More of the same........

Just wish that this Chinese Virus would Go Away...........But anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that it will not happen...........not until after the Presidential election!  Our far left Democrats will make sure of that!

Meanwhile.............here at home, things are about the same. Only time we are outside, is to work in the yard, or go to the grocery store!!!!   Rich is pretty much out of commission.  He went outside several days ago to spray for weeds..... and moved wrong trying not to step on the sprinkler line that's behind the big bushes in the front yard.  He is having a lot of pain in his lower back.  It has not improved much at all, so is trying to get a doctor's appointment set up.  ( If they ever call back!!)  

And so life during this Chinese Pandemic goes on...............still busy in the Kitchen!  Didn't realize how much pasta we've fixed in the last couple of weeks until I checked the photos!!   So we enjoyed Tuna noodle casserole with cheddar biscuits, Oven baked/Barbecued Boneless Ribs ( one of our favorites!), Baked Macaroni & Cheese, Baked Burritos, Shepherds Pie - and finished up the Shrimp.... on Linguine w/garlic & butter sauce.  No baked goodies in a while...... just a few store bought goodies. . 

Lots of work to be done in the yard.....especially trimming bushes, growth down by the water,  and trimming limbs from the palm trees.......But it could be a while, especially with Rich's back problem!  And everything seems to grow twice as fast this time of year, with all the rain!!!  Some pretty strong thunderstorms lately,  lots of heavy downpours.....dark skies. The picture on far left is of the canal out back.... the raindrops that day were HUGE!  And there were days when you could barely see across the stree..........that's our neighbors house across the road.

The weather is even keeping the birds away....... We did have a few birds ( and I don't know what kind of bird they are) on the back deck.......and our resident Anhinga down on the dock. 

Nothing else much going on.....didn't even get takeout, or delivery lately ( But we are  tonight!!! ). Thank goodness they are at least playing a little baseball ( only 60 games this year, because of the China Flu! )  but I am enjoying watching the Tampa Bay Rays...........especially taking 6 out of 7 games from the NY Yankees....and now in first place in the standings!!   Hope some of the regular show start up again pretty soon.  Nothing to watch on TV..............even the news is getting pretty boring!  

I did get online and do a little shopping.  Found a very nice Oneida Flatware set......... (service for eight), 2 sets of white microfiber sheets (deep pocket with 4 pillow cases).  They are very comfortable, and very soft! And we found a bread machine for Rich!   Read all the directions, and I think he's about ready to try the first loaf.  He ( and I) will love not having to do all that kneading by hand!  I also got me a new nightgown (not shown in picture).......It's OK........ my favorites are the Celestial Dream in Walmart........but they don't have them anymore........at least not that I could find!

Dennis and the family had some very very ban weather in Iowa!  I had never heard of a Derecho, which is what caused loss of power to over 200K people, and killed 4 people. According to Wikepedia a Derecho is "widespread, long-lived, straight-line wind storm that is associated with a fast-moving group of severe thunderstorms known as a  mesoscale convective system and potentially rivaling hurricanic and tornadic forces"    It other words really destructive.  Dennis and family were without power for 7 days!!!!    Just so glad that everyone is SAFE. He said "it's like a war zone out there" and the highest winds recorded in Iowa reached 112mph, which is equivalent to a lower strength category 3 hurricane.   

And so, I'll end today with a Happy Birthday message.  Today is Brianna's birthday (our grandson, Dalton's girlfriend)   A pretty awesome young lady that we had the pleasure of meeting back in January. 


Hope your day is extra special, Brianna Nelson.............and all your wishes come true!

Still in the Kitchen - Celebrating Birthday - Hurricanes - Ali gators - Politics

Well, let me begin by saying I was tested for the Chinese Virus, and about three days later, I got my results.  They were negative.  Guess that is good news.  Rich is still waiting to get his surgery (Corotid Artery) scheduled.   

Yes we've been busy in the Kitchen!  ( But we did have Chinese take-out one night). Found a new recipe for Sloppy Joes.  Had enough for two meals.  We both had it on burger buns the first time, but I switched and had it on hot dogs the next time.  Sooo Good!  Rich made up a small batch of Cheddar Biscuits to go with the Tuna Noodle Casserole, and a couple of pumpkin pies.  The plate on the far right, middle is one of our favorites - Cheddar Chicken with Warm Black Bean Salsa over Rice. The last row was Meatloaf night.  Mashed potatoes & green beans for Rich, Sweet potato for me.  

We harvested the last of the pineapples in the back yard.  This was the smallest of the bunch, but the fruit was nice and sweet.  So now we have two of them in the mason jars to root, and one that is still drying.  We'll get that one rooting in a few days. 

