Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Wednesday December 11, 2024

Hello and Happy Holidays from us here in Central Florida. It’s been ridiculously busy since Thanksgiving!



Christmas is just a couple weeks away. I hosted YaYa’s for 14 partiers on December 5th … with a fun gift exchange! 



Mark made us Chicken Tortilla soup as the main course and it was delicious! We had B52 shots and Sex on the Beach shots for starters! That really amped up the noise. 

Sue asked me for a big painting. The canvas is 24x36 and has taken me a couple weeks to complete. I’ll
post a pic tomorrow when the varnish dries!



Mark’s been working on our generator hookup this week. Our weather has been nice for puttering about outside.  

Upcoming is our Robbie’s 14th birthday celebration! Bonnie, Robbie’s breeder, is flying in for the fun! Robbie was the first puppy born to her Rosie & Rebel in 2010. That’s the year Mark was laid-off … and we went to Oklahoma to adopt Robbie … and settled in OKC for a year and a half. What a story. 🐾πŸ₯°

Our friend Nancy is traveling this month … guess where?







How fabulous is that destination!!! 


Thursday, November 28, 2024

Thursday, November 28, 2024



It’s turkey day in the USA … Diane & Kris are hosting our little family. We’re at 6 for the holidays nowadays and lucky to live near enough to get together. Kris is cooking! πŸ¦ƒ πŸ₯§ Sue’s making the green bean casserole and we’re bringing pies. It’s a feast. 


Waiting on the turkey! Kris made some ribs for an appetizer! Everything was delicious! 


The table was nicely laid. 

Our friend Nancy is in NYC and saw the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade streetside. I’m betting it was magical. We watched on Telly.  

Mark wrapped a few Xmas presents while I worked on a big painting for the K’s. 


Sunday, November 24, 2024

Sunday November 25, 2024

Good Sunday evening. It’s been a fun weekend for us. 

Randy came for a visit Saturday morning. When Mark opened the door he thought he was looking in a mirror! 


Haha! Kenora dinner jackets!!! It was a good laugh. 

Later that afternoon we saw The Little Shop of Horrors at downtown Eustis’ State Theater.  It was well done and funny. The animatronics for the “plant” were good. There were 12 of us there; friends from our neighborhood. Afterward we went to Uncorked for drinks and all but Mark and I stayed for dinner. (Our kids were ready for their dinner!) 🐾πŸ₯°

Today, I wrapped Christmas gifts and began a painting for the K’s Margate property. It’s a big painting, 24x36. While I did that Mark finished up the shed painting. 


We’re glad that job’s done! 

Tonight, Nancy came over for a game of Catan and brought homemade Brownies! Yum. We sure enjoy that game! 

That’s it for tonight. 





Friday, November 22, 2024

Friday, November 22, 2024

Good morning. Every year since I was a kid, I remember November 22 as the day JFK was shot and killed. Jacqueline Kennedy asked that it not be recognized anymore and instead to remember him on his birthday. I don’t even know when his birthday was.  But I remember today. 

Two days ago, we had our sweet gum tree cut down. It was commonly called “Bob’s balls” by anyone who knew the prickly golf ball sized seed pods that 80’ tall Bob flung around the street nearly year-round.  




“Bob’s Balls”, our old Sweet Gum tree and nemesis of power lines met with a necessary end today. For 24 years we’ve enjoyed its canopy and shade on hot summer days. Our squirrels called it home and the murder of crows cawed at us from its branches every morning. That was the good side of Bob’s Balls. πŸ₯°  The not so good thing about old Bob was the prickly balls it dropped all autumn long. Those balls were all over the roadway. πŸ˜‚  During our summer thunderstorms old Bob’s Balls waved in the winds and threw its branches on the power lines! We lost power several times a year and so did half our neighborhood. 😳  Arborists told us that Sweet Gum trees are self-shedding. True. Very true. Old Bob’s Balls was planted by the Yates, original owners/builders of this house, Bob & Mary. Those two loved trees and planted them helter-skelter. (Three mega trees hugged the high tension wires when we bought in 2000.) Well … Hurricanes Helene and Milton (10 days apart) blew branches off and loosened the roots. There was a crane in the hood today and the 10 man team was available. R.I.P. Bob’s Balls. I will miss your green canopy. πŸ₯²





The crane, at the angle, it needed to be, could hold 6 tons. 



