WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

I SLEPT!!!  

Good Morning America was all about winter weather ... snow, sleet and ice!

LOL ... Sorry about my insensitivity. 

The "Organizer" party I attended last night was a bust for me ... I am so organized I didn't need anything. One item was rather interesting ... a hook that slips onto a vehicle's headrest stanchions. Eight of them would be handy for hanging plastic grocery bags by the handles when hauling home a huge order from Walmart.  But, they were six dollars each, plus $7.95 shipping. The bags can go in the trunk just as easily.

Today, I am going to lunch with the Harbor Shores ladies group. The plan was to go to the Palm Grill in Mount Dora, but that restaurant did not answer their phone yesterday. It's a rather small place, and with 15 to 18 of us arriving, they would be swamped without reservations made. So, second choice was Jeremiah's. I know some of the ladies are not going to like the food there, as it is primarily pub food. Yum. 

Mark wanted to go shopping at Walmart. He has a new recipe to try and can shop for ingredients without me. He plans to invite Linda and Randy for tonight's experiment. 

Later ... Lunch was great ... and fun. I met a "snowbird" neighbor, Christina, who I hadn't met before. She was so interesting, having moved from the Phillipines to Canada. Growing up, there were six children, all with their own maid. When they came home from school they showered and dressed formally for dinner at eight with their parents. Christina said her father came to visit once at her Florida home and was horrified at PAPER napkins on the table. LOL. She explained to her father that she doesn't have time to iron linens and can't afford a maid. When she visited her parents in the Philippines at Christmas, she was amazed they still employ the six maids they had growing up. Christina's father felt that he couldn't let them go now, as they would have no retirement, so he keeps them working although he has to hire extra help for the old maids. LOL. All this made me wonder why she would have ever moved to Canada??? (Yes, Canada. And she also has a home in Florida ... but the paper napkins.). Haha. 

Randy and Linda arrived about 5:15 but she was angry antsy-pants. After some wandering about and a dog walk we sat down for supper of Cabbage Roll Casserole. It was good! Randy brought a bottle of aged wine and it was a hit. Once Linda had a glass of wine, she relaxed. 

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

Hmmm, I'm up early? What to do ... Ancestry.com uploads for 4 hours! I do wish I could understand how one family managed THREE HENRYs' under one roof !!!

It's a beautiful day ... clear and sunny. Mark has been tree trimming ... rather, butchering, but the backyard is nice and tidy looking. 

Diane and Kris have been working on their "The Villages" house (again.)

A third garage was added for "toy" storage. Kris will stucco the front and paint to pull it all together. They have decided to keep Georgia Boys ... and their house on Butler Drive. The Villages will be their "hideaway", much like Mark and I did for 10 years. 

Last night, we picked up two pizzas from Stavros and drove over to Randy and Linda's. Linda visited with us for about half an hour and then went to watch TV and to bed about 8 o'clock. Randy was enjoying the company, and opened a bottle of Red Diamond wine; ( Wayne-worthy ). LOL. It was so good, Mark and he finished it and opened a second!!! We had a good laugh as Randy was wearing Wayne's style jammer pants and drinking Wayne's style wine. Randy quipped, "See, and you thought I didn't learn nothin' on that RV trip!!!" There were lots of laughs over that. 

Meanwhile, Sue and Carol went out to lunch in Candi Koko ...

Life is Good at K's house. I bet they went to Piranah Pats !

Mark hauled 10 large bundles of tree branches to the curb for pickup tomorrow. He will be able to relax this evening and watch what he wants on TV as I am going to Sharon's for an "organizer" party. I'm not sure what they can possibly teach me, as I am the organizer queen!!!

 

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2014

It's a beautiful Presidents Day morning, sunny and 70F. 

Mark was outside bundling tree debris for pickup when I awoke. Monday is laundry and tidy up day, so we were both busy until noon. We had a late night watching Downton Abbey and then Tom Selleck in "Stone Cold". The Jesse Stone series was on all day ... so Mark recorded them. 

Mark found a great shoe store at our mall ... The Shoe Department. Awesome selection ... Best prices! We bought 3 pair ... Shot the budget. LOL. The Easy Spirit slip on shoes I wear for everyday around the house were $39.99 compared to $75.99 online. Mark bought Skechers memory foam boat shoes for $64.99 and I bought Sebago boat shows 

for $29.99 regular $59.99. What a deal. 

A Yellow-Rumped Warbler visited our feeder this afternoon. 

Purdy, isn't he?  We looked in the North American bird book that Mark's mom, Mary, bought us twenty years ago. We're enjoying the book now with the variety of birds around. 

So this afternoon we relaxed and watched another Jesse Stone. And now we're picking up pizzas, a large vegetarian and a large pepperoni banana pepper and extra cheese at Stavros and going to Linda and Randy's. 

Hope you have a good evening too!

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2014

So I woke up early to a sunny but "cold" 49F ... and then I got an emailed pictures of Gauthier's cottage at Lake of the Woods. I just quit complaining. LOL

Front deck ...

Overlooking the boathouse and gazebo

Last summer, Mark and I watched the squirrels harvesting "green" pine cones from the highest boughs of the trees. They knew a long, cold winter was ahead, obviously. 

Dennis Wallace sent photos of our Canadian "lake" friends enjoying life ... 

Dennis shoveling for the 90th time this winter ... Er, not enjoying ...

