Winter Storm - New Project

 Shalimar, FL   (Hi 67  Lo 60)  Tomorrow (Sunday) it's to be high 74 and 28 at night with thunderstorms. 

All week it was about the snow and ice storms in the Midwest and the artic cold down south and across the east side of the country. Winters are a challenge it's different every year. 

I had a fun week, but quieter. Monday all I did was WII bowling and worked a puzzle with the neighbor.  Nothing else going on. 

Tuesday is my busy day Diamond art and I stay a couple hours for meditation. I did come home in the afternoon and crocheted. I got a couple more orders so that's good. 

Wednesday Crafters Corner with a few of us getting together and doing any craft we have. I love doing that, I get new ideas on what to make. I usually do the diamond art or crochet. I also went to United Way to help with handouts in the community. This months project was water bottles in cozies with an announcement paper on upcoming events for them. They had last months ad and I was in it. (Click on photo to enlarge, I'm in the back row)

I also took a photo of the puzzles that was left in one of our rooms from someone who moved. 

Plus the cupboard we have full of puzzles. Just go up and grab some. 

Resident meeting was in the afternoon but nothing really big this month in discussions except the grounds and buildings needing some attention. 

Thursday I had lunch with a couple crochet friends and went to village 6 to the crochet group. I stayed till 3:00.  I had dinner and played cards. 

Friday I had nothing planned. I had started a Christmas gift from my son of a Lego set. I did it all day long and got it done. I love Lego's and it was so much fun to do. 

I'm going to put it on the patio.  It's really pretty. 

Saturday I had nothing planned so I got caught up on housework and getting ready for the meetings I'm having this next week. I have the Youtube set for storm chasers all over the Midwest in the snow. I'm so glad I'm further south, but it would be even better to be back in central Florida in Auburndale. The good ole days.

A Different Week - Root Canal

 Shalimar, FL   (Hi 72  Lo 30)   Big temperature change this week

I started the week off on Sunday going to breakfast to the VFW with some of the gals. It was good and cheaper price than most places. I'll do that again at some point.  That evening we went to the Japanese restaurant where they do the food in front of you. That's always fun and the group plus another family made it very entertaining. (Click on the photos to enlarge).  Kathy's volcano drink,

Joel, Rosie, Patsy, Ellen, Dee, Kathy

Dinner in the making

Yep, my lobster

All the meats

I did nothing but crochet on Monday, I did get a big Piglet done for an order. 

Two female gnomes

Tuesday is always the busiest day of the week. I started with diamond art, then meditation which  was my turn to lead it. The topic was Self-compassion. We had our regular people this week only four people.  An hour later we had three people for computer and phone help. 

I'd like to tell my readers something that is very important. We had a lady come in trying to get into her husbands phone, he had died a week earlier. There was important info on the phone that she couldn't get to.  Please write down and keep the info updated for computers and phone passwords. There's no way of knowing when you pass and someone needs to know the info that is in phone or computer. It's happening all the time. Someone needs to know. 

Wednesday I had another zoom class then went to crafters corner. I couldn't stay long because my root canal was scheduled early afternoon. It was supposed to be an hour and half, but ended up two and half hours. I left at 2:30 and home by 6:00.  Long afternoon. I took some Ibuprofen as soon as I ate some soup. I slept well so it didn't keep me awake. I took a picture for the impression of the tooth for crown. 

Thursday I went to crochet group for most of the day. 

Friday they had happy hour in the main common area, but I had a haircut. I had NC zoom which I love doing to keep in contact with long time friends. 

Saturday it was another lazy day. I had a neighbor over to help sort thread that I use. I haven't done that since I moved in three years ago. It was getting out of hand. She did the listing on excel and I pulled colors.  This is the result, the before and after. 

                                                        Another week has gone by. 

Nice Warm Weather - Getting Back to Normal

 Shalimar, FL  (Hi 75  Lo 49)  The drop from 75 to 49 was quick

I had a relaxing Sunday. I didn't do anything but clean house and laundry etc. 

