Happy Halloween

Dave went to Bradenton this morning - Milt and he are putting in a new tile floor in their condo...the carpet had gotten wet from a leaky water heater and now they're replacing it with tile.  He has to go again tomorrow because they didn't get done in one day.  I stayed here and just enjoyed doing nothing.

Tonight we had our Halloween party here at the Ranch.  I'll get some pictures uploaded tomorrow morning.
There were lots of great costumes this year!  Hope the pictures are good!

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Beautiful day!!

It was another gorgeous day in this beautiful place.  We had coffee and donuts in the rec center this morning.  It was good to have Bob/Ann/Barb/Gary with us.  We heard about lots of upcoming activities - the first one was today!  Fifteen of us ladies had a Red Hat outing to Bahama Breeze in Tampa.  This is a beautiful restaurant right on the water only about 15 minutes from here.  Fun time - pictures to come!

Tonight was 7s from Hell...and my partner and I were winners!!  Yay!

Sudi & Howard started out today but they haven't been on facebook yet...I sure hope everything is okay with them.

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Loser, Loser

I sure wonder why I have such a hard time winning at bingo?  I can get down to 1 number and someone else will bingo.  Ann got to bingo twice tonight...not me...I just sit there while everyone else wins!  

It's getting hot here again.  It's still 78 outside at 10:00 and it's very humid!  We turned the air on so that we'll sleep better.  It's supposed to be around 90 the rest of the week with some showers this weekend.  Our flowers need some water!!

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Beautiful fall day!

It was such a beautiful day today!  We did turn on the a/c for a bit, but that was because I had the oven going baking scalloped potatoes.  We had Bob, Ann, Gary & Barb over for lunch so that they didn't have to cook today.  Dave cooked brats, burgers, and pork chops on the grill while I made baked potatoes and squash.  We had cookies for dessert.  Good food and good company.  We turned off the a/c this afternoon because it was so nice outside.

Tonight I played 7s.  My partner and I lost on the last hand..we led for 3 hands, but just couldn't get it going on the last hand.  Oh well, there's always Weds.

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They're here!

We went to Sarasota today to help Pat & Milt get Dad & Roberta's place ready for the winter.  We worked so hard...all of us had sweat just running off of our faces!  Pat & I had wet hair - just like we'd been in the shower...only it was sweat!  The a/c was on, but we were working hard!!  Most of the house is done now and Pat/Milt will finish what's left during their time here.

Bob & Ann and Gary & Barb got here this afternoon and got everything unloaded at least.  They were on the road Sat at 5:00 AM and yesterday at 6:00 AM (or vice versa??) so I know they're pooped tonight.  We had pizza with them this evening and then left them to do whatever they're going to do tonight.  I'm sure we'll see them tomorrow!

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Saturday

It was an almost perfect day today.  Dave went to his Dad's to help them clean their park model and I got to stay here.  I was able to watch my Cyclones...even though they got trounced, I still enjoyed the game!  The weather was perfect - 81 with a wonderful breeze.  Low humidity so the windows were open.

When Dave got back home, we rode our bikes and ate supper out in the lanai and then we tore into our lighted palm tree.  I guess I should say our once-lighted palm tree!  Most of the lights had stopped working, so we took all of them off and redid the trunk of the tree.  We also got all of the lights off of the fronds.  Now we just have to get a set of icicle lights with green wire for the fronds...I hope they make such a thing!  It might have been better to just buy a whole new tree!

Tomorrow both of us are going to Sarasota to help Dave's family.  Also, my brother should arrive sometime tomorrow afternoon and I'm hoping they want to go to Post Corner for pizza tomorrow evening!

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Friday

This was an absolutely perfect, beautiful day!  It's still 70 degrees at 9:00 PM!  I didn't sleep last night - I was still awake at 3:00 this morning!  So after we went to the Legion for a while today, we came home and both of us took naps!  I sure hope I can sleep tonight...I feel sleepy now, so hopefully!

