Fun in the sun

The calm water in the morning

My sisters and I took a little trip to Florida last weekend. We try to get together once a year but it seems to work out to once every other year. Even though we see each other at the shore every year, it just isn't the same with kids, spouses, cousins, etc. around and we don't get the real vacation feel at the shore since one of us has to cook every night. This is a real treat for all of us and we each need this time for one reason or another.

Let me start by saying the weather could not have been more perfect. We were lucky enough to be there for a rare northern front, which meant that the humidity was low and there was a nice breeze. Amazing! The water was also great, no seaweed, calm in the morning and more waves toward the evening, a little something for everyone. Lots of wildlife sitings, rays, dolphins and even a shark. I luckily missed the shark, I hear it was small and harmless. Glad I missed it.

Help, don't let him take me!

Tammy and Lee Ann having fun with the pirate.

Our first night dinner was at Peg Leg Pete's, directly across the street from our condo! After a drink, appetizers, dinner and more drinks, we spotted this fellow on our way out and just had to have our way with him! Yes, it was like being on spring break again, as we left and were in the parking lot we realized there was an older couple in a car watching the photo shoot and cracking up, which just made us crack up even more! There was also one lady in her car not so amused, which also made us crack up. No pirates were injured in the taking of the photos.

LeeAnn, Tammy, Susan, Karen and Lisa

The shadow picture is supposed to be us striking a pose that would define us. I think LeeAnn is diving (the little mermaid), Tam is doing yoga, Susan is making muscles, Karen (mutual friend of all of us) is drinking a beer and I am giving her the beer and taking pictures.

Susan getting some excercise!

We were always the last ones off the beach in the evening. Long after all the families had gone up we were still sitting there having happy hour and enjoying the beautiful beach. Evening really is my favorite time on the beach, it is just so relaxing. One does lose all motivation to go up and shower and dress for dinner though after sitting on the beach for so long!

The Formation, the only picture of the 4 of us together.

A picture just like this, taken about 4 or 5 years ago was what instigated this trip. We did this same formation years ago and Tammy sent the old picture to each of us with the subject line- these people sure know how to have fun! It got the ball rolling for another sister trip. Why did we do it? Because we could. Notice the special skills Susan and I have for our role in the formation! Yes, we sure know how to have fun!

The video will be available online soon....hehehe!

All in all, the trip was a big success aside from the sun poisoning 3 of us got. Mine was definitely the worst. I did not have as much sun training up here as the others do in the south. We laughed and talked and cut up and played and ate and drank and just sat quietly and it was perfect. Sisters are great!

HGTV without the crew

This week I feel like I am living one of the home improvement shows, but without the crew.

We got to the shore on Sat. last week to a huge mess in the farmhouse. The two front rooms were sheet rocked over the winter and all the random furniture and junk that was in the rooms was now strewn all over the other rooms. There was also a solid coating on every surface of plaster dust. Let the work begin.

Move the patio furniture outside, put all tools and wood and nails and paint in the basement, distribute furniture to another temporary home, take down plastic dust barrier (or attempt at dust barrier, can't imagine what it would have looked like without the plastic....), take sheets off all furniture (a stroke of genius at the last minute last summer, so glad we did that), sweep floors, mop floors, clean every surface in the house, sweep again and mop again. Sit down and take a breath, when does that work crew arrive anyway?

Before arriving we went to Home Depot to get more supplies, and a trip to Wal Mart to buy things like paper towel holders, salt and pepper shakers, towel racks, you get the picture. Mahoney farmhouse economic stimulus package at work.

Progress report-

Upstairs- bedroom has a real bed with box spring, an area rug (to cover the plywood floor), curtains to block the early morning sun, a dresser and a closet full of new hangers.

Bathroom has almost been completed....mirror above vanity, door!, curtain to cover the window at night so I don't feel so exposed to the people driving by on the road, still needs two light fixtures and trim on the window and baseboards.

Downstairs-

Hung light fixtures in dining room and back entrance.

Primed all new walls and ceilings. Painted front entrance hallway and wall behind fireplace.

Sanded and verathaned floor in dining room. Looks so much better!

Basically organized and started to feel like we live here. Which we have been doing since Sunday. Nice place for sure!

Lest I forget the outside....TJ got his huge garden plowed so he will be planting all sorts of produce tomorrow. The yard looks great and I can't wait to see my lilies and peonies in bloom when I get back in July.

But this would have been so much easier if the work crew had showed up. I am wiped out, I will need a vacation to recover from my vacation.

Here are a few pictures of the work in progress!

Front foyer and living room and dining room with new walls.

Saying Goodbye

Sometimes it is hard to say goodbye. Sunday a week ago, we had to say goodbye to our dog Lucy. She was 15 years old. Last November she got very sick and we kind of expected that she might not make it then. The vet was a little concerned and said with her age that she might not make it much longer. Well, she surprised us all. I have said that Lucy was the dog with 9 lives. Our vet was surprised that she had such a miraculous surge after that last setback. We had decided then, that the next time Lucy crashed we would not take extrordinary measures to bring her back. She had an inoperable tumor on her foot and it was bound to get infected again and then it might be time to say goodbye.

Sunday morning TJ got up and said Lucy would not get up from her bed. She did not eat, which is her reason for being most of the time, and could not go out to the bathroom. TJ brought her out and she walked around a bit and then just went and layed down in the flower bed. She could not lift her head. So sad....to see the life just leave her. We brought her inside and gave her some of the pain medicine we had from the last time she was sick, just to ease her pain a bit. We went to church and I'm sure both of us were praying for the same thing. Help us to decide the right thing to do. It is so hard to make that decision. I always said I just wanted "to know" when the time comes. I think it was today.

