Green Street at last!

This morning started out great with a visit from Linda. She was over at church first counting the offerings from yesterday and then popped up to Mom's for a bit. I was able to bestow a gift upon her, sent along in my luggage from Nancy to her. It was a collectible teapot that Nancy's mother had had. Linda told her at one time that she collected teapots, which I was not aware, so as Nancy was going through her mom's things, thought Linda would appreciate this one. And she does!!  

She stuck around at Mom's for a while as the cleaning lady was busy at her house on the other side of town. Linda doesn't wish to get underfoot. Mom and I were waiting for Lori to arrive, hoping for around noon or so, so Linda went her own way. It turned out Lori didn't arrive until closer to dinner time, as she had a doctor appointment to go to before leaving her home, four hours away. Since we ladies had time to kill, Lynn picked us up and off we went to have ice cream at Jill's parlor. 

 My cherry sundae, the special of the day

Notice Mom is wearing her coat. It was so cold today!

Lori loves to eat out as much as I do. Her request for dinner was to go to the Green Street Tavern which we did, the 'we' being us four girls. Lori, Lynn, Jill, and I enjoyed a fun and delicious time together. The owner of the place greeted me as we were leaving, knowing I come from FL just to have Green Street perch. He said, "We'll be seeing you again!" Mom wanted nothing brought back for her, not even poppyseed torte. Her loss. 

Lori and I sat at the table and talked once we got home to Mom's. Mom is sleeping in the living room while Lori is here because she sleeps her best in the chair anyway. Lori likes to stay up later than do Mom and I, so she gets Mom's room where she can read and not bother anyone, and also have the window open for fresh air. Mom and I like it warm but Lori needs to be cool. Lori therefore sleeps later so will have to be quiet in the morning. It works out, just for these couple of nights.  I'm just glad I get to see her and spend some time with her on my visit.

Making a joyful noise

Last night for dinner I made my now famous sausage, peppers, 'n onions. Kerry was here and provided a pack of brats as did Jill, plus she had peppers needing to be used up. A couple times Kerry offered to help me in the kitchen but I assured her things were well in hand. She says it's been years since someone cooked for her so I am glad it was me this time. How unlikely is that?  I should not ask that since she did spend some time with me here in 2010 and we may have dined in at least once. I bought a package of pretzel rolls to serve the sausages on, but miscounted the number in the bag. Wouldn't you expect there to be six buns and not five in a package? 

Here are the brats, now browned, covered in veggies, and ready to be 'steamed' with the broth over the top. Sure wish I would have gotten a beer to use but the broth works, too. 

This morning we went to church, early service. Jill had to go to work immediately after and Kerry came back here to Mom's to wait for us to get done with Bible study before she left. This is my 2nd study in the two full days I've been here which is fantastic. They do the breakout session things, too, for the classes but somehow here, I don't mind it so much. Supposedly it is a device to help people get to know each other better. The pastor's father-in-law sat with us, the president of MLC. He liked one of my answers and gave me the nod for what I came up with, which was nice of him. 

After class, our little group put our heads together and decided to go have breakfast at Perkins. Mom, Lynn, and I met Tommy and Linda there since we stopped at home first to say good-bye to Kerry. The J's beat us to the restaurant because of this, of course. To accommodate our number, we were at the corner table which is a long walk for Mom who doesn't like to bring her walker inside if she doesn't have to. Sometimes she should, though, so that it's not so hard on her. Anyway, Tommy treated us to breakfast and was most entertaining. I loved the time spent with them.

Lynn dropped Mom and I off and went home for a bit. She was coming back later to pick us up for a sacred concert at church tonight. MLHS presented their school year ending concert, "The Church Year in Song".  Most of it was wonderful, but I think the expectation (at least mine and Linda's) was more familiar hymns rather than the choral anthems and the African songs. Yes, I know we have churches and missions in Africa, but at the LWMS Convention 34 flags are carried in representing where our Synod has missions. Not all of them are in Africa. The directors and choirs like to sing those type of songs because they get to bogey and jive a bit. It wouldn't be as much fun to sing in Russian or Apache or Chinese. It's not for me, but otherwise, the concert was nice. Got to see some folks I know from other congregations and it was a wonderful way to end my first weekend in Manty!

