Friday - November 14

 Warm sunshine all day long.   Mark and I walked and then played 5-handed euchre with Jim, Todd and Cindy with Todd, Mark and myself each winning a game.

Home for lunch and while Mark cleaned out bins stored under Flo, I was off to get a mani/pedi with Alisa.   I had some extra time so stopped at Starbucks for an iced latte.    Loved my pampering....Mark had a productive afternoon, too.

Home with some heavy traffic on a Friday afternoon. 

Yesterday the landscapers came to the park and dug up all the spring/summer flowers and planted impatiens - we'll have some blooming beauties in a few weeks.

As I was scrolling thru my phone, several "memories" came up in pictures and one set was titled "Eating my way around Fort Myers".    We laughed as there were several pics of us easting at various restaurants!   Holy moly!   😋😋😋

We left at 5:30 for my MRI at the Sanctuary.  I was told to be there at 6 for my 6:30 test.   I waited awhile and then had the test (forgot how LOUD all the various sounds  are, but I had headphones on and listened to some good ole 50s-60s music.)   Mary Ann operated the big machine.   I last had one in 2010 after my first shoulder fiasco (getting hit by the car in St. Pete, FL).   Mark went to Lowe's for a few things and then back to wait for me.  We stopped at Steak 'n Shake for steakburgers and on home.

Enjoy your weekend!

 

    

Thursday - November 13

 Mark walked with me to the clubhouse and I stayed for Rummikub and he continued walking.   Todd, Cindy, Vicki, Anita and I played 4 games with Todd winning 2, Vicki, 1 and Cindy, 1.   Always a fun time.   

Mark picked me up at noon and we left for Blossom and Brie in the country....what a gorgeous drive and we met our former neighbors, Rog and Martin.    First-time visit for them and they loved it....busy busy place.   I knew that a fellow canasta player was going with friends today for her first time, so thought I might see her.    Well, lo and behold, we did, BUT she knows Rog and Martin and they had been on the same cruise to the Mediterranean a few years ago!    Such a small world!    Delicious food (Rog and I had the quiche and mixed berry salad; Martin, the cuban and clam chowder; Mark, the smash burger with their coconut corn salad)/

Rog bought a bag of carrots (they are selling carrots or snacks) to feed the animals - well, the lambs and donkeys were very happy to see us and scarfed those carrots down quickly and loved being petted.    As we were leaving, Rodney, the owner visited with us and then gave us a tour of their container which houses all the various greens (hydroponic gardening) - wow, how interesting.

Martin and Rog

Said our good byes and hope to see them in January.....we sure miss having them as neighbors.

On home and we each took a nap after that big lunch and fresh air!    Walked late afternoon and another fun day in FL.

Thanksgiving fun at CT

Wednesday - November 12

Two years ago today I took my terrible tumble in NC.....not a good memory, but thankful it wasn't any worse.

Mark was off early to get his new crown.    So......at his last visit, Dr. Baxmann gave him the old crown to do with whatever?    Mark took it to the pawnshop and the lady said she would give him 220.   He's assuming she means "$2.20 but she's counting out $20 bills and $220.00 later, he walked outta there!   WOW....hang on to your gold!

I walked while Mark was at the dentist and then we both walked when he got home.   It is so pleasant and much warmer than yesterday.

Some IL friends sent beautiful pics from the Northern Lights last night - they only showed up as far south as Alabama, so nothing for we Floridians.

Because of the board meeting this morning, we couldn't play canasta, so 10 of us got together at 1:30.   I was at the table of 4 but Vicki and I lost badly to Scott and Linda.

Mark and I went to WalMart afterwards - Rx and other piddlies.  

The poinsettias and other Christmas flowers are out - November 12th.

 On home for supper and later, walked to meet Jim and we all went to the clubhouse for Lucky 13.   We played with 2 couples from Minnesota (Nick and Lucy and Kevin and Colleen).    While several of us stood with 2 cards left, only Nick won at our table.

Father Doug passed away tonight at St. Joseph hospital in Bloomington.....Rest in Peace, Father.    You will be so missed.  

Veterans Day - 2025

 

Honoring all our veterans, past and present for serving our country and keeping us safe

Thank you Ryan!

Fort Myers broke a record set on this date in 1982 for our low of 43 (felt like 36).    Sooo COLD across much of the country.   

