Tuesday - December 16

 Oh my, only NINE days till Christmas!    I finished packing (including Mark's holiday socks)😀

We walked - beautiful breezy day and then ran a few errands, including WalMart to pick up a Rx and a few more piddlies (always something to buy here)! 😐

And then to Farmer's Market to meet Beth, John, Charlotte and Doug.   We all love this place for their wonderful comfort food, big menu and some of the same pleasant familiar waitresses.   This place originated in 1952 and is the oldest continuous restaurant in Fort Myers.   Based on today's big crowd, they are doing just fine!!!

John, Beth, Pat, Mark, Charlotte, Doug

Lots of chatter and then wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and on our way.    They will be together on Christmas Day for buffet/show at Broadway Palm.

A few more errands and on home.   Another walk later and then home to load up the car.    We're leaving for the airport at 4 AM for our 6:10 flight to O'Hare - 2 nights with Anne and then to Dixon for Chamberlain Christmas.    Lots of fun planned in between and we fly back Sunday.

UPS brought us a package from C. Krueger's Finest Baked Goods tonight  - wow....12 different cookies from Bob and Donna (boat sister) - how thoughtful!    We shared the peppermint/chocolate cookie!   Very good!  Last week we received 2 boxes of Harry and David goodies from Erin and Ryan....yum, yum, yum!    Love these edible holiday gifts!😋

Monday - December 15

 Sandra and/or her Mother, Anna are coming to clean Flo today, so we left for the morning.  First stop was the Sanctuary for my KUB x-ray - tah dah!    Got that done but again, a bit of confusion with orders from Dr. and fax numbers (different # on their website versus what the office gal gave me)!   😞   But Lynn did the x-ray and we were off to Bob Evans for a light breakfast.

Then to WalMart for a bunch of piddlies and a Rx (one wasn't ready, so will have to return tomorrow)!   Stopped at Flore Cafe for a latte for me and then home to unload our stuff.    Cleaning crew was still there, so we put our stuff in she shed and then to Rib City to meet Joe and Joan for some yummy ribs (BBQ beans, cole slaw and garlic toast - our standard and delicious meal when we eat here).

Joe, Joan, Pat, Mark

Joe and Joan came back to CT as Joan needed to use our printer for some orders she needed to have lab work done.    But, whatever Cleveland Clinic sent her didn't work, so???    They left for home (Arcadia).   We'll see them this weekend in Dixon for the big family Christmas.   They are flying back to IL on Thursday. 

Happiness is coming home to a clean and sparkling Flo.   What a nice surprise to see this cute bow-wrapped towel on my kitchen cabinet.

And then the bow was another Christmas towel

  We had a quiet afternoon - both of us took a little cat nap.   Later we walked and oh my....very windy and cool (well, for us....upper 60's with the wind felt "cool"!).   We stopped at the clubhouse and made cups of hot chocolate and then continued our walk.

Sunday - December 14

 We went to 9:30 Mass with Father Robert at St. Francis.    Mike O'Brien was there with all his family.    His wife, Jessica (Jesi) who died 1 week ago will have her funeral at St. Francis on Wednesday.   Jesi was only 61.

Take Two Coffee moved to a different location (they have the yummy donuts) and "Forever Grounded" moved in where Take Two had been and connected to a church.    First time to visit this place - wow....they have wonderful moist scones (peppermint/chocolate chip) and Mark had a bagel.   Outside the coffee shop is a food truck "Brownies and Junk Home Bakery" - he had 4 flavors today (dark chocolate/peppermint,  cinnamon pecan crunch, salted caramel/butterscotch and Reese's peanut butter) Their packaging says "these are made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations"?   

We  bought 3 (thinking the boys would love these - soooo good, but not sure they'll last that long?) 😋

On home, and did 2 loads of laundry.    Started sprinkling at 12:30 but didn't last long and sun came out!

We walked in the afternoon.   I watched another Hallmark movie and read.

We are very proud of Luke and his Adventure CORE friends who hiked 4 miles in knee-deep snow at an elevation of 1500' today to Roan Mountain.    WOW....he loved it!   4 degrees with 45 mph winds!!!

Ahhh...to be young and adventuresome!

Luke (2nd in line) - ready to start the steep incline!

"I think I can...I think I can"

Lunch under their tarp which holds body heat

Warming up inside the tarp

Everyone on Zoom tonight except Sharon and Marilyn.    Weather was a top subject, travel plans for next weekend (101 coming at this point for Chamberlain Christmas), update on brother-in-law, Mike's health at Memory Care and Lydia has a bad cough.   The conversation ended about 10 minutes early as not much else to discuss.

Enjoy your week ahead, stay warm and hope the hustle and bustle of the holidays are "FUN"!!!

Saturday - December 13

 A very nice day in Fort Myers as the snow falls heavily in Bloomington and beyond.   We went to Peter's for coffee/breakfast sandwiches.   Stopped at Dollar Tree and on home.

I've been gathering the warm winter woolies to take back to IL Wednesday-Sunday.   Sounds like warmer weather while we're there compared to what's been, but for we Floridians, still COLD!

Quiet day on Flo with a walk late afternoon.   Our Port Clinton friends (boat sisters) are together tonight at Michael and Chris's home.    Donna sent a video of them saying "hello"....sooo good to see them and so we sent back a video of us wishing them a Merry Christmas in front of our sparkly palm tree.

Finally watched my 1st Hallmark Christmas movie of the season.    Mark's sister, Karen (aka Auntie) is the "Queen" of Hallmark Christmas Movies.

Friday - December 12

H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y

MICHAEL & ANNE

"Anne"

Blair and "Michael"

Our twin kiddos are celebrating today!   WOW.....On December 12, 1970, we were blessed with the big surprise of 2 babies!   And now, here they are "55" years later.    So proud of them and the beautiful families they've created, successful careers, etc.

48 when we got up this morning - we sure feel for those folks up north and the brutal snow/cold coming their way this weekend.   Bloomington was mentioned several times on the Weather Channel this morning.

Mark and I played euchre with Cindy and Todd.   We girls won 2 games and then Mark and I beat them in another game....fun morning but we sure will miss them as they leave on the 27th.

We went to the Sanctuary for ultrasound and x-ray of my kidneys and get the status if there are any stones still lurking around.    They did the ultrasound, but did not have correct paper work for x-ray....ugh!   Of course, the doctor's office was closed at 3:15.    

The technician doing the ultrasound said it was a busy day with lots of kidney stone issues.   She said her last patient said "I've had 3 children and would gladly have 10 more rather than have a kidney stone!"   AMEN to that statement.   I told her what I was doing 55 years ago today!   She was much younger than 55.

On to Love Boat for some ice cream, checked our mailbox, got a bag of ice and back to Flo.

Talked to our birthday kiddos - Anne and Connor were going to dinner at Biaggi's.   Michael is a bit under the weather with cold/sore throat (he was in California and New York this week) so lots of hours on planes.   Blair is in a cheerleading competition in Charlotte this weekend, so that's where they're going!

Enjoy your weekend!