Thanksgiving 2012

This will be one Thanksgivng we will remember.  With having three days off work (for me), and having two personal days not accounted for, made the wheels in Clyde's mind start turning.  He got busy on the phone trying to get a "last call" week for us in Florida.  You can wait and call two weeks out and if there is a room not taken, you can get it....cheap.  So, that is a good reason to own a time share (for us, at least).  We come to the same area each year, and we bought it for next to nothing at the time of purchase.  The maintenance fee is the biggest expense, but ours is much cheaper than renting a condo for a week.  So, we are happy with owning at the Islander in New Smyrna.  Now, because it's a popular place to go, there are rarely "extra" weeks, but we go through Horizon and buy the week at another resort.  This is a new one for us, in Daytona Shores (south of Daytona).  We are at the Tropic Shores this week and really love the resort, the common areas, and the room is nice.  Very clean, everything looks new. 

So, off we went after school on Friday.  We will stay here until Sat. morning and hit the road for home.  The "down" side is that we missed the Baker Thanksgiving.  We hated that, but know we will see everyone at Christmas.  The Baker's get together for both holidays and we appreciate that.  Yesterday was their big feast at the Hiles.  Aunt Martha is their closest "next of kin" so we know they were loved and felt no loss that mom & dad were missing!  They had beautiful weather and Becky said the kids ate outside! 

Here are a few pics of our week so far.

This is the 6th floor of our resort, it's called the sun deck.  The back of the resort is shaded early this time of year.  I would NOT like that if I were here at spring break.  The beach would be the spot for sunning, or here on the sun deck. 

 

Walking in the front door.  Behind this pic is the bathroom & bedroom.  I like the sink looking out the window and you can see the ocean, sand & waves very easily.  This is from the 3rd floor.

Nice, clean all new looking kitchen.  We asked if the condo had just been remodeled.  The people at the front desk said no, they just keep the furniture changed as necessary (or something like that).

The window looks out to the hall near the elevator (but the elevator is enclosed by a glass door, so no sound).  The window mirror is just an accessory but cool.

Walked into White Chapel church of God and saw Brenda Birch, pastor Steve's wife.  They came to Eastland when dad was on the pulpit committee and mom & dad were close to them.  Brenda was in the Women of the Church of God and mom mentions often how super sweet she is.  They have pastored here for four years.  His son, Brent, team preaches with Steve and actually was in the pulpit yesterday.

 

This is at a restaurant called North Turn.  Many pictures, cars, racing memorabilia all over. Looked like a bar/grill where everyone comes to watch football.

More North Turn inside.

Back to the condo.  Two of the common areas downstairs.

 

We enjoyed a very nice bike ride on Sunday.  We got a package deal for $21 that includes bikes, chairs, umbrellas and anything else we need to use for the week.

 

To wind this up, I have been excited to see Thanksgiving & some Christmas decorations up at the beach.  We are never here at this time of year, so pretty neat for me.  I want to wish my family & friends a blessed holiday.  Everyone has been posting what they are thankful for each day of the month in November.  For now, I just want to say I am blessed beyond what I deserve and would not change my life with anyone for anything.  I know I don't have many earthly riches, or sure don't have a body anyone would want, but those are things that just don't matter to me.  I am content with who I am and what I have, but more importantly, I do not deserve the gift from my Father in Heaven.  Forgiveness, grace and above all his love for me.  Thank you God.

Memories By Way of Mom

As anyone that reads my blog knows, I go to moms a few times each week for an hour or so each time.  Mom still is very sharp in her mind, again as I've said before.  She doesn't forget many things.  She can recall the years she dated dad, when they got engaged, details of his siblings that most of us can't recall of our own.  A couple of things she has talked about that I don't want to forget are:
The year was 1945 when they got engaged.  Mom said dad didn't want to give her a ring for either her birthday or Christmas.  So he bought her a really nice dresser set for her birthday on Dec 9th.  Then on Christmas he bought her a cedar chest.  Then he asked her to marry him between her birthday and Christmas.  He didn't make much money at this time, only $50.00 a week.  The money he made while in the Army he sent home to his mom.  She saved it for him and gave it to him when he returned.  He used this money to pay for these things.

