Volunteering - Special Trip Next Week

 Shalimar, FL   (Hi  77  Lo 65)

I'm doing the blog early because I'm on the way to Illinois for a week with the kids and my sister. I wanted to separate the days on the blog. 

Monday my neighbor came over about 10:00 to say the United Way needed volunteers to put together some little book marks of clothes pins that look like caterpillars. A few gals showed up but none of us could stay long. I had bowling, another gal had nails to get done etc. It's fun around here, pick your activity and go for it. (Click on the photo to enlarge). 

In the afternoon on Monday we had an AI workshop.  We learned how AI is changing society with so many scams. Changing pictures of children to look older that ruins their lives in the future. More and more scams are geared to the seniors. Our lives changed with social media and it's advancing fast. Please be alert on what you "click on" any link on  the computer. 

Tuesday started with diamond art. I'm working on a Halloween picture of gnomes. I should have it done by October, maybe. I still need to do the crocheting for the craft sales in August. The Christmas manger sets are also in the line to make. I usually crochet at night, and there's still "time" before Christmas.  After diamond art I went to meditation. We're doing a series on Oprah and Arthur Brooks on Build the Life You Want. 

The best part of Tuesday was a hair cut. I looked like a shaggy dog, but it's hard getting an appointment here and I liked the gal I went to downtown, but she quit so decided to just stay here. Now I'm looking decent for the trip home next week. 

Wednesday was the last Wii bowling for this season. I'm ready for a break this year. I'm on the decorating committee and helping out with the flyers for the village. I played cards then on to a massage and chiropractor that I do once a month. I played cards in the evening and zoom with friends till almost midnight. 

Thursday I got my boarding pass for the trip. I just have to get up early tomorrow morning. I got a few of the last minute stuff done. I had lunch with a couple other crochet gals and then went to another village to crochet with quite a few gals, both from our place and off campus. I took the yarn that was in an office at the commons and they went through it. 

It's so fun to see the prayer shawls and other things the gals make with yarn. I only do thread so I get some of that when people can't work with thread any more. I came home and packed the last minute things, cleaned up the apartment a bit, ate and worked on the ukulele and watched shows on tv. I'll have zoom with the gang tonight and go to bed early. The car place called and verified my rental car will be there tomorrow when I land,  so that's going to be waiting. 

I will write another blog when I get back next weekend. It will be a big one. 

Ice Cream Social - Kentucky Derby Party - Decorating

 Shalimar, FL   (Hi 79   Lo 63)

 Monday was a fun day! I had Wii bowling at 11:00 then went to the dining area to help with setup for a great social function, Root beer floats at 1:00. We had a great turnout and I had fun pouring the rootbeer. The people from headquarters came and we got pictures with them. (Click on the photos to enlarge). Sorry, I don't have names. Tina is the activities director till they hire someone, Anne is my next door neighbor, then Barbara that works as receptionist at the headquarters and me. 

                                        Lots of people in line for the ice cream floats. 

                                                                      It was so good!

                                                Just us servers, Connie, Dee, Anne and Barbara

Tuesday was normal, tiktoc meeting, diamond art, meditation and a zoom meeting. In the evenings I still have zoom with people from RV'ing and others that has joined us every night. 

Wednesday is Wii bowling, with only one more week to go for the season, I'm happy and sad. I'm looking forward to the break but yet having two mornings a week gives me time to do other things that I'd like to start, like yoga and exercising. 

Thursday starts a another new month.  It's now MAY,  I helped with the setup and decorations for the KY Derby party. We had a good time getting ready. We had dozens of roses to put in tiny glass jars.

                                            We wrapped ribbons around the jars. Judy was helping me.

                                                Decorating the food table

                                                Lots of food which was really good

                                            The setup on each table

                                                     Get your picture taken with a friend

Friday the rest of the setup was done and the party started at 3:00. I know group pictures all look alike but shows how many come. The past years derby races were on the big screen and some of the gals yelled out as if it was the race today.  

