tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60705946268316285002024-03-13T13:39:26.532-04:00Are We There Yet?A journey of discovery and changeCarol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.comBlogger683125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-19523582938022587782021-06-11T12:03:00.003-04:002021-06-11T12:03:52.363-04:00Where does time go?<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have really fallen off the blogging wagon I guess. I can't seem to get a schedule down so I don't post - but it's been almost 4 months since the last post. Really??? I can't do any better than that??? Well, I won't guarantee it, but I will try.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, what has happened in the last four months??? LOTS!!! Let's start with McKinzie Rea. We picked Kenzie up on the 26th of February and proceeded to drive the four and a half hours home right away - this little nugget slept the entire trip.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-W4WgdV22-HkVk8mUk5wctD8q1u85ZFisg9sYihyphenhyphenK-uKB_qwdBji65GknQqz-k9oUPxZrMMmlUup9LtI7doJ6KGcraTOEK4WzMX7FyzGX2bPnbvn23i2nlcTgrlY5YPTuNBhLhqbMO95/s4032/20210226_123706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-W4WgdV22-HkVk8mUk5wctD8q1u85ZFisg9sYihyphenhyphenK-uKB_qwdBji65GknQqz-k9oUPxZrMMmlUup9LtI7doJ6KGcraTOEK4WzMX7FyzGX2bPnbvn23i2nlcTgrlY5YPTuNBhLhqbMO95/w300-h400/20210226_123706.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5yQdLfexiL11k-UUt10vWN5Ll_oUyS6UiqJSJxtejcOiA4b7wsbBXGdpDQB4lGYjgTarfdZGwcO1__mICMLeTgyAaZI8IUOnMkkEYX5Z5R-cbK-jva_93asSHd5U8yTywAwDzUktHWr5/s4032/20210226_123721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5yQdLfexiL11k-UUt10vWN5Ll_oUyS6UiqJSJxtejcOiA4b7wsbBXGdpDQB4lGYjgTarfdZGwcO1__mICMLeTgyAaZI8IUOnMkkEYX5Z5R-cbK-jva_93asSHd5U8yTywAwDzUktHWr5/w300-h400/20210226_123721.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She did such a fabulous job of traveling - the breeder told us NOT to put her down in the grass on the trip home, just use the pee pad she gave us. We were told that Parvo was rampant and that we needed to be careful with her. We did use the pad and she had her first vet appointment on Monday, where our vet told us the same thing - NO outside time and NO other dogs until she had all her parvo shots. On her first appointment she weighed in at 4lbs 6 ozs. Just a tiny little thing. We tried putting her in her kennel to sleep at night, and she did well until Dan had to get up - then she just cried and cried. Well, if you know Dan at all you know that she ended up in bed with us. She has become a great bed sleeper - going straight to sleep as soon as the light is turned out. She did get us (me) up once during the night to potty for about the first 6 weeks at home, but she is sleeping through the night now - from about 10 PM to 6:30 or 7 AM. Not too bad. She has continued to gain weight and at 5 months she is up to 6.9 lbs. We really started working with her on her potty training the middle of May and she is doing fantastic. She tells me when she has to go outside and she has not had any accidents in the house in over a month. She is a good little girl and so much company and fun for us both.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivD5sHZwz2eDvaduykHI9-6GHbrfWhX1w5VTnJjvyuR33ZVXXrueFZ_MWDBSMegTv9Ix_XhtbArI-eYn_q0CGO7jOK5QiDopmmVFlghH2GeVHmTbl5xTKxQyddUrhp43m7r-O6y4hnYCHO/s4032/20210529_114453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivD5sHZwz2eDvaduykHI9-6GHbrfWhX1w5VTnJjvyuR33ZVXXrueFZ_MWDBSMegTv9Ix_XhtbArI-eYn_q0CGO7jOK5QiDopmmVFlghH2GeVHmTbl5xTKxQyddUrhp43m7r-O6y4hnYCHO/w300-h400/20210529_114453.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We got an offer on the house in Dowling Park on the 26th of February on our way home from picking Kenzie up. The offer was good so we accepted. Closing was on May 7th. It was so nice to FINALLY have all of the houses in Dowling Park closed on and that door closed. We will miss our friends there but will stay in touch and continue to see each other even though we don't live there any more. The house here was paid off on May 12th! Yippee!!!! Another milestone accomplished!!!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had outpatient surgery on May 5th - I had been having a terrible time with kidney stones for two months. I thought I would be able to have the surgery in April, but due to approval from the insurance company it took another entire month. Anyway, the procedure went well and I feel great now. I will go back in 6 months to make sure I'm not producing any more and I have changed my diet somewhat. I haven't gone full on with a low oxolate diet due to the fact that a lot of the things I am not suppose to have are things that Dan has to have for his heart diet. (No bran of any kind - goodbye whole wheat bread). It's all good - I just really limit things that I am not suppose to have (or just not eat them even though I fix them for Dan).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have made a few changes to the house - new entertainment center for one- and we are just chilling out here for awhile. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcvxgQMli-ehD5RuHs5bEDTp1ekBE28tgiPj6PSLvHS4uCDXPdmhwXfugXqVQbeERHza5qW241OVbwHXYiEV8IGpZaQ5SpMk3SnrQJjH23fbG4JnYDy0NrdWWaZhr8MI8MOyOG8XUKtpu/s4032/20210521_180233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcvxgQMli-ehD5RuHs5bEDTp1ekBE28tgiPj6PSLvHS4uCDXPdmhwXfugXqVQbeERHza5qW241OVbwHXYiEV8IGpZaQ5SpMk3SnrQJjH23fbG4JnYDy0NrdWWaZhr8MI8MOyOG8XUKtpu/w300-h400/20210521_180233.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I took this picture right after we got everything in the house. We took the other unit to the consignment shop for Jan to sell for us. We'll see how long that takes.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, Dan sold his truck and bought a Jeep.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_p3NoewwnNxkG0m68I8AYtytvtg4vKJtFZyl4R7Rfrh66XrTmrnItSGkISHpbZePLbfp6PncWqc15LT1laUlCeuQcfT73R43w3aHc9iv7gTeeMikWUFKlwOBr4CuzjRHsxQcgagQYmBV/s4032/20210520_200618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_p3NoewwnNxkG0m68I8AYtytvtg4vKJtFZyl4R7Rfrh66XrTmrnItSGkISHpbZePLbfp6PncWqc15LT1laUlCeuQcfT73R43w3aHc9iv7gTeeMikWUFKlwOBr4CuzjRHsxQcgagQYmBV/w300-h400/20210520_200618.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTr82C-ALTiID6uOUTAYRz40xNutkuCW-Pk_IIEcKtMXFQ1TpLzjyJSb9hPwrv4aPJSgqx2wuS7wViwKdG2zWcU5zJmFAPU49Qz9rpHWWuQpIbgNIQSY5xPEoOUoVzcHPtUQwb1IrEfprJ/s4032/20210520_200612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTr82C-ALTiID6uOUTAYRz40xNutkuCW-Pk_IIEcKtMXFQ1TpLzjyJSb9hPwrv4aPJSgqx2wuS7wViwKdG2zWcU5zJmFAPU49Qz9rpHWWuQpIbgNIQSY5xPEoOUoVzcHPtUQwb1IrEfprJ/w300-h400/20210520_200612.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">We can actually get both vehicles in the garage now - I can't remember when that has ever happened since we have been together. We haven't taken it down to River Ranch yet, but I'm sure that will be in the works sometime in the near future.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Crystal was able to come down for the month arriving on Memorial Day and will stay until the 4th of July weekend. We had Melissa, Justin and the girls here and we had a wonderful time with all of us together for the first time in well over a year. This is probably the last time Crystal will be able to come for the whole month as she will have to start going into the office at least a couple of days a week after she gets back home. She adopted a dog right before she came down from the SPCA in Nashville. Willa and Kenzie get along great and play together for hours on end. Willa is 8 months old while Kenzie is now 5 months old.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpOzK2pX9TMLnsV7mADVq3vdeC3Knb1i4bHdnXMSobo8b_-rO4BxJHcNmV2YzOKgH4g-5wK8KRR_EDdsCBEiZnz9T1x0Z9RvQGOt8ZwTGBKXnNS59M7PPziy-PhdjyNQTpJTK7k9ySZIW/s1024/FB_IMG_1622743460455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpOzK2pX9TMLnsV7mADVq3vdeC3Knb1i4bHdnXMSobo8b_-rO4BxJHcNmV2YzOKgH4g-5wK8KRR_EDdsCBEiZnz9T1x0Z9RvQGOt8ZwTGBKXnNS59M7PPziy-PhdjyNQTpJTK7k9ySZIW/w400-h400/FB_IMG_1622743460455.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So cute!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This past Monday was Lorelai's birthday - how can this precious child be 9 years old already???? It seems like it was just yesterday that Dan and I were keeping her and her sister while they played in their little pool and big sand box.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYj3uyHL0jETK_puy4hhGs6az1X8rhVF8y9ay4vbmPYt8KnUoJVQ0Gd2VwDXD6-PnSyoGAdROHyRFVKT83hyriRNWw3QKriAlB_zE9yuLIbw3JcJwr6-UhdFBo9lYTyocgUa11r74ILL6L/s4032/20210607_181410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYj3uyHL0jETK_puy4hhGs6az1X8rhVF8y9ay4vbmPYt8KnUoJVQ0Gd2VwDXD6-PnSyoGAdROHyRFVKT83hyriRNWw3QKriAlB_zE9yuLIbw3JcJwr6-UhdFBo9lYTyocgUa11r74ILL6L/w300-h400/20210607_181410.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJeNw-Izj6LX3GzHa5jxPhFc-WSpsPotSb7fAIqACE5oI4QEP_BGHGmW_euLTETJF452eVQP322wSqK0yNyH6vZOY5hmCZEVH_SQ9SCZNFpZ92HUYCIYIReH8X9bHrzGfEVpSFuonGOYs/s1619/FB_IMG_1604147320330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1619" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJeNw-Izj6LX3GzHa5jxPhFc-WSpsPotSb7fAIqACE5oI4QEP_BGHGmW_euLTETJF452eVQP322wSqK0yNyH6vZOY5hmCZEVH_SQ9SCZNFpZ92HUYCIYIReH8X9bHrzGfEVpSFuonGOYs/w266-h400/FB_IMG_1604147320330.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I still remember vividly those first weeks of her life in the NICU. Today you would never know that this spunky, sweet, loving child ever had anything wrong with her.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAmtzWpy1qI_2du-AYA4GjzgBsEAOuAbhnrFxn2c1UTt1sQSmsqk90nYg9Mor5etaDh6l043-PDSYdSFKZmD9eS2u1yrXmUzlISNxz5QtztnIwpYYuX0fc8cpjX8DMuTvI5xDHH3J_zeG/s4032/20210610_130925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAmtzWpy1qI_2du-AYA4GjzgBsEAOuAbhnrFxn2c1UTt1sQSmsqk90nYg9Mor5etaDh6l043-PDSYdSFKZmD9eS2u1yrXmUzlISNxz5QtztnIwpYYuX0fc8cpjX8DMuTvI5xDHH3J_zeG/w300-h400/20210610_130925.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yesterday I kept the girls while Melissa had virtual meetings all day - we spent part of the day down at the pool. A fabulous place to be on these hot, hot days.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEt0dab1iHUSbpKwIVA0WTir_wjWfn_qGrZa4xcMseNEQiN19BJNrk-kAUlm5mocEbmplCs8Ee1ajhPgPQukUDoYFh-Se8aI3-LAN280I1iGcykW8ZE52TCpx1w581djGiXTyKKdACcDdk/s4032/20210610_131103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEt0dab1iHUSbpKwIVA0WTir_wjWfn_qGrZa4xcMseNEQiN19BJNrk-kAUlm5mocEbmplCs8Ee1ajhPgPQukUDoYFh-Se8aI3-LAN280I1iGcykW8ZE52TCpx1w581djGiXTyKKdACcDdk/w300-h400/20210610_131103.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another reason we went to the pool is, Crystal had a big virtual meeting during the morning and we needed to be out of the house so we didn't have to worry about the girls making too much noise or the dogs barking. We also went to the used bookstore and the girls bought 6 books each. It should give them something to read for the next few days/weeks. I'll keep them again next week for a couple of days as Melissa has to train a new employee and doesn't need the girls to be underfoot. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, that's about all for now - I started this back in May and finally got it all down. Hopefully, I'll do a better job of blogging.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Till next time!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p></p>Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-68312078954565568582021-01-27T14:53:00.000-05:002021-01-27T14:53:18.223-05:00Sorry about last time<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Hello everyone who might read this - I really don't think many people are and that's okay. I really can't blame them since I had not posted in over two years. It will take time to get a new following (IF I get any following at all!). Anyway, I wanted to apologize for the last post. I really was not feeling it the day I posted and I was frustrated at the computer as I couldn't get it to do some things that I wanted it to do. Anyway, I just shouldn't have posted at all instead of doing such a crummy job. I hope that you will forgive me for a terrible post and I will try and take some better pictures in the future and repost the bookshelves, as it really has made a difference in how they look.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let's get caught up on the last couple of weeks. Last week Dan and I received our first dose of the Moderna COVID 19 vaccine. After talking to Dan's cardiologist and our primary care physician they HIGHLY recommended that we get the vaccination. So, my daughter started looking for a place for us to get the shots since the call line and wait list for Polk County has over 18,000 people on it. She was able to get us an appointment in Winter Haven. We drove over and spent three hours in line, but we were able to get the shot. We had NO side effects - our arms were a little sore, but no more than when you get a regular flu shot. We have our appointment for our second shot in February. One of the things we found out from our doctors was that the death rate was actually over 2% not the 1% that everyone talks about. But one of the main concerns that our doctors had is something that is not talked - long term effects of the virus. There are so many cases of long term effects that entire practices are opening to just treat those - things like organ damage (liver, kidney, heart, and lung), respiratory issues, and even muscle and nerve damage. In the office our doctor talked about 4 patients that he has seen that are having issues - one person in their 40's can no longer walk, another patient, in their 20's is on oxygen full time. We were told by all four doctors that probably, IF Dan contracted COVID, he would not survive. That was enough for me - and I am so grateful that we were able to get vaccinated.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sunday we spent most of the day watching the playoffs - first was the Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dan was routing for the Packers and I was, sorta, routing for Tampa Bay. Well, Tampa Bay won that one, so it will be the first time a home team will be in the Super Bowl. The other game was the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills. I was for the Chiefs and they won. So, it will be Tampa Bay (and Tom Brady) against Kansas City (and Patrick Mahomes). Have to say - GO CHIEFS!!! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Also, I never said anything about the college National Championship game that was played a couple of weeks ago - if you know me at all you know that I am an Alabama fan from the get go so to say that I was extremely pleased with the outcome of that game would be an understatement - Roll Tide!!!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today I have spent a lot of time on the phone calling different places. One health insurance company that was sending us bills for coverage that we longer had - a couple of calls to auto insurance companies to shop our rates. Our rates with the company we have been with for YEARS jumped $500.00 - that is just not acceptable. Have already gotten one quote for exactly the same coverage but $700 less (and a reputable company - guess we are getting the "Patrick price"). It will be interesting to see what the others companies come up with - and I also have a call into the company that we have now to see why our rates jumped so much - especially now when no one is driving anywhere.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Speaking of not going anywhere - we aren't. Other than the few doctors appointments we have, going to pick up groceries with curbside pick-up, and occasionally going through a drive thru to pickup some fast food we go no where. I will be happy when we get our second shot and wait our two weeks for maximum coverage to take affect. Then we will be able to see the kids, start having our family dinners again, and not feel so isolated. We have been so extremely careful for almost a year and to actually see an end in sight - well, it's a bit overwhelming! However, due to Dan's health concerns, I would do it again or continue to do it if it meant he would stay healthy. We are so extremely grateful and blessed that we have gone this long without exposure. Thank you Lord!!!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, we are going somewhere in February - after our second shot but before the two weeks. We are getting a new puppy - a sweet little mini daschund that we have named McKenzie (we will call her Mac). This is the latest picture I have of her - she is three weeks old in this picture. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLoVsyE7MAhBHtS0JZZqKadmuKtvMtUXXlrDOliP6cLYduWfXiOpgANgp_kRWJ9B4wrDygqknSu0Hg3VxCfX97z6rgqYYKaqjYP15TE0hc2fAR48tplNM0lA9ILjIe8g3lSmFLI6Feseb/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLoVsyE7MAhBHtS0JZZqKadmuKtvMtUXXlrDOliP6cLYduWfXiOpgANgp_kRWJ9B4wrDygqknSu0Hg3VxCfX97z6rgqYYKaqjYP15TE0hc2fAR48tplNM0lA9ILjIe8g3lSmFLI6Feseb/" width="180" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />We will not be able to get her until she is 8 weeks old, but the end of February this little munchkin will be coming to live with us. We are so excited!!! We really took our time making this decision - we lost Jessie a year ago so this has not been a rash decision. We are ready and I think this little one will be loved so much! I'll post updated photos as we receive them - the breeder posts new photo's once a week and she has changed so much in the last week. Be prepared to be bombarded with cute photos once she gets here.