Dinner with friends

Justin and I were the guests this evening of our friends Stephanie, Erica and Jean, Stephanie's mom, from Janesville, WI. Jean is going home at the end of the month so the ladies wanted to have us over before she was gone. Jean made a chicken and rice dish for us, candied carrots (wonderful!), dinner rolls, and homemade cranberry sauce. All was delicious and the company great.

We had to leave rather abruptly, however, as we were parked behind Erica and she had to go, too. Erica, besides being a student at UNF and her internship, is also a dog sitter so had to go and tend her charges. Justin had plans to meet his friends later on so it was time for us to head out. 

Justin and I needed a nice dinner out after the big job we faced earlier in the day. It was time to put on my new comforter set (thanks again, Mom!) which also meant time to flip the mattress and box spring. Oh, and while you're at it, the area under the bed must be vacuumed out. I don't know how in the world it gets so dusty under there, but it does. There I go with that dust talk again. 

He is a good sport about the whole thing, though he did criticize the condition of my mattress pad. The sides, where it wraps around the mattress, is starting to break apart ("waving a white flag", as he described it) but the top is in excellent condition. I can live with it! My sheets were washed, then dried, and reapplied, by me, alone.

                            

Glenn Beck and Marcus Luttrell

Justin would have helped me but had gone to see "Lone Survivor" with his friends. He said the movie was extremely good, but I didn't need to worry about not seeing it. He said that since I already know Marcus' story, I didn't need to expose myself to the filthy talk, "cussing", as Justin described it, or the horrors of war. Not sure how much of the movie would be left after the editing for TV was done, when that time comes! But I am a fan of Marcus and will stay that way. Justin said he held himself together well in the movie, until the very end, when the man in front of them stood up and snapped a salute. All three guys were so moved, all wiped their eyes a bit...

Some more photos

Last December had I some friends over to visit, before I left for WI. The next night this couple, Nancy M. and Bill, were going to her work's Christmas party which was going to be unusual. A painting party! My friend, Sonya, works for this place, called Painting with a Twist, and I found these photos on her page. Bill and Nancy have since determined that painting is not their thing!! But he was a good sport and went to the event under protest. He looks cute in his apron!

When I got back home from WI, Justin proudly showed me his Chia Willie I'd given him for Christmas. One thing he determined upon planting the seeds was that he was not to have used the entire amount. Ooops! Those infernal directions!! So, now that Willie grew out, he was beginning to get a bit moldy on top. If Justin had saved some of the seeds, he could have been replanted but alas, Willie will now mold away. I was thinking about this the other day---When Justin was younger, he'd always want to play Monopoly with his father, even though his father played real life monopoly (real estate!) all day long. So what do I get a landscaper but more grass to grow!!!

This is a photo from long ago, probably in the early 1990's, taken by Linda at her home in Manty. Justin has such cute pants on, certainly made by his grandma. I am sporting my large-framed glasses and have short hair. Aren't we cute??? Linda found this in her archives when searching for something else, and now it's mine! What a great Christmas present to get, in addition to my handmade cards.

                                               
This is a shot of the ice cream parlor portion of the candy store, Beerntsen's Candy Shop, in Manty. It is in a building where we used to be part-owners many years ago. It still has the charm of years' gone by, the way I remember it from when I was a kid, sitting in those wooden booths and listening to the juke box. The juke box is gone now, but most everything else seems the same. 

Mom and Lynn browsing in the candy portion of the shop, Beerntsen's, where the majority of the candies, mostly chocolates, are hand-made, hand-dipped. Mom was looking for something to get for our friend, Gretchen. What did I buy? Red licorice bits, of all things!

It was my kind of day!

The morning began with Bible study at Victory. We had a couple fewer folks this week, after having had 15 last time. It was a very chilly FL morning yet one of the guys was on his way to Daytona to golf. Yikes! That is a die-hard golfer! It was just not a nice day for being outdoors, in my opinion.

I was so glad that someone brought doughnuts because I was especially hungry this a.m. but I knew I was going to have a nice lunch so went easy on the treats. Rita was absent due to have a teacher's conference. She was missed. More discussion took place comparing Isaiah's times to our own present day happenings, so fascinating and yet frightening. We're supposed to learn from history, but we do not, it seems.

Anyway, I had to leave right away after class, once we sang "Happy Birthday" to pastor and a couple others. I had plans for lunch, meeting one of my friends/neighbor for the mini-buffet. Bob had told me he was treating me before I left for Christmas and we settled on the date of the delicious fried chicken. I was happy with it, but Bob was less pleased with having to stand in line. The Business Women's group was ahead of us (timing is everything!) and then when we got up there, things were picked over pretty well. 

Of course, the dishes were refilled but Bob was not pleased. Hopefully I influenced him to not be too upset about it, and asked the woman who runs the dining room to please get Bob some green beans. And she did!  The chicken was good and I liked the potatoes and gravy too.

He kept apologizing for being impatient and I explained I have a degree in patience. Bob, who is soon to be 70, a gruff, old Navy guy, informed me that I have had a positive influence on him, and several others. Through our entire meal not once did he use language that would cause me to grimace or correct. This is huge for Bob! Just like with my other neighbor, Randy...not around Miss Kim you don't!

My friends, Jacquie and Mark, were seated in the same area as us but we did not sit together. Nancy W. introduced me to her guest, a lady she'd known since 5th grade. It was a great lunch crowd! I told him the story of having lunch with my friend, Christine, a while back at Pengree's and she said we were having lunch in Bradford County the next time, where no one would know me! Lots of people greeted us there, as you'd expect at a Club like this. 

