So sorry for this being way too late, busy having too much fun!

With our Number One Son and his Number One Gal!
We did a modified scaled down version of what we had wanted to do.
Yes we ate at Scotty's Brewhouse, and yes we also got ice cream at the best ice cream place in AMERICA, Harborwalk Scoops and Bites, ice cream with a view at Laishley Park in Punta Gorda Florida!
But the rain did arrive, and only slightly and so we did walk around the park somewhat.
In the end we picked up a small buttercream marble cake, and we encourage NOS and NOG to take most home with them when they left just a few moments before I got snug in my bed, since I did have the Radiofrequency Ablation this morning just before they arrived at our home, Hubby came home for them and picked them up then me, and off we went!
Whirlwind sort of day!

This is the ultimate reasoning for this day...being lovingly hectic and joyful... FAMILY!

Happy good night all!

And happy birthday NOS!

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!  

Rain delay again today!

Tiki hut project is consequently on hold.

Weird day anyway.

Reminder of my Multiple Sclerosis is always there.

I think what set off my unbelievable horrid systems spasms today was my heating up the kitchen due to me making a very large portion of French onion soup that I finished off in the oven with the Swiss and parmesan/ romano cheeses. It was delicious! But my body temperature elevated to 101 degrees!

That is my issue with hot weather too.

Then my back started the horrendous spasms then on to my left foot, hip, hand, then my right side too chimed in all with wicked contortions and so Hubby brought me Baclofen twice while my spasms overtook me while lying in bed with the paddle fan above me going full blast and the airconditioning lowered more still, since my painful spasms were not getting any better in nearly an hour's time, when usually the Baclofen works very quickly.  

I did begin to get better after a while of waiting, finally!

Thought I was going to end up in the hospital, yup that bad...but no, still here!

It is a good thing too.

Number One Son just called and he and his number one gal will be coming down tomorrow!

He got his birthday off from work and they decided to spend it with us, yay!

Hubby's out picking up dinner from Winn Dixie they have very tasty cooked wings in all flavors, mac and cheese, and nice olive assortments that he will be bringing home.

Hoping the weather is better tomorrow to take the kids on the Harborwalk and eat lunch out at Scotty's Brewhouse in Fishville and get ice cream at Harborwalk ice cream and bites, as we meander along the Peace River... if the weather is going to be as nice as the meteorologists have been predicting with rain chances going way down to around 20% hopefully!

That is all for tonight all, so have a wondeful happy good night!

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!

 

Moving the tiki project right along...

Hubby attached the furring strips today, and so they were well secured too.

pièce de résistance below!

                            Mexican palm thatch with little room for mistakes due to the quantity of 35"X 60'.                                   
                         Hubby will be definitely measuring twice, cutting only once as it goes on                                   
                           around the roof! Installation tomorrow, weather permitting!

Moving on...

Lately my choices for viewing/streaming/binge watching on TV alternative has been the British DIY decorating shows competitions, as the Great Design Challenge, Find it Fix it Flog it, and a few from Canada Brojects, etc and some others.
Unfortunately, our own HDTV has not returned to Netflix with any offerings that I had become familiar with from when we had been traveling and had access in our hotel rooms to that channel.
I could watch those shows all night long, and a few times I did!

I have watched nearly all DC super heroes offerings as well as Marvels, twice, and all new ones as they come into Netflix. 
Also Midsomer Murders, again and they are the UK's equivalent to Law and Order with nineteen seasons, in years not storylines or style by any means. Very enjoyable though.
So many others that you liked too I am more than sure.

Who keeps lists of such things, really, who?
Maybe I should write them down all those like library books that I had read when we used to go weekly, I did not do that then either, and after when some time had passed I took them out again forgetting until I got home that I had already read them... but then there were a few of them, ones that I did enjoy reading again and again, you too I bet?

Anyway today Hubby worked on the tiki hut and I made meals and did laundry and such, mundane tasks for me.
We text back and forth with and without silly/cute emojis.
Yes, we finally gave in to our unlimited texting that we had been paying for with the additional ability to be online everywhere since this past January... all for two phones for less than $40 a month yep for both phones, yes less than $40 a month... through Consumer Cellular! Great for emergencies and boating.

