Glad the sun is back

Yesterday was a dreary day again as a front was moving through. This meant rain off and on much of the day, with only occasional glimpses of the sun. 

This wasn't too bad to wake up to this morning after no real color the day before except for greys. My sun jar got filled up and so did I, as we are both solar charged!

Tuesday night was a building committee meeting, our fifth such gathering since the beginning of the year. At last we made a determination as to how to proceed with our limited resources to fix up the place. It is a long time coming as most things at church often are, and I look forward to getting underway. The project must be completed by next fall, as we are hosting the LWMS Rally in 2014!

Of course, I drove over there in the rain, though at some point the rain had ended. A couple folks at the meeting had had little rain at all, but for me, it was on and off, with the big downpour beginning at 6:00 pm, just before I was to leave. Justin even wondered if I would still go in such a downpour. Fortunately it let up before my departure time so I was not thoroughly soaked getting to my car.

Justin served me dinner in my room when I got home, since he had eaten without me. I like room service! We shared my leftovers from Koko's and my portion of the leftovers was great plenty for my dinner. Talk about generous portions! I do believe we had ordered the double fried rice so that accounts for the bounty.

              

He worked extra sites on Monday so that on Tuesday he would be home in time for the roll-out of the new Apple products. He very much enjoyed watching it live rather than later on after the world already knows. It's a techy thing to get it fresh, apparently. Already he is showing me things I can do on my phone and on the laptop, even if the laptop is not an Apple product. Some new ideas for newsletters are being fostered!

On this date in 1988...

...my family set off on an adventure to a brave, new world---Florida! Justin was 15 months old as my spouse and I loaded up the truck (moving van!), and along with our business partner, Curt, and brother-in-law, John and his family (Mona and JR-age 18 months) drove to Florida. We stopped for the night at about the halfway point, I can't recall where. I  do remember driving through the mountains of TN enjoying the changing colors of fall. Wow!
   

When our caravan arrived in Orange Park, the moving van was lagging behind, as somehow it was going to squeeze in yet another household of furniture on the way south. We stayed a few days in a hotel not far from church, with Mona and I having to hit the strip mall across from the hotel to see if we could find some cooler clothes for the little boys, as we did not consider packing clothing for warm weather!! Who knew?? It is 79 here right now with the highs expected to be low 80's. I don't think this is unusual so you can imagine our little guys being uncomfortable in their WI October clothing!

              
We had a Realtor as our contact person here in OP plus Curt had a college friend who was a civil engineer living in town. These folks helped us get connected with suppliers and contractors, as well as secure lots upon which to build (a small detail!). A man we met at church was also able to help get us directed where we needed to go for stuff.

Church ladies at The Pasta Market

We almost immediately connected with our church, my spouse serving on the church council prior to our even being accepted as members. The same week that our household arrived, as we got situated in our temporary quarters in an apartment, we were visited by two folks from church, to welcome us to GS. Right off the bat we had company!

                              
Ricky and Jimmie sitting in my river room         Justin with his "Auntie Brenda" 

Many things have taken place in these 25 years, some good, some not so good. Among the best things is my church and church family, and the folks whom I loved in my business. Some of them are gone, shed from my life, while some remain and whose company I yet enjoy. 

A big plus about our moving was having my mom come down to stay with us several weeks or months each year, which really was a good situation for Justin and her. Mom's last long term stay was in 2007. They had their own adventures over the years, with Grandma K being a very good sport about it all. (picture Mom driving Santa's imaginary reindeer sleigh while pushing Justin in the stroller!)  That kid had/has the best imagination---oh my!

Over these 25 years both sides of our family have been able to come down here for visits, for vacations mostly. Once they came for a funeral.  Some of these folks would never have made such a trip if we had not moved to FL, not likely have gotten to DisneyWorld or the other theme parks, or seen the sights. A couple of my nieces and nephews have come without their parents over the years as well, with one even riding the rails (actually the Greyhound bus) with Grandma K, back in the day. Now THAT is an adventure!