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have not done any projects this week - I will start working on getting our income tax information together for the accountant. Other than that we are staying pretty lazy. I'll try and get some better photo's of the bookshelves and the new valances/blinds in the office in the next couple of weeks. Also, the wallpapering project in the laundry room and dining room.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-50228029069955475372021-01-14T15:04:00.000-05:002021-01-14T15:04:35.819-05:00Nothing much happening<p> Well, I didn't post last week. I am having a difficult time coming up with anything to post about. I have been fairly down in the dumps the past couple of weeks - not even getting dressed all of last week and the first part of this week. When you have absolutely NOTHING to do it can get to you after awhile. BUT, enough is enough! Today I am up, dressed and ready to go!</p><p>Right after the first of the year we did a little update to the bookcases in the family room. Here is a before picture. There was really nothing wrong with them other than they looked like black boxes that everything got lost in.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0L4T5UqXpXWX1KYSlz65VAEGdpNNgco6wPMX_OCTVGXBRa2MFAPrX5xtS9JUnzwx2akZXoQiyFuSy_kiBXAews2N4guWQ6ZW0eSpx4zyBtw-J48_UHyLeKP1Z9eT_Zn2ex3LlPBbsM8e/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0L4T5UqXpXWX1KYSlz65VAEGdpNNgco6wPMX_OCTVGXBRa2MFAPrX5xtS9JUnzwx2akZXoQiyFuSy_kiBXAews2N4guWQ6ZW0eSpx4zyBtw-J48_UHyLeKP1Z9eT_Zn2ex3LlPBbsM8e/w203-h269/image.png" width="203" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>So, we bought some peel and stick wall paper, a luan board that we had the nice people at Lowe's cut for us and we ended up with this:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1z_2pk6nlXdm2dW2Cnsw37Lu58FOzm6lUFEqkhsr3v6CByklKhlDf0vkpvYjGXpoGoxTX-GUOS6yz_BwUHtQkcd15HPDUyXyf-upqN9KBl17d_CChkgrJlmbSA8JINlHhpSWuMhUEwz_/s4032/20210114_140102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1z_2pk6nlXdm2dW2Cnsw37Lu58FOzm6lUFEqkhsr3v6CByklKhlDf0vkpvYjGXpoGoxTX-GUOS6yz_BwUHtQkcd15HPDUyXyf-upqN9KBl17d_CChkgrJlmbSA8JINlHhpSWuMhUEwz_/s320/20210114_140102.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL14gB8U4H4yelOEC1toQloXT16ehx4PZuGxiV13c5BwaonlB9FFEL47SmTdKwCHR-3NSAbyYWrnPFljZBpY2Bkpxbrw5bQDEYAtE2XEcMPT-PPMvTcSy3um__nO1G_FSl3diXyqG25EEz/s4032/20210114_135938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL14gB8U4H4yelOEC1toQloXT16ehx4PZuGxiV13c5BwaonlB9FFEL47SmTdKwCHR-3NSAbyYWrnPFljZBpY2Bkpxbrw5bQDEYAtE2XEcMPT-PPMvTcSy3um__nO1G_FSl3diXyqG25EEz/s320/20210114_135938.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoJujeqKGrHZ-oZ7xlZdg8w-8HOalxnLFb8ghQgUtS1SgxdeSSW-m9JBKda9KdC2uk25e0lI5aH3z631-PNiGyvTt6aKrJT19dYMRM7vztulKAtSAusX99XB9Hih5VcTw2Syc5P7AeGLP/s4032/20210114_135927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoJujeqKGrHZ-oZ7xlZdg8w-8HOalxnLFb8ghQgUtS1SgxdeSSW-m9JBKda9KdC2uk25e0lI5aH3z631-PNiGyvTt6aKrJT19dYMRM7vztulKAtSAusX99XB9Hih5VcTw2Syc5P7AeGLP/s320/20210114_135927.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>So much better! Now you can actually see what's on the shelves.</p><p><br /></p><p>There have a few other projects that we have completed over the last few months. I'll try and get those posted in the next couple of months.</p><p><br /></p><p>Have a good weekend!</p>Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-70430714354700956792021-01-01T13:35:00.000-05:002021-01-01T13:35:18.589-05:00Hello 2021Hello everyone. I haven't blogged in almost two years and so many things have changed. From what we are doing to where we live. To condense two years into a sentence or two, after we lost my mom in August of 2018 Dan and I decided it was time to move back to Lakeland to be near our kids and grandchildren. So, in November of 2019 we put both houses on the market and bought a house in a gated community about 5 minutes from the girls. We were fortunate enough to sell the cottage this past September (2020), but our house is still on the market - thank you COVID (if you know anyone that wants a completely remodeled house in a great 55+ community have we got the deal for you!). The entire community has been shut down to outsiders due to COVID, but we are hopeful that things will improve in 2021 and the house will sell. <div><br /></div><div>Like most of us, we have spent the majority of 2020 staying in and social distancing. Our plan of being closer to the girls has not played out like we thought, but we have to make the best of a bad situation. I have spent some of the time cooking dinner for the kids - delivering meals to their front porch three days a week. That is until I fell in August and broke my right wrist - it was really difficult to do anything with it for about 3 months. Dan had to take over all kitchen duties (along with helping me with a lot of things), so we stopped all extra cooking. I finally got out of my cast the first part of November and have been trying to use my hand more and more. It is still swollen some (the doctor says it could take up to a year for all the swelling to go away) and I may never have the full use of that hand again. It is what it is and I will have to adapt as best I can. At least I can write and type again, so I don't feel completely useless. I don't have the strength in my right hand like I used to and sometimes I have to ask Dan for help in pulling pop-tops on cans and putting heavier dishes in the oven or microwave, but we are doing okay. I am working on exercises here at home to add strength and mobility to my hand and it is some better - practice makes perfect, right?<div><br /></div><div>We were fortunate enough that Crystal was able to spend a couple of months with us this year. She is working from home and came down from Nashville for the month of June and then came back right before Thanksgiving and left on the 28th of December. We were able to have Thanksgiving breakfast with Melissa, Justin, and the girls by cleaning up the garage and setting up tables out there. We were more than 6 foot away from each other but at least we were able to spend the time together. </div><div><br /></div><div>Christmas was a Zoom meeting - but we were able to see the girls open their presents (we had delivered our presents to them on Christmas Eve - leaving their presents on the front porch and picking up ours.) After the delivery we were able to visit for a little while. We stayed in the car and talked while they stayed on their porch. It was certainly different but we are happy we were able to still be a part of the morning.</div><div><br /></div><div>We took all the Christmas decorations down after Crystal left on the 28th, had them up in the attic on the 29th, and the house was all put back together by the 30th. I have done some rearranging of cabinets and we did a little project in the bookcases in the family room. I'll try and take some pictures and post them with the next entry. We did receive our Christmas presents to each other yesterday - new, comfortable chairs for the new screened in porch. It is so nice to be able to go out in the morning and drink our coffee in comfortable chairs. I plan on spending more time out there in this new year - I am going to try and read more this year and this is the perfect place to sit. Temperatures will be in the 80's today, before a cool front moves in Tuesday of next week.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, I will close for now. I am happy to be blogging again and I hope that some of you will like my posts. I hope to post about what we are doing and show pictures of any of the projects we accomplish. I am not going to say that I will post daily, but I will try and post at least once a week - today we are ready for the College Football Playoff games - Roll Tide ROLL! Dinner tonight will be Prime Rib, baked potatoes and asparagus. Looking forward to getting back to eating better than we have in the last couple of month.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's to a better 2021 - may we all be healthy and things get back to somewhat of a normal schedule!</div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-39153809907386143932018-02-12T17:23:00.000-05:002018-02-12T17:23:44.943-05:00Rainy, Dreary Days<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well, I don't know what the weather has been like where you live but here it has been warm, overcast, and rainy. We are having temperatures in the upper 70's all week - so I guess Spring is right around the corner. So, while the weather has been ugly things are starting to bloom. For those of you that are still socked in with snow or freezing temperatures I thought you might enjoy looking at some of the first signs of Spring in North Florida.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Dan and I went out in the golf cart yesterday, between rain storms and I took a few pictures with my phone. Just thought I would share some.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Wild Plum Tree</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Tulip Tree</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">The next pictures are from our back yard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Red Bud Tree</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This camellia bush is right behind the pergola and the one that Dan spray painted (oh the joys of overspray). It is covered in buds and getting ready to pop!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This the camellia bush that was frozen a month ago - now it is covered with flowers!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These two bushes are in our side yard and we almost forget they are there. I think they are a couple of the prettiest camellia bushes we have.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Double Pink</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pale pink "Rose" Camellia</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I'll leave you with a picture of the little wild violets that are blooming all over the yard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll be back on Wednesday with an update on the pergola and our latest "Coffee on the Back Porch".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hugs!</span></div>
<br />Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-26389324035554239242018-02-03T17:56:00.000-05:002018-02-03T17:56:30.431-05:00Hibernation<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hello all - Yep, I'm still here. Sorry I sorta "fell off the wagon" with blogging - you know how animals go into hibernation when it's really cold? Well, that the only thing I can use to describe me the last couple of weeks. It seemed that instead of being all "gun ho" and getting organized and everything like everyone else in creation all I wanted to do was sit and <strike>be lazy</strike> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">chill. So, that's what I did. That is until a couple of weeks ago. I finally decided it was time to get up and get some stuff done!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">I guess it all started when Dan decided that he needed some help painting the pergola. We had gone to Lowe's and bought a paint sprayer, as he thought that trying to paint it by hand would be too much. So, with paint sprayer in hand and the patio cleared of all the furniture, he started. Now, while it is true that it sped the process along, the waste of paint was tremendous. Can we say over spray!?! Anyway, he wanted me to move the drop cloth from area to area while he used the sprayer just so we didn't have a gray painted floor or gray plants all around (although some of the leaves of some of the plants are now gray).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Covered the bird bath so we didn't have to worry about messing it up with paint.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCe9oxlwvgacZRA-u_LB2E-TX6ucpTn6UdO7lW8g5ruvQ8RWOUQdcwDxH9CKv4tIsTKDPm42iDVPPPiRByiTf7NDgxukMFs0uT0SK0nQM4l3Uw2yM2mIHkuW6PUZldNV5znehFdgt1WO4/s1600/20180126_111849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCe9oxlwvgacZRA-u_LB2E-TX6ucpTn6UdO7lW8g5ruvQ8RWOUQdcwDxH9CKv4tIsTKDPm42iDVPPPiRByiTf7NDgxukMFs0uT0SK0nQM4l3Uw2yM2mIHkuW6PUZldNV5znehFdgt1WO4/s640/20180126_111849.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Grill and outdoor "side table" covered with plastic.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvpT99J9LaQ4B2gqWdF_p9hyphenhyphenJ_gsSX2644VHBcncc-UyXbwgUZ7WgNPaReVHWWckAIRGhJN-IHrMGxUlwwM2f-OicSDXsIwO9chkgNNg77acozLQfqHa-QlYy3ieyUno7BMHoFFdd9qa2/s1600/20180126_111858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvpT99J9LaQ4B2gqWdF_p9hyphenhyphenJ_gsSX2644VHBcncc-UyXbwgUZ7WgNPaReVHWWckAIRGhJN-IHrMGxUlwwM2f-OicSDXsIwO9chkgNNg77acozLQfqHa-QlYy3ieyUno7BMHoFFdd9qa2/s640/20180126_111858.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmWDQ8R-vo0S2aJICysGgY3y7Abd4xBZFN0UWIh9-nnzvgA_eE6GUOl81PG1Xaeiv9za4lgaEIueHB1p7MAhOxqTLSOz6q6nNA3lWo-mBlj1uo2Zykgrxl8s9ylhvdOJnhXxw6ikuDiuT/s1600/20180126_112701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmWDQ8R-vo0S2aJICysGgY3y7Abd4xBZFN0UWIh9-nnzvgA_eE6GUOl81PG1Xaeiv9za4lgaEIueHB1p7MAhOxqTLSOz6q6nNA3lWo-mBlj1uo2Zykgrxl8s9ylhvdOJnhXxw6ikuDiuT/s640/20180126_112701.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a good shot of all the paint over spray. Waste, waste, waste! And at over $40 a gallon, not a budget friendly way to paint.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">However, we used all the paint we had - we had to buy two more gallons. It is starting to look pretty good and we are excited to get it finished.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJvHXA2-eEcdjMk8l70hUqDRGtDP6yCJnpFYih4doHg4ohVMifxTae2a8NxtrMpiQKYTNR692YdsniJhqYvJSQFOXP_dMpzqjtXuhG9DKjnJ3ctYEsymAEqshbOH0C8xtyb5F5QdZYi8K/s1600/20180126_125804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJvHXA2-eEcdjMk8l70hUqDRGtDP6yCJnpFYih4doHg4ohVMifxTae2a8NxtrMpiQKYTNR692YdsniJhqYvJSQFOXP_dMpzqjtXuhG9DKjnJ3ctYEsymAEqshbOH0C8xtyb5F5QdZYi8K/s640/20180126_125804.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dan has since gotten it all done, except for a little bit of hand brush work. He did finally admit that the sprayer was not the best option and went old school with a roller and extended handle. It might have taken him two days to finish it up this way, but at least we didn't paint everything else in sight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">When I wasn't helping Dan outside I decided it was time to get some work done in the house. So, while doing some early spring cleaning (or late January/winter cleaning) I did some rearranging of items, rearranged the bookshelves in the family room, and even did a little Valentine's day decorating.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNXxQ9XvP86fpl-yPWs1ivuoynrzjf78ZGE0vW_wZIL7GTgurjMamABQfbePbp4oGhbg8QOHVMYj6kIVRCA29rFDdNunbVd-GOhbWWdpkcOmmEBQCa6ALu7UXFC2fndNZHbMImlKNw9JS/s1600/IMG_1558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNXxQ9XvP86fpl-yPWs1ivuoynrzjf78ZGE0vW_wZIL7GTgurjMamABQfbePbp4oGhbg8QOHVMYj6kIVRCA29rFDdNunbVd-GOhbWWdpkcOmmEBQCa6ALu7UXFC2fndNZHbMImlKNw9JS/s640/IMG_1558.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Living Room - I haven't moved any furniture (the way the room is laid out this is the best room arrangement) so I just make little changes with the accessories.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnTlhH6OyMmJweZdtNd609ITpuynpw_cKd0Wcc4j0B5GMqcuU73xEMuGccsPlu_JPjl8hLibBI5OtTbR3gRxQvaVpDa9i3Kh2M27J2OHUE_YLrY8WDzMTfMpNn9Ep2TfoY76rVI15utZi/s1600/IMG_1559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnTlhH6OyMmJweZdtNd609ITpuynpw_cKd0Wcc4j0B5GMqcuU73xEMuGccsPlu_JPjl8hLibBI5OtTbR3gRxQvaVpDa9i3Kh2M27J2OHUE_YLrY8WDzMTfMpNn9Ep2TfoY76rVI15utZi/s640/IMG_1559.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">I moved the wooden goose from the side table to the coffee table and added a heart shaped dish that I've had forever (I found it again stashed in my nightstand). With a little Valentine's candy and it's good to go.</span><br />
