December, 2019
Dave &Barb Reinken, Larry Ewan, Bob and Kemba DeGrout, Christine and Joe Corbett, Rick & Monica Vickers, Roger & Lorrie Swink, Linda and Mike Wiens
We finished unpacking and organizing Jeanette’s mother-in-law unit on the 3rd. We found all Christmas boxes and put up the tree and decorated her unit. Barb even had time to complete a jigsaw puzzle J
There was a big snowstorm – had over 6 inches. Dave went out to help shovel the drive and clean off the car. He hadn’t done this work in eleven years so it was sort of new. Of course he has never done it in sandals, medium weight jacket, hat and mittens either. He came in looking like a bedraggled snowman! We left Maine on Dec 4 to head south in snow and then rain. Finally had good weather about Georgia and were very happy to be home in warmer weather on Dec. 6.
We spent a couple of days cleaning and decorating the house for Christmas. We returned to our exercise routine and prepared for our first DFC gathering on Dec. 12. We had 13 people come over for cocktails and then we went out to dinner. Barb has returned to the QOV Sassy Sewer group and is busy with assembling quilt tops – her part of the group work on making quilts.
December flew by quietly. We didn’t have any big gatherings and didn’t have large amounts of cookies like in the past. We did go to see Star Wars – the last episode. It has been a while since we were in a theatre. We ended the month with cleaning the house and taking down Christmas decorations.
There was a big snowstorm – had over 6 inches. Dave went out to help shovel the drive and clean off the car. He hadn’t done this work in eleven years so it was sort of new. Of course he has never done it in sandals, medium weight jacket, hat and mittens either. He came in looking like a bedraggled snowman! We left Maine on Dec 4 to head south in snow and then rain. Finally had good weather about Georgia and were very happy to be home in warmer weather on Dec. 6.
We spent a couple of days cleaning and decorating the house for Christmas. We returned to our exercise routine and prepared for our first DFC gathering on Dec. 12. We had 13 people come over for cocktails and then we went out to dinner. Barb has returned to the QOV Sassy Sewer group and is busy with assembling quilt tops – her part of the group work on making quilts.
December flew by quietly. We didn’t have any big gatherings and didn’t have large amounts of cookies like in the past. We did go to see Star Wars – the last episode. It has been a while since we were in a theatre. We ended the month with cleaning the house and taking down Christmas decorations.
November, 2019
Month started slowly – doing our winter routine of walking, biking and swimming. Barb continues to work on quilting and enjoys time with Sassy Sewers quilt group. Barb is also busy with making Christmas ornaments for Dec DFC party we are hosting. She also finished a shawl for our niece in Maine.
We did drive up to St. Pete to make sure the condo was still ok and to get help from Belinda Wolfe with boat rail cover canvas (she has heavy duty sewing machine). In October Barb started planning a DFC dinner in St. Pete area and got replies from 26 DFC members. We had the dinner while in town. The small Italian restaurant was wonderful to work with. Everyone had a good time. We didn’t stay overnight at the condo, but it wasn’t hard to drive home after dinner.
November 10 was an interesting day. We were expecting SeaBatical on the dock. The Corbett’s arrived about 12:30 followed by a Police Boat with his lights going. We couldn’t imagine what they had done – definitely not speeding up the rim route. It turns out the Police officer was a cousin and he was escorting them to our dock. The Corbett’s were with us for two nights. We had a dinner on the 10th for a couple of DFC boats. Small DFC gathering, but great evening. (Fran & Marty LeVerque, Joe and Christine Corbett, Us).
The weather has been a little chiller than normal and more rain also, so some reduction of outside activities, but the yard likes the weather – hard for our yard service to keep up on the growth of grass and plants. We did find weather windows to put up outside Christmas lights – Mike not as excited as now he can’t trim bushes.
We left on Nov. 21 for Maine – had a three day drive that wasn’t very pleasant. Won’t follow GPS and go through Washington DC, Baltimore, New York, Boston again. Way to much traffic! We were tired when we arrived but happy to see family and the new house. Jeanette was happy to see us and have us help her unpack boxes from the move to this new house in late Oct. Barb started by asking questions about what Jeanette wanted in each room. The first room tackled was the kitchen – it was done on first full day there. The second day we worked on living room boxes – some went to various other rooms. We then tackled the sewing room. That room was clean but needed organizing. On Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Barb cleaned the basement so that boxed could be taken down. We also started cooking for Thanksgiving. We didn’t do any unpacking but had a great Thanksgiving dinner with Niece and family. We unpacked more boxes on Friday – but made time to go to a local quilt store. We were able to end the month with getting Jeanette’s office organized. We also helped Todd and Alva bring the canoe and kayak’s up from the Pond (Maine’s version of a lake). We also watched Alva play basketball on a YMCA team – he is really getting tall and he made some baskets which was exciting!
We are enjoying our time in Maine, but the weather is getting a little chilly for us. We have a very private area with a nice bedroom and bathroom that is away from everyone else – even an elevator to reach the rest of the house. Great house – very large main house with a three car garage over which Jeanette has a mother-in-law apartment – with two bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, large open concept living, dining, kitchen and an office. She also has porch with a screened in area. She has her own garage. We put our car in it and used her car while here.
