Campground's Mardi Gras float

                                       Oh Boy, here comes the campgrounds Mardi Gras float!
                             Practice for the big parades in Orange Beach & Golf Shores this weekend.

                                   WOW, treasures of beads and Moon Pies for Judy, Suzy & Steve.

New fridge, eating out with friends and ice in Gulf Shores

                   Our RV fridge died so we replaced it with a residential fridge, think it made Judy happy?

                                            One of the HitchHiker lunch outings at Mikee's

.                                     Here we are gathering for a pot luck in the park's pavilion.

                           This was early afternoon before the ice storm and cold hit later this afternoon.  We were                                                 hoping the weather forecast would be wrong.

  

                                                  Later,,,,looking out the back window.

Ice on the ladder.  This is the first time we have had ice on our home sweet home!  It dropped to the low and mid 20s at night and stayed at freezing during the day.  This lasted 2 days but was nothing like what Randy & Devyn are enduring in Michigan.

                    I didn't get any good shots of the sad drooping palm trees but this was on our site.

Happy New Year!

                            Reanato, Jody, Devyn, Randy and Mark before the Polar Bear Dip in Lake Lanier.

And in the background the star of the show.....THE LAKE LANIER!!  They were fortunate...no ice.

                                          Time to limber up and get ready for THE PLUNGE!

                             Standing on the dock watching those that went before them, will they chicken out?

                           I'm getting old and forgetful so this picture was to remind me what year this was.

                                                This almost looks like a march to the gallows.

                                                 Look Ma....they did it, they really did it!
                                                                         Geronimo!!!
                                  Wait a minute, it looks like Renato just waited and faked all the other s out!
                              Well, he is from Barzil which is on the equator and probably doesn't like the cold.
                                                                  Yes, he did dood it.

                                   Here's the after picture, I think they were happy it was over!
                                           It must have been cold as Devyn's nose turned red.

After the plunge there was a chili cook off contest.  Renato & Randy entered a pot but we think the contest was rigged because the lady that organized the day won.

 

Christmas IN Flowery Branch, GA

On December 21 we went to Jody & Renato's home in Georgia for Christmas.   Randy and Devyn also arrived on the 21st.  We returned to Gulf Shores January 1.  We were concerned that that might be too much time but we had an excellent time the kids and Devyn.  The only thing we missed was our HitchHiker home with all it's comforts.  Patches agreed after spend all her time in a bedroom.

Devyn loved and really enjoyed playing with Xena, Gabby and the new mutt....Bertha the bulldog.

                       Randy & Renato enjoy cooking and they were put to the task and did very well.

                                       Neither rain nor sleet nor snow would stop them from BBQ!

                                                                  Tree trimming time.

Of course we had to have Christmas cookies!  Judy was excited because this is the first Christmas she can remember that she didn't have to roll cookies.  The task has been turned over to a new expert cookie maker!

                                        Brazilian pizza anyone?  Check out the hard boiled eggs.

                                                         Randy making his special pizza.

                                                       Time to frost and test the cookies.

                                              This is either Santa Claus or Dapper Dan.

                                                                  The Bahnmiller clan.

          Judy made our Christmas tree at a craft course, Jody supplied the Amaryllis for my birthday.

                                   How's this for a unique Christmas tree in the Gulf Shores library?

                                                        Here's an outdoor  Christmas tree.

Thanksgiving

                                            The guest of honor, kind of looks like Buddha.

                                 Nathan and Kimberly, Jody & Renato's nephew and niece.

We had Thanksgiving at Jody & Renato's rental home.  Clayton and Pat were up from Jacksonville visiting Mark & Paula so they all came over.  Renato's mother and two brothers and their families were here from Biloxi too. 

Jody & Renato's Lake Lanier home

This is Jody & Renato's home on Lake Lanier.  No lake shots yet.  They are living in a rental home a few mikes away while Renato does some very serious remodeling.  All new windows, new kitchen, walls disappearing, lots of ceiling can lights, remodeled bathroom, and lots more.  A new house room by room.

No, this isn't their home.  It's the building in which Dr. Bahnmiller works.  There are two doctors working from an medical suite on the second floor.

                                                            The doctor in her office.