Sea Island, Georgia

 What a dad-gum tooting fun-loving week!! Oh my.. such fun, such love, such tiredness! This old body protested greatly but I just kept going 'til it was all done and I was home again. Here I am... dragging luggage and myself into my front door yesterday late in the day, ready for some quiet time!

I arrived at the house where the wedding would take place last Monday a week and a half ago and enjoyed days with the bride and groom as well as my daughter (the groom's mom). This post is about the house (a summer home of a friend of the groom's parents) in Sea Island, Georgia. Just had to share some of the beauty of the place with you all before I get more into the wedding. 

The front entrance staircase

Looking down on the fountain at the front entrance

The terrace outside the kitchen

Me enjoying my lunch on that terrace

The pool. I did not go in the pool but I did relax poolside reading a good book. 

My reflection in the mirror of one of the downstairs bathrooms.

I love a terracotta roof. This on is tiled with Palm Beach Mission tile. 

the view from my bed where I lay for hours watching that big ole moon shine on the ocean. 

Yes, it was quite an exciting week... and I have lots more to share with you in a day or two. 

A Week At the Beach

 Oh my gosh....

What a week. It was certainly different than our family get-aways, and because I don't scrapbook anymore it was different in that respect, as well. But, I enjoyed myself. I mean, how can you not enjoy someone else cooking your meals for you for 6 brunches and dinners! I didn't have to do laundry, go shopping, clean toilets or mop floors. 

Instead, I read one and a half books, I painted 3 watercolor paintings, I did numerous crossword puzzles, streamed a bunch of my tv shows and wrote every day in my journal. Good week, I'd say. 

There were about 2 dozen women in this huge beach house. And, all the furniture was moved out of the Main room on the top floor (except our tables where we ate our meals) and scrapbookers brought in their own 6' tables and all their scrapbooking supples and there was hardly any walking room in there at all. 

Because of a dune, we couldn't see the water's edge so missed out on watching the waves crashing or seeing the birds running around the beach line. 

Some days were very cool, windy. 

    Some days were warmer, sunny. 

Once when Shirley and I were having some key lime pie on the balcony, a bird (not sure which kind) came in hopes we'd feed him. Shirley said I'd better not, I'd get tons of birds flying in, but I did anyway. A few crumbs of the crust. He was happy and so was I.

And, no extra visitors wanting their share.

You should have seen me trying to get out of this tall Adirondack chair!

Got into it fine. But, could not get out! 

Shirley to the rescue!

Our comfy bed! 

More in the next post. 

My Week In a Nutshelll #2.

                      Here it is... Saturday already and time for                                                                       My Week In A Nutshell.

                                Looking out my window....

Too often I see fire trucks, rescue squads, etc. sitting outside my window and I worry about which one of the residents is involved this time. Sometimes, it is a minor thing and the EMTs are soon on their way, sometimes they rush people to the hospital and ever so often someone passes away. Living in an environment with this age group (55+) there is bound to be problems that are health related. I am so grateful that we have help nearby... firestation and hospital very close. Help is there when we need it. 

Thinking About 

My kiddos who are stuck in Washington D. C. trying to get a flight back home to Oregon. Storms in the Northwest have planes grounded, flights delayed for days. What a trial it must be for them. 

Something New This Week

I have been smothered with love, flowers, food, family and more love. My birthday couldn't have been more exciting. I am so blessed to have such a loving family and friends. 

What I'm Reading

"Last Night" by Luanne Rice. I seem to be stuck on murder mysteries lately. Do you like that genre or do you prefer something else? 

For years I have had a very bad digestive system... it runs in my family! Ugh. The more I find out about gut health, the more I want to do something about being gut-healthy! 

Are you familiar with how bad bacteria in your digestive system can affect your over-all health? Well, I am going to do something about mine. I ordered a book about fermentation of food. Fermention is so good for you... yogurt, sauerkraut, pickles, cheese, veggies etc, etc. So, I read that as well. 

I'm Looking Forward to...

Getting my house back in order. It's amazing how trashed it got during all my birthday partying and visitors coming and going. I hate a trashed house!! I'm making progress! 

Onward and Upward!!

My Week in a Nutshell

                                                                                                                      My Week

First of all let me say how much I appreciate all the well-wishes and support during this blasted Covid that's messing up my birthday celebration. I love you all and thank you so much.

                 Looking Out My Window....

