Storm heading our way

We've had several cold and foggy mornings here in Paradise and, according to the weather man, we have some chances (like 80%) of getting high winds and lots of rain and cooler temps through Sat. Bummer. Our open house is Sat. afternoon so, of course, we are hoping everything moves through fast and dried up by late afternoon.

The other morning, E called me in to see Goof who had burrowed under the covers in an attempt to stay warm during his early morning nap (which is followed by his mid morning nap, his before lunch nap...well, you get the picture). He is one lazy old cat!

E goes in for his surgery tomorrow morning. We have to have him at the hospital around 6 am and I'm not sure how long it will last. We believe that the dr. will do the skin graft along with the carcinoma removal and we are hoping all goes well. All prayers and good thoughts will be appreciated!

Have a good one!

Quick Post

Happy Dec. 1 and now the countdown begins...

We woke to fog and cool temps this morning but the fog has burned off and the sun is out. I have WW weigh in this morning and the meeting then we are off to finish some Christmas shopping. We need to stop by the kids house and pick up a buffet table for the party Sat.

Had a lovely lunch with Gloria at Bon Appetite in Dunedin...beautiful view of Honeymoon Island and yummy food and I left my camera at home so no pictures today. Vixen matched my lipstick and I bought some new blush and some chocolate shimmery eye shadow too.

Hope your first day of December is a great one.

A most delicious weekend!

It all started with the all day crop at Ruban Rouge where I completed 5, count 'em, 5 layouts. Anyone who knows me at all, knows this is a rarity for me. And here is one of them...our own dear sweet KIWI, Clare and her bff, Minnie! I hung out with my scrap pals, had fun with the owner, Lisa, and chatted with tons of people (one of whom recognized my siggy from ACOT...how much fun is that?).

Moving along to Sat. when E and I hit the stores full speed ahead. We got ribbons, and bows and a gift for a couple we know plus some other goodies which we did not need but just had to have. Then, after watching football (E) and sappy Christmas movies(me), we had our first fire in the fire pit on the lower lawn. We toasted the season with our holiday wine glasses and a nice Merlot from our wine stash.

And then today, Sunday...we made a Sam's Club run for paper ware for the party and found a few more fun gifts for pals. We walked through the craft fair here in town and went to Crabby Bills Tiki Bar for lunch. We ran into a friend of E's and I met his wife...nice people! Not sure what is in store for the rest of the day but so far so good.

The only sad note is dear Clare is heading back to NZ today. I know she misses her son and her friends there but we have all grown so fond of her, we all want to keep her with us forever and ever. She and I have already started thinking about her next state side visit...how does a group get together in San Francisco sound with at least 2 or 3 days touring Napa Valley? Who is in?

Hope your weekend has been wonderous and happy holidays!

Black Friday Fun

I took a pass on the frantic Black Friday shopping this year and, instead, I headed to Ruban Rouge where Lisa threw a great Black Friday crop. I got there before 8 so got my 40% off all my purchases through ten am. Jackie, Diane and Jean picked up the papers they would need to make the trees like mine from last year and, after a trip for coffee, we merrily scrapped the day away. The lovely banner was awesome and we oooh and aaahed over it! Lunch was yummy sandwiches and wraps, salad and brownies that were so fudgy and delish, it took all my will power not to snatch them up and run far away with them all. We had Chinese for supper and our fortune cookies all contained perfect messages.

I got an amazing, for me, five layouts done during the crop. I am not sure how this happened as we were sure having a good time laughing and roaming through the store and catching up with each other but it did! I really love the two I did of our dear Clare. I can't show all of the four done with Webster's Pages as those are for my reveal at ACOT.