Monday: They changed activities meeting to a Monday, not many came so they're going to turn that over to each village. It's to bring ideas for activities and restaurants for the next month. 

Tuesday The usual diamond art and wellness class. I had a special zoom in between the two which was unusual. In the wellness class we're coving all kinds of topics from a college class called Conscious Aging. I'm teaching the class every other week with the leader of the group. It's interesting and will take till end of February to conclude it. 

Wednesday I did another class on circle of life. Get the paperwork done before you die, so the person that's taking care of the estate will have info to follow. I'm hoping to get everyone here signed up. Guess I have work to do. At noon I went and played cards at another village. It's been a long time since I've played but how to play the game came back to me just fine. 

Thursday I went to crochet group for the whole day. I'm now working on Winnie Pooh characters. Shouldn't take long to do them. I've already done one. 

Friday I went to coffee talk. That was a bit noisier then usual. People were talking and disrupting because they couldn't hear. There were more people than usual in the hallways talking. I'm hoping they move us to another room where it's quieter. We had topics to talk about and very interesting to learn from the others what their thoughts were in past and future. Topics: MLK Jr,   New Year, New You, and Lessons Life Taught Us. At 3:00 I had the end of WII bowling party to go to. We have 18 teams and they passed out awards for the highest bowlers, the most improved and a 900 series club. I can't imagine making 900. 

Saturday I only had a funeral of my best friend's husband online. It went well and I pray and feel for the family. The family lost a husband and dad three weeks apart. So sad. I worked on Tuesday's meditation class, helped a bit with a computer  for a neighbor and then went grocery shopping. The evening was social hour for our village. 

There was a LOT of down time this week. I love staying busy so I sat outside in the gazebo with some of the other gals. (Click on the photos to enlarge). 

My neighbor and I finished the wolf puzzle. It's so pretty but there's a piece missing so this time I'm not keeping it. I'll get it taken apart this weekend and get out the Lego set that my son got me for Christmas. 

It's been such good weather I've been sitting outside more. 

Welcome to 2026

 Shalimar, FL (H 73  L 51)

Welcome to the first blog of 2026. I wish everyone a great year! 

I used to do recaps, but if you wanted recaps, you'd read the blogs so I quit doing those. I'm so thrilled to still get readers. I hate not being in the RV and traveling, but normal lives at this age comes in handy for those on the road and wondering what happens when you settle down (again). I thought of changing the blog but decided against it. Too many changes, and most people have blog location and can get to it easily,  what it looks like, so I'm  keeping it the same. 

The last two weeks is hard to tell what day it is with so many people on vacations and stores are closed. We've been asking each other "what day is it?". 

I've still been crocheting, gabbing and visiting with neighbors and helping those with phones and tablets all week. There's been family birthdays too. 

Monday I went to chair exercise. I still can't believe how much you can do in a chair. I also got my Every Plate meals delivered. The ingredients all came in one big bag. I was missing 3 items  and got 2 that didn't belong. I cancelled it immediately. So much more work and frustration. I'll stick with Hellofresh. Food in bags and nothing missing. I thought I'd try a "cheaper" meal plan. You get what you pay for.    (Click on photos to enlarge).

Tuesday was diamond art and meditation, (Inner Wellness) now. I keep forgetting to change the name. I also made Jello shots for our New Year's party. 

Wednesday our village 1 party started at 7:00pm.  It gave some of the gals time to celebrate before going to bed at 9pm. 

At midnight we were all standing to bring in the new year!!

 

Thursday it was a pretty normal day, so I went to crochet group and most of the group were there. Guess everyone wanted to get out like I did. 

Friday I had a dentist appointment and when I set it up it was to be a root canal. I got there and the surgeon took a couple more pictures to be sure it wasn't more then one root involved. It wasn't, but didn't have time to do it today. The next appointment is the 14th. I didn't get an answer more then "not time". That will be six weeks I've dealt with a tooth that's highly temperamental in not sending pain to my eye. I just have to eat/drink on the other side. 

