Tuesday, October 31, 2023

It’s a foggy start to our Halloween day! 🎃 we wish you ghosts and goblins and tricks and treats on this fun filled event. We’ve been invited to a house party and I know it’s going to be a blast. We’re just a couple of devils gonna kick up our heels tonight. 🥳 👿 

We had an odd thing happened last night. And, we must’ve slept through it.  Mark went out the side door today to find a stream of water around the swim spa. He thought it must’ve developed a leak and came in to tell me. Well, when I went to look, I could see that the screens were wet from the very top of the RV port, 13 feet high, and that the water was only on one side, the low side of the room as designed. Anyway, Mark mopped it up after testing to see if there was any chlorine in the water, which there wasn’t. We later saw that there was water in the back of the boat. There must’ve been one heck of a driving rain move through quickly! None of the windows on the house had water on them, but the screen on the back of the tiki hut, which has a 5 foot overhang, had water droplets! Weird science?

Hoarse … get it. 😂

Dee & Rick’s party was excellent! I’ve never seen such cool costumes! Barbie & Ken boxes! Wow. Who knew? 

Happy Halloween 🎃 

Friday, October 27, 2023

Good morning. It’s another bright beautiful sunshiny day here in Central Florida. It’s 79° right now with a breeze. Our first order of the day was picking up Robbie and BeeZee at Nancy’s house. (She said they were excellent, and so easy to care for.) They followed her around and settled down wherever she went. Auntie Nancy got urging from Robbie with getting their breakfast done. 😂  Robbie pokes the back of your leg with his nose to hurry you with the task. 🐾🤣  (It was great to have a full day away like we did!)

Last night, Sue, and Wayne met Diane and Kris in the Villages for al fresco dining at Coastal Del Mar. 

 Nice picture of my family! 🥰 

Mark is gone with Wayno to check out some land in Fruitland Park. It’s a nice day for a walk, but I’m glad I don’t have to hike today. Yesterday was enough for me. 😊

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Good morning. We are up and off to Walt Disney’s world animal kingdom.  It’s our 29th wedding anniversary! 🥳🥂🍾

Nancy’s doggositting … we’re celebrating! 

After Avatar’s funtastic ride …

Tree of Life … intricately carved! Gorgeous!

Safari fun! The landscaping is spectacular   

Lunch … top tier cafe 

Noisy but oh so fun! 

Tired after 10,000 steps and 8 flights of stairs! We came home for champagne 🥂 🍾 and a swim! 

Cheers to next year! 🥂

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Good morning. It’s been a busy few days around our house. Sunday evening we took ourselves to Stavros after having spent a day puttering around the house. It’s fall y’all.  🍁 That means fall cleaning around our house.

Yesterday, we tackled the windows. I cleaned the inside, and Mark washed the outside! We have enough windows with our huge Sunroom! The sun shines even brighter through our now clean glass.

We have several family events coming up in the next two weeks. Mark and I will be celebrating our 29th anniversary tomorrow; Sue’s birthday on 1st of November, Randy and Dawn‘s seventh anniversary on November 9 and Matt’s 35th birthday on the 10th. Wow! That’s a lot of cake ‘n candles! 

Beside those fun events, we’re going to our longtime friend Sharon’s wedding! I’d say at our age, we don’t go to many weddings, but this will be the second one this year. Last May, Lynn married Steve. Love ❤️ is in the air. 

Monday’s bowling was, as usual, plenty of fun. We played the number one team from the summer league and were able to win one game. So, today our team is practicing! Our teammate. Linda is back with us after dental surgery. It just didn’t feel right not having our full team for the first two weeks. As I’ve mentioned before, if we don’t make our average each game of competition, we throw a dollar in the pot towards a pizza. Well, on Monday, I threw two dollars in the pot, Mark and Nancy, one dollar each and Linda two dollars.  Yeah, will be eating a lot of pizza if we continue this. 🍕 Ha ha ha 

Yesterday we took Robbie and BeeZee to see Dr. Wilson to go over their recent bloodwork and Rob’s ultrasound report.  Mark and I had questions about some readings. Everything is very good with both of them and Doc is happy with their results. I was saying that Rob’s hearing had diminished to only responding to my whistle. Well, the assistant Tracie was holding Robbie on the table facing her. Dr. Wilson picked up the bag of treats from 4 feet away behind his back. The gigs up Robbie! He heard that wrapper and turned his head around so fast. We all had to laugh. 

Diagnosis… Robbie has SELECTIVE HEARING.  🐾😂

Yesterday she was shopping around for some bedroom lamps and found some that are just perfect!

The intricate cutout of palms is so tropical. 🥰

That’s it for today. Seize the day. 