That is all for tonight all to have a very happy good night!

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!

Memorial Day and Tiki Hut progress

Today is the day that we remember those who had paid the ultimate price while serving in the armed forces. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day

Moving on...

Once the construction of the roof was determined on the how, Hubby moved right along...slats, similar to furring strips, numerous ones will be attached next in between the main 2"X 4" eight feet to the peak, quantity of eight that were attached with 2 1/2" galvanized deck screws, structure for stapling the palm tiki covering onto. Hubby hung from to verify sturdy structure. Tomorrow's another day for the one man construction crew.

                                                     Looking good; what do you think?

Moving on...once more!

*Chili dogs and homemade fries for dinner!

*All my health conscious friends know that once in a while is not bad for you, everything in moderation, right?

On that note allow me to wish you all a very happy good night!

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!

Are ya ready for some football?

Aussie is a bit early or late for the season, hmm? But if nothing else he is ready!

I truly thought that a new just a few minutes ago picture could show you all how big he has grown, but I guess not really? 

 He does love his new Nerf tough doggy football that is too hard for him to destroy so far! Already all of his soft toys as well as his predecessors ones are history after being stitched by Hubby way too many times! You heard that right, Hubby was the stitcher; I can do a button or a hem, but not much else. 

Years ago Hubby had bought me a sewing machine when I was pregnant with Number One Son, way back in 1972 and it was quite high tech with all those fancy cams/discs for different stitches, we even still have it, to this day I wonder why he did that, he knew better that I could not sew,...and as soon as I would try to use it, it would break down! I took home economics, home ec, while in the eighth grade, cooking and sewing, and my teacher had us make denim sheath A-line dresses. As luck would have it even then; she ended up giving herself an A-, since she did most of the work on mine! Only because I kept asking her for help and she finally did help by doing the whole thing herself! Cute dress. PS I aced the poached egg; some people are good at some things and others are good at other things, good lesson.

 Yes, that is the living room TV remote control and Aussie has seemed to have mastered using it, but for some reason he prefers VUDU and Netflix channels, they are his favorites, he also subscribes to turning if off altogether, ha! FUSSY!

Unfortunately, like many doggy toys, the football squeaks! And the tunes, in other words noise it puts out via Aussie's squeezes come out at some of the most inopportune times such awful squawking sounds that you wish were in high pitch doggy tones then we could not hear it while thinking, reading, watching TV, talking etc...  ha! But it makes him happy, and it doesn't have soft fluffy stuffing to swallow or hard round eyes or buttons to chew and try to swallow either!

Yup, spoiling children, even the furry four-legged kind, is easier than it should be!

Happy good night all!

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!

Are you ready yet?

Lazy Hazy days of summer... wardrobe! Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July and lastly Labor day!

Most wear appropriate clothing for such commemorative days and so without further ado... my minimalistic choices for such patriotic days are marked with much red, white and blue!

Costume jewelry needed some sprucing up and so with a few strokes of my red acrylic paint on starfish not from flag stars then I would have painted them blue, who's kidding... the red looks better next to my skin tone, fake gold turns into cheery cherry to go with the upcoming holiday apparel! 

  Blouse three sizes too big, but with a navy ponytail tie I gathered it to one side, and swept it up, and the fit is classic! I do have a couple other striped red and white and a couple of solid red blouses with appliques for the holidays too.

The flag purse below was purchased right after 9/11 when we all felt the need to show our strong fearless patriotism!

Navy jeans, washed out  or either dark ones too, white slacks if you dare,( not for me these days) as well as white or navy colored sneakers, red if you got 'em, and you can fit in anywhere during those lazy hazy days of summer!

Moving on... to a reality check.

This Alberto subtropical system is putting the kibosh on most outdoor venues and celebrations, even memorial services usually held outside... oh well.

As the weekend progresses the rain potential goes from 90% to 80% to 70% by Monday on the actual holiday... as I said before... oh well.

We are still very damp here, but fortunately it has so far been only a light drizzly type of rain.

In spite of that we did accomplish many errands today!

