It's Been Way too Long............

Yes.....Way too long since we've seen our friends Nathan and Krystal.

 Health issues got in the way of plans for visiting them this weekend, but we were at least able to meet up with them for dinner Sunday evening.   Austin (their son) and wife Brittany recently bought their first home in Avon Park.....so they were making a trip this way to see them, gave us a shout and asked if we could meet them.   We enjoyed a great dinner at the Hibachi Grill in Sebring.  This is always one of Rich and my favorite places  to go.........and tonight was perfect.    The food was fresh and hot and all four of us were served a delicious dish from the Mongolian Grill.

Nathan and Krystal - as we do every time we get together, we enjoyed your company and conversation this evening.  Promise to come visit you and meet the horses real soon.

Prom Night

WOW........How quickly they grow up.

Our grandson, Dalton with his girlfriend Sara, at their Davenport West High School Prom Night.  Beautiful.............

A Busy Weekend

One more return trip to Cora for my vertigo therapy, and she sent me home with  some Motion Sensitivity Exercises.   Sitting on the couch or bed I needed to look to the left, tilt my head to the ceiling and then lie down a quickly as I could on my right side, keeping my head to an angle toward the ceiling. Then count to 30 if there were no symptoms, or wait for the symptoms to subside and then count to 30.  Sit back up and do the same thing to the other side, returning to a sitting position.  I was to do 3 repetitions 3 times/day until there were no symptoms for 3 days in a row.   I successfully made it through three days with no symptoms.  So my therapy is now complete.

On Friday I took off for Sebring........alone.  Finally using my Xmas gift from

Rich for a day at The Spa at Hammock Falls.  Today I was scheduled for a one hour Swedish Massage AND a one hour Signature Facial.   This is definitely one of my very favorite places to go, and Thor and the staff are just wonderful.  Two hours of complete relaxation..................Sure do wish I could do this at LEAST once a month!   But I won't complain..........as long as Rich keeps this on his Xmas list for me.  

 One more errand to run...Again this year, there was just ONE page that Rich was not able to figure out on the tax return, so having already filed an extension  it was a trip into town to drop all the papers off with Jennifer, the MBA who does our taxes.

Saturday, Rich had a lot of errands he wanted to get taken care of, which included a trip to Lowe's to check out sprinkler heads, to Walmart for some fishing stuff, to Harbour Freight for a saw, to Sherwin Williams to pick up paint for our neighbor,and then to the pump store in Lake Placid to check on parts for the pump to the sprinkler system.

So we headed out early, and stopped at the Sebring Diner for breakfast.  They were very busy!!  I think we were there longer than it took to do all of our shopping!!    Back home that after noon and we started on some yard work, cleaning the driveway and started to trim some trees........  By this time I was just too tired to think about fixing diner - so, with the last of our gift cards.........we headed to the Golden Corral here in Lake Placid.  This is definitely one of the better locations, and tonight they had their baby back ribs,  which were very very good!

Sunday was more yard work, primarily trimming all of the palm trees, and then Rich cutting a couple of the dead limbs from the tree down by the dock.  The bags are full and the limbs are cut and tied in bundles ready to be picked up on Wednesday.   Our Western King Bird and his mate, nested again in the nesting house in the back yard.  We've seen three or four of the new baby birds out on the edge of the house, and taking flight.  I was outside for a long time, trying to catch a picture of the babies...........but they would only show their heads once I went back inside!

Nothing much planned for this week - but we have made plans to visit with Nate and Krystal and  to see their new "Gypsy Tails and Trails" farm and new home over in Myakka City, next weekend.  Can't wait!

Update on this dizzy broad~

If you remember, back in February I experienced some dizziness, nausea and some balance issues.  All the tests came back fine - so I was referred to an ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) to have the inner ear checked.  When the ENT called to schedule an appointment, I was feeling fine, discussed the situation with the nurse, and since the symptoms seemed to have disappeared we did not schedule an appointment.

Between then and Easter Sunday, I had a few minor episodes of being dizzy, and at times losing my balance.  Finally went to see Dr. Robinson (ENT) and was diagnosed with Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Simply put that means that one or more of the little crystals in the organ of the ear the controls the movement of your head up, down, right, left, back and forward somehow move to and get caught in  the hair like sensors in another another tiny organ that controls the rotation of your head.  While it can be bothersome, it can easily be taken care of.    So he sent me for therapy at the CORA.............

CORA is a rehab center here in Lake Placid, where they do balance therapy.   I was introduced to canalith repositioning, or the Eply Maneuver.  This involves fast movement of the head, with different positions, which is supposed to move those crystals back to where they are supposed to be.  They do this maneuver 3 times. The first time - you get very very dizzy, but by the last time you feel almost 100% better.