I wasn't actually looking out my window this morning but I was standing on my balcony, buck-naked except for a towel wrapped around my wet, dripping body (I'd just gotten out of the shower) and waving frantically to my New York kids that had just flown in. That must have been a sight to see!! And, it breaks my heart that I can't hug them... but I'm working on getting well enough so that I can.

(this is not a picture of me this morning... nobody wants to see me in a towel!! This shot was taken when this Covid mess started back in 2020 and I was isolating myself.)

                     I Am Thinking About....

How life can just throw the craziest curve balls at you when you least expect it. The way I look at it, you better be ready for anything, just in case😁

                   Something New This Week....

Let's see, it is hard to have much new going on when you are holed up in a small apartment. About all I can think of is that my son cleaned off the top of my fridge for me. He said it was in a mess. Since I have 'shrunk' in height, I can't see up there! Glad he could and fixed it for me.

                     What I'm Reading...

Have any of you read 'Carnal Innocence' by Nora Roberts? Oh, lordy. You really should, especially if you are southern bred, love a good romance and murder mystery book. It was my entertainment while I was stuck in bed and I couldn't have wished for better. I can't decide what to read next. Any suggestions? 

P.S. Oh my gosh, I just discovered that 'Carnal Innocence' was made into a movie! Guess what! I'll have to watch it. 

Just Checking In

 Just checking in with everyone! It's one busy time of the year, that's for sure. The next week or so is gonna be so hectic but it's family and fun and what more could I ask for.

Had a check-up this week with my surgeon (breast cancer) and everything seems to be going fine. He'd talked about radiation from the get-go and so now he is setting up an appt. for me to see the radiologist. I don't look forward to having treatment but it certainly would be great insurance against further scares. 

My son (my only son) is on his way from Alabama. Remember I visited him back the end of summer. Well, he's going to be here during the holidays and through my birthday which is on Jan 6th. More on that later!!!! 

I watched the finals of 'The Voice' and I never pick the winner. I was rooting for Jackie who can sing anything or for the 16 year old Ruby Lee.  But, Ruby got second so she'll do okay, besides Reba McEntire loves her. 

Well, I guess I will scoot and act like I am doing something productive. ha ha

Just over 4 days now til Christmas. Y'all have a great one... 

Preparing For The Winter!

 I've been....

I want to share with you what has kept me busy. I'm like a squirrel getting ready for the winter! 

The other day I cleaned out my freezer. This being an apartment, all I have in the way of freezer space is that area above my fridge. Not much, but enough I guess. 

Anyway, my packages would get all scrambled around and I couldn't find anything!

Since a lot of my food is frozen in those quart (or pint, just depending) ziplock bags, I got this idea that if I could keep them in a box, just maybe they'd stay put. Couldn't find a blooming thing in this apartment that they'd fit into..... except an empty shoe box. Hey, if it works....

And, I froze some veggies that I had in the crisper. Heaven only knows I let a lot of food go to waste... 'cause I can't eat it all before it goes bad. 

I froze some carrots, celery and red peppers. 

I'd get so upset when I would buy lemons... I never had any when I needed them! 

So, I buy a bag now. Juice them all. Pour some juice into small freezer bags and when I want some juice to add to tea, put in a dish, sprinkle over avacado or other fruit, I just pop the bag against the countertop and the juice breaks into pieces. I reach in and get what i want and put the rest back in the freezer for later. 

Let's see. Oh, this morning I got a lot of Christmas cards addressed and stamped. They are lying on the entry table ready to be mailed. 

and, I reorganized my pantry! 

We had our family Thanksgiving dinner last Sunday so tomorrow I plan on watching the Macy's Day Parade. Maybe I'll follow that up with the Dog Show from Madison Square Garden. Elbert and I used to watch that! 

Life is good. It's what you make it! 

My Week

 My Week That Was....

How I am feeling...Super! Glad to be alive. Excited. You name it.... 

What I'm reading... I just finished 'Time was Soft There'. This book sort of disturbed me in places but overall, oh my. I could picture the lifestyle of being in Paris without a visa, living in a bookshop (Shakespeare and Company) with all these fascinating characters. It was a fun read for me because I love Paris so much. 

I am looking forward to... a visit from my family from Oregon. They'll be here Sept 24th. So, time is drawing closer and the excitement builds. 2 weeks...

What annoys me...I can't help it and I know I should. But, there is one resident here who is so smothering I just run from her and I don't think I am nice around her. I don't like being 'smothered'.

