CHRISTMAS CHEER 🐾🎅🏼

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Wyatt and Belize showing off their new Christmas collars although Wyatt tried taking his off by rubbing along the hallway wall. 😂

Thursday, December 11, 2025

​EATON BEACH 

Good evening! Today’s fun was lunch with pals KimBob at Eaton Beach. 

It was a couple hours of catching up. They’d been on a cruise in September, us in November. We had a great afternoon! 

Tuesday, Belize had bloodwork, ultrasound and a chemotherapy appointment. I dropped her off at 9 o’clock. She’s quite happy in her stroller and according to staff, easy going about it all. 

Afterward, I went to Nancy’s for a visit and coffee. She’d already had a morning workout! Darn … I hadn’t even had a coffee yet  😂 

Nancy opened a couple Christmas presents that I hoped would be good for her upcoming trip to Pigeon Forge - a goodies snack pack gift basket and flannel nightgown. Nancy had made Buckeyes … chocolate covered crunchy peanut butter and confectioners sugar balls. Too delicious!!! 

Mark ran manly errands (Lowes) and picked up Belize at 5 o’clock  it was a long day for her! Great news though … her next appointment will be SIX weeks away. She’s doing very well. (It’s a year since diagnosis of TCC Bladder Cancer.) She’s eating well and maintaining her weight and activity level. We’re thrilled! 🐾❤️

Our friends Pat & Ken moved from our former neighborhood yesterday, officially. They’ve been renovating their new nest. We look forward to seeing it. There’s nothing fun about moving but satisfying to see the plan come together.

The K’s have been wineing and dining in South Florida this week. 

RanDawn both had colds this past week; there’s a virulent strain going around with a wicked cough. When we talked to Randy today, he sounded much much better.  

That’s it for now. We have a busy weekend coming up with events. ‘Tis the season … 🎅🏼

Saturday, December 5, 2025

​good morning from foggy North Central Florida, where we have rain rolling in for the weekend. Mark and his friend Wayne are in the woods this morning. I’m not sure Mark should be out there as he had a sore throat last night. ‘Tis the season for colds! 

Last Wednesday was the kickoff to the December holiday parties with the Coast to Coast club. 

The party was great. The food was excellent, the decorating very pretty and the band awesome.  As you can see, everyone was up dancing.  

The next night was Yaya‘s at Nancy‘s!

It was a smaller group than some years, but lots of fun. Nancy cooked her famous Cincinnati Skyline chili with all the fixings!!! There were Christmas crackers with jokes inside, Christmas bauble necklaces for all and a gift exchange. Well done Nancy! Her place was decorated to the ‘nines’ !!!

Both Belize and Wyatt are doing well with daily walks and golf cart rides. We are keeping them as busy as possible.  Now with two misty rainy days upon us, I will have to dig out the toys with treats for a fun time.  

That’s it for now! Happy Holidays!!! 

Saturday, November 29, 2025

​good morning from chilly North Central Florida where it is 60° at the moment. Brrr 🥶 

We had a fun Thanksgiving day at Diane and Kris is home. Cindy and Hailey were there plus Diane’s neighborhood friend Tina. Nancy came with us and added to the fun.  We played a couple of games, ate ham, turkey and all the fixings! 

Whatta fun time! That’s Hailey up front resetting the picture timer. 😂

Wednesday, November 26, 2025

​GRINCHMAS STRIKES 😂

Good afternoon on this TG-Eve where we’re putting up Christmas lights for the first time on our “new” home! I’m having a blast whereas my grinch has 3 various sized ladder and his drill readied for the task. 

Check out his grimace. 😂 Next year we’ll have an easier time of it. I think.

We’ve put 100’ of bright C3’s across the garages, front and peak. Our inflatable Scottie will guard the front entrance. Three projectors will handle the sides of the house as we’re on a corner lot with plenty of wall space! (Maybe a picture once the sun sets tonight.) 

Last night’s sunset across the street from us …

Florida is beautiful at this time of year! 

This was happy hour yesterday after some grocery shopping at Walmart! It was mobbed!

We forgot a few things at Walmart and come home to our lights on full display! 

Our front porch Scottie 

Maybe tweaking here and there but overall it’s done. 

Now Mark’s cooking up a batch of turkey dinners for Bee & Wyatt. 🎶 The beat goes on … 

Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow. 🥰

Monday, November 24, 2025

​Good evening! We’re home from Applebee’s burgers with Sue & Wayne. It’s a beautiful evening! 

Yesterday I went to our neighborhood holiday music concert. I was amazed at the talent and decorations. It was a nice kickoff to Thanksgiving and the Christmas season.