First stop was at Sam's Club, the Big Box Store, for Maxwell House coffee, Pam, Miralax (generic), and Pepcid Complete, their gas was higher than WAWAs once again, so we topped off our tank on the way home at $2.84.9 a gallon at WAWA.

After Sam's we tried Target for a weather station, we have one, and we have had them for years, but wouldn't you just know it now that the season began early, ours is not working right?
They were not the type we had wanted there, so the search goes on... probably online.
From there to Home Depot to pick up our tiki hut covering that actually arrived there and shipped free to the store yesterday. Hubby also needed other wood for the project, and a new battery for his drill, a Dewalt, actually Number One Son's that he loaned him, but it was more cost effective to buy a whole new drill with two batteries, a Ryobi, that cost with two batteries the same as the one battery for the Dewalt! So that is what he did. Battery tools are always preferable when you work near or on/over water, safer.
They were offering free hot dogs for customer appreciation day, but by the time we finished our shopping they were all done and gone!
So after our stop on the way was to Publix, Hubby is saying separation of church and state, like separation of decent groceries and politics... although Publix has addressed both the cake and NRA poor judgements accordingly and immediately!
Anywho, we did attain what we needed from there, and stopped the topper of gas on the way fifteen bucks for only 5.26 gallons! Will it get worse before it gets better...YUP!
We felt it was prudent in case we have to evacuate, again, due to flooding?

Hubby decided he wanted a hamburger at DQ drive thru, so two singles (burgers) with everything and one small frie and one large chocolate shake, shared 25% for me with skim milk added and Hubby's the 75%, and Hubby got us all unloaded with purchases, and so we did beat the heavier rain about to fall! And it did start right after. I did not finish my burger, saved in the fridge.

We are currently under a tropical storm warning.
 We are under a flood watch still.
Must stay tuned for possible (medium threat) of tornadoes!

Light rain today has not stopped scouts from putting flags at soldiers graves though.
That was an important undertaking, and it's nice to hear they were able to accomplish that meaningful gesture.

On that note allow me to wish all of you a happy safe good night.

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!

Alberto, a subtropical storm as of eleven A.M. this morning!

Definition of a subtropical storm:" A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone.As early as the 1950s meteorologists were uncertain whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones...These are the two definitions currently used for subtropical cyclones."

Wind shear is working on the storm named Alberto right now off the Yucatan peninsula and it will be heading up towards the center of the Gulf of Mexico and could regenerate on its way north towards New Orleans and the Florida panhandle and through Saturday and Sunday night into the morning is when it is estimated to be parallel to our southwest end of Florida. For neighborhoods here it will be a nasty rainmaker with rain totals being possibly anywhere from four to four and a half inches or more!

It has been raining already since this afternoon, so the ground is very well saturated!
Flooding could be an issue, in fact a flood watch has been initiated, as well as the possibility of tornadoes could spawn!
Sure hope neither occurs!

Moving on...

Hubby was able to mow the lawn this morning before the rain began, but could not trim since the rain came in by then.The rain has made our lawn fill in and grow tangibly! In this weather cuts are necessary less than a week apart!
See all you Florida naysayers and newbies, dry/fire season diminished quickly and then the dam bursts yearly! Figuratively speaking that is.

Moving on some more...

I had made baked chicken with sweet potatoes and Brussel sprouts last night for dinner, and today I used much of the leftover chicken for my homemade chicken noodle soup that we had for lunch.
Tonight, we decided that we would have China City Chinese cuisine that usually gives us enough leftovers for the weekend.
And that is where Hubby is right now picking up dinner!
Two combo plates that come with fried rice and egg rolls!
And even with my chicken soup he ordered more soup; our favorite egg drop.

Funny thing about Florida weather even though it is still warm the rain makes you feel it's soup weather!
"Place special emphasis on old friendship." "Just believe it. Water and oil cannot mix." Hubby's
two fortune cookies, and mine are, "Maxim for life. You get treated in life the way you teach people to treat you." Oops one is gone! My other one, oh well... ( Doesn't work with canines.)
Now, it is possible that Aussie ate it, he still eats everything including a button just earlier today off of my blouse while it was on me! I am sure it will come out of him in the end, ha, it was a small non sharp one, just smoothly round and flat. Aussie, our six month old mini Australian Shepherd that is so handsome he gets away with way too much, is still a puppy! I keep saying that as I do admonish him for his still often bad behavior. Like any child being locked up on a rainy day/ days instead of burning off energy outside it is debilitatingly frustrating for an active healthy child to not to be able to run and play, true?

