Thursday, September 7, 2017

Hey, how's your 🌎 today? Mark and I are 90% Hurricane Irma ready. It was nice to see we live in Florida's SAFEST area. 

The Caribbean islands took a heavy hit yesterday. Fraser posted pictures today of St Martin's devastation. His condo is livable but no electricity or water. We were happy to hear he made it through the storm. Rick and Ruth checked in on us and invited us to BC. Sweet eh! Anyway, we have checked in with Matt and Tiffany in Boynton Beach. Since they live on the intercoastal they may have to get a hotel further in land. 

Treats at the bank for Robbie & Bee. 

Taco salad treat at home for us. 

This afternoon Fairbanks Construction arrived to look at our sunroom roof (again.) We hope this time they can fix the ding dang dong drip. 

Tonight, Mark is helping Jim bring his barbecue in to their new porch. That will be their cooking source when the power goes out! Me? Well it's Yaya's at Florence's house; party time! 

Florence, Carol & Meridyth 

Carin, Rose, Deena & Anita

Florence's poodle Max was so funny. He checked everyone out and decided my pant leg deserved an extra bit of fascination. After 3 rounds with all the ladies he came to me thinking he'd hump my leg. I politely removed him the first and second time. The third time Max tried it I shooed him away and said, "Forget about it Romeo!" Well he backed off and gave me a dirty look and scruffed up the carpet. Haha 😂 ... 

Mark helped Jim move his beast of a barbecue into the porch then had a cigar and drink (or two) with him. When we got home at 8:30 we checked into the hurricane update. 😱

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Good morning. Ms. BeeZee and Robbie had us awake at 7 o'clock with a hurry call. They did enjoy rawhide yesterday so drank more water. Oh well, it was time to get up and check on hurricane Irma's progress. We put the TV on in the bedroom and watched the coverage as it was over St Martin. We thought of Fraser Barnfather riding out the storm. He posted a few pictures on Facebook during the eye wall and was doing OK at that point. It's a wicked storm! Now, hours later, no update from him. His last post was this: 

We certainly hope he is doing fine and just without phone service!

Mark left at 7:45 for canned goods and nonperishables at Winn-Dixie. I sure hope they have my Sunkist diet soda as everywhere has been sold out lately! Come on folks ... you've got the market hooked; now supply us. 😁

Mark made taco salad for lunch and it was as so good we had taco beef pizza for dinner. Odd but good. 

Randy and Dawn were relaxing tonight. Dawn had 5 busy days with family and visiting Disney with 3 little girls. 

Haha ... well Charlotte was impressed. (Randy was master of his domain for a few days.) 😜

Diane and Kris will be at their Fishcamp during the storm. We hope we all fare well in Florida during this trying time. 

Sue and Wayne are having dinner with Lynne & Les tonight. Nice. Hope they get a pic of L 'n L's new boat!

Tonight we're watching the 3rd night of  The Road to 911 ... fascinating. Ta Ta til tomorrow. 

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

It's a busy day in Florida with jittery shoppers stocking up ahead of a major storm. At 2:30 today Hurricane Irma is a Category 5 with 185 MPH winds ... history making as there has never been as large a hurricane in the Atlantic! Our Walgreens was out of water at noon. We're organized, just need canned food supplies and make ice! 

Here's the official list: 

1. Start running your ice makers now and bagging the ice in freezer bags. Fill as much space in between your freezer items as you can.
2. Freeze regular tap water for pets, cleaning or drinking in tupperware-type containers. REMEMBER to leave a small bit of space between the top of the water & the lids so the ice expands but doesn't crack the container.
3. Start using up your perishables to make more room for ice in the freezer....
4. Fill up all vehicles & check tires & oil.
5. Cash from ATM, at least enough to get you through tolls and gas out of town. Call your bank if you plan on leaving the state so they don't freeze your card for out-of-area "suspicious" transactions.
6. All important docs screenshot & send to your email. Take originals in sealed bags or plastic bins.
7. Pet & livestock food & supplies. Vet records in case you need to shelter then at a storm-safe facility.
8. Evacuation plans and share with family members so they know where you're headed.
9. Consider putting heirlooms & photos in plastic bins in a high place, second floor, or safe room if you don't plan on taking them with you.
10. SECURE ALL FIREARMS & AMMUNITION PROPERLY.
11. Old rags & beach towels on your windowsills. Even with the best windows & shutters, water seeping from the wind pressure happens. A few damp towels is better than soaked drywall or floors!
12. Shutter windows and doors and bring everything outside into your garage or house NOW. Do not wait until the day before. Better to get done early and relax than wait until its too late, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE MANDATORY PERSONNEL (hospital employee or first responder).
13. If you don't already have your hurricane supplies, you might want to get them now. Shelves are already empty in most places.
14. Take pictures of your home and contents inside and out for insurance purposes.