Saturday, October 21, 2020

Good afternoon. We are just home from our neighborhood Oktoberfest picnic. The weather was great; brats and beer delicious with plenty of homemade dishes to enjoy!

Just a few of the neighborhood group. 

Randy and Dawn are in Daytona Beach this weekend for some biker R & R. 

The K’s were successful while shopping around for guest room furniture which arrives on Monday! 

Last spring’s hanging baskets of chrysanthemums had died off. Rather than throw them out, Mark put them in the garden. And look at these.

They have come back beautifully and are full of buds! Wow! Mark’s got the green thumb! 

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Good evening y’all!!! 

We were up early for Robbie’s annual ultrasound at the Small Animal Hospital in Gainesville.  It’s an hour and a half drive … then the waiting for results. So, this time, BeeZee is enjoying a day at Nancy’s! This lets Mark and I enjoy some freedom to go for coffee and a bit of shopping time while we wait. 

So, at Home Goods I found some pictures, perfect for someone special. Done deal. 😂

Then we had a message from Dawn that her mom, Jan, had just fallen and broken her hip and wrist. It’s scary how quickly things happen! Jan had just been in Lake Tahoe for a weekend of fun with a friend.  Now, here she was, two days later heading to hospital and surgery. 

Robbie’s doctor came out and talk to us about 130. There were no changes on his ultrasound, and everything was looking good. She did mention that his kidney values were indicating his age, but just in the beginning stages of him having problems metabolizing the water correctly. So, we just have to make sure that he has plenty to drink when he wants. It was a really good report from her, and she said what excellent care we give him. 🐾❤️. The girls in the vet tech area said he is “quite the looker.” Two that we said we call him “Mr. Handsome.” 😂 All in all it was a terrific visit with great report.  (There’ll be a 13th birthday party in December!) 

TWO Mr. Handsome guys 🐾🥰

Dawn sent us a message later in the afternoon that her mom had come through surgery and was in good spirits. 

Wishing Jan a speedy recovery ❤️‍🩹. 

The K’s have a buyer for their spare home so congratulations are in order! 🥳🥂🍾🏠

Back home, we poured a drink and went in the swimspa for an hour. It was lovely! 

That’s it! 

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Good evening. It’s been a little cooler today and Mark had a lovely day in the woods with his friend Bob. They have gone back out there this evening, so the house is rather quiet.

Today marks 23 years since dad passed away in Pompano Beach. We sure miss him! 

I spent my day going over bookings for next year‘s anniversary trip. Sue reminded me that mom and dad went on a very similar trip in the 1970s during dad‘s tenure at Chrysler. 

Yesterday was the second bowling day of our new league season. So far, we are zero in eight games. We have a new side bet. If we (individually) don’t make our NEW average, we have to throw a dollar in the pot towards pizza for our team of 4. I had to toss in two bucks yesterday and Nancy, three dollars. What has changed, is after our summer league our scores went up … and our handicap had gone down to the bottom of the barrel. We are pretty good bowlers, but we are not that consistent yet. We’ll see, we will improve and if not … we’re there for the fun. 

Tomorrow is a big day for our Robbie. It’s his annual trip to Gainesville small animal hospital for his ultrasound. BeeZee is going to have a nice visit with auntie Nancy! 

I guess that’s it for today. Not much news, but plenty going on in the background.  😂

Saturday, October 14, 2023

Good afternoon from a bright sunny Central, Florida on this autumn afternoon. 

Happy 45th anniversary to friends, Tony and Aurelia in Winnipeg! 

🥂 Cheers! 

Yesterday, Sue and Wayne went shopping and found a beautiful new car for Sue that fits in the garage nicely! 

Congratulations 🎉! 

And at our house … 

a couple of cookie beggars on my lap! 🐾🥰🤣

Wednesday October 11, 2023

It’s Wednesday night and the rain has begun! There’s a front heading our way from the Gulf; remnants of a Pacific Ocean hurricane.  We may have 3 days of showers and cooler weather.

Our ladies luncheon was Chinese food … and we had a fun time! 

It’s a great neighborhood! Here we are yelling happy new year for no apparent reason. 😂 Good times!

After regrouping, Mark, Nancy and I went bowling. Mike, Dan, Paul and Bruce were already into their 2nd game but stayed for a few more. It was a blast. 

The K’s bought a gorgeous dining set for their kitchen area. The view is great from the big window so swivel chairs sealed the deal! 

Gorgeous isn’t it!!! The colorful carpet pops with the white wicker! Great choice. 

Tomorrow night we’re meeting Randy and Dawn plus Sue and Wayne for dinner! The fun never ends. 

Monday, October 9, 2023

It’s Monday night. We’ve had a few busy days. 

