The New Year is upon us
2025 is next week! Another year come and gone and the holidays have passed and they were magical, truly magical.
Here’s what transpired since last Friday…
Nick throwing a long football pass at Greynolds Park
A nice cold Blue Moon at Flanigan’s on Saturday night.
Saturday Vance, Nick and I headed to Greynolds Park for some football throwing, frisbee tossing, nature walking fun then that night we had a great dinner at Flanigan’s. Never a bad meal at that place! Nick ordered a super juicy cheeseburger with fries, Vance had a chicken teriyaki sandwich and I ordered the lemon pepper tilapia.
Sunday while Nick and Vance watched the Dolphins win (yes, that’s not a typo!) Elizabeth was busy making food and hosting her friends for her annual Christmas party. I made myself scarce and basically watched Christmas specials and the Kennedy Center Honors in my bedroom, which was fine with me.
Vance taking a swing at Greynolds Park.
View at Greynolds Park Golf Course
Lots of these pesky iguanas on the golf course
Adorable Christmas Tree at the Greynolds Park Pro Shop
Symphony in Lights at Village of Gulfstream
Monday I actually joined Vance back at Greynolds Park, this time to watch him play their nine-hole course. I drove the cart and enjoyed the lovely views and weather. We had a great time together. Then in the evening, after picking up the food at Panera for delivery to The Caring Place, I stopped by Village of Gulfstream to watch the Symphony in Lights which doesn’t end until Dec. 31 so there’s still time to catch it! I also stopped by Enchanted Place in North Miami just one more time. I think it was my fifth time!
Guitar virtuoso Hailey entertaining us on Christmas night.
My brother Manolo, his grandson Marcos and my nephew and Marcos’s Dad Manoli.
Cousins Nick, Hailey and Kaitlyn in matching Christmas light necklaces.
My nephew Danny and my sister Ana, who are my daughter Elizabeth’s godparents.
My niece Tiffany and her daughters Hailey and Kaitlyn.
My nephew Danny and his wife Mabel who flew in from Atlanta on Christmas morning to be with us!
My nephew Tony’s wife Teri in the striped shirt and my sister Susy chatting on the patio on Christmas Day.
Tuesday and Wednesday were Noche Buena and Christmas Day respectively where Casa Gulliksen was abuzz with a busy kitchen, lots and lots of holiday food and family enjoying time together. Elizabeth did an amazing job making the turkey, mashed potatoes and pecan pie while I made the stuffing and green beans. The rest of my family brought a multitude of delicious sides. Christmas Eve mass was also a nice, tranquil affair and I actually snuck away and back to our church after everyone left for a Christmas concert they held before the 10 p.m. mass.
View from Oleta River State Park
Golden sunset I captured on our drive home from Oleta.
Yesterday I put Vance’s Christmas gift of an annual pass to Florida State Parks to good use. We went for an afternoon nature walk at Oleta River State Park where we ran into a former Carnival Cruise Line co-worker of Vance’s. We spent some time chatting with her that the is a foster Mom and a single mother at that which made me smile and warmed my heart.
Finally today we took it easy, hanging out at home on a very dreary, gray day with on and off drizzly rain. A perfect day for Elizabeth, Vance and I to get lunch at Dumpling King in North Miami Beach. Their soup dumplings are exceptional and their noodle soups are cozy and delectable. Tonight I may walk over to MOCA and listen to Jazz at MOCA or… I may just stay home. I’m not sure.
The next time you read this blog it will be 2025! I’m looking forward to ringing in the New Year with great friends at Casa Wutzler. Until then… much health and happiness and prosperity to you and yours in the New Year.
