Friends at the tables

This morning we had Bible study and worship, as usual. Our study is of the minor prophets but it is a bit slow getting going. I'm sure it will pick up as we get into it. We have a family joining us now from the church in Keystone Heights, with two of their kids attending our Sunday school. That is so nice, great to have more kids!

As usual, following worship, our little group headed to Chili's to have lunch together. Today again we welcomed Judy's granddaughter, Victoria, who also worshiped with us. She is not a fan of Chili's but comes along anyway. When her parents are in town, we eat elsewhere to comply with Victoria's preference. I personally don't care where we dine, just so we're together. Another special treat was having Gretchen join us, thanks to Terri's persuasion. Terri promised to take her home after lunch and Gretchen agreed. Yay for us! Because she was with us, we were all on our best behavior---yeah, right!  She is the champion straw wrapper blower, she started that whole thing with us!

After lunch I had to hustle on home to get to work on my dinner making, since we were having guests join us tonight. I got started with cutting up the potatoes and without too much ado got two casseroles of escalloped potatoes with ham ready for the oven. I made one smaller portion without onions since Stephanie is vehemently opposed to them. The larger casserole included the onions which I also sliced. I can't believe how quickly I was able to assemble our dinner and get it into the fridge. Had enough time to rest for a bit, which I needed after standing in the kitchen.

The reason a rest was helpful was because I had to attend a Board meeting at 4:00 pm to decide the course of action as regards hiring a management company for the building. The BOD had interviewed a couple of agencies and today were choosing which one to hire. We need this since we have not enough people on the BOD and no one to serve as the secretary or treasurer. Both are required, obviously, and needed to remain in compliance with State condo laws. What a pain! In order for it to be cost effective and not cause an increase in our monthly fees, some compromising of services has to be made. I can't say too much about this because I was unwilling to step in and take a seat on the Board, though I have been asked and asked. It would just not be good for my spirit, but then again, neither is paying increased fees!

Justin took care to put our dinner in the oven at the appointed hour, allowing some extra cooking time due to having two casseroles going at once. Besides our potatoes and ham I made green beans in the steamer, to which Justin added garlic butter. Our guests, Stephanie, Jean, and Erica, arrived and we got everyone seated, and watered. My sweet neighbor, Kay, had delivered a bag of ice cubes to me after the Board meeting. She is my supplier! I know the ladies are water drinkers so I made sure my Brita was ready to go and put ice in the glasses for us all. 

Stephanie's casserole cooked through but the larger dish didn't fare as well, with some of the potatoes a bit raw yet. Nuts! Even with baking it a bit longer than usual, there was rawness! Jean didn't say anything about it, but I did. Erica was not feeling well and we knew that before she arrived. Tonight she did eat a teeny bit of Jell-O (I got up early to make it this a.m.!) and some ham with a taste of potato. Her grandma said that is the most she's eaten in days so I am glad she did try at least. She is seeing the doctor this coming week to see what's going with her, and hope she gets answers. 

Jean and Erica made our dessert, a raisin custard pie, one of my favorites. Oh, yum! The pie was amazing! 

Stephanie knows how I feel about raisin pie. The crust was homemade, too, with Jean walking Erica through how to make it. After we ate our dessert, we sat at the table and talked for a bit before the ladies, having had a long day already, decided to head for home. Before coming to my house, they attended the Victory Lutheran softball game. It ended up being a scrimmage, with the other team borrowing people from the Victory team in order to play. It was such a nice day, didn't hurt a bit to be out watching a ball game. And then they came to my house! I loved our time together, and am glad we did this before Jean has to head back home to WI. Her visit this time has been much more fun since Stephanie retired last year. Those ladies and their yarn creations, love to shop for yarn and love to make things from the yarn. It's great for them, and others!

Alligator dreams!

Oh, boy! This morning I was so glad to wake up and badly needed to stay that way, even though it was too early to be up. Some of those dreams just don't need revisiting. Last night I heard some disturbing information and I am sure this affected my wee hours dreaming. In the dream I was floating on the raft out in the river and was suddenly in the sights of an alligator. My arms were paddling madly but no matter what, I made no headway from the approaching gator. Somehow I had no oars or paddles to help me, but I did have silverware with me. I was throwing forks and knives like a madwomen to keep that gator at bay. Thankfully I woke up and was glad to be so!!!  