Saturday, Mark and I worked around the house then went in the pool for an hour. It was a nice day. Sue asked if we could help with a few odds and ends. So, Sunday, after Mark and Bob got home from the woods, we took a ride to the villages.  

It was a nice day, just helping out with a few things, then happy hour and off to dinner at Chili’s. Drinks were 2fers in the bar and the food was good! Back home, Nancy came in and gave our dogs dinner, which allowed us to have a later evening. We were home by 8:30.

Today, Monday, our league play started. Although we played very well, the team we played has two new bowlers. Well, they are definitely not new, but well seasoned.  Of the four on the team, three of them bowled six strikes in row. Wowsa! Anyway, we won one of the games, fair and square, lost the next game by one pin and lost the next game by six pins. All in all, we felt lucky to win anything against them. And, there’s always next week. 🎳 Our teammate. Linda was off today with a doctor appointment and we had a sub, Marv, who hadn’t bowled in five years, but did quite well. We were amazed that he is 90 and in very good shape. 

This evening, we went with Nancy and met Linda and Jerry at Lake Eustis waterfront Grille for dinner on the patio. It was a beautiful evening and a gorgeous sunset. We all enjoyed our meals. Linda is having major dental work this week, as is Diane. We wish them both well and hope recovery is quick.

Sue and Wayne met Diane and Kris at Applebee’s tonight. And, they have all been going through things and getting donations ready for Ebay and Humane Society store. 

That’s it for tonight.  

Friday, October 6, 2023

Good afternoon. It was fun bowl afternoon with our friends. Nancy was in rare form after nearly 3 weeks away from bowling. Wow, she was on fire. 🥳🎳 . Mark also bowled very well, but me, not my best. 🙄 I felt quite “out of it.” on reflecting, we had flu shots on Wednesday afternoon, and perhaps, just maybe, it’s a reaction to that. Also, I have had three nights of crappy sleep. Enough, no excuses, our new league play starts on Monday.

Last night was Yaya’s at Nancy’s house. She cooked her Cincinnati skyline, chili, and a Mediterranean salad. It was all very good, and we had a blast.

I had everyone lined up for a picture, and then ran myself to get in the picture. 😂 Well, you had to be there. 

This morning, we were up and out very early to get the dogs. Fasting blood work done at the vets. It’s their semi annual check up.  

Randy called this afternoon. He and Dawn are at bingo tonight. We will be getting together next week for dinner.

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Good afternoon. It’s been a bright, beautiful 86° today in Central Florida. After getting our passports off in the mail, we decided to have an at home day and catch up on a few things around the property.  

Mark trimmed one of our palm trees, that didn’t make it through the frost last winter. It was a trio, a foxtail palms, and one of them had died. Hopefully, the other two will be OK this winter. Last year was the first heavy freeze in 20 years. I had plants that needed repotting, but finished my afternoon bobbing around in the swim spa. It was pretty darn nice.

The K’s are learning where things are at their new house and trying to get settled. They can’t find their toast tongs, so I ordered some from Amazon that will be there on Saturday. Tomorrow, they are going shopping for a kitchen/dining set. At this point, they are either eating at the bar or seated at two big chairs with a little table. Ha ha, moving is such fun 

When we were getting our flu shots yesterday at the local Walgreens, a couple walked in, and the man looked exactly like our friend Rod Bannister! 

When I sent the picture to Rod and Shay, they replied “holy doppelgänger!” 😂

Monday, October 2, 2023

Good morning! The rain is forecast to be over … but we’ve already had a shower! When will this dryspell begin? We have mushrooms growing in the front lawn. 😂

Today is our bowling league meeting in Tavares, then we’ll aim for getting our flu shots. This evening, meeting up for dinner with Sue, Wayne, Diane & Kris. 

Well, we stopped in at Sue & Wayne‘s about 530 for a visit and then off to Applebee’s to meet up with Diane and Kris. The service was great, and we all had good burgers. Back home, the kids were sitting at the front door waiting for us.  

And, bad momma forgot to bring them french fries. 🥲

Sunday, October 1, 2023

It’s  O C T O B E R  …  🎃 Spice

Good afternoon! The rain has stopped and fair weather moved in for a  delightful October! 

Mark finished the front yard tidy up project this morning and it turned out good!

Much improved! Our yard man will appreciate weed whacking now. 😂

Sue & Wayne are home from the great white north and searching for things at the new home. 🤣 It’s going to be hide and seek for a week or two. (They brought wine and cheese home with them from the RV so they are not suffering.) Wayne has found the TV working and the new sectional comfortable! The pups are a bit confused.  

Meanwhile here at our house Robbie is protecting his favorite old toy “E E” from Beez. 

It’s not often he sits with me nowadays. 🐾❤️