July test

This is a test. I'm using the new format that probably isn't that new. It's just that I haven't been here for several months. can't get my pictures in i-photo, some stuff about going through google.

Times, they are a changin'

Took a little bit to get to where we write because Google wants us to do it differently. so, here goes.

We have just begun advertising the house here in Privateer on homeaway.com #981326. It's a website for short term rentals.  Now that we have been here 5 years, it seems time to do something more constructive and Bob is pretty bored.  Our first guest came in yesterday from VA and they are staying a week.  We are in the house below us which we are managing for the owner - also short term rental, but on VRBO #317550.  If this goes well for season, and we will know in the next couple of months, then we may just move into the other house in Coral Bay.
Nathan got a job in Louisiana, was there for 2 months and2 weeks ago they shipped him out to work on a rig off the coast of Ventura, CA.  He's living on a "habitat" with maybe 8 others and they ferry the workers back and forth to the rig every day.  he is a tender, so is not diving, but working 12 hours a day - EVERYDay  for 6 weeks, making LOTS of money and happier than a "pig in shit". Ventura is about 1.5 hours away from Uncle Damon, Judie's husband, so Nathan may see him before coming back to LA.
Evan is going to Oakland University, my alma mater (sp) in Rochester and getting a Pell grant and some financial aid of another sort, so we no longer have to foot the bill.  He just finished 16 weeks in 8 and will start another in about a week.  Hopefully, he will come down here for a visit end of August - his b'day- before he starts the fall semester.  Grades aren't in yet, but he was at a 3.4 going into finals.  We are very proud of his progress, emotionally and physically.  always knew he had it intellectually, just was a long road getting the other stuff in order.  He really seems to be enjoying school and work at the pizza parlor - well, it's a job.
The guys just delivered the new refrig here at Moseley's - compressor went on the old one.  Seems everything goes here soon or later, but the closer you are to the water, the sooner it goes.  So we have been here since late yesterday with no refrigeration - AH, the ice chest - reminds me of hurricane season, which, I think, we are now officially in.
better stop now as I seem to be rambling.
luv to you all.  Miss you.  Coming back to MI in November.  Can you believe it, they called me for jury duty?????????????  I told them at first - June 7, I was out of the country, then they said Sept. 13 - NOT- main hurricane season, so she gave me November 13, argh, I thought they would let me off.

this is my new "pool boy"

Betsy

more blogging

Just a few quirky notes. As things happen here, we just throw our hands up and say that's the way it is, but thought I would write a bit about all that as this is a sharing site.

On or about December 10, Bob went to the police station in STT- in and of itself, quite an ordeal by the time you drive to the barge, then pay the $50 barge fare and drive thru Stt and pay to park and walk 1/2 mile to the police station and PAY again, some $60 just for the application ,for the renewal for his gun permit blah, blah, blah. You get the idea. After several, and I mean several, phone calls to the fire arms bureau and the police, we finally get the answer today that the gun permit is in order and ready to pick up. Do you think they would have notified us that this is the case - oh, no

I called today to the IRB (Internal Revenue Board) to see if we could get an app. for a new "tax clearance letter), needed to continue any and all businesses and renewed each year,. she told me we could do it on line - great I said. Do we have to submit this to the IRB personally? Well, I don't know any other way, she said. "What about electonically?", I queried. She wasn't sure about that!!

Skinny's was jammed for the Super Bowl and all had a good time. Did you guys participate in any of this madness?

Nathan talked to the head hiring guy at Bisso Marine this past week. He likes Nathan, but told him there was a hiring freeze until early April. At least he will have more time to save money.

no company coming soon as far as we know. We are trying to plan a trip to MI in early April. Would like to see Nathan before he leaves for New Orleans.

hope you guys are all well and "not too cold". speaking of which, the Christmas winds have been quite horrific since the end of Dec. and we are quite fed up. Besides, we have had rain almost every day or night for the last 3 weeks. not supposed to have rain at all during the high season. Changing weather patterns, I guess. I see the NE is having it easy this year!!

Love you all,

b

P.S. This was this morning's sunrise.

I've been promising myself I would blog for the past two weeks and can't seem to get at it. Couple of thoughts. I think I'm turning into our mother. I have finally taken to making a list of what is in the freezer and taping to the side of the fridge. We all remember that, don't we? My fingers on my right hand and my wrist are beginning to swell with arthritis. I go on Medicare April 1. Cocktail hour is around 3-3:30 and by 4 or so I am doing the prep work for dinner. And lastly, I have made the same recipe for pancakes MANY times, but still have to read the recipe!!

