I was going to sleep...

....early, but I cannot. The dryer is running with Justin's work clothes in it which he needs for tomorrow. Normally not a problem but his jackets and such make a racket as they roll around in the tub. His usual joke is that he has put a roll of quarters in the dryer, but tonight, he actually did pull out coins, a whole handful of them, from the dryer. His stuff is so dense that it takes a long time to dry, been going about an hour now. 

The bad news is that the dryer is making a very strange sound, one I noticed on Saturday when Rosalie had tossed in a shirt with a dryer sheet to freshen it up. I went to check on it Saturday, reset the dryer, and it was fine. Not tonight, though. The rumbling sound is worsening and when I opened the door, I discovered what seems to be a strip of insulation dangling from around the drum. This is not a good thing and I fear the worst will happen, so I am ever vigilant, listening intently as the zippers and clasps, etc. roll around. I sure wish he didn't have to have his things for tomorrow.  I already looked up some new dryers on-line and I think a trip to Home Depot is in order in the afternoon. Free delivery and haul off. Shoot!

As I said to him on Saturday, talking to him about the noise I heard (I have this keen hearing, you know!), I told him how I didn't buy top of the line appliances, that I really didn't need to for just my stuff. His stuff is heavier than mine and he also does larger loads at once than I like which are hard on the machinery. I think my point will be made when he hears about the need for a new dryer. I don't really think it's worth it to see about a repair.

Justin is off in the morning, going to Bible study with me, but we have to come right back after class so I can drop him off to help his coworker spread some mulch. Two days this week they worked in the rain so he is just 'lucky' to be off in the morning. It's been a long week already for those two guys.

Today I attended a political luncheon at The Club, with speaker being the FL First Lady. She even got her picture taken with me! We had a good-sized group, around 100 people. My friend, Diane, sat with me which was extra nice. Another friend, Jennifer, who sat in front of me at Senior Presentation, was with us also. She benefitted from my 'connections' there and enjoyed a Diet Coke or two with her lunch!

Oh, good, the dryer stopped. I hope his stuff is dry enough for him to wear tomorrow. I will make sure to check the clothes in the morning and dry them on the car seat as we drive to and from Victory. Shoot, I really hate to have to buy a new dryer but I cannot be without one either. First world problems!

Good times in the 'burg!

Today I had the privilege of driving to Middleburg to meet my friend, Jacquie, for lunch at the newly opened bbq restaurant, Bono's. It's been a long time since I made this trip and was impressed to see the growth and fine-tuning going on in this once less-urban community. It's getting all grown up, even has a hospital now! Two big box 'hardware' stores and a new Wal*Mart, plus a very nice but older Publix, where I shopped after lunch.

I loved having time with Jacquie again and we could have talked for hours longer. The place, being new and quite delicious, was a bee-hive of people coming in to eat or taking food to-go. When we first sat down, a dozen firefighters and EMTs were right next to us, the seating being bench-style. I told Jacquie we were so lucky to be eating lunch with such handsome tablemates!

The beef brisket I ordered, my mistake for not ordering the large portion!, was out of this world. Never even touching my sidedishes, I ate every morsel of that beef, using the end of my garlic bread to sop up the juices left on the plate. Oh my! (Sadly, I don't believe my hometown has any type of bbq joints, this must be a regional thing.) The very best brisket I have ever had, and I told everyone who walked past our table how much I liked it!

Jacquie and I both needed things from the grocery store, in the same plaza as Bono's. She helped me find a couple things I needed from Publix. I bought shallots for the first time in my life, and red wine vinegar, both items needed for a chicken recipe I wish to try. She is quite a cook and knows her way around the store. 

For dinner tonight, I was invited to join Nancy W. at The Club to celebrate her birthday. I totally missed it last Wednesday at trivia, but she left early due to not feeling very well. Glad she included me tonight for the pre fixe menu. Four ladies enjoyed the sirloins, plus apertif, salad, appetizer, and dessert. I had the raspberry sorbet, which was perfect at the end of the meal. 

Justin said I was carousing until all hours but I got home right around 9:00 pm. For me, that IS all hours!

A brief recap

I can't believe what's all transpired in this past week already. To recap: Thursday was Bible study and then getting all things ready for my guests who arrived late afternoon. For dinner Hal, Rosalie, and I went to The Club while Justin went to the movies to see "The Lego Movie". He absolutely loved it! 

My guests were dead on their feet so had gone to bed early (about 8:30 pm their time) and slept until 7:00 am the next morning! Justin had made the beds using his 'old' twin-sized memory foam pad on one bed plus a comforter under the sheet on the other one. Cush and cozy!

Rosalie had come back down the hall after going to her room and heard Justin and me talking in my room. She mentioned it the next day, how nice it was that we talked like that. Oh, she doesn't know the half of it!!! I very much appreciated her comment to me. 

Friday was our Grumpy's breakfast, the thunderstorm, the gathering of friends, dinner at home with Justin and me making pulled pork sandwiches, and a quiet evening. Justin was home with us Friday night. 

