Saturday, November 30, 2019

30 Days of Thanksgiving


30 things for which I'm thankful...

1.   Vacations

2.   Safe travel

3.   Family, near and far

4.   The warmth of the sun

5.   Beach, sand and surf

6.   Laughter


7.   Cleansing of tears

8.   Hugs

9.   Friendships

10. Church

11. Prayer

12. Max Lucado's book: "Anxious for Nothing"

13. Smiles

14. Old pictures and memories

15. Shopping and eating at places we don't have at home                          

16. Empty middle seats on long flights

17. Home

18. Blooming Christmas cactus

19. Six months since my last SVT heart episode.

20. Mark Batterson's book:  "Double Blessing"

21. Thanksgiving cards received in the mail

22. A rose and a hug



23. Peace

24. The Marco-Polo app

25. Surrounded by family at Thanksgiving

26. Annual family photo shoot

27. Candles in the window

28. Leftover turkey sandwiches

29. I'm thirty pounds lighter since my heart ablation

30. I'm Grateful, Thankful, Blessed





Monday, November 18, 2019

October/November Travels

From the middle of October to the middle of November we spent time in Florida, Virginia and Pennsylvania visiting family and friends.



A few of my favorite flowers and trees along the way:




A favorite Oak tree that the road was build around on Hill Street in Deland, FL.

An impatiens at Water's Edge in FL


A hibiscus wintering over in Nancy's sun porch (PA)

I love this big old tree at Poplar Forest, VA


A Chinese Maple Tree in Forest, VA



Family and Friends:


Family in Florida

Dave's Dad and wife
(Their caregiver in the background)


Eating out with
Rick and Joy, Marilyn and Steve, Raymond and Billy



Friends in Macon, GA

Foster and Sheila Bell  


Family in Virginia


Cousin Kathy's son and family  
Matthew, Brooksie, Blanks and Litty



Cousin Kathy's daughter, Alicia, and Mark
visiting from CA


Siblings
Cousin Kathy's daughter and son: Alicia and Matthew



Cousin Paulette and Jim from Ohio
came down to visit us in VA
(I missed seeing Paulette's family in Ohio - children and grandchildren)


Cousin Kathy and Jim in VA



--COUSINS--
Kathy, Kathy and Paulette
(Our Moms were sisters)


Family in Pennsylvania

 

Bruce and Nancy (sister-in-law) and our nephew, Brandon.



Activities


Digging sweet potatoes at Rick and Joys (FL)
Too bad the tomatoes were't ripe when we were there.  :(  


Dave and Steve moving the Welch's (Dave's Dad, Steve's mother-in-law) into Water's Edge Assisted Living Facility


The Welch's in their new home



Enjoyed places we don't have in Fairbanks.


Dunkin Donuts


A New Favorite Drink - Raspberry Snapple




Enjoyed Time at the Beach



This Baby is now 66 Years Old

Husband Dave found this picture of himself while he was at his Dad's house.
So cute!!!



Traffic Stopped Waiting for Cranes to Cross the Road (FL)




Poplar Forest (VA) - Thomas Jefferson's Private Retreat

Dave, Kathy, Kathy, Alicia, Mark and Jim
My cousin Kathy works at Poplar Forest and gave us a private tour of the house and grounds.
A most interesting place to visit.


Playing Mexican Train (VA)

Kramer (Jim), Kathy, Kathy and Paulette
Where's Grubb (Jim)? 
We started this game in the afternoon, broke for dinner and finished it late that evening. These people are crazy players....so fun!  ðŸ˜‚



Dave Helped Bruce Re-Shingle His Shed (PA)





Making Cards with Nancy and Friends (PA)

 
A fun afternoon crafting and learning new card-making techniques. I now have a long list of items I will put on my Christmas wish list.   


At the airport - Time to go home!  
.  
Thanks Jami and Kaiden for meeting us at the airport in Fairbanks 
at 2:00 a.m.


Dave shoveling snow when we got home.  


_________________________________

It was hot and humid in Florida,
cooler in Virginia, 
cold in Pennsylvania and
colder when we got home (Alaska).  
__________________________________


❤️It was a great month of reconnecting with loved ones.❤️
I feel refreshed, encouraged, motivated and loved; 
blessed and thankful as we enter the holiday season.  

















This and That in October


The Tamarac Tree

It's one of my favorite trees, but only in the fall when it turns a brilliant yellow. 



My Snow-Covered Sunflower

None of my sunflowers bloomed this summer.....so disappointing. This one tried to bloom, but the snow got it first.



Granddaughter Izzy (Izabella Grace)
 Celebrated her 1️⃣3️⃣th Birthday - Oct 12th
























Apple Watches

Izzy and Maddy got Apple Watches and they both opened them together on Izzy's birthday.



An Apple Watch from Craig's List