Thursday - Off and On Sunny Day, but Milder!

Ken had his devotions done and I completed my stretches and devotions before joining him to watch the Morning News. We did enjoy a beautiful sky from the window of Wilbur before the sun actually rose and it seems to be an every morning occurrence!

Gorgeous!

Almost every morning we get to view this beautiful
red sky.  Ken did not embellish the photo.  This is just
how it appeared!

We both got ready and Ken prepared a bowl of fresh fruit for us while I made omelettes.  He left at 8:45 for Edgewater Church to help set-up and unload the trucks for tomorrow's Food Pantry!

I did the dishes and then started sorting and packing things to take back home when we leave early Saturday morning.  I also got a bag ready to take into a motel if we stop on our way.  The last 2 trips we made to PA Ken was comfortable driving straight through, but it is a lot of miles and about 17 to 18 hours, and because weather conditions and the amount of traffic play a large role, we are never "locked in" to not stopping.  We will just see how it goes for they are forecasting heavy, heavy rain starting around midnight here on Friday and continuing up the coast.

I went through all the cupboards and some of the outside bins and got most things in order that need to go to PA.   After that, I decided to work on this blog.  Ken was back early this week, 11, and we thought we would go to the beach for a couple hours.  But, the wind had really increased and when the sun was in, it was not exactly beach weather.  Probably a good thing because we kept busy a lot of the afternoon.  We ate lunch outside and then spent time loading the car and putting things away that were outside!  We made salads for dinner and decided what things we needed to take home with us from the refrigerator.

Ken did some reading while I talked with my mother.  She is feeling much better, but Dad's floor is quarantined and no one can leave the floor or visit.  

Around 3:30, Ken and I decided to play some shuffleboard and Ken won 2 of the 3 games!  Like I said before, I need to practice!  Then we took a walk around the CG.  I started working on some x-stitch jar lids I want to do for our granddaughters for Christmas (I wish I would have thought of it earlier, but I will get them done!) and we ate dinner while watching the Evening News.  We started playing Hand and Foot and Ken was on a "roll".  I declared him the winner after 3 rounds in the 1st game and did the same in the next game after only 2.  He "skunked" me!

I continued working on the x-stitch gifts while we watched the football game until 1/2 time.  Then it was off to bed to do some reading.  

I did have a nice conversation with my sister and John has a virus and has not felt well since last Friday.  He did go to the Dr. this week and is starting to improve, but it is a slow process.  The Dr. said it is "going around" and lasts about 10 to 14 days.  Hopefully Cindy won't get it! 

Wednesday - Mostly Sunny Day and Near 70!

Ken was up very early after a restless night.  I did my stretches and devotions before appearing around 7, just in time for the Morning News.  We showered and got ready for the day before having a cereal breakfast.

Ken did more reading while I scoured the bathroom and did some additional clean-up.  Ken did the vacuuming which is a tough chore for my back!  But I must say, my back has been doing better with very little hip pain and the pain in my back having lessened.  We have been walking fairly often and it goes much better than it did in recent months.  It appears that the back shots have been rather effective!  

I prepped the veggies for dinner, had a nice phone conversation with friend, Jackie (we scheduled a time to get together when we are home over Christmas), and then we decided to take a walk in the neighboring property and in our CG.  Upon our return it was time for lunch.  We were able to eat outside, because when in the sun, it felt wonderful.  I sat outside doing some X-stitch until Rick and Joyce arrived around 2.  We sat outside chatting for over an hour and then headed to the shuffleboard courts where the games were a disaster for us ladies.  It was a marathon and the men won all 5 games.  Only the very last one was close and went on for a long time.  I think I need a lot of practice!

We only got back to Wilbur around 6:15 and it was time to start dinner.  Ken grilled cod, salmon, and chicken and I cooked quinoa and fresh veggies.  After dinner, we just stacked the dishes for Ken and I to do later, because we wanted to play double deck Pinochle.  That is a game that the women usual win and tonight was no exception.  Rick and Joyce left about 9:15 after we had dessert - ice cream!  We appreciated that they were willing to stay that late because they are picking up Lloyd and Deb tomorrow morning at 3:30 AM to take them to Punta Gorda airport for their flight back to PA.  It will be a very short night!

I did the dishes while Ken got his daily devotional ready that he sends to many of his back home "brothers".  He is so faithful in that mission!  We were in bed around 10:15 after another fun day!

Tuesday - Cool, Sunny Day!

Ken had a short night and was up by 4.  By the time I got up at 6:30, he had done a lot of reading and studying.  Time to do my stretches and devotions before watching the Morning News. 

We left by 8:15 to go to Peach's in Venice for breakfast with Lloyd, Deb, Rick, Joyce, Frank and Barb.  We had a great time only leaving the restaurant at 11.  We said our good-byes to Lloyd and Deb because they are flying back to PA on Thursday, but we should see them at our church there on Sunday.  We will see Frank and Barb sometime in January.  We plan to spend tomorrow afternoon and evening with Rick and Joyce here at the CG.  I see a shuffleboard match and more Hand and Foot in our near future!!!!!

