Last Post Before Vacation

 Shalimar, FL  (Hi 77  Lo 68)

This will be a short one, but wanted to get some info out before I leave for a vacation. I won't be connected for the first time since mobile phones were introduced to me. I'll post when I get back to USA. If there's wifi at a port, I'll try to connect and send a facebook post. 

I have a friend that needs a kidney, if anyone you know or yourself that would be interested here's the card to contact the company. (Click the photos to enlarge)

The week has gone as usual. I'm watching storms across the midwest when I'm home. I also made this crab for an order. She wanted the Key West buoy on a crab. The crab is very popular. 

This is the bear puzzle I finished.

This is a new month and it's going to be a busy one. When I get back from this one I have three weeks and I'll be leaving for Illinois for grandson's college graduation. 

See you around the 15th April.

Why Busy - Anniversary - Vampire - Vacation Coming

 Shalimar, FL  (Hi 74  Lo 64)

I get a lot of statements of how busy I am. I'm just like my mom. If you are sitting without doing anything, meeting people, doing something to keep busy, I would never get out of bed. It keeps me going. I get bored really easy and depression sets in. It's my way to keep body active and mind. I'm hoping I don't get sick in the mean time. 

I crocheted as much as possible the whole week and got a couple more Chicago Bears gnomes done for an order. When I make something it escalates to more orders, keep them coming.  (Click on the photo to enlarge).

I finally got the diamond art picture done! It's brighter in person. Some photos don't do justice to what is real. I'm now working on gnomes for Halloween. 

Wednesday was my mom's birthday. She would have been 102. Friday was our 55th anniversary. I had so many texts from friends and family wishing us happy anniversary. The facebook memories was so neat showing what we did on our last anniversary not knowing then what was about to happen two months later.  I had the vampire take a couple vials of blood for my yearly doctor appoint later in April. I won't be here next week. It's CRUISE time! 

I will be off grid starting next Saturday. I'll drive down to Cape Coral, then take off for Miami early Saturday morning. I decided not to pay for wifi on the ship, just too expensive. I'll take a break from all electronics. ohhh let's see how that works. 

I'll write the blog daily on paper so I can post when I get home. Thanks everyone for reading the blog. 

Walk in the Woods - St. Patrick's Party - Council - Sip and Paint

 Shalimar, Fl   (Hi 71  Lo 51)

Jim Morris, a resident here, sent me these pictures this morning!  I love them. (Click on the photos to enlarge).

Saturday we had a group of us go thru the path in the woods. The Red Horse group was working on cleaning it up and it's coming together. There's three main paths and quiet, good for meditation and relaxation. Thank you activities for the idea. There's so many people that haven't been in the woods.

The downside, I had three tiny ticks on me when I got out. I'll spray myself next time. 

The rest of the week was normal with a few things thrown in. Recap for a normal week. 

Monday and Wednesday is WII bowling, (staying even most of the time with low 175 score averages. 

Tuesday Diamond art in the morning and meditation in afternoon. 

Wednesday afternoons is three hours of Hand and Foot card game. 

Thursday afternoons I go to the crochet group, we learn, laugh and crochet or knit. 

Friday is catch up day, house work, groceries etc.  At 4:00 on Friday and Sunday is the Ukulele lessons. It's fun to learn and play with several others.   The weekly zoom with friends in the Carolina's is in the evening every Friday. Every night except Saturday (social hour), I play card game called 31. 

This week on Monday, it was St. Patrick's day party in the evening. We had great snacks and several of us got together from our village. 

I was on  a few zoom meetings all thru the week. Nothing is set in stone, just being flexible. I also help people with their phones and PC's especially on the scams. There's always questions. 

Wednesday was resident council meeting. The managers talk about what's going on in the community and update us on what is in the future. There's been new people hired lately and some have moved on. It's always informative and it's every other month.  

Thursday after a couple hours at crochet group I had my monthly massage and chiropractor appointment. I have arthritis in the neck so I keep it moving by having monthly appointments.

  

Friday afternoon I went to sip and paint. It's a craft of the month. I don't care for tole painting which is another class I could go to. This is my picture. 