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<u></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNbfUmJjwCof02lvH55Oy4cR4uAewNGuEklXoS6fVxJ6hnbHa5FX1cbxe6bnlPSxG0mAz3BC355xoz0l_IbPxAcc6JvNQAACv6B9Cn9mQ7NfqxPKL8EmWjuqGotrZelAhRx0jaiP9GI57/s1600/IMG_1560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNbfUmJjwCof02lvH55Oy4cR4uAewNGuEklXoS6fVxJ6hnbHa5FX1cbxe6bnlPSxG0mAz3BC355xoz0l_IbPxAcc6JvNQAACv6B9Cn9mQ7NfqxPKL8EmWjuqGotrZelAhRx0jaiP9GI57/s640/IMG_1560.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I found these flowers on Amazon last month and loved the soft pastel colors of the flowers. I knew that I wanted to put them in a square glass vase and I just happened to find this vase at the Twice Nice Furniture store here in the Village (it's a resale shop of things that are donated and it's where all our donations go). A little moss around the sides, and I might need to fluff the flowers a little but I think it gives a hint of spring.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOqNV1VGYnNeoqr-EhLrDxUZtFdDcJ3kRzJ6WwgYf96O9-YgnwTWJd_a4q89Ccj-2Q2kYN9rnPxigrSnZhp0c0BW7PfRyKajuSAP_d7TUnKVcAGzqVQojfErWARSWbDT1K02a71QjJU5i/s1600/IMG_1561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOqNV1VGYnNeoqr-EhLrDxUZtFdDcJ3kRzJ6WwgYf96O9-YgnwTWJd_a4q89Ccj-2Q2kYN9rnPxigrSnZhp0c0BW7PfRyKajuSAP_d7TUnKVcAGzqVQojfErWARSWbDT1K02a71QjJU5i/s640/IMG_1561.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A little better shot of the heart shaped dish. Don't you just love it when you find things that you have that you can use instead of having to buy things?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also decided to group my crocks and jugs together instead of having them spread out all over the house. The perfect spot was under the entry way table.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we went to the little resale shop I also found this smaller square vase.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">I thought it would be perfect as a candle holder and why not add some Valentine candy. Quick and cute.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then for the shelves and mantle. I was just tired of the same ole, same ole. So, I decided to shake things up a bit. I started gathering stuff from around the house and just moved some things around and viola newly decorated shelves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">A new look for no cost.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">This past Tuesday I had a check up on my thyroid down in Gainesville and I thought Dan and I could do some shopping while there (it's the closest Home Goods store and I had never been in the Hobby Lobby there). So, after my glowing check-up - no change to the growths on my thyroid and no need for biopsy at this time, just another check up next year - Dan and I headed to Hobby Lobby, as it was the closest to the doctor's office. I purchased a few spring flower at 50% off and a new basket for an arrangement on the front door. When leaving the store I received a call from one of my mom's neighbors telling me mom had fallen and had messed up her arm pretty badly. I explained I was in Gainesville and Judy said she would stay with mom until the doctor' released her. Dan and I made a quick trip to Bass Pro shop, since we were already headed that way, to pickup some wax melts that we had wanted for a long time and then headed directly home (sorry Home Goods, maybe next time).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">When we got home we stopped at mom's house, but no one was there. I went across the street to the neighbor's house, thinking that she may have kept mom at her house until we could get home, but was told by her husband that Judy had taken mom to the hospital in Live Oak to have her head and shoulder x-rayed since our clinic doesn't have that capability. I called Judy to see if she wanted me to come and relieve her, and she said no they should be home soon as they were just waiting for the results of the x-rays. About half an hour later I received a call that they were home, so I headed back down to mom's house. She did not have any broken bones, just a good knot on her head (no concussion), some bruises, and a pretty good cut down the entire length of her left arm. The cut is not deep and didn't require stitches - just steri-strips - but she will be sore for a couple of weeks. She is very lucky that she didn't break anything and it is something that we will have to continue to watch. Her sense of balance is getting worse, but this is the first time she has fallen since we moved here three years ago. She doesn't know why she fell - she was in the middle of her living room so she didn't trip on anything. She said she tripped on her own two feet - and at this point who knows. I will be going to a class that is being taught by Elder Care on being the caregiver to someone with Alzheimer's. I just want to make sure I know how to make it as easy on mom as I can (as well as Dan and I). It's a six week course taught at our local library and I am hopeful that it will give us good information.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Wednesday was my normal shift at the store (just a few lookers) and I had plenty of time to finish the bookkeeping for the month of January.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Thursday I finally decided that I needed to stop putting off the cleaning out of drawers and cabinets. I had been putting off cleaning and organizing the drawers and cabinets in the kitchen for months, but I went in and in thirty minutes it was all done! (Why do we put off things for so long when it really doesn't take that long to do????)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Next, it was time to start getting everything ready to send to our tax accountant. I'm still missing a couple of pieces of information, but that should come in next week and I have everything else ready to go. I hope to get it mailed off to her by the end of the week and then keep our fingers crossed that we won't owe that much!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">While I was getting the tax stuff together I decided to get the file cabinet cleaned out and organized too. Once again, a job that I had put off for months was completed in just a couple of hours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Dan and I are ready for the Super Bowl - we aren't going to a party, just the two of us here with a pizza and some chips and dip. Nothing big or fancy. I really don't have a "dog in this race" and I really don't care who wins - I'll probably cheer for the Eagles but it won't hurt my feeling if the Patriots win. (I know that my son-in-law will be happy if the Pats take the win, but we shall see.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Speaking of my son-in-law - a couple of weeks ago his family had a family reunion in Texas and, for the first time, my daughter, sil, and two grand babies went. They spent five days in Texas (Wednesday through Monday) with a trip to Waco and Magnolia Market thrown in one day. </span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Melissa said the girls had an awesome time playing on the grounds. They didn't get a cupcake as the line was wrapped around the building twice and she didn't buy anything in the store either (how can you not buy SOMETHING???? I know I couldn't - LOL!) She tired to Skype with me, but we weren't home and I didn't have my phone with me when she called - darn! Then they had the reunion at the rodeo in Ft. Worth over the weekend. The babies got cowboy hats and they were so cute! I think they had a good time and it was good for them to get away for a little trip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, this has turned into a small book - sorry for the length. Hopefully, now that I am not in hibernation any longer I will get back to posting regularly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Have a great weekend!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span>Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-41141674918359413722018-01-21T17:18:00.000-05:002018-01-21T17:18:03.986-05:00Just Not Feelin It!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello everyone! Happy Sunday. I'm sorry that I didn't post last Friday I just haven't been feeling all that well. I have been just keeping a very low profile and staying inside and pretty much on the couch all the time. In fact, yesterday I didn't get dressed and only got up to fix dinner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thursday I did go to the Membership Council meeting and then Dan and I went into town to the grocery store. Friday I cooked Breakfast Burritos for the first time in a long time - I also fixed a slow cooker meal for dinner. Something didn't sit well on my tummy and I paid for it Friday night - in fact, I ended up finally going to sleep on the couch in the family room around 3:30 AM. Maybe that's why I wasn't so chipper on Saturday and just spent the day on the couch, checking out different blogs and watching a couple of movies on Amazon Prime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Speaking of Amazon Prime, did you guys know that you can watch movies as well as some TV programs on Amazon Prime??? I didn't. There are quite a few movies to chose from that are absolutely free. Yesterday I watched an oldie but goodie - McLintock with John Wayne and then the fairly new movie Florence Jenkins with Meryl Strep. It was a cute little movie and didn't know before that it was based on a true story. Was it Oscar worthy? Nope, not even close, but it was cute. I have a few movies that I will watch in the next few weeks, months - and it's great that I don't have to pay for them. Now, if you want there are also movies that you can rent - I don't think the "rent" is anymore than RedBox, but I don't know that for a fact as I have never rented from them. Anyway, that's just a little side note.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Today Dan and I finally got out as the day was really nice - not too cold- and the sun was shining. We went down to the dining room for lunch, then went for a little ride in the golf cart through the woods.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is a nice little path through the woods that we like to ride - every once in a while we will see a deer, but not today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is how I ride - I know - really lazy - but it's comfortable and it's just natural way for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Well, that's it for today - going to watch the rest of the Jags/Pats game and then the Viking/Eagles game. Pizza for supper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I AM feeling much better today (except for a pain in my lower back), and I think I'll actually be up and making some changes around here tomorrow. Stay tuned!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hope you are having an awesome day and I'll talk to you soon!!!</span></div>
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<br />Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-3578545336136968042018-01-17T16:25:00.000-05:002018-01-17T16:25:28.488-05:00Brrr! It's cold outside<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think three quarters of the country could say that. I'm not sure where it would be warm right now - Hawaii maybe??? South Florida??? (although they are suppose to be down in the 40's tomorrow - which is really cold for them). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We have been in the 20's at night and the low to mid 30's during the day - we haven't had any more ice and no snow - just bitterly cold temperatures (for us) and the wind chill today put it down into single digits.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, what have I been doing to pass the time since it's too cold to go outside? Well, I've binge watched the PBS series Victoria - it is AWESOME!!! I had read the book and then I decided to watch the series - I have been able to watch it for free on Amazon Prime Video. The first episode of season two was on Monday night and I finished all but one episode before the premier of season two. (I have since watched the last one of season one) I have really enjoyed this show - now, I have to decide if I want to do a free trial of Netflix so I can watch the new season of The Crown or wait. It's another really good series that I was able to watch last year on line - Season One. I have not seen any of Season Two yet - so the dilemma.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I have also watched a couple of movies on Amazon Prime Video - yesterday I watched The Circle with Tom Hanks and Emma Watson. It was a very interesting movie. Would I call it great or awesome? Nope - but it did cause you to stop and think about social media and the part it plays in our life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Today I had to go into the store - we weren't real busy - but I did have a couple of customer's who bought some cards and one bought a book. After I got off work I met Dan at the Café for lunch. Then it was time to come home and get comfy, sit on the couch and enjoy the fire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're looking for me - this is where I will be!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Stay warm everyone!</span></div>
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<br />Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-87399626867695038042018-01-15T21:15:00.000-05:002018-01-15T21:15:36.799-05:00Weekly Recap<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week started out slow, was busy in the middle, and then slowed down again at the end. Monday was laundry day. I also spent some time down with mom - checking on her and making sure she has food in. She has gotten really bad about not buying anything but junk food - cookies, potato chips, crackers. So, I go down to the local grocery store and buy her some frozen dinners, potatoes, and canned goods. She is a really picky eater and sometimes it is hard for me to find anything that I think she will eat. We have tried putting money on her ID card that she could use in the Dining Room or the little deli, but she has yet to use it. We have bought her lunches from the dining room and taken them to her - but it's hard to find food she will eat. Anyway, I have found that there are some frozen meals that she likes - so I will continue to buy those for her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Tuesday was spent cleaning house - you know all the usual stuff you do when you clean - dust, clean the bathrooms, sweep the floors, mop, and run the vacuum. I waited to do the back porch on Friday to make sure it was nice for the weekend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Wednesday was my day to volunteer down at the store - it was VERY slow. As in, no one even came into the shop. That's okay, as it gave me time to get some paperwork done. Wednesday afternoon I checked on mom again - taking her another selection of frozen dinners. I also took in some bread and lunch meat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Thursday morning I was up early, as I had fasting labs here at the Medical Center. Then I came home, had some coffee, before jumping in the shower and getting ready to head to Gainesville. I picked mom up at 10:30 and we headed down for our yearly mammogram. We were early enough that I took her to lunch before our appointment - I went back first and then it was mom's turn. The doctor where we go has you wait while she reads the test and she comes in and gives you the results before you leave. We both were clear and we won't have to go back until next year. I did do the 3D mammogram as I do have a lot of false reports - it costs more than what the insurance will pay, but it's better for my peace of mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">After the doctor's appointment mom wanted to go to the bookstore and buy a specific book - so we went to Books-A-Million and she was able to buy the two books she was missing and pre-ordered the next one by the same author. It will be shipped directly to her when the book is released on the 30th. Much simpler than having to make an additional trip to Gainesville.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Friday Dan and I headed over to Lake City for his follow up with his new cardiologist. The cardiologist he had been seeing left the group - so, Dan is now seeing the doctor that performed his surgery for his ICD. He had a good check up and the doctor has given us the goal of losing 10 pounds in 5 months (well, actually 4 months as we will see him again in May), but that is a doable goal and so we are working on it. (It would be easier if the weather would cooperate.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">After leaving the doctor's office we went down to the bank that we had the Escape financed through to close that account. When the Escape was paid off they didn't take into account the last payment that I had made - so we had some money left in the account. We decided that we didn't need another account in a different bank - so it was easy to just close the account.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Then it was off to Cracker Barrel for an early lunch before heading back toward home. We did make a stop at Publix to pick up the pastries for the coffee we were hosting on Saturday (my Coffee on the Back Porch entry) before coming home and finishing up the cleaning of the house. I cleaned the back porch but I was pretty sure that we would not be having the coffee on the actual back porch due to the cold weather. After getting everything cleaned Dan decided that we needed to go back into town to WalMart and pick up a few other things. While we were in town we stopped at a local buffet (Fusion Cooking) for supper before coming back home. We stopped at mom's and I took her in some more frozen dinners (I picked up a good assortment at WalMart, as they had a better selection than our little store here). Then it was home to get everything set up for the coffee.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which brings us to Sunday - which was spent sitting on the couch watching the football playoffs. I didn't even get out of my p.j.'s all day! Now I will say that we did make a major goof - Sunday night was Pal Night and we forgot - I just plain out forgot. I had not looked at the calendar since Wednesday so I didn't realize that it was this past Sunday. Anyway, the point is, we just didn't do a darn thing all day on Sunday. (No, we didn't go to church - there is a lot of flu going around and we have decided that until the "epidemic" has past we will just watch the service on TV. So, while we didn't "go to church" we did "go to church" - does that make sense???)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">So, that was my week. Hope you had a great week and we'll "see" you soon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Hugs!!!</span></div>
