I missed posting last week. I’ve been pretty good about at least posting on Friday. But I have a good excuse this time!
A tree fell down.
And pulled the electrical box right off the side of the house. Along with all of the electric and cable wires.
This is where we hide all the ugly utilities. And that pipe laying down. That leads to the electrical box that is smashed.
Yikes!
And it wasn’t our tree. It’s from the neighbor’s yard. But I haven’t seen them there in months and months and months. Think they might have abandoned the place!
But anyhow. We had so much rain last week. The sun shines and then suddenly–it’s raining again!
But at some point, there was a rainbow!
And there were birds!
All is good. I had to read a real book while I was waiting for all the people that need to bring energy back into my life: Thomas Electric, Bryant Tree Service, WREC, and Spectrum. Gotta say, they were right on time. We were back up and running everything within 24 hours. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Oh. And the fire department. They were there within minutes because the lines were across the road! Amazing!
And besides that, we had a wonderful Christmas. No family this year but we have so many great friends here in Old Homosassa every moment was full!
But having said that, we do have at least three of our kids coming in this weekend. Yay!
And what are you doing this weekend? Whatever it is, have a GREAT time!
And we are way deep into the holiday season. Right?
Tonight is the Homosassa Civic Club Christmas Party. We have a “white elephant” gift exchange. Unlike most places, our gifts have to be something you already own and do not want. (Can’t be a live creature!) Okay. Sounds weird but it is HILARIOUS. One year the sought after gift was a stuffed cat. Last year it was a man-kini. Think about it. Looking forward to what no one wants this year!
Then Saturday is our Christmas for the Homosassa Children Party. We are expecting a big bunch of kids this year. It’s a lot of fun and the kids get a great gift, a visit with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, crafts, and more sugary treats than anyone should be allowed to consume!
Last night Terry and I attended the Homosassa River Alliance Meeting. I usually try to wiggle out of this meeting. (So tired, I’ve been at the learning center all day….) but this time I wanted to attend because they were talking about the time-table for the septic tank replacement. Looks like we are scheduled for something like 2025. Surprised we were on the agenda at all. But the really amazing thing was that the head waters, also known as the Blue Waters, isn’t scheduled until 2028. The Homosassa River Restoration Project is supposed to start REALLY SOON at the head waters and one of the things that is causing the pollution is the septic tanks. Seems kind of wrong that the crap will still be seeping while the project is taking place! Crazy Cakes! Looks to me like someone else has their own agenda!
Back to fun times. Homosassa Christmas Boat Parade is Saturday night. This is always a great time. Except this year Crystal River is having their boat parade the same night! Whaaat!
I could be wrong….but I don’t think these parades have ever been the same night. Wondering if the brilliant minds that set these up are trying to shut down the Homosassa Boat Parade. They shut down our raft race. That’s held in Crystal River now. And I suspect that these same brilliant minds are trying to shut down the Homosassa Arts, Crafts, and Seafood Festival. A few years ago they set up the Dragon Boat Competition for the same weekend. Not a big deal at first. But now it’s turned into a 3-day Arts and Crafts event. I don’t get it. Why is the Chamber of Commerce competing against Old Homosassa? Yes. It’s the Chamber of Commerce that is sponsoring the other events. Inquiring Minds Want to Know!
Sometimes it seems to take forever to get anything done.
And then, suddenly it all comes together!
Children’s Christmas Outreach. This has been one of the Homosassa Civic Club’s missions for many years. Every Christmas the Homosassa Elementary School pulls together a list of names of families that could use some help with gifts from Santa. From that list, the civic club usually took two or families and bought their Christmas gifts along with holding a Christmas Party for all of the local children.
Meanwhile, other organizations were doing the same thing. Then Shelley and Jon Weichman, owners of the Old Mill Tavern, suggested last year that we join forces and provide for all the families on the list.
All of the names were given to the Old Mill Tavern and the families were put on the “Angel Tree”. Customers could adopt a family or donate money at the bar to the fund. The money donated goes to Christmas stockings and gifts that weren’t purchased by the donors.
This year we have 31 families and 84 kids. Whaaaat????
How exactly do we provide that much stuff?
First, all tips collected at the beer and wine booths at the Homosassa Arts, Crafts, and Seafood Festival are designated to pay for the Children’s Christmas Outreach.
Plus this year, the word has gotten out to the community…
A few weeks ago American Legion 166 donated $100 to the cause. A member of that group also belongs to the Homosassa Lion’s Club and went to their board and said that this was a cause that they should support. Yesterday they presented a check for $400 for the outreach program. The Homosassa Rotary has always supported this cause and gave a check for $500.
The Old Mill Tavern and the Homosassa Civic Club will split the remaining costs.
On December 15th, there will be a Christmas Party at the Homosassa Civic Club. This is open to all children in the area. Mr. and Mrs. Santa will be there along with crafts and treats.
Shelley and crew will head out and buy the rest of the presents, the stockings and stuffers next weekend and then on December 18th there will be a huge wrapping party at the Civic Club. The parents will pick up the wrapped gifts later that week and Santa will deliver them on Christmas!
That’s the plan. In reality. Do those kids actually get their gifts? As in all communities, drugs are a problem in our little village. We either remove the bar codes or cover them with markers. The people at Walmart told us to do that so the gifts can’t be returned.
Breaks my heart.
Did you know that there is an organization that provides bags of groceries for the kids to put in their backpacks so they don’t go hungry on the weekend?
Okay. Off of my soapbox before I break an ankle!
This little sweetie was at the Homosassa Civic Club meeting this week.
According to the bylaws, she’s too young to be a member but she is certainly welcome at the meetings. Too Cute!
On another note, the software I use to write this blog got a WHOLE new revision and I have a bit of a learning curve. Typically I write this on my iPad on Thursday evening and schedule it to post very early on Friday. Yikes! I could not get this “new and improved” version to play nicely on the iPad.
Anyhow, I figured it out! (on my desktop) And I’m back!