                                            The class hard at work 

                                            Mary Ann is the teacher, this is hers that we followed.

I'm on a zoom chat every night, but when I'm sitting and doing nothing, I crochet. This week I did two crabs, now I'll be making a few of them for the craft fair in August. 

I still have 13 more orders to make, so I'll be busy in my down time. 

Friday morning a few of the air force military came to clean my gutters. We put in requests and once a month a bunch of the military come over and get everything we need done. What a deal!

The activities team is getting ready for April, and this is the craft we'll be doing. I love it. It would be a great center piece to put in chips, crackers, cookies etc and sauces in the center. It's big but for big parties it would be great. Oh, and wall hangings.

I want to leave you with something special. My sister took a picture of this red tailed hawk that came to her patio and looked like he was sending a message. He's beautiful!

My son sent this picture after the tornados and storms in northern Illinois. 

Slow Start - Special Visitor - March Craft - Storms

 Shalimar, FL   (Hi  73  Lo  63)

Time change started on Sunday morning. It wouldn't make much difference being retired, BUT I don't use a clock to get up for early morning meetings, or activities. I was late twice.  The meals can still be on the old time, but then I'm starving at bed time. I wish they'd leave the time one way or other. Guess we'll never get it changed. I should move to northern Indiana or Arizona. 

I had a very slow start for the week. I stayed in bed most of the time. I got a head cold, which wasn't fun. It's the first time I was sick without Jim. I needed some hugs, but sure wasn't going to give a cold to any of the gals. I didn't have a fever on Monday morning so I went to WII bowling. When it came to later in the day the fever was back again and I was thinking I'd be going into pneumonia, but luckily it didn't. I downed a bunch of meds and by Wednesday morning I was better. 

Wednesday I was doing really well and it was a good thing. My grandson, Jack, is on spring break in Panama City, Fl and came over to see me. He wanted to go to Navarre to a Shushi restaurant. There's only two in the country, one in Pennsylvania and one here. It gave us time to talk along the way and it was a great trip. He's a great travel partner and I learned all about his time in collage and what he hopes to do in the future. (Click on the photos to enlarge).

View from our table

                                                Jack's lunch

                                                     Mine

It was the best. It's my second time eating Shushi and I loved it. Jack left about 5:30. What a great time we had, mainly just getting to know each other. That was the first time we've been together alone.  He goes to Alabama University. I'll see him again in May for grandson  Kendall's college graduation. 

Thursday was March craft was St. Patrick's gnome pin. 

Our group

Now I'm watching for storms. There's no trust of the weather reports but they're saying it's going to get really bad. I don't think anyone believes them anymore. We'll have to see what happens. 

Friday was cleaning and taking everything I'm not using out of the bedroom. I have so much more room now and it looks a lot better. It's spring cleaning. I think I'm all caught up in taking out stuff. Nice load to the thrift store. I had ukulele class then a couple zooms. We'll see how the next few days will pan out from storms. Prediction real? or overkill?

Anniversary - Ho Hum - Pollen - Sick

 Shalimar, FL  (Hi 72   Lo 63)  It's been low 40's this week at night

My two year anniversary was Monday for moving into Bob Hope Village. I haven't moved much if at all everything the boys put in place for me. We were totally unloaded in just a few hours. I'm so glad it went so smooth. I'm now looking at things I haven't touched in two years and getting rid of it. They say wait at least two seasons before throwing things out. I have added a few items to make life more simpler, but not a whole lot. I have no regrets and very thankful I'm here. I've met a lot of people and most of the time I remember their names. 

The week was ho-hum, the same thing with added little zooms from time to time. I noticed the readers of the blogs have dropped, but hopefully that will increase when I start traveling. There's three trips to follow this summer.

