December was the month of dining out and visiting with old friends.  On Saturday, December 1, we discovered a new restaurant in the village -- Brewer's Cafe.  It has been open for about 18 months and the food was excellent; we will return!

On Sunday, December 2, we watched the Christmas Road Parade in drizzling rain.  The parade brings out everyone from young to old and is fun to watch as well as trying to catch the candy canes thrown from floats.  Truly a small town event!  This picture is the front of the float.

 And, this is the back of the same float.

One of the many 4-H club floats:  the smell of the tree made it feel like Christmas even though we were in summer clothes.  After the parade was over, the trees were lit in Marina Square Park.  We tried to capture them in pictures several years ago and found it too frustrating, so we didn't even try this year.

  

              

On Tuesday, December 4, Su drove across the state to spend some time with her friend Nancy.  It was three hours and that was staying near the speed limit since the car has a foreign license plate -- SC in FL.  Many citrus groves, cattle farms, and sod farms were passed on Highway 70.  It was odd seeing the beautiful sunsets over the Gulf as Fort Pierce is the Sunrise City.  By Friday, Su was back to walk Friday Fest and dine with friends from another marina in town.

 On Saturday, December 8, we watched part of the Christmast Boat Parade.  This was another attempt at taking pictures in the dark by trying all settings on the camera.  At the same time, the lights were continuously changing on the vessel.  Su decided to include this one lousy picture as it was the most colorful of the batch.

The middle of the month was unseasonably warm with temperatures of 74 and 70 at 6 AM!  By mid afternoon, it felt like summer.  We both agreed that is why we are here and not there...

 We spent Christmast Day at Su's sister's home in West Palm Beach.  We had delicious appetizers with champagne while we exchanged gifts and later in the day a wonderful meal.  Jane put gifts for Alex in the shopping bag filled with our gifts.  When we returned to the boat, Alex didn't wait for anyone to give him his gifts.  He stuck his head in the bag, found both toys, knew they were for him, and started playing.

 On December 30, it was 46 degrees at 6 AM.  Su asked if we were far enough south.

We celebrated New Year's at a party at Cobb's Landing, one of the restaurants at the marina.  Needless to say, we didn't make it to midnight -- close but not quite.