Justin and I ate at The Club last night, from the mini-buffet, before Trivia started. Hugh picked up Justin's portion of the tab for me, which is so very generous. They (Hugh and Maureen) have taken quite a liking to him! Justin has an appointment with Penny, one of our Club members and a friend made at the pool several years ago, to help her with her computer stuff. First Hugh needed help, and now Penny. Hugh wrote a very nice recommendation about Justin's services and sent it to all the people in our building. Maureen told Penny about Justin and now the word is spreading!

So, anyway, Justin got home after a long, hard day of working and we were braced to have leftover chili from Tuesday night for dinner. Just as The Five ended, the phone rang. It was Judy C., wondering if we were interested in going to dinner. Absolutely! We went to Outback, as she had a coupon to use. I had the most delicious steak with wild rice and we all shared the bloomin' onion. Hadn't been there for dinner in ages, and it was sure was good! 

Outback has downsized some of their menu choices, making several items more reasonably priced. Mine entree was one of those and it was fantastic! I was so glad that Judy called and that I had a nice full day. Folks are so wonderful about keeping the time full this week....

More photos from my trip

There are some on Facebook who complain about people posting food pictures but I did it anyway! This is my first perch plate meal upon arriving in Manitowoc, followed by a photo of my first fried cheese curds, both from The Green Street Tavern. I enjoyed this meal with my mom, sisters Lynn, Jill, and Kerry, plus niece Alayna, nephew, Danny, and friend of family, Jenna.

The first Sunday I was in WI we had a snow storm. And a Packer game to be watched!!! Lynn was able to get to Mom's house where she and I watched the game together (I just love that!!!) and at half time, we enjoyed this homemade beer cheese soup I made, using Justin's recipe. It was divine! And the Packers won!!

Lori and David saw fit to bring us a Christmas tree and a box of ornaments for our celebration, to make the room feel more festive. Shown here are Lynn and Kerry, niece, Alayna, and all three boys: Gabe, Manny, and Angelo, with Mom supervising the project.

Here is a group shot of the room where we celebrated our Christmas gift opening and buffet. From left is little Angelo, Lori, Alayna, Mom, Jill, and Danny. 

Angelo just loved his remote-controlled truck which Lori and David gave to him. 

13 years ago tonight....

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010

From Timmy's Auntie Kerry on his anniversary

Do You Remember Me?

I can't believe after all this time, I can't get over you,
I guess a love like ours is one of a kind, a love that is true.
It's been nine years since you left me to go to God & heaven's immensity,

Do you still remember me?

It's like a bad dream that plays over and over in my head,
Of things I wish I'd done or words I would have said.
There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of you,
Even after all this time, what am I going to do?

Maybe this is the way mommies are supposed to feel,
Perhaps our wounds are never intended to heal.
If I could ask but one question why,
How is it God could need you more than I?

Some of my people and snow....

Here is my sister, Kerry, all ready for church on Christmas Eve                            

My sister, Lori and her hubby, David, brought a tree and decorations to make our motel meeting room look more festive for Christmas. In this photo is my mom, my sisters Lynn and Kerry, my niece, Alayna, and the three boys.

 Kerry posed with this cut out of Aaron Rodgers at Festival Foods----too cute!

 Speaking of Aaron, I won this pennant in our white elephant gift exchange!! I gave it to Justin for his room.

 The Sunday after I arrived, we had a huge snowstorm, bringing upwards of 9" of snow as the day went on.  This photo was taken from the church parlor window, looking out at the street

 Talk about snow accumulation! This is Mom's porch railing heaped high with fresh fallen snow

Here is Mom, watching the snow fall on a Sunday afternoon....

Great to see everyone again!

This a.m. I went to Bible study, looking so very much forward to seeing everyone again. I was 'warmly' greeted, with many if not most asking me about the cold, wintery weather I had in WI. 

                                 

I had on a sweater I'd worn in Manitowoc, one that had been washed and then dried on my river room chair. Somehow, it didn't seem like the same size any more, or it just needed some stretching out. It was fine before it was laundered, and the tag indicated machine wash/tumble dry. I air dried it instead. So, I wore my black, heavier cardigan over the top of the sweater, which felt good in our cool FL temps. When Pastor was identifying the person at the table who would be the reporter for the break out groups, he chose the person who was dressed the warmest. Yes, that would be me yet again!

                                          

Gretchen got her special chocolate candy Mom sent down for her. She had not come to Bible study but did come for worship. Gretchen jumped up when I walked into the church, she was seated along the wall, to hug me. I was so glad to see her, and all the others. Even got some more Christmas cards in my church mailbox! 

The roof on the church had been torn off and was being replaced at the end of the week. Fortunately, enough of it was finished to prevent the heavy rains from last night leaking into our structure. Whew! They had gotten a later start to the project due to the cold temps earlier in the week but hope to have it done by the beginning of next. We got such a good price on this project, we can't believe it!

Of course we went to lunch at Chili's, only 5 of us this time. Terri was going to join us but sent me a text message as I walked in the doors that she went home instead. She'd had knee surgery before Christmas and was walking without a cane or walker, but the therapy on Thursday is taking a long time to get over. Time and therapy are the things that will help her get back on her feet, so to speak. Next week, maybe!

Attendance has been quite low (except for Christmas Eve's kids' service) and today was no exception. I hope and pray things pick up now that we are back to 'normal' with our services and Bible study schedule. It's time to send some cards to those whom I miss. After all, I got such a nice pack of handmade cards from Linda for Christmas, just begging to be sent off!