Mark cleaned out some overhead lockers in Flo,  I did more online shopping and some light cleaning in Flo.    Then time to pick up our fruit tray at Publix for the veterans day luncheon - what a beautiful assortment of fresh fruit.    I got a latte (my first holiday drink at Starbucks), dropped off a bunch of bags at Goodwill and on home.

Kicking off the season...

Back to CT and took the fruit tray to the kitchen fridge in the clubhouse, picked up a bag of ice and on home for lunch,    Then off to Collins Vision where I had appointment with Dr. Jason Friedrichs to consult about eyelid surgery.   Last April, Dr. Alessi suggested I have this taken care of and we scheduled this consult for today.    

After hearing all about this procedure which Dr. Friedrichs definitely recommends, I saw the scheduler, Ivette and I'm all set to have this done on February 12th.    I certainly never thought I would need eyelid aka "Blepharoplasty" surgery😐

Two friends have had this done (Connie and John) and very happy with the results. 

 So.....after reading his credentials, Dr. Friedrichs is from northern IL and grew up with a blind father and that got him interested into eye care.   He did his residency in ophthalmology at the U of Iowa.  I should be in good hands with this Midwestern guy. He was in private practice in IL and joined Collins Vision in 2020.   His specialty is cataracts and eyelids.

We bundled up to go for our afternoon walk and met Steven and Colleen from Boston.    They are renting next door for 10 days and in Fort Myers for a funeral...they also have 2 dogs (Beans and Phil)  "Philip" when they mean business 😂

What a nice surprise to hear from Josh and Gary today.....they are the guys who lived across the street a few years ago and we hoped to see them in Blue Ridge, GA when we stopped on our way down, but just missed them.    They've been on a 2-week trip and have bought another lot here at CT and will use it occasionally to "get away" and use the shed for inventory as they have a gift shop downtown.    Can't wait to see them sometime in December.

Enjoyed listening to wonderful patriotic tunes on this Veterans Day 2025.

Praying for Father Doug, former priest at Holy Trinity in Bloomington (his hometown) who had a heart attack a few nights ago.   He's in the hospital in critical condition.   Father Doug is 87, but been very active golfing, traveling, etc.   He married Philip and Annette and baptized Connor.

Congratulations to Blair and her friend Abby who won their school speech contest and now going onto county.

We had orange chicken from Trader Joe's for supper - that stuff is so yummy!

Looking across the street tonight...

Snow-capped mountains at Lake James

Thank you Michael

Monday - November 10

 A breezy, cooler day but we laughed when our phones notified us that Lee County was under a "cold weather advisory" - tomorrow, our high will be 61.    Connor sent this pic of the snow in his backyard in Danville, IL.   Yikes, much too early for the white stuff, but also hearing about the big accumulation further north.

Connor woke up to this!  😌

We met Connie and Steve at the McGregor Cafe for breakfast - always good food (sat inside cause of the strong wind/temp) and a fun visit.    Looking forward to seeing them in December.

Steve and Connie

Stopped at Publix and ordered a fruit tray to take to the Veteran's Day luncheon tomorrow.   Then the post office and on home.    So....while we were downtown, saw that Chocolatte Coffee is coming soon to First Street - this is a good one but it's a jaunt for us on the way to the beach.    This new location is in a high-traffic area of many apartments (including a new one going up), so will be great for those downtown folks.    Then we were excited to see the old Bennett's Coffee Roasters AND Donuts is being remodeled.    We stopped and I got the nitty gritty....Bennett's which had thee BEST donuts was badly damaged from Ian and never reopened.    It became a real eyesore with broken windows, weeds everywhere, etc.    But a couple bought it and the remodel is underway.    They hope to open soon and new name is "Bare Roots Coffee House".   I talked to a nice gal who said there will be NO donuts, but healthier food like crepes and quiche and of course, coffee.   We wish them the best!

Mark got a haircut with Jose and I had a raspberry mocha at Peter's.  No matter how many new coffee shops open up (and they are getting more plentiful), Peter's is our favorite!!!

We walked later in the afternoon but so crazy windy!

Picked Jim up at 5 and off to Rib City (big favorite for all of us) - sooo yummy (ribs, cole slaw and BBQ beans).   And then we shared a huge slice of coconut cream pie (oink oink)!!! 

Great visit with Jim over our delicious ribs

Missing Lydia

Yummy pie

Stay WARM.....I'm sure we'll see the Floridians in hoodies, stocking caps, etc. tomorrow!!!😆