December 31, 2017, Spring Hill-
We’ve had two successive nights of dining out. Friday night found my SIL, her good friend and me at Bonefish, in nearby Brooksville. Last night, the guys’ treat, was spent among a raucous crowd, at Brian’s Place, in Hernando Beach. I don’t mind raucous- it’s a sign of life being lived to the fullest. The food was excellent, in both places.
Here are Brian’s Crab Cakes, Twice-baked potato on a bed of spinach and Plantain Ears.
Yesterday also saw a visit to my SIL’s horses, at a lovely ranch in Weeki Wachee, about four miles from here.
The piney woods and white sand don’t phase the equines much. I wonder about how summers are for them, but horses are good at finding shady spots.
It’s been a fine ending to an up, down and back up year. I lost Uncle George, Doc Manzer, a few high school-era friends and friends’ parents, and feisty little Tank, the blessed companion of a good friend. I found SunFlour Bakery, Local Jonny’s, Cupcakes and Cravings, Coney Island Diner, D’s Diner and Rosati’s Prescott franchise. Explorations included Philadelphia’s downtown, Brandywine, Antietam, Harper’s Ferry, Lexington (VA), Falls of the Ohio, Paducah, Spur Cross Ranch, Prescott’s Wolverton Mountain and two segments of the Maricopa Trail. Job sites were tough (the first half of the year) and challenging, but supportive (the second half). One or two friends turned aside, but many others came along. This Blog Site changed its name, and grew its readership.
I grew, internally. My friendship with a fine woman has deepened, spiritually. I saw my son off, on an adventure to the land of his birth, and witness, with great pride, his maturation. I am exploring another financial opportunity; carefully, mind you, but with more confidence than I have felt in quite some time.
2018 is a few hours off, for us. I will begin the year on a bus, headed for Phoenix, and on to Prescott, by way of Tallahassee, Montgomery, Birmingham, across Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and New Mexico. It’ll be a bustling five months of work, in the same supportive environment as before our break, coupled with a concerted effort at the aforementioned financial opportunity. Travel-wise, a Presidents’ Day visit to Orange and San Diego Counties; back East, at school year’s end, via Colorado, Nebraska, Chicagoland, Indianapolis, Detroit, Ontario and Montreal, thence to Massachusetts and Philadelphia. Returning via eastern Virginia, across the Old Dominion and the Carolinas, and the Knoxville area, before hopefully getting back to Prescott, in time for the Fireworks.
Fall should see us doing it all over again, at Prescott High School, and at this time, next year, I will be enjoying yet another holiday-just not sure where. Whatever happens, it’ll be a doozie!