Two weddings and a new car

That pretty much sums it up, right there!  Today's plan was to go on a serious car hunt, but we first had to borrow Pap's wheels.  We were watching some SUVs in the Miami area on ebay, but we decided to first head Key West direction to see if we had any luck.  It's a hike and a half to get up to the 'rock' (mainland).

As we were leaving at about 11:00am, one wedding had already taken
place out on the pointe.  There's another one scheduled just before
sunset this evening.  I think this makes five weddings we have
witnessed from the cockpit of Marquesa.  It is a beautiful spot for a wedding!

We kept our eyeballs peeled for any vehicles that may have been for sale by owner as we headed down the Keys.  Since Highway 1 is the only way in or out, we thought we might stumble upon a few...no such luck.  When we got into Key West, we stopped at McDonald's to check on an auction we had bid upon.  We had been outbid by $50, on a Nissan Exterra.  While we could have jumped back in at the last minute, we decided to let it go and hit up some car dealerships.  Maybe we could find a good deal on a vehicle somebody may have taken in on trade.  The first place we pulled into was a GM dealership, but once they heard our price range we were escorted behind the fence to see what they might have.  In other words, these were not fit to be shown on the front lot!  While there was one possibility, a Mountaineer, we wanted to keep on looking.

The next place we stopped was just up the street at a Kia dealership.  When we rented a car to take Elliebug back to the airport a few weeks ago, we got a Kia Sportage, and really liked it.  When the salesman came out to greet us, he saw Paps plates and asked if we were from Anderson, IN.  Of all things, this guy was from Richmond, IN, and he knew people that we know.  Small world, eh?!  They had taken a one owner 2005 Jeep Liberty on a trade in a few weeks before, and had it priced at $7900.  Donnie asked if he was willing to deal, and he said yes, so we asked to take her for a test drive.  Basically, it was love at first sight.  It has 4WD (the Mountaineer did not), it has new tires and new brakes, which is a plus for driving it back to IN. It already has the towing package, hitch and ball (the Mountaineer did not).  The A/C was good and cold, the 4WD works, the engine purrs and the suspension was tight.  We drove it to a motel lot, so Donnie could check it over really good under the hood, and it obviously was a well maintained car.  Thankfully, Mr. FixIt also knows a thing or two about cars as well.  :)  Man, I love this man!  The only thing it didn't have was leather interior and a sunroof, but I've lived without that before.

Donnie got him down to $5800 including the sales tax.  We got the
title free and clear, and a 30 day plate to get home on...sweet!
So now we have wheels to go pick up Emily next week, yay!!!

When we got back to Banana Bay, I was greeted by nasty surprises on our bedding...seems Willis yacked up a furball, or two, or three.  Actually, he made a royal mess of things. I'm thinking he's grooming himself a bunch more since he has been on house arrest, because he normally gets a furball about once every three months or so, if that.  This is the second incident in about two weeks.  Dern cat.   So, my husband set about giving the Jeep a good scrubbing, and I hauled all our stuff up to the laundromat in the marina.  If Donnie can get the outside washed and waxed, I'll clean up and detail it on the inside tonight or tomorrow.

She's looking good...the car wash guy isn't bad either!

I got back from doing laundry just in time to see the second bride of
the day come down the 'aisle'...which means she came out of
the tiki bar, and made her way to the pointe.  The couple's little
girl (about 3yo) was their flower girl, and true to flower girl form, she
dumped the whole basket of petals once she got up to the people- cute :)

You may kiss the bride!  What a beautiful setting.

Nathan and Bonnie, are you sure you don't want to chuck all those
plans and just scoot on down to the Keys?  A beach wedding was
good enough for Kenny Chesney :)  Ok, maybe that's not a good
argument since his marriage didn't turn out so well, but STILL...

Not long after the "I do's", the sun began to set...

A couple of seagulls perched on some fishing buoys seemed to
be taking it all in, too.  The Gulf was like glass this evening.

While the sun ducked behind some low lying clouds, the sky
looked like a beautiful watercolor painting.

She dropped out of the clouds just as she hit the horizon...
simply gorgeous.

With the wedding reception in full swing at the tiki bar, Donnie and I went up to the pool for some chicken wings and a quick swim.  Tonight we're going to see Rio at the movie theater here in Marathon, just a two block walk away.  The theater only holds about a hundred people.  You sit around cocktail tables to have
your beer and wine and popcorn.  Not a bad way to watch a cartoon!  All in all, it has been a red letter day!