Our House Not On Wheels: Mini Beach Vacation

Friday

So this morning we loaded up the car and headed South. We are headed to Sea Crest Beach near Panama City Beach in Florida. The Grand Kids are on Fall Break and we are going down for four nights.

We had a nice drive, it takes a little over 6 hours but we arrived before dark so that was good. The others had left before us and got there about an hour before us. We all went up the road to an area called Sea Side for dinner. First a quick walk to the beach.

We waited about 2 1/2 hours for a table. But we all were seated together and the food was pretty good. We got out of there about 9:40 and needed to make it to Publix by 10. Robby and family left just before got our bill paid. I did not remember where I parked the car so it took a while to find it, but we eventually did. We got to Publix just after 10 but they let Bonnie and Reagan in. So we have cereal and milk for morning. Plus a lot of drinks and snacks.

Saturday

Bonnie got up at 7 to go to the beach today, but could not find one so came back in the house and got back in bed. We had cereal for breakfast and Robby and his family rode bikes to breakfast. Then we watch the Alabama-Arkansas game, Roll Tide. We won 65-31. Then we went for an early supper. We just walked across the street to a place called the Hub. I thought it was a bit expensive, expected in a beach resort area, but it was not very good either. So on to the next place. I watched part of the Florida-LSU game on the Jumbotron while I ate.

Back at the condo we relaxed and watched a little TV and called it an early night.

Monday

Bonnie and I drove down to Panama City Beach to look around and I showed her a couple places that my sister and I had visited years ago. So much traffic that we decided to head back to the condo. We did notice long lines at all the gas stations. We knew the reason why.

Tropical Depression Michael is now Hurricane Michael. I turned on the Weather Channel and they were in Panama City Beach, they interviewed the Mayor and he said they expected to issue a Mandatory Evacuation Order tomorrow at 6am. That was enough for us. We did not want to sit in all the traffic trying to leave if the order was issued. Every report seemed to be more and more sure that we would be in the eye of the storm if we stayed.

The rest decided to stay but then a few hours later they headed home also. We arrived home about 9:30pm. We saw lines at gas stations out to about 50 miles from the beach, Robby said they had gone to Destin for shopping and supper. He said some stations were already out of gas. So I'm glad everyone is safe and at home.

Tuesday

A bit overcast here at home but the temperature is in the 80s. Guess we will spend the day catching up on our shows and relaxing. We probably need to do a little grocery shopping. Maybe tomorrow Bonnie decided to do some wash today. Looks like the hurricane is intensifying and mandatory evacuations have been issued. So looks like we made the right decision leaving yesterday.

I did take the car down to the car wash to get it and the underbody washed. Then I vacuumed out the inside and noticed there was still some dirt on the side. So I went up and told them and they had me run through again. This time the guy did a better job of cleaning the sides and wheel wells. Looks good now.

We had Tuna Casserole out of the freezer for supper. Then a quick visit from the family. Then a call from our daughter on her drive home and a FT from GD Kaylee at school. Through in a little TV and we had a full evening.

Wednesday

Well Hurricane Michael has pushed a lot of clouds up our way, wonder if we will get some rain out of this. We tuned into the weather channel many times today to see what was going on in Florida. The hurricane hit just East of where we were staying. We know we made the right decision in leaving a day early. Sorry to see all the damage that the storm and winds did, what a difference from a couple days ago. Bonnie did the grocery shopping today and I carried the bags in. We had fresh shrimp for supper that we steamed. Then we headed to church for our group study of Daniel.

The post office started our mail again today and delivered the mail they were holding. So we are getting back to normal, at least for us.

Thursday

The weather is much cooler today. Didn't do a lot during the day today. I put away the shipment of pellets I got a while ago and also working on some financial things. Also had to make a few phone calls. I also got a voicemail that I think was from Koren Airlines and of course it was in Korean. Jae is a Koren surname and we often get mail that we can not read.

Then this afternoon we picked up our Granddaughters and headed to the movies. We saw Goosebumps 2.

It was better than I anticipated it would be. I was real happy that it was not animated. The girls enjoyed it but it was a little scary for Reagan.

After the movie we headed for Petco to pick up a Beta Fish for Reagan. She saw an ad for $1.99 fish. Of course that fish was so small you could hardly see it. So she picked out a bigger one, the tank for it, gravel, and some food. Then on to Dollar General for Purified water. But I think she will enjoy it.

Then a quick stop at Subway for some sandwiches. One last stop to pick up one of Grace's friends. We dropped off the girls and made our way home.

Forgot to mention that before we left for the movies I trimmed up a 9 lb pork butt up and seasoned it then wrapped it up. Now its in the fridge for the night. Tomorrow I will get it on the smoker early.

Friday

One project for me today. That is to smoke the pork butt that has been in the refrigerator all night.

I set it out on the counter to warm up a little. Got my thermometer and probe ready and then set up the Camp Chef Pellet Smoker with some Hickory Pellets. The pork butt was still at only 44 degrees when I put it on and closed the lid. Low and Slow is the phrase of the day.

Four hours later we were at about 150º and starting to develop a good bark and smoke ring.

Then we finally hit 165º after about 5 1/2 hours. I put it in a foil pan and covered it with foil.

Finally at 5:30 or 7 1/2 hours in to the cook we hit 195º. I turned off the smoker and let it sit for about 30 minutes. The internal temperature rose to over 200º. Then into the house to rest for a couple hours.

We had salad with the rest of the shrimp from the other night and watched the news. Finally the pork was cool enough to handle with some insulated gloves. We poured off the juice and I pulled the pork apart so we will have pulled pork sandwiches tomorrow or Sunday.

Just have to cover it and put it in the refrigerator once it cools a little. Then its all over but the eating!

Congratulations to GD Alexus, her college had a ceremony tonight for students that made the Deans List.

Saturday

Late posting this today. We were at my son's house. Ashley made homemade soup and chili along with cornbread. Everything was very good. Robby had a nice fire going and we sat out back and watched the Alabama Game. Bonnie and Millie did a little Bonding.