My dad has managed money well all his life.  He truly took care of mom and treated her like "his baby"....
Dad was quiet and not as "out going" as mom.  He was very kind, talked to others, and what he had to say you wanted to listen to.  One thing that makes us laugh to this day is this:
Mom, Dad, Kent and I went to Gatlinburg about three years ago, maybe a year before he died.  For this to be humorous to you, you would have to know that dad was very clean, always used a napkin, never ate "with his fingers" in the pie.  Well, we decided to go to the Dixie Stampede.  You got it, dad had to eat with his fingers.  I was "along" to keep Kent company, play Rook with them, and help out with mom & dad.  Eating in the semi-dark was not easy for dad.  He couldn't see 100% at this point, so the dark made it all the harder.  Each dish that came, he was a little "taken aback" to sup from the rim of the bowl, pick up a slice of meat with his fingers....used his napkin a LOT.

I was not next to dad, so I couldn't help much.  Plus, the music made it hard to hear (or talk).  So, I sort of looked over mom from time to time.  Well, after the meal, I saw dad reaching to the edge of the table looking for a "wipe".  I saw him reach over to speak to mom, then I saw mom reach out to pick him up a wipe.  Well, she got one and handed it to dad.  Of course he wasn't too careful ripping off the paper from what he thought was a wipie.  Suddenly (I am laughing now, seeing this), sugar projected out of the white package....he quickly said to mom "Becky, what did you give me?".....well, the way he said this just cracked mom and me up.  Just too funny, as she had NO idea it was sugar.
Dad was about 88 at this time.

Always good to be with my siblings, mother and brother in laws.  Mom has been giving away many household "treasures", pictures, other things we would inherit when she passes.  She decided she wanted to give them to us now, while we can enjoy her things.  She enjoys seeing us living and using the "fruit of their labor".  She is quite happy that dad was a good money manager and she is able to pass on to us what they have worked so hard for.  Each of us appreciate this gesture and the sacrifices they made throughout our lives for us.  Mom & dad truly taught us how to raise our families and how to be a married couple.  She told me yesterday at her house, "I never knew how much I would miss Stanley".....she has a good clear mind and recalls many things that made up the years they were married.....65.

This is my sister, Beverly, and her "preacher" husband Larry.  They enjoy life to the fullest.  If anyone thinks Clyde and I travel a lot....they most likely would beat us!  Like us, they enjoy driving around looking at the beautiful Kentucky sideroads, eating at quaint little "finds".  They spend a lot of time with their grown kids and enjoy family time with them.

 

This is my mom with Kent. Although his life choices have not always been the best, he now is better than he has been! He loves mom, loves living with her, cleaning her house, driving her around (like Driving Miss Daisy) and is happy enough. I go by a couple of times a week to play rummy....and we pass away a few hours. Sometimes we talk, sometimes we laugh, and sometimes we are quiet. He is a man of few words.

 

Everyone needs a best friend and I often say Martha is moms:)  However, Martha has some VERY close friendships, women who are with her through hospital visitation with our family, on good days & bad.  Everyone needs friends like hers.  But, saying that, M & M do love spending time together.  Mom loves all the activity and energy Martha gives to life. 

Clyde came right from work, so he didn't have a change of clothes.  I brought him a hat!  This was in the "garage" area at Logans so we had it all to ourselves.  Mom was able to share about how good daddy was to her and that he gave her anything she ever wanted.  She said "you girls think you have good men, and you do, but I had the best".  I have written it before, and will say it again, I looked for a man "like the one who raised me"....my dad.  I found him.  I am thankful.

Horse Park 2012

These are some pics from the Horse Park, Halloween weekend.  The fuzzy ones were taken from Becky's FB page.  When I enlarged them, that's the way they came out.  I am blogging these for Uncle Jason, who does not "do" Face Book....where these are posted. 

 

Matthew stayed Friday night, went to the doctor on Sat. morning, strep was affirmed, pap and I picked him up from dad.  Jason K. went back to the campground, we kept Matthew until after church on Sunday.

Princess Pirate Maggie

Pumpkin roll (Austin on right, MJ on left

Ky. Horse Park trick or treating

 

Becky says making smores is her favorite camping activity.

 

Mark Comley (spelling?) is the magician. 

 

Sleeping:)

 

 

Matthew was such a trooper.  We brought him back a pumpkin to decorate.  He watched a movie (his dad picked it up from Red Box), he also bought him some Halloween type of candy, and his favorite soup & popsicles.  He was fine here!

 

Chicago Photos

The post blow is about our Chicago trip.  Here are a few more pictures.

Top of the Willis Building.  The guide on our boat trip said that this building, formerly the Sears Tower, will most likely be another name in the future.  It's a business thing.