Snowmobiling to Oak Island, Minnesota!

Enjoying a walk on the lake ...

Meanwhile, Mark trimmed a tree over the canal patio ... 

With buddy Lew helping!

I took them beer, pieces of triple chocolate cake and cigars ... and was very popular. 

Meanwhile, in Pompano Beach, Sue, Wayne, Lynne and Les cruised the Intracoastal on a beautiful day. 

Life is good ... Lynne, Shorty & Les

A pretty day on the water. 

Randy dropped by on the bike for a quick visit. Linda was home with the nurse, Pedro. It'll take Randy sometime to feel comfortable leaving her for a few hours. 

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2014

Good "afternoon". LOL. I slept until 10:20!  (Of course it was 1:30 bedtime.) Anyway, it's bright, sunny and 71F. 

CONGRATULATIONS to our friend Tim Deffner on marriage to fiancé Cayann Patterson. They left today on a Caribbean cruise!  Bon voyage. 

Today, Mark and I are relaxing and staying home to watch Olympics! Skeleton luge is on ... 80 MPH, headfirst, down an icy tube on a piece of plastic. Yikes!

This is the running start ... 

Sochi 2014 ... USA's helmet is fierce!

Meanwhile, Sue walked Pompano Beach today and took this picture for us ... Hillsboro Light in the distance. Heavenly. Florida is the only State with not a flake of snow. This does not make us popular with our friends in the north. All I can say is, "C'mon down!"  LOL

Mark and I are continuing our relaxing mode and had leftovers for dinner. Randy just phoned, he and Linda are popping in for a visit this evening. 

This was the first day Randy hired the nurse to Linda-sit ... for 3 hours. All went well ... but Randy felt guilty. 

VALENTINE'S DAY, 2014

Feast of Saint Valentine is here. Really, here. Mark and I are cooking a prime rib roast and garlic mashed red potatoes dinner for our friends Lew, Lynn, Paul and Cindy. 

We have a sunny but chilly 69F morning. Happy Valentine's Day! (Today is a very difficult day for three friends who recently lost their mates ... all were in loving relationships and the loss is acute. We are thinking of you today.)

After a little house cleanup, Mark prepped vegetables while I baked a "Triple-Chocolate" layer cake. Of course it wasn't THAT easy; I'd forgotten to buy eggs!  Mark dashed to the store for a dozen. 

All plans went well, and the company arrived about 530. We had a nice fire going and sat in the living room for cocktails!  Of course the meat thermometer was malfunctioning, and it took an hour longer than we thought to cook the roast. That's okay, the cocktails continued. LOL. 

Mark, Cindy, Paul, Lew & Lynn 

Cindy married 20 couples earlier today and was ready for fun. Paul, however, looked weary. Haha. 

Everyone was full of fun and celebratory champagne. Dinner was a little challenging for us ... but it was very good. About 11:30 the partiers headed home and we tied up. 

Whew. Time for a Sunkist before bed. LOL

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

"Save the drama, for your mama."  Mark loves this statement. He often uses it while we are watching the evening news. It's quite hilarious. Mark is a down-to-earth, accept mistakes, try better, kind of guy. Refreshing, isn't it?

This is a fine time to say, I love that guy!!! And tomorrow is Valentine's Day!!! OMG, what will I get thee??? Let's see, what are Mark's favorite things:  Worms for fishing, camouflage for hunting, Cabernet Sauvignon wine, cigars, flip flops and a ribeye steak. LOL

Now, lest you think, all is well, I  t listen to broadcasts at 10, and he at 18 on the Sony Sound Bar. Arghhh! Extra noise drives me crazy. Hee hee. And flashing lights when he watches his COPS show. Apparently, I have inherited this from my dear mother. She couldn't stand the noise nor glare. It's hereditary. 

Now, on his side of the fence, his darling uncle Don couldn't hear a goddamn thing. It's hereditary ... Ha ha. 

Mark and I were driving to Winn-Dixie to pick up a roast for tomorrow's dinner party and saw the sign for our local farmers market. We stopped in and were amazed at the size of it!!! Next Thursday we plan to be there at 8 o'clock. It's not just fruits and vegetables but a good-quality, (is there is such a thing?), flea market. Who knew??? LOL. 

On our way home from the grocery store, our neighbor Sy phoned. He needed a ride to pick up his car at a Eustis repair shop. The next phone call, as we unpacked grocery, was Randy. He must've been at the end of his rope as he asked Mark and I to Linda-sit right away. Since Mark was driving Sy to Eustis, he volunteered to go to Randy's and look after Linda there. What a great guy!!! I unpacked the groceries, paid the bills and got ready for my Yaya meeting at 5 o'clock. 

The "Mother Theresa" look is all the rage this season. Mark was treated to a fashion show. If we couldn't laugh, we'd cry. Alzheimer's is the most atrocious ailment. 

My 16 wonderfully kindhearted Yaya friends asked how Linda was doing. It was nice to update them and move onto cheerier topics. At one point, you couldn't have heard a lion roar ... 16 talking women create quite a din. LOL. 

Mark went to have a beer with his friend Lew. When I arrived home. there were no lights on and the dogs were out of water.  I was obviously missed! 

Tomorrow, we have to be up early enough to get organized for our Valentines dinner party that we are hosting. 

Ta ta.