Ken and I were back to the CG around 1:00 after doing some driving around the area.  We had a light lunch and then Ken rested while I scoured the bathroom and finished dusting Wilbur.  Then it was time for some game playing on my tablet.  I did put some final coats on my painted rocks and then Ken and I did some rearranging on our patio.  

We headed to the shuffleboard courts around 5 and the fun began.  We played 2 games and I was victorious in both - Yeah for me!!!!  By then both of us were rather chilly (it was in the low 50's and a bit breezy), so we headed back to Wilbur.  Noela called at just the right time so that Ken cooked the chicken, onions and peppers to put on the salads we had made yesterday.  I had a very nice chat with Noela who has been crazy busy since returning home!  They are having a great time with family, but have Christmas gifts to buy, Dr. appointments, etc.  All is good, just hectic!!!

After dinner, Ken and I finished a game of Hand and Foot (I won) and then played 2 rounds of another one with Ken in the lead by 700 points.  We will finish the game another day!  I worked on this blog while watching The Voice and the Darci Lynne Christmas special.

This has been another great day.  I can't believe we didn't take any photos at this morning's breakfast!!! What were we thinking?????

Monday - Off and On Cloudy Day with Temperatures Only In the 60's!

Ken only got up at 6:45 - imagine that!!!  We watched the news from 7 to 7:30 and then went back to the bed to stretch and do my devotions.  Ken read in the "Living Room"!  We didn't make breakfast until we had showered and were all ready for the day.

After cleaning up, I put a coat of Mod Podge on my rocks, addressed some cards, and by 11 we were on our way to the Venice area.  We stopped by Detwiler's Market to get some needed produce and fruit and then it was off to downtown Venice.  

They are doing major renovation work on the main downtown streets and the center areas of the roads, where they took out the old palm trees and will replace them with new ones.  What a job!!!!  I do feel badly for the businesses in the downtown area, especially those on some of the back streets.

One side done!

Of course our 1st stop was the Upper Crust Bakery for one of their delicious scones - today's choice was raspberry.  It melts in your mouth when you spread Devinshire cream on it!

It is calling our name!

Yummy especially with the cream!

After enjoying our scone, we decided to walk the 5 or so blocks to Venice Beach.  It was a very windy day and when the sun went behind the clouds it felt rather chilly, but I will say it was nothing like the weather this time of year in PA!  We walked along the beach for a short time, but Ken wanted to head back - he was actually colder than me!

The water and wind combined to give him a great ride!

Ken wanted to take pictures of the Banyan Trees and some other foliage on our way back to the car.  There were also a few homes that have been in Venice for a very long time.  At one they were planting probably one hundred plus poinsettias and a gentleman in a "cherry picker" was hanging lights on the palm trees!  Can't imagine the cost of that decorating job!

There were 2 Banyan trees and they were huge!

Ken's favorite flower - Bird of Paradise!

The purple flowers on this tree were beautiful!

One of the older homes!

This one was huge.  Ken and I would like to live in the
dwelling above their garage!

They dug a hole for each poinsettia and these were not
small potted plants!

Note the gentleman hanging the lights on all the palm trees!

Someone was taking a tree home for the season -

After leaving Venice, we stopped at Wal-Mart for a few more items, getting back to Wilbur around 4.  We made salads for tonight and tomorrow and prepped some of the fruit we had bought.  Ken rested and I worked on this blog.

Ken grilled hamburgers for us and he left at 6:40 for Celebrate Recovery at Edgewater Church.  I put a 2nd coat on my rocks and then dusted Wilbur.  Watched The Voice while going through photos on my computer and did some crocheting.  Ken was back at 9:30 after experiencing a fantastic night at CR.  We watched the end of The Voice and then it was off to bed.  This was another great day!

Sunday - Rainy, but Relaxing Day!

Ken was up at his normal early hour and did all of his reading.  I did my stretches and devotions in bed and was up and about by 7:30.  By 9:00 we were on our way to Edgewater Church, having time for coffee and tea and visiting with our special friends.  It was another inspiring service and so great to spend it with people we only learned to know through the church!

We did more socializing after the service and it had started to rain rather heavily when we left the Church.  Ken and I went to have our usual Sunday morning breakfast at Denny's - we shared their $5.99 special that included those delicious hearty wheat pancakes!  What a deal and you even get at 15% discount for AARP - we really are getting old!

We were back to the CG by noon and it was time to work on this blog and watch some football.  Ken got a deposit ready for the bank from our craft show sales.  I spent the afternoon crafting - crocheting and painting rocks.  Wow, the football games today were amazing, but I was really disappointed that the Eagles lost.  So many games had unbelievable plays in the last minute or so!