 

It's been soooooo hot outside (when it's not raining!) that the yard/shrubs etc are so in need of being trimmed!  Just too hot to be out there working!  And then along came Hurricane Isaias!  Fortunately, by the time it reached the Florida coast, it had been downgraded to a Tropical storm.  We were lucky again.... some damage in the Miami area, but nothing real serious.  Supposed to be a busy season..........hope they are wrong!

Always enjoy watching the wildlife in the back yard, and down at the waters edge..... but recently we've been seeing a couple of baby gators.  Pictures did not come out real good....

And on July 30th we celebrated   

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR BEAUTIFUL 

DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, CRYSTAL DONALD!!!

WE LOVE YOU, WE MISS YOU, AND WE WISH YOU A DAY OF FOREVER MEMORIES!

More of the Same....Covid Tests!!!.

Well - We really do miss being up north, at the lake, fishing, and enjoying weather that is a little cooler!  Although, we have heard that it's been hotter than normal..............  I just know that our yard is in desperate need of work........With all the rain, the bushes are growing so fast, but it's just toooo hot to be outside.  At least Cindy comes once a week to mow the lawn!  So we spend a lot of our time cooking and baking, and maybe takeout once a week. 

Some of the menu from the past couple of weeks..........  Rich made his yeast risen bread again, and a dish of potato candy.   Besides daily leftovers... we enjoyed Linguine and Sausage,  Cajun Shrimp Pasta, Grilled Beer Brats w/ macaroni salad, and  last night we had Stromboli. Made beef stew just a few days ago..... but forgot to take a picture!!   A week or so ago, I made up a batch of peanut butter cups..........I like those because I can enjoy one or two, knowing they are low calorie!   Tonight we're doing baked stuffed pork chops, asparagus, and mashed potatoes.

The pineapple plants out back are looking real good.  Not being up north this year, we'll be able to enjoy them.  We usually tell the neighbors, or the lady that mows the lawn to take them when they're ready! Rich harvested the first one about a week ago.  There are three more that should be ready very very soon!  This one was delicious............and of course..... had to sample a piece while he was slicing it!  The crown has been drying now for just about a week, so it's ready to be put in water to start it rooting.  Then we'll replant it for next year!

Lots of rain, wind an losing power!

Another of our favorite past times, is watching the wildlife.  We have a small gator that swims by quite often..... but haven't been able to get close enough to get a picture.  And we have a couple of otters that swim by several times a week..........but it's almost impossible to grab a picture they are moving so fast!  But I did manage to get a pretty good shot of one of the turtles across the canal.  She's been digging holes and burying her eggs.  And that's the Anhinga down on the dock.  A most unusual pose....   usually has the wings spread, and the neck stretched ready to pounce!

Always lots of medical issues!  And for the most part, despite the number of visits, the results continue to be pretty good. Rich (because of the smoking) had a CT scan of the chest done, and everything looks good.  He's been trying to get the Carotid Artery Surgery scheduled, but with the Covid-19 issues.....a lot of these types of surgeries are not being done.  Speaking Covid- 19, we've learned that our friend Krystal's sister and brother-in-law both were infected, and her brother-in- law came very close to dying.  We just learned yesterday, that our son Dennis's step-sister and husband are quite sick, and are waiting for the results of their Covid - 19 test.  And just two days ago, I went to the doctor, because I was having some bad pain in my neck and left jaw.  While there, I also told him I was having head-aches, and sleeping 8-9 hours a night, and napping frequently during the day. He have me a steroid shot, and a prescription for an anti-bionic, and said I am showing symptoms of Covid-19, and should be tested.  I am scheduled to have the test done on Tuesday next.  Rich has been feeling some of the same, but not as much or as frequent as I have.  But he'll have to have the test done as well, before he has the carotid surgery  Good news is that if I do test positive for Covid... it will mean that how I feel right now, is the worst it will get..... and that's great news, given my age and underlying medical conditions.   So now I'm kind of hoping it is positive!!

Always Cookin, Saying Goodbye to Friends, Deans list, Father's Day

Wow - Just hard to believe that the month of June is almost over!  Half way through another year!  Well we celebrated my Birthday a few weeks ago..........and just a few days ago we celebrated Father's Day!   I picked up one of Rich's favorite's at Publix for him to enjoy! He (and ME) always enjoy these huge Chocolate Chip Cookies. 

And  on this Day we recognize and celebrate Fatherhood, and parental bonds.  And I am so proud of these four men in my life!  My husband Rich with his son Dennis on the left.  And celebrating in Heaven - Rich's Father, Robert, and my father Jack!  Love your all!!  