Starting the visit off right

My first night here I had a really good sleep in the guest room, being so very thankful for the foam mattress pad Justin suggested I get to use when here. I think it's been a year now since I had it delivered to Mom's. It really makes all the difference in the world for my bones and joints in the morning. 

This morning the first order of business was Bible study. I love it, just love it!  This particular class was held in the church office with only a few ladies around the conference table, beginning a study of James. The lady who leads it, Betty, is a former LES teacher, now working at the public library. She did a nice job covering the material and keeping us reigned in. The group consisted of Linda, Lynn, a lady named Gwen, Betty, and me. A smaller number due to the busyness of season, wrapping things up from the school year, etc. It was an interesting class and I enjoyed it.

Mom doesn't attend this class so Lynn ran back to get her from the apartment (four blocks away) while I rode with Linda to Manitowoc Coffee where we met up again. Mom and Lynn traditionally 'go for coffee' on Saturday mornings, a carry-over from Lynn's working days. I really like Manitowoc Coffee and have said more than once that if I lived in Manty, this place would be my hang-out. And I don't even drink coffee! I had a frequent shoppers card but couldn't remove it from my wallet in time to use for a free one. Next time!  No peanut squares today but I did have a couple of cookies, including one with black piping which made a mess on my hands and teeth. Such fun!

These little 'drawers' were in the gift shop. All the items to make up the dioramas were sold there as well. I heard one lady describe this area as being 'dangerous'. Really cute stuff.

We younger ladies walked around the adjoining gift shop while Mom waited for us in the coffee shop. I only scouted out half the store, leaving the other half for another visit. After we said good-bye to Linda, the three of us went to Festival Foods for some groceries and such. 

I just love that store!  I was downright giddy being there but the other shoppers seemed less so. Perhaps it was the gloomy and foggy weather affecting their good natures but many seemed to be focused on their mission of shopping and nothing else. At the back of the store beyond the produce I found my puff caramel corn, made on-site, plus picked up some pre-cut celery, green peppers, and onions to use for cooking at Mom's.  I did need more items but got so excited about the whole event that I couldn't focus on my list. Some fresh cut ham and hard rolls found their way into my cart as well as Diet Coke. 

Here I am with Dolly, me sporting my 'old' car coat left behind in Mom's closet for just such occasions. It was a blessing to have it!

The highlight of my time was finding, or being found by, my friend, Dolly, who described it as a dream come true to run into me at Festival. Often on my visits we will just miss each other somewhere and only see one another for our planned time together. It was so nice to see Dolly and her mom, Joanne. We have arranged to meet with another of our classmates, Rita, for dinner one night so this is only our first meeting with each other.  Also I saw one of my favorite teachers from high school, Coach Heidrich, and another classmate, Warren, and then my cousin, Jimmy. I just had a ball!

Mom and Lynn did their shopping as well and we met at the registers.  We got our stuff paid for and loaded into Lynn's trunk to be off-loaded using the handy cart from Mom's building.  We should be all set for the time being. 

Last night Jill, Lynn, Mom and I ate at a different place, City Limits. It doubles as a reception hall for weddings but also served pretty good perch. And, fried dill pickles!  One of the owners is a former classmate of mine and it was nice to see her again after all these years. Tomorrow I hope to see more folks I know at church and at a Lutheran High concert at church tomorrow night. My sister, Lori, is coming for a visit for a day or two. My other sister, Kerry, will be coming too. This should be hoot!

All set to go!

I make my mom nervous by not packing too far ahead of my departure. I am fairly well organized, knowing what I wish to take and where to find it in my dresser, drawers, and closet. My joke is that I pack from across the room, quite the opposite of some of my friends who pack their bags so neatly. Once I stand my bag up on end the whole works heads to the bottom anyway so who cares? I have some things about which I am particular, but packing my bag is not one of them!

Yesterday afternoon I started throwing stuff into my bag which was open on the foot of my bed. In about 15 minute's time I was zipped up and ready to go, lacking only the cosmetic bag which I yet needed in the morning. My friend, Nancy W., is taking me to the airport, our planned departure from here is 6:45 in hopes of beating most of the heavy traffic. She had wanted me to go to The Club for dinner last evening but I had to decline because of church and being with Justin. 

