Week of 05/24/2021

Monday, we went to the River House even with the announced deck repairs, only the two of us. Hugh, Maureen and Kathy stayed away. AA at golf lesson then played nine holes.

River House during deck repairs.

Tuesday, I worked at NGS. Got hair cut and color after work.

Wednesday: Went to Charlotte's, paid bills, laundry, changed kitty litter box, plus a few other tasks.

Subaru at Suburban getting a check-up with hoses and fluids being changed, getting ready for our July driving trip to Maine.

Dinner - Salmon with Omsom.com sauce. Not too bad. I think I like Ford's blackened salmon better.

A super flower blood moon last night!! 

Thursday: Back at Charlotte's to visit and assist with the HVAC repair service, bring back her laundry and do a few other tasks around her home. I come home "cigarette smokey" each time with headache, so this time took a soothing bath instead of a quick shower, then a nap, catching up on work. AA went to her regular golf lesson. Ford made his chicken and dumplings which he hasn't done in years. It was delicious!

Homemade dumplings!

Friday: Worked at NGS to get my minimum hours in for the week (then worked one hour on Sunday). Went to Charlotte's to do a few things for her (like changing the TV cable box).

Saturday: Carolyn's with Ginger, visiting Kayla and Mike. I jumped in pool while Ford cooked hotdogs. We enjoyed Carolyn's grape salad and my broccoli slaw. Then after a nap at home, we went to the River House for our regular happy Hour. I took deviled eggs again, as always have TONS of eggs from Carolyn!

Sunday: AA golfed in the mid-morning. We drove to St. Augustine to listen to Jesse at their friend's home (Strickland's) on the intercoastal. Very nice weather and met baby Miles Smith for the first time! Dylan wasn't feeling well, not sure what was wrong. Cathy, Werner, Cara, Travis, Marsha and Carl, good to see them in person (and outdoors!). We left and picked up food at Outback/Urban 40 and enjoyed dinner with a beer at Ancient City Brewery. So nice to be able to sit outside!

The band was playing at the end of the dock, Cathy and Ford walking out to hear Jesse.

The band - One Good Ring:

The homeowner, Mr. Strickland, singing lead:

Leaa taking a photo of us, sitting in their boat:

Baby Miles Smith!

Eating at Ancient City Brewery, outside:

Tomorrow is Memorial Day.

Week of 05/17/21 - Last "Cool" Weather

Beginning next week the temperatures will be summer, humid, hot days. We always know that by Memorial Day, NE Florida is HOT and STICKY. We have really enjoyed the spring here, especially being able to sit outside at the River House and on our screen porch.

My blueberries are still green, can't wait to pick and eat them!

We went to the River House (Monday) and I brought brie cheese and strawberries. Beautiful weather again!
Tuesday, after AA went to OPJH for the FL State test, she and Ford headed to CVS and got AA's first Pfizer COVID vaccine shot! In three weeks, she goes back, so we are already thinking that we can start attending family events (inside) at the end of June. Just in time for our trip to Maine.

Wednesday, AA practiced her putting but her arm was pretty sore so not driving range practice. I managed to break my first pink bowl/plate of E-E's.

We ordered pizza from Mellow Mushroom and ate on our screen porch with champagne! Everyday is special with my little family!

Thursday: I worked at NGS. AA had her golf lesson. Ford made his delicious spaghetti dinner.

Friday: I worked a bit at home, spoke on the phone with Charlotte (Larry is still in the hospital), Pam Davis (her Dad passed last week) and my Mom. AA submitted her geometry "town" project and then practiced golf  (I tried). 

Ford made a new recipe he found on the Today Show - Egg Roll Bowl (by Joy Bauer). AA trying to remind me on how to chip!!

In the golf cart with AA's look of "really - taking another picture??"!!

AA does not have a mark from the COVID vaccine, but we always see the "dimple" scar from when she was little in China - have no idea how she got the small scar on her arm.
To end the week, and because I think of gardening, I bought new plants for my patio garden, visiting with Carolyn and seeing her gardening efforts in this Florida weather, seeing pictures on Facebook of my sister Terri's garden....
Imagine that your mind is a garden. Seeds can float in on the wind or be dropped by birds or be scattered in your garden by any number of things. But you as the gardener are responsible for what grows there. You have the power to water the good seeds, cultivate the good seeds, and pull out any weeds that come from seeds you don’t want.
How do you cultivate, weed, and water the garden of your mind? Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is— his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Whatever you give shelter and sustenance to in your mind is ultimately what will grow in your garden. You’re going to reap what you sow.

Egg roll bowl dinner (ground chicken/turkey):

Mushrooms:

Saturday: AA at OPJH FL State testing for Geometry. She is missing a one day NFJG Tournament at St. Johns Golf and Country Club.