We brought Lucy to the emergency vet clinic and filled out the required paperwork and then went into a lovely room to say goodbye. The room was actually very nice, a sofa, an aquarium, a couple of chairs, low lights and nice music. Lucy just laid on the floor on a blanket. I swear I saw tears come from her eyes. She was just so sad and pathetic. TJ and I cried and pet her and said our goodbyes. The vet came in and after looking at her for a while reassured us that we were doing the right thing by putting a good friend out of her misery.

Lucy was as good a dog as they come. She had such a wonderful disposition. She was loyal, well behaved, gentle and always happy for anything she was given. I think of her 15 years ago as a puppy coming into our family and how TJ worked so diligently to train her and how happy the kids were to have a dog! She just loved to hunt and loved running on the sandbars in Nova Scotia, in her day. She had her share of adventures too. She swallowed a prism from a toy and almost died very young. She got lost regularly in the country in Georgia. She was lost in Houston for a day and a half and almost died then too. Lucy did have a way of wandering away and just following her nose. Lately, she took a lot of naps and it was hard for her to breathe and hard for her to go up or down stairs. She was always up for a walk though, even as old and slow as she was, she was like a pup when we walked her, just happy to be outside.

Ironically, Saturday night at dinner with friends we were talking about the movie Marley and Me. I said it was so true and a very accurate picture of how it is at the end. I told everyone that when Lucy's time comes I hope it is very obvious. Well, be careful what you wish for....I had no idea that the next morning that sign would be there for us to see. And it was obvious.

Goodbye Lucy, good dog.

In Living Color

I have decided that spring is God's reward to us for surviving the winter! For months the trees have been bare, the grass has been brown and nature has been asleep. Yesterday I was riding my bike, yes it was warm enough to go bike riding, and just had to marvel at the beautiful colors all around me. It is like the city has just taken a deep breath and burst into life.

Spring was always beautiful in Georgia with the dogwoods, azaleas, daffodils and forsythia, and Texas had beautiful azaleas in spring too. But it still wasn't the stark contrast from winter that it is up here. After months of brutal freezing weather and dreary days the beginning of spring is even more of a contrast. You just can't believe how amazing it is to drive around and see the yellow forsythia stand out like a bright light all around. It really is like God's reward for surviving the winter. "You made it and now you get to revel in all these splendid colors!" Bring it on!

Enjoy life, in living color!

Weighing In

Did you know that people lose weight the same way in the U.S. and Canada? I do. I work for "a popular weight loss program" and have worked for that company is the U.S. and in Canada. One thing that is consistent in my life is that fact that when I go into the meeting room, it's all the same.

I like my job. I get to meet a lot of different people who are all struggling with the same thing. These people are usually at the point where they are ready to change. It is often inspiring to see people go on this journey and to share in their success. I take very little responsibility for their success, they have done the hard part. I was just there to "weigh them in" and talk to, inform and motivate them, my favorite part!

Lately, I have witnessed many successes. Success is contagious. I have had many members lose over 25 lbs. in a 12 or 20 week session and go on to reach their ultimate goals. I love seeing their commitment and their confidence grow as they become the person they used to be or the person they always wanted to be but never thought they could be as far as weight is concerned. This does something to their attitude too. When you get control of how and what you eat you also get control of other things in your life. Anyway, it is nice to be surrounded by good positive people who are committed to losing weight. Plus, we sure do have fun at our meetings!

A fun positive environment, celebrations every week, looking and feeling better every week and we all have a common goal and want to be there. What more could you ask for?

Pedestrians

It is supposed to go up to 20C tomorrow! Spring is definitely in the air, which means the pedestrians are out! During my recent trip to Houston I made a few observations. The weather was perfect and if it were that temperature around here the sidewalks would be full of pedestrians. In Houston the only people out walking were heading to their cars. No one walks in Houston if they don't have to, my friend Valerie said everyone would think they were homeless if they walked somewhere. So true.

Well, people walk here. I am always shocked to see the number of pedestrians out even on cold snowy days. People just walk here. Now that the weather is getting nicer there are even more people outside and walking. I haven't really decided if people walk more up here because they are just happy to have nice weather and really appreciate it or if they walk because they want to. I am leaning towards the want to because they walk even when it is freezing. Mass transit helps too, you can take the bus or the train and then have to walk to your final destination. But then again, I see people walking everywhere! I must say, I missed seeing people outside walking when I was in Houston, I have gotten very used to seeing people out and about.

One more thing about the pedestrians. I have actually gotten used to watching out for people crossing the street in crosswalks while I am driving. When we first came here I was so used to not having to wait to turn or to even look to see if someone was crossing the street. Those poor people I have almost run over....I am now much more conscious of the crosswalks. They actually get used here....and sometimes even by me! I love it!

Hello Grammy

Daniel turned a year old on Sunday! Apparently he loves phones (I'm sure this is due to the fact that his mother also loves the phone and is on it often) so Rachel said he got 3 phones for gifts. Here he is calling someone, I can only hope it is me! How cute! We will be spending Easter with them and it will be fun to see Daniel walking and playing in person and not on video on the internet. The last time we saw him was at Christmas and he has changed so much since then.

Looking forward to Easter, seeing family and the promise of spring. Really, it is going to get here eventually.....as I look out at what I hope is the LAST snow of this season!