WE BUY A NEW HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE, SELL THIS ONE (YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE HERE; BELOW ARE THE PICS FROM THE SALES ADVERT) AND AN UPDATE ON TINKERBELLE THE PINK PALACE

In 2017, I started seriously to look for another house. The Pink Palace is fine for one person, BUT too small for two people and five dogs (soon to be six). There is no place to be alone; sitting outside is out of the question, due to mosquitos. The quest is on; thanks to the internet and my Garmin, house hunting is easier than it used to be, back when we bought our Wisconsin house in 1986. Purely by accident, I came upon an Open House for a house directly across Lake Tarpon from The Pink Palace. The selling agent told me: 1) There is NO HOA, so no HOA fees; and 2) this subdivision, called Tarpon Woods, is dog-friendly. I replied, "SOLD!" This was the only house I looked at that WASN'T in an HOA; therefore, there would be no restriction on the number of dogs we could have. Yes, there are is a Pinellas Country restriction (three pets), but no one pays attention to that unless there is a complaint. Two other plus factors were . . . . . . a pool and a screenhouse (called birdcages here). I cannot imagine living in Florida without a pool, so that was a very important requisite for a new house. (That's Jackie Ike & SweeTea on the left.) And so, after some back-and-forthing, we owned a four-bedroom, four-bathroom house with pool, lanai, fireplace, library, breakfast nook and dining sorta-room. Oh, a kitchen, too, but only 'cause it came with the house. On 15 June 2017, we sold The Pink Palace. On 16 June 2017, Neal saw the house for the first time, 30 minutes before the signing. On 28 November, 2017, Neal sold and emptied out the Wisconsin house, finally becoming a permanent Florida resident. We've done a LOT of remodelling, renovation, landscaping. Actually, someone else does the work; I just come up with the ideas and write the checks. Walls taken down, doors & ceiling fans replaced, pool resurfaced, birdcage re-screened, interior painted, roof & air conditioning replaced, bushes & flowers & palm trees planted, mulch replaced with landscaping stone, among other things. 2020 So, remember way back in 2015, in the midst of that renovation, a foster Cairn came to me from Oldsmar . . . Tinkerbelle? On 25 December 2020, Shell Lewis writes: Remember the dog you fostered that came up here and was adopted by the family in Freeport? I don't remember her name now, but she was very cute; she is still doing well and they adore her . . . Good to know!

A MENU OF TRAVEL WEBSITES I MAINTAIN CAN BE FOUND HERE

INTRODUCING MISHA (@RB), APRIL (@RB), CARI (@RB), RICOBADBOY (@RB),
ROSIEVI THE SHY (@RB), DAISY2LEGS, (@RB), LUUCEEE YOU GOT SOME 'SPLAININ' TO DO (@RB),
CHRISSI-ONE-EYE (@RB), HEATHER (@RB), SERVICE DOG SWEETEA, BUDDY (@RB),
ZOE (@RB), BONNY (@RB), EMMIE & TIPSY GIPSY

Remember to bring along your virtual pooper-scooper!