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<br />Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-53196979325032354642018-01-13T14:33:00.000-05:002018-01-13T14:33:09.195-05:00Coffee on Porch<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Right after we moved back into the house after all the renovations, Dan and I talked about hosting a "Coffee on the Back Porch" for our neighbors and friends. We wanted to have something a little more informal than the Christmas Open House and thought that a drop in for morning coffee would be a great opportunity to have some time with friends. I even went on line and found a person who made custom house flags. I worked with her and designed a special flag for us to fly on the day of the get together. BUT all we did was talk about it. So, finally, I looked at Dan and said "We're either going to do it, or stop talking about it". We decided to do it and put it on the calendar for the second Saturday of the month - starting in January.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, today was the day - however, the weather didn't want to cooperate with us - with temperatures down around 39 - a little chilly to be sitting on the back porch. However, that didn't stop us - no sir - we just moved it into the family room and added a nice cozy fire in the fireplace!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before Dan started the fire - and, as you can see, it's still dark outside since we started at 7:30!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I put coffee on the buffet and had a few goodies on the table - muffins and a couple of coffee cakes. We had no idea how many, if any people, would come since the weather was so cold. But I brewed three pots of coffee (2 regular and one decaf) and was ready for 20 or 0.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Decaf in the carafe and regular coffee in this pot and the pot in the kitchen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found this little holder over a year ago - can't remember where - but I took Starbucks Frapachino bottles, cleaned them up, spray painted the tops with chalkboard paint, added the stickers, then filled them with milk, powdered creamer, and half and half. There is raw sugar in the canister and sweet n' low packets along with regular sugar in the little basket.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The whole set up ready for guests.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Two different types of coffee cake and two types of mini muffins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">On the table I put a simple burlap table runner and then took two metal tubs from IKEA and put coffee beans and then a votive candle. When the candles heated the beans they emitted a wonderful coffee scent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Well, I have to admit that it didn't really go over as we thought it would. Even though we told everyone on our street and several of our friends - only one couple came. That was really okay - it gave us the opportunity to really sit and talk and get to know this couple better. I'm sure that the weather was one of the reasons and a some people told us that they wouldn't be able to be here due to one thing or another (trip out of town for a funeral, visit a sick parent, and one of our dearest friends had surgery on Tuesday and is still in the hospital). While I was a little disappointed in the turn out - we will try again next month. As I told Dan, I think it will get better when the weather gets better - and if it doesn't - well, we don't have to do this. So, the plan is to give a couple more months and if the attendance doesn't get better we will just let this be a learning opportunity and "let it go".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Have a good one my friends!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hugs!!!!</span>Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-74379088883057350252018-01-08T19:35:00.000-05:002018-01-08T19:39:34.124-05:00A do Nothing Day<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today was just one of "those" days. I just didn't feel like doing much of anything - I cooked lunch and I cooked supper and I cleaned up the kitchen. That was about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Yes, I've asked myself why and the only thing I can come up with is I'm just mentally and emotionally drained. You see, this past weekend was a rough one for me. It was my nephew's memorial service outside Atlanta. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Dan and I drove over to Lake City where we met my youngest daughter and her husband. We transferred my suitcase into their car and the three of us headed up to Bethlehem, GA - which is outside Atlanta on the east side - close to Loganville (or between Atlanta and Athens). We arrived at our hotel close to 10 PM and promptly got settled in for the night. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Saturday we had to go buy Justin (my SIL) some shoes and I needed some tights to wear under my pants as the temperatures were in the 20's. We were lucky in that there was a brand new shopping "mall" across the highway from our hotel and within a short amount of time we had what we needed. We ate a quick lunch then headed back to the hotel to get ready (three adults getting ready in one room takes some time). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">The church was only about 10 minutes from the hotel and we arrived 15 minutes before the service was to begin. I was able to see my sister-in-law and two nieces before the service and we waited in the "family room" and then were seated with other family members. We were the only ones there from my side of the family as my brother passed away right before we got off the road. My oldest daughter was going to drive down, but she has the flu. Mom isn't up to traveling like this - so it was just Melissa, Justin, and I.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"> The service was very heart retching as my nephew's fiance spoke along with other family members. It is always difficult when a family member passes away, but when the circumstances are what they were here - well, it's just doubly hard for everyone. After the service we did go over to my niece's house, who lives in the area, for a short amount of time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">After going back to the hotel and changing clothes we went to a restaurant that was close and had dinner before going back and going to bed. I think it was starting to catch up to all of us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">We woke up Sunday morning to temperatures in the teens. We quickly packed our belongings and loaded the car. Then we headed back home as it was a good eight hour trip for the kids and a four hour trip to drop me off. Dan met us in Valdosta where we once again transferred my stuff over then Dan and I went to get some lunch while the kids headed on down to Lakeland. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">When we got home I unpacked and did all my laundry - even went down to mom's and fixed her shower curtain, which had fallen, and then we went down to the "Lopin' Gopher" for dinner. However, once I sat down on the couch I think it all caught up with me. I was just exhausted - physically, emotionally, in every way you can think.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">I took it very easy today - never got out of my pj's - and I am feeling better tonight. I'm just going to sit on the couch tonight and cheer for my Alabama Crimson Tide to Roll all over Georgia and take home the Championship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Roll Tide ROLL!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Hugs everyone!!!!</span>Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-69181126897603872232018-01-05T15:01:00.000-05:002018-01-05T15:01:57.620-05:00Opps!<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well, all week our temperatures have been in the low 20's at night. We had freezing rain one day (Wednesday), but no snow. Well, guess what I forgot to do. Take in or, for that matter, cover any of our out-door plants.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">When I went to my mom's on Tuesday I got all her plants into her garage for her, but do you think I would even think that I would need to bring my plants in? Must not.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">It was not until today, as Dan and I were getting in the car to go meet our neighbors for breakfast, that I looked at our poor pitiful plants and said - "Guess we'll start over in the spring".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even the poor plants next to the house got a big hit. I really don't know if they will come back or not. Especially the spider plants. The ivy looks like it will be fine but the others - well, like I said, we'll just start over in the spring. Sometimes you just have to do that anyway, right???</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I did finally braved the cold and go out back - surprisingly the plants in the back yard don't look that bad. The pansy's are still blooming and the Camilla's are getting ready to pop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Even some of the plants on the patio seemed to have survived the cold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This Million Bells plant looks great - and yes, that is part of a couple of Christmas trees in the background. Just ignore them please - I'll get those down next week (As long as the weather warms up - if not they can wait till March! <span style="font-size: x-small;">Not really,</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">but it sounds good, doesn't it?</span>) Really, I will get them down next week, along with the two small Christmas garden flags that are still out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As a side note, I really have no idea why it is taking me so long to pack up all of Christmas - the garage is still a mess because everything is not put away - so no car in the garage. Next week Christmas decorations, next week, and then you will be packed away all safe and warm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Looking at all this makes me realize that we still have</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> soooo much work to do in the yard - but all that will have to wait until I can stand to be outside longer than 30 seconds. (I have never been meant to be a cold weather girl!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Take care all my cold hardy friends and I'll talk to you next week!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Hugs!</span></div>
<br />Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-83270387681836278002018-01-03T17:10:00.003-05:002018-01-03T17:10:47.462-05:00Brrrrr! It''s cold outside!!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh boy! It's really cold here (by Florida standards). I'm sure my friends up north would laugh at us, but when we woke up this morning it was a crisp 27 degrees and a frozen wonderland outside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was sitting on the couch thinking - I really don't want to get up and get ready to go open the shop when I know I'll be the only person there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were icicles everywhere and the weather men were saying there was black ice on the roadways.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not only were there icicles there was freezing rain that might turn into snow.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sXtCdZF0Ah-T8JAxQj5ds4YIg54DML7BsFjfjLpRNFfb7Hl1Od6KLOBwcJ_BmGsWJCdgFeWphpp_QuMGV4aHRrXZEcTBJJ3WG6j2iBGpmpPQRFIhpqCaBEogXZnBFK0nw1wOOrjEMYEJ/s1600/20180103_085822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sXtCdZF0Ah-T8JAxQj5ds4YIg54DML7BsFjfjLpRNFfb7Hl1Od6KLOBwcJ_BmGsWJCdgFeWphpp_QuMGV4aHRrXZEcTBJJ3WG6j2iBGpmpPQRFIhpqCaBEogXZnBFK0nw1wOOrjEMYEJ/s640/20180103_085822.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See the rain falling in the background?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, like a good volunteer, I was all ready to go get in the shower, get dressed, and head into the shop. I mean I figured I could read all day, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Didn't matter that my car was all frozen - it would thaw out eventually.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Then, who should come to my rescue but my "boss". I talked to her just before heading in to get ready and she told me to stay home - no body needed to be out in the weather! And guess what, I didn't argue with her!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, just a nice day quiet day spent on the couch with a fire in the fireplace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">All the ice has melted now, but they are calling for even colder temperatures tonight and all this water will refreeze. Glad I don't <b><i>have</i></b> to be anywhere until Friday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hope you all are staying warm!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Oh, and no we didn't get any snow! Darn it!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hugs!!</span></div>
<br />Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-67324890437840546282018-01-01T17:23:00.001-05:002018-01-01T17:23:30.198-05:00Hello 2018<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy New Year everyone! Dan and I welcomed the New Year in by sleeping! Yep, we went to bed around 9 PM and I read for awhile before turning over and going to sleep. We are such party animals!!! LOL!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Today I'm spending the day watching football - ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!! and also starting my Bullet Journal (going to try something different this year). We have lots of hopes and goals for the new year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">I don't make "resolutions", but I do think about what I would like to accomplish in the new year and I pick a word as a beacon to follow during the year. This year my word is "<b>INTENTIONAL</b>". So, what does that mean? Well, for me, a lot of things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">First, I want to be <b><i>"intentional"</i></b> in my relationships - whether that means more intentional "me" time or special times with Dan. It also means to be intentional with fostering my relationships with friends (lunch/coffee with girlfriends once a month) and being more attentive to my mom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Next, I want to be <b><i>"intentional"</i></b> in our finances. We have some big goals this year with the house which means we will need to save some big amounts of money to get it accomplished without big debt. We are blessed that we have no credit card debt and we want to strive to make sure we continue. We also want to work on paying the principal down on the HELOC on mom's house (she did a HELOC instead of a mortgage). We also want to build our "general" saving account up to a specific amount - this does not take into account the house project account. We have been really good the last couple of years and we just want to continue and expand a little on what we have been doing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Then I want to be <b><i>"intentional" </i></b>in relationship to my health and fitness. I have sorta put myself on the back burner and haven't worked that hard on myself - so, I want to put myself back in the equation. I want to lose 21 pounds and I want to work on my fitness level too - my goal is to walk an hour a day, but the next 30 days I am on a walking challenge to get myself up to 10,000 steps a day that is recommended (right now I average 5,000 - 6,000). Dan and I both got FitBit's for Christmas which should help. I'll be sharing how that goes on the blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">I want to be more <b><i>"intentional"</i></b> with my time - not spending so much time on the Internet (Facebook, Pinterest, Amazon, games) and more on things that make a difference in our life - from spending more time on the house (cleaning, cooking, etc) and more time reading. I also want to be spend more time building my relationship with God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">And Finally, I want to be more <b><i>"intentional"</i></b> with the blog. I've thought quite a bit about the blog and what I wanted to do - do I just want to stop writing or do I want to devote more time to it? I enjoy writing my blog (although you couldn't tell that with what I did in 2017 - once a month - REALLY????) so, I have decided that I want to continue. Which means I need to make sure I post more. I'm just going to share my life - there might be some DIY projects posts, some landscaping posts, some decorating, some health/fitness posts, some travel posts, and maybe even some posts about the babies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">So, as you can see, I have a lot of goals and aspirations for the new year. Let's see if I can keep my focus and stay on track.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Hugs!</span></div>