It was a very nice service, almost like singing hymns from Favorite Hymn Sunday. We had 24 people in church including 5 visitors, four of which were Judy's family. Her grandson, David, is graduating from UF Law school on Saturday so family will be on hand for that, and in our pews!  Also, a young man from Victory, the only one who came across the bridge during rush hour. He couldn't believe that Victory didn't have worship for Ascension. He recently moved up here from Sarasota where they had a regular worship schedule. I was glad he made the effort. He looked so handsome, too, all dressed in a suit. I am glad he enjoyed the service with us. 

Jessica, Judy's granddaughter, invited me to dinner with them after church but Justin and I already had plans to eat Chinese food he was having delivered from Ming Moon for our last dinner together in May. (Sniffle, sniffle). He ordered extra food so he has it available to him during the week plus his meal for dinner. I had an order of cheese wontons which are my favorite. And enough to hold me over until I eat the next time. I am not hungry this morning yet. 

Once we finished eating, Justin finished up the prep needed for my iPad for use on my trip, and we each went to our rooms. He was exhausted from working and I was just ready to settle in. Nancy will get a wake up call from me as we pre-arranged 'just in case' and I am showering this morning as a courtesy to my fellow travelers. I am waiting to shower for a little bit so as not to wake my neighbors but then I am ready to go. I know Justin is up already so we'll get to say official good-byes before he leaves for work. I will keep in touch, folks, but God's blessings in the meantime! Manitowoc, here I come!!!

Ascension Day

Today is Ascension Day. It is a bit of an overlooked special day in the church year. This is the day we remember Jesus left earth to return to His Father's right hand. Yesterday I asked Pastor H. if we were having Bible study today because of it being Ascension Day. He said we would have class and asked if we had worship tonight. I told him we do, and I looked forward to Bible study. I also look forward to our evening service tonight, singing the hymns, and then saying 'good-bye' to my friends, until we meet again in June, God willing. 

This morning I was watching Fox & Friends. They had segment showing a man out on the patio area cooking bbq and sharing it with passersby, and later with the hosts. The man was a representative of a restaurant called Mission BBQ, strong supporters of Wounded Warriors. In their restaurant every day at noon, work stops, diners pause and stand to sing the National Anthem. Goose bumps!!!  I sent Linda a text message (my computer was resetting) to tell her about it, and she wrote back that she was watching it, with tears on her face. So cool! I can easily imagine that happening at my new favorite place, 4Rivers BBQ. At noon, the place is busy with Navy folks in their flight suits and other military apparel. I can just hear it!

Watching and listening to that segment reminded me of something Justin experienced a couple years ago. He was working alone on a property not far from the base. His equipment is pretty noisy so he wears ear covers besides having his ear bud in his good ear. I guess he was changing equipment or something when he heard something strange. He uncovered his ears and sure enough, he could hear the National Anthem being played over a sound system from the Base. He was not sure what the protocol was for this, so he decided to just listen without continuing to work until the anthem was over. I don't know if he put his hand on his heart but I wouldn't be surprised if had. I guess that happens every day on the Base only we didn't know it. 

We didn't have Bible study last week due to a new fence going up and our leader, Cary, needed to supervise the project. Pastor is back now from vacation so was our leader today. And the fence never got put up either. Some kind of problem with where to drop the sections or whatever is holding up the process. It is a shared fence with the subdivision next door and they are the ones paying for it. Nice!  Patience is the watchword for this project.

One of our ladies is back from her annual trip to New York. She brings back special souveniers including a booklet for Pastor from a Jewish museum she toured. And for me? A man in a stationery store gave Dawn a paper with his life's philosophy handwritten on it. Two pages! That's a lot of philosophy. Dawn gave it to me, knowing I would enjoy it. All the statements are positive, good advice for living, etc. I shall cherish it! How nice of her to share that with me!  

Fanatical fans

Last night Justin and I enjoyed an episode of Jeopardy! where celebrities were playing against each other to earn money for charity. Justin and I were thrilled to see Packer QB Aaron Rodgers go up against an astronaut and an entrepreneur. And Aaron came out on top, his winnings to go fight juvenile cancers and blood diseases. I was as proud as if I was his mama! One of the best things he did was nearly sweep the Bible category, missing one because of hesitating. Way to go, Aaron!

