Preparing for the Busiest Time of Year

 Shalimar, FL  (Hi  82   Lo 66)

Sunday I went with a neighbor to rehome her dog about an hour away. It all worked out but a very stressful day for her. It's sometimes a better idea to rehome a dog then to have something happen to you and someone else has to worry about it. We had lunch and headed back home.  It wasn't late so I cleaned up the yard since it was so nice out. 

I had a week of normal things I do, but I put in a few hours of crocheting. The craft fair is coming up, busy times are along with the time line of getting my crocheting done. No more goofing off. 

Tuesday was wellness class and it went well. The lady (Cathy) that started it has taken leave so I'm heading up the class. We discussed topics and what people want to do or learn about. When you're aging the only thing in mind is what's next at this age, health, staying upright (without falling) and mind health. We did a "concentration" game which made it fun. The old TV show about what is behind the two squares then the squares are covered and you have to remember where you saw the mate. It's a great brain practice. 

Wednesday I had Wii bowling then went to the commissary. There were a lot of people there and the shelves weren't stocked as normal.  When I got back the gals said it's end of year for them and they don't stock up before taking inventory. I hope that's the case. I've gone several places to get cottage cheese and that was all gone. I learned that there's been some big talk on Tiktok on how good cottage cheese is for different recipes and the companies are trying hard to keep up with the demand. My neighbor found it where she gets groceries, so I'm a happy girl. A few of us  folded the community newsletters so that's done for another month. They also had a "who dun it party" so we decorated a few tables for that too. We also decorated for the Halloween party on Friday.   (Click on the photos to enlarge)

Halloween

Thursday I had crochet group. Our winter people are coming back.   

Friday I went to lunch with three other gals to a sandwich place. It's good place to go with lots of food. I got a couple meals for lunches. I have the dinners made from Hellofresh, but lunches I want something different.  The rest of the day was sitting outside in the great weather. Temps have been in the mid 80's and less humidity. It's wonderful. 

Saturday was get things done day. I made a list of what I wanted to get done during the weekend. I did three items, still have tomorrow to get the rest done. Maybe. I did help a couple residents out with some problems which always comes first. I just let things go and do what's needed.  If I don't get something done, there's always tomorrow, if not, oh well. lol  New way of dealing with life, I like it. 

We have F25A flying around a lot.  It's the sound of freedom and they're loud. I haven't been able to see them very often, but was outside and no clouds. They normally fly with two together, only one when I took the picture. 

Fifth Year Anniversary Wellness BHV - Setup and Rummage Sale

 Shalimar, FL (Hi  79  Lo 57)

Wellness class on Tuesday we celebrated our fifth anniversary. Cathy Howard started it and has kept the group going. Today she is doing a sabbatical and I'll be doing the meetings for awhile. Thank you Cathy for starting the group and see you again later.  (Click on the photos to enlarge).  This is a great ice cream cake. 

I got two more gnomes for the craft fair in December done this week. 

Thursday we started to setup for the rummage sale. All residents that have "extra stuff" in the apartment get a table or few to setup for a two day sale. I helped Priscilla get her table loaded and I added six items. (to the right)

Her other half of the table

Put a battery in puppy and it breathes. 

Another table with shot glasses. Reminds me of my collection.

More tables

Our first buyer talking to Priscilla

Ellen with a buyer

I sold everything but the computer case and the puzzle. I can take the puzzle to the craft fair in December. The computer case to the thrift store. It was great meeting people from the village and outside. 

Priscilla and I went to lunch and I relaxed the rest of the afternoon then went to social hour and later picked up my neighbor at the airport. 

Along with the daily things of Wii bowling twice a week, playing cards every night, four zoom meetings this wee, and regular nightly chat, it was a great busy week.

I washed my car and noticed weird marks on it, like the coating on the paint is coming off. Hail?  I need to take it for a check. It's not rain or water marks, it peels off. 