We had a duck race, but it didn't go as planned. We had little ducks that had numbers on them and the first three to reach the other end of the pool won a prize. The only problem, Mother Nature had other plans with wind and the little ducks stayed at the starting point of the pool. It was a great idea though. There were three ducks that did make it to the other end. 

                                                This was our table at the party. 

                                                   This is Patti that took the above picture

                                                Attendees

                                            Judging of the hats.

Saturday we had Village one monthly meeting. We didn't have a lot of info but enough to plan for the month of May and what we'd like to do. We decided to have an ice cream social every month on the first Sunday. That's going to be fun and hopefully get people out of their apartments. Anne and I went over to the dining room to setup for the next party on Monday, Cinco de Mayo. 

                                                Tina pulling the crepe paper across the beams.

                      As time progressed the lowering of the crepe paper was apparent it wouldn't work.. 

                                          Tina found flags and that looks so much better. 

                                                            Anne and Tina

Saturday night we had social hour in our village. We had a great group and laughed having some good times. We had a good storm and finally got some rain. 

I have to end with this little article that Ellen gave us.  Please click to enlarge

Back to Normal - Music Recital

 Shalimar, FL  (Hi  84  Lo 64)

I was getting over my cold and just chilled most of the week. I had Wii bowling on Monday, it's getting close to the end of the season and this year I'm ready for it to end. I'm dropping the Wednesday bowling, but will continue on the Mondays. In the afternoon I had my second End of Life paperwork workshop. I still had 25 people attend. In June I'm hoping to have a great group in the dining room. I really want to get the word out, it needs to be done, for the sake of family and those that work here taking care of us when we first pass. 

Tuesday I had diamond art and meditation. It's so fun being with everyone and see what's happened last week. I crocheted the rest of the afternoon. 

Wednesday was Wii bowling again then all afternoon of cards in another building. I stayed all the way to 3:00 but so tired when I do that. I made a nice Hellofresh meal then went to cards. 

Thursday I went to crochet group the whole day. I did get a gnome made while there and it was for the gal that comes to the group, so just passed it to her when I was done. 

One of the gals picked up this nice bag with pockets inside. The back and front is so unique. I love it. 

Saturday was interesting. We had a group called Grow your Gift conservatory & music come in for a recital. It was great!  They were 5yrs to older and each played or sang. (Click on the photos to enlarge) The room was full!

                                There were piano players at all levels of learning.

                                      A few singers

                                    A duet on the piano. 

                                            Violin players

It took an hour for all the students to perform and it was great! I was inspired to work on the ukulele for a while when I got home. 

I had social outdoors in the evening and ended the week with friends and laughter. 

Happy Easter - Turtles

 Shalimar, FL (Hi 77  Lo 66)

Today is Easter, I hope everyone had a great day!  (Click on the photos to enlarge)

I thought I'd skip a blog this weekend, but decided to do a short one. I had a relaxing, catchup week. I worked on crocheting orders. I also caught up on the TV shows, and fighting a cold which isn't real bad with tons of meds. 

I did WII bowling on Wednesday along with working on the table decorations for Easter dinner. 

The final settings.

                                                The rest of the room decorations

I also had my massage and chiropractor appointment. I was so exhausted I fell asleep. Nice. 

Thursday started out with yearly physical with the doctor, not a PA.  I'm doing fine with blood work, have to work on no longer eat what I want and as much as I want, which was a trial for six months to see just how foods effect the A1C, (diabetes). I jumped two points, time to cut back but it sure was fun. 

In the afternoon I sat with Mary, my roommate on next cruise to Alaska and got the excursions figured out and the cruise paid. Now we'll meet again for the flights and probably a motel for the before and after the cruise. 

Friday was quiet and so was Saturday.  

My neighbor had a couple turtles in the yard, we thought were mating, but with Google's help we figured they were fighting for territory so we separated them and took one to the other side of the road. She painted pink on top to see where it travels. The top one was biting at the shell and breaking it. When we broke them apart the top one had a foot prying the shell off of the bottom one. (Not mating).

See you next week. 