Tomorrow Bob & Ann and Heckarts are to leave to come down here.  It'll be good to have them here!  Next week it's supposed to be in the 80's again!

Here we are at the  Legion!

There were dolphins galore today.  The first 3 that we saw were really jumping...waaayyy out of the water!  It was fun to watch them.  The others were just doing what dolphins normally do, but these 3 were showing off!  Dave tried to get a picture of them jumping, but this is what he got:

Better luck next time, huh??

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Thursday

It was only in the 50s when I got up this morning, and by 10:00 when it was time for water aerobics it was in the 60s.  So, I didn't go.  I really doubt that anyone did!  We didn't do much today...just kind of sat around with the windows open, enjoying just doing nothing!

I made chicken salad for lunch and we were able to eat on the lanai.  Then this afternoon, I baked chocolate chip cookies.  For supper, we made beef & noodles over mashed potatoes.  Did the dishes and just sat around tonight, too.  We did get our bicycle ride in, though.

Here are a few pictures from this year!  Here we are sitting at the American Legion enjoying the sunshine and water.  Looks like Dave needs some more iced tea!

 This is the view from our table at the Legion.  A dolphin went by about 10' in front of the dock!

 This is near the St Pete Pier...just watching the boats come and go.

 My first bird picture of the year!

It's supposed to be back up in the 80s this weekend, so we'll get to go to Sarasota in the sun!

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Wednesday

What a beautiful day today was!  It was 78 with a nice breeze out of the north.  We finally got to turn off the a/c and open up the house.  We also opened up Bob & Ann's and Gary & Barb's - it sure makes a difference in them after they've been closed up all summer!

This morning we had our coffee and donuts.  Then this afternoon we went grocery shopping and later we went to see if the alligator was at the Largo nature park.  We didn't see him.  All the wildlife we saw today was an ahinga.  We also saw a dragonfly or two and a whole flock of wild parrots flew over while we were there!  They are so noisy that you can't miss them!

Tonight I played 7s while Dave closed up the mobile homes.  Tomorrow's an off day - no activities planned!
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Tuesday

I had water aerobics again this morning.  The water felt a little chilly at first, but it turned out to be quite nice!  Dave and I went shopping after lunch.  I bought some undies and Dave bought some shoes!  It was a good day to go to Beall's - 15% off if you're over 50.  They didn't even ask us to prove it - can you believe that?!!

This evening I went to bingo...I didn't win...I was close on several games, but didn't win, darnit!  One lady won about 6 times and another won 3 games.  I don't like being a loser!

Tonight it rained - supposed to be a cold front come through.  I'm ready for it to be a little cooler.  Since we've been here, you can melt just walking outside.

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Monday

I started my day off at the pool with water aerobics.  There were only three of us today, so I was able to have sun for the whole hour.  It was fun and really helps.  Other than that, though, I didn't do much.  I did take a little nap this afternoon and then took a bike ride with Dave.

Dave worked on spraying for weeds and bugs at all of our mobile homes (104, 208, 441 and ours!)  He's also got to get started painting at 441 - I just don't know when.  I'm already tired of him working at everyone's place!  I may be forced to go shopping one of these days while he's off working on someone's MH.

Tonight I played 7s and lost again!

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Super Sunday

It was another beautiful day in this "paradise".  We are so fortunate to be able to spend time here.  After church this morning, we came home, changed clothes and ate lunch.  Then we were off to St Pete to see if the Pier is still there.  It is, but you can't get out to it...it's all closed down.  Such a shame...I guess they rejected the lens design and now it's just sitting there waiting for either a new design or repairs.  Too bad they moved the small businesses out of there before they had all their ducks in order.  There were lots of people milling about in the parks around The Pier.  We sat for a while, but it was very hot, so we didn't stay long.  I took some cool pix, but so far I haven't found my cord so I can't upload them to my computer until I find it.

This evening we went for a bike ride, did laundry, and just chilled!

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Beautiful Saturday!

