Busy Week

Ok, so it has been more than a week, but I've been busy.

On Sat. 1/17, I went with Sheila to Sarasota to visit Michelle.  It was a fun day.  Spending time with Sheila, seeing Michelle, meeting Rebecca, eating at Columbia, going to Fresh Market and touring the New College campus.  Rebecca is Michelle's friend that she was staying with.  Columbia is a Cuban restaurant.  At Last!  I found a good Cuban sandwich.  And they even have a branch in Celebration, which is just down the way from us.  Too bad the service was lousy.  The campus is beautiful.  I think I have said before, it is the old Ringling estate and sits right on the bay.  Yike, how do they ever study?

Then the Florida School of Preaching Lectureship in Lakeland was the 19-22.  It was a good lectureship and we heard some good speakers.  The theme was "restoring the Erring" and nearly all of the speakers concentrated on one facet of that theme.  Lunch each day was provided by different local congregations.  As always the food was marvelous and plentiful.  I still say the best cooks in the country go to the Church of Christ!  We also ran into some friends from Wildwood.  Mary and Bill Hammond were there and it was so good to visit with them.  We took TD with us to Lakeland.  He would just as soon be in the car where we are near by as to stay home.  Since this week had cool temps, it was perfect for leaving him in the car.  There were also shady places to park the car.

On Wed, I decided to forego the lectureship and make my weekly trip to Clermont.  Really glad I did.  As a group we had a good time.  But it was good to have some one-on-one time with Mellan.

On Saturday, 1/24, we went to the Newcomers Dinner at Central Church.  Food (as always) was good and we met some new people.  A very enjoyable evening.

On the way home, my throat started to hurt and by morning my ear was hurting to.  Needless to say I didn't attend services this morning.  I am feeling some better and will decide tomorrow if I need to go get checked out.

God Bless

staying busy

Well, Tuesday we did get to sleep late.  Even TD didn't think we needed to get up early.  I think it was about 9 before he stretched.  I took him out to relieve himself so TM could get just a few more minutes in the bead.  

I went over to the clubhouse in the afternoon for crafting.  Everyone brings their own craft and we visit a lot.  One lady is teaching several others to crochet a reversible afghan.  A couple have never crocheted before, but they are picking it up just fine.

TM had a doctor's appt. in the afternoon.  Since our Knoxville Doctor decided to go to NC and work with the indigent, we are kind of high and dry.  TM was there quite some time, which surprised me.  Usually if he can't get seen in 1/2 hour, he is out of there.  But since he had a really bad headache, he waited.  He really liked this doctor, so I guess I will make an appt. and go see him too.

It rained like crazy for a couple of hours in the evening.

We took our usual trip to Clermont on Friday.  And had the usual good time.  We decided to have lunch at Olive Garden and there turned out to be 11 of us.  OG was great.  They handled the crowd well.  Didn't even mix up any of the orders and were very pleasant.  Gave them kudos to the manager as we left.

Wed. night after Bible class, we went to Perkins to eat.  We thought there would be 6 of us and there wound up being 13.  (TM and I quite a following, don't we?)  The server there was also very good and friendly.

Thursday, we went to the church building for "Young at Heart".  It was a potluck lunch, with singing, devotional and a speaker.  The idea is that we will be hearing speakers that would be of interest to those "our age" and telling about services offered in the city/county.  This time was a financial advisor - just happens her daddy was the one who put the program together.  She was very good and knowledgeable.  We had a good time and good food.

Begins to sound like all we do is eat, doesn't it?  Not really.  Lots of walking around the park and bike riding with TD.

That's it for now.

God Bless

What a Night

Friday night was clear, clear, clear.  The stars were beautiful and the full  moon lit everything up.  TM and I went to Bok Tower Gardens for the "Bok by Moonlight"  There was a one hour concert of several different types of music.

We found a bench that was somewhat secluded, but we could still see the tower.  It is really beautiful lit up at night.  We could also see the moon.

It was a little cool, light jacket weather, as long as you weren't in the wind, which we were not.

Snuggle time!  No, we are not too old for that!

Other than that, we have just been keeping busy with all the usual.  On Wed. we go into Clermont to see Mellan and have lunch with whoever wants to come.  In the mornings, Mellan and I go to scrapbooking.  There are usually about 6 of us there and often everyone goes to lunch together.  Then after lunch usually 3 or 4 of us do beading.  About 4 p, TM picks me up and we head back home to get ready for Wed. night Bible class.

Here at the park the ladies have started an exercise class on M W F.  It is more stretching than anything.  Definitely low impact but so good for us to keep us limber.

Tonight we went to the church building for the first meeting of Monday for the Master.  It was a small group, but we got a lot done.  The idea is to visit people, call people, and send cards.  Tonight TM and I addressed cards.  It was a nice time and I think it is a really good idea.

Signing off for now.

God Bless

Happy New Year

A few days late.  But not because we partied too hearty.

New Years Eve day we into Clermont for scrapbooking and lunch.  Mellan had her granddaughter Amanda and her neighbor Kaylee with her.  Kaylee is a teenager who likes to scrapbook.  She showed us some cute things she made using the computer.  Amanda, who is 8, is the bouncy sort and nothing seems to hold her attention very long.  Of course that could be because there is always something going on at The Plaster Cottage and it all looks like fun.  She did a kittycat plaque that turned out really cute.  Kaylee helped her a little.

  We got home about 3:30p and had a little time to rest before Wednesday night service.  We had mostly a singing service and a nice devotional.  Naturally talking about the new year.  Afterwards we went with a group to Fazoli's.  The preacher, whose wife and daughter were out of town joined us.  The preacher, Chad, is like me - an avid indoorsman.  He just received "The Barnabas Factor" by Aubrey Johnson and I am hoping I can borrow it when he has read it.

We got hope about 9-9:30 and were both too full to go to bed.  No laying down for TM at that point.  Consequently, we were awake as the new year arrived.  We slipped into bed about, well, midnight.

New Years Day we drove to Tampa.  Jeremy bought a motorcycle stand off e-bay and we went to pick it up.  We thought we might have a little time to see some of the sights, til we realized that the Outback Bowl was being played.  So much for that idea.  We took the long route by going to Peace River and checking out a campground there.  It is really nice, but way too far from everything for us.  (We are far enough now).  We did stumble across a railroad museum in Pariss.  Of course it wasn't open; only open on weekends.  We did see some of the rolling stock and got the web site.  I'm sure we will be going back one Saturday soon.

After lunch (yes we had some black-eyed peas), we went and got the stand.  Managed to wake the people up - they partied hearty the night before.  Then it was home before dark.

Oh, I made my last splurge of the year a pedicure on 29th.  A place in a strip mall across from Walmart.  I figured for $20.00 I would get a "bare bones" treatment.  I got a leg scrub and massage, she put parrafin on my feet, and the massage chair was great on my back.  Won't be the last time I go there, believe me.  Of course, by Wed. it was too cool for me to wear my sandals and show off my toes!  

That's about it for now.

God Bless