Thursday, August 7, 2025

116.4 but we leave for Florida today. Likely more eating there! DH weighed today and won't disclose the results because they must be up. He has been snacking a lot so I can't say I am surprised. He is adamant that he doesn't need help but he can't stay out of the snacks when he tries to maintain. I understand it completely because that was always me in the past.

We leave around noon today and in the meantime sheets and towels have to be done. Other housecleaning was completed yesterday. I will pack my personal toiletries up and stow them in a plastic crate so they won't be in the way of any company DSD and DBIL may have at the house while we are gone. They arrive here later today.

A Florida friend offered to pick us up at the airport which saves us from having to get an Uber. Very nice of them! We should arrive there by 7 if there aren't any thunderstorms. This is the time of year for them but apparently our part of Florida has been very dry this year so who knows? Hopefully the drought doesn't break while we are there... Though they need the rain.

Welcome home Peps! Have a thoughtful Thursday!

Good morning! By now Liz is almost to Florida and Peps is enjoying a morning at home.

Blissfully quiet here. BFF was leaving for work when I got up. I had my tea on the porch, but it's actually a *****illy, so I'm finishing the paper inside. But while I was out there, a few little finches blessed me with a visit to the birdbaths. I especially love the yellow finches, but all of them are charming.

I'm dressed to go work out, which I will do shortly. This evening DH and I are going to a baseball game: Minnesota Saints. They play in St. Paul. It's U of M alumni night, for what it's worth. I don't have a Gophers t shirt, just one hoodie representing my alma mater. Not sure if I care enough to go buy a t shirt today. DH can rep for us with his Minnesota Gophers polo shirt.

Irish Fair on Saturday. We might check that out.

I'm sure hoping nephew is moving into his condo this weekend. He's sleeping in my office/closet/guest room. I need to start prepping for my trip pretty soon. To do that, I really need to be able to go through my clothes, and lay things out on the bed to get a visual on what to bring. I need to pack for potentially 2 climates: I anticipate sweaters and layers for Scotland, but back in Massachusetts in September, the weather could be anything, hot, cool, rainy, sunny so I'll need some light weight clothes too.

Has anybody bought medical insurance for overseas? I'm looking at a few policies, and they sound reliable, but it's always a bit of a gamble. I could purchase through Delta, but I'm hoping to find something for future trips too.

I bought a one year policy once through Allianz: Allianz Travel Insurance. It was recommended by a friend who was also a travel agent and had purchased it for himself.

That was one of the companies I was looking at. Thanks for the info. :)

121.9. Ice cream must be working!

Low turnout at Bible study this morning. Only 4 of us! We only have 1 session left in our current study of Ephesians. Summers are so busy for many! Everyone trying to get in the last hurrah before Fall and then the dreaded winter. I wonder how that will differ in FL?

DS3 is here and will spend the night. So nice having him home. A little bit like having a visit from Ben, yet different.

Tomorrow evening we will need to set up for this weekend?s art fair. It is about an hour away, so there will be a lot of driving to and fro. Unfortunately it takes 2 vehicles to lug all my crap!

Welcome back to FL Liz! Hope the weather isn?t too warm. How long are you staying before heading back to the Cape?

DD, enjoy the quietness of a guest free home (at least for now!) It was chilly here this morning too (high 50?s, but now is in the high 89?s, go figure!

I like your new screen CC. In FL they have retractable screens for the lanai but they are metal and really just used for storms I think. Pools and lanai?s often also have screened cages to keep out the bugs and other creepy crawlers.

Hopefully Peps is getting a day of rest after all that travel but I bet there is at least unpacking to do!

Diane, hope your day is going well whether it is playing scrabble and winning against the Shark, walking the treadmill at the gym, shopping at the hippy dippy grocery store or going to the gallery!

Ann, happy birthday to DH. The cake looked wonderful and I bet the celebration was as well!

Enjoy your visit with DS3. Nice to have before the trek to the art fair.

I will be in Florida for 10 days though DH is only staying for a week. DD and several of her friends arrive the day DH flies out to stay for the final 3 days - on the same plane in fact (they fly in and then he leaves on it).

In Port Charlotte I had a screen on my garage. Lots of people would use it like another lanai but I did it for better airflow (and Justice liked sleeping out there when the sun came through the screen).

This one is made in FL (MagnaTrack is the co) and rated for 75mph winds while down. It should be able to handle AZ downdrafts!

Greetings all

Today started foggy but full sun now. It is fairly warm and at the studio I was almost hot. So I got my hair seriously cut today. Guess my long hair days are over. just don't like dealing with it anymore. Whatever. After that I did the gym and then went to the studio. The usual suspects were there and I did some glazing. Came home hungry and I am enjoying some Fairlife milk.

Gallery duty tomorrow. I expect it will be pretty busy which is good. Less boring. It is amazing what people come in there and where they are from. All over the world.

So Paula that dinner looked fabulous. Good to spoil the kid (and self). But you need ice cream.

CC glad that screen is in. Sounds really needed. No trespassing insects, bats or javelinas please. Is the sky any clearer there?

Liz back in Florida by now. Wishing you clear skys.

So I have some chicken to cook tonight. Found a jar of Trader Joe's marsala sauce so I might add that. It's been years since I was actually in a Trader Joes so I must check the expiration date. If we had Trader Joes here my life would be complete.

DD I hope you get your spare room back soon. So do you ever go to BFF and stay a month like she does? Just wondering. Wishing you a big dose of domestic peace after a satisfying work out,

Peps any travel tales? (tails) LOL

Diane S

Post a pic of your new haircut! I would love to see it! Using your slug wine bottle stopper for the first time tonight. We don't drink much alcohol anymore but I did use a dry Chardonnay in my mushroom risotto!

Longest visit to BFF was 10 days. DH and I have visited twice in 30 some years. BFF would like us to snowbirds with her (well she did before the current situation. Now she will be here indefinitely, but not in our house, already discussed staying until October 1), but it's not really where we want to be. She has a nice home, but its over an hour to Mexico City, there's no beach, no pool, no easy access to theater etc. Nice restaurants though.