While I was “being a social butterfly” as Mark said, he was happily puttering about in the attic.

There’s decent headroom in the garage attic so a few pieces of plywood flooring is a good plan. Things like seasonal decor might be stored there eventually.

 

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

​Waaaa 😭 The Cruise is OVER

Jack, Jill, Janny, Mark, me, Tony … at the elevators, ready to go and disembark. What a fantabulous time we have had! The weather was perfect, the seas smooth. 

All eight of us at the departure lounge. Four of us have a 5 Hour drive home and four have a three day trip to Taiwan.

Departure was quick and easy. The ship had cleared customs and we all just walked off. We had to take a shuffle over to the parking lot as we didn’t come into the same slip.  We were about 2 miles or more away. Port Everglades is now huge. 

Back home, Nancy had taken a wonderful care of Belize and Wyatt. We had a white claw together and caught up on the news. Then she was off to a meeting in Tavares and we began unwinding.

Thank you, Nancy, for the new addition to our family.  “Just what this house needs” as my dad would say.  😂  It’s so cute and holds the big buddy cookies. 

So today Mark is running errands and I’m unpacking the suitcases and doing laundry. It’s great to be home, and we will be back to normal soon.  

Saturday, November 15, 2025

​Yesterday, we arrived in St. Thomas and managed to do a little portside shopping. I have been down with allergy since going in a few shops and a very dirty tour van. I did go to the ships medical and was tested for Covid and the flu. Fortunately, both came back negative. They gave me some medication just to help but said it is allergy based. 

Pics from St. Kitt’s … beautiful around the port but poverty ridden elsewhere.  According to our driver, the average income is about $200 a month!

Monkeys on leashes are common. The locals have them available at every roadside stop. Of course they charge for pictures with them. Desperation is a plague. 

St. Thomas … the nicest of the Virgin Islands (our opinion. 

Bad hair days with 85% humidity. 😂

We had dinner in the island dining room last night and helped to celebrate Tony and Janny’s 30th. 

Janny likes her “beauty cam” setting … but the app doesn’t cooperate when I touch her phone. 😂 Janny set her phone for me to video the crew singing 🎵 Happy Anniversary. Well, I “pushed” the camera button and the beauty cam went to a commercial. 🙄

Cruising along this morning to Grand Turk … arriving about 1 oclock. (We’ve been enjoying our cabin’s balcony.) 

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

​A N T I G U A … a lovely Caribbean island which is not easy to walk around. 😂 Mark says I can trip on a dime. Perhaps it’s true as today I kicked an orange cone out of the way of an obstruction without noticing it. 😂 Sue and Wayne cracked up laughing. 

We poked about some shops and supported the shop owners by purchasing a dress and a few sundries. We’re not used to the humidity anymore. (Central Florida is much drier a climate than South Florida was.) After an hour we were ready for air conditioning. 

So yesterday … we met up with Fraser & Barb for lunch at the Blue Bitch Bar along the downtown beach. It was so good to see them both!!! Sue, Wayne, Mark and I took a taxi downtown and received very mixed directions on where the restaurant was. After 20 minutes of confusion we bumped into BARB who said … “What a motley crew!” 😂😂😂 We gave her big sweaty hugs. 

It was sure hot … and no A/C there. Delicious lunch with cold drinks … so good to catch up with them after 14+ years! 

Our cabin door decor 💕

The complex Fraser’s been building in Sint Maarten … they watched our ship leave port last night. Probably the last full year as subtropical island residents. 

Tuesday November 11th, 2025

​Lest we forget … on the eleventh day of the eleventh month at the eleventh hour.

I’ve been remiss and occupied so will attempt an overview of the past few days.

November 6th we arrived in Ft Lauderdale and checked out Sue & Wayne’s motorhome/2nd home site. It’s a grand entrance into a unique Class A motorhome park. 

We enjoyed seeing the various sites and features of the park. Then Mark and I were off to our hotel room where we met up with Tony & Janny.

We had a good dinner at Sicilian Oven nearby … a beautiful evening in a hard to find location. Siri helped us get lost and provided some serious laughs. 

Friday November 7th we boarded Caribbean Princess in Fort Lauderdale in record time and spent the day eating, drinking and unpacking. By 3:30 we left port with a Sailaway party top deck.

Two days were spent at sea with entertainment, good weather and great fun. 

The first formal night all 4 couples were together for dinner. Janny & Tony’s friends from Taiwan are (English names) Jack & Jill. 

After much goofing about the photographer managed a reasonably good photo of we 4. Lots of laughs!

