The Past Week

The weather is beautiful here and the gardenias are so full and heady by the porch. The trees are leaden with new growth and the greens of new life bursting forth. The way the sun plays through the trees in the morning is a magnet that draws me out. Lexi has to go for her walks and when I am home or sitting here looking out like this; I decide to take her for another adventure. She waits on the front porch sniffing the air as though it were ambrosia and stands there at attention as she enjoys the sunshine on her back and the wind blowing through her red hair and she just wallows in the new scents that come her way. She's soon off to chase a squirrel or check out the perimeters of her grounds but for that moment, we both enjoy life together on the front steps.

Jean and Tom, old friends of ours, moved From Boca Raton, to a 55 community in Hilton Head. They came by on Thursday and Friday and we enjoy catching up with them and their travels. So many boomers that I know of, and even Bill and I at one point, dream of taking an RV when they retire and traveling cross country. Jean and Tom actually did it though. They will no doubt go cross country more than once before it's over because they are always on the go and already have the next two big trips planned. One is a three month excursion to the North West.

We enjoyed seeing them again and finding out what adventures they have been on since we saw them last. They have grandchildren west and north of them that they are able to visit regularly, too. What a life. They seem to have RV travel down to a science. Tom enjoys driving and Jean enjoys making all the plans for these trips. They remind Bill that it was he that convinced them that getting that RV and beginning their adventure was the thing to do right now after retirement, but I know for sure that Bill's idea of camping is the nearest Hilton. LOL They always make us think what fun it would be though.

Hanna's Grandpa

I picked Hanna up at 5 pm this evening to celebrate her two-digit birthday. She was so excited about turning 10. Her grandfather had deteriorated so much since I saw him last week. Her aunts told me how much they appreciated me getting her out of the house for a few hours. They didn't expect her grandfather to live through the night.
I got her home at 8:00 and Hanna called me at 8:29 to tell me her Dad had died. She sobbed into the phone so I just talked. I know I told her that her grandpa (whom she calls Dad) was in a place now where he could look out for her and that he would love her always. I told her she was hurting so bad right now because she loved her grandfather so much and would miss him. I told her what a great grandpa he was and what a great granddaughter she had been.
She will be fine, I know, but Bill and I were both just in a daze when we got off the phone. My heart goes out to her and her family who have suffered so many losses.

A Million Party Plans

We locked in the date, April 18, for the caterers. We are having salad, ribs, cheese potatoes,roasted vegetables, rolls, ice tea, and lots of appetizers. The caterers, Southern Gourmet, will be out on Wednesday to check the lay of the land so they will know just where to set everything up. I have tables and chairs rented. The favors are ordered and on their way to us. The bar tender and her crew is hired, photographer hired, florist hired, DJ hired, but...no cake, no lights. I guess that doesn't sound so bad now that I have it in front of me.
The party planning group; Jeni, JoJo, Charlene, Bill and me are meeting here Sunday to discuss all the details large and small. We should have everything taken care of by then. Whew...that will be a great feeling to have all that taken care of. Perhaps we will be able after Sunday;all the way up until party day.

The Car/Train Show

On the third Saturday of the month, Plant City has a car show. Bill and I picked Hanna up last night to take her to the show. We had a nice time though Hanna seemed kind of dazed. That's understandable when I went into her home to get her. More family members were there from Georgia and the house is packed with people. Her grandfather was awake and alert today. He said he got a good night's sleep last night for the first time since he got home from the hospital. His daughter's told me that every time someone comes down to see him, he perks up and does real good for a couple of days. I told them that they were doing a great thing for their dad by having his family come in like that and it's something they would never regret. I remember Bob, my brother, was the same way. He'd seem so sick during the week and when someone came to spend the weekend (which was every weekend); he'd be the life of the party. I think family and friends help make the last days better, no matter how hard it gets to have people there when you have so much to do to keep things going. Hanna's Mom's, twin sisters who are daughters to the grandfather, are doing such a wonderful job of caring for him. They have to keep working but they take separate shifts and when they aren't working they are taking care of him, Hanna, her brother, and the people coming in. They sure have a lot on their plate.

