Emerald Coast Band - More Weather in Midwest - HoeDown Party

 Shalimar, FL  (Hi  75   Lo 50)  up and down 20+ deg in a short time

Sunday was the Emerald coast band. They play a few times a year and very good. The band is all volunteer that meets once a week for an hour or two practice and you'd think they were professionals. There weren't very many people there which is embarrassing.  Out of 640 people only about 25 attended. One of the band members husband and 2 little kids came in. They had their own tiny chairs and were so good thru the hour and half playing time. We were all impressed. (Click on the photos to enlarge). 

The leader was leading in the back of the room at times. He's so good. I wish I had him in the school band. 

Sunday night was the time change. I went to bed an hour earlier to compensate for the hour ahead.  

I had a funny night!  About 4am I heard someone at the door, it opened and the light in the hallway turned on. My bed faces the door. My first thought was someone coming in the sliding door in the back it's never locked but the front one is. When the light turned on, I was mainly just trying to take it all in. The guard asked me if I needed the walker, I told him it wasn't me. he asked me my address, I said right  but not me.  He said he'd go back to the office and see where he was supposed to go, turned out the light and went out the door. geez. That's a first. lol   I know I'm safe here, but still that's quite a rude wakeup.  lol  I found out later he had the wrong wing section to my village. No biggy. 

Tuesday and Wednesday there were tornadoes in Midwest. I marvel how a tornado can go thru a town, wipe out a house and not touch the next door neighbor's house. Garages aren't safe, they're usually taken off the house.  RV parks or trailer parks are dangerous there's usually a lot of destruction in both. Boards go thru cars. Destruction can be massive. Weather in general is getting worse and stronger. When we were in the RV we had to go to Red Robin freezer to stay safe. That's a COLD place to be, but felt safe. I watched storm chasers in the Midwest for two days.  I don't have enough phones and TV's to watch everyone so keep bouncing. Youtube, Ryan Hall y'all is the best place to be.

Thursday was a mandatory meeting about what to do for hurricane season. They had lots of info on where to go and not go. I'm staying in the apartment as long as it's not a cat 5, but I need to know asap to get the car up to the kids or sister in Missouri. There's not many roads going north so I need a head start. I'd rather just stay here, but not sure just how safe it will be .

Friday was coffee talk.  This one was "what if" or "what would" questions.  There was a big group and questions like, would you rather have a tail or horns.  What if it rained candy, what would it be.  Fun questions, great answers.  In the afternoon we had a hoedown with music from the 80's and great food. One of the best happy hours that's been done in awhile. I'm glad it was a good turnout for it. 

The favorite area, the bar

I love the overalls and hat on Joel

Lots of dancing, so many couples

Line dancing is the best

Saturday I crocheted and worked on my puzzle. Here's a few pictures for the week. A few months ago a turtle was trying to kill another one, chewing off the shell, etc. We painted red spot on it's back.  It came by my back door on Friday. At least I knew it was still alive. 

Our store is now decorated for March. They do such a great job every month. 

I took this off the TV, one of the storms that hit the Midwest.

Two crochet orders done. This is the George University male  football gnome. 

These are two gnomes for Philadelphia Flyers hockey gnomes. 

A cardinal that was quite large in our lounge area. He was singing us a song. 

Another week down. I have to think about getting taxes done, maybe after next week. 

Year Three - Celebration of Life - Weather - Time Changes Forward

 Shalimar, FL  (Hi  74  Lo  64)  Perfect weather

Another month started. I moved here three years ago on Tuesday. It was one of the best moves I've ever made. I'm with a bunch of wonderful people. I have bad days and they understand, it's like being in the military which I loved, the women are so supportive. 

I had bowling on Monday and I crocheted and sat outside with the gals.  

Tuesday was diamond art, I led the meditation this week. We're starting a whole new series, so I'll lead every other week. I missed the blood moon.  I hope someone out there saw it.  I fixed a couple Ipads and phones and worked with a gal on her taxes. The paperwork she needed went to her old address and she can't get hold of the people that live there. I went thru that when I moved, the bad thing her daughter set her up with military ID to get a new form, but she's on a cruise and the code is going to her phone. I can't help but have to wait on her daughter to get back in the states. 