I am on a first-name basis with the fellows at the moving company, though I haven't had to call Sabin since Justin moved into his condo on the Southside in 2007! I have lived in this condo since January of 2006, and have never lived anywhere this long before, save for my childhood home. It almost sounds like, gasp!, roots have been put down!

Happy silver anniversary to Justin and me! Florida is still wondering what hit 'em!

All dressed up...

...and at Basketique Tea Room and Gift Shoppe for our season-end party for aquarobics on Monday. 

This is a partial group shot of the ladies and gentleman. Next to me is Nancy W., soon to be living on the compound with us at The Club.

Judee and Annette enjoying their strawberry soup

Annette and I are sporting our matching white picture hats

Nancy and Lynn sitting across from me. Lynn is the lady who insisted I take her phone number the day I had my dental work done, in case I needed a ride home...

Randy, who could not participate in the classes this year due to a surgery, agreed to model the 'tea party hat' for us

Marlena at the head of the table, with Jean and Pat

Here is my friend, Pat, with whom I have breakfast on Fridays at The Club in the 'off-season'

Debbie made my day!

Saturday night, before we went to dinner, Justin and I were invited upstairs to Dick and Debbie's house to look at the new rugs. They picked them up the night before at a store which was going out of business at the Town Center Mall. They got a good deal on them, and fit their decor very nicely. Before Justin got up there, though, Debbie and I were talking and she asked me, "Do have a problem with dust in your place?" WOW!!! So it's not only me!!! 

                         

I hugged and thanked her for asking me such a question, explaining it's the bane of my existence (that, and filing papers!!). Oh my...I told her how earlier in the afternoon Justin had been in my room and ran his finger across the top of my TV stand, removing dust which had settled there. I keep the Swiffer handy as I regularly wipe off my monitors and TV, and the equipment which attracts dust. Even as I sit on my bed and the sun beams across the room, I can see the dust in the air. Where does it come from??? I told her how I had my A/C vents cleaned a few years ago in an attempt to reduce the dust and hoped that having no carpeting in the house would also have the same result. All it does is free up more space for dust to show, instead of disguising it in the fibers. So, yes, Debbie, I  DO have trouble with dust in my place!!!

The smell of sauce in the air

Justin is busily cooking spaghetti sauce in the kitchen, having gone to the store for ingredients earlier today. He no sooner began than did the aroma of garlic find its way to my room. What an awesome smell! He is like a mad scientist in the kitchen, adding a little of this and a little of that to make his sauce extra special good, including some corn! I'll take it!

We are having a marvelous day weather-wise. I was able to find a couple of my friends poolside this afternoon. I took my new card folder outside with me so I could write down the address info and such for the upcoming 'going away' party for Lee. Cynthis put me in charge of invitations so I did that this afternoon----at least four of them! The water is, of course, cold but Bill, who is more hardy than some of us, dived in a couple times. Shiver!!

About late afternoon, my upstairs neighbor sent me a text message asking if we had dinner plans. Oh oh...now what??? At first I invited them to come down to join us for spaghetti but Debbie had troubles reaching Dick to get confirmation on that. 

                          

In the meanwhile, Justin thought the sauce would be just as good tomorrow while Koko's would be good tonight. That's what we settled on---dinner with our neighbors at Koko's!! Justin ate there on Wednesday night with Michael G. and was still craving sushi so off we went. "If someone calls to go to dinner, turn off the stove and go!"---one of our house rules. Nothing goes to waste, only eaten on a different day. That works for me! So thankful for my good neighbors...

A Friday Fish Fry

Oh, how my mouth waters thinking about the delicious fried perch people are enjoying in WI and other lake regions on any given day, but especially on Fridays. Yum! A week or so ago a lady with whom I used to worship at GS, sent me a message from her home in WI, asking for good places to eat in my hometown. Her hubby and she were going to Manty for a long weekend and wanted to go to the places she has seen me write about. I sent Dawn to The Green Street Tavern among other places. I envy her, but in a good way! 

This is my plate from The Green Street Tavern: perch sandwich and cheese curds!