I'm going to be busy tomorrow!

Monday, September 4, 2017

Good afternoon. Happy Labor Day! 

Yes, we labored ... and Mrs R B is spic 'n span, ready for cruising again. 

BEFORE ... 

😱 (Tilex twice, 303 Protectant) ✅ 

So Hurricane Irma is churning across the Atlantic with aim on Florida. Mark took our Dodge for fuel-up, 3 Jerrycans for the gas generator and propane for the RV. We wouldn't expect anything over a category 2 here, but it takes far less to knock out power! 

Here's the timeline for Irma's visit ...

It was happy hour on the front porch with Robbie and BeeZee, listening to the thunder and waiting for rain. I spilled a glass of wine which meant the front porch got a rinse down. Ha ha ... that's one way to get it done!

Today we talked to Sue, Wayne, Randy, Pam, Roddy and Shay! In between we watched the Road to 911 on History. So that was was our day! Hope yours was fine too. 

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Good day eh? Facebook opened with a story I'd told Mark about. 

I was at the mouth of the Red River tied to the dock where the dredge was positioned (22' Larson) with a few other Yacht Club boaters. We were doing what relaxing boaters do ... ☀️ 🍷😎 ... when we all heard a whooshing sound as a huge Air Canada plane ✈️ ghosted over us. We all said how eerie I t was and waited to hear a splash-crash; which thankfully never occurred. 

🇨🇦✈️😱

So today, speaking of boats, we're cleaning Mrs R B who has been patiently waiting in our boathouse for attention. Even stored in the boathouse, with the extreme humidity (a very rainy summer) she got mold growth where the bedsheets touched the upholstery. DRAT 

THAT'S my favorite seat 😱 ... Tilex and 303 Aerospace Protectant to the rescue! 

Rick M "Face timed" this afternoon from outside their Kelowna home. Smoke was in the air ... there have been so many wildfires, so many changes in our climate in a short time span. 😱 

Randy came over for dinner tonight, well, pizza on the pizzaz. It was delicious! We watched golf and drank wine. Fun. Dawn is at Disney with her sister

and grandchildren! 💕

The leaves are starting to turn at Lake of the Woods. 

It's pretty but we know what's coming! ❄️😱 Sue and Wayne start for home next week.

Ta Ta til tomorrow!

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Good morning. Wow, we sure had a thunderstorm in the night. We lost power for about three hours. Can you believe that this was an outer band from hurricane Harvey? 

So this morning, Mark packed a cooler and drove to Fort McCoy KOA campground at the north end of the Ocala Forest to meet with his elevator buddies. They are four wheeling on the forest trails. I'm sure I will have some photos to add.

Aaron and Ryan ... 

John, Mark, Ryan and Glenn

Mark arrived home at 4:30 and we sat on the front porch for happy hour with Robbie and BeeZee. We heard through the neighborhood grapevine that a Canadian man purchased Bill's house (just a couple doors away) and will be here this fall. Then while we were relaxing a couple rode past obviously looking at "the jungle" across the street. They walked around and made notes ... there's a saint buried upside down in the backyard so let's see if "it" works! 😜

RanDawn are busy today with Dawn's sister in town for a Disney weekend. The "girls" are all going for 2 night's stay at Disney World! We shall check in with Randy tomorrow. 

They're ready for FUN!

Friday September 1, 2017

Good (early) morning! It's 4:30, and here I sit with both BeeZee and Robbie on my lap while I nurse a headache. It's a dandy one. 

Fast forward to 8:30 ... Mark couldn't believe I slept through a wild thunderstorm! He said lightening lit our bedroom to daylight. 💤😳

I continued cleaning house while Mark went to his chiropractor appointment ... good news, just a very minor tuneup so proof that the exercises are helping! On his way home Mark stopped at the humane society store on 473 to drop off our square wicker cocktail table and some toss pillows from Chippy's. 

Mark found a bargain! It's a homemade Scottie magazine rack! Cool. 

Lew and Lynn phoned today and we caught up on news. It's 50F at their camp today! (90 here 😱) We miss them ... Lynn says they'll be home in 6 weeks OR earlier if it snows! 

It looks like Sue and Wayne had rain today in Kenora! Tonight, they are going to 901 Keewatin for dinner with "the gang." (Happy to hear Jim is well enough to join them!)

Tonight we are taking Rose and Jim to Angelo's for dinner! We haven't been there for years. 

Rose & Jim ... we had a very good meal, plenty of wine and lots of fun!

Rose liked the butterfly bench! 

We came home in a heavy thunderstorm and sat on the driveway waiting for the lightening to stop! 

Yikes! Well Ancient Aliens is on now so Ta Ta . 👽