Speaking of reveals, my second one with the December kit from KNK went up today. Be sure to check KnK starting on Nov. 30 when a full week of Holiday Gift ideas begin. Each day of the week a designer form KnK will be posting a gift idea with full directions. I've gotten a sneak peek at some of these and WOW. You won't want to miss them.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Happy Thanksgiving to all

I have dozens and dozens of things for which I am thankful and will, in due course, list a few here. But first, are these not the cutest little ladies? These darling girls belong to our dear friend in St. Louis, Jadee. We get to spend time with these two cuties and their equally cute mom every two years at our time share. Meanwhile, Jadee keeps us posted with wonderful pictures of the girls and we can watch them grow! We have the very best time picking out their Christmas gifts each year as we do buying for my great niece and best scrapping buddy, Kaela! This year we found these darling outfits for Jadee's girls. Both have pink (hard to tell in the sweater, cuffed capri length pants and scarf) and I sure with that fun fur sweater vest came in my size!

E and I sat over a glass of wine while he cooked supper last night and thought about the myriad things for which we are thankful. So here is a partial list.

1. Our family and the fact we're in expansion mode adding two more wee members come this June, the fact all the kids have jobs and incomes and no one wants to move in with us (lol), that we enjoy each others company and are invested in our love for each other.

2. Our health (precarious as it is from time to time), that we have access to good doctors through our insurance (and that we have good insurance despite the outrageous cost per month), that we are making efforts to take better care of ourselves and stay active.

3. Our friends who support us emotionally, have fun with us, miss us when we are gone, laugh with us, invite us to join them for outings and events and just plain love us for who we are not who they think we should be.

4. Our pensions and the fact the people who administer our money have made wise choices in investing through rough times so our income stays stable and that our eons of working continue to make our lives good years later.

5. The internet that keeps us connected to friends and family who are far from Paradise.

6. Paradise itself (which is often more a state of mind than it is an actual location) which gives us balmy weather, a lovely little town, a trail upon which to ride our bikes, a library close by, cultural and community events handy and a lot of people just like us.

and I am thankful for those who read this blog! Happy Thanksgiving!

Ouch!

I must have slept on my back wrong or something because I woke up in great discomfort. I have a pinched nerve in my shoulder that acts up from time to time. It is this nerve that my doctor says brings on my occasional attacks of vertigo. Fortunately, no vertigo waves yet. But boy oh boy am I not a happy camper right now.

I am taking a pass on yoga for sure today and will try for the Sat. practice instead if I am doing better by then. The spirit is willing but this old body of mine is not.


One more sleep til the Macy Thanksgiving Day parade and lots of yummy food. Can't wait. Hope yours is wonderful!

Breakfast is on the house...

and the cook was ME! Breakfast has long been one of my favorite meals of the day and, while E cooks a mean breakfast with his crepes, apple pancakes (a la mode) and his spicy breakfast casserole, he is not the only one who can put breakfast on the table. I am not a big sweets eater and I love a good breakfast like the ones we get at Tuela's on the Trail when we bike into town. It was overcast the other morning, so I decided to give Tuela a run for her money. And, while my 'trail potatoes' lacked that certain something that she has, they were still good: golden and crispy with sauteed onions and mushrooms and my four cheese omelet went down pretty smooth according to E. Now that is a compliment.

Life is picking up speed here. I have a play day (lunch out) with a couple of pals either tomorrow or Wed. with WW weigh in tomorrow am and yoga on Wed. morning. I need to get to Q's in Dunedin with the last smear of my favorite lipstick to get a match at their new store. I've had this tube so long, I can no longer read the 'flavor' on the bottom but, if anyone can match it, it is at Qs new store on Main!

E has his surgery on Dec 3 and I have Book Club that night if he is feeling ok. He is getting a skin graft after the extended removal of more melanoma off his forehead. We have to go about 45 min. from the house to St. Joseph's hospital for the out patient surgery and have to be there at 6:30 am. This procedure had to be coordinated with his heart dr., his regular dr. and the two dermo guys plus the anesthesiologist. Can't wait to see this bill...and praise the Lord for our medical insurance!

Dec. 5 is our Open House like the one we use to host in Ft. Myers. I am excited about this as it is a tradition we loved and have missed it since we moved. Dec. 12 is the Stocking Pals exchange at Linda's this year and the 19th. weekend is Thankmas with our family from Ft. Myers. and then Santa comes and let me tell you...Mrs. Santa has been very very busy lately.

Hope your Monday is a good one!