My poor friend....

Poor Nancy W. is having a tough time with her new patio home purchased here on our property. The seller had to disclose any structural problems or defects with the home, but does not have to document the noisy neighbor next door. Oh my! She moved in on November 1st and has not had a good night's sleep since.

I was at Nancy's on Tuesday and she was dog tired. Not only is moving into one house exhausting, but she has to unpack at the old house to get things ready for the estate sale she is having. And now, she cannot get a decent night's sleep! It is making her cranky! The lady next door, sharing a wall, opens and closes her cabinet doors all night long. Nancy even went outside and peeked in the window to see what she was doing. Open, close, open, close...it seems she has obsessive compulsive disorder. 

Nancy bought her some rubber bumpers for the cabinet doors and took them to her, fearful of setting off a problem. The lady apologized but then it went on again all night. Her nerves are frayed from not sleeping and I suggested getting melatonin to help her sleep, which she said does not work for her under normal conditions. She is thinking of ear plugs, and has already gotten a white noise machine, which does little against the bang, bang, bang in the wee hours of the morning. She can't sleep during the day because that is when she needs to work to get things taken care of. I feel so badly for her as this move was her dream come true, and now, a nightmare.

              Nancy at the Tea Room

Her realtor, Pat A., told her the lady next door is quite ill, and Nancy reported seeing a band around her upper arm, as though she has a shunt in place. Also, has seen Hospice folks come and go which means the lady might not be long for this world. The neighbor's mom lives in the condos along the river and that might be the next person Nancy talks to about this. I could offer her a bed here if that would be a help to her...

This morning at breakfast it was all she could do to be civil, saying she feels like a witch with a capital B. The ladies go for a walk along River Road after breakfast so I hope the walk will help her to vent some of her frustration. Nancy said she feels sorry for any stones or rocks that get in her way! I hope she goes easy on the other ladies...

Gorgeous sunrise

This is what the sky and river looked like this morning. Instead of getting up to take the photo, I allowed my neighbor, Sharon, to do so. This would be sooooo easy to paint if I was thus inclined to pull out the paints and equipment. I figured that by the time I'd have gotten my camera, the moment would have passed, and instead, I just admired the interesting colors from my bed!

Sympathy and supper

I am nicely groomed again and it feels so good. I was getting terribly shaggy and it sure didn't help matters any to realize I'd been using body wash instead of shampoo in my hair for a few days! Time for the H-O-M-E!!!

This evening my neighbor, Dick, called for me after The Five and drove the two of us to Green Cove Springs for a funeral home visitation. Debbie works in GCS so met us at the funeral home. I chose the visitation over the actual service on Thursday due to the scheduling conflict with Bible study. Earlier I had met Pat outside, the woman who has lost her mother, as she was coming back from the doctor's office. She has bronchitis! On top of all this other stuff, she is sick. She looked good tonight, after having had a breathing treatment and taking medication.

Some of our other neighbors were there, including Judee, who agreed to join us for dinner. Dick and Debbie knew of a good Italian place ( I know---seems odd to have such a place in humble GCS!). It was bustling, all the customers coming in at one time, it seemed. It was a small place, not much ambiance, but the food certainly made up for it. Oh my! 

                                

The chicken marsala I ordered was out of this world, with Justin polishing off the leftovers when I got home. The side dish of spaghetti was untouched before I poured it into the foam box to come home with me. Garlic knot rolls were simply too delicious! The others enjoyed their meals as well. I rode back with Debbie...like this getting driven around stuff!

While I was at the funeral home, my phone took a call from my neighbors, Hugh and Maureen. I called right back when we got outside, and Maureen answered, "Why aren't you over here???" Oh no! I missed Happy Hour! I explained that I was at the funeral home and she said they had been there earlier. I don't know how they did that since the hours began at 6:00 pm but they did it! Guess I was excused tonight...but I can't let that happen again without permission!

So weary today!

Last night I stayed up late watching the Packer game (boo hoo-they lost by a touchdown) and then had a dilly of a time trying to go to sleep. Justin and I are both experiencing a sort of head cold thing with post-nasal drip, regular throat clearing and a bit of a dry cough business. It's worse when I go to bed and at last I got up to dig around in my travel bag for something to take for it. Sure enough---I found a Nyquil capsule. Now, it was nearly 1:00 a.m. and I dropped off shortly after taking it, either from exhaustion or the effect of the capsule.