Something new this week... I took a line dancing class this week. I was the oldest one there but I wasn't left out for sure. It was fun but boy, I got winded. I'll probably leave that for the younger crowd. (sorry there's not a picture to share but my daughter took a video and I can't figure out how to share it)

                                                 Tootle Loo,                                                           Latane

My Week # 5

 My Week That Was....

How I am feeling... So blessed after last weeks health scare. All the reports came back negative. That's one time the work 'negative' is a good thing. I guess my body was just reminding me that 'yes, silly, you are getting old'. 

What I'm reading... I just finished 'Send Down The Rain' by Charles Martin. Oh my gosh, such a surprise, didn't expect that. The first of the book was confusing, lots of characters that I could see how were going to tie together but then they did and it was a really good read. 

I am looking forward to... a visit from my family from Oregon. Tickets bought for the 5 of them. They'll be here Sept 24th. Can't wait to see them. Haven't seen my daughter and son-in-law since 2018. My granddaughter's family of three I haven't seen in over 10 years. It's going to be quite the reunion.

photo made in 2008, about the time of the granddaughter and greatgrandson's last visit.

with my daughter, Marie.

What annoys me...that stinking little bitty gnat/fruit fly that keeps darting back and forth between me and the computer. They are nearly impossible to swat! I don't know where they come from. It's usually just one so I am not growing gnats on my farm! 

My latest excitement... I was watching 'Who Do You Think You Are' , an old episode of Courtney Cox, when they were talking about her 18th (I think it was... it was way, way back there) great-grandfather, a man by the name of Thomas Berkeley. That name ran a bell... yep, I looked it up and I am kin to Courtney Cox... like millionth second cousin. ha ha.  There is a Berkeley Castle in England and King Edward II was held prisoner and murdered there. Gruesome tale but Thomas Berkeley seemed to be away from the castle at the time so he was acquitted of the crime. Of course, none of my ancestors would do anything so grievous as murder... I don't think... who knows, that was back in the what was it... 13th, 14th century. I wish I could go visit that castle! 

It was quite a week, that's for sure. I hope your week was filled with fun, laughter and excitement. 

                                                  Tootle Loo,                                                           Latane

My Week #4

 The week is over and it was a trying one. Here's my recap:

I am Grateful for getting tests results back that had me scared. Even though it had been twenty years since I'd had colon cancer, some odd behaviors had me with my back to the wall and me down on my knees. But, the tests done came back negative. Whew.... Thank God!

I've been reading a set of four books by Nora Roberts set in the Maryland Eastern Shore. Good reads and they kept me busy wondering how it all would end. My daughter had brought them to me all tied with pretty ribbon. I love things like that and so seldom think to do it myself. (the added ribbon I mean)

I've been watching old episodes of Columbo on Prime Movies. Dang, there's just something about Columbo that keeps me fascinated. He's a master at figuring things out! 

I'm thinking about maybe I should clean my apartment. With me not feeling so well I really let things go. Good excuse, I guess but it's time to get this mess out of here! 

I got a chuckle (and was annoyed, puzzled, tickled and mad) about something I read this week. As I left the dermatologist office, they handed me a sheet of paper with info of my visit. Yep, I am a female. yep, I am 88 years old. Yep, now, wait a cotton-picking minute! The next line read "patient well nourished". What the heck? I may be overweight but that's nothing new. Most of us are. Well-nourished? That just takes the cake! 

                                                    Tootle Loo,

                                                        Latane

My Week # 3

 

Looking Out My Window....  I see a food truck. I've already been down to check it out. Wasn't sure what to order but I'd been craving a hotdog lately so that's what I got. Maybe I'll try their Korean fare at another time. 

I Am Thinking About.... how we residents can upgrade our activities around here. They just about stopped during Covid and haven't picked back up. Wonder if others get as bored as I do at times?

Something New This Week was.... I got my hair cut. It hadn't seen the insides of a beauty shop since before I left to visit Michael the first week of June. Need I say it was getting out of control!! 

How I'm Feeling....  very good about some organizing I've done this week. It's always good to be 'on top of things'. Makes life so much easier.

What I'm Watching.... the most amazing documentary on Netflix. It's "100 Days With TaTa" about a very special relationship between a young man and his great-grandmother's sister. He moves in and takes care of her during Covid. A foreign film (sub-titles) but worth it. So endearing! 

Something fun this week.... I am waiting for a visit from Ben Franklin tonight.  An impersonator is coming, dressed in colonial clothing, taking on the role of Ben F. Should be very entertaining. 

 

       Tootle-doo,

                    Latane