Justin and I enjoyed a nice lunch at 4 Rivers, gotta love their brisket. The next time I go, I think I earn a free sandwich with my frequent shopper points. Yay for me! I am still using my birthday gift cards from 4 Rivers so every time is free for me.  Once home again, from my desk I could enjoy an abundance of river traffic, lovely sailboats and even a few fisherman out there. Right outside the window were a couple of pelicans, which I find most delightful. Only in the past couple of years did I see pelicans over here, and I am okay with them being here. They make less noise than do the geese!

As I am lying here on my bed and checking FB postings, many are checking in from entertainment venues in the area. They run the range from a Broadway presentation of "The Phantom of the Opera" to monster truck shows. Must be Jacksonville! Some others attended the symphony, tickets I declined when offered by my neighbor, Patti. I just stayed home to watch the primary results from South Carolina and Nevada tonight and am not being very entertained at all by the results. This is getting frightening. Just think----I could be at a monster truck show while Rome burns...

Accidents happen

Yesterday after Bible study,  I met my friend for an enjoyable lunch at Metro Diner. After I was home for a bit, I decided to give my mom a call. In the past I would call her on Thursdays as I drove to Victory, but ever since there was a terrible accident on the Bridge with a family killed, I have decided to not do that anymore. So now when I call her, I have no deadline to end the call like I did when going to the study. Mom was resting in her chair when I called her after she'd dusted that morning. Wears a person out! She told me about my sister, Kerry, coming for an overnight visit and all the good food Kerry brought with her. 

We talked for a bit before Mom asked if I'd heard that Lori had fallen in her bathroom. NO!, I had not and I was terribly upset to hear this. Lori had called Mom a few days ago and told her about it, the fall occurring over the weekend prior. When I was done talking with Mom I called Lori to see how she was. Lori was at work but could talk, and told me about her fall. 

Apparently she had a taken a shower and was stepping out of the tub. She is unsure exactly how it happened but didn't lift her foot high enough and down she went on the floor. She hit with a mighty thud but her hubby didn't hear it. Lori was able to get up on her own, no harm and no foul, but has now bruising from her thigh to above the ankle on one leg. It didn't stop her from going with her lady friends that evening, she is a trouper.

I just hate it when I hear that family or friends have a fall, no matter what age they are. Lori said if she was older she might have broken a bone but she IS four years older than me. She said she had some padding on her legs to buffer her but I told her she did not have much (not like mine!). My other sisters have bird legs like their grandma and mama, I don't know where mine came from! I am so glad Lori is okay, though, none the worse for the wear. Guess she can wait a while to get one of those emergency pendants, especially since David is there to help her! 

Unreasonableness

This morning I went to Bible study at Victory, good traffic and no problems. I am always so thankful when I get there, and then thankful to get back home again. I met Pastor H. as I walked up and noticed he was dressed somewhat differently than usual. He had on a plaid shirt, a sweater vest, and a blazer over the top of that, plus jeans. Hmmm...not his normal Thursday attire. After he greeted me he told me Cary would be taking the class today as he was flying to MKE for a meeting. Oh, okay...he needed the layers for the cold!

Dawn was already inside, having a quilt she is working on spread out in the space between the chancel and the first row of chairs. This is the best place for her to do this as she needs space with no foot traffic. Cary had already made the coffee when Harold and Lucy arrived. Harold scolded me for not bringing doughnuts but before I could say anything, Cary jumped in to report Rita was bringing doughnuts. In fact, her car broke down at the doughnut shop and Cary's wife was picking her up and bringing Rita and the doughnuts to class. Poor Rita but yay for Nancy going to get her!

We had full tables, including a guest from Martin Lutheran College, Kate, who is on her way to Leesburg where she'll meet up the president of the college to do a presentation to a group about MLC. It was great to have her as part of class. Every seat was taken, a good situation to have. We are studying Titus which is a great follow-up to the book of Timothy.

My friend, Kathy H., and I were finally able to get together for lunch. I got to choose where we went, picking Metro Diner. This was her first visit, strangely enough. I arrived first and signed in at the host station. Another lady came in behind me, with her daughter, and put her name on the list. She was disgruntled that the host wouldn't seat her until the rest of her group arrived. I waited to the side for Kathy to get there and was fine with it. This lady was not happy and asked to see a manager. While 'we' waited for him, I talked to her about the policy, me being jolly about it. Given the busyness of this place and the rapid turnover, certainly they don't want tables held up, in her case a 5 top, waiting for the rest of her party for 15 minutes. I felt she was being unreasonable in her upset, unhappily waiting for her group to arrive and then being seated. Try I as I might, I couldn't persuade her to be okay with it. Finally Kathy arrived and we were seated. This lady and her group, once they got there, were seated, ate, and left before Kathy and I were finished. What the heck was all the fuss about??!

