Well, ALLELUIA !! No more red hair !! My hair color is finally dark chocolate again !! And … here’s the awesome part … they took 50% off the total bill !! I’m a happy girl !! Bravo to Clerice !! 👍😃

Fort Wilderness has a sister resort, Wilderness Lodge that is accessible by boat from the campground. The salon is located at the Lodge. The lobby still had its Christmas 🎄decorations up as well as the gingerbread cabin. (see pics)

UPS delivered my Amazon order today … water filters, propane tank sensors, campsite rope lights & a bicycle cart for Sadie !! Can’t wait to introduce Sadie to her new transportation !! That will be a fun future blog !!

My neighbor John helped me install the propane sensors, the funny part is that he said he doesn’t read the instructions on anything cuz he’s pretty good at figuring things out … well, guess what he ended up doing ?! 😂🤣

About an hour ago, I took Sadie out for a walk & saw that there was an ambulance parked directly across from my campsite. I found out that a woman was taken to the hospital, I don’t have any other details.

It was absolutely gorgeous & sunny here today. Tomorrow’s forecast will be sunny & 86. The heat won’t last long though, as a cold front arrives Saturday bringing rain & cooler temps. Sunday’s high will be 59 😩 !

Lots of camper activity today as there were many departures & arrivals today. Individual campsite Christmas decorations are being removed & boxed up.

However, there’s still a ton of kids here … seriously, there hasn’t been a day that I haven’t seen kids since I arrived on 10/6 🤷🏻‍♀️. I guess all these kids are home schooled ?

I really need to find a ‘senior’s only’ campground 🤣 if there is such a thing ??!!

During our walk, I saw a few new ‘RV’s’ pull in. Check out the motorhome (5th pic) that is towing an enclosed trailer !! Can you even imagine towing this down the highway or making a turn 😳 ! Combined length of 65 to 70 feet … I suspect they’re hauling a vehicle or 2 and a golf cart or 2 ??!!

It was a great day to go horseback riding … at least a dozen horses carried their guests off into the wilderness.

Our campsite is so secluded … can you spot our home in the last pic ?

Looking forward to my salon appointment tomorrow … I requested a different stylist, since the last one made me a redhead without my permission … hopefully the new stylist can remove the red highlights and give me back my original hair color … stay tuned !!

The Fort held its annual New Years Eve Beach Bash last night. All are welcome including your pets. The recreation team organized a fun evening of food, booze, s’mores, a kids movie, games & dancing until 1am. Everything was free except for the food & booze. They handed out Mickey hats an hour before midnight.

Photos 12 & 13 … Every night around 9:45, a boat parade puts on a show at each resort located near Bay Lake.

Here are a few turkey videos that will make you laugh.

Fort Wilderness turkeys think they own the campground ! Well, actually, they were here before me, so technically this is their home. But, man are they a pain in the butt !! Over the past few months, we’ve had numerous turkey encounters. Last time I had to call security just to get out of my home!

Today, after returning from walking Sadie, we came upon 2 Toms hanging out on my driveway. It took at least 15 minutes before we were able to walk past my truck to get to our home. Plus, these boldly defiant male birds peck at any & all shiny objects ! My truck bumper for example !!

I know, it certainly could be worse … I’m grateful it’s not a poisonous snake, alligator or a cougar that was seen less than a mile from the campground.

Silly birds !! 😂🤣

At the suggestion of Mike H, I am taking a few minutes to reflect on this past years blessings.

Ten years ago if you would have said I’d be towing a tiny house across the country, I would have thought you’d lost your mind. But, here I am, 10 years later, towing a tiny house across the country.

My dream began a few years ago while watching tiny house shows on TV. I knew that’s what I wanted to do when I retired. Yet, retirement seemed so far away. Thankfully the new RF meters that were replacing the old TNS meters that I worked on eliminated my job and it couldn’t have happened at a better time ! After working a total of 43 years … 38 years at an awesome Fortune 500 utility company and 5 years at another company, I was indeed ready to become a retiree !! So, to commemorate the occasion, on Dec 8th, 2018 I had a huge retro/disco/birthday/retirement bash complete with a DJ, karaoke, photo booth & catered food. I knew I would be leaving and never returning so I wanted to celebrate with all my dear friends in a big way!

