Showing posts with label Renaissance Festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Renaissance Festival. Show all posts

Friday, March 22, 2024

Fly On The Wall In The Spring Of New Beginnings

Welcome to another edition of  Fly On The Wall group blog postings hosted by Karen of Baking In A Tornado. Today, three of us are opening our homes to give you a glimpse of what goes on behind closed doors. 


While the past month has been tremendous fun, it did have its difficult moments. We had to say goodbye to another one of our pugs---an unexpected ending that felt like a terrible gut punch. Brewski was just shy of his 13th birthday and the first pug pup we ever adopted. He started having gall bladder issues and before we knew it, he was at the emergency vet clinic, diagnosed with cancerous tumors on his liver. The prognosis was not good and the poor baby was in pain, so we had to make that devastating decision once again to let him go (only 1 1/2 years after losing our sweet Savi). The grief is still fresh but I'm trying to keep busy and focus on the good stuff.  We have one pug baby left---Yoda, who is seven, but I don't see any more dogs in my future after going through so much pet loss trauma.


We've also been spending more time with friends to stay busy and avoid feeling sad about Brewski. We are incredibly blessed to have such wonderful, caring people in our lives.

On a lighter note, one of the highlights of this past month was our weekends at the Renaissance Festival.  We didn't attend as much this year (wasn't up for it after losing Brewski), especially since I noticed a BIG shift in the crowds. Like.....now Mac and I are the old farts there watching all the "youngsters" getting wild and crazy. Damn, that used to be us....WHAT HAPPENED?? Still had fun though with the family and of course, met some interesting characters......




However, the best part of the month is spending time with my grandbabies. They are growing up TOO fast---12, 5, almost 3, and a 4-month-old baby. PLEASE STOP THE CLOCKS! I truly hope I live to a ripe, old age because I need to see what these kids will be doing in 20 years. 


And of course, there was our annual St. Patrick's Day celebration with the family and the neighbors. I made the traditional corn beef, carrot, cabbage, and potatoes in memory of my mother, who always spent the holiday with us. Not only did we wear green, but also served green beer and green champagne to our guests! Yeah, I'm weird with my enthusiasm for ANY  holiday.....


The next day we hopped on our tandem bike to burn off the green calories. Why do people laugh at us when they see us pedal around the neighborhood???

Lastly, I've been busy planning several RV trips this year since we finally have our "Lucy." I feel like this is the beginning of a new chapter for us, and I'm pretty excited! I finished decorating Lucy so she is ready to roll! But I don't know if the Florida Highways are ready for The Doyle mobile. A friend actually gave me a sign for our RV that reads, "If this RV is rockin', don't come knockin'!" Would the Doyles have it any other way??

***Want more Meno Mama? Check out my latest grandparenting advice column for Yahoo Life HERE and my recent essay on AARP/The Ethel about the 2 words that help me through life (you can read it HERE). If you like movies that feature the power of female friendships, I have an article about it on AARP/The Girlfriend ( you can read it HERE) and one on easy 4-ingredient meals HERE.

Be sure to visit the sites of the other bloggers participating in this month's Fly On The Wall post. They always have something fun going on!

 

Baking In A Tornado                                https://www.BakingInATornado.com


On the Border                                         https://dlt-lifeontheranch.blogspot.com/

Friday, March 24, 2023

Fly On The Wall During March Madness

Welcome to another edition of Fly On The Wall group blog postings hosted by Karen of Baking In A Tornado. Today, it's just the two of us sharing an inside look at what goes on in our homes behind closed doors. 

This is the month for college basketball, brackets, and March Madness, but I don't watch basketball, and the only brackets I know of are the ones that hold up the towels in my bathroom. As for madness....well, just look at my crazy family. We're all mad, I tell ya. March has actually been an awesome month for the Doyles--we celebrated a birthday, drank green beer on St. Patrick's Day, went BACK to the Renaissance Festival for round #3 with our close friends, enjoyed some nature trails at a Japanese garden, had a beach picnic party, and of course, indulged in some good eats at local restaurants. Busy but FUN month! The fly is feeling quite satisfied right now, so here is a peek at March through the eyes of my (cell phone) camera   

When I saw this beautiful spot at the Morikami Japanese Garden, I had to take a photo of it. Now I really wish I could paint it like I know my mother would have done.

Family love!


Smooches at Morikami--our favorite place to be.

A Viking, a fairy, and 2 pirates walked into a bar at the Renaissance Festival and.....

Guess what day it is?