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Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-5138106594773230672017-12-30T06:00:00.000-05:002017-12-30T06:00:09.622-05:00December Recap - Part 2<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On my last recap post I stopped when I headed home from the Lakeland after a fun fill week of Christmas programs of both the girls</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPdrhFl42lKcGumPCs-WBanbbO60Nt2MADRlKOOCkaJ62NeffbotwoLJmQPdcjQSGyR0geJcaJz0oWVT46rwdEJDyasOAco8rv8bxPnxmhRlDhWDg5xcw9-aVRNzyoAhPyb961pXXoMJD/s1600/IMG_1288+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="837" data-original-width="1255" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPdrhFl42lKcGumPCs-WBanbbO60Nt2MADRlKOOCkaJ62NeffbotwoLJmQPdcjQSGyR0geJcaJz0oWVT46rwdEJDyasOAco8rv8bxPnxmhRlDhWDg5xcw9-aVRNzyoAhPyb961pXXoMJD/s640/IMG_1288+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Adalyn's birthday party and day with her Aunt Tul</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday, I drove home - unpacked, shared all the stuff I bought, and did laundry. Thursday we headed up to Valdosta to pick up things for the Open House that we were having on Tuesday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday I started preparing things that could be frozen or that would keep until Tuesday. I also cleaned the house and porch and did another load of laundry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday was church and the Christmas Cantata. It was an excellent production that we enjoyed very much. Then we went over to the Dining Room for lunch, came home and watched some football as I tried to plan the rest of the week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Monday was crunch time for the party - I spent most of the day in the kitchen making ,at of the homemade items that we served. But we did make a quick trip into town to Publix for all the last minute things that I needed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Tuesday was a very busy day - cooking, cleaning, getting ready, putting the finishing touches on the decorations all before people arrived early. I didn't get the first picture of the party, but that's okay. We had a wonderful time and I think all our guests had a wonderful time. I was pleasantly surprised that a lot of the food was eaten so we didn't have a ton of left overs. What was left Dan put on a couple of trays and took to the Maintenance Crew on Wednesday while I worked my shift at the store.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thursday was doing some last minute straightening up and laundry before getting ready to head back to Lakeland. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Friday was the President's Reception here. It is a very nice affair with plenty of snacks and goodies for everyone. The entire Village is invited - so there is quite a crowd there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Saturday Dan and I took it easy and watched football most of the day. Saturday evening we went down to our friends house for hot dogs on the fire pit and some time with their nephew's family visiting from Washington. There were lots of laughs and some crazy antics but a good time was had by all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"> Then Sunday morning we were up fairly early, packed the suitcase, loaded all the gifts in the back of my car (along with the bar stools we were giving my daughter), grabbed Jessie and headed to Lakeland. We were not in a hurry and decided to take the back roads to avoid all the traffic we figured would be on the Interstate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We arrived at Melissa's house around 2:30 - in time to help get the girls ready for Church at 4:00 after unloading all the gifts and putting them in Melissa and Justin's room. Then Crystal, Emily and I went to Olive Garden and picked up the food Melissa had ordered. Both sides of the family came to the house for Christmas Eve dinner - counting the kids there were 16 people there. After dinner the girls opened their one present on Christmas Eve - which is Christmas PJ's and a Christmas movie (this year was Polar Express). After their bath and putting their PJ's Dan and I headed down to our hotel room. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Since Crystal and the girls dad were staying with Melissa there wasn't a place for Dan and I - so we had made reservations at the Holiday Inn Express. We had to leave Jessie had the house with the kids because the hotel didn't accept dogs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Sunday morning we were up early - ate a bite at the hotel then headed down to the kids. When we arrived the babies were still asleep -</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">As we waited for Auntie Emmie to come the adults passed the time by drinking coffee and talking. Finally it was time to wake the girls up and start the fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lorelai sitting in her Aunt Tul's lap.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Both girls waking up. Then they started on their stockings. I won't bore you with the 200 plus photo's I took of the girls opening their presents - but I will show a picture of the girls in front of their haul (from their house).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After opening their presents at their house they went to Justin's parents house and had another marathon of presents. While they were gone Dan and I went over to Dan's oldest daughter's house and had Christmas with his kids. After visiting for a couple of hours we headed back to Melissa's and spent some time there before going back to the hotel for the night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tuesday</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> morning we got the car loaded - went by Melissa's to pick up Jessie and tell everyone good-bye. Crystal and her dad weren't leaving until Wednesday so were able to tell them bye also. Once again we took the back roads as we figured the Interstate would be packed with travelers. We got home with no trouble - unloaded the car, unpacked and got the laundry started. We had stopped on the way home in Mayo and picked up a rack of ribs from Sonny C's and with some pork n' beans we had dinner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Wednesday morning I had to work at the shop then Dan met me for lunch at the café. My niece (my brother's oldest daughter who lives in Tallahassee) was supposed to come on Thursday to see my mom with her brother's ex-wife and the twin boys, however; Jenny called me while at work. She was extremely upset and told me that her brother had committed suicide and they had just found him. He lived up in Atlanta - so I have been waiting to get information of when the funeral will be. I had to go to Mom's and tell her that Will had died (I didn't tell her that he committed suicide - I didn't figure she needed to have that as her last memory of her only grandson). She took the news fairly well and I will let her know when the service will be held. I don't think we will go up to Atlanta - she isn't up to a trip like that. I guess we shall wait and see.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Yesterday we got all of Christmas taken down and MOST of it put away - there is still some things in the garage and for some reason we don't have enough crates for everything. Don't know how that happened, but anyway, we will get it all put away sooner or later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We are waiting now for Dan's niece from Michigan along with her husband to arrive for the night. They will be headed down further south for the winter but wanted to stop and spend the night with us and visit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And that catches you all up. Now, I still haven't shown pictures of the house decorated - so I'll close with a few pictures of the house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Talk to you soon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hugs!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Carol</span></div>
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<br />Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-22225387206305393342017-12-25T06:00:00.000-05:002017-12-25T06:00:54.932-05:00Merry Christmas!!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dan, Jessie and I just wanted</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">to stop by and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">wish every one</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">a</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Very Merry Christmas!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hugs!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dan, Carol and Jessie</span></div>
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Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-53305285926047124602017-12-22T19:45:00.000-05:002017-12-22T19:45:02.076-05:00December Recap<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">December started out with Dan having a doctor's appointment here in the village - he had an excellent report on his blood work and he is doing much better since his little trip to the hospital last month. Right after he returned home the lumber for the pergola was delivered. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did I tell you we sold the truck FINALLY? No??? Well I guess it was just after Thanksgiving a man came up from outside Orlando and bought the truck - it was the same year as one his dad had had and he was really excited to get it. In fact, he and Dan went straight into town and did all the paperwork so he had a tag and title when he left Live Oak. Anyway, we are really glad that the truck went to someone who will "love it" the way it needs and it gave us all the money we needed to build the pergola!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Saturday I worked on finishing up the Christmas decorations and Sunday we went to church before heading over to the dining room for lunch. I was still trying to get over the "virus" and tried to stay away from people even though I was told I wasn't contagious. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dan had dress rehearsal Monday and Tuesday night, but I didn't go down because we didn't think I needed to be in the cool night air. So, I did not see any of the play this year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Wednesday morning I left for Lakeland - Lorelai had her first Christmas program at school on Wednesday night. It was a really cute program and Lorelai did an awesome job.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thursday turned cold (even cold down in Lakeland, but really cold at home and raining). I went to a couple of stores - Kirklands, Kohl's, and Target) and picked up a few things for the house and some serving pieces for the Christmas Open House. I talked to Dan Thursday afternoon as I received an email that the Christmas program had been cancelled for Thursday night due to the rain. There was the Christmas Parade in Lakeland, but I just didn't feel like going - so it ended up with Justin taking the two girls and Melissa and I stayed home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Friday I went to Hobby Lobby, but didn't find much - all their Christmas stuff had really been picked over and I really didn't find much other than some Christmas picks - so didn't spend but about $10.00. The program at home was cancelled again due to the rain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Friday night Crystal was flying in from Nashville for Adalyn's birthday party - she texted around 2 and said her flight was delayed by two hours - so the 9:30 PM arrival had been pushed back to 11:30. There was supposed to be some bad weather coming in to the area Friday night - so Melissa rode with me to the airport in Tampa. We went to the cell phone lot, so we didn't have to pay for parking and waited. The bad weather hit right after we got into the lot and talk about rain and wind! They closed the airport for about 1/2 an hour waiting for the front to pass. Crystal said, after she finally landed and we picked her up, that they circled the airport for about 45 minutes waiting for the weather to clear. Anyway, we finally got home a little after 1 in the morning, but we were all up fairly early.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Saturday was Adalyn's birthday party and Melissa had the party at Family Fun Center instead of at the house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After all the fun at the kids birthday party - we headed back to the house for a "family" party. Justin's parents and sister's family came over and we had another "party".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday was a quiet day with the girls playing with their Aunt Tul and with all of Addie's new toys.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday night we all jumped in the car and went to Lakeland Festival of Lights at the Nazarene Church. We went last year, but Crystal wasn't able to go. It was fun, but Adalyn wouldn't go to any of the characters to have her picture taken nor would she sit on Santa's lap. Lorelai loved all the different characters and wanted her picture taken with every single one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A lot of fun, but soon it was time to head home as Lorelai had school on Monday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Speaking of Monday - that was actually Adalyn's birthday and Crystal wanted to do something special with just Ada. (Of course, I had to tag along since I had the car). First we went to Chick-Fil-A for breakfast - Ada played in the playground until she was tired. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After breakfast we headed to Picasso, which is a ceramic shop, where the three of us each painted a Christmas ornament. Ada did really well on the first coat, but by the third coat she was pretty much over it. BUT, it will be a great family ornament for the tree and a great reminder of her fourth birthday with her Aunt Tul and Nana.<br />
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Then it was off to Starbucks for some hot chocolate and cookies.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All good things must come to an end and after our visit to Starbucks we headed back to the house to get Crystal's luggage and Ada's other grandmother picked her up for a special treat. Then Crystal and I headed back to the airport for her flight back to Nashville. When I got home I pretty much crashed and slept really well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Tuesday was Ada's program at her school. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her class sang "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and they were so cute!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Wednesday morning it was time for Nana to head for home - so I told both the girls bye on Tuesday night and then got up bright and early Wednesday and headed back to Dowling Park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Well, this has been a very picture heavy post and we are only half way through the month. So, I think I'll close for now and do the last half of the month next week (Christmas decorations AFTER Christmas - how unique is that???)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Anyway, since Dan and I are leaving Sunday morning for Christmas down in Lakeland I just wanted to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas! I'll see you the week between Christmas and New Year's!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hugs to all!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Carol</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-77632406380400673142017-11-29T22:09:00.002-05:002017-11-29T22:09:18.516-05:00What day is it????<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That seems to be my mind set lately - there is so much going on that I have a hard time keeping track of the days. Thank goodness I have a calendar that goes with me everywhere. Well, let's see if I ca get everyone caught up with the happenings around here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My last post I left you with our Pal Night trip into town to fill their Operation Christmas Child box. I had a meeting with one of the Vice Presidents on Tuesday to discuss the refreshments that would be served at the Annual Membership Meeting the first week of November. Wednesday I worked my shift at the store and came home to get ready for another pontoon boat ride that afternoon. The ride was scheduled for 5 and we always go down about a half hour early to get everything set up and be there to greet everyone. Well, at about 4:15 Dan looks at me and said "I don't think I can walk down to the boat." To which I very calmly replied "WHAT? WHY????" He proceeds to tell me that he is having some 'tightness' in the chest. WHAT????? A quick call to the cardiologist (who said go to the ER) and another ever quicker call to a stand by captain of the pontoon boat and we were off to Lake City to the ER. (Yes, there is a hospital in Live Oak, but it doesn't have a very good reputation and the hospital in Lake City specializes in heart issues. Well, to make a long story somewhat short they decide to keep him overnight for observation. There was no sign of a heart attack - but they wanted to monitor him for 24 hours. It was close to 10 before I got home Wednesday night and then I was up bright and early to get to the hospital Thursday morning thinking they would release him that morning. WRONG! He was not released until almost 9 PM and once again it was after 10 before we made it back home. He is feeling much better and we have started back to the fitness center, but it sure did put a scare into us!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We had plans for some friends to come and stay for the weekend to celebrate Neil's birthday, but due to Dan's little episode it was decided to postpone the visit until after the holidays. We did go down to Neil and Carol's for lunch on Saturday and we were able to give Neil his card and wish him a happy birthday.</span></div>