We did drive up to St. Pete to make sure the condo was still ok and to get help from Belinda Wolfe with boat rail cover canvas (she has heavy duty sewing machine). In October Barb started planning a DFC dinner in St. Pete area and got replies from 26 DFC members. We had the dinner while in town. The small Italian restaurant was wonderful to work with. Everyone had a good time. We didn’t stay overnight at the condo, but it wasn’t hard to drive home after dinner.
November 10 was an interesting day. We were expecting SeaBatical on the dock. The Corbett’s arrived about 12:30 followed by a Police Boat with his lights going. We couldn’t imagine what they had done – definitely not speeding up the rim route. It turns out the Police officer was a cousin and he was escorting them to our dock. The Corbett’s were with us for two nights. We had a dinner on the 10th for a couple of DFC boats. Small DFC gathering, but great evening. (Fran & Marty LeVerque, Joe and Christine Corbett, Us).
The weather has been a little chiller than normal and more rain also, so some reduction of outside activities, but the yard likes the weather – hard for our yard service to keep up on the growth of grass and plants. We did find weather windows to put up outside Christmas lights – Mike not as excited as now he can’t trim bushes.
We left on Nov. 21 for Maine – had a three day drive that wasn’t very pleasant. Won’t follow GPS and go through Washington DC, Baltimore, New York, Boston again. Way to much traffic! We were tired when we arrived but happy to see family and the new house. Jeanette was happy to see us and have us help her unpack boxes from the move to this new house in late Oct. Barb started by asking questions about what Jeanette wanted in each room. The first room tackled was the kitchen – it was done on first full day there. The second day we worked on living room boxes – some went to various other rooms. We then tackled the sewing room. That room was clean but needed organizing. On Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Barb cleaned the basement so that boxed could be taken down. We also started cooking for Thanksgiving. We didn’t do any unpacking but had a great Thanksgiving dinner with Niece and family. We unpacked more boxes on Friday – but made time to go to a local quilt store. We were able to end the month with getting Jeanette’s office organized. We also helped Todd and Alva bring the canoe and kayak’s up from the Pond (Maine’s version of a lake). We also watched Alva play basketball on a YMCA team – he is really getting tall and he made some baskets which was exciting!
We are enjoying our time in Maine, but the weather is getting a little chilly for us. We have a very private area with a nice bedroom and bathroom that is away from everyone else – even an elevator to reach the rest of the house. Great house – very large main house with a three car garage over which Jeanette has a mother-in-law apartment – with two bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, large open concept living, dining, kitchen and an office. She also has porch with a screened in area. She has her own garage. We put our car in it and used her car while here.
Vicki & Norm Naughton, Holly & Brad Hines, Shelly & Hampton Hines, Dave Reinken, Ron and Charma Owens, Jim & Belinda Wolfe, Lynnie Tierney
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Michael Konczel, Jim Pope, Greg & Barbara Allard, Ellen Pope, JoAnne Konczel, Butch Ringelspaugh
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Eli & Bart Franey, Bob & Elaine Ebaugh
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Christine, Dave, Fran, Mardi, and Joe - Barb taking picture
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SeaBatical at our dock - the largest boat to date to use our DF dock
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Alva is tallest UMO team player.
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October, 2019
We returned home from Cheboygan, MI to find water damage problem in our guest bedroom. We were able to get AC unit fixed and water damage repaired quickly. Our Home Watch worked with us on this problem as it occurred over the summer. We spent a week opening the house and putting it back together. We are using the pool daily as it is hot here! We also started our morning routine of walking and bike riding. We cool down quickly by jumping in the pool. Our neighborhood is under construction. After 25 years our streets are finally being repaired. We watched as they paved in front of our house. We made sure that we didn’t need to go anywhere for a couple of days, as we have a new car and we didn’t want to get tar on the undercarriage.
Barb has started her winter sewing and crafting activities. She is working hard to complete a knitted shawl for our Niece. She took two quilting classes and joined a local QOV group that meets twice a month. She started sewing quilt tops together for the group. This group of dedicated women is trying to reduce the number of quilts for Veterans in our local area. The group is fun to work with and Barb loves to cause – honoring veterans for their service to our country.
Dave is into his winter routine of doing small house chores, and taking daily nap. He does a lot of reading but does have his bike for exercise.
Barb has started her winter sewing and crafting activities. She is working hard to complete a knitted shawl for our Niece. She took two quilting classes and joined a local QOV group that meets twice a month. She started sewing quilt tops together for the group. This group of dedicated women is trying to reduce the number of quilts for Veterans in our local area. The group is fun to work with and Barb loves to cause – honoring veterans for their service to our country.
Dave is into his winter routine of doing small house chores, and taking daily nap. He does a lot of reading but does have his bike for exercise.
Sunrise while walking
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The bright moon early in the morning - great walking!
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Another sunrise with wonderful weather.
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The asphalt paver trying to get by our mailbox.
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