Updating from Christmas until 1/12/09

Sorry that I have not been faithful in updating lately but will try once again to get everyone caught up with our doings for the past couple of weeks.

When I left off we were in Chesterfield, Virginia, enjoying the holidays at my sister, Betty, and brother-in-law, Roy's house. We also visited their two daughters houses with much going on at both.

Lori and Dave Schuelke had just moved into their new house. Dave has been building on this project for two years with Lori's help when she was not working for Dominic Power. Dave did all of the wood (cutting, stripping, and finishing). Pictures of the ongoing work and finished project are in my photos on picasa.

Dana and Brian have also had a busy year. In January, 2008, Jenna Nicole, was born. She is so cute and full of vim and vinegar. They also moved into a new house in March and had to contend with the slow housing market to sell their old house. Luckily they were able to accomplish this mission and are very happy in their big, wide-open house in Woodland Pond sub-division.

On Saturday, the entire family went to my Aunt Blanche Ladd's house for lunch and game playing. Her son, Rob, and his friend Penny along with his daughter Ashley were there. Also my cousin Tommy and his wife Pam from Ohio and Fred from Atlanta were also there. We all had a great time and a wonderful meal. Thanks Aunt Blanche.

Card games again started with everyone having a good time. Russ and I just could not get the right cards so did not win at all in all of the games played.

On Sunday, Russ and I went to Wilson, N. C., to visit with his family. Ms. Sarah has been having some health problems (back and eyes) so we called a family meeting and let her know that it was time that she seek other living arrangements. She is unable to care for her apartment in the way that it should be done. Sarah, Russ, his sister Susan and nephew Connor, went out on Monday to look at assisted living places and to talk with a counselor about what to do to get her into one of these. They were able to obtain much information so we will see what will take place in the near future.

We returned to Chesterfield on Tuesday afternoon and that evening went to my cousin Mary and Harry's house for a pasta dinner. She also had her mother, our uncle Bryan, her son, Brandon and brother Lewie. Another great meal and wonderful visiting amongst all of us.

On Wednesday, New Year's Eve, we returned to Florida. During the week Russ and I had decided that he would come back to TT and move the motor home into a spot and I would go down to Frostproof and stay with Mama for a few days. One she had come down with a bug and we were watching it to make sure that she did not go into pneumonia. We discovered when we got to the car that we had left both sets of keys to the motor home at Mamas house. We did stop at TT and get a space then continued to Frostproof so that Russ could get the keys and come back and move.

On Thursday morning Russ got up and searched out the campground for a space that he would like better as we had put in for the extended stay program here. He found a space that he liked better than the one that he had overnight and went up to register at the office. Once moved again he spent the afternoon and evening watching the bowl games on TV. On Friday morning, he had to take the motorhome over to RV Connection to have the refrigerator doors replaced. They had called and said that the doors were in but only one had come and the other is on backorder. They did replace the one and did the inspection that needed to be done to have the warranty extended for another year.

That afternoon he came down to Frostproof and picked Mystee and I up. We were both glad to get back to our own home. We continued to get our space fixed up like we want it and to meet some of the neighbors and people around us.

Over the weekend we continue our set up and watched the play-off games on NFL football. We have gone swimming some, sat outside and just enjoyed the sun, gone walking and bike riding the rest of the time.

On Tuesday we went to Frostproof as this is the night that they have Bingo. On the way down we picked up a few things for Mama and just enjoyed our visit. Russ and I both won at Bingo and felt very good about it.

Today, we went to Camping World and our second bike had finally come in. Now both Russ and I can ride together.

Tomorrow we will be going down to the Tampa Fairgrounds for the Big RV Show and SMART, Buccaneers campout. We will be down there until Sunday.

I will report from there.

Until next time, take care.

Christmas Day

We are still in Chesterfield, Virginia, and are having a good time. This morning we were up bright and early (6:15 a.m.) as to go over to the Keefer's to watch Jenna open her Santa Claus presents. Jenna is our Great-niece and she will turn a year old on January 14. It was fun watching her open all her presents with the help of Mommy (Dana) and Daddy (Brian). Lots of pictures were taken but I cannot post them as I forgot to bring the upload cable.

We all came back over to Betty (my sister) and Roy's (her husband) to prepare breakfast for a big crowd consisting of Betty and her family (7), Aunt Blanche and my cousin Fred from Atlanta, Aunt Lizzie Y. and Uncle Bryan (my mothers sister and brother), my cousin Mary and her husband Harry, neighbors Bridgett, Arlene and Al, my Mother and Russ and myself. Roy and Russ left Dana's at 8:30 to come and begin frying the bacon and sausage. They also made waffles, biscuits, and scrambled eggs. Both Aunt Lizzie and Aunt Blanche bought delicious
baked apples. Everything was great.

Just as soon as everyone was finished eating and all of the breakfast leftovers were put away and the roast for dinner was started then the card games began. We first played a dice game where you bought three chips for $3. In this game you rolled dice and you passed your chips either left, right or to the middle. The object of the game was to be the last one with a chip. I did not win here.

We next played 31 where you are dealt three cards and you are trying to beat at least one person. At your turn you can either pick a card or knock. If you have the lowest hand then you must pay a $1 to the banker. Again it is whomever has money left at the end of the game wins. Didn't win here either.

Just before dinner was ready eight of us went to see Dave and Lori's new house. After two years of hard dedicated work on it they were finally able to move in. This house is a work of art and all done by these two fine young people. We are all very proud of them.

Once back at Betty's we had roast beef, potatoes and carrots, string beans, homemade rolls and all kinds of pies that Betty made. Once everyone was full, it was back to the card games. Again Russ and I had no luck but it was fun. Everyone left at about 10:30 pm and those of us left were ready for a good nights sleep.

This morning Betty took off for shopping and Russ, Mama and I went for a ride to check out a couple of the Elks Lodges in this area. We enjoyed just taking some of the roads that we used to use and see how much the area has built up.

I had dinner tonight with Cindy and her family. I took each of the children an outfit and a toy, so hope that they enjoy what I got them. I also took Morgan a birthday present as her birthday is Sunday.

On my way home, I stopped and called my brother to check on he and his daughter. I just wish that I could get through to him and have him understand that we do care about him and want to help him the best that we can.

A very busy but fun past couple of days.