St. Lucia Wedding

May 9, 2012 at Coconut Bay Resort in St. Lucia.  We are at the spa where our daughter, Twyla and her bridesmaid, Tawnya Dooper, have just had their hair and make up done and got into the fancy dudes.   I love Twyla's gown.  She looks so beautiful and she is such a beautiful person with a huge heart.

We are almost ready to head to the hotel lobby where a car that will take us to the beach for the ceremony.  It has been raining, off and on, every day since we arrived.  So far today the sun is shining and the rain is holding off.

The rest of the wedding party has already gone by minivan to the private beach. Tom is right behind us snapping pictures and carrying Twyla's bouquet for her.   Off to the lobby we go in our flip flops following the wedding planner.

Here I am with Twyla and Tawnya ready to leave for the beach.

Twenty one people traveled to St. Lucia for the wedding.  Most came last week on Thursday.  Twyla and Joe had to be in St. Lucia for three business days prior to the wedding as per their country laws.  So they have been here for almost a week already.  Tawnya and her family came on Saturday.  Tom and I arrived on Sunday.  Everyone except Tom and I came from Alberta.  It was a long flight for them.  They left at midnight last Wednesday, 4 1/2 hours from Calgary or Edmonton, stop over in Toronto and then another 5 hours to St. Lucia.  It is worse for them on the way back as they have an overnight stop in Toronto.  

I have a ton more pictures that I am sorting out and editing.  I will post more soon.  Thought I would just give you a wee taste.   Stay tuned for more.

Tara

I gave up yesterday on the trailer and came home. Called the storage place and talked to them about the water and the lights.  They have another 50 amp cord that we can buy to extend the existing one.  He also explained about the low drain valves for the water.  Tom and I went back up to the park last night and got the water going and flushed the lines.  So all is good there.   He will pick up the new cord today so we will have power.  For some reason we couldn't get anything inside the trailer to work on the batteries though.  The batteries are good as the slides worked but no power inside for lights.  There is a switch at the batteries that reads battery disconnect on/off.  We tried that both ways also and no luck.  So we will keep playing around.  Thanks to Rick and John for their advice on my post last night.  You guys with all the experience and knowledge are a godsend to us newbies.  Thanks!!!

Meet Big Mo

Meet Big Mo.  This is our 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD.  He is a big brute but what we need to tow Tara around North America.  We picked it up on May 5th, drove it home and parked it in the drive way.  We left for St. Lucia the next day for our daughter's wedding and Big Mo has not moved since.

We need to get him out on the road to see what he can do.  We still need to get a hitch installed, mud flaps, etc. but we have lots of time for that.

I need to get caught up on my blog.  I have wedding pictures to download.  I should be like John and do this on a daily basis and then I would never be behind.............right there Hollinger???

We had Tara towed to our summer park spot today.  I met the fellow there for the drop off.  Then I leveled her, dropped the back legs,  set up the tripod, put out the slides, hooked up the hoses, etc.  all by myself....WOW!!!!  I am impressed.

Only two problems.  Our power cord is not long enough.  The plug as at the back end and the electrical hook up is out by the street.  I am about 20 feet short.  They hooked up our batteries yesterday at the storage place but I did not have any battery power today either.  Couldn't figure out how to get the lights to come on, etc.  Problem number two I hooked the white hose to the city power supply and to the tap.  Turned it on and the water just ran out the little hoses that are underneath.  Nothing went to the taps.  They must have turned off something when the winterized.  Oh well.  I brought the manuals back to town so I can try to figure it out.  Tom had appointments today so I was on my own.  It was fun.

Now I must get to those wedding pictures.

Until next time - - safe travels.

Parsnips anyone?

Wednesday I joined my friend Helen McAllister and her ladies group at the Toronto Daily Bread Food Bank.   There were 20 of us that arrived on their door step at 9 am to volunteer our time.  Two thirds of our group worked at sorting and packing parsnips into 5 pound bags for distribution to those in need.  At the end of our shift we had packed 1275 pounds of parsnips....can you say sore back!!!   But it was fun and it felt good to do something for those that are not as fortunate as I am.

Today was cool and overcaste.  We top dressed some weak spots in the yard this morning and then spent the afternoon touring around some truck dealerships to see if there were any trucks to suit our needs.  So far no luck.  But we will keep looking.  There are not many 3500's out there. 

They are talking about some possible snow here on Monday.  I hope not.  All of my perennials our coming along nicely and many are in bloom.  I want sunshine!!! 

Until next time....safe travels.

We put a deposit on a spot for Tara for the summer at The Grangeways near Sandford, On.  It is a really nice park and the owners seem to be very accommodating.  Starting to get really excited about giving the rv life a try.  The plan is to semi live in it over the summer to see how it goes.  We have never done this before except in a tent trailer on vacation so it will be an all around learning experience for us.  Even picked up a new Keurig Platinum Coffee Maker so we can enjoy excellent coffee at the park.  I make the most awful coffee so this will be a treat.  Can't screw up a Keurig.!!  (I hope)

We are heading to St. Lucia in May for our daughter's wedding so will most likely get the 5th settled after we return from there.  AND I finally found the dress I have been searching for for the wedding.  Any idea (you boys) just how hard it is to find a dress to wear, on the beach, to your beautiful daughter's wedding....it is hard.  I was in a hundred stores.  I had my clothes off and on more than a hooker on payday.  But it has been found and I am happy!!!  All we need to do now is pack.

I know the Hollinger's are making their way home to Ontario after having six months of rv'ing in the great US of A.  Safe trip my friends.  We look forward to your safe return to Canada for the summer.

Until next time....safe travels.

Yikes...60!!!

Well the old boy turned 60 yesterday.  Our friends Dave & Helen treated us to a lovely dinner at The Keg last night.  It was delicious!!  We returned home for a night cap and for Tom to open his new Coleman Portable BBQ.  We will need this for our 5th (Tara) this summer.  I have been watching Canadian Tire for it to go on sale and yup it did.  Thank you CTC.

We later had a Skype with our son Stu who lives in Seoul, South Korea.  He and his sister Jennifer bought their Dad a guitar for his birthday.  It has been hiding in the basement for the past couple of weeks.  You know...down by the vacumn cleaner...he doesn't ever go there.  I will be well entertained this summer!!

Until next time - safe travels!!

Happy Easter to everyone.   I hope you are able to share the day with those that you love.  

We had a beautiful Easter dinner on Friday at Tom's sister Bev's in Bridgenorth, On.  Two of his siblings, their children and grandchildren were in attendance.  Two little 4 year old boys and one 2 year old boy did the egg hunt in the back yard and entertained us greatly. 

Today it is round two.  Dinner at our friends Dave & Helen McAllister's.   Easter weekend is not going to be good for the diet that is for sure.   Need to loose a few pounds before we leave for St. Lucia in May for our daughter Twyla's wedding.  (say no more sweets....no more sweets....no more sweets....is it working?)

Enjoy your day whatever and wherever you may be.

Until next time - safe travels.

Welcome Rick & Kathy to my blog and thank you for your advice about what kind of truck we will need to pull our 5th....who btw is called "Tara".  I thought the name appropriate since as soon as we are both retired we will be "Gone with the Wind".
Until next time...safe travels.