night was spent just a few miles north of Montgomery, Alabama! I have been exploring some beautiful other paths to my daughter's & SIL home. The Interstate might be a little quicker but I have tried to miss all the traffic of Birmingham & Montgomery Alabama. I'm packed like Santa Claus in my 1995 F150. 😅 Ho! Ho! Ho! I'm on my way... In My Ford! Nana

Yesterday was a good start to Florida. I hit the pavement about 9:30 AM and made fairly good time to the edge of Tennessee. A great hotel rest for the night at my favorite budget Quality Inn. A great room & breakfast too! I make it into Alabama today. See ya later! Nana

Today I will start my Winter Adventures to Florida. I always look forward to exploring the Florida life for my winter months now that I'm a senior. As fate would have it I'm enjoying it without the Love Of My Life. Some days it feels like I can't seem to walk this walk without him. However I have no choice but to convince myself to keep moving through the days anyway. I plan to pull into a nice camping spot at my daughter's yard in Rural Florida. It will definitely be an adve

One of my most favorite places is the beach anywhere. I love the water and the sand. The sun seems the always be shining. The air smells like salt and sand. The sky looks so pretty over the ocean especially during sunrise and sunsets. I have had the opportunity to fall in love with the Atlantic Ocean beaches in the summers long ago. It can be sometime hard to get to a beach because of all the traffic and city life around. In the summer, people flock to the beach for vacation

Almost 21 million people call Florida home. I've grown to love the Sunshine State these past years of Snow Birding. I’ve called Missouri home for 68 years. I love learning new things about where I visit. I was sitting in warm dry house last night surviving the cold temperatures 🥶 and I started thinking about weird facts, urban legends and other strange stuff about every State. I started doing research and found some cool and weird facts about Florida that I wanted to share.

If a picture paints a thousand words, then I have many novels for you... As I sit in Church rejoicing the Savior of Jesus Christ, and enjoying the fruits of the season. I am reminiscence of the years that I have been given, the travels and memories. For instance, Daytona Beach Bike Week 2020 was an event I had never envisioned I would ever attend but the planets line up and gave me the opportunity to experience it the year 2020. That meant thousands of motorcycles rolling in,

I love deadlines. I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by. The deadline of getting my monster of a mess house straighten and fully organized by Christmas whooshed on by so fast it made my head spin like a tequila hangover. I decide to save my sanity and concentrate on what I could do and thought of those dear loved ones of mine for Christmas. Most important Right? So my house never got the full attention, not anything really, dishes & laundry just

Can't believe I will in a few weeks I'll be writing 2026! Remember: "Nights will be dark but days will be light, wishing for your life to be bright – May You Have A Wonderful Christmas Season & Year Ahead!" Hugs To Everyone! 🤗 Nana

Talking with my daughter, "Elizabeth" the other night about my granddaughter, I was reminded of her, she is my first born child & I loved watching her joyful younger days. Elizabeth was indeed on fire at times. I had always said "If you can predict an individual's personality at the ripe age of 18 mo, she would be a total spitfire, chatterbox and inquisitive little human." She had a habit and would defiantly glare back until one of us blinks when: I ask her for something back

My sister had a tradition of making Fudge for Christmas. When I was at her house one holiday season she shared her best secret recipes... We were close like that! ❤️ So here is one just in time for the Christmas season. Ingredients waxed paper 1 (18 ounce) jar peanut butter Optional nuts 1 (12 ounce) container whipped cream cheese frosting Directions Line an 8-inch square pan with waxed paper; set aside. Spoon peanut butter and cream cheese frosting into a microwave-safe bowl

Why I have decided to just snowbird instead of full time Florida or anywhere else living. The first problem is the cost of living in many warm winter States have outpaced most of our retiree's income. The risk and stress of extreme weather no longer feel worth it. Insurance premiums can eat into our savings. And the lifestyle just isn't what it used to be. Most cities in Missouri except St. Louis or Kansas City has a very low cost of living. The Summer are hot but much better

A few more steps completed & getting closer to leaving for Florida!!! My camper living through the Florida winter will be my excursion this year. I plan to bunk down in my Ford F150 Truck bed complete with 6x8 sitting, sleeping, shower area. Wish me luck!!!! Nana

Stole this to make little smile for us riders... An Ode to St. Chrome-It (The patron saint of Goldwings) T’was in the evenings twilight. And the night was covered in stars. Not a Goldwing was alight, Not even the Harley’s at the bars. The accessories were hung by the work-bench with care, In hopes that St. Chrome-It would soon be there; The little back seat riders were all snug in their beds, As visions of rally pins danced in their heads; While mamma in her new chapter vest