He, Aussie, like most of his canine predecessors is not thrilled with getting their feet or bodies wet,(Yes, I/we must chase him down for his weekly bath, but once in he is quite compliant and stands and sits on the bench in my shower very nicely as I hose him down with the handheld sprayer and shampoo him too and then rinse.) although I must admit the thunder and clashes of lightning are not so bad reaction wise for him either. And we do know that his hearing is excellent! Many of his breed have hearing and eye disorders, but so far all testing for both deficits have proven he has nothing to worry about thankfully!
He is just not rattled by those things thank goodness!

Right now the volume of the storm has intensified ( unlike me; the noise rattles me.) and so I will close for tonight by wishing you all a very happy good night!

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!

Misunderstood

Yep, when I saw Hubby not working on the tiki hut for today, (Gosh, it was over ninety with ninety percent humidity, he was right not to) and instead he was bringing the ladder he was using on the project back into the garage and even going back and closing up the Bimini on the boat and then covering the rest of it up... I foolishly jumped to the conclusion that he was done with the project disgusted with the roof not working and that since we could not fit the boat trips between the project work and the weather that it was being put away for the summer!

Whoa Is me! Bad me!
Over the top assumptions, considering his reasoning was quite appropriate and that the meteorologists all seem to be in agreement that the disturbance in the southern Caribbean now has a 90% chance of forming into a tropical depression and 60% for a storm or at the very least a very, very big rainmaker for us with two to four inches of more rain!

GEEZ, and us already out of the deficit of rain that caused us to be in a drought during the dry season when we were down over six inches at that time, and having a very high fire danger, now that issue is already all gone with the rain we already have had! (Happy for one thing, those DIY fireworks people are less likely to cause fires, since every holiday they shoot them off!)
Could flooding be next? HOPE NOT!!!!
We do have coverage for that, but still... even so, not good, flooding, nope!

Hope your weather will be more in tune with your Memorial weekend commemoration.
Ours seems to be a total literal washout!

Stay tuned to that weather update.

Moving on...

Update: courtesy sunscreen:

Last Tuesday I did receive three, not two, but three one ounce sunscreen lotions from Shared Solutions, TEVA Pharmaceuticals, makers of my Copaxone injectable medication for MS. Wayne, an Aussie himself, but human, not canine, ha, who lives and works now in the USA in Kansas I believe, anyway he was the supervisor that I spoke to a week ago Saturday, and by Tuesday my cache of sunscreen had arrived, finally! Ironically, with all this rain and not much sunshine I now am well supplied, ha!

I had not called back to thank Wayne the supervisor until today, but he hadn't arrived at work yet so I thought I would call back later, but I forgot. Oh well, tomorrow is another day!

Happy good night all!

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!

Slo Mo building it would seem...

But one must that is if it isn't thunder and lightning storms causing delays the incessant humidity with heat that creates hard to withstand weather. Almost makes one wonder why to bother with an outdoor seating area, hmm?

Well here's why... the weather is changeable, and that is the truth here in Florida. An old localism is, "if you don't like the weather now wait a few and it will change to something more desirable/user friendly". Or some other folksy concept. Yup, here in Florida, nearly in any of our sixty-seven counties people will tell you that, especially the natives.

Hey, they might be responsible for the actual population growth here, over twenty million, we beat out New York State and have been now for the last couple of years the third most populated state out of all of our fifty!
Another Florida original gem is, "the rules are different here", that one refers to the laid back attitude.

Moving on...

Below is the experimental roof joist for the pointed roundish roof line. Although, after this picture was taken it was taken down, since it did not work... Hubby's back to the drawing board... may take a while.

https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t-s&p=song+don%27t+worry+be+happy+by+bobby+mcferrin#id=19&vid=f7f78b9ac51b52c51932ec8a5daf8079&action=viewDon''t worry, be  happy!