Me standing across from our hotel, the Hyatt, on Wacker Ave.  

Flowers were everywhere and still beautiful in October.  The streets were so clean.

At Navy Pier, on top of the Ferris wheel.

We ate breakfast, two evening meals & desserts in the Regency Club Room.

On October 7, 1972, I walked down the aisle at Eastland Parkway (now Eastland COG) Church of God on Eastland Parkway.  It was a cool morning, but nice.  As the day went, it warmed up and so did the church (building).  We didn't turn on the (loud) air conditioner, so I got pretty warm.  The colors of my bridesmaids dresses were autumn shades....orange, green, gold.  My sister, Beverly, was my maid of honor.  I asked both sisters, but Martha helped with Lisa Ann who was our flower girl.  She was a precious flower girl....so cute!  I remember I carried my best friends prayer book (or might have been her Bible) with my large wedding bouquet attached to the top.  There was a "part" of the bouquet that came off for throwing.  We had Spaldings Bakery bake the cake, bring the cups/plates, etc.  I believe we had nuts & mints and that is all for the "food"!  What a change these days.
For the music, Judi Queen sang and her mother, Reba, played the organ.  Judi had a magnificent voice.  I had Clyde's sister, Martha, also in the wedding and the rest were high school/church friends.  I used as many friends as I could at the reception.  We honeymooned in Gatlinburg with the first night in a motel at Cumberland Falls.
Forty years later, we celebrated by going on a trip to Chicago.  We waited for fall break which was the 12th of October, but we wanted to wait until we could get away for a few days.  We had never been to Chicago and loved it.  Very clean, lots of flowers/gardens/parks/buildings!!!!  I loved the Shedd's Aquarium, Garrett's popcorn, the Hyatt & Regency Club room there, Navy Pier, and loved the boat ride.  It was one hour architecture cruise.  We also went to the Willis Tower, LOVED it, Field Museum, rode the ferris wheel and walked through Grant Park.  Shopped very little....American Girl Doll store, Hershey's & Girhedelli's (spelling?)
I will post this and try to add pics on the laptop.  The ipad doesn't allow me that option....to browse to them on the camera card:(  I save them to the ipad itself, but doesn't give me that option either??  Oh well, I am tired tonight so this all may sound random!  Love my best friend.

103 floors up at this point.  Beautiful view.  Appx. 1400 ft. high.

The Bean.  This was very cool....your image was reflected any place you walked around it.  Fun!

Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) in the middle.  Loved the view.  Beautiful buildings all around town.

We wanted to try the "famous" Chicago, deep-dish pizza.  However, this is a small....too big for us.  Too much cheese.....not enough meat for Clyde.  The crust was very tasty, sauce very good.  Just not something we will likely buy again.  Glad we did this one time though!

End of Summer Flowers

This was taken recently, September 2012.  The pond has been pretty maintenance free this summer and we haven't had enough cover on the top.  However, despite that, it has been clear and the fish are thriving.  We haven't fed them at all and one or two lilies are doing well.  One lily has had large flowers.

These pots along the front side of the patio have done well.  The Rice's have had very good luck with the Angel Wing Begonias so I have had them the last couple of years.  I love them.  The foliage is large and dark green with the flowers very dark pink.  They need a little shade or protection but I have put some around the pond waterfall without shade.  

The yellow is a large mum that returns each year and gets to "leggy" to be controlled,  I just let it fall.

Most pots have impatients that are volunteer and I just place them in pots on an "as needed" basis.

I took this picture this morning because I thought they looked nice on this little side table.  Last night there was a threat of frost so I brought the one on the left in off the hanging basket tree.  It is one that I should be able to bring inside without shedding much.  It has ivy in it and some little yellow blooms (not sure the type). The purple is a shamrock, not sure the exact name.  I love, love, love it.  I bought one a few years ago, and this is a "strand" of it.  It comes back under the dogwood tree on it's own, so I take some of it and plop it in a container.  Sometimes through the winter I try to keep the pot inside, but usually they go dormant and I let it die....until next spring!

This was taken today, Sept. 24th, of the hanging basket tree.  The open place in the front is where the basket above on the table was....I didn't want the frost to get it.  The others are mostly a green sweet potato vine and a purple one on the backside.  

Well, the battery is dying so I will post this.  Not much here, but these are a few pics from the yard.  Late summer....have loved the flowers this year.  They have done pretty well.  I have enjoyed being out back!