It was a glorious day today with temps in the low 80's. I kept looking outside to see if anyone was sitting out there but saw no one. Instead of going out, I stayed inside and went through things on my desk and in my files. A never ending project, so it seems. I also paced myself on soda consumption as Justin had counted the remaining cans for me the night before, to make sure I'd have enough before he went to the store again. I did good!

Justin had talked to me about going to have appetizers with his boss and his wife after work but he hated to 'ditch' me again. I somehow manage, you know? But he is so sweet...Anyway, just as The Five was coming on, Judy C. called. She said she knew The Five was on but wanted to ask me if I had plans for dinner. Michael and she were going to Sam's St. John Seafood and asked me along. Sure!!! I was all set...

We agreed to meet at 6:30, giving me enough time to watch/chat with Linda, fix myself a bit and drive those couple of blocks to the restaurant. I like their fried pollack, which is what Judy had, as well. Michael had the shrimp, and he took our cheese grits home with him. In WI a perch plate comes with rye bread, but here, a pollack plate comes with grits!

When I got home, I had time to watch part of Jeopardy! and then go outside on the north end to watch an expected fireworks show, hosted by a wedding party. It was to take place at 8:45 but I sat with a couple of my neighbors waiting for half an hour after it was due. Seemed to be a dud. Oh well...

When I got back upstairs, Justin was suprised he didn't hear anything. I told him it was a dud, but then we heard the booming. There wasn't enough time to get back down to the north end so we hung out the patio doors and saw what we could over the neighbor's canopy. It was very nice and had the most amazing echo on this very still night. The moon, a hunter's moon, I am told, was full and brilliant in the water and in the sky. Picture perfect!

                              

When I posted this photo on Facebook, one of my friends wrote that they were just waiting to see what I would post regarding the moon. She liked what she saw!

What a marvelous day!

My day began with an easy ride to Victory with my mom riding shotgun (inside my phone!) with little or no traffic with which to contend. So refreshing! Mom told me about an interesting LWMS Rally she attended on Tuesday evening, hearing a speaker address missions to the Amish. This was not something I was at all familiar with, nor had Pastor Hoyer heard about it. 

Our group was fewer in number today because of the Southern Women's Show taking some of the ladies downtown. Lucy was back from her trip to MI, attending the wedding of her nephew, and seeing her son. She brought a small box of Dunkin Donuts, while Rita brought in a dozen delicious doughnuts from Cinatti's Bakery. I had one from each box! 

                                

Pastor had a box of a strange fruit donated by one of the preschool parents. It is from Guatamala, a pretty colored prickly looking thing called rambutan. This box came from Gautamala, but the child who arrives at preschool everyday with one in hand is from Thailand. It seems this breed made its way to the Far East. The fruit, once peeled, has a taste and texture like a large grape. Fran took a couple along at Pastor's urging, to show her grandson, Michael.

From Bible study I drove toward Orange Park to meet my lady friends for meatloaf at The Club. The lunch buffet featured my favorite, as this was pointed out to me by Jacquie, so plans were made. Lee has her house on the market, and within less than a week of being listed, had two offers on the table. She filled us in on the drama of trying to get the appraisals and inspections and such in order. She needed some time away to collect herself, and that's where we come in!

As we were finishing up, our other pool friend, Cynthia, came in. We asked her to join our group and the ladies had dessert while Cynthia ate her lunch. I so very much enjoyed that---much like what happens at the pool!!! Cynthia appointed me to be the official inviter for Lee's going-away party since I have contact with everyone (just about...). 

When we got outside, Jacquie and I had words left over so we went over to my house to talk for a bit longer. Like for several hours! It was great! We visited here until Justin came home from work, and realized what time it was. At nearly 5:00 pm we parted company and I went to my room to log-on for my chat with Linda while watching The Five.  

When Justin came in, he made Jacquie and me laugh. Under his breath he was muttering, "jack booted thugs..." as he presented me with a sizable stack of catalogs which had come in the mail. Unfortunately, there were none from Pottery Barn, which is where this "Seinfeld" quote had come from. It's the catalog time of the year, that's for sure!