I got up this morning, took my shower, and went out for my bike ride.  Dave was cleaning out the gutters so I had to ride by myself.  It was okay though - I got to say hello to several people I hadn't seen since we got here.  After lunch and a short nap, we went to Walmart to get a couple of things we'd forgotten to get yesterday and then we took off for the Gulf.  We hadn't been down there yet and it was beautiful this afternoon.  There were lots of thunderheads in the sky with the sun peeking around corners!  We decided to eat an early supper so went to the Post Corner for our first pizza since we'd been back.  It is still as good as we remembered!  It was a beautiful evening to sit out and eat!  Interesting people at the beach today!

We got home, called Bright House because our box wasn't working properly and got it going with 1 minute to spare before the Baylor Bears slaughtered my Cyclones.  I'm done watching it - the score's 64-0 with 5 minutes left...yuck!  I guess Baylor met the betting line!

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Beautiful - but hot!

It was hot down here today!  My car registered over 90 degrees at 2:00 so I know it got hotter by 4:00!  I just didn't check later.  It's 79 now, but it's still very humid outside.  We've had our a/c going ever since we got here!

I went to water aerobics this morning.  Then Dave and I went to the American Legion for lunch.  Several people from the park were there.  A huge dolphin went swimming by - within 10 feet from the end of the pier!  They said there were many, many dolphins last week.  Tonight I went to play 7s from Hell and my partner and I won by about 9,000 points!  It was fun!

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Safe & Sound

We're here safe and sound!  We left Clarksville, TN about 4:30 this morning and got here about 7:30.  We stopped at Fat Cat and ate supper - sort of becoming a tradition.  It's right on the way home!  Then we stopped at the clubhouse and said hi to all of the ladies playing 7s from Hell.  Then it was home to unpack, start the water, the electricity and the A/C.

It is humid down here - my hair got really, really curly in a short amount of time!  It's so good to be here - tomorrow will be another hard day, washing cupboards and unpacking...but at least we're not in the car anymore!!  15 hour days are a little much!

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Tomorrow?

As most of you now know, we didn't get to go on Sunday, or even today.  Hopefully we'll leave in the morning.  We have a sewer pipe that has roots in it and when RotoRooter came out to "snake" away the roots, the guy dropped part of the cap into the pipe.  Then he fixed a magnetic contraption on the end of his snake and promptly dropped that into the pipe, too.  Therefore we couldn't use water for fear the water going down the drain would push those two things further in.  So a different RR guy came today.  He also couldn't get the pieces out, so poor Dave rented a jackhammer and tore up the floor in one room in the basement.  Then poor Dave had to dig out the mud and clay over the sewer pipe so the RR guy could cut into the pipe and retrieve those parts.  The pipe is now draining...unfortunately it has a leak in it. which has been there a while (caused by the roots no doubt!).  So, while it's dug out this is the time to fix it properly.  The RR man assured Dave that it wouldn't hurt a thing to wait until Spring to do this, so we're leaving tomorrow with the basement a mess!  When we get home in the Spring, poor Dave will have to rent the jackhammer and dig out some more floor and remove some shelves to the RR man can get to the "Y" in the sewer pipe and it'll be fixed once and for all...or until more roots break it another place and then we'll have to start over!  This is going to be an expensive venture!

We're going to leave somewhere between 7 and 8 in the morning and just go until we want to stop.  We're both tired so won't overdo it.

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Ready?

I think we're pretty much ready to go tomorrow.  However, this evening our sewer appears to be plugged.  Tomorrow Roto Rooter is coming out to run the snake in our line.  Old houses!  We've had to do this 3-4 times recently.  It seems we have roots clogging the drain pipe.  They route it out and then it works well for a while until the roots grow again!  The joys of home ownership!

We had a good morning SU class.  We only had 5 people attend, but it was fun.  Everyone liked the cards and we actually got done on time!  I didn't get the cards scanned and I'm not going to get them in before we leave.