My little wisemen for the manger for an order is done. I'll continue making them for orders and have some premade for next year. 

Pictures never do justice with these crochet projects.  

The manger is done here's what everything looks like. 

Saturday started with the monthly meeting in the village. There were several people that came even though it was raining.  It was quick and we had some good stuff to eat. 

I met with the wellness leader for our next two months classes on how to do them. It's going to be on how to age well. We'll have lots of information.  I sat outside with the gals since it was 73 degrees in the gazebo. It started to storm so we all scattered home. I went to social hour at 5:00pm and had a good time.  Let's see what's in store for this next week to start off the new year.  I'll end the blog with beautiful rainbow out my backdoor.

Dentist - Decorating - Christmas Eve and Day - Shopping

 Shalimar, Fl  (Hi  74  Lo 61)

Monday:  I went to dentist for a cleaning. I have a pain from the eye tooth which has a small decay. The problem, no one takes my insurance here in the area so I'll have to pay cash for a root canal.  Now it's the holiday and they're all closed. I'm trying to NOT go to Pensacola which is where my insurance can be used. If I'm careful in not eating, drink water or eat anything sweet on that side, I'm keeping the pain down. I did make an appointment in Pensacola for January 9 just in case I don't find anyone here with an earlier date. 

Tues was the normal diamond art and meditation. The rest of the day I helped a couple gals with phones and crocheted. I'm all done with Christmas, but still have several orders to do thank goodness. 

Wednesday was Christmas eve and I spent most of the day in the dining area decorating for the Christmas luncheon.  (Click on the photos to enlarge). 

Anne, Dee, Hilga

                                        It took two hours for all of us to do the decorating. 

In the evening our village had a get together with dinner of goulash, rice dish and pork rolls which we devoured.

We have some great cooks in our village.

                                      Thursday was Christmas.  I opened my gifts from the kids.  

                                                            Cute salt and pepper 

I'm a huge fan of Itchy Boots a podcast of a gal on a motorcycle that travels all over the world. She wrote a book this year.  I've been following her for the past four years. You can find her on YouTube.com if interested. 

A Lego set that I wanted for the patio. 

PJ's and they're for Florida nice!

This is a glass ornament with the grand kids names on it. It was hard to get a good picture.

My neighbor gave me a big gnome diamond art 

Some of the gals sat outside before lunch time then went to the dining room for our 12;30 seating. They served 460 people again like they did for Thanksgiving so there were two seating times. We were waiting to get in when we got there. 

They had tables for everyone assigned. So you checked to see where they put you. 

I know people get bored with what foods we have so I don't post them except for holidays. We had a great salad, Pork roll with mash potatoes and glazed carrots and cheesecake for dessert. Great meal!

 

Our Table. Anne, Priscilla, Dee, Mary, Ecko, Kathy, Rosie, Linda, Ellen, Masami

We sat outside the rest of the afternoon til time for cards but we ended up outside on the lounge patio till well after dark. What a great day!  None of us wanted to be alone, it's great to be with like minded people on a holiday. 

Friday I stayed in bed till 9:30 nothing going on except clean and get organized for the new year. I put away all the holiday stuff and worked on the new year budget. Everything I have to pay went up in price.  I went to a neighbors to work on a new gift, a puzzle. It was so neat!  Little pieces and we worked 4 hours before I had to get home. This is what it came in and the photo of the puzzle was all cameras and extras to go with them. We almost got it done. 

Saturday I went to Destin with the neighbor to Hobby Lobby. I needed some thread for the orders I have and I've been paying $4.59 a ball of thread.  They had the colors I needed at $1.99. Talk about a great sale!!!  I got 19 rolls.  I'm set for awhile. 

We had lunch then back home after a couple more stops. They have everything in Destin and a great  day with weather and the traffic was perfect. The day was great!  I got back in time for dinner and then to social hour.