Wednesday was fun. I went to a "PASSPORT" activity and it was on Ireland. You get a paper passport and the activities sets up a video on what the country is all about. The language alphabet, the government, details on different aspects  of Ireland. They do a different country every month then stamp your passport book. It's a learning project and done very well. 

Thursday I spent time with a neighbor that is moving to Guam. Debbie and Jim have spent the past three months there checking it out. They get up with sunsets on their balcony and can see the sunsets at night. A continuous 80 degrees is perfect so they're back and will have 60 days to move everything out of their apartment. I'll miss them, but they're only a text or call away. What a trip that would be for a winter visit. 

 In the afternoon I had a hawk visit. He was on our village sign and stayed most of the day. He/she would pick something off the ground and go back to the post. It was so comforting. They are like an eagle with huge wingspan and chasing or catching squirrels and other birds. This one didn't do that, wouldn't even fly when people walk past it.  (Click on the photo to enlarge). 

Friday was the celebration of life for one of our residents in our village, Patti. She was such an inspiration to all of us. Always in pain, but never complained. She had a back injury and was incapable of having a normal life.  We had the meal after the celebration in our village lounge, which was a good turnout. We pulled it altogether in 24 hours. Thank you to everyone that helped. 

Almost all day there were tornadoes in the Midwest. An F3 was in Michigan which was deadly. This time of year is always rough when it comes to weather. It was also all day Saturday. Keep your weather radios handy this time of year. We had to get to safety every summer we were on the road in the RV. One time we hung out in the Red Robin restaurant in the cooler. 

Saturday was the village one meeting. I try to keep the meeting itself to 15 minutes sometimes 20 so people have time to eat, talk and get to know each other. We had a record number of attendees today and several of our new people came which is great. We had a good time and when it was over a few of us decorated the lounge for St. Patrick's day. We now have a man to help with the ceiling decorations. 

After that was all done few of us worked on a puzzle. 

When that was done I had a neighbor came over to work on mine. After a few hours we broke up and I went to social hour. That was also a great group and talked about our time as kids and what we got by  without getting caught.  Now to get used to the time change AGAIN!

Last Week of February

 Shalimar, FL  (Hi   73   Lo 51)

This week was so quiet compared to last week. Back to the routine with a few things thrown in. 

Monday:  Wii bowling, still keeping my average 174, almost every game. I've been crocheting all week at every waking moment. This is the results of crochet characters of Winnie the Pooh. I still have orders so I'm happy.  (Click on the photo to enlarge)

Tuesday: Diamond art and there were more people this time. We did the last of the series of Aging gracefully in wellness class. We start a new series next week.  The series are working out great. It's all about aging and being happy. Still trying to get people to get their paperwork done for end of life. Speaking of that a resident died on Monday and she didn't have anyone listed to pay for the funeral. It took a lot of work and calls to the family to get some guidance. This topic is so dear to me since Jim died. He made it so easy for me. What he wanted, and all the passwords to everything I'd need in the computer. If your reading this and don't have everything planned for when you pass, please do so for those that love you. Please at least have your burial paid in advance. After wellness class I had a zoom meeting with "deathcafe.com". There were people in  four countries in this zoom and we come together to talk about death, with all kinds of questions. If you're afraid to die, check out deathcafe.com.  There's so many to choose,  just pick one and listen in after you signup.  It's so informing. 

Wednesday: The last week of the month we do bulletins for every apartment 640 of them. Three of us fold and insert. I was with Judy for this photo. Stacey and another gal usually helps. 

When we were done with bulletins, I went to the goodbye party for two of the gals leaving for other jobs.  Corin from activities and Liz at the front desk. I forgot to take a picture.  

In the evening my favorite all time show started.  The 50th season of Survivor. I've only missed 2 episodes in the whole 50 seasons. They had a few of the first timers in the competition which means they're 25 yrs older. It's going to be a great season, the fans wrote the rules and what is going to happen. I'll be glued to the TV every Wednesday for awhile. 