Frustrating day!

Happy good night all!

Next time please be here or be square, ya hear!

3:50 P.M. we lost power due to a lightning storm!

We are not alone 254 of our neighbors are also without power! FPL, Florida Power and Light, has stated that a main line was hit and the power should be back on by 6:15 P.M., but that is subject to change. Oh well... Tis the season as you all know! Rainy/hurricane season, and again there seems to be a possible tropical depression forming to our south in the Carribean; by Friday we should know more...aghh.
Meanwhile, this morning Hubby did get that fourth piling in, yay!

It is now 5:25 P.M. and the rain and periodic clashes of lightning continue.

Fortunately, from experience I began our dinner early; even turning the oven on to 350 degrees and so we did have our dinner.
That is why I prefer electric since it stays hotter longer than gas that can explode!
To me electric is more efficient and safer.

Anywho, we also have our landline to call FPL @ 1-800-4-Outage. It looks as if that extra $3.75 a month for our Consumer Cellular plan is paying off already with always being online, yup I am on my phone for this, house WIFI is not working.

I guess that is all for now, so please be here or be square, ya hear! And happy good night all!

Another pick from Hubby this morning below:

Now that's cheery, ya think? Two more water Lillies in our pond!

Blah, blah, blah...

One might ask if that word describes the conversation, one's emotions, or how one physically feels? (There is probably more to it too; concept -wise, wherever it might go.)
Hmm, never thought that word could have so many interpretations I bet?
That tells me that you do not have that much time on your hands as I do...lucky you!
Thinking about all and everything can be a really nice thingy to do when you would be most likely otherwise be considered bored or even doing something of value?
Or not.
Do not fret, you too can overthink life's trials and tribulations and harp on some of it, if not most.
Nah, don't do it!
Just a friendly warning my friends.
Everyday a clean slate begins.

SO REJOICE!
Act happy, and therefore you will BE HAPPY!
OKEY DOKEY! It can work, seriously.

Moving on...

Just got one of those blurbs from GH, General Hospital ABC TV soap opera, storyline spoiler reports.
That got my curiosity going.
Reading it made me think about their conclusions and then it made me wonder how they got me on their list to pop onto all of my pages from this to any other surfing that I do, even during Netflix binge watching and streaming!
Scary, and quite invasive, nah too harsh a call, actually at times I do welcome the distraction, since I get breaking news reports too!
I am one confused old gal! OR NOT!
I like it, I don't like it... choices are fun and not written in stone when these are what you are deciding on above, hmm?
Life is hard and soft and tall and short and skinny and fat and has ups and downs and all arounds... so what else is new, EVERYTHING!
Or NOTHING!

Think about that, or not, your call.

So I will end this gibberish of thought and more than my usual blah, blah, blahs... and wish you all a very happy good night instead.

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!

Chill while watching Aussie watching Animal Planet...

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Another weekend another mix media?

Or could that be medium?
Weather-wise, but of course.
Tis our season, i.e. rainy/hurricane, arriving a bit early, nearly by two weeks... once again how would Mother Nature have an exact calendar, we don't, oh wait, I suppose we do; never mind.

Any-who, the mix of today's weather was warm, humid and sunny in the beginning of the day, and later on moving into cooler and very wet/rainy stormy weather, and so that is how our outside weather is now at this time of year.
But inside cool and dry, perfection. So I stay inside.

Hubby did feel the need to try to accomplish some more work today on the "tiki hut project", and so he did in spite of hazardous weather conditions later on in the day. He did work when it was just humid and hot.

                                As you can see above there are now three uprights for the construction, one to go and then the supports will begin for the pointed roof line to be framed. The tiki hut covering material was ordered today from Home Depot for 150 square feets' worth, and a hundred dollars less than the original looked up online, and we only need 144 square feet due to the peak. I had originally thought
100 square feet would be all that was needed, being that the hut will be ten by ten, but although logical I was wrong of course. Our choice was Mexican Palm Thatch 35"inches H, by 60' feet long, shown below, free delivery to the store. They, Home Depot, were actually cheaper than Walmart!