I still had to beat the clock getting to the events I had this week. Two days I had to make a choice on what to do because I had three events the same day and hour. I'm learning tarot cards for fun so chose that one on Thursday. That was the best day. I had activities meeting in the morning, ran home to do the zoom on cards, barely had time to get out the door to crochet group, forgot I had oreo cookie day in an hour so couldn't stay. I made it for the tasting of cookies and meet up with some friends. Another gal and I decided to go to the lounge to finish the puzzle, then it was card time.  This puzzle was "mystery puzzle". Nothing showed on the box what it would be just the outside edges. It turned out really neat. It's called snacks. One piece missing and it was a brand new puzzle we got from Christmas gift. (Click on the photos to enlarge)

I wanted chicken wings, and I hadn't been to the Moose in quite awhile. I grabbed Rosie and went for wings on Wednesday and had a good time with members of the club. One couple was there on visit from Illinois close to where our son lives so we talked about the area. They were on the way home after spending time in South Florida. It was an enjoyable evening. I was the driver, so only one drink with meal. 

The rest of the week was normal. Ukulele class/fun group was Friday and Sunday evening. Several zoom classes and get togethers.  

I had my car washed last Saturday and the pollen is so bad it looks like it did before. Half of us are sneezing and coughing and some are wearing masks when they go out the door. I may be one of them. I cleaned the chairs outside since it's so nice to sit out there, but then started sneezing and eyes are watery, so enough of that for awhile. 

I finally broke down and got the taxes paid. Another worry about how much to pay, but it was almost as much as last year so it's good. I even got an email saying it was accepted by the IRS. Whew, I'm good till next year. 

I was supposed to go to Pensacola today (saturday) for craft show, but all night I was up with a cold that kept getting worse. I had a fever and it broke about 3:00am. I texted one of the gals to tell the bus driver I was sick and take me off the list. It's the first time in three years I've got a cold or being sick. I guess I'm run down, but who knows, it's my turn. The weather is up and down, so that might be part of it.  I just hope it doesn't go into pneumonia like I normally do with colds. 

Update, the longer the day got, the more I felt rotton. This is first time I've been sick since Jim died. I have a fever of 99.6 so it's a cold. 

Anniversary at BHV - Zooms - Videos - Plans for Summer Travels

 Shalimar, FL   (Hi  74   Lo 45)  This post is 3030.

 This is the first day of March  and my anniversary of moving to Bob Hope Village is tomorrow.  I feel like I've been here for years, but it's only two. It's been a learning curve, fun, exciting at times and even frustrating. The biggest thing is learning patience (kinda still bad at that). I've learned to put up boundaries and saying no when I feel I should. I know I'll be here for many years more so it's a good thing to be flexible. 

 More zooms this week then anything else, but it's always really busy at the end of the month. I have several different type of zooms and it's been fun this week. I'm also a moderator with tiktok and loving it. People can be rude and some very funny. I also have many zooms with friends I've made since Jim's death with widows. We are a group that help each other. 

The week of activities were quite a bit this week. I actually got a haircut this week here on campus. I tried calling the one downtown but she didn't answer and never called back. So that person is out and gone from my calling list. The lady here did a good job, I guess I'll just stick with her. 

I went with one of the activities gals on the walk thru the woods and trying to come up with a plan to clean up the paths a bit. It looked like someone was trying to make a smoother path, it wasn't nearly as bad as last time I went thru it. (Click on photos to enlarge)

                                                    Turtle on the path. I almost stepped on him. 

                          A lot of the trees have died, trying to see if an university or school would like to take on the project of helping out to see what can be done to help the woods. This one has a woodpecker on it. 

Thursday  I had crochet at 12 then to massage/chiropractor by 3 and a zoom class at 5:30. I actually got dinner at 4:30 so that was good. 

I watch a youtube 24/7 critter cam. This couple moved to a big property near woods so they could feed all animals for 24 hrs and rigged a cam to watch it all. I'm amazed how many animals eat together.  Here's the link. 

                                                    This looks like peanut butter. It's really gooey. 

                                                        A fox joined the group 

There's usually 5 raccoons and mice and some other creature I have no idea show up sometimes. Check the baby in the tree in the middle.

Another link is the california eagles. This is the third time I've watched these two raising their  babies, this time there's 3 eggs. They should be hatching by the middle or late March, (I think). Here's the link. 

 These eagles sit on the nest with tons of snow on them. Amazing to watch when the weather is bad. 