                                                    

Well, this a.m. I woke up around my usual time but my eyes felt like pokers. After a certain point I decided it was fruitless to try to read or write, so I turned over to go back to sleep. AND, woke up about 9:15!! Wow! Guess I needed the rest plus the medication took a while to wear off. So very glad I had it, to allow for a night's sleep.

At last I made an appointment with the groomer and headed over there around 12:30. Usually she can get me in sooner and she did so today. Doesn't take too long for my haircuts, but it was extra shaggy at this point. Of course, her business partner always compliments me on my hair when I come in, saying she likes it the way it is. Rascal! The decision is made right now for me to keep it salt 'n pepper but that is subject to change when I get a whim to do otherwise.

                                      

The mail has brought some interesting catalogs, many of which Justin enjoys. He is a fan of gadgets and accessories for the kitchen, and any electronics, of course, pique his interest. I sure do miss the days of seeing something I like and just sending for it. Now I use much more discretion! This is something for which to be thankful or we'd have that much more stuff to mess around with here!

That poor guy is still not home from work yet and it's already getting dark outside. His days are fewer during the week but when he is out there, has to make hay when the sun shines (I am so darn funny!). Our dinner will be leftovers as we have many good things to eat up, including some of the pork brought home from the feast served Sunday night at church. Oh, it smells so good in the fridge, with the smoky aroma from the meat mixed with the saurkraut in the roaster. Tantalizing!

Go Pack Go!

Justin and I are watching the Packer game, me coming in late due to a meeting at church. I came home from that meeting to a nice dinner---the home-made brats served with caramelized onions plus spatzel. Yum! Oh, my, so delicious!!! Eating the brats on the good Publix rolls really just makes it. 

                                 

The bad news is that Aaron Rodgers, the quarter back, is injured, apparently the shoulder on his non-throwing side. The second string QB is in (a name I do not recognize---don't remember him from pre-season games) and seems to be doing okay for a bench sitter. We shall see how the Bears do against them.

This morning was Bible study, continuing our look at fellowship. Today's class involved less give 'n take, but that is okay. It is good to move a bit more slowly through this somewhat complicated discussion. A couple of the ladies were absent so when it came time to go to lunch, we could decide to eat anywhere we wish! The group agreed to Ruby Tuesday and it was okay. I like the mini-Ruby burgers, and the other ladies enjoyed the salad bar.

It was as windy as blazes again and at one point, I thought I felt/heard something hit the building where I was seated. Then, a bit later, I could see cars veering around something in the street leading to the restaurants. It was a sign which advertised the salad bar, formerly in the flower bed of Ruby's. I told the waitress but the manager already spotted it lying it out there and was bringing it in. 

Justin took some video out the patio door of the wind's effect on the water and palm trees. It was just a roar, and lots of splashing. He spotted a pod of manatees passing between the building and the breakwater, including a baby one. The largest one looked almost like an island! Because the weather was grey, it was hard to see their dark bodies in the water but I tried:

                                

The baby manatee's nose is just about in the center of the photo

Reformation Service photos

This afternoon our church hosted the joint Reformation Festival service. After the service we enjoyed an amazing feast with the meats prepared by our Chefs Mike 'n Mike and our members bringing the side dishes and desserts. It might not have smelled like Fall around there but it did smell like smoked Boston butt!

From left is Michael Kelley as acolyte, Pastors Hoyer, Schleicher, and Kuske

We had special music presented by Rachel Huebner Cochran and Suzanne Chappell, both from Victory. Robert, our member, sang the psalm as our cantor. The service was composed of three devotions based upon the readings, with stanzas of "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less" being sung in between the readings. Judy J. looked over her shoulder at me when we began, and fished a tissue from her purse in preparation for her coming flow. She and I weep at many of the same hymns, which I love about us. By the time we sang, "When He shall come with trumpet sound...", I was gone, Terri holding my hand. I got to return the favor for her when we sang, "In Christ Alone".