 

 And of course I always have to share pictures of mother nature.... and her friends.   We had a variety of visitors the other day....... The two top left are of the resident Anhinga, The bottom two on the left are of a brand new baby Limpkin!  This was the first time we'd seen a bay, and were surprised to see the colors!  As they get older they will become brown and white.  And of course last, but not least is one of the two new baby Blue Heron, who enjoys looking for food on the roof of our boathouse...but still returns to the nest for Mama to feed .

Of course I'm not going to forget to share a few pictures from our weekly dinner menu! Now I did cook a 9 lb Turkey this week, complete with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole....but when I got the camera to take a picture, Rich had pretty much completed the Turkey carving........and when we had left overs for hot Turkey Sandwiches..........I forgot to take a picture.. However below we have Chicken Chile w/Cornbread, Ravioli w/sausage, Chicken Fajitas w/refried beans and rice...........and a refreshing adult beverage!

Picture below is of our next door neighbors, Jim and Patty.  WELL - they were our neighbors!  Yes they have sold their house nextdoor, and will return full time to the other home in Englewood.  We've so enjoyed having them as neighbors, and will truly miss not seeing them sitting on the dock fishing! This picture was taken in December 2018 when they came for dinner the first time!  They were back in Lake Placid  on Saturday, and took us to lunch at Golden Corral.  Nice spending time with them...... and lunch was very good as well!    We will miss them...........but Englewood is not that far away!

OH MY............I can't forget to share more good news! Deans List for the third year in a row for our grand daughter, Chauna!  Good Job!

ption: The University of Iowa recently announced more than 8,500 of its undergraduate students earned dean's list status for the 2020 spring semester.

Chauna Donald

Majoring in Speech And Hearing Science
University of Iowa
From Davenport, IA

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Chauna Donald named to University of Iowa dean's list for spring 2020 semester

June 11, 2020

Chauna Donald of Davenport, IA 52804-2318 was among the more than 8,500 undergraduate students at the University of Iowa named to the dean's list for the 2020 spring semester. Donald is a student in the UI's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and is majoring in Speech and Hearing Science.

Guidelines for inclusion on the list are:

• Courses offered on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) or pass/non-pass (P/N) basis do not count toward graded credit for inclusion on the dean's list.
• Undergraduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Education, the College of Engineering, the Tippie College of Business, and University College who achieve a grade-point average (GPA) of 3.50 or higher on nine semester hours (spring 2020) or more of UI graded coursework during a given semester or summer session and who have no semester hours of "I" (incomplete) or "O" (no grade reported) during the same semester are recognized by inclusion on the dean's list for that semester.
• Undergraduate students in the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine with fewer than nine semester hours (spring 2020) of graded credit, if deemed appropriate by the college.
• College of Nursing students participating in clinical courses who have a total of nine semester hours of earned credit (spring 2020), with eight semester hours of graded credit with a GPA of 3.50 or higher.

Cooking, Baking, Yard work, Doctors, Doctors, Doctors!

Well things started to let up, with the Covid-19 virus, and many states have started to open back up and put people back to work.  But what is now taking place in this country is absolutely frightening.    Antifa has been designated a Terrorist group.......and with the help of other bought and paid for hate groups, our country is literally being destroyed.  Killings, looting,  setting fires, destroying historic statues, wanting to defund the police.............and it goes on and on. 

Fortunately here in our quiet little town, everything remains pretty normal.   I really miss , being at the lake in NY...........but life must go on!  And so Rich and I continue cooking most of our meals in..... and the past couple of weeks, some of our favorites:  Meatballs ....for meatball subs, and the rest put away for another day with pasta.  Fixed and delicious Pork Loin in the crockpot, and  another favorite: Honey-mustard & Beer Chicken, with mashed potatoes and asparagus.  Pasta night with linguine, sausage and garlic bread. We made a big pot of ham & potato soup, that we enjoyed a couple of night.  And of course most of our meals were complimented with Rich's home made yeast risen bread!

We talked about going out to celebrate my birthday.... but neither of us feel comfortable eating in a restaurant yet!  But I still had a joyful day..........Between mailed cards, emails, and Facebook I must have gotten close to 100 Birthday greetings!     That was awesome! Rich surprised me with a gift certificate for a one hour massage at the Spa!   Dinner? Well - we got a Dock Onion (very much like the Bloomin Onion at Outback!)  - take-out from Dock 633.  And we ordered submarine sandwiches from Subway!

We've continued to watch the Blue Herons...... the little ones have been fun to watch, and in this past week they are both leaving the nest, flying about, and visiting us quite frequently!.  Got a picture of one of them out on the boathouse roof!   And just happened to look out the back window the other day and there was our resident black snake - sunning himself on the deck. 