Saturday morning I served my guests a continental breakfast before they packed their car and left. I sent some bananas and mini-oranges along with them. Then I left for the early luncheon at Park Avenue Bistro with the church ladies. From there I drove to Baymeadows for the going away party for Schroeders, and then home to collect myself on Saturday night. Saying 'good-bye' to dear people twice in one day was just about all I could take!

In the meantime, I found a very nice thank you gift left on my desk from Hal and Rosalie, a certificate for me to eat at Grumpy's for weeks to come! I bet Justin will be sharing that with me at least once or twice!

Some more Sunday photos

These photos didn't arrive until after I posted Sunday's blog, so I can add these now. Besides recognizing the 15 years of grace, 5 kids were baptized, all associated with their pre-k program at Victory. 

Not quite tall enough to lean over the font, the kids, except the taller girl on the right in the pink dress, had to be lifted up to receive the washing. The older girl appeared to be perhaps special and reacted when the baptisms began. She clapped her hands a bit before her mom stilled her. 

When the last little girl was lifted up by her mom and baptized, Pastor wiped her face off, and handed her the cloth. She said, "Thank you..." and he said, "You are most welcome..." Even the older gentleman on the end of our row was wiping his eyes.

While those 5 little ones were received into God's family, these two people were leaving the Victory family. Pastor offered a special send off blessing for them, mentioning how the congregation was blessed to have them and how blessed their next congregation (actually the one they left 2 1/2 years ago...) will be to have them back again. Wayne and Suzanne have grown in their faith and congregation life being here, as they have attested, and I can't even imagine what good things will come from them yet in their years on earth. 

A celebratory day!

Justin and I had the privilege of attending the 15 years of God's grace at Victory Lutheran Church this a.m. As Pastor began his sermon, he asked those who were in attendance at the very first service to please stand. There were about a dozen of us at this service, plus some at the first service. 

After the service, the men got busy stacking chairs along the sides temporarily while tables were put up. Lickety split, they had it done. Justin pitched right in, and was even putting tableclothes on as they went! 

When Justin was done setting up tables and putting the table cloths on, he was enlisted by Pastor Hoyer to help him with the wine, and fill the glasses. Justin was not all that familiar with opening the wine bottles but he got the hang of it. While he did that, I went through the serving line and filled our plates with food, catered by Maggiano's!   

Fortunately Anne with her parents and sister came to sit with us where we had parked ourselves. Eventually Pastor did come to sit down but then had to get up to say a few words during the slide show presentation. Joel H. was pretty much the MC for the event, one of those who attended the first service, from Good Shepherd. Now he is quite involved in the work at this congregation!

Publix once again comes through with a lovely and tasty cake (Stephanie packed some up for me to take home!) for this celebration. Not only did cake come home with us, but also leftover ziti with cheese and Italian bread. Love it!

Fun and friends

The Ladies' Group and others gathered for an early lunch today. We had 21 people including a friend of one lady who visits every year from Milwaukee. I tried to get as many faces in the group shots as possible, using my cell phone camera. Excuse the blurriness which might appear.

 Twila, Sue, Kristin, Jean, Kathy

 Kathy, Kristi, Joyce, Betty on the left side with Twila, Ethel, Gretchen, Terri on the right side

 Betty, Ellen, Rebecca, Bonnie, Donna on the left with Terri, Judy, Jackie, Julaine, Judy, and Janet on the right

 Judy, Terri across from Joyce, Kristi, Kathy, and Jean

 Janet, Judy, Julaine, Jackie, and Judy (look at all those J's in a row!!!) and Donna

 Jean, Kathy, Kristi, Joyce, Betty and then Twila, Ethel, Gretchen, Terri, and Judy

 Judy, Terri, and Gretchen

 Betty and me!

Judy ordered the dessert! It looked and tasted amazing!

A 'friend'ly gathering!

Hal and Rosalie treated me for breakfast this morning at Grumpy's. We ate there the last time they visited me, and Hal was delighted to get his S.O.S., a real treat now that he's out of the Navy!  They served it to him, not on toast as is usually served, but at his request, on crumbed biscuits. After breakfast, they dropped me off at home, and went to go visit their former neighbor. 

While they were out and about a horrendous thunderstorm came up, causing tornadoes further to the south of us. It gave us lots and lots of rain. It was so bad that when they tried to come back home again, the street was blocked by a tree which had fallen across it. I gave them directions to go around and come into the property via a different route instead. I let my invited guests know of the fallen tree as well so they would know to come in on Milwaukee Avenue instead. 

This is one ominous looking sky!

The small group was assembled to spend some time with Rosalie and Hal, especially Joe, who was top on their list of folks to see. Gretchen was also invited but not expected once the rain began. We knew that going in!

                         

Hal and Joe talked over old times in the Navy and other stuff while the ladies chatted on the other side of the room. I did take pictures of them but they were too blurry to use---sorry!

This will do, though, with Rosalie, Carol, Joe, Judy, and me. I am standing just ahead of the chair where Joe was seated which is part of the reason why I look so much larger than the rest! It was a very nice gathering, if I do say so myself!