Ash Wednesday

Oh my goodness, was it a cold start to our day today! We hovered near freezing this a.m. and only got to the low 50's for the high. While I was snuggled yet under my warm blankets and with my heat pad, I received word that four students from Rocky Mountain Lutheran High School would indeed be coming this summer to help our church with Vacation Bible School. Two boys and two girls this time, and yes, the girls will get the guest bedroom. The two guys will end up in the living room, or perhaps, even in the dining room, though neither area affords much privacy. That is a situation they accept when coming here. More pluses than minuses, I guess.

Terri T. and I met for lunch this afternoon at Pengree's. Man, it was busy there! We had to wait a bit for a table to open up, but it was well worth it. I so love their country fried steak, bringing half home with me. I was lucky to get the very last dinner roll. Good thing we didn't want any dessert because that always goes fast from this place, known for their humingbird cake. Not a fan!

Tomorrow would be the anniversary of Timmy's baptism and this arrangement was in the chancel on Sunday. I brought it home tonight after church and decided to keep it here rather take it to the cemetery. It really brightens up the room! 

My primary mission today was making a batch of beef vegetable soup to take to church tonight for our Ash Wednesday Soup and Sandwich Supper. Janet B. made toasted cheese sandwiches and several of us brought the soups. We started out with four kettles and had about 20 people. After most had finished eating, two more soups arrived. Talk about a good variety! We were hoping for a better turnout for the supper and for our special worship. Worship had about 30 people which is not bad for midweek service. Let's hope that continues for the next 5 weeks. 

Flying Noodles Day!

Today was our mini-reunion of the water exercise group at The Club. When I had talked to the hostess a few days ago there was about a half dozen reservations called in. That was disappointing but we'll take whomever we can get. Much to my delight, the table was beautifully set for 12 people, two folks, a couple, showing up without making a reservation. We had to pull in one chair to accommodate a later arrival. In fact, two ladies were late in arriving due to the power being out in their area and not being able to open the garage door! Glad they were eventually sprung (ha ha) and able to join this fun. 

From last month, same people, different seats. Nancy took this picture before the rest of the group arrived.

As some of us were ordering dessert and/or coffee, Pat A. came after an appointment. Maggie O. had been unable to finish her meal so she gave it to Pat so she could eat something, since everyone else was done. In between bites our dear Pat was able to fill us in regarding some recent health problems she has had, and about the recovery of her spouse from esophageal cancer. It was great to get caught up with her, and the others. 

I mentioned the ladies who couldn't get out of their garages due to a power outage. Our lights were flickering here at The Palace as well as The Club. It looked like a disco! I feared that the power might go out and then we'd all have cold sandwiches instead of what we'd ordered. Fortunately the electricity was sufficient to make our meals. Nancy W. had the shrimp and worried that the smell would bother me, but there was none. She is so thoughtful. Her big news is that she might have sold her dad's house, and was needing to keep checking her phone for information from those handling her transaction, etc. Talk about pins and needles! I wish her the best outcome, which would be a closed deal ASAP!

PACEing myself

Today I spent much of the morning over at the PACE Center helping Terri T. and her fellow ATT Pioneers with their project of a clothing give away for the students. When I arrived, my neighbor, Kathy M., was there as well as two ladies who have helped the Pioneers with this same project at the Jacksonville PACE Center. Their help was invaluable as they are considered experts as to how to organize, though they might have met their match with Miss Terri. She is highly organized and all went smoothly. We had until noon to get things taken care of because the girls would come into this room for lunch. Again, I am blown away by the generosity of people when it comes to PACE. 

There I am over at the racks, trying to find a place to hang some items. I wore my orange outfit to blend in with the Pioneers. In the green sweater is my neighbor, Kathy, who became interested in PACE after attending the breakfast event at my home last October. It was nice to arrive and see her hard at work

Many of the items still bore price tags which we left in place so the girls would see and hopefully appreciate their value. The director mentioned how some of the students have never seen such an event and might be intimidated by it all. It was good they came in for a their break and got to see/watch us ladies putting all the clothing out for them to 'buy' tomorrow with their 'points'. I am sorry I can't be there for that part of the event due to a luncheon. So glad to be able to help in this small way, PACEing myself in order to protect my poor back!

