An artsy day!

This morning was a bit of a lazy one as I stayed in bed and watched TV. Fox and Friends goes for four hours on the weekends which messes with my internal clock. All of a sudden it was 10:00 a.m. and I was yet in bed! The anchors' moms were calling in to share stories of their kids, embarrassing them, or trying to, with family secrets. Mostly it was just precious stuff about how cute and sweet they were as kids. I didn't mind it...

My plans for the day revolved around art, which was nice for a change. First I went to Great Hang Ups for a silk scarf painting event conducted by artist/friend, Sonya Cox. She sells the scarves in Hang Ups, plus makes fused glass earrings and other types of jewelry. Linda J. picked up a scarf and two pair of earrings to go with it when she was here this spring. 

Sonya was set up in the parking lot, directly in front of the shop. Inside the store was an art reception going on for young artists who contributed paintings to be used for a calendar. Busy busy place! I only watched the others paint their scarves and loved chatting with Sonya. Justin favorite art teacher from St. Johns stopped by the little tent to sit a spell before braving the crowds inside the store. Some of her students had pieces on display and she was showing them her support. Justin loves Mrs. Petska and she never fails to ask about him!

From Hang Ups I went to Publix for a few things (more than a few!) and then went home. The weather was so lovely it made the outdoor ventures that much more enjoyable. No threats of snow or hail for us today! My poor loved ones in WI are having miserable weather again as winter just won't quit, and we are in the high 80's!

Speaking of their weather up north, one of my sisters called to ask me what is my mom's favorite meal. They had to change their original plans from a cook-out for dinner to an eating-in-the-house meal. I told her liver 'n onions, mashed potatoes, and gravy were Mom's favorites, especially the potato portion, and that lemon meringue pie her favorite dessert. Glad I could help!

Back to balmy FL---once I got my stuff carried upstairs and put away, I went to my room to rest for a bit (not that I really needed a rest!). I was heading out again  shortly to another Art Guild event, this time to Whitey's Fish Camp. Artists had been painting en plein air (in plain air) various scenes captured along Swimming Pen Creek and Doctors Lake. Their finished pieces were displayed in the outdoor bar area called the Tiki Bar. It was under roof and there were fans operating to cool things off for those who needed it. 

It was great to see so many of my friends there, not all of them being artists, but rather, aficionados of art. Randy, the sole man in our aqua exercise class, was there with Carol, his wife. He was bandaged up almost like a mummy, since he took a tumble in the kitchen. Carol was coming back from Indiana when she got the call that he had fallen and a neighbor took him to the doctor a day or so AFTER the fall. 

He has a dislocated shoulder, a broken hand on the other arm, bruised up legs, and knocked out three teeth in the front of his mouth. Oh my! He tripped over a stool and tried to catch himself on the way down...I am so glad the neighbor insisted on taking him to the ER instead of waiting for Carol to come home to find him in untold pain!

Anyway, I was thrilled to see everyone and admire the beautiful creations. Many artists painted the exterior of the fish camp and those paintings and their prints were selling like hot cakes. Love that for Beth, the artist who really captured the flavor of Whitey's. Speaking of flavor, this event took place late afternoon before all the colorful folks came out to enjoy the atmosphere on this bar deck. Julia and I went inside to have a bite to eat, and I so enjoyed our quiet, unbusy time together. 

When I left to come home, it was raining. A gentle rain, which was why we never noticed it when we were eating, not like last weekend! I carefully made my way home, thankful it was still light out. 

Just as I got to my door, my upstairs neighbors came down to ask me to join them for dinner at La Napolera. Shoot! I was so thankful for them asking me, but since I had just eaten (early for me!), I declined their kind offer. I assured them that next time, I am there! My neighbors are the best!

A better Friday than last week

This morning I had the distinct pleasure of meeting my friend, Pat, for breakfast at The Club. As I waited for her to arrive, I was greeted warmly by the staff, who made a fuss over me. How flattering! One lady, sort of a housekeeper, said she was worried I was sick and told Marlena to call me. I assured Sondra that she had called me and I told her I was fine, just waiting for Pat's foot to heal. 

