Photos from July (click the photos to enlarge them)

Friday night I went to Great Hang Ups to see the Dueling Demos of Dee and Donna, Part Deux! This is the piece Dee was working on, started at their first Dueling Demo. This flamingo was photographed at the zoo.

Donna is sketching something and was not the most talkative of the two duelists. Donna's forte is wildlife art, animals and scenery, but shines at horses!

Martie posed for me in the kitchen before we went to lunch with Ellen P. at Beach Diner last Wednesday. What an awesome day we had!

At Victory yesterday, I got a healthy dose of hugs and greetings with some Facebook friends from 'up north'. In this photo are Becca Vance and her little ones, Sarah Joy and Nathan. They are talking with Brent's wife, Kristin. Duane was in town but had to stay home from church because of a tummy ache. My guess--too much sun from the day before! Becca was sporting quite a sunburn. Those folks from IL burn rather easily now, I am afraid and too much sun can make one ill.

I was so surprised and delighted to see the Gmuca's, formerly of Good Shepherd, and now residing in NC. They moved up there years ago, when Sam was a toddler. From left to right is Marc, Sam, Ed, and Elise. Elise went to school in MI with Rachel Huebner Cochran, and Rachel's dad was their pastor for years in Sarasota. It's a small world in the WELS! Ed's parents still reside in Orange Park so he gets here regularly, and he also runs in the River Run each March.

Elise's parents, Mary and Dave Hotvedt, were also at Victory yesterday. I was totally blown away to see them, it has been years and years, as they also moved to NC at least a decade or more ago, I believe before Pete came to Good Shepherd. Mary looks exactly the same, as does Dave, but oh, my, I was so happy to see them! Dave and Mary were among the first people we knew at GS, and very helpful in finding contractors and suppliers as we were getting our business started here in 1988. Justin remembers Dave and Mary, sharing hugs with Mary, which warmed my heart!

Here comes the rain across the river! This photo was taken the day the cable men were here, so a week ago today. It sure looks nasty and the wind is tossing this palm tree right outside my patio doors. Fortunately the rain never made it to my house so the cable guys did not get wet!

(Please click this photo to see it better)

This same day, a boater was trying to outrun the rain storm chasing it down the river, actually, up the river as the St. Johns flows north. I love the zoom on my new little purse camera, can see clearly the homes on the opposite side of the river, or at least, their boat houses.

Here is a shot taken while dangling off my balcony (well, not me, but the camera!) of the cable tech's assistant standing behind the building. My guess is that he is also watching that rain coming down the river and wondering if he has to run for rain gear. Nothing must interfere with my repairs! And nothing did!!!