Gretchen and Terri wore red tops for Reformation!! This is Gretchen's favorite day of the church year and enjoyed it greatly.

My friend, Anne Hoyer, enjoying the bounty of the buffet. This year we made sure she got a brat because two years ago when we hosted, she was late getting into the Fellowship Hall and missed them completely. 

Before the service began, I introduced Anne to my friend, Ellen, who is wearing the purple sweater in this photo. She is the wife of Pastor Schleicher. We don't get to see each other very often but when we do, it's like we never parted. She saved me a seat across from her so we could talk. 

We met two years ago on the July 4th holiday weekend, as she was doing flowers for a wedding at The Club. Her husband was mission counselor for my pastor years ago in VA (small world!). Anyway, we made fast friends after meeting at church, with them coming over to my house in the afternoon for a visit. They moved here from TX in January of last year and love love love their congregation at Keystone Heights. It's too bad that Ellen and Anne didn't know each other yet, and I hope they do get to spend some time together again before next Reformation! 

This man on the left, Corey, serves in the Navy and is stationed at Kings' Bay, GA. He drives about an hour each way. When I saw him at worship in the morning, I was thinking he would not be there for the Reformation service. Sure enough, there he was! I asked him if he'd gone back up to GA, but he'd actually gone to the Mall to pass the time between worship and the Reformation Service. I was impressed! He took care of some Christmas shopping while he was at it. His family is not here with him as he has time at sea (submariner) so his wife, Ann, and three daughters are in New Ulm, MN. They knew our member, Sterling, from when they served together in Hawaii. Very cool!

Here is one of the Langley boys with some food on his plate. 

...and here is Cinderella (a.k.a. Sandy) working alone in the kitchen after she finished her meal. She wanted to get a jump on some of the clean up. Later the place was swamped with folks...it looks like a big kitchen until you get people in there!

A change in plans

We woke to rain this a.m.....heavy rain. Not the kind one can sleep through either, but rather, the kind that wakes one at 4:00 a.m. with their heart in their throat. It lasted for hours, varying in intensity, finally letting up about 10:00 a.m. Justin has been sleeping with his windows open and the sound of rain on the pavement outside is quite loud. It was about 6:30 when he came in my room, wondering if I was up. I  was.

He got busy in the kitchen a bit later and made bacon and pancakes for breakfast. I only had one pancake, large enough to nearly cover my plate. I do so enjoy being served breakfast in bed, "on belly", as we used to call it. On such a gloomy, rainy day, I saw no reason to get up!

I used the remaining bacon to crumble into my saurkraut, made for the Reformation dinner, slow cooking. I also added some pork to the dish for extra flavor, with a squirt or two of the pancake syrup. My secret ingredient. Someone in my house finds the smell of the kraut cooking quite offensive, but I like it.

Last night, after my plans had gotten changed, I got a call from Judy C. asking us to join them for dinner. She was picking up her friend from Moosehaven, and then Michael and she would find Justin and me at The Pasta Market. We did not have a good experience there, sad to report. 

First of all it was cold, with even Justin shivering. They had a large group being served for a rehearsal dinner, which occupied their staff and kitchen. The soup we ordered was not available so had to switch to one I didn't particularly care for. I ordered the meat pie, but then the waiter came back to report they only sell that at lunch time. I have had it for dinner in the past, but, okay....I'll have the calzone (which is just a larger meat pie...)

                         

Judy's friend ordered her spaghetti with angel hair pasta while Judy had the regular type. When the meals came out, they looked exactly the same. The sauce was quite runny, she could have asked for more pasta to use up the rest of the sauce but was full. Oh, well...Besides all that, there was a two-piece band, with three pieces, including two bongo drums. They were set up right behind us. Like Justin said, you know it's bad that when they stop between songs, you say, "Oh, good! They are taking a break"! If it wasn't so sad, it would have been comical. 

While we were there, I got a text message from our friend, Olivia, telling me she was at The Club and wanted to stop over. I told her I would let her know as soon as we got home, but then she sent me a text saying she was not feeling well. We made plans to meet for lunch on Sunday, which works well since we likely won't go to Chili's due to Reformation that afternoon. She said she has something to show me...A ring perhaps???