"Originally used by the natives in Mexico as shelter from the harsh climates, these "rain capes" now called thatch are used as decorative accent and roofing material. Woven together by palm leaves, Mexican thatch is an eco-friendly resource that can add a tropical touch to anyone's indoor decor or backyard space. Mostly used by contractors and commercial industries such as restaurants, resorts, and stores; thatching is easy to install and handle.

• Install with staples or zip ties
• Apply to roof frames, ceilings, windows, arbors, etc
• Provides additional shading and cover
• Dimensions are approximate due to it's hand woven
• Weave pattern for added decor
• Item is not flame resistant
• See our full collection of Patio Parts to choose the best option for you."
• 
  
• 
  
•  This is a concept picture for our roof line only!

So this is where we are going.

No tiki bar, since we do not drink anymore, anyway it is too long a haul to carry those items from the house, even with my outdoor wheeled patio cart, and we already have a table down there and chairs too, molded ones that are stacked in a corner of the yard. What I am thinking is some nice lighting, the large bulb hanging type and we are shaded so it will work day or night to enjoy the water views. Also a drop off sight from and to our boating travels, we will see what we will see...?

And hurricanes might/could have their way with it, and since it is not too expensive and will fall under our other home's insurances it can easily be replaced, well not easily, but replaced or not...no worries, be happy! Thus our hesitation since our nice Gazebo of way back when before August 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley that blew it away! Uh oh! No jinxing this project. Besides it is only a thing, and not a living thing at that matter!

Moving on...

Make that a very happy good night all!

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!

So Saturday came and we...

If it is May it must be time for the WINK/CBS TV out of Fort Myers Florida, their yearly hurricane education seminar and conference for the public at the Charlotte Harbor Events and Conference Center in Punta Gorda Florida, and as always it was wonderfully informative for all old timers as well as newbies to our area. 

Aussie and me with Meteorologist Scott Zedeker below and below that me with Senior Meteorologist Jim Farrell! That is them above too.

Above is John Rowland with the Peace River Sail and Power Squadron who was showing and promoting, as well as discussing the need for boating safety in cooperation with the Sea Tow Foundation Programs making sure that we are all safe boaters with life jackets' loaner programs, especially since this week is national safe boating week May-19- 25!( methinks they are missing one more day? Since they are seven days in a week, right?) But everyday should be safe boating! https://www.facebook.com/pg/SeaTowFoundation/about/?ref=page_internal

 For lunch we went back to Marion Avenue in the heart of Punta Gorda and ate today at Leroy's where we have been many times before.
I had my favorite steak and fries over a romaine salad with bleu cheese! That is mine directly below, and Hubby had their Leroy's Reuben, below mine. Notice the two portions below that, yes that is what we took home! So much food! We both had the rest for dinner, at least Hubby finished his then, but mine still has an additional serving, proving that it was well worth the $9.99 each for the luncheon special charge.

 Leonia below was our server, and Hubby taunted her with silly snide remarks, all in good fun so they said, both; as you can see by her smile!

On our way to the Farmer's Market we found another rocking decorative rock this time ROCKING PUNTA GORDA, and I have posted on Facebook hours ago. Great paint job makes it look like a real seashell.

 This tea lady I had seemed to miss all the time, since she insisted that she has always been there except when Hurricane Irma hit, none of us were, ha... now so many months after, still not that funny. Anywho, she sells organic tea through her company Shellback Trading Company @ ph #904-226-2610 or any Saturday at the Farmers' Market in Punta Gorda Florida!

After all the other stuff Hubby felt like going for a ride and so we did through PGI, Punta Gorda Isles
a lovely waterfront community in Punta Gorda, just past Fisherman's Village. The homes are very well maintained and the waterfront community is considered quite posh in many circles. Anyway, I took a picture of a quaint sea mist green cottage styled home with a very nice front porch, and at another home I admired its blue painted metal sculptured bench set of flying dolphins, WOW, quite impressive; loved it!   

                                    That is it below the dolphin bench, I think it is beautiful!
                                      

As you can see the rain came and took away the ability to enjoy the looklous in us to see as much of the very nice peeks into how the other halves live!

Happy Good Night All!

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!