Before Pat arrived, the owner of The Club, Karrie, came to sit with me as she ate her quick breakfast. She is always frantic and today was no exception. During the rain storms last weekend, all the lower rooms of the adjacent hotel were flooded, and she is at war with the insurance company at present. Many details and proof of value are required, and I am sure her staff is hustling, as well.

It was marvelous to catch up with Pat, the time flying by. We talked about the value of a Christian funeral (oh, yes, no one escapes my funeral chatter!) as she told about the recent service for her favorite uncle. I think she said there were seven priests officiating at the cathedral in Orlando, many of them family members of the deceased. They are Episcopal, and she, like me, appreciates the 'high church' flavor of such worship. 

As the ladies worked around us, tearing down the breakfast buffet and setting up for a memorial luncheon (more funeral chatter!), Sonda came by the table with a foam box of leftover bacon for me to take home. I'm bbaacckk!!!

As Pat and I parted company, I walked back through the pool area. There I saw Marlena busily working in the cabana, getting things ready for the soft opening which would happen this evening. Serving beverages only until after Memorial Day weekends official opening of the pool. Marlena was quite banged up, bruises and cuts on her arms and one leg. It seems her dogs, rather, her son's dogs which she is keeping for him, got into a fight, and she lost. I would not stand for that! 

She told me it cost $1300 to save their lives, and I hope she realizes I am not the most sympathic person when it comes to animals. She assured me her son paid the bill (Oh, he better have!!!) but I am unsure if she got her owies checked over by a professional. She looked terrible, but was more concerned for the animals. 

Kathy and her mom, Betty

Several of us were talking Wednesday night about going back out on Friday, weather permitting, so I went out. At first I was alone, but eventually Betty and Kathy came out. Marlena, with a little help from me, figured out how to work the popcorn machine so we dined on that instead of burgers and hot dogs. Can't wait for the full-start up of the service!

When I got back in, I watched the complete White House briefing which I had missed earlier in the day, finding it on-line. What a fast dancer that Jay Carney is! Wondering how all this will play out---or will it fade away into obscurity? 

I also e-mailed to Kathy the information I'd received earlier in the week from the man who presented the Alzheimer seminar. I hope she finds it helpful...Two weeks ago at Victory's Bible study, one of the ladies asked me to meet with her and a couple others who missed the seminar. They want me to go over it all with them, since they missed it. I love the opportunity and appreciate their asking me to do this. Must make it so!

"...and in other news..."

The photos posted over the weekend sort of took the place of text for me, as they truly have the worth of a 1000 words. 

Let's see if I can catch myself up a bit:

On Friday we had a break in the rain, enough so it was not unpleasant to meet my friend, Diane, for lunch at The Outback Restaurant. Yes, they are now open at lunch time! 

                            

We so enjoy our time together when it happens, discussing matters of faith and catching up on each other's family news, etc. And yes, we eventually went over my investments which she helps manage. She also presented me with a great calendar from Mercury One which is loaded with American historical information, besides the months and days. She also had one to give to Justin, of whom she is a huge fan. That's my boy!

During the rainy weekend, I called my upstairs neighbor, Debbie, periodically to see how she was doing. We did have a few breaks between downpours which gave her a chance to do other things than vacuum up water from the river room floor. Like unpack her boxes from the move-in! She works in the 'old' courthouse in Green Cove and reports being no stranger to leaking. She had this!!! 

Debbie and I made plans to meet at The Club on Wednesday evening to enjoy Happy Hour with the group which normally gathers there. Hugh and Maureen were finally back from their travels to the Mediterranean, but in their absence, the group said they MUST push two of the round tables together to allow for more folks. Maureen, whom I described to Debbie as being our house-mother, doesn't like that. She also doesn't like people to not sit around one table. The group went over her head on this, and did the two-table set up, and, she got over it.

It meant so much to me having Debbie miss her weekend away in order to keep up with the water. As my thanks, I treated her to a light dinner from the mini-menu offered during Happy Hour. We each had the roast beef sliders which were fantastic. She got to meet many of her neighbors, some for the first time, and they made her feel most welcome. We could have talked for hours as we have much in common. Betty's daughter, Kathy, was part of our conversations as well, having the same ideology as Debbie's and mine. This is going to be a blast!