Green glasses, green champagne, but no green shirt? My daughter
needs to get pinched!
 

She just kissed the Blarney Stone....


Shenanigans all the way around.


Nonni with her 3 grandbabies--the loves of my life!

Celebrating my birthday girl.


2 of my 4 babies...all grown up.

My bestest drinking buddy...and future son-in-law.

Hanging out with friends at the beach picnic for my daughter's birthday party!


The guys finally made it to the party....




The grill master hard at work.

Getting into the inflatable couch was easy. Getting out...not so much....


When my 2 youngest get together, there is ALWAYS some mischief involved.

The family that couches together, stays together....FOREVER....

That was our fun March Madness. I can't wait to see what April brings! 

***Want More Meno Mama? I am beyond thrilled to have another humor piece published on the famous MCSWEENEY'S site--I did a hilarious food review collab with funny writer Amy Barnes. Read about our experience with "Peeps Pepsi" HERE You can also find me at AARP sharing recipes for some yummy spring drinks HERE

Be sure to buzz around Karen's house too and see what funny things she and her family have been up to! 

 

Baking In A Tornado                                https://www.BakingInATornado.com



Friday, February 17, 2023

Fly On The Wall: Back To The Renaissance Festival!


Welcome to another edition of Fly On The Wall group blog postings hosted by Karen of Baking In A Tornado. Today, there a three of us opening our homes to you so that you can see what goes on behind closed doors. 

The fly followed my family to the annual Renaissance Festival again, but this time I think he got a little tipsy on the mead. Hopefully, he didn't see or hear EVERYTHING that went down at the festival (what happens at Ren-Fest, stays at Ren-Fest). I love attending these events with my kids and friends because we always have so much fun and there's lots of laughter involved (with a bit of debauchery tossed in, of course). 

I'm sharing some of my favorite photos from the day in the hopes that it might entice you to attend the Renaissance Festival if it travels to your area. Then again, some of these pics might just scare you off....













As you can see, a fun time was had by all. And that was only the second week into the festival. I still have
6 more weeks to go! Is anyone up for some shenanigans? Join me at the Renaissance festival!


***Want more Meno Mama? Check out my latest for AARP---some Superbowl (or anytime) awesome snack foods HERE. And of course, in light of Rhianna's big reveal at the Superbowl, I had to write about surprise celeb pregnancy reveals for Family Minded, which you can read HERE.

Buzz around these other blogs for a peek into some other homes:

 Baking In A Tornado                                https://www.BakingInATornado.com

                                  

The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver         https://thediaryofanalzheimerscaregiver.com/blog

Friday, February 18, 2022

Fly On The Wall Returns To The Renaissance Festival

Welcome to another edition of Fly On The Wall group blog postings, hosted by Karen of Baking In A Tornado. Today, there are three of us opening our homes so that you can see what goes on behind closed doors. 


This month the fly accompanied me to the local renaissance festival....again. The fair is in town for 7 weeks, so I will be visiting a few more times ( just can't get enough of those turkey legs!) but I thought I'd share some photos of my first weekend there. For the past few years, I've been dressing up as a fairy rather than in the heavy dresses and capes I once wore to the festival---it gets pretty warm here, and multiple layered dresses, headpieces, and gobs of sparkly fake jewels do not go over well in 85-degree temperatures. Thank God we live in the time of A/C and battery-operated hand-held fans! 

So sit back, munch on a turkey leg, and enjoy some mead while you scroll back through time......



Gotta give this character credit---he wore his mask!

I love men in kilts....makes you wonder what's under all that plaid....

This dude has been my special pirate for over 38 years now...and he's a good sport for putting up with my fairy mischief at the Ren-Fest.

The stuff that nightmares are made of!


I think the wine and mead were kicking in at this point.


Loving on my sweet daughter. Always a good time when we go out together!


Should I tell this lady to "leaf" me alone?



Take me to your castle and feed me a turkey leg!!

Oh yeah, the wine and mead were DEFINITELY kicking in at this point. 

A GREAT time was had by all! Can't wait to go back again!!!


****WANT MORE MENO MAMA? You can catch me this month over at AARP/The Ethel where I'm sharing some yummy crockpot recipes (read it HERE), and in another article for them, I'm sharing the best dogs for women to own (You can read it HERE

Be sure and visit these other bloggers to see what the fly has been up to at their houses:
Baking In A Tornado    https://www.BakingInATornado.com

                                 

The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver  https://thediaryofanalzheimerscaregiver.com/ 

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