There is a saying that time flies when you are having fun and that is sooo true! On Tuesday, we had a quiet evening with a wonderful salmon dinner made by Wes and Deb. Different in that maple syrup and garlic were among the ingredients that flavored it! Terrific. This sure is a five star bed and breakfast! (more…)
Deb had to work, but Wes and I had a lot of quality time together. Was able to check my Facebook and pleasantly surprised to find many people want to be Facebook friends with me. Especially pleased that when I encouraged Pam Kelley to be a friend, she showed my picture and comment to her mom, Aud, who is a very dear cousin visiting Pam in Alaska. Aud asked her to comment on my picture where I am wearing a tie die shirt that says: Let me Tell You a Story. Aud said she would like me to tell her one. This is wonderful to be able to communicate this way. Bless Wes. (more…)
Perhaps because I am having so much fun being with my loved ones in Florida, I think about all of the fun that can be found in life. Sometimes it comes to us as a surprise, but we can look for it as well.
It was fun to ride to the airport with my youngest son, Matt whose sense of humor always brightens my days. I enjoyed the plane trip down, and it was fun to be met by my oldest son, Wes who also has a great sense of humor. The warm welcome by my daughter-in-love, Deb, confirmed that this would be a wonderful visit. It is always fun to be with them and also to spend time with my granddaughter, Claire, her husband, Shaheed and my great grandchildren – Malik who is eleven and Leila who is nine. A rare treat is for Wes, Deb and me to have lunch with Leila and her friends at school. (more…)
There has been a whole week of adventures: Quiet evening at home on Monday but watching Julie:Julia. Especially meaningful as Wes has been encouraging my writing career and my blogging; ordering Chinese carry out on Wednesday and enjoying it with Claire here. Pizza and wine and watching Blind Side on Thursday (courtesy of Netflix), Wes and I visit to farm that belongs to an adult student of Wes – she has one donkey, two horses and three goats and 80 a lovely remodeled farm house on 80 acres. We walked through her house and drove around her property – on way back to the house stopped at a blackberry patch and we all picked some and promptly ate them (she gave me hers too.) Wes fixed lunch for him and me and went to a meeting and shopping. I rested, read and did some dishes before Wes and Deb got home around 5:00. Met couple of friends for dinner at Jones Restaurant; watched lightening and then rain, wind and hail as we ate. The storm ended before we left. Lovely evening after a full day so we were all in bed by 9:30. (more…)
This is the beginning of the Writers’ Storytelling weekend. It began with a reception at one of the school halls and they had a lovely buffet of small sandwiches, veggies, desserts, etc. and almost a small bar. We spent a lot of time with a man from Sarasota who had graduated from the University of Florida but we also walked around and mingled with others. Afterward the University had lists of a few Gainesville restaurants where the participants could continue conversations if they wished. Wes took me to the Bistro (have been there before and thoroughly enjoy it) and our table was very close to one where a young man, his young wife and 11 month old son, Hans, sat. We talked all through dinner and it was very enjoyable. Two of the waitresses had been Wes’ students and both wanted to wait on us. I have met and like Andy, a young man who works with Claire and did work with Wes. He has decided to take the summer off and go on a bike trip along the West Coast with a friend of his. To celebrate this, they met friends at a variety of restaurants; Wes and I joined the group, including Claire, at Common Grounds, another interesting restaurant and that was fun too! Of course, regaled Deb with our adventures when we got back. (more…)
It is always fun to be with my granddaughter, Claire, great-grandson, Malik and great granddaughter, Leila. They go to a wonderful school where their mother and uncle went. In fact, Mr. Dodge, not only still teaches but was there when my granddaughter, Claire and grandson, Matt went to school. They have a lovely practice of allowing family to have lunch with their children so Leila asked Wes, Deb and me to join her for lunch. She buys her lunch but Deb packed cheese and crackers, bit of cold tempeh, apples and grapes and ice tea for us. Leila brought a girl friend to eat with us and we had a lovely time.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Quiet day.
Grandson-in-law, Shaheed dropped by to say hello and we had a really nice visit. In the evening, we had a nice dinner at home and then watched movie: Sunshine Cleaners. In the past, often ate dinner while watching movie. Good thing we did not do that tonight as this was about a couple of girls who started a cleaning business and cleaned crime scenes! Some pretty graphic scenes!
Wes and I went to Mass at nearby St. Patrick’s church and when we got home he and Deb handed me a Mother’s Day card. Lovely card but most amazing of all was that inside was the agenda for a writer’s summit! It was a Storyteller’s Summit that the College of Communication and Journalism of the University of Florida had prepared. There were well known authors, and editors and agents from Florida, Georgia and NYC! I had a hard time processing the information that Wes and I would being going to spend two days together at a conference for writers!! I could only stammer my thanks. (more…)
Feel good about the fact that I have made arrangements for what needs to happen at home while I am spending a month with Wes and Deb. Was rainy weekend and I fretted the plane would have to take off in a storm. Not to worry; beautiful day with blue skies and lovely puffy white clouds. Matt arrived in plenty of time. Yvonne had purchased tickets on line, printed my boarding passes and paid for luggage. Still, I was just a bit nervous and chatted to Matt the whole time. Touched down in Charlotte, N.C. and spent a couple of hours touring the airport and getting a bowl of soup before boarding a plane for Gainesville. Arrived at six to find Wes waiting for me; again a happy drive. A warm welcome by Deb really was the frosting on the cake. Out to dinner at the Jones (restaurant) and had a relaxed evening. So glad that Deb chose to take vacation now as we three can enjoy our time to the max. (more…)