Generally one session is enough...............So today is no laying down till bedtime, no bending over and elevate my head when I sleep tonight. Then I should be good to go!!!

Character, Scholarship, Leadership, Service

We are so very proud of our grandson, Dalton.  Last night was a very special night for him and his family, as he was recognized for his dedication, hard work and accomplishments.  A ceremony was held last night at the Davenport, IA, West High School for the induction to the National Honor Society.  Selection  to the NHS is based on four criteria: scholarship, leadership, service and character.

 Congratulations Dalton.  You are an outstanding young man. We love you and are so so proud of you.

Below are a few pictures that his Dad shared.  The young lady with Dalton is his girlfriend, Sara.  Our congratulations to her as well for her own induction to the NHS.

Happy Birthday Diane

Diane.....wish so much that we didn't live so

 very far away.

Sending you our very best wishes for a fun

 and happy birthday and wishing too that

one day soon we all can spend some quality

 "family" time together!

Enjoy your special day, sister-in-law!

Another proud moment!

The following appears on the Davenport Community Schools  facebook page.....

His Dad calls him the "superstar"...... our grandson, Dalton - 3rd row left!

The West High Jazz bands concluded their season on March 31st with a performance at the Redstone Room. Jazz 2 is a student led ensemble, and was directed by three students who plan to be music majors in the future....  more

Birthday Wishes...........

                                                 

To our Granddaughter, 

Chauna

Today  our lovely granddaughter turns 16.    All you ladies out there, I'm sure remember your 16th Birthday.  We could not wait, and then we counted the days until we were 18.   Chauna may be doing the same - but I do know one thing for sure.  This girl has made the very best of those first 16 years.  She is a very talented, beautiful young lady.  So here are a few of  Pa Pa Donald and my favorite pictures from the past year. 

Starting from the top left:  Chauna dressed up for Nerd Day at the Girl Scout day camp; with her boyfriend Ryan, on her first date, dressed for the High School Gala!  Receiving her Academic Excellence Awards and Letter for a 4.0 grade average. Looking beautiful at Bolt Castle/Thousand Islands and with brother Dalton, Pa Pa Donald and Gramma Do.  

With father Dennis and brother out in the fishing boat, and showing her big catch on Black Lake in NY.  Another with Ryan, with Mom, Crystal, after a successful day of geocaching, playing baseball at Jacobs Park, and my favorite.....performing at the Davenport Show Choir Show Off. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR FAVORITE 16 YEAR OLD PRINCESS! 

AND a couple more Happy Birthday Wishes..........

To Rich's OLDER brother Bob Donald 

who celebrated #68 ( I think) on

 Wednesday April 8th










And to our very good friend Nick Cartos

( who's still just a young'n) celebrating 

today, April 9th.  



  

Easter Sunday with Friends

On Saturday Rich and I headed out to mail some birthday cards and to make a stop at the grocery store and the bait shop.  Rich suggested that we stop for breakfast, so we tried a new restaurant in town. (actually it's been here for about a year - but new to us just the same!) The Happy Chef is located just a few miles from us on the Interlake Blvd Circle here in Lake Placid.  Breakfast was by far the best we've had here in town.  The owners and staff are extremely friendly.  We checked out the dinner menu, and after such a great breakfast, and learning that the owner used to be an executive chef in NY we decided that we'd be back soon to give it another try!

Our good friends, Nick and Tonyia spent the day with us on Easter Sunday.  But first we awoke to gifts from the Easter Bunny!  Rich had his basket of chocolate, and I a beautiful Peace Lily.  The guys took off mid morning to do some fishing, and since we were not planning dinner until about 3:00, Tonyia and I poured our coffee, turned on the Country music station and settled in for a few games of Mexican Train.

It was early afternoon when the guys returned and they brought back a bunch of pan fish (crappies and blue gill).  Our neighbors, John and Diane, love fish - so John was thrilled when they guys offered him their catch of the day.

We put out some snacks to hold us until dinner time and grabbed our cold beverage of choice, put the meat and potatoes in the oven and Tonyia and I had time for ONE more game!

 We all enjoyed a dinner of ham, au gratin potatoes, biscuits, roasted asparagus and a veggie medley of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.  Everything was delicious.   Nick and Tonyia celebrated their 10th Wedding Anniversary on Saturday so for that special occasion we shared a great white and chocolate layer cake with strawberry cream filling and whipped cream icing. Nick and Tonyia..... we wish you many many more memorable years together!