Thursday: I went to crochet club in the other village. We had a big group this week. I did the Texas gnome which was almost done by the time I got home. (I did finish it later). 

I had to leave early to get to my monthly massage and chiropractor appointment. I wasn't as tight and hurting as normal, I'm doing exercises for the neck and legs.  It was relaxing. They keep me from seeing regular doctors. 

Friday: My special day. I got a SHORT haircut again. I love it. I hate selfies, but this is the best I could get with the new do.  It's going to be permanent for the summer. No care, wash and go. 

I've been wanting to get back on the ukulele so I put myself on the calendar for next week for one hour to play. I have some deadlines for crochet, but one hour isn't going to hurt anything, except my fingers. lol 

Saturday: I didn't do anything except happy hour and check to see if I could see the lineup of planets. Too many trees. But I did get the moon. It's supposed to be a red moon this week. I hope it's clear so I can get a photo. 

Fun with Visitor - Lots of Photos

 Shalimar, FL  (Hi  78   Lo 35)

This post has plenty of photos,  please click on photo to enlarge them. 

This week was very special. A close friend (my kids babysitter)  came from Kansas City, MO for a four day visit. I had things planned out but added a day of fun. 

I picked Shelly up at the airport Sunday evening. We were off and running on Monday after breakfast then we headed to Destin to the beach. Parking was easy this time of year and we had the beach pretty much to ourselves. The waves were higher then I've seen them and surfers were down by the pier plus dolphins were also surfing on their back fins down the waves. It was a full day and it was perfect 70 degrees weather and 59 deg water temperature. Nope, no swimming. 

Shelly and Dee

We ate at my favorite Mexican restaurant, Pedro's and home by 7:00. It was a perfect day!

Tuesday was another fun packed day and even more photos. We went to Gulfarium. It's like an aquarium but with all the sea creatures and animals from our area. It was super! 

The first thing you see is a huge tank with the manatees.  It's so neat to watch them turn and play with each other. We spent a lot of time watching them. 

Eating lettuce

Starfish 

I don't know all the critters, so I'll just post photos. 

These are poisonous frogs, several colors, (be sure to enlarge photo)

They look like plastic figurines. Yellow and green ones and other colors. 

Pools for different animals

Harbour seals and other seals

Pond full of turtles

Shark sleeping, he was quiet without movement for a long time

African penguins. They're used to the heat of Florida

Dad is watching for danger and mom with babies are inside

It's windy!

Pelican with broken wing. 

To the left is where we were on Monday

Looking toward Ft. Walton Beach

Albino alligator. I felt so sorry for it, all alone in special area. 

Dolphin Show

Otters

The last picture in front of the manatees tank. 

We left when all the shows started again, mid afternoon. We came home and took a walk thru the woods beside me. There's three paths. It's winter so it's not pretty and the path was loaded with limbs which Shelly moved. 

Fungi

Wednesday we stayed home. There was a lot to do besides just relaxing. Shelly finished my diamond art picture. 

Wednesday night for dinner we went to Roadhouse. We did a lot of eating this week and I gained a couple pounds. 

Thursday morning I took Shelly back to the airport. She's on the way to visit school friends in California. It was a very long day for her with a four hour layover in Charlotte. 

The rest of the day I had computer help in the commons. There were a few people that needed help. One was having trouble getting to the bank info. We ended up calling the bank, they had updated their website and the phone couldn't handle the update. That's nuts!  Phones aren't cheap, it's hard enough for people to deal with today's technology now they're adding updates that can't be done without BUYING a new phone. 

While working with phones and Ipads, I also had help with the ham radio. Rob helped with downloading the frequencies and get the radio working. Rob showed me a new antennae that I have now ordered. It will get a further distance. (It's arrived) it folds up and easy to maneuver. 

Friday I had the neighbor over to finish the puzzle I had laid out. I love it, now to make the decision to keep or take apart. 

I also did two Winnie the Pooh characters this week. 

Owl

Rabbit

I'll finish with the tree outside the door in full bloom. Last week it was budding.