Guess what .. we're still in Melbourne .. the truck is still not finished .. Bah Humbug!
There were a few more parts that needed to be replaced, most of them small, but also another injector .. &%!@$!

So, fortunately we found someone else to move us to our new spot on Saturday, and I guess we're continuing to wait this out ..
James has been working his butt off, working his day-job but he also did some work in the evening hours. I'm not so happy about it, I think he's exhausting himself, but we DO need the money, so I'm trying to let it go ... yeah .. right ..

 

In the meantime, I'm trying to enjoy this Christmas season. 
At least this park is trying to get me in the spirit, since every year from November until January, they light up part of it's grounds with Christmas lights. 
It's a loop you drive with your car, except for 2 nights when it's walk-through only.



It's pretty good and right next door, so I've walked over a couple of times to shoot some pics.
Unfortunately James has to drive it each night (very slow) if he happens to come home after 6.30. After a week it's starting to get a little old ...

 
I like the way this shot came out. This is actually the Hay-Wagon that you can take around the loop. Pretty cool!

I've also done some baking!
My Gingerbread Men came out pretty good again ..

And my favorites, Hungarian Butterhorns:

          

Horrible sticky dough but very yummy!

 

I'm also trying to walk a little further every day, I think I'm actually getting back in shape some!

These Live Oaks are so pretty, all gnarly, twisting ever which way

And, sitting inside, working on my back-logged blog, I suddenly heard a big thud and when I looked up, this is what I saw ...

This is actually a Merlin, and he brought down a (Mourning) Dove!
How cool is that!
He sat there for a while and than started to dig in and pluck some of the feathers ..

Eventually, a passing car scared him enough to take off, but he did take his prey with him!

Finally, passing the pond yesterday, I heard a lot of splashing, so I stopped to see what might surface:

The turtle in the front is a Common Cooter, but the creature in the back threw me a little for a loop? A baby Gator? 

A tiny Dragon? (just kidding ...)

It took me a little sleuthing, but I'm pretty sure that it's a Florida Softshell Turtle. Made for a funny shot, those 2 faces .. "hey, what's up Bro"?

PS:  I just heard that the truck 'should' be ready tomorrow evening. The plan than is to take it for a 3-4 hour ride, after James is done working. It needs that much to 'settle' everything.

Hopefully there won't be any surprises. We have to be out of here on Saturday which doesn't give us as much time as we hoped to make sure everything will be OK, but I guess it has to do ...

We're keeping our fingers crossed!