I made a feta cheese quiche, including Carolyn's kale, spinach, bell peppers, onions and sun dried tomatoes:

Saturday "happy hour" at the River House with Kathy, Hugh, Maureen. The breeze was wonderful!

Sunday: We bought Wendy's burgers and enjoyed a few hours at Carolyn's (with Tyler).

New find!! Brand new barstools from Craig's List, originally bought through Wayfair. AA put one together, she is smart!

Last full week of school coming up!

NFJG Amelia National - 3rd Place!

Ford and AA left the house early, at 6:20 a.m. for the Amelia National golf course near Fernandina Beach.
She played well for the first nine holes (the back nine, she started on Hole 10) until at the turn, Holes 1 and 2 were double bogeys. She recovered with a nice birdie and scored an 80 (8+ over) for third place, which was second place score as the top two were a tie at 6+ over. And her last hole, her putt lipped out of the cup. So if she had three of those strokes back, she would have placed first. Isn't that golf!!

AA stated that she played average. It was good for the 5980 yards, very long for her and much longer than High School Girls Golf (they play from the red tees, about 5200 yards).

She will miss this Saturday's NFJG Tournament as she has another 8th Grade State test to take!
Jack's Newsletter: On Sunday May 16th, the North Florida Junior Golf Tour traveled up to Fernandina Beach to play “The National” which was held at Amelia National Golf and Country Club. The golf course proved to play long and hard for our juniors and the best of the best rose to the top to claim podium spots at this event in the second event of the summer series. 
The Elite Tour Girls Division provided a close battle at the top of the leaderboard. In the first group of the day, Ashley Huffman and Madelyn Campbell would fly around the golf course and both fire rounds of 78. No one would come in with a lower score in this division so the two went out on the golf course for a playoff. Campbell would go on to win the playoff to claim the gold and Huffman would take the silver. Finishing in third was Alyzabeth Morgan who fired a round of 80.  Written by: Charles Collings 

Week of 05/10/2021

Monday began with AA's annual physical while I worked from home. Donna cleaned today, swapping from her normal Tuesday. We ate lunch at 4Rivers BBQ, outside of course. Delicious, had been a long time since we had their BBQ (BBQ pork, brisket tacos). 

The parts came in for our golf cart, had a few minor repairs made, they installed the new golf bag holder so passengers may now sit on the back seat, plus new wheels! 

AA driving to the golf course:

Ginger loves a ride!

New wheels!

AA had her golf lesson, while we went to the River House "happy hour".

Tuesday: Took Larry Bradley to the hospital for his surgery, he has several weeks for recovery. I worked at home but took several naps!

We have been having discussions about what AA would like to study in college, again affirmation that she does not want a medical career, and seems to now have shied away from engineering/robotics technology work. We discussed business management, lawyer and then she brought up International Law/CIA job, going to Georgetown University! We shall see what it takes to have an international type job, we do know she needs to be proficient in another language so still working on Spanish and Chinese. More investigating to see what she can to now to learn more about that type of work.

Wednesday: Worked at NGS. AA practiced her golf. She is now doing more exercises at home and we are looking into a trainer to help target her strength and golf swing speed.
Thursday: Worked at NGS. AA had her golf lesson with Coach Bryan. Ford cooked his famous blacked salmon for dinner.
Friday: Worked from home, windy, sunny, beautiful day. I made a spaghetti, mushroom, chicken, spinach one-pot dinner, was delicious.

AND....Scheduled AA's COVID Pfizer vaccine for next Tuesday!
Saturday: AA OPJH 8th grade testing so Ford and I went to the RAM market for a stroll around all the booths - with masks on as it was a bit crowded, even though we were outside (bought cucumbers, grape-tomatoes, okra, lettuce, scones and bread). Then ate a delicious lunch outside at European Street. So nice to relax and enjoy a meal at the restaurant - European Street added large picnic tables to their already nice outside patio area. Beautiful weather to sit outside! The nasty Florida humidity has not struck yet!

We went to the River House, and Kathy was back, her leg is still sore but healing. Windy, cool weather, very enjoyable.
Tomorrow AA is playing in the NFJG Amelia National, separate post on that. While at home Sunday (and they were at tournament), I did the usual chores, laundry, dishes, walking Ginger, mended a couple of things in my sewing to-do basket, cooked a pound of bacon, made carrot mini-muffins, for lunch I ate a cucumber sandwich - yummy!, and for dinner made the Asian orange chicken slow-cooker meal with rice.

Carrot muffin batter recipe from Yummy Toddler Food:

Cucumber sandwich:

And that's another week flying by!