Then my dream began 1/1/19 when I officially retired. That same month I visited an Amish tiny house construction company, Liberation Tiny Homes, located 1 hour from my home. It was so convenient, like it was meant to be. On January 7th, I gave them a deposit to put my build on their schedule. There was no turning back now!

On Feb 2nd, I went to the car dealership and ordered a larger truck, because my F150 was not tough enough to tow the 12,000 pound home that was being designed. The dealer ordered a turbo diesel F250 with a F450 chassis, suspension & receiver. This truck was going to be bad ass!

In the meantime, I had to begin purging my home that I lived in for the past 25 years, of all the ‘stuff’ that I wasn’t able to take with me … I had to downsize from a full ranch home with basement & shed to a tiny house that was less than 300 sq feet ! Over the next 5 months I donated, sold, recycled, trashed and gave away 3/4 of my life. That was quite an emotional experience!

On March 29th my new truck arrived. In April they began framing my tiny house. I spent the next 8 weeks working on purging my home & driving back & forth to Leola to check on my tiny house progress. Then in June when my landscaper came to cut my grass, he informed me that his neighbor was interested in buying my home ! What ?! They came to my home & loved it and were willing to buy it as is … this meant that I didn’t have to paint or replace appliances plus I didn’t have to hire a realtor!!

On June 3rd my tiny house was delivered to my driveway. On June 8th I had a tiny house open house party. House settlement was scheduled for August 12th at 3pm. My friends kept asking me when I was going to practice towing the house. Secretly, I didn’t want to deal with it. A Dog Squad friend, Wendy arranged for someone to teach me to tow an empty trailer, which was easy. But, I never practiced towing a 12,000 pound home until I pulled it out of my driveway after settlement on 8/12. That evening I towed my tiny house to Niagara Falls.

From 8/12 to 10/6, I towed over 3,000 miles through 8 states & 17 campgrounds. I’ve been at Disney ever since. It’s hard to leave the happiest place on earth !! I always dreamed of being at Disney during the holidays, now I can check that bucket dream off my list.

Sadie & I have met thousands of people & their pets during our journey. I met some awesome folks in each state especially at Gettysburg, Beverly Beach and Disney, but in between those stops this journey had been lonely and at times scary. Like the time we stayed at a truck stop overnight 😳 or the couple times I just didn’t feel comfortable staying at two campsites because of their guests.

My friends back home have been a constant support always encouraging me to follow my dreams !! I appreciate y’all more than you’ll ever know or understand.

Thanks to Mary D & her friend for visiting us at Lake George!

My Dog Squad friends, Sue, Lori, Irene & Wendy always take a photo of me along with them on their girls night outings.

My friend Mike H totally surprised me by coordinating a phone call with about 8 of my ex coworkers to wish Sadie & I a Merry Christmas!

My friend, Ann also surprised me by sending me a birthday card that was signed by a dozen ex coworkers!

I want to especially thank Lori & Mike and Rob & Diane & Kim for showing me the sights around Disney.

Thanks to Bill S for taking a few hours out of his busy schedule to visit with me while he was in Orlando during a business conference!

Thanks to Ann & Temple, John & Nancy N, Christine D, Carmen, Mary & Ann, Bill & Denise, Louise, Bruce & Mary, Joe L, Hesong, Cherie & Joe, Vicki, Sue D, Michele P, George, Jeannie & Dave, Gwen & David, Judy & Jim, Lisa & Mike W, Dorothy M, Roxane, Carol F, Jayne, Sandi & hubby, Melissa & Robert, Patti, Barb & Dave, Lisa D, Greg & Jeannie, Phyllis H, Eric D, Barry, Tammy & Doug, Aileen, Larry & Tristan, Mary R, Cindy R, Antoinette & Chris, I am truly sorry if I missed mentioning your name … Thanks to all for following my blog and sending us comments! 😃💖

As we all begin a new decade, let us say farewell to any negativity or pain and concentrate on being positive & our hearts filled with kindness, joy, peace, love, good health & wealth.

My New Years resolution is the same every year, I commit myself to doing a random act of kindness to an individual each day. It’s a very rewarding resolution!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020 🎊 to all my old & new friends, your families & your beloved pets !!

Blessings 🙏 to all !!