(More tomorrow…it’s getting late.)

V A C A Y 2025

Good morning y’all. Today we’re off to Fort Lauderdale to meet up with our travel mates for tomorrow’s cruise!

Nancy (Saint Nancy) is holding the fort and we know will have fun with Bee & Wy-Guy. (They’re at the door waiting for her!) 🥰

It’s funny how time runs along … 118 days til cruise then next thing you know it’s boarding day!

Sue came by with (their dog sitter) Sue to meet Nancy … backups for each of them.

Loaded up we left home at 9:50 to meet up with the K’s.

H E L L O N O V E M B E R 2025

Wayne’s treating tonight for Sue’s birthday dinner with the family!

It’s a chilly willy start here in North Central Florida at 49F … and we’re happy for the cooler weather!

Sue’s birthday dinner was at Francescos … a F U N time with the family! Great service and delicious dinners.

Cheers to many more years of celebrating together! ❤️🥂

Halloween, 2025 🧙

Good afternoon from Sunny North Central Florida where it’s breezy and 70°F.

this morning, two ladies I met at the Art Association came by to look at the white Christmas tree. I offered it to the group to decorate for the Christmas display here at the community center. Of course they love the tree, but it’s just a matter of timing. Once they are ready, we will deliver it over. The art group will be making decorations to be hung on the tree. Anyway, it’s an easy way to add to the community and reduce the number of Christmas trees at our house. Ha ha, we will now be down to two trees!!

Tonight’s our first Coast to Coast club Halloween party. It’s so nice to have a beautiful clubhouse within the community. We don’t drive but a mile to any events! And they’re BYOB, which makes it very affordable. I’ll try and post a picture tonight before we leave. Of course I will be a witch and Mark will be Count Dracula. Since it’s a gated community, and all adults, there’s no trick-or-treating door-to-door. At least not with kids. 🥃 🤪 Happy Halloween everyone! 🎃

Yesterday was game day at Nancy‘s. She had quite a crowd … five more than anticipated! (Why people don’t RSVP when it’s so easy to reply with a text is beyond me.) Anyway, Nancy handled it with ease. (It’s a good thing. It was lovely patio weather.) BeeZee joined the party too as Mark had dropped her off for a vet checkup at 10 o’clock. By 1 o’clock she was ready for pick up so I brought her with me. (No, she didn’t RSVP.) 😂

Mark and I have been going to the neighborhood gym three times a week. We haven’t lost any weight per se, but feel good. It’s another nice perk of living here. No, he’s gone grocery shopping which is very nearby. We don’t miss the drive on County Road 44. 🤨

I guess that’s it for now. I will try and add a fun picture tonight.

It was a pretty good party … we met a few more folks; getting to know the ‘hood.

Happy Anniversary

Good afternoon! We’re celebrating our anniversary tonight in the Villages.

Cheers 🥳🥂 to another year for us! And it was quite a year! A new chapter has begun. We’re loving our new neighborhood and especially being closer to our family. There’s lots to do and places to explore nearby.

Wednesday October 15, 2025

Good morning! Lovely fall weather arrived with October and we’ve been planting our favorites. The Pinwheel Jasmine and Areca palms are already sprouting new growth. The exterior painting is finished too.

Last Monday all 8 of us met for dinner and we didn’t get a picture! Darn. It was a good time at Applebee’s!

Tomorrow Belize is scheduled for Chemotherapy treatment. It’s an early start for us getting her to Mt Dora. It’s an all day stay for Belize. 🥲 Wyatt will be home with one of us. We’ve been walking them most evenings with this cooler weather Nice!

We fired our lawn man today … 3rd strike! The last excuse was “he forgot.” 🤨 That was pretty lame 😂 So … Mark hired the guys who're doing the neighbor’s yard - Easy peasy … it’s done already!

This weekend is a neighborhood wide yard sale and we’re participating with a few big items! Lots to do before we take a well-earned vacation next month

Hope all’s well in your home

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

We’re working through our grief over the loss of Robbie the Bruce of Bonhaven. It’s unbelievable what one little being’s loss changes the energy in our world. At 1 o’clock today will be three days since we said goodbye. Perhaps we will be able to pick up his cremains, today or tomorrow.

That’s Wyatt with his head in one corner, by the door, and Belize with her head in another corner. According to Dr. Rebecca, this is how dogs handle grief. Of course we are giving them lots of extra attention and went for a walk yesterday morning and evening. It helped us all to be out walking under that beautiful full moon last night.