They whittled away at it for hours. And finally, it was done. 


Mark’s foot for size reference. 


That evening, we were supposed to meet friends at Lake Eustis waterfront Grill for dinner. We missed that. But, last night we were able to meet up with Sue and Wayne at Oakwood Smokehouse for ribs. That was fun.

Now today, Mark was off to the woods and I had to take Miss Belize to the vet. She has an unresolved UTI  … And we are looking for the cause. 

That’s it for today. Happy weekend, everybody.  

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Tuesday November 19, 2024

Good early morning. It was one of those times sleepless nights for me. Worry is a useless feeling that steals one’s enjoyment of everything. 

I fear for the upcoming change of government. Is our source of income secure? (We live fairly frugally compared to many and still enjoy some quality of life.) 

Our old boy Robbie will be 14 in mid-December. He’s strong and in good health overall. Except for my whistle or a loud clap, the poor guy is deaf. Now BeeZee has quite suddenly gone deaf at 11 1/2. She’s on her 2nd round of strong antibiotics for a UTI … not a known connection but still 🀷‍♀️. Wyatt’s the guy with the good hearing at our house and a big bark to go with it! πŸ˜‚ I’m glad for that! 

EBay has been unusually slow … I just listed a 3 piece set of original paintings,  framed for $525. Usually my cottage paintings sell … 



I enjoyed painting them nevertheless. 

Thanksgiving is in 9 days hosted by Kris & Diane. We’re a small family nowadays, lucky to live nearer one another. We’re in charge of desserts! Sweet potato pie, pumpkin pie and whipped cream coming up!

Here’s a cute pic of us with our snuggle-boy Wyatt last night. He enjoys being with Mark after the teeth brushing routine. 🐾❤️



This meme indicates the current culture we’re living in … 



Frightening times ahead for the foreseeable future. Tighten your belt fellow Americans … 

Monday, November 11, 2024

Monday, November 11, 2024



Good morning. Today is Veterans Day in the USA and Remembrance Day in Canada. Both days are set aside for giving thanks to those who served and serve today.

Yesterday, was Matt‘s 36th birthday and we wished him the very best for the coming year.


That’s our Matt, still nimble and enjoying life! πŸ₯³πŸ»

Last night, we played a game of Catan with Nancy and another neighbor friend, Tony. It was the first time Tony played and he won the second game. I think he caught on very quickly. We had such a fun time playing that and sat around for an hour after the game. 

Today, is bowling. I had my favorite black widow legend bowling ball reconditioned and hope to bowl very well with it today!!! My right hand seems to have recovered nearly 100% … my therapy has been painting the house. Ha ha. There’s still the shed to do which Nancy wants to help me paint. She feels she owes me. 🀷‍♀️ Anyway, we will have fun painting it together once the weather cools down. 


Saturday, November 9, 2024

Saturday, November 9, 2024

Good morning! 



We’ve been painting fools these past 8 days. At the start our weather was cool and breezy; perfect for the job at hand. 



Then came the 80’s and high humidity. Blah, πŸ˜• but we carried on. (I see the landscape border needs extending to the corner!) Isn’t it funny how a photo “sees” what the eye doesn’t. Definitely, another little project for the cooler days. 



Now that POPS! 😳 (Perhaps, screams πŸ˜‚ but hints at a fun home to visit!)

So, to address the elephant in the room (and yes, we have those inside too!) 