Donna & Sadie 🐾

This photo was taken the night Sadie & I left on our journey !! 😂

If you ever plan to come to WDW during the holidays, avoid the parks on the actual holiday day !! Instead, hang out at your hotel or go sightseeing ! I am not at a park today, but I know someone who is & they sent the crowd photos ! That’s way too close to strangers for me, especially since it’s flu season 😷🤧 !!

I just looked up the wait times for the most popular rides … it’s insane ( see pics) !! And, it’s only going to get worse as the day goes on.

Here’s what I learned … 1) as soon as your purchase your tickets, link them to your MyDisneyExperience app and get FastPasses to the rides you want to go on before you enter the park; 2) if no FP’s are available, and even if you’re there with others, utilize the ‘ single rider’ line-you’ll be in & out within minutes; 3) get there early; 4) there are less people during wet weather, so go there when it rains, just bring a poncho from the $$ store – Disney’s ponchos are $13 ! 5) Don’t bring a purse or backpack, just stuff what you need in your pockets that way you don’t have to stand in the ‘search bag’ entrance, so you’ll be in the park quicker than others ! 6) If your plan is to ride the Rise of the Resistance, you must be inside the park before 7am and logged into the app so you can click the link at 7am to join a boarding group, otherwise, you’re out of luck for that day.

EPCOT will be crazy crowded & wild tonight … there will be individual celebrations plus mini fireworks every time the clock strikes midnight in each of the 11 countries ! 🎊

The fireworks behind Cinderella’s Castle are actual photos from last night’s display !! Absolutely gorgeous !! 😁💥

Even though Disney is expensive, you have to admit it’s worth it, because Disney sure knows how to put on a show !! Magical indeed !!

Magic Kingdom’s New Years Eve Fireworks display can easily be seen & heard from the campground. In fact, since I arrived on 10/6, I have witnessed over 90 shows, which included their Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas & now their New Years display which are all color coordinated for each holiday. Tonight & tomorrow there are 2 Magic Kingdom showings each night. Epcot has their own show at 9:30 each night.

Below are 3 videos which are just a sample of their New Years display that I saw from the campground marina tonight.

I hope the videos can help you imagine that you are here watching it too !! Enjoy !! 😃🎊

The videos … 🎼 It’s A Small World 🎼 Let It Go 🎼 and more !! 🎄🎉

Saturday I visited Magic Kingdom for the last time. I was thrilled to be able to get a photo with Mickey & Tinker Belle 😃!!

Next up was breakfast at the Be Our Guest Restaurant. They serve up yummy French influence food. They tell you to sit anywhere in the restaurant, then they deliver your food on a butler type table with wheels. I asked how they knew where I was sitting 🤔 and their response was “Magic” 🤷🏻‍♀️🤣 !

Then I went on 2 rides, Peter Pan Flight & It’s A Small World before I went to stake my spot in front of Cinderella’s Castle to watch a character show called Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire & Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.

Enjoy the attached photos … Part 2 of this article will have videos of the character show & parade !!

Farewell Walt & Mickey !! Thanks for the Christmas memories !! 🎄💖

This morning I went to Magic Kingdom for the last time. I need to sort through all my pics & videos first, then I will post that blog tomorrow. Stay Tuned !!

After I returned to my campsite, I welcomed old friends from back home. Mary & Ann and Ann’s children, Amy & Zach & Amy’s boyfriend Oscar. Mary & Ann are official “snow birds”. They make the annual trek to FL & hang out with Ann’s sister Michelle for the winter.

( For those of you that attended my costume disco/retro/birthday/retirement bash last year, you may recall a visit from “Prince”, wellllll, that was Mary !! At the party, she surprised me & came in costume as Prince because back in the 80’s, I did a lip sync contest as Prince … that was so awesome of you Mare !! Thanks 👍😃!! )

So, back to our visit … We stopped by my house to say hi to Sadie, then I gave them a full golf cart tour of the campground & all its amenities. We visited the Outpost Store where Mary had a sudden urge to try on a sorcerer hat, then we headed to the campground Trails End restaurant where we dined on southern comfort takeout 😋.

Nightfall quickly arrived, so we took in all the campsite’s lighted Christmas decorations. They were amazed and shocked at all the elaborate decorations. Mary kept saying “look to the right … now look to the left” as we zoomed through the campground loops ! 😂 The amusing part was there were 6 of us stuffed onto a 4 person golf cart !! 🤣

It was such a fun afternoon ! Thanks so much for visiting me & Sadie ! Good Times !! See y’all soon.