Besides those two cams. I watch earthquakes around the world. That's another love of mine. I've followed quakes for many years, they're getting more frequent and more powerful. It's all linked together,

I have 2 more football gnomes to make. This is the Miami Dolphins. I even have a dolphin on the side.

                                                        

I spent almost the entire day on summer plans on Friday. I have the flights to Illinois, in May and the rental car with help of grandson. The cruise and everything lined up for getting there (by car) for April. I've got the boots and getting some other little things to stay warm for Alaska in September. It's going to be a busy summer. At least the planning has all started. 

Saturday morning, up and ready at 7:00am. Whew, that's early, but I wanted to be first in line to get my car washed by the Eglin AFB guys and gals. We have pollen on the cars and it's making my car look yellow/green. It's a way for them to make money and it's a help for our community with part of the money the collect. They do a really good job. 

NASCAR - Lobster Truck - Dinner Out by Bus

 Shalimar, FL  (Hi 52  Lo  36)  

I am finding the weeks are flying. I seldom have said that in my whole life. It's already time for another blog. 

Sunday started fun. I watched the Nascar race, well part of it. It was a long rain delay, nothing unusual. I remember many times we went to the race and had rain getting us home really late at night. It's the chance you take. I have to get the names of the drivers memorized again and a lot of the children or grandchildren of the big time racers I've followed for years. 

Monday was President's day. The only thing that was different was no mail. I had WII bowling and crocheted all afternoon finishing up the football gnomes for an order, six Dallas cowboys. (Click on photo to enlarge). 

While I'm on Monday, I took a picture of the Crape Myrtle tree outside the door. It went below freezing a couple nights, so I'm watching to be sure the trees don't die. I love them, it's so pretty. 

The GBM zoom was Monday night. We have such a great group of gals who lost our husbands with Glioblastoma. There's still more dying with it. Maybe someday they'll figure out it's not a death sentence. 

Tuesday was beat the clock for deadline times. First was diamond art normal time 10:00 but I had a tiktok at noon. That was ok, but then meditation is at 1:00 so I had to run from one to the other building  leaving the zoom three minutes early. I was on time by 45 seconds. I got a few things lined up for the rest of the week and home for a bit of ukulele practice and guitar before going to cards. I've learned if you put a capo on fret 5 on the guitar it's the same as the ukulele. I'm trying hard to learn a couple songs for my visit with my son when I get there in May. 

Wednesday was WII bowling again,  I did a score of  202 this time as the high game. I had to hurry home for another zoom learning tarot cards. I've been doing this class awhile and so far so good. I'm picking up the meanings of them enough to do good readings. It's so fun! It keeps the mind working and alert.  Now this is the best! At 3:00 in the cold wind the Lobster truck came again. 

I got 2 cups of lobster bisque, 2 cups of England chowder, 2 quesillia's, 2 taco's and 2 lobster rolls. I'm set for 3 days of food (lunches and dinners).  I love when they come.  I was late for the next tiktok then rolled right into youtube zooms. Dinner and crocheting, it was a long day and I didn't feel like playing cards. 

Thursday was another day of beating the clock. I had lunch with crochet gals at 11:00 they came to our commons instead of having the meeting at  building 6. I stayed an hour and went home for zoom for the Death Cafe.  At 3:30 I had my own meeting for a workshop on what paperwork you need after you pass. There were 20 people and I had handouts for them to follow. It turned out really well and it seems everyone was pleased on what they need to do and who to contact. All I want to do is get the ball rolling for everyone here thinking on who and what needs done for their estate. I finished up in time to catch the bus to Niceville for a great Chinese dinner at 1st Choice. There were 20 of us and they had room for us for a great buffet. I'd like to go back at some point. It was a cold night but it was worth it. 

Friday was quieter. I had all morning to get some much needed shopping done. I only go every two months. I get meals delivered (Hellofresh) every other week and make my own meals or have leftovers the second week.  I had ukulele lesson at 4:00 then NC zoom at 6:00 but made both times.

Saturday is meeting up with a couple people to watch a video called SOUL. I have another Death Cafe zoom at 6:00 but crocheting in the afternoon.  I'm getting a list made up for the craft fair and still have several manger sets to make. I'm not bored and I'm loving the weeks going by quicker.