Hurricane Cleanup - BEAR - Watching the Coasts of Calif

 Shalimar, FL  (Hi 70   Lo 51)

Sunday was a gorgeous day, no WIFI or TV so the neighbors sat outside talking. The BBQ Operations Relief brought great pork and green beans for lunches.  (Click on the photos to enlarge). 

Yep, I got some too. 

I visited with the neighbors but wanted to get the blog done and when I left for home I finally got to see the bear that's around here. He's got smart, he's learned if he comes during the day the dumpsters are open and he can get to the trash. He was on the left side, but couldn't get in the chain on that side was locked. He went to the other side and found it open, he saw me at that point. I told him I wasn't going to bother him, he turned and pulled out the trash bag. I was trying to turn on the video but missed him. I went back out after cards trying to find him with the guard, but didn't see him. I'm NOT afraid of him, but cautious. He's not going to hurt us if we don't be aggressive. 

This has been a super great weekend. We had a cat 2/3 hurricane named Isaias. The next day I made hamburgers on the grill and didn't burn them or over grill them.  Talk about feeling proud!!!!!  Then I saw the bear that's basically a resident here.  I hit the jackpot. 

                                                                Trying to open the left side

Gave up and went to the other side.

Working on the chain

He's looking around, his head is pointing  in another direction 

He saw me, I talked to him and I moved back 2 steps. He grabbed a trash bag and took off. 

Everyone was getting their power back and I still had the living room without lights. A neighbor told me to flip the switch in the breaker box, but I waited till morning. Yep, one breaker was half way, so I flipped left and right and and all lights came on.  The WIFI and TV was working at 10:30am, just on time for a class I wanted to get in zoom. Timing is everything. All afternoon, on Monday, I got caught up on emails and texts. I'm back to getting things done. The best part, I didn't lose the 10 meals from Hellofresh that arrived on Thursday.

On Wednesday we had more sightings of the bear.  He went up a tree by the commons building. 

The bad thing about the bear getting into the dumpsters is the mess he leaves behind. 

Going thru one of the hallways of apartments. What if a person came out the door just as he was passing?...

The week went on with cleaning up the grounds from volunteers and food still coming in from the BBQ Relief Operation.  I also had the massage and chiropractor this week. I feel so much better when I have those appointments. It's also the week to help folks with computers and phones. We had five people this time. A couple were scammed and trying to get their life back. Please hang up if you get a call from anyone that you don't know. Scammers are getting smarter. They must go to school for how much damage can they do to the elderly with finances stolen or identity. Please be careful. 

My neighbor was coming home from east coast and saw the spacex launch. It was the jellyfish scene that's been seen before. So neat!

I spent a couple afternoons on youtube with watching the coastline of Calif falling in the ocean. Cracks in the side of the coasts where the train tracks go and the main PCH (Pacific Coast Highway).  There's one video  you have to watch. It's totally breathtaking.  

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9H7qsPvL0I&t=720s

There's several more, but this one shows power of the ocean in taking everything.  I watched surfers and buildings slowly coming apart. So sad what El Nino is doing in the Pacific. 

Saturday it started off with a cold front, 55 degrees, but went to 72 and windy. It wasn't as bad as predicted but later in the afternoon there was no wind. A neighbor and I went to the annual craft fair of over 100 vendors like we did last year in Niceville. (A town north of us). Lots of stuff and nothing that I make. There were a couple booths with bigger animals made with the big yarn, but not little things. Here's some ideas the attendance. There was a different line of merchandise sold this year. Here's a few photos of the attendance and items. 

Noisy chimes made from anything that make noise. 

Carved seahorse rocking chair,  gorgeous

Good attendance this year. Last year was miserably hot. We stayed an hour. Both of us were hurting from hip and knee joints so we decided to go back home. I went to happy hour later in the evening, but this ends another week.  We did see a lot of trees still down, but at least out of the roadways.