Tonight we had game night at church.  The table I was at played BuzzWord - lots of fun.  Others played Spoon.  We had a popcorn popper and delicious popcorn!!  Fun time.  Too bad there weren't more there!

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Friday Fun

I started my day at N HyVee where one of my sorority sisters and I asked shoppers to contribute to the Lord's Cupboard.  We took in about 1 1/2 carts full of groceries and probably at least $200 in cash.  I know that several people put in $20, so it may have been more than that.  It was a good 2 hours spent helping others less fortunate.  When I finished, I went to the chiropractor so that my back's in alignment before I go south.

This afternoon I got in a little nap and I finished up preparing for our card class tomorrow morning.  Tonight we were invited over to our Pastor's home for dessert and conversation with both him and his wife, plus their guest (they have a B&B).  We had so much in common with their guest who was from Wyoming, that the conversation never waned!  It was a lovely evening sitting outside by their fireplace, eating an apple dessert with a wonderful sauce on it.

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Beautiful Day!

It was another beautiful day here!  I love 75 degree days!  I had to deliver some Stampin' Up orders today, so while the cleaning lady was here I got that done.  It was fun finding out that Bev S had my name for secret sister and I love my magnetic yard sign.  We've decided to use it here in Iowa, but we're not going to put it out until when we get back in the Spring.

I also got a bunch of my stuff packed today AND I got two of my cards ready for Saturday morning's class!  I've still got one more to do and I think I can get it done tomorrow afternoon!

This afternoon I ran to Libertyville to pick up one of Aunt Helen's paintings.  I opened the sun roof and cranked the 50's tunes - it was a beautiful day for a drive!

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Wonderful Wednesday

Another beautiful fall day in SE Iowa...and even in Central Iowa!  We got up really early and left for Ames at 7:30 AM.  Got to Cindy & Joel's at 10:00 and had a wonderful time.  They built a new house out in the country west of Gilbert about 5 years ago.  It's a lovely home about 8/10 of a mile off of the County Line Road.  They've got lots of room when their 3 kids are there with their families.  Their flowers look far better than ours - the city deer are worse than the country deer!  Cindy told me that a deer was up on their porce, though.  She has a picture to prove it!  They also have deer eat all of the bird seed, plus the raccoons help themselves to the bird seed, too!  We stayed until mid-afternoon and then came home.  Fun day!  Love, love seeing them.  They are the kind of friends where when you're together it's as if you've never been apart...you just start in talking right when you left off.  I miss seeing them and I pray that Cindy continues living her miracle for a LONG time!

Dave packed the food stuff in the trunk this evening and said the trunk is already 3/4 full.  Gee, I may have to buy new clothes when I get there!!

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Tuesday?

This week is really going fast.  We are trying to get everything done before we leave...but we keep getting interruptions, too.  Today the furnace guy came to make sure our furnace was okay.  Tomorrow is our trip up north.  Thursday the cleaning lady comes.  Saturday morning I have a card class that I haven't even started preparing for - eeeek!!  That's scary!

I was able to get my secret sister's Christmas present today, plus I got stuff for the Christmas shoeboxes at church.  I paid bills and got Quicken working on my laptop.  I also went thru all my magazines and threw away all I'd already looked at and made a pile to take on our trip with us.  I've still got lots to do, but I've made a big dent on my list!!

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Beautiful Day

I went to my last BRT for the summer this morning.  I'm really going to miss this group.  I have learned so much about Jesus and his short 3 years of teaching because of this group.  We not only have our Pastor David, but we also have Pastor Jane in the group, too.  Plus Mary and Fran are Bible scholars and very well versed in the Bible...it's extremely intimidating to be in their presence sometimes!  The rest of us (about 6 of us) are just novices when it comes to the Bible, so it's really been fun for us!  We almost got through with John 19 today, but not quite.  I'm going to go ahead and read and study the rest of the book.  Pastor Jane talked about Skyping me, so we'll see.