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Dan was up to a pontoon boat trip on Sunday afternoon, after church. It was a little chilly on the water, but it was a beautiful day.<br />
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Sunday evening we had rehearsal for the Christmas production called Bethlehem and Beyond. Dan will be one of the Wise Men during the first act and a disciple during the second. I am just helping out as a "director" since I will not be here when the production is being presented.</div>
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Monday the 30th a lady was suppose to come and look at some things my mom wanted to sell, but she had to reschedule due to the birth of a grandchild.<br />
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Tuesday was Halloween. We probably had over 200 kids come for Trick or Treating between 6 and 7:30. I ran out of candy and during a lull in the kids we quickly went into the house and turned off the outside light, which is a sign to the parents that we are no longer participating. I think everyone on our street pretty much did the same and by 8 all the little ones were gone.<br />
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My daughter sent me some pictures of the girls all dressed for Halloween.<br />
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Wednesday, after my shift, we had to make another trip to Lake City for Dan to get a Holter Monitor and have an ISTAT blood test.</div>
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Thursday was an Executive Board Meeting.. This was the last before the big Annual Membership Meeting - remember where I said that I was glad that I had finished my term as Secretary. Well, not so fast. Seems like the lady who was suppose to take my place backed out and they couldn't find anyone else to do the job. So, they asked me to continue for another year. I couldn't leave them in a bind so, I will be Secretary for another year.</div>
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Friday morning we had our street breakfast at the café. Then a quick trip to Lake City to return the Holter Monitor before coming home and doing another pontoon boat excursion. Then we had a meeting with a nurse from Blue Cross/Blue Shield - part of their annual "wellness" visits. Then another "moonlight" boat ride at 8 Friday evening.<br />
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Saturday, being the first Saturday of the month, meant it was Market Day. We picked up some smoked ribs for dinner and then went to a garage sale at one of our neighbor's house that has recently sold. We picked up a few items including a new coffee table for the living room and a beautiful carved chest for the family room. I also picked up a few decorative items. We spent the afternoon rearranging furniture in the family room to make room for our new purchases. The only item of furniture that we can't find a place for is a small farm table that we have had since we lived in Lakeland before moving to North Carolina. It will probably go in Dan work room for the time being until we decide if we want to sell it or donate it.</div>
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Sunday was church, another ride on the river, and then rehearsal Sunday evening.</div>
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Monday the lady came to look at the stuff at Mom's. We ended up selling a lot of things, but not to that lady. Another friend who has a booth in an Antique Mall bought the things from Mom at a much better price. Mom is in a "getting rid of stuff" mood and even decided to donate a lot of things to the village - so after loading the van down with stuff we cleaned out a lot of the "junk" around her house.</div>
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Tuesday was another busy day with ANOTHER boat trip and the Annual Membership Meeting Tuesday evening. We also squeezed in a trip to town to pick up some dog food, bird seed, and some items for Mom.</div>
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Wednesday was my shift at the store and then another trip on the river. Thursday we had our fifth boat ride in a week followed by an Executive Board Meeting (the third membership meeting this month) and then another meeting with the maintenance guy on the boat. I was suppose to meet with Dan and Steve - but the executive board meeting went for two and a half hours and I missed it. (I have some strong misgivings about this board - but I'll give it a little bit before I make my feeling known)</div>
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Friday I got the house straightened, typed up all the minutes (Annual meeting and Thursday's), laundry, and then we headed into town to help decorate the float for Veteran's Day.<br />
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All decorated and ready for Saturday's parade.</div>
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Oh, I forgot! Tuesday we also met with someone who will be doing the Pergola. We decided that Dan is just not up to doing it all by himself, so we have hired someone to do the heavy work and Dan will help when he can. Eric is scheduled to begin it on December 4th and says it will take him less than a week to get it built.<br />
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Saturday morning we got up early and instead of going into town for the parade we went to Shady Grove Baptist Church for their annual Fall Festival. They fix all kinds of goodies for the community, all free of charge - from sausage and gravy to great northern beans to cornbread and "elephant ears". They have cane grinding and corn meal grinding. It is an interesting event and we have gone every year since we have been back.<br />
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Sunday was another rehearsal for the Christmas production - then Monday morning we were up early and headed to Jacksonville. Why??? Well, a new IKEA store opened in Jacksonville the week before (we were suppose to go to the grand opening on Wednesday, but we had that Executive Board Meeting and the pontoon boat ride, so we waited until Monday). Why were we going to IKEA, other than the fact that it's IKEA? Well, it was decided that it was time to finish up the laundry room and finally install the cabinets and pantry. I am so excited and I can't wait to show you how well it turned out - but there are a few little finishing touches that Dan wants to do before I show you. He did have most of it done before Thanksgiving, but not before a second trip to Jacksonville (will explain that in another post).<br />
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Tuesday was a trip to Valdosta to the urologist with a quick stop in Sam's Club for the Thanksgiving ham and a few supplies. Wednesday was my shift then the craziness started on Thursday - The day started with fasting labs for Dan, then mom had a eye appointment at 9:30 which drug on and on. We finally had to stop and reschedule to finish up with all the testing because Mom was getting so frustrated and Dan had a doctor's appointment at the cardiologist in Lake City at 12:20. Then we made that second trip to Jacksonville.<br />
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Friday was the Builder's Guild dinner here in the village and Saturday I headed down to Ocala to pick the girls up for the week. Melissa and Justin came in on Wednesday and then Crystal and the girls dad came in on Thursday morning. I fixed lunch and mom even came down for the meal. We were actually sitting at the table and eating by 1:30 - not too shabby. The kids stayed until Saturday before everyone heading back home leaving me with a virus - went to the doctor today and it is NOT the flu. <br />
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My oldest daughter with the babies (who really aren't babies anymore - when did that happen??)<br />
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My youngest daughter, her husband, and the girls.<br />
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Dan and I - with me sick. <br />
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I have been working this week trying to get the house decorated for Christmas, but it is going really slow as I have absolutely no energy. Hopefully, this thing will pass quickly and I'll get everything done that needs to be done.<br />
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Well, I think that has you all caught up - I actually started this two weeks ago, but with everything that's been going on I just hadn't had time to finish it up.<br />
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Anyway, hopefully, I'll be able to stay on top of things now. That will be my goal for next year - we'll see how long that lasts. Until next time!<br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-43219252617676583052017-10-24T06:00:00.000-04:002017-10-24T06:00:19.129-04:00All the going on!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, yesterday I posted about our new food delivery service, Hello Fresh, but there has been a lot of other things going on around here. Let's catch up, shall we?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">On Monday, October 9th, I took mom down to Gainesville for her six month check up with her surgeon. For the most part it was a good visit - she is not as argumentative since she has been on her anti-depressants and it really showed at Dr. Pickens office. He and I were able to talk without mom getting angry. I told him about her diagnosis and he had some questions about it, but as far as her check up with him, all went well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">After leaving the doctor's office we went across the street to J.C. Penny's as mom wanted to return some under garments that she bought in February. She didn't have the receipt and I told her they might not take them back. Well, after waiting in line, the cashier told us that they would take them back without a receipt, but would only give her thirty cents per pair - they cost 3pair for $23.00. I told mom that we would try and find the receipt and we left. (Mom found the receipt when we got home, so that's something that will need to be returned at some point.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Tuesday I had a CT Scan with contrast in Valdosta and a doctors appointment with the urologist after at 2:00. I didn't realize that the CT was with contrast until after I got there - anyway, my appointment was at 11:00 and we didn't finish at the hospital until 12:45. Dan and I went for lunch and then to the doctors appointment. The preliminary report said that I have some small kidney stones but they should not cause an issue (not like the last time, thank goodness!) Anyway, because I have had them before the doctor told me to quit taking my multi-vitamin, change my calcium supplement, and to drink lemonade.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Tuesday night we had dinner at a friends house to celebrate Bud's birthday. I was really tired and after dinner Dan and I came home fairly early and I went straight to bed where I watched NCIS before drifting off to sleep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Wednesday was my normal shift at the shop and then home to straightened up the house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thursday we attended the dedication of the new pontoon boat here in the village. Dan is the "captain" of the boat and I am the "first mate".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The boat is beautiful and Dan is always happy when he is on the water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Friday and Saturday were quiet days here at home, watching football and doing a few projects here and there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Sunday was church and then Sunday evening we had the first meeting for the Bethlehem and Beyond performance this year. Bethlehem and Beyond is the live production of the life of Christ that we do here as part of the Christmas celebration. Last year we only did the birth of Christ but this year we will portray Christ's life from birth to crucifixion. Dan will be in the production, but I won't this year as it falls on Adalyn's birthday weekend. I will go with him to rehearsals and help where I can behind the scenes, but I won't be in the production.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Monday, the 16th, I had my cystoscope (Sp??) in Valdosta with Dr. Chang. I was really nervous about this test for several reasons but all turned out well and there are no issues with my bladder. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Wednesday morning was my shift at the store and Wednesday afternoon we had our first official trip on the new pontoon boat with the couple that donated the money for the purchase of the boat and several of their friends. Dan really enjoys piloting the boat but bringing it back into the dock is a little tricky as we have to dock going WITH the current instead of AGAINST the current because of where the entrance/exit is on the boat. It's fine and we have figured out how to dock without issues, but the first couple of times were a little different. (Thank goodness we practiced before taking out anyone - hahaha!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thursday was busy, busy, busy! First thing was Mom had a doctor's appointment here in the Village with Dr. G. It was okay - but she has issues with women doctors. While the beginning of the appointment was a little rough, Dr. G had her laughing toward the end. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had a Membership Council Meeting at 1:30. I only have a couple more meetings to do before the new board takes over in January. I'm glad I served but I will be happy when my term as secretary is over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Then Thursday evening we had a themed Italian Dinner here. We went with our friends Carol and Neil meeting at the Dining Room at 4:30. Even though it was advertised that seating would begin at 4:30, it was closer to 5:00 before the doors were opened. We were very impressed with the variety of food and the taste. In fact, in my opinion, there was probably too much variety with a buffet line, a pasta saute station, appetizer station, and dessert station. There was polenta with cheese and fresh basil and balsamic vinegar, meat lasagna with red sauce, spaghetti and meatballs , chicken Marsala, stuffed manicotti w/baby spinach, ricotta cheese, garlic, Parmesan cheese and marinara sauce topped with béchamel sauce, green beans, fried eggplant, roasted asparagus, Italian bread with infused basil olive oil. The Pasta Saute station had prepared to order by shrimp or diced chicken in garlic cloves and butter tossed with bowtie pasta. There was pesto Bruschetta, Artichokes Parmigiana and lemon Antipasto salad w/{prosciutto, assorted cheeses, olives, marinated artichokes, mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes on the Appetizer Bar. Finally, for dessert there was Chocolate cannoli w/ blueberry flavored cream-filling topped with walnuts, tiramisu, or raspberry sherbet. So, so much food!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Friday we spent in the garage and workshop. I cleaned the garage while Dan worked on his work area. We donated a large black buffet that we bought when we redid the house on Lime Road in Lake Placid. We had been dragging it from house to house ever since, not really having the place for it. We thought it would fit in Dan's work shop but it just wouldn't work - so, we finally donated it. Now my car doesn't beep at me nonstop when pulling into the garage. Everything is nice and neat again - but it will only last until the next project is started. Which might be really soon as we finally got the approval to build the pergola. (Dan and I went lumber "shopping" today) I would really like it finished by Christmas, but if we don't get started soon that won't happen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Friday night we went down to Sonny C's in Mayo for dinner - ribs! Yummy! I was really bushed by the time we got home, so I changed into my PJ's and vegged out on the couch watching football until bedtime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Saturday we went out for breakfast before heading home for an afternoon of college football. I put chili in the crock pot for dinner and we had leftovers for lunch. There was some good football games on Saturday (Roll Tide!) and it made for a really lazy day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Sunday we went to church, the dining room for lunch (not impressed - I'm not sure how the same crew can have such a marvelous dinner on Thursday night and a ho-hum lunch on Sunday - just boggles my mind). Came home and watched a football game before heading back up to the dining room for our Pal night. We had our trip into town with our Pal - going to the Dollar Store and buying things for their Operation Christmas Child shoebox. After our shopping excursion, we came back and packed our box before having a pizza dinner. We started our get together at 3:30 and we were back home by 7:00. We finished the night watching some more football before I fell asleep on the couch. Dan just covered me up and let me sleep, knowing that if he woke me up I'd be up the rest of the night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Today we went back down to Mayo to try a new to us little place for breakfast. It was okay, but we probably won't go back - among other things the grits were cold and price was too high for what you got. Oh well, you don't know if you don't try - right? Then we started looking for the lumber Dan will need for the pergola. It was soooo much fun walking around lumber yards in the rain. First a place in Mayo (the reason we tried the new breakfast place), then into Lowe's in Live Oak (did pick up a few things), and then to Howlands - a locally owed lumber yard. This is probably where Dan will get his wood as they are actually cheaper than Lowe's and actually has what he wants, plus the delivery charge is much less than what Lowe's charges. It doesn't hurt that it's a locally owned business either.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Speaking of rain, we are suppose to have some cooler weather arrive in the next day or so. It won't last - but at least it is the beginning of cooler weather. I might see a fire in the fireplace in the, not quite so distant, future. (fingers crossed).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Well, that's pretty much has caught you up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Until next time!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana;"><b><i>Carol</i></b></span></div>
