Sunday, March 29, 2025

Good morning! Well THAT was a lovely wedding reception for Abby & Jeremy. Nice venue.

Paula, Abby, Jeremy , Mark and me.

The wedding party 

Brian & Olivia

Paula & Mark

First dance … choreographed! 

Mark had fun taking candids … 

Haha! Fun times! 

Today we pack up and fly home. 

Saturday March 29, 2025

Hello from Asheville North Carolina where we’ve been since Thursday! It was downright chilly then but we apparently brought some springtime weather from Florida with our flight. 

Thursday we connected with Paula, Mark’s sister, and caught up with family news. It was good to see her … after the Covid years. We had dinner at the Olive Garden! 

Friday, after catching up on our sleep, Mark and I drove to Maggie Valley and Waynesville. Those were areas we enjoyed RVing in. Despite the extensive Hurricane Helene devastation in and around Asheville, that area was in good shape. There was tree damage, but not excessive flooding. 

We had lunch at the buttered biscuit, a favorite when we were RVing in the area. 

We took a drive around Waynesville and found a large group protesting our government issues of the day. There were plenty of signs about Trump and Elon.  

Waynesville protest

At 6:30 yesterday we met everyone at Asheville‘s Applebee’s for a big family dinner. It was a big noisy bunch. We had a great time.  

L-R Paula, Mark, me, Jonathan, Lindsay, Savannah, Scout, Marshall, Brian, Austin, Fallon and Olivia! Abby and Jeremy joined the group about 8 o’clock. They had been at a dinner with Abby’s out of town family. What fun!!! 

Now today, Saturday, is Abby and Jeremy’s “round two” Of their wedding. Due to hurricane Helene, the reception had been postponed. Things were flooded, no electricity, no hotels ipen and the airport closed. They were able to get married in the church! So, tonight is their reception!!! 🥳

 

Sunday March 23, 2025

Good evening! Yes, it’s me! 😂

No idea what we’ve been busy with so I shall look thru my pics for clues.

I’ve invited a few of my game day friends to a painting afternoon. I’ve never “taught?” paint party, but maybe … we’ll have fun I know! I’ve offered their choice and have 2 for Cocktails, 3 for Wildflowers and 5 for Beach Wave. 

Our March ladies luncheon at Applebee’s was super fun! The service was superb and everyone seemed to enjoy their food. 

The’hood’s St. Paddy’s picnic was really fun! Nancy hosted at her lakefront home and we all brought something! It was a big variety with 63 attendees! I (attempted) to make my cousin Debbie’s popular Banoffi Pie. She made it twice on our visits to the UK. Well, I remembered the ingredients but could not locate the recipe Debbie had sent me … SO I adlibed. 😝 

The caramel didn’t thicken, I used the wrong crust ingredients and Cool Whip instead of whipped cream. Oh yeah, green sprinkles rather than shaved chocolate. 

Those who hadn’t tasted that delectable pie before said it was yummy! To Mark and me it was a disaster. Since then, I found Debbie’s recipe!!! Here it is if you care to make it. It’s so decadent. ❤️

Last Tuesday we had Sloppy Joes at RanDawn’s with the gang including Jan, Dawn’s mom! It was a lovely night. 

Wyatt had his 3rd birthday! 

He did not like the hat. 🥳🐾🥰

The next day Mark groomed them … 

Handsome Robbie 14 years 3 months and spey!

Ms BeeZee, 11 years 11 months and doing very well following her January radiation treatments! ❤️

Wyatt, age 3 … sporting a gorgeous beard! He’s a very nice Scottie, full of fun!

Next week we’re off to Asheville to see the NC family! 

That’s it for now. 

Saturday, March 8, 2025

Good morning from Central Florida, where it is a bright, beautiful sunshiny day, despite the dismal political fallout. 

Last Thursday, Nancy and I attended a musical show at the Mount Dora music hall. It was well attended for the Edwards Twins, a long-running variety show from Las Vegas.  They do more than 100 impersonations. It was fascinating to watch, and the music was fabulous. We had a wonderful evening.  

Yesterday, we got together for Wayne‘s birthday at the Olive Garden in Leesburg. Randy and Dawn joined in. It was a great evening with good food and lots of laughs.Diane and Kris are away at a Van club camp out. They certainly have nice weather and I hope they are having a fun time.