We went to the Whistle Stop Café for dinner downtown by the railroad tracks. Plant City was built along the railroad track which was vital to this area's development. Our highlight of the night I think was this little boy that was in the seat behind us. He wanted to see a train with his whole being. He just knew that he'd see one but his grandpa would tell him he couldn't count on it. Bill told him that at 8 o'clock he bet there would be a train. (He has inside information). This little guy was so excited he was busting at the seams. Hanna and I just thought he was too cute for words so we were just hoping it would come on time for him. It did. The little guy was beside himself as his grandpa took him to the track. He came over to Bill after the train left to tell him all about it. LOL He was just adorable, so full of excitement. Hanna even said she was excited because he was so excited. LOL

That was more fun than the car show.


We went to the train museum after dinner and that was pretty interesting looking at some of the old memorabilia there. All in all it was a nice day and I'm glad we got Hanna out for a few hours.

Sisterhood Award

Dear Family and Friends,

I was surprised to find that I have been given the Sisterhood Award from Pamposh from Manila (http://wanderingpam.blogspot.com/2009/03/wow-blogging-has-never-been-so-much-fun.html)who gave the award to me for my Blog I'd Like to Say. (Yea!!!) Now I can give this award to five other bloggers.

I was further honored that this blog was nominated, along with two others, to be the featured blog on the Women's Blogger Directory. I'm asking you who read my blog to please cast your vote for me in the upper right hand corner of the blog: http://womens-blogger-directory.blogspot.com/2009/03/award-for-womens-blogger-directory.html. It would mean a lot to me.

I would love to hear from you, too, if you were able to vote for I'd Like to Say. Thanks to all of you who do read. I wish more would comment so I know you are there but I do get quite a few emails. Now I know Pamposh Dhar and others from around the world were reading. J Talk about a smile on my face. It's hard to wipe it off right now.

I LOVE that I have 7 followers now!!!!

We kept seeing patches of our yard dug up and couldn't figure out what critter could be causing the damage. This morning, new camera in hand, I spotted the critter. I'll say it's an armadillo but I sure thought I'd have to go West to see one. I know we have our own owl, raccoon, and now an armadillo. The owl is cute, so's the raccoon, this armadillo is just strange looking. LOL

I read that Florida armadillos are nine banded and aren't native but they make their home here and proliferate. I did not realize that the plugs out of my yard could be worse. The article said they could even undermine the structure of your home with their digging. YIKES!

Bill had mentioned trapping the critter and relocating him but I think, from the sounds of it, we need to call a professional who will relocate the armadillo where he can't do any harm. We'll see how this plays out. LOL I'm having visions of possums we had in the attic and one dying up there.....oh, my, we practically had to rebuild the house we lived in then! I still think of possums when I think of that house. This was a huge subdivision, too, not a country home. When the trapper came he ended up catching a whole family of possums. Yuk. Not a pretty sight.

Dominos

Today I went to the Womens' Club for the annual luncheon and card party. I don't play cards. sigh A lot of them play bridge and really take it seriously. I don't take games seriously either. If I am going to PLAY a game, I want to PLAY. LOL
So, they had two tables set up for those of us who do not play cards and we played dominoes. The game is different than any I have played. I think they call it Mexican Dominoes or train or something. It was more fun than the regular game of dominoes.
Anyway, we tried to keep the noise down, we domino women, but it was impossible. We just like to live on the wild side.
We did make some money for scholarships though so it was all good. We gave eleven scholarships away last year so we are hoping for more this year.
I tried my new camera out and hope they turn out to be better than any others. :) Wishful thinking here.
I won a door prize, a painting by a well known artist in this area, Jossie. I'm happy about that.
Nothing got done around the house today, it was play day almost all day!