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<br />Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-11699475843443480232017-10-23T16:42:00.000-04:002017-10-23T18:18:49.488-04:00Hello Fresh<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A couple of weeks ago when we were in Lakeland, I talked about my daughter and son in love cooking us dinner and how good it was. Well, it was from one of those mail food services, you know what I mean? These services pack up everything you will need for three meals and ship everything to you all fresh and ready to cook - right down to the meat. Well, we were really impressed and we decided we would give it a try. My older daughter also uses this service and she had sent me an email with the first three meals free - so we decided to order and see how it was.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">I went online and set up our account and the first shipment was set to arrive on Friday. We decided that wasn't a good day for us and changed the arrival to Monday's, but because I didn't go in and change it in time, the first box came on Friday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">So, the first three meals were:</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Figgy Balsamic Pork with Roasted Green Beans and Rosemary Potatoes</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Beef Ragu Spaghetti with Zucchini, Parmesan, and Pepperolio</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dan told me that this was the best spaghetti he has ever eaten (he almost didn't tell me because he didn't want to hurt my feelings - ha ha!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Southwestern Stuffed Peppers with Ground Beef, Quinoa, and Monterey Jack Cheese</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The second delivery (on Monday) was:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Chicken Pineapple Quesadillas with Pico de Gailo and Southwestern Spices</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"> (which I forgot to take a picture of)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Cherry Drizzled Pork Chops with Tomato Couscous Salad which Dan fixed because I had a horrible migraine headache that day - so again no picture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">and </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEIjdo9C6I8UC6V3pbF52jXThXLnDU3hR106xZj5IMVyfk7fVvBaTpisPeunIq0htWhk-CiGgtmXFuUnvlbsbiGmjU25E7F_6hb_X-5inSKbLYoSQrR3E1TuOsMJHR87MUDfR_L0EeloS/s1600/20171014_183719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEIjdo9C6I8UC6V3pbF52jXThXLnDU3hR106xZj5IMVyfk7fVvBaTpisPeunIq0htWhk-CiGgtmXFuUnvlbsbiGmjU25E7F_6hb_X-5inSKbLYoSQrR3E1TuOsMJHR87MUDfR_L0EeloS/s640/20171014_183719.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Winner Winner Chicken Orzo Dinner with Cheesy Roasted Zucchini and Tomato</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(We had a visit from the fire department on this dinner because the fire alarm went off for NO reason - you can tell nothing is burnt - but it did make for a little excitement!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Our third shipment (last Monday) consisted of:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pineapple Poblano Beef Tacos with Lime Crema, Cilantro, ad Warm Spices</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Carolina Barbecue Chicken with Quick Stovetop Mac 'n' Cheese and Green Beans</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Adobo Loco Steak</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">with a Poblano Corn and Crispy Potato Hash</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Now, all the pictures above were taken with my phone after I had plated the dinner's and put them on the table so the quality of the pictures are not that great, but the quality of the meals is excellent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Dan and I have really enjoyed these meals - they are quick to prepare (30 - 40 minutes), they provide everything you need (the only things I have had to use from our pantry is olive oil and a couple of pats of butter), we don't have to worry about portion control, but as you can see there is plenty of food, and everything is FRESH! I love that we are cooking with fresh ingredients instead of processed stuff - fresh vegetables, and fresh spices. We are eating things that we probably wouldn't have eaten otherwise (couscous, orzo, quinoa), but everything has been delicious! I'll be perfectly honest - the only meal that I probably wouldn't fix again is the stuffed peppers - not because they didn't taste good, they did, but I'm just not a stuffed pepper fan. I did eat almost all of one pepper and then I took the stuffing out and ate it and left the other pepper. Dan and I like that we don't have to worry about three meals during the week - and we usually eat out at least once a week - so I only have to figure out something else a couple of nights. The price is reasonable at just under $10.00 per person, per meal - so $60.00 a week for us. We have lots of meat in the freezer - so for the couple of days we don't have Hello Fresh I have meat here. I just have to pick up a few fresh vegetables and we are set for the week. We are actually saving money in our grocery budget - a definite win/win in my book. Also, if you have been reading this blog for any length of time you know that cooking is NOT my favorite thing to do, but with this Dan and I are working together to cook dinner and it's actually been fun. That in itself should be a reason to stay with this service!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">We received our new shipment today and we'll be having salmon tonight, and chicken and beef later in the week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">I guess this post has turned into a post for Hello Fresh, but I really just wanted to let those of you that read this know how good this service is. I am not being compensated by Hello Fresh at all (I wish), just really impressed with them. In fact, we had tried another service about a year ago and just didn't like the food choices and canceled after two weeks. If any of you that read this would like to try Hello Fresh for free (one week) just let me know and I can send you a link for your first week - I would get a discount on my next order if you try, even if you decide it's not for you, but I don't know why it wouldn't be - ha!! Anyway, if you are interested, just let me know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tomorrow I'll do a post letting you know what all has been happening, other than cooking. Until then - </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana";"><b><i>Carol</i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><b></b><i></i><span style="color: blue;"></span><br />Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-62621567747369370922017-10-07T15:35:00.000-04:002017-10-07T15:35:07.034-04:00Lakeland<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi everyone! Hope you all have had a great week. I thought I would let you know what Dan and I have been up the past week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A couple of weeks ago Dan and I were sitting in the family room, probably watching TV or playing on our Kindles, when Dan looked over at me and said "I miss my girls". I told him that I could have a suitcase packed in half an hour - but he had a more level head and said "How about the weekend?" So, I texted my daughter to make sure they didn't have anything planned and told her we MIGHT be down on Friday. I was suppose to call her the next day, but I didn't because Dan didn't feel well on Thursday and I wasn't sure we were going. But Friday morning, while sitting on the back porch, we decided we would head down after lunch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">I went over to Mom's and made sure she was good for the weekend - had food in the house and everything handled for the couple of days we would be gone. Then I came home and packed for us while Dan got the stuff together for the dog. We were on the road by noon and decided to go the more scenic route instead of the interstate. We made it down to Melissa's by around 5, but the girls weren't home yet - and they didn't know we would be there. Well, my son-in-love pulled into the driveway and they girls were like "Who's car is that?" All of a sudden, Lorelai figured out it was my car and Justin said they were throwing their seat belts off and trying to get out of the car. They came running in the house yelling "Nannnnnna" - sure did make this Nana feel GREAT!!!! Then I told them to go look in the living room and then it was "P!" It sure was great seeing those sweet faces!!!!</span></div>
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We ended up going to Beef's for dinner - they have a game room that the girls can play in until their meal gets there and the adults can actually talk. So, after dinner we went back to the house to get ready for Saturday. Melissa had to take her car into the Ford dealership to have some work done and Dan decided it would be a good time to drive down and look at "new to us" cars.</div>
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Saturday morning we were up fairly early - and down to Bartow we went. Everyone went in their separate vehicles and I guess it was a good thing. Dan and I ended up spending the better part of the day at the dealership doing all the paperwork that is required when you buy a vehicle. Dan has never been happy with the Escape - he tried to make it work - but it was just too small for him. He always felt like he was in a sardine can. Anyway, we bought a new to us 2016 Ford Explorer. It probably has more bells and whistles on it than we really need (heated back seats????), but it does have some of the things that we wanted - back up camera, navigation and leather seats. I really like it and I think Dan is happier now.</div>
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Saturday afternoon we went to see Dan's girls and visited for awhile. It was good to see them and that they didn't have any storm damage other than one magnolia tree that my dad planted came down at Dana's house.</div>
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Saturday night Melissa and Justin cooked dinner for us - it was really good, the girls ate a good meal and so did we. The kids are getting a meal service called Hello Fresh and it was one of the meals from that they supplemented. Actually it was so good that we signed up for the service ourselves once we got home. We got our first shipment yesterday, but I'll tell you about it a little later.</div>
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We got up Sunday morning and had some coffee and donuts before loading up the car and heading home. We came home via the scenic route again. After getting home an checking on mom, I got the car unloaded and the clothes in the laundry. Spent the afternoon watching football and finishing up the laundry.</div>
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This week has been a little slow getting ready for an onslaught of doctor's visits next week. Monday I finished up the "books" and getting all the stuff together to take to mom on her checking account. Since I now do all her bills I make sure to have a bank statement and check register that balance so she knows where she stands monetarily. Tuesday was spent cleaning house. We had a information meeting Tuesday night for the Information Booth at church - Dan and I will work at the booth every Sunday during the month of June, 2018. Wednesday was my usual shift at the gift shop. Thursday I had an Executive Board meeting at 2. On Friday we had a check out cruise on the new pontoon boat before our first trip with passengers Friday evening.</div>
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We also had our first shipment from Hello Fresh come on Friday (I tried to change the delivery date to Monday, but I didn't get it on the computer in time for this shipment but all future shipments will be on Monday's). I had planned on cooking dinner after the boat ride, but by the time we got back, got everything put away on the boat it was almost 7 PM - so we decided to go to the Village Cafe for supper. Well, after ordering three different things and being told they "were out" - I just looked at Dan and said "Let's go home and have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich". So disappointing! Anyway, we came home and had a bowl of cereal instead.</div>
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Today was Autumn Fest at the Village Square. There were some vendors, but I didn't find anything I couldn't live without. Dan wanted to put the truck in the auto show, but was told he couldn't with a "for sale" sign on it. Well, that's was the only reason he wanted to put it in the show - to maybe get some interested from people at the show. Anyway, he just parked it close to the show, but we haven't gotten any phone calls on it. I guess I'll probably put it back on Craigslist next week - and maybe even EBay. We did buy some ribs which we had for lunch. I'll do the first Hello Fresh meal today for dinner.</div>
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So, that's been our week. Next week I have a doctor's appointment in Valdosta and mom has two - one in Gainesville and one here in the village.</div>
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Hope everyone has a good week!</div>
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Carol</div>