Life continues despite the fallout around the world from the orange turd. Tomatoes are rotting With no migrant workers to pick them. Oranges are on the ground, again, no migrant workers to pick them. I could go on and on and on, but if you’ve been watching the news, you know that the States Is in a dark period of history. 

Saturday, February 22, 2025

Good morning from cloudy Central Florida where it’s 54°F. Yes, we are in the midst of another cold front after having days in the low 80s last week  The weather we can deal with, the troubling political climate is another issue altogether.  At this point in time, it’s important to care for yourself. 

Here are some of the steps being taken in our country and Canada to boycott the oligarchs:

This is like swatting a mosquito when in the midst of a swamp … there must be more that can be done. 

Back at the ranch, as they used to say during the spaghetti westerns, the kids got haircuts last Sunday. We had been trying, in vain, to not clipper them. Their hair was out of control with Belize’s hair about 5 inches long and Wyatt looking like he was wearing an Afro wig on his back.  😂

Here they are, Robbie, Belize, and Wyatt, all freshly groomed and packed together like sardines … the way Mark put them on the sofa. 😂 They are so sweet, and Miss B is feeling good again!!! 🐾🥰

Yesterday when Mark was walking all three Scotties, our neighbor’s small dogs were off leash and their Chihuahua charged (along with the dachshund and a black-and-white small dog) from 3 houses away and attacked BeeZee. Bee and Wyatt retaliated and 2 of the 3 dogs ran for home but Harvey didn’t back down. After some teeth gnashing he ran yelping home. You might think that Mark was in front of their dogs’s house, but he was three houses away! (Bee got a bite on her face.) 😢 Geez Louise. 😡 This wasn’t the first time the Chihuahua got loose and attacked. It’s time to fix the fence or wherever he is escaping from. 

Although admittedly, this picture doesn’t do it justice, we are not putting more plants the new area til our pending electrical job is finished next week. 

Mark extended the landscape stones around the side of the house. It will be pretty with the Jasmine shrubs come spring. We have a ponytail, palm to plant in there as well. In any event, it’s much tidier. 

Next week is our dental appointment and cleanings. 

😂

That’s it for today. It’s housekeeping, laundry and tonight we are playing Catan with Nancy.  Wishing you a happy Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy the weekend wherever you are  🥰

Friday February 14, 2025

Happy Valentine’s Day to all our peeps … thank you for being in our lives! ❤️

 Mark and I don’t generally celebrate Valentine’s Day on the day. It’s too difficult to get into restaurants! So, yesterday we planned a boating lunch to crazy gators. Well, the wind was up and rain forecast so we drove over. Although it still looked the same, The Crazy Gator went loco. Mark had a beer, I had bar scotch and water. Mark ordered a mahi salad and I ordered 10 chicken wings, all flats. With a tip it was $70. 😳  Bye bye Gators! 🐊 There are other places to eat with better food and more reasonable prices. No wonder we were 2 of the 4 patrons there. 

Robbie’s last wart removed came back benign! Yay! Belize’s visit last Tuesday was good. She doesn’t go back to the University’s oncology department until April 24th! We can breathe for 2 months. Whew 😅 

Sweetie boy Wyatt learned to give a paw (high 5) for breakfast! He’s a quick study BUT being a Scottie the boy had to decide if it was necessary. 😂

This morning, Mark was up early leveling the front garden stone area. The plants we bought last week for the side yard will be encompassed in an extended stone block area. It’s going to be beautiful. Pictures when finished.

Tonight we’re doing pizzas on the Pizzazz and Nancy is joining us. After we’ll play Catan! Last time Nancy won twice and I won the 3rd game. (Guessing Mark will be on his toes to win tonight.)

Hope you’ve had a good day! 😍

Sunday, February 9, 2025

Good morning! It’s been a busy one getting ready for the Neil Diamond “Beautiful Noise” show in Orlando. Nancy bought me a ticket for my birthday!

Ready to go! Mark’s offered to dog sit home today. Plus it’s Superbowl Sunday!

What a great musical that was! The Neil Diamond story was amazing and well played. The venue is beautiful… so enjoyable! After the show we went to Longhorn for dinner. 

Nancy, Erica, me, Ron & Linda. (Lots of laughs!)