Sunday, August 31, 2014

Local Food: Tom's Real Pit BBQ, Keystone Heights, FL

I realized I haven't written as much about food lately (one of my favorite things). So I thought, what have I eaten lately. I don't think I have written about where we eat after a big trip to the dump.


In the land of BBQ there are a lot of choices. We usually find a local BBQ where we live to eat. We used to drive to Lawty to eat at Fat Jack's, but they closed years back. It's tough to keep a restaurant at that location (the middle of a nationally known speed trap). When we lived in Middleburg we ate at Stone E Cabin BBQ on CR 218.

(How is there NOT a web site or photo I can borrow online for Stone E Cabin?)
Of you in the Burg check them out.

Old School Logo

Our go to chain BBQ place is Sonny's. The husband loves that Sonny's and himself both started the same year. The restaurants are consistent - good food, good service and good prices.

We tried Dickey's BBQ when they opened, but were very disappointed. The food was not good and the prices were high. We rarely see more than a couple cars in their parking lot.

It may have been years back, we saw a sign for the future site of a BBQ place. It took a long time for a building to follow that sign and the name changed, but this year we got Tom's BBQ not that far from us.

We checked it out after a trip to the dump a while back (it is across the street from the dump, or trash drop off dumpsters, but there is a high fence to block the view). It was good. We have gone back a couple times since - once when we were not dumping trash. We went there today when the husband offered to buy the father in-law and I lunch for going with him to take the trash.

https://www.facebook.com/TomsRealPitBBQ

http://www.tomsrealpitbbq.com/


Every time I have tried something new - pork, brisket and this time a salad. They give so much food we all took some home. The husband got the three meat plate and took most of it home. The father in-law tried the sausage dog. It was huge. My large salad was too big for me to finish. I added pork because, well it's a BBQ place and I need vegetables yet I need BBQ.

The prices aren't too bad. Tom's seems to have a lot of events - for holidays and car shows. The parking lot is HUGE. They have drive thru service. They have indoor and outdoor seating. It is rustic and country decor inside and out. Most times we have gone they have a bounce house. They always have more than enough people working there. The service is fast. The food is yummy!

Check out their next event..

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Plotting the Next Vacation


It feels like forever since our June cross country vacation. I have been working non-stop since then and it will not let up until the next vacation. Therefore I must start thinking about what to do and see on our October vacation.

I have an old friend/ex roommate who lives in Indiana. I have never been there. She wanted us to visit since we reconnected last year. She wants to move back to Florida, but it's tough to sell a house. Then a visit is meant to be.

The husband would love if the vacation was timed around a NASCAR race, but no such luck. Maybe another time. We picked the end of October for our next vacation since we have a bunch of local stuff we wanted to do earlier in the month.


I put a lot of time in finding places to see before our last trip, plus figuring out which was to travel. The museum hours helped decide the route. The husband likes to not have a plan. I like to have some ideas or else what if we end up bored. My friend will have stuff for us to do. But when she is working I want to have options. My friend has always been a excellent tour guide whereever she has lived - Baltimore, New Orleans...

The main issue with a Florida to Indiana trip is the to and from trip that is estimated at 14 hours. Since we only have a week of vacation we want to make the trips there and back in one day. Ugh. I hate long drives. Fortunately the husband drives most of it. As I age I tend to fall asleep in the car more and more. He loves to pick on me about this.

Looking at possible places of interest is always fun. I know nothing about Indiana. I already found some automobile museums and a couple jail museums. I have fascinations with work and the husband likes anything on wheels. I know I will find some cool thrift stores to check out. I am excited about seeing actual fall trees and the cool weather. Plus hanging out with my friend and her husband will be cool. The husband has only been around her 3 times. She can tell him stories that I don't even remember.


Yesterday my Indiana friend was texting about the trip. She lived up to her reputation by already having some ideas. One of them is Waverly Hills Sanitarium. I have a fascination with buildings, ghosts and mental health. This would be the trifecta. Waverly Hills was already a place I wanted to see. My friend is not a fan of scary things. She is willing to do a Halloween night tour. I hope it does not disappoint.


I told her about the Indiana Medical History Museum. I am not sure where my fascination with strange medical stuff comes from. I work at a location where people are mainly receiving medical treatment, although I am not a medical professional. I see all sorts of things. Years back I went to The Bodies exhibit. I couldn't eat turkey legs for a while after seeing all those human tendons and what looked like turkey meat.

BRAINS!

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Attainable Goals 2014: August Update

Let's see if any were attained.. (Last updated 5/4/14)

 Go to a destination in Tennessee Nashville, Chattanoga, etc


Go to a destination in Georgia (plans changed but I did drive thru)

Go to a state park  Ft Clinch


Make 5 recipes from my overloaded Pinterist boards Tried more than 5 and still going!


Read 5 books (Read half of a book last week)

Take a day without computer or phone

Go to one tourist destination in FL that I have never been to   Gatorland! More planned


Go to Silver Springs because the husband has never been (and it's free entramce)

Find a couch Given a free couch - now one cushion less, thanks puppies!


Paint at least one wall  Painted the kitchen wall blue


Make my own laundry detergent Done, plus a couple other DIY cleaners


Go camping for more than one night

Make a holiday tradition

Give away things at least 5 times (twice and the pile is building)

Ride my bike 5 times

Volunteer or give to an organization 3 times

Make a craft project

     Go on a girl's trip

     See a drag show


Completed 6 out of 19. I need to get on it. Next time put on car/motorcycle events. That I accomplish quickly. 



Sunday, August 3, 2014

recent developments

The Meister spring pan I found at the Sheriff's Ranch Thrift. Couldn't find much about it online. 

The "Cat Bus Stop" the husband built from spare wood. I have been asking for one for a while to keep the outside cat's food dry when it rains. They sit inside it to eat every day. 

Midnight wnjoys sleeping in the metal basket on the rare occasion that recycling is not in it. 

The father in-law is working on the body of the 1976 CJ5 Jeep project. Or as I call it, Franken-jeep.. Two bodies become one. Bondo is their friend.  

The puppies are not that little anymore. This is a good example of doggy nap time. I believe that the hours for that are from 9 am to 5 pm. 

My wheel barrel planter redo. Since this photo the hot weather has burnt up the poor things. Ugh, Florida. Why must we be so close to the sun?