2025 April 10 - 14 Cruise Nassau- Amber Cove - Grand Turk

 April 10, Saturday, Amber Cove

We arrived at 7:30am at Amber Cove an island that Carnival bought. What a surprise to see high mountains! It was cloudy but beautiful. It was 80 degrees and humid. There was one other ship with us. It's a very pretty island.  After we ate we went ashore. Roberta got the passport stamped, I had forgot mine. We couldn't walk the distance so took a bike rickashaw to shore. Those guys have powerful legs. Amazing how fast they can go and even up a small hill.  (Click on photos to enlarge)

Bike rickashaw

                                                House boats

                                                Roberta and Dee

The animal of the day

                                            Full moon

                                                Sunset

                                           I spent time in the room and Roberta went to casino. She forgot it's not open while we're in port. We didn't do anything all afternoon. It started raining about 3:30 so people were coming back on the ship early. We spent time at the bar talking to people. After dinner Roberta went back to the bar and I sat in the room. So far still no waves and great temps. 

April 11, Friday Grand Turk

I'm glad to have a great balcony. It's bigger then most of the ones we've had, it's on a corner of the ship, I'll have to remember that.  We got off the ship and they didn't have a stamping place. It was downtown and it was advised not to do that, so that one we don't have. We went to some of the shops, it was well laid out. We have a map in the room to watch where we are at all times.

                                         Roberta checked the temperature of the water, nice she says

                                                John Glen and other astronauts landed here. There's a display telling all about it.

We watched the surfers for quite awhile. It's the same thing they have on the Royal Caribbean ships that I sat and watched a long time. They start out always falling and in a few tries most can stand up and surf. 

                                         Map of the island. One thing of interest on this island is salt. If you want to learn more about it, Click here.

                                        There's lots of people eating here, but we went back to the ship for lunch. 

It started raining about the same time as yesterday so we headed back to the ship. Roberta took a nap and I stayed up and roamed the ship a bit. Later we both went to the bar. I keep getting lost. I did that on the last big ship. There's 17 decks on this one. I went back to the room and Roberta stayed at the bar.

April 12, Saturday, day at sea back to Miami

Seas still calm. I'm glad we sailed in April, seems it's so much better seas. After breakfast, I went to the bar for a mimosa. The last drink on the cruise. I didn't have a whole lot, but did get to try different ones than I have at home. Big difference in the  attitudes of the people on this ship, especially those with little kids, they're ready to go home. I talked to another couple that won't be going on another large ship. I'm so ready to get home. We went to another corn hole game watching people. It was chilly today and by the time we got closer to Miami the waves started up. We did some rocking in the wee early morning hours. 

                                                     Bar tender Dominic

We both loved this guy, he was so funny and we got to try any drink we wanted. 

Sherwin

                                                    Wayan was a lot quieter, but he was always there.

                                            We love the water color

                                                        Pulling out of the Grand Turk

                                                    Roller Coaster above our room. 

                                                    Pools everywhere

                                             The drink of choice, it's so blue

             I found a little duck. One of the gals said the family had found 300 of them. I'm glad finding one.

                                            Good bye to the Caribbean. 

Two Flamingos on deck 8

If you want to see all the pictures, please click here. 

April 13, Sunday, leaving the ship and getting back to Cape Coral. We had to be out of our room by 8:30, so we got up early and had breakfast and waited on a deck to go to gang plank. We went earlier then they had said and got right off the ship. Seems times on this ship is just a suggestion, nothing in stone. I don't see many sunrises, this one is over Miami at the port. Looked like mountains when we first got up. 

We had a fast trip back to hotel, picked up the car and on to Cape Coral. We went to Pincher's for dinner. 

                                         This piece of cake was huge!

                                            Nice boats everywhere, they're almost back to normal from the hurricane

April 14, Monday I left at 8:00 central time from Roberta's. The traffic wasn't anything like it was coming down. I didn't make one wrong turn, made it in 9 1/2 hours. I got everything in and laundry started before sitting down. I knew once I sat down that would be it. I did catch a cold. The last night on the ship, I got too chilled and it happens every time I do that. So I've got another cold, I don't think it's going to be as bad as last months. I'm getting a handle on it quickly. See you next weekend. Thanks for stopping by.