Kathy enjoyed her meal, as did I, and she treated me for my birthday. Yes, I am still milking the birthday! Kathy and her mom couldn't make it to my party. She gave me a gift besides paying for my meal, and I am thankful for the Chili's gift card and picture frame. Her family is gathering for her niece's wedding for which everyone is on call to help organize. Her brother is unmarried so Kathy is helping as best she can, like a mother of the bride role, to help her brother and his daughter pull off this wedding. I wish them wonderful weather and no drama. Is that too much, is that unreasonable? 

That was a nightmare

This was the glorious sunrise we were met with this morning

Today I finally tackled the ominous task of signing up for the VyStar online checking service. Yes, I was already enrolled in this but they have instituted a new computer system and everyone has to go through this ritual. I'd heard from others how awful it was, having the system go down under the pressure of people trying to get re-enrolled, etc. Obviously I was reluctant to take care of this but it was getting time to pay some bills so I had to dive right in. It only took two phone calls to customer service to get it done. When I was done, I needed a drink! 

My drink of choice was a milk shake which Brenda N. and I enjoyed after our nice lunch at Steak 'n Shake. It is always great to see her and spend time together. She comes over on her lunch hour and we pack much into our time together. And, later, we enjoy our milk shakes which we take with us. I cannot eat the meal and have the shake at the same time---it's either one or the other!

On the way home, I stopped at Winn Dixie to get what I needed to make cookies for at church tonight. I took the easy route and bought the break apart cookies which I baked at home. Easier yet would have been buying pre-baked cookies so I am good. Technically, I took home-baked cookies tonight and am proud of it!  

For my dinner after church I made myself a nice pork sandwich using the remains of the apple-flavored loin Justin made. Oh, my! Was that delicious! Justin had eaten already when I came home, working late and too tired to do anything except go to bed. Poor guy, right back into the thick of things!

History repeats itself

I just had to laugh today, right off the bat. The Facebook Memory thing popped up with a post from last year when Justin checked in for us from Grumpy's because I'd forgotten my phone at home. He wrote: "Mom left her phone at home. People might think she didn't get to eat today if I don't check in for her." And that is why, folks, I check in on FB. People will become concerned that I am starving nearly to pieces if I do not!

The next funny thing was Terri messaged me to go meet for breakfast---yes---at Grumpy's! History is repeating itself today. And what a lovely breakfast it was, too. Sometimes I fear that the Metro Diner will hurt Grumpy's business but so far I haven't noticed much decline. Saturdays at Grumpy's are still standing room only. I know there are some who are regulars and just will not venture up the street. I am also a regular but do venture up the street!  And today, I had my phone with me to do my own check-in.

Just looking at them makes my mouth water! I needed an ice cream bar later to soothe my throat after all that garlic!

This evening Justin and I had pizza from Papa Johns. Mine was free because I had bought one on Super Bowl Sunday, plus I added those wonderful garlic knots to the order. Justin likes a thin crust bbq chicken for his pie, and I like the regular crust meat 'n cheese lovers' version. He will finish mine for me during the week, but I got my fair share of the garlic knots. 

Eating at home

My boy is a fan of the website Pinterest and other similar sites. From those he finds the most amazing recipes and tonight we will be enjoying one of them. Winn Dixie recently had pork loins on special for $2.00 a pound. The last time I went to get one they were out, promising more were coming. When I went back again, the butcher had to go to the storeroom/cooler and came out with two of them. I took only one, leaving the spare for someone else to buy. Why would they not have them out and available for the taking, though?

Today he is making the recipe which includes slicing the loin along one side and putting apple wedges into the roast. Besides some other ingredients including cinnamon, more apples were placed around the loin in the slow cooker. All day it has cooked and made our house smell wonderful. Can't wait to try it at dinner time, with spiced apples alongside. It sure does smell wonderful.

The other day a Facebook friend and I were discussing the stores in the hometown we came from, including Kresge's. It seems both our moms liked to wear a perfume "Evening in Paris" which I figured was a more 'fancy' scent than Kresge's would sell. I guess it was not! Today Lori sent me this photo she found online of a collection of "Paris" bottles. Wow, does this ever bring back memories. Already back then I liked cobalt glass, and apparently, so did my mom!  This set was available for $185, just imagine if we'd kept all those bottles from back then...

Today the Chef from The Club sent me this video taken yesterday of the St. Valentine's events including exterior shots. At the 1:13 mark he caught a lovely shot of The Palace, so I thought I'd share it here for you to see, as well: http://youtu.be/ubGGK9zQtg4. You can mute the sound to just look at the photoe. Enjoy!