Here is a shot of the room from the back corner where I was set up. We had about 10 ladies doing the sorting and placement of the donated items. Most were from the ATT Pioneers and some other volunteers. I joined Terri and three friends for lunch afterward, at The Pig BBQ. Nice nice ladies!

Not only was clothing donated but also shoes and other fashion accessories. OJ got busy and lined the shoes up under the tables, many of them brand new, and 

so so cute! 

A Super Bowl Day

Tonight I am all set here watching the Super Bowl with great company---me!  Justin is attending a party at his friend's mom's house but I am quite content to cozy in place to watch, or not watch, the game. Justin thought I should at least watch the commercials but, as I told him, I've seen several of them previewed on the morning news program I watch. What I did enjoy very much was the introduction of the past MVPs of the Super Bowl's 50 years which included many Green Bay Packer players. It was moving to see all these men, many of them now frail with age and their injuries earned on the playing field. 

Justin made some dip to take along for his party and I had the ingredients to make the taco queso dip I like so well for myself. It becomes a meal for me, fills me up rather quickly. Justin can no longer enjoy this dip, having made it too often and getting sick of it. I am thankful that he put this together for me, before he left. He found on the pantry shelf this smaller crock pot which would have been a blessing to have for my birthday party...was there all the while but out of sight and out of mind. It works nicely for my dip and am thankful to have my dip kept warm.

Justin also took advantage of a special being offered by Papa Johns Pizza and ordered a pizza for me for dinner. As part of the deal, we get another pizza for free at some point in the future. Nice! Besides my pizza he ordered garlic knots. Oh my goodness, do I love those knots! I ate only one slice of the pizza and filled up on knots with garlic butter. Perfect Super Bowl fare. He ordered it ahead of time, paying online and scheduling the delivery. It arrived right on time and as ordered. I gave the delivery lady an extra tip because I knew she was going to have rough night tonight.

This morning at church, I had fun conversation with a little lady. Jordyn was serving as acolyte and was apprehensive about her job. As she was holding the taper, she asked me if the wick was out far enough. It was hidden from my view by the lectern where I was standing and I told her I couldn't see it. Jokingly I said to her, "I can't even see my feet to know if I am wearing shoes!" She looked down at my feet and with all seriousness said, "You do...." What a little sweetheart she is. And, by the way, she did fine lighting the candles and extinguishing them. 

Ladies' Group Brunch

This morning our Ladies' Group from church hosted a brunch, inviting all the ladies from the congregation. Our plan, besides treating them and ourselves to a wonderful hot and cold breakfast, is to stimulate some interest in our group and what we do. Some don't come to our meetings because of not driving at night, others because of work schedules or having kids at home, and other just don't feel like it's the right thing for them. I was one of those when I first moved to FL and was asked to join. What? That's for the old ladies! Talk about preconceived notions about things. 

Terri and her friend, OJ, decorated some donated scented candles with pretty ribbons plus Terri put mini candy bars and other favors around on the tables. Don't they look springy and bright?

Our sign-up sheet indicated more would be joining us but we rejoice for those who did come. Terri had just had oral surgery a couple days ago but was a trouper. I was concerned about myself as my back started acting up but it was fine for the day. I managed to carry my egg souffle down to the car plus Justin had gotten up early to make beer cheese muffins for me to take along. I brought home some of my souffle and about a dozen of the muffins. This was his first time making them as muffins instead of loaves, and we decided muffins are the way to go! 

Once home, I got myself situated on the bed with the heat pad under me to get my back feeling better. Later I got up and was looking out the doors in the river room when I reached into my pocket, finding something squishy. I pulled out a now melted mini candy bar taken from the table at the brunch. Oh no! I love the dark chocolate and now it was mush. Not to worry, I am sure it will recover nicely in the fridge so I can eat it later! 

Fun memories

Tonight I was in the kitchen getting a spoon from the drawer when I noticed there were cruddlies in the slot where the spoons lie. This is a huge pet peeve of mine, I cannot stand to have any crumbs or the like in the silverware drawer, or anywhere, for that fact. I grabbed the remaining spoons out and wiped the slot. As I did this, I  remembered a time at our house in Southlake, a home we built and then rented back from the owner when we found ourselves 'homeless'. My mom had come for the winter and was getting acquainted with yet another home with us. 