On another note, Evan was accepted to Oakland University in Rochester, MI. He missed the cut off for the winter semester so will start in the Spring. He's quite excited about this direction. He seems to think he can get a masters in mental health? in about two years. He quit his job in Lansing just before Christmas. The drive was becoming hazardous. He is now looking for something closer to home.

Nathan is going to give diving another try and has put out resumes and Bisso Marine told him to call first week in Feb. His plan is to drive to LA with one of his buddies from dive school and start looking for jobs again.

Kathy, we bought a new little convection oven that is in the laundry oven so I am using, nearly every day, the wooden tongs you gave me from Pampered Chef to retrieve the toast/bagel and bring it into the house. Great little tool.

Bob and I cleaned all the ceilings this past week with water and bleach to get the mold off. It wasn't bad, but spotty and Bob had to be up on the very tall ladder. That led to doing all the fans and many other areas we just can't reach. Took us most of two days. Then we had the carpets steam cleaned. They have not been cleaned since we have been here!! Really dirty!!

O.k. that's all for now.

Work is going well. I am only working on the weekends. Fun.

luv,

Betsy

P.S. these tomatoes are my first picking this season. The organic gardener here in Coral Bay gave me these heirloom seeds. They are delicious!!

First snow in Ohio

Hi All,

Well, the new year has arrived and all is well here. We went to some friend's house for Christmas dinner with a few other people we had not met before - turkey, yum. New year's eve and day were like any other day. I worked until 2:30 both days. "Season" is in full swing and we are quite busy at the shop and Bob Moseley - house below us - has his place nearly fully rented until May. We are managing it for him, so it keeps us busy and we like meeting all the new people. Oh, I met Robin Mead (morning show HLN) at Jolly Dog on New Year's Day. what a doll!!! Surprised she only bought a tee shirt!!

Today I'm going to apply for Medicare. Better get crackin'. Very soon now, there will be no money. Just read that over a million boomers are applying for medicare every day!! That's hard to believe.

We have about 10 tomato plants that are 6-7 feet high and pushing thru the sun shade, but I see many tomatoes. So looks like we will have a good crop.

Marilynn, did Rick get the medicare thing done?

Love to all,

betsy

Back to the simple style

First good snow of the season now. I shot a short video and here it is, just click on the photo below and the short video will play. The ground is all white now, about an hour after I shot this video.

From Drop Box

Ohio Baldwin Christmas Slide Show

Here's a link to a slide show of our Christmas

Joan Owen Christmas Card

We got a Christmas card from Joan Owen and thought you might get a kick out of the info she shared with us:

"Hi - It was great to see you again Herb and renew old memories.  It was also great to meet and talk with out Kathy.

Would you be interested in a subscription for the American Welsh newspaper Ninnau?  Of course it is all in the English language - very few of us specak Welsh in America now.

Let me know and I'll get one for you."

and she wrote inside the card ... "Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd dda"

We/you, if you're interested may be able to subscribe to Ninnau online or buy an issue or two via your Kindle?

Have a Merry Christmas, (it's Thursday afternoon and I am done for the week now) Going to have "brunch" with Stu and Sara tomorrow (Friday) and then Christmas Eve here with David and family after candlelight church service to open some gifts and have chilled shrimp / crackers & cheese / wine

Christmas morning church service then back home and David and family coming again to have a traditional Christmas ham dinner with all the trimmings.

Trying back to the "Dynamic" blog style

Just looking for something new and not so boring, so I went ahead and changed back to the "dynamic" view.  To write a new post, you should see a small "pencil" graphic in the upper right hand corner.  Click on the pencil and this will open your post composition box.

You can also click on the tabs (upper left) and change dynamically the view of the posts.  I kind of like "magazine" view myself.

Was up to 60 degrees today but rainy, now the rain has stopped and down to 34 later tonight, so I've fired up the wood stove.

Continuing to cut up, split, and stack firewood couple times/week.

Kathy's job at Rite-Aid is going well, she enjoys it and between her 16 hours/week and her school retirement, the cash income is just about the same as when she was working full time at the school.

OK, going to go watch the national news now.  Nitey-Nite for now.  Hope you don't have any problems posting with the new design.