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Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-40578073593440563732017-10-04T06:00:00.000-04:002017-10-04T06:00:08.155-04:00Fall Home Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hi everyone! Today is a new adventure for me - today I'm going to do my first ever Home Tour! While I have shared some fall decorating on the blog before, I have never done an official home tour - so here we go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Now, while the outside temperatures might still be in the mid 90's around here I can't help but hope that since October is showing up on the calendar that cooler temperatures can't be far behind. So, with that hope in my heart I spent one day last week adding some fall décor to the house. If you are looking for all the neutral fall décor that a lot of bloggers are using, you can just stop right here. I don't do "neutral" - I do fall with all the colors that nature provides - orange, yellow, red. Of course I know that some people like all the white and pale colors, but not this girl. If it's fall it's time for color! I think you will find that all the décor this year is easy and simple. Nothing fancy here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">I moved the goose over to the entry way table and surrounded it with some fall foliage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Love putting in some fall scents in the warmer - just makes the house smell so, so good!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Added a lumbar pillow to the couch - we should always be Thankful, but now it's a great time to be reminded. Changed out the candle on the coffee table and added some fall décor to the side tables.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I did some rearranging in the kitchen. I have not been happy with the back wall in the kitchen for quite a while - it just seemed too cluttered for me. So, all the cute little signs came down and a single picture was hung along with one sign.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just seems so much calmer to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Used the wooden slice as a holder for a couple of fall candles - added a fun fall printable in a simple black frame and a faux pumpkin and the kitchen was done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">The breakfast nook area also received a little fall love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not a lot - just a little ceramic pumpkin, some fall napkins, a nice candle, and a cute little squirrel on a pinecone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just a few little touches on the shelves - another ceramic pumpkin and a cute little scarecrow shelf sitter was all that was needed to add that little fall touch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">As we move into the family room the buffet got a little fall love also. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dan and I are loving our new plate rack that we hung over the buffet. I ordered it online from IKEA and then Dan painted it this beautiful shade of green. We were able to unpack the Wildlife dishes that had been packed away since we moved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Add a pumpkin soup tureen, a "gourd" swan, a sweet smelling candle, and a candle topper to the top of the buffet. Then a couple of wooded fall leaves along with the Burl wood bowl and the basket of pinecones and this little corner was done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">I kept the table really simple this year. I ordered two of these table runners from Piper Classics thinking that they would go from side to side on the table, but they weren't long enough (guess I should do a better job of checking size next time), but the price was good and I was able to use the other one on the coffee table. I just love the colors in the runner and even if it wasn't exactly what I had planned I am certainly happy that I purchased them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The plates came from WalMart last year as part of the Better Homes and Gardens collection. I paired them with my everyday white dishes, a napkin, and a woven design charger.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love the colors.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">The couch got a few new pillows - A couple from WalMart, one from Kohl's, and one from Hobby Lobby. The "throw" in the corner is actually a scarf from Amazon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The coffee table I left pretty simple too - the second table runner, my wicker tray, some faux leaves, a Yankee Candle, a small pinecone, and a faux pumpkin. Easy and simple.</span><br />
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<br />Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-2199332374846903242017-09-29T06:00:00.000-04:002017-10-01T18:19:42.586-04:00New Guest Bedroom<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hello everyone! Guess I have been a little AWOL lately. It's not that we haven't been busy, but it just seems like things happen so I never take the time to sit down and do a post. So, let's catch up a bit before I show you our new bedroom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">First, as most of you know, Florida was hit by Hurricane Irma. While the hurricane was downgraded to Cat 1 by the time it reached us, we still had quite a bit of damage in the area. We didn't have any structural damage - we did have 1/2 a tree come down in the front yard and a lot of debris that had to be cleaned up. The biggest issue was we had was no electricity for three and a half days. We did have a generator so we were able to run our refrigerator and our freezer (and the coffee pot in the mornings) - but that was it. We cooked out on the grill and we had neighbors over for meals. They might not have been gourmet or some might not have been completely healthy, but they filled the tummy and the fellowship was awesome. Storms like this make us realize how truly blessed we are to live in the community we do, as everyone came together to help each other.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">After the electricity was restored and Dan and I finished with yard clean up, with the help of a young man that we hired, we were ready to finish up projects that we had started before the storm. On my last post I shared this picture and asked if anyone knew what we were up to now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Well, we decided to turn my office/craft room into an office/bedroom. We have much more need of another bedroom than a whole room for my crafts. So, I had been wanting to add faux shiplap to some room in the house and this proved to be the perfect opportunity.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPSCGaGmt3x-F2wab_Gkvf8cQAX1OFd4_EI9Kn9gX1KSRVNh5eTObP8BVsWVQKeLm57GnX4qk68FFR05bHDlY6tAYWRoqOZD1vNsXHkH220SlknYQLpuWxTZB2Tn-ymZtnzcVuMkrPWjx/s1600/IMG_1235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPSCGaGmt3x-F2wab_Gkvf8cQAX1OFd4_EI9Kn9gX1KSRVNh5eTObP8BVsWVQKeLm57GnX4qk68FFR05bHDlY6tAYWRoqOZD1vNsXHkH220SlknYQLpuWxTZB2Tn-ymZtnzcVuMkrPWjx/s640/IMG_1235.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are far from finished with this room, but it is useable. Have to hang the wreath that I made over the bed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The side table that Dan painted for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We're borrowing the chair from our friends for the time being. I would like to find a nice upholstered chair for this corner, but the budget just doesn't allow for that right now. It will come.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pictures of my sweet girls at the same age.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the projects still on the to do list in this room is to replace the closet doors with mirrored sliders. They will make the room appear much larger than it actually is - but for the short term I will be painting these doors a much brighter white to match all the trim.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We ordered the bed and headboard from Wayfair. The headboard was originally black, but a can of spray paint took care of that. Then there was the bed - we had looked locally to buy a bed but everyone wanted an arm and two legs for a queen size bed. So, I looked on line and found this bed at Wayfair. It had five star reviews and while I was a little nervous about buying a bed online we decided, for the price, it was worth the risk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">It came with the foundation that had to be assembled. Dan was very impressed with the quality of the foundation and it didn't take us long to put it together in the middle of the living room floor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After we had the foundation assembled there was a full cover for it - everything was very well made. We took it in and put on the frame and waited to "Unroll" the mattress the next day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">As I said, I have never bought a mattress on line before much less one that came rolled up in a box about four foot high and two foot wide. Well, we cut the plastic off that mattress and watch it inflate - within two minutes we had a perfectly firm queen size mattress. We did wait 48 hours, as many of those reviews that I read suggested, before making the bed or sitting/lying down on it. However, let me tell you folks, I am super impressed with this mattress. It is very comfortable and is exactly what we were looking for. I am very happy that we went out on a limb and purchased this one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, while we still have a lot of projects to do in this room, it is functional and Dan and I think it looks pretty good too.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Breakdown of where things came from:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Paint - Heart of Palm - Lowe's</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Frame - Twice Nice Furniture and More</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Headboard and Mattress - Wayfair</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bedding - Brylane Home</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Sheets and Pillows - WalMart</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Side Table - Hobby Lobby</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Lamps - Lowe's</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Tobacco Baskets - Hobby Lobby</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Wreath - I made</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Throw and Pillow - Have had a long time, I think the throw came from IKEA and the pillow from a little shop in High Springs, FL.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Desk - Have had for seven years</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Picture Frames - IKEA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Accessories on side table - bird - shop here at the Village, candle holder - Hobby Lobby, picture frame- given to me as gift when </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"> Lorelai was born. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Well, I think that's all. If you have any questions, please let me know!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Come back soon for my first ever Fall Home Tour!</span></div>
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Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-25972703261294695732017-08-26T13:22:00.002-04:002017-08-26T13:22:35.540-04:00Projects<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We continue to work on different projects around here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Can any one guess what we are working on now????</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIPx_ClOJvyzKZGg9l9l2-ki1ZAHYFJdD5bIWfsRzKsTEXMbNqV3dSel4daK_NlOD3fW-TrAYKZxfUAhUSqwtUy0ljVzjgdAS3u3jZpXr1cStLXgX428GtjX6db1z9Ww1C8SyzENf6nvi/s1600/20170825_164312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIPx_ClOJvyzKZGg9l9l2-ki1ZAHYFJdD5bIWfsRzKsTEXMbNqV3dSel4daK_NlOD3fW-TrAYKZxfUAhUSqwtUy0ljVzjgdAS3u3jZpXr1cStLXgX428GtjX6db1z9Ww1C8SyzENf6nvi/s640/20170825_164312.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">More later!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Till next time.........</span></div>
<br />Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070594626831628500.post-64601193836292252022017-08-25T10:48:00.000-04:002017-08-25T10:48:05.330-04:00Jacksonville<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have lived almost my entire life in the state of Florida - ALMOST is the key word here as I have lived in the states of Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia, California, Arizona, and North Carolina not to mention all the states we "lived" in when we were full timing, but I had never been to Jacksonville. Driven through it on the way to Savannah yes, but had never stopped in the city. Well, that all changed on Friday, August 18th. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Why??? Well, we had to return all the shirts that I bought Dan for his birthday. You see, he had told me that he wanted a certain type shirt - by a certain manufacturer. So, while I was down in Lakeland I went to the local store that carried said brand and bought him three shirts in the size he told me he wore. I get home and give him his shirts and they didn't fit - not even close. Sooooo, that meant they had to go back and their was a store was in Jacksonville. There was a store in Tallahassee, which was closer but we decided to go to Jacksonville because there was an At Home store. I had been to the one in Nashville a couple of times and really liked the store - it's a big warehouse type store, but all home decor items. Dan had never been, so we loaded Jessie up in the car and headed the two hours to Jacksonville.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">We returned the shirts with no problems and then headed to At Home. (Thank goodness for navigation.) I was so disappointed!!!!! This store was a mess! No organization at all - merchandise all over the floor - just really a huge disappointment. We did not buy anything at all! So, basically, we traveled 2 hours for nothing. Oh well, at least I can say I've been to Jacksonville now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Saturday we went into town for a trip to Lowe's. Dan is working on a few different projects and needed wood. One of the things he is working on is his workshop in the garage. We are changing some things around and he is working on finishing the walls and building some shelves in the offset in his workroom. He has wanted to do this since we did the remodel, but just haven't done it. So, right now my car is regulated to outside while the garage is full of stuff out of the workshop and lumber. He also bought wood for a couple of projects in the house, but that will happen AFTER he finishes the workshop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">While in Lowe's we picked up some new cushions for the back patio area - they were having a huge sale/clearance and we bought the cushions for about 70% off their original price. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">After we got home we took a couple of the new cushions and tried them in the chairs out front and liked the look - so went back into town on Sunday to find they had sold them all. Oh well, wasn't meant to be. We also picked up a few big pots for plants at really, really good prices. Now, just to figure out what to plant in them. Right now, I'm not doing anything outside as it is just toooooo hot!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Monday was the eclipse. We were in a 90% area and it did get a little dark- sorta like late afternoon - we were not able to see it (I didn't buy eclipse glasses). However, my daughter who lives in Nashville had 100% totality and the video she sent me was awesome! She said it was the "coolest thing she had ever seen". We did watch it on television and I imagine that if you were able to experience it first hand it would have been pretty awesome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Tuesday was a busy, busy day. I had a doctor's appointment in Valdosta at 10:20 - ended up being a consultation and I am waiting for them to call for all the tests I have to have done. After leaving the doctor's office we ran to Sam's and renewed our membership, picked up some meat and things and headed home. I had a Strategic Planning Meeting at 2:00 and then at 6 we had a group scheduled for a pontoon boat ride. We had 9 people on the boat and it was a nice trip upriver. We missed the rain showers that were all around us - but there was no lightening - so we were okay being on the river.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Wednesday I had my shift at the shop - first time I had worked my entire shift since June I think. It was slow, slow, slow with only selling one card. I did have a few people in the shop and I did get the dusting done before I was relieved. Dan picked me up as we had to have Jessie in to the Vet for her recheck at 2:00. She is doing much better, but we are to keep her on the meds and if she has any sign of trouble with her back we are to call them immediately - even if on the weekend. If we are able to catch it early enough we have a very good chance of not having paralysis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Yesterday we worked around the house before our scheduled trip on the river. Well, as we were eating at 5 before our 6 o'clock ride the sky's starting getting dark and we could hear thunder in the distance. We looked at the radar and knew that a huge storm was headed our way. So, we went down to the dock and told everyone who had already arrived that we would not be taking the boat out. I think some people where not happy with us - saying that it was going to pass us by - but Dan and I were insistent. Well, we weren't home 5 minutes when the sky opened up and the storm hit. High wind, rain, and major lightening. I looked at Dan and said "I sure am glad we are not on the river right now!" Anyway, we have rescheduled everyone for Tuesday night - hopefully, the weather will cooperate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Today, I have a Executive Council meeting that had to be rescheduled from the 7th of September to today. Something about a conflict - anyway, it will be back to the grind of two meeting a month now. It was nice having the summer off and I'm not sure if I want to be on the council next year or not. Of course, I haven't been asked to serve again, but if I am I'm not sure what I will tell them. Guess that is something I will need to think about.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, that pretty much catches you up on everything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />Carol http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128634602955515555noreply@blogger.com0