This morning was Bible study at Victory. As I was getting onto the freeway and talking with Mom, I noticed the traffic at a stand-still on the overpass. Too late to turn back now---I was committed to getting on the interstate. When I got to the top of the ramp, traffic was okay, and I noticed the bottle-neck was caused by an overturned pick-up truck just a bit behind where I was entering. I HATE to see that, especially the underside of a vehicle, blocking the two left lanes. 

It seemed as though no one was seriously hurt, and three young men were walking around, kicking the truck parts which were scattered in the area. A State Patrol car and motorcycle were already on the scene but no rescue vehicles were present yet. As I talked with Mom on my way to church, I saw a child's coaster wagon in the lane to the left of me, upside down, which would make a huge problem for anyone hitting that. Oh, my goodness, people!

Upon my arrival at Victory, I helped with the assembly of the service folders for Sunday, my portion being the insert for Mother's Day. Instead of reading  it, I was simply sliding it between the folded pages Marilyn handed over. At one point I caught up and took a second to glance at it. It was a two-sided page of acknowledgements written by members of the congregation in regard to the influence of their mothers on their lives as Christians. 

Needless to say, tears fell, particularly when I read the one written by my friend, Stephanie, for her mom, Jean. And the one written by Erica, for her mom, Stephanie. Rita told me this was her idea  but never got around to writing anything up about her mom, who went home to the Lord about a year ago. It was so touching and a marvelous idea to include for this coming Sunday. 

                                 

Tonight we have worship for Ascension Day and I have sent out a reminder e-mail so folks remember to come. Hoping for a good turn-out so this service doesn't go away. "...why do you stand and look into the sky? He will come again just the way He left and take us with Him..."

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

All steamed up

Much of the day today I was attentive to the pending and present testimony on Capital Hill in regard to the killing of our representatives in Benghazi. I did this while also listening to my radio programs, as best I could. The programs also were tracking the hearings and would add outtakes or soundbites from the hearings as part of their show. The testimony was riveting, reinforcing what many already supposed to have happened. 

Then, something occurred which dumbfounded me---Fox News Channel (FNC) which was airing the hearings, switched its coverage to a local news story in AZ. Yes, the Jody Arias trial. Unbelievable! The jury was coming back with a verdict and FNC wanted to be first on the scene or wanted to join the rabble about this gruesome yet tantalizing case. Like the Casey Anthony story here in FL, the eyes of the hungry were on this trial, while no one was watching the other hand, as it were. The media's version of cakes and circuses. Ugh!

The verdict wasn't expected for another couple of hours but coverage went wall to wall, showing old photographs of the young couple, footage recorded in the courtroom, and so on, as 'we' waited with bated breath for the pending miscarriage of justice. (It does seem justice was served but at the time, I was blinded with rage!)

Meanwhile, on the Hill, another miscarriage was taking place. The commitee members questioned the brave folks who came forward to tell their side of the story, the seemingly true side of the story, as to what actually took place "a long time ago" according to Jay Carney, those 8 months ago in Libya. Who knew what and when did they know it? Why was it covered up (as if we didn't know!), and what could have been done differently?

I was able to listen to LIVE coverage on The Blaze radio but found out later that C-SPAN had full coverage. Shoot! I never thought of that, and would not have been subjected to cut-aways for ads or commentary. The whole process might be re-run at a later date to catch what may have been missed. 

When Gregory Hicks, the highest ranking official in Libya, was asked what he thought when he heard Ambassador Rice appearing on "the Sunday shows" a few days later blaming a youtube video for causing this 'spontaneous' protest (complete with rocket propelled grenades!), he said, "I was shocked. My jaw dropped. I was embarrassed." "Have you ever been interviewed about this matter?" "Never." "Never?" "No, sir, never." That the highest ranking official on the ground after Amb. Stevens was killed in Libya was never interviewed by his superiors or anyone else is simply appalling. The poor guy who is blamed for this, the video maker, is the only one in jail, for a lesser offense. This is so telling!

Emotional today

The last painting Timmy was working on when he died. His classmates put the finishing touches on it, and signed it. A treasured possession...

This morning one of my FB friends wrote about encouraging children to learn to play an instrument. Joy was a music teacher at St. Johns and is now touring periodically with my neighbor, Donna, doing lyceums in State of Florida schools, using music to teach history. 