So last night, we met Sue, Kris, and Diane at Chili’s for dinner. The service was good, and the food great. Maybe that will be our “go to” eatery. I forgot to take a picture of the sign I created for Diane and Kris. I will ask them to take a picture and send it to me. They wanted one for their yard.

Mark put in six pinwheel Jasmine, one gardenia which was a gift from Nancy, plus two red flower small trees that will grow to about 6 to 8 feet tall.

The Areca palms around the doggie fence are coming along nicely. They all have new shoots.

this is the little red flower tree that I cannot remember the name of. 😂

it’s just a month now until we embark on a cruise to the southern Caribbean. We are really looking forward to it after months of work helping Diane and Kris, renovate and move, and then all the hubbub of us getting our Calla Court home ready for sale, decluttering it, listing it, selling it and eventually moving all our furniture over to 175th!!! Whew 😅 … That wasn’t including cleaning, painting, entirely inside and outside of the new house, plus new flooring and appliance repairs and deliveries. Then there was hanging of pictures and decor. Since then, we’ve already hosted a Yaya’s party. I think it’s time for a break!!! 😜

Thank you to all who posted on Facebook their condolences of Robbie‘s passing. It is really touching that so many loved Robbie and how he touched their heart during his lifetime. Dogs are amazing. Their energy is so pure.

That’s it for today. I will try and be more regular with my postings.

ROBBIE THE BRUCE

It’s a rainy afternoon at our home. Early this morning Mark and I took the kids for BeeZee and Robbie’s 6 month cardiology checkup plus Robbie’s annual liver ultrasound.

Dr. Wilson’s office was decorated and we took the opportunity for a photo. Wyatt was along for the ride! Sweet little trio of ours.

Fast forward to 1:04 pm and Robbie was euthanized at home with his family holding and loving him. Although both Robbie and Belize had good heart tests, Robbie’s ultrasound showed a cancer mass in his liver had ruptured and was bleeding into his abdomen. 😫 As the liver has no nerves, it was not painful. He had become lethargic last Thursday when my YaYa friends were over here. Now we know why.

Our friend, Annette, has a vet daughter who makes house calls … and she was available right away. We’re devastated at the awful loss but thankful Robbie didn’t suffer a painful end.

That’s it for today.

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

It’s VET DAY … Robbie and Wyatt are getting their 6 month bloodwork done with Dr. Wilson … and BeeZee is coming along for fun. (Dr. Wilson may be surprised to see just how well Bee is doing with Chemo at Palmetto Vet.)

Randy’s inheritance today is Mark’s wheelbarrow. 😂 Apparently, his is falling apart, and Mark has not had a need for it here at the new house.

it’s a lovely start to our fall season. It’s still very warm, but the humidity is down. It’s all pumpkin spice and sea salt. 😂

Saturday September 20, 2025

Good afternoon from lovely North Central Florida where the humidity is low(er) and my wind chimes are singing. Why am I appreciating this you ask? I painted the front door and outside trim around the door today! It’s a B I G house for a do-it-your-selfer! 😬 (Neighbors have suggested painters they know … but, I’m saving up for a gas golf cart.) 😂

So I went to an art association meeting this week and met some fellow artists who live in the area. My picture popped up on their website! Infamous already 😜

Yesterday was Diane’s birthday and earlier this month was Aurelia’s! So … 🎶 Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you both!

The K’s are on the road home with a stop for motorhome service enroute. We’ve missed them … they’ve been away 4 months and so much has changed. (When they left on their trip Mark and I were happily living in Eustis … then I spyed (?) an interesting house and put an offer on it. Next thing we knew we were selling, packing and moving!) Now we’re nearly neighbors!

RanDawn are coming to see our progress this afternoon! We’re so glad he’s feeling better!

That’s it for now.

Saturday, September 13, 2025

Good morning. Mark left to go hog hunting at 12:30. The kids and I were up by 6 o’clock and outside for their potty time. I have to tell you, at 73°. It felt downright chilly. I know those of you who live up north cannot imagine that. But, after our body is being used to 88 to 94° all summer long, this is refreshingly cool.

today is fun for me. Is finishing the white woodwork inside the house. I have three more doors to paint and then another round of touchup with the colors. The more you look around, the more you see spots that are light with paint. If you’re a painter, you’ll know that when everything is wet, it looks even. But when it dries, depending on the light, you may see some spots. Mark likens it to the paint roller leaving bubbles which later burst. Maybe he’s right.

Wednesday night at the Rascals dance, we had fun with our friends, Alan and Scott. We met three couples who we sat with and so enjoyed the night.

Alan stopped by our table … more shenanigans! 😂

Mike & Mary enjoyed the mayhem and have invited us to their golf cart movie nights.