O M G … πŸ˜±πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸ˜«πŸ€¬ 

What in the hell happened? While fellow citizens duked it out over the price of eggs they sold their souls and handed the farm over to a menace. 

Now, we do our best to live our lives with the least amount of stress as is possible. Book that cruise! Take that holiday! Throw a birthday party for yourself! 

Be good to yourself … keep positive thoughts! Telly off … favorite music on. Resistance has many forms … make yours living life to the fullest. πŸ₯°




Friday, November 1, 2024

Friday, November 1, 2024

Good afternoon all y’all and join us in wishing Sue a very Happy Birthday!



Looking great!

Today was a work about the house event. Mark finished cleaning the boathouse roof from hurricane debris. Rather than haul it to the curb, he burned it. Easier for sire!

Me? I began cutting in on the front of the house and worked 5-6 hours. Tomorrow, back at it. 

When Mark walked BeeZee at noon he noticed she has a UTI. I phoned for a prescription from our wonderful vet and Mark picked it ip before 5 today. Why does it always happen on a Friday? 

Robbie’s wearing socks today to stop him from chewing his front paws. This morning he got a vinegar foot soak followed by hydrocortisone cream AND socks. 



Mr Cutie. πŸ₯° 

That’s it for today. πŸ₯‚πŸΎ

Thursday, October 31, 2024

HALLOWEEN 2024

Good evening! It’s Witches & Bitches fun and games at Rose’s house today! πŸŽƒπŸ‘»


Fun afternoon!!! 


Yeah, that’s cobwebs and green tinted skin πŸ˜‚

Meanwhile, Mark had a good morning with friend Wayne tidying up the hog hunting grounds. 

When I came home he had grocery shopped and picked up Rob’s prescriptions. πŸ₯°



Sue and Wayne and Diane and Kris went to a Halloween bingo in the villages tonight. 


It looks like a fun night! 

It’s Telly time now … watching Josh Gates on Expedition Unknown. Happy Halloween! πŸŽƒ 








Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Wednesday, October 30, 2024



It’s still pumpkin season here in Central Florida until the calendar changes … then it’ll be full on Christmas decor til after New Year’s. πŸ˜‚  What’s it like in your area?

Mark and I had a pretty busy day. We delivered our “old” fridge then were off to Home Depot for house paint. For two years we’ve procrastinated about painting the house exterior!  We now have the supplies!!! The stucco will be refreshed with the light sage green but changing the trim. Light trim looks nice but gets buggy in blind mosquito season. Plus, lizard poop looks awful on white paint. 

Another project is a base for the generator … even though hurricane season is about over. November has possibilities but unusual. 

We had some fun news! Our friend Bonnie is coming (from Tulsa) for Robbie’s 14th birthday party! πŸ₯³ 


Funny stuff. 🐾πŸ₯°

That’s it for today. Hope you’ll have a Happy Halloween tomorrow! 



Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Good afternoon! It’s another day in paradise with a breeze and 74F. 

We 8 met at Ski Beach to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries! There was plenty of chat and laughs. Randy’s begun therapy on his shoulder and was much happier than last time ww saw him. Kris is midway through his major dental surgery but managed a pastrami sandwich. 



Has Sue shrunk? πŸ˜‚ She’s in the photo but just barely. 

It was such a fun time. Anyway, here’s another one. 


Selfie stick was forgotten at home. Darn it. 

After lunch we checked on the kids then went to pick up a new to us refrigerator. We’re swapping our bisque color for a dark stainless fridge. 


The fridge coincides nicely with the stove Lynn and Steve gave us and the dishwasher we bought last year. (Wayne and LaDonna loaned us the trailer for moving it.)  πŸ₯° Great friends, all around! 

You’d think the Scotties worked moving today!



Hahaha … we’re watching Telly and they’re happy to snooze after the dentals were done. 

That’s it for today! 




Sunday, October 27, 2024

Sunday, October 27, 2024

Good morning! 🌞 

Restaurant Prime 3 in Leesburg was a great time last night! 