I got all of the utility companies called today - that's one of my special jobs.  I've got the post office form filled out to give to my mailman tomorrow.  Then I've got to start packing some paperwork, etc.  Since we're not coming home for Christmas, I have to take all my receipts with me so I can get the tax papers together.  I'm also in charge of setting timers on the lamps and changing addresses for prescriptions.  Plus we're going to Ames to see Cindy on Wednesday and I've got a couple of church events this week and I am working for the Lord's Cupboard on Friday morning!  Whew - I'm busy, busy, busy!!

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Dreary & Cold

It's cold here!!  And wet, too!!!  Right now it's 47 here and 80 in Clearwater...hmmm!  I'm pondering!!  The rest of the week is supposed to be in the 70's so I guess I can handle being here this week.  I've got too much to do to be gone yet anyway.  This week is packed with packing, packing, packing!  I have a few things on my list that I've also got to get done - mostly calling to change addresses.  Plus, we're going to Gilbert to see Cindy & Joel before we leave.

Dave and a bunch from church cleaned the ditches today in the rain...I'm glad my back won't allow me to do that.  I had to wear long pants to church today - that's two days more than I wore long pants all of last year!!  I came home from church and changed into my shorts, but I must say it was too cold for shorts today, definitely!  I had my space heater running or a blanket over my legs most of the day.

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Beautiful Day!

What a beautiful day!  It was a little chilly this morning, so I decided to wear long pants to work outside at church.  That was a mistake!  I about cooked!  Too hot for me.  When I came home about 1:45, I immediately changed into shorts and that's what I'm still wearing!!  Love this crispness this evening.  It's already 49 here.  Supposed to drop to the upper 30's tonight - I'm NOT going to like that!

This evening we went to Sudi & Howard's for liver & onions.  Very good dinner with very good friends!  The margaritas were very good, too!  We met lots of traffic coming home.  I hope they hadn't all been in the Oktoberfest tent!

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Friday

This week sure went fast!  I had PEO this morning and I got drenched going to it.  First of all, it was raining when I left the house, but I couldn't find my umbrella.  As hard as it was raining, I didn't think it could last long, but I didn't sit in my car long enough...I got pretty wet!  We had a good meeting, with a speaker who does mission work in Uganda.  She was very interesting to listen to.

Since Dave isn't working any more this summer, he's been winterizing around here.  It sounds like he's just in time, too.  The weather forecast calls for some colder days after this storm front goes through tonight.

We worked on taking clothes to the Klassi Kloset this afternoon, also.  So we will get our deduction for the year now.  We've both got lists that we're working on, trying to get ready to leave.

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Grrrrr...

I can't believe we lost that football game.  I'm a little p.o.'d right now.  We beat ourselves, but I felt like the officials (and definitely the announcers) knew that Texas should win, so made calls accordingly.  I didn't think all of the pass interference calls were legitimate and that would have made a huge difference in the 4th quarter.  Oh well, it's over and I have got to get over it!

I had a great day.  I got up, ate breakfast, read the paper and went back to sleep.  I got up at 11:30, took my shower and went to the Oktoberfest tent for a brat at lunch.  Those brats are really good!!

This afternoon we both worked at church for our Food Pantry.  We had lots and lots of people!  It's amazing how many new ones were there today.

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Wednesday

I guess I forgot to post anything last night.  I had a busy, busy day yesterday.  I worked on card samples for our next card class and I posted a huge order for SU.  Since we offered free shipping on orders, I had to do all of the invoices by hand and that took a bunch of time.  I also called my aunt in Kansas City to talk to her about the latest happenings in the family.  Then I had a sorority meeting last night.  Dave went downtown and got us chicken dinners.  The Rotarians always have a chicken BBQ to start Oktoberfest here in O-town.  It was a delicious dinner!  We ate the rest of it tonight.

Today I had a massage which was wonderful.  It has to last me for 6 months, so it had to be wonderful!  I'm starting to stiffen up now, though.  I had a Personnel meeting at church which lasted about 1.5 hours and that didn't help my muscles any.

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