I worked for our business by day and for Sprint by night so Mom, my former spouse and Justin would usually eat dinner without me. One day I was emptying the dishwasher and pulled open the silverware drawer. There was what appeared to be a handful or so of instant potato flakes! How did that happen? I took stuff out of the drawer and wiped it all up, asking aloud how the flakes got into the drawer. Sweet little Justin, all of 5 years old, said, "Maybe Grandma did it---she doesn't know where everything goes yet." Ha! I laugh yet thinking about that. "Hmmm, where does this handful of potato flakes go? Ah, I bet in the silverware drawer!" 

It was in this house also that Justin would entertain himself (and us!). One thing he liked to do was take lengths of rope and string it between his rocking horse and other furniture pieces in the family room, and hang clothing items and other things on it. Just like his Auntie Lynn and her 'drying strings', as he called it. That looked really pretty---not! When we lived there he badly wanted a horse for Christmas so Santa had to write him a letter explaining how the landlord would not allow us to have a horse in his yard. This same yard where Justin thought it would be a good idea to cut down all the trees and make a cemetery. He decided on this plan after visiting the Huegenot Cemetery in St. Augustine. He thought we needed one of our own!  Thankfully the landlord would not allow that either. Oh, that Justin was such a character!

One day we were having a particularly hard time with this little 'character', and I was stressing about our plans for the evening. One of our customers had asked us to a house warming party for their new home and insisted we bring our little charmer along. Unfortunately he was not being very charming and when it was time for him to get ready, he refused to come into the house. His father had to chase him around the house, and once caught, got a spanking. I got Justin cleaned up and dressed in his snazzy blue wool blazer outfit and he looked so handsome. On the ride to the party, I explained to him that he had to be the very best boy there and so on. And he was!!  All the guests were impressed with him, how cute he was and well behaved. Wow! On the ride home, I told him how proud we were of him for being a good boy. He said, "You know, that spanking really helped...." My spouse and I could hardly contain ourselves. "Oh, you're welcome, Sweetie Pie, you're welcome!" 

Planning ahead

This morning Justin did not have to work because rain has been expected to last all day, and it has! What is wonderful is that he finally got a chance to attend Bible study again. The bad part was driving in the rain, part of the time on the way to class, and in pouring rain all the way home. Ugh!!

We completed our study of Timothy today and next week will start right into a study of Titus. We wrapped up our study time quickly as one of the area funeral homes was bringing us lunch and doing a presentation on pre-planning our funerals. Mine is already done but I sure didn't mind staying for lunch and the sales pitch. 

Justin was very helpful in getting the lunch carried in, with the other gentlemen in the class, and getting stuff set up. A 'pastor' who came with the lady from the funeral home did the presentation and Justin was not impressed. Said he just can't trust a pastor with a Southern accent. He is so much yet a WI boy! He whispered to me that it felt like we were being sold a time-share. But the lunch was out of this world---soup and sandwiches, and Rice Krispie treats!  I told the lady from HG that I loved them, and had them on my list for my funeral meal. She was surprised to hear that I even had my food planned out!

Before we left Victory, Justin nicely helped Stephanie move a box of castoff clothes and extra hangers into our car, for the PACE clothing event which is next Tuesday. Before class Dawn gave Justin a bunch of bags and some clothes, too. I cannot get over the generosity of folks for this organization. 

We got back here about 12:30 with Justin dropping me at the elevator lobby so I didn't get thoroughly soaked. It would sure help if I could leap from the car like I used to! He had an IT appointment over in the neighboring building but had a few minutes before needing to go over. He helped Sharon out with a few things electronic and chatted with her. She sent her greetings with him, saying we didn't exist in each other's lives outside of the pool. I can so fix that, once the rain ends!

I've been working on getting a table of ten together for a PACE luncheon held at the end of March. RSVPs have been rolling in and if everyone says they will come, I am going to have a problem...I asked 11 people! I would guess that is a great problem. I am trying to make sure that the ladies I have invited know at least one other person at the table so no one feels awkward or anything. Thus far it's working out!