New Year's Eve - 2024

 A very gloomy drippy (humidity was very high) start to this last day of the year.    We walked, I worked on cards and then we met Charlotte and Doug at Capital Grille for lunch - wow.....another fantastic meal!    This is definitely a "special" occasion place and what a way to send off 2024 but to share it with our good friends, Charlotte and Doug and savor each and every bite.

Mark. Pat, Charlotte, Doug

We all went to the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater - they and we had received gift certificates to see a future play so we decided to go together and see The Buddy Holly Story.   This get together will be Sunday, January 12th.    Said our good byes and on home where we each took naps!

I worked on cards later, had some leftovers for supper and enjoyed a nice fireworks display across the street from us overlooking Sunrise Lake.

H A P P Y   N E W   Y E A R

WELCOME 2025

Monday - December 30

 Oh I love getting the mail these days (actually about once a week since we use a mail forwarding service) - bunch of cards/letters/pics today - happy news and sad news hearing what family and friends are dealing with since we last connected.

The day started out gloomy, but the sun came out around 10 and it was very warm and pleasant.   We said good bye to Ann and Duaine who headed north for several visits with friends.    We will miss them.

I played canasta and Lydia, Peggy and I beat Denise, Beth and Vicki + won the extra game just for fun.   Susan gave me a ride home in her golf cart and after lunch I got back to the cards.

Buddy and JoAnn arrived shortly after noon from NC.....sooo good to see them.  JoAnn's recovery from recent knee replacement is going well, but that's a LOT of sitting in the RV for 3 days of travel.

Buddy wanted to eat at the Boathouse tonight and asked us to join them.    So lots of fun catching up over a good meal on a nice evening.   So happy they are back here at CT.

JoAnn and Buddy

Liam and Connor have been in Nashville the past few days for the Iowa/Mizzou game this afternoon,   Oh my.......a heartbreaking loss for the Hawkeyes to the Tigers 27-24.    Watched the end of the game on the big screen at the Boathouse.

Liam and Connor with Owen and Sally (Patrick's cousins) in Nashville,

Cousin Sean is the offensive assistant for the quarterbacks at Mizzou.

Sunday - December 29

 Rained all night long - nice 'n gentle and so soothing on Flo's aluminum roof.   We had a little bit more this morning and then all done, but ended up with an inch!   Clouds and sun rest of the day.

We went to 9:30 Mass at St. Francis with Father Robert, then to Costco and finally to Connor's for lunch with Beth, John, Charlotte and Doug,.....love this place and Matthew was an excellent waiter.  This was our grand finale with the 6 of us till next December.    John and Beth are leaving this week for AZ for the winter and won't be back till April.    Looking forward to spending time together before we leave for the season, but Charlotte and Doug will be leaving April 1st.

Mark, Charlotte, Pat, Beth, John, Doug

Good bye hugs to these dear friends....on home for naps till we went to Duaine and Ann's for happy hour.    They had planned to leave today, but with all the rain and storms further north where they were heading, decided to stay put another day.

Gary and Brenda joined us and we sat under the tiki visiting.

Last night at the Lake House in Babcock Ranch, we were sitting at a high-top table (it was packed and those were only tables available)  Mark does not like high tops (back issues), but decided it would be ok, otherwise, a long wait.

Well.....today, his back has been really hurting - when he can't put his feet flat on the ground, not good.   So......no more high tops for him!    His cold is a little better.

Zoom tonight with 9 siblings - our niece Theresa and Richie are having their 3rd baby in May (Doris's daughter).   New Year's Eve plans for folks; traveling south for vacation, Joan and Joe enroute to Florida now, etc., etc.

 

Saturday December 28

 Warm Saturday and the park has several visitors including many youngsters (grandchildren visiting).   I made egg/sausage/cheese omelets and toast and then walked (Mark is feeling a little better) and I worked on New Year's cards (instead of Christmas) for mailing this week.

Made a batch of egg/tuna salad.   Read. played games on my tablet and a quiet afternoon till we picked Ann and Duaine up at 4 in the rain and off to Babcock Ranch.   Drove around (this place is so huge), stopped at The Lake House for dinner (still steady rain off and on).    After dinner we strolled thru the large Christmas lights with music display in Founder's Square - maybe 1/2 mile?   It was very enjoyable....

Drove back home as the rain became heavier.    Good night to hunker down in Flo.    Said our good byes to Ann and Duaine - we've sure enjoyed their friendship but tomorrow, they are heading back home (Santa Rosa Beach) with several stops along the way.    Their lot (2 down from us) wil be rented out by a couple for the next 4 months.

We plan to visit them in March after our little getaway to Pensacola.

Ann, Pat, Duaine, Mark

Ann and Duaine

This guy was huge and just one of many displays

Pat and Mark

Friday - December 27

 Cloudy all day but 81 for a high.    Mark is feeling yucky with his cold...I did some laundry and then played euchre in the library.    Todd and I beat Lydia and Anita 2 of 3 games.    Jim, Cindy and her sister, Kelly (visiting from Colorado) played 3-handed and Kelly was the winner.

On home, lunch, more laundry and then I drove downtown for a manicure with Alisa.   

We had planned to go to Babcock Ranch late afternoon with Ann and Duaine.  We were going to drive around and see all the new development (this place just keeps exploding), have dinner and then walk thru the Christmas light display which we heard was spectacular.   But with Mark's cold and not feeling up to par + Ann's eye issue, we canceled - MAYBE ?? tomorrow night?

So yesterday when Ann and Duaine came back from the pool, Ann suddenly had this piercing pain in her eye.   It became very irritated and red.    She was able to get into an eye clinic this afternoon and saw a retina specialist - it was a tiny little bug (maybe a noseeum) that was hanging out in there.    The Dr. got it out and she's on antibiotics for a week.

I enjoyed happy hour with Ann and Duaine - Mark is lying low!    Spaghetti for supper and I watched the 2-hour Christmas special for "Call the Midwife" which was excellent.   This is the start of the 14th season and it amazes me how they can come up with so many wonderful stories that warm the heart (and make me cry).