Service was excellent and food, delicious! We had a wonderful evening! Downtown Leesburg was hosting a trick-or-treat complete with entertainment. Parking was a bit tough because of that, but we found a spot just a block away.  


Complimentary dessert for our 30th anniversary! Nice. 

Sue came over for a visit yesterday! It was Wyatt’s first time meeting his auntie Sue. All 3 Scotties were very very quiet and aloof. Something was up … did they think Sue was a sitter and Mark ‘n I were going away? 


This beautiful all weather wicker is what the K’s have ordered for their RV site “hut.” πŸ˜‚ It’s quite a hut. 🀩 Nice choice!

Mark came home from helping Randy and had made a detour to the woods. The roads are still impossible from the hurricane rains. So, he whipped up some lunch for us and we had coffee. 

After Sue had left for home, our dogs made a miraculous recovery of energy! πŸ˜‚ They were grabbing toys and running around playing. We really think they thought we were going away again.  I guess we were missed in September. 

This afternoon we took the dogs for a ride on the golf cart and stopped at Nancy’s. She was out, but we enjoyed the pool and the kids love running around the deck.  



I’m afraid Robbie made himself really at home and dropped the deuce. πŸ˜‚



Wyatt likes to watch the boat go by. It was a beautiful afternoon afternoon, 82° with a 7 mile an hour breeze  





Saturday, October 26, 2024

Saturday, October 26, 2024

It’s a bright beautiful sunshiny morning here in central Florida. Mark has gone to help Randy put together a swing for Dawn. Sue is on her way over for a lunch visit. We have a little project to do at Nancy’s, and then Mark and I are out for dinner tonight to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary.  πŸ₯‚πŸΎ❤️



Not too shabby for a couple of mischief makers πŸ˜‚

So we began celebrating our anniversary on September 8 with our whirlwind trip to the UK and nine other European countries. It was all a blast, and we enjoyed every minute of it  Tonight, we have dinner plans! 



Yesterday, I snapped this cool picture of a moth on our green stucco. 


That is an interesting shadow that the moth is casting! 




Mark’s testing Dawn’s new swing! 

Friday, October 25, 2024

Friday October 25th, 2024

Good afternoon! It’s a warm 82F and sunny. Mark’s been cleaning the boathouse gutters of leaf debris from Milton’s 88 MPH winds. 



Halloween πŸŽƒ is coming and our neighborhood is decorated with 12’ tall skeletons and inflatable statues. It’s all fun … but we don’t get trick or treaters! 🀨 Most parents take their kids to Halloween events nowadays. 

It was dusting day for me! Nancy popped over for a few minutes and wondered where my cleaning lady was. She’s right here Nancy! πŸ˜‚ I’m it! 🧺 🧽 πŸͺ£  I painted a date on a knickknack for her niece then she was off to Orlando. 

We 3 played two games of Catan last night … Mark won both games! It’s always a fun time. 


Thursday, October 24, 2024

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Good afternoon. It’s a bright beautiful 82° here in central Florida. We were enjoying temperatures in the 70s after the hurricane went through, but now our little tease of fall has changed to warmer temperatures. I guess it’s time to use the pool again. πŸ˜‚

Mark’s nephew Jeremy married Abby last Saturday in Asheville, North Carolina. We were packed and ready to go, but hurricane Helene changed the landscape horribly and canceled our plans. The hotel we had booked is still closed! Our airfare was not refundable, but we worked out an opportunity to rebook the trip for a visit in the spring. We shall see what happens by then. 



Gorgeous bride, Abigail. 

Looking gorgeous at their Charlotte reception.


Beautiful church wedding


Mother of the groom, Paula. Christine, the late Pam‘s daughter, in from Tennessee.  



Pam, Jeremy and Millie (Christine’s daughter.)

Mark and I were so sad to miss the event, but hope to see everyone in the spring.