Earlier in the evening, I spent some time on the sundeck with my neighbors. Yesterday I had given them a dish of fruit salad leftover from Sunday's luncheon. Kathy returned the empty dish with a bottle of body lotion in it. This soothing lotion is intended to ease stress and calm nerves. Jokingly she said she puts it on first thing in the morning as she faces a day with her dear momma. I can see that...Elizabeth is 86 years old, a remarkable business woman in her younger days but now showing signs of aging and what often comes with it. We'll leave it at that. What the heck---I'll give this lotion a try. 

Kathy was telling me about her son's house he recently purchased in the Atlanta area. He has some stuff to do it in order to personalize it, including some painting. More than once Elizabeth and she have mentioned the red door on his slate grey home which I think is the ideal color. Only last night did it occur to me the reason why the red door has to go---red is a GA Bulldog color!!! These people are Gator fans through and through. From nail polish to wine glasses to having their van painted in Gator colors. No red door for him, even if it is perfect for the house. 

Now, if a person would drive around in WI, you might see assorted Packer adornments such as mailboxes or flags outside homes, etc. I am a Packer fan but I cannot imagine NOT using a certain color just because it's the color another NFL team sports. (See what I did there?) I can't speak for other Packer fans, they may be as fanatical as these folks are!

Elizabeth has a quilt made by her granddaughter which used the deceased grandpa's old shirts. Elizabeth showed me the swatches, identified which shirt it came from, so sentimental. There was one red square, right in the center, from her husband's shirt worn only on Fridays to show patriotism. Otherwise no red shirts were worn, because of the Bulldogs, longtime foes of the Gators. I have never heard of such devotion to a team or disdain for another, and this is college ball, not even pro. I find it amusing but keep that to myself as best I can, and will make other suggestions for the door color for Tom's house!

Pressing business

I had a rough night last night sleep-wise. I got settled in and dropped off to dreamland after 10:30 pm and found myself awakened by a thunderstorm right around 11:00. What? I was just snoozing so good, too! Normally a storm won't bother me but this one had wind blowing the rain hard against my windows which gave me some pause. I did have my water alarms in place but still had to get up to check the walls for dripping water. Thankfully, found none!

For the duration of the storm I stayed awake, listening and sort of waiting for the power to go out. It did not nor did I fall back to sleep. I heard my clock strike 1:00 a.m. and believe I did go to sleep while listening to "Frasier" reruns. Before I did finally drop off, one particular exchange forced me to write to my sister, Lori, and share it with her. She and I used to laugh over "Frasier", especially when I started to collect the DVDs. So funny!  That's the problem with laughing ones self to sleep...giggling and snoring at the same time!

I woke up at least one more time in the middle of the night/early morning, changed the channel to listen to Law & Order, and went back to sleep. At some point I changed it to Fox News but didn't wake up until well after 8:00! That never happens, so I think I am caught up. So, why don't I feel like it?

Once I was up and about, showered and dressed, I planted myself at the desk. There is stuff to do before I leave for WI including getting the Ladies' Group Minutes typed up and sent over to Terri for presenting at the next meeting, which I will miss. Next I have an assignment from Justin to complete---marking on a guide which "Seinfeld" episodes I want him to load on the iPad for me to use for sleeping when in WI. Not taking the little laptop along this time will make my load lighter for traveling. He got me a keyboard for the iPad so I can type on it while away, work on the church newsletter, etc. when at Mom's. He thinks of everything!

Besides that type of working going on, I should clean off my desk a bit in case something happens to me and I don't make it back. Don't want my legacy to be that of a messy desk. I have enough stuff for Justin to have etched into my grave marker such as "She put her cast iron fry pan in the dishwasher".  If I get to it, I get to it, though. No water exercise class for me just yet, still thinking the water is not quite warm enough for me. The Friday Nancy and I had breakfast at The Club Marlena said the water temp was only 75. That is a definite NO! from me. Nancy swam much of the winter as she is tougher than I am, plus her pool is more shallow than The Club's so warms more quickly.

I got some more video today of the manatees romping in the basin. My sister, Kerry, has been asking for it so I sent it to her via e-mail. I hope she enjoys it. In the house with my windows closed I could hear the water splashing but don't believe that transferred to the video. Such fun they were having, or whatever....