A Purpose Driven Road Trip

Some people will use any excuse for a road trip.   Other people need a really good reason...

Grandma J had the best reason ever.....because her oldest granddaughter, Turtle, was graduating from high school.  Not just any high school, but a school of choice.  

Miss T graduated with honors up the ying yang.....

...allowing her to be front and center.

She had so much fun graduating from high school......

That she decided to graduate with her AA degree from the Community College the same week!

Grandma J wouldn't have missed this road trip for the world.

Now, it's time for the hotel's hot tub.

Happy Birthday Turtle!



Her Dad gave her that nickname, and now Grandma J will call her oldest Granddaughter Turtle on her blog.



Don't ask me how this happened, but Turtle turns 17 today. She was born in California, but transplanted to Florida. Even though for most of those years she was on opposite coast from her grandma, we always saw each other often.

This is Turtle's kindergarten picture. One of my favorite pictures of her.

These cousins have shared many Christmases together...

Here's Turtle with Grandma J and her (blind in one eye) dog, Charlie, that same Christmas, (1994)

Connecting for another memorable Christmas and remain good friends .

They have traveled to California from Texas and Florida for summer fun on Catalina Island with their favorite grandma.

Turtle and her dad are best of friends. Her dad even got a small tattoo of a turtle, which makes Grandma J thankful that he didn't nickname his daughter "Princess". I love they way they still hold hands at Disney.

Grandma J's granddaughter loves to surf on both coasts.

Here she is with her dad and younger brother. She's becoming such a beautiful young lady.

The same two goofballs on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe on New Years Day.

I love you Turtle, and I miss you too. So, since I can't be with you in California for your birthday, I want to send you lots of love and a recipe for Turtle Candy. The same ones your Dad buys you every year....but this year maybe he will make you some! Ummm, yeah, let me know if that happens.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BETTY CROCKER EASY TURTLE CANDY

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 2 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Chocolate

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
4 oz Pecan halves (about 72)
24 Caramel candies
1 t Shortening
6 oz Semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 300ø. Cover cookies sheet with aluminum
foil, shiny side up; lightly grease. For each candy,
place 3 pecan halves in a “Y” shape on foil. Place 1
caramel candy in center of each “Y”. Bake just until
caramel is melted, about 9 - 10 minutes. Heat
shortening and chocolate chips over low heat just
until chocolate is melted. Spread over candies and
refrigerate 30 minutes.