Finally got a day that wasn't raining, and not quite as hot as it has been.  So Rich & I got some much needed work done in the yard.   He cleaned out the gutters, and trimmed  topiary in the front yard.  I trimmed the bushes and hedges in the front yard.  Still need to trim the palms out front.... but it looks a lot better. 

And hopefully the doctor visits will slow down.  Guess it's a good thing we cancelled our trip north.... because I've been back and forth one place or the other almost every week...........and still not quite done!   Still seeing the eye doctor.... had laser surgery done in the left eye along with a follow-up.  Then trouble starting with the right eye, so saw the retina doctor for that - and a follow-up is coming up in a couple of weeks.   Had my mammogram, and all is good there,    Had an upper -endoscopy done and got good news at my follow up visit.  NO SIGNS of the Barrett's Esophagus which means the medication is working!!!  Was having some pain in the right arm.....so that was a visit to my primary.  He gave me a steroid shot, and a prescription for a muscle relaxant!  Doing fine!

And that's about it!  I am starting prep today for my colonoscopy!  That is Wednesday!

Can't believe it's June already!! Praying for this country

I swear, the older you get, the faster time goes by.  It's June already, and in just a few more weeks, we will be half way through 20 20!   While our state is opening up pretty quickly ( from the Pandemic) (at least in our area) we still have not ventured out to restaurants, or to spend time with friends.  The past few weeks have been pretty much the same old, same old.... except Hurricane season is here, so we are getting lots of rain...........and we've lost power 5 TIMES in the last 4 weeks.

So ...... since we don't eat out much anymore, it's been pretty busy in the kitchen!  What's been the latest on the menu???   Mojo Rotisserie Chicken (From Publix!)with homemade potato salad.  .Rich spent the goo part of the day, one day, in the kitchen making a cake!  He calls it a modified Boston Cream Pie.  A yellow cake, with vanilla pudding and whip cream filling, and a Chocolate Buttercream icing..........His first ever made from scratch cake!  And it was delicious!  Additionally, we made some delicious oven baked pork chops with fried potatoes and beans, Shrimp pasta, with a garlic butter sauce, and a casserole of baked ziti!

'OH and I forgot.... we did order in delivery from Dominos Pizza!  Excellent!  I had the hand tossed
sausage and pepperoni, and Rich enjoyed the hand tossed chicken and sausage!  Delicious!



Hurricane Season has arrived, and that means Rain, Rain and more Rain............. For several days in a row........this has been the view from the back of the house!  So that means losing the Direct TV signal!!!!

BUT....   with all the rain, the back lanai and the front porch were in desperate need of cleaning!  And as soon as we found a day without rain, the hose and broom and squeegee were hard at work, cleaning!  I still have 2 poinsettia plants from Christmas, on the front porch, that are in need of being planted!

Of course, we can not forget Memorial Day!...... No we did not have our annual get together, or cook out that day........but we did remember ................

Yes - we have seen a lot of rain............but it we also enjoy our resident birds!  The two baby Blue Hereon, we watch every day from the back lanai.........and it looks like after 60 some days they are ready to leave their nest!  Mamma still does a lot of feeding.............but we had the opportunity to watch her rest..............as she perched on the back deck.  I watched from inside, from the kitchen for 2 or three hours!

As you know.... the Graduation ceremonies were cancelled in Iowa...but Dennis sent us the local
Daily Iowan................which included congratulations to many of the 2020 graduates.......That's Dalton in the upper left corner, along with a picture of him with his Dad, Dennis when he was very young.  We are so very proud of Dalton!  We also received a package from Dennis.........that were face masks for us to wear during this pandemic............hand made, University of Iowa!!  WE Love Them!!

And also taking place in Davenport, IA......celebrating Onyx's Birthday
Happy Birthday fella!!  He turned 14 years old on June 1st!!

I guess we are pretty lucky to be living in a small town.  No longer do we hear an awful  about the Pandemic............instead we've seen a Black Man murdered by a police officer!!!  And the whole country reacting!  In deed the whole country mourned the death,  and together want to see justice!

BUT - there are far left organizations that have taken this sad time.............to try and destroy our country.  Taking advantage of those who are in good faith protesting against the police brutality.  (Mind you..........I support our police 100% -  these four are not the norm)   Antifa, and other far left Socialist groups are destroying cities across the country............. Here is link  that explains very well what is going on.  So very sad to see this happening in the USA............

Antifa, Other Far-Left Groups Exploit Protests for ‘Revolution’

Click on this link to read the article"  https://amac.us/antifa-other-far-left-groups-exploit-protests-for-revolution/?campaign=daily-news-email&fbclid=IwAR04TVPU18v42nwr95anBIbmzW-m9adgroWEjSJ2ggy_tABhMYnDhsd4cNs

God Bless our President................and our Country!