Anyway, Joy used a quote from Dr. Suzuki that encouraged parents to get their kids into music, how their minds will be aided by learning an instrument, and so on. I could not help but remember Timmy, at 4 1/2 years old, taking his piano lessons at the Suzuki Studio, with Tatiana as his teacher. Oh my, that was brutal! 

He liked making faces at himself in the shiny black piano and kicking his feet against the piano while seated on the bench. In fact, at one point, she fired him, saying, "You don't come back here!" in her Eastern European accent.
                                                
The owner of the place disagreed and said he could come back, but it didn't go well. "I play it the way I want it!" I told Joy this story and she said, "I wasn't his teacher", meaning she would have been able to harness his free-spiritedness. We will always wonder, won't we?

He did learn a little song to play using "the black set keys", as Tatiana called them. He would start on the left end and walk his fingers up the black keys singing, "Mommy, I love you", all the way to the other end. My favorite song of all time....

Getting the 'all clear'

This afternoon I had an appointment to have my 'wounds' checked over after my skin tags and beauty marks were removed a week ago. Two of the six removed were being biopsied and I awaited, more calmly this time, the results. I could hear Betsy bopping around in the hallway outside the exam room where I was sitting, checking in on patients. She has to be seen to be appreciated. And I do appreciate her telling me both the biopsies showed benign. That is my new favorite word!

Last week she was greatly concerned about her own little girl, as she awaited test results for the preschooler. Before she gave me my news, I asked her how her daughter was, telling Betsy I had her daughter in prayer (I truthfully did pray for her), and she said her little one was just fine. Betsy said, "You have to pray for me", and I looked puzzled, thinking something was going on with her, too. She said, "I tell everyone else that 'common is common', but I don't tell myself that!", meaning she'd made herself sick thinking something was wrong with her daughter. This is what happens when you know too much---you fear all the more.

On my ride back home after the doctor visit I called Mom right away to let her know the good news. She was glad to hear this report. We talked about the weekend's church family events, as she had seen the pictures I posted in this blog. Our friend, Ethel, is undergoing more tests for her mysterious malady, having to consume hot tea while the rest of us dined on Italian food at The Pasta Market Sunday. I will call her tomorrow to see how she is doing after all that rigmarole.

This a.m. we had the pleasure of David's company at Bible study, coming with Judy C. to the class conducted by his uncle Mike. His car is in the repair shop, getting work done on a bumper damaged by catching on a landscape timber in a parking lot. Pulled his spoiler thingy right off. Once his car is fixed, he is heading up to North Carolina for his sister's graduation from college. Judy and Michael are leaving later in the week so she will be gone for Mother's Day. David went to lunch with us as well, a good sport dining with the seven ladies. 

Saturday morning when getting out of the car at Honey B's, I noticed my back was not up to snuff. Must have wrenched it when pulling the rug out from under the TV stand plus the tension of the potential leaking into my living room catching up with me. I used my ice pack all afternoon Saturday and the heat pad in the evening, plus ice Sunday morning before church. It is much better but still gives me reminder twinges to take it easy and to not make any sudden moves. 

                    

The good news is that I am able to sleep comfortably which goes a long way toward healing the tender muscles. Thanking God that the roasters and towels in the living room are all dry, thanks to the efforts of Deborah, my new upstairs neighbor, keeping up with the pooled water using the wet vac. Seemed to make all the difference. If all this rain were snow, we would have three feet of it since Thursday! So glad the sun came back Sunday afternoon!!!!

A weekend of picture taking!

Somehow I messed up and failed to snap a photo capturing Michael's actual installation even though the camera was right next to me. I was off my game and that's my excuse. Here's some other photos which might make up for it...

Here is the Chappell family before we headed over to the luncheon. Back to front: David, Suzanne, John, Michael, Dave, Victoria, Leslie, Judy, Lynn, Carter, Julia, Hanna, Daniel, and Morgan

Room shot of John's back, Julia and Daniel, Michael, David, and Mike

 Terri T., Kristin, Sue, Jim and Janet, the preschool staff, the back of my head, and Dave (click photo to see Dave). 

 Me, Suzanne, John, Hanna, Julia, Daniel, the head table, and Jacob

Mike S. made a special lunch just for Michael, as a joke, liver 'n onions. Michael had expressed his strong dislike for it a couple weeks ago so Mike had to take it and run with it. And ended up eating it himself!