We had leftovers for dinner and did play 2 rounds of Hand and Foot with a strong lead for me!!!  I also had a nice phone conversation with Doloris, a good friend and fellow camper from back in PA.  We watched the Bears game until half time and then it was off to bed!

It was an extremely relaxing and enjoyable day.  Sometimes you just need a day to "take it easy" and it felt great.

Saturday - The End of Our Crafting Era!

Ken did his morning routine and I was up at 6:15 to do my stretches.  We got ready for the craft show and were on our way to the Englewood Sports Complex by 8:15.  I was excited and at the same time a bit sad knowing that this was the last craft show I plan on doing.  It is a relief at the same time, but it has been a part of our lives for many years.

After making hundreds of earrings, pendants, sea glass pendants and sea glass pictures this chapter is ending and a new one beginning.  I had a "Going out of Business Sale", selling all my items at very reduced prices!  Ken and I were thrilled at the end of the day at the amount we sold and the small amount of products we had left - hallelujah!  The craft show was from 9 to 2 and we were both extremely tired when we left there at 2:30, not having sat down the whole time.  We met a lot of very nice customers and appreciated Lloyd, Deb, Rick and Joyce coming by as well as Bob and Pat from Edgewater Church.  It was a wonderful end to Gifts From the Sea!

All set-up and ready to SELL!

I didn't have many seaglass pictures left and I had decided
not to make any more before the show!

Let the show begin!!

This was all the jewelry I had left to sell at this show!  I can't
begin to imagine how many sets of earrings and the number of
pendants I have made over the years!

Thought the tablets I had made
were "cute", but they weren't a great
seller.  Fortunately I did sell 8 at
this show!

I love the seaglass pendants, but
not a great seller today!

Ken rested when we got back to Wilbur and I did my devotions, played Pop Words on my tablet, and relaxed.  By 4:15 we left to go to Rick and Joyce's home and they had graciously invited for dinner.  Ken decided to take a "short cut" on the way because he wanted to get gas, but unfortunately he got us lost!  We did quite a bit of "back tracking"!  We were there a little after 5 and what a delicious dinner they provided.  We did a tour of their home and all the work they had done since we left here last March - they painted the whole condo, redid the kitchen cabinets including crown molding, got new windows, and wooden plantation shutters on their windows.  It looks fantastic and they should be very proud of all they accomplished!

This is the view Rick and Joyce get to see our their window!

We played a game of men against women Hand and Foot and the women won by quite a margin!  Then it was time for dessert, an ice cream that has become Joyce's favorite and she is an ice cream connoisseur if there ever was one!  The ice cream is made by Blue Bell and the flavor is Mango Key Lime Pie - it was so good!  No wonder it is her new favorite!  Following dessert we played double deck Pinochle and the women were winners again!  What a night for the ladies!

Ken and I were back to Wilbur by 10:45 after a wonderful day and the end to a special "season" of our lives!  We both did a little reading and then off to dreamland.  It was a very busy last couple days!

Oh yes, we did get our chai "stash" delivered to the CG.  Two 4 lb. jugs for us, 1 for Noela, and 3 for Rick and Joyce.  It is Joyce's fault that we all got addicted to this great drink!

Friday - Back to Help at the Church's Food Pantry!

It was our usual morning routine with Ken up early and I joined him in time for the news at 7.  After finishing our morning routines, we had breakfast and I had a nice phone chat with Ken's sister, Priscilla.

By 9:15 we were on our way to Edgewater Church to help at the Food Pantry.  What a great "welcome back" we received.  It was so wonderful to see our Florida friends again.  It is amazing how they all remembered our names and made us feel so welcome!  98 people went through the "pantry" and it really is a wonderful feeling to be able to help these folks.  It closes at 12:30 and after cleaning up, 14 of us went to lunch together - a great way to learn to know these folks better.  We had a great time.

We were back to the CG by 2:45 and loaded the CRV with all the things needed for tomorrow's craft show at the Englewood Sports Complex.  Ken and I were there from 3:30 to 5 and are ready for tomorrow's show from 9 to 2.  I have really reduced the price on all my jewelry, as this is the last craft show I plan to do - I am retiring from the craft business.  I am enjoying making things to give away like crocheted baby blankets for Knots of Love (premie babies), x-stitch jars filled with candy, painted rocks, and greeting cards.  What fun!  I have really enjoyed doing these craft shows, but everything in life has a season, and this season is over for me.  I will have no more deadlines for crafts and that feels good!

When we got back to Wilbur, Ken did some checking on Facebook and I worked on this blog while watching the news.  Just a few "munchies" because of eating a larger lunch and then we finished our game of Hand and Foot.  Unfortunately for me, Ken won again, but only by less than 200 points.  I'm not sure what I need to do to win a game!!!!!

By 9:15 we were in bed to do some reading.