Crocket turns 11!!

Our little boy, Crocket had a birthday this past week. Can not believe he is already 11 years old. He is still full of lots of energy and loves to play but enjoys snuggling too!! 

This year I made a birthday cake, especially for dogs, and Crocket had his friend Zane and Lilly and Molly over to enjoy the birthday celebration, complete with birthday hats!

What a spoiled dog! We love you Crocket!! 

Happy Birthday Buddy!!

He was dying to dive into his cake!

It was hard to get all dogs posed with hats...a bit blurry but still the cuteness factor is high!!

Fun on a Fleming!!

Who would say No! to the offer of a ride on a Fleming 55??.......Not us!

Ben's dad is the proud owner of this gorgeous yacht. This boat is the reason we have our Grand Banks right now! We bought his Grand Banks when he bought his Fleming.

Fleming is a luxury cruising yacht founded in 1985 by a gentleman named Tony Fleming. Tony Fleming used to work for American Marine (builder of Grand Banks Trawlers) and helped develop the Grand Banks and later what is called the "pilothouse yacht", the Alaskan.

I would say he took a great boat, the Grand Banks of course, and tweaked it here and there to form the beefy yet gorgeous Fleming.

We had 4 adults and 3 dogs and not one of us complained. The weather was spectacular! We had dolphins seeing us off!
I got to see Ben as a deck hand instead of the captain. Of course he made it look easy coming into dock!

Always a great day when you can go for a boat ride, even better when the boat belongs to someone else!!!

Ben even got to take the wheel of a bit!

Crocket enjoyed his day on the water

2013 Fleming 55, she is gorgeous!

I can see a bit of Grand Banks influence 

George, Sue, Lilly and Molly. Thank you for the wonderful time!!!

Grandma Noodle is on the boat!

Cathy checking out the engine room!

How many people can say they get excited to have their mother-in-law visit for a week?? I can!! 

Cathy, otherwise known as Grandma Noodle, was here and we had a great time!!

We enjoyed lovely walks with Crocket, one day at the pool, a visit to the beautiful Selby Botanical Gardens, the wonderful John and Mable Ringling Museum, Yummy noodles at Demi's Noodle House, fresh seafood on the boat and off, heck we even (I should not include myself as I was sleeping) braved a deadly storm!

Mostly it was the time we spent together. This is when I realize how much I miss seeing and being around family and friends. I feel blessed to have these moments!

Crocket was so excited to see Grandma Noodle!

Dinner at the marina restaurant was fantastic!

We have a very special relationship, I worked for Cathy for 10 years...AND I still love and adore her! 

This was the only day warm enough to enjoy time at the pool

Soaking up some sun, before the storm!

We were slipped at Riviera Dunes Marina in Palmetto, FL for one week.

Fresh mahi was wonderful. We are getting spoiled with all the fresh seafood down here!

Botanical gardens!

The hugging tree! 

A visit to the Ringling mansion

Our last evening out to dinner

Met up with a dear friend Kevin 

Cathy's last breakfast and coffee...sad morning to have to take her to the airport. Thank you for coming to stay with us!!

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN DOING?...WHERE ARE WE NOW?

Since the purchase of our 'new-to-us' Jammin Jane in late December, we have been busy moving onto, cleaning and getting to know our beautiful boat. Even more exciting though, has been all the wonderful visits we have had from both friends and family. We are staying on Anna Maria Island for the month before we move south to Marathon. This has been a great spot to relax, spend the holidays and even enjoy a couple Looper visitors.

I apologize about the lack of blogs, I ran out of data and have had some spoty wifi. But, I still make regular posts to Facebook, so please check us out there too (PS: you do NOT have to have a Facebook account, Google: Jamminjanetravels

Crocket and his advent calendar filled with treats

He was doing great, but couldn't resist and ate the tops off all his treats!

Christening our new boat!

Crocket loves his new rigid boat dinghy/tender

Dinghy ride

Our Christmas tree! 

Christmas eggs benedict 

Prime Rib 

Jammin Jane docked in Anna Maria Island 

Flybridge

Our new inflatable kayak

Christmas Brunch at the Vinoy in St. Petersburg

Visit from my friend Jackie, 32years of friendship!!

Captain Ben!

Our lovely friends Max and Sam visiting from Illinios

New Years Eve Dinner 

Celebrating at the local establishment, Bortell's 

We even had visits from some fellow Loopers! Clark and Ev 

Rib fest with great friends 

Our buddy Kenny came down to get out of the Illinois weather

We put him to work helping Ben tighten the alternator belts

Ralph and Linda (fellow Loopers) stopped by for a couple days! 

Ben taking Kenny and Clark and Ev to Cortez for some fresh seafood

This is the last picture of us on our old Grand Banks, it was a sad day saying goodbye to this beauty!

We have Ben's mom arriving soon and then we will be spending time with Ben's dad and stepmom before we make our way to Marathon! We are enjoying our time here in the Anna Maria/Palmetto/Sarasota area.