Just Got In From Michigan

We just made it back from Michigan (Wed afternoon). We met Betsy and Bob just before the memorial service and then we all went. Good to see the family.

Then we went out to PF Changs for lunch with B&B and then back to Linda's for the afternoon. For dinner we met Dave and Judy Hudson (used to live on Negaunee) by Dave Hayden. Anyway, Hayden's at Eglin AFB in Florida, but Hudson's in Westland by Linda. We went and had a good fun time with old friends at a Coney Island.

Smornin' we just sat around and talked with Linda as Mike now has a job (after 3 years) and he had to work.

Bets, here's the airport info:
I looked at the map and we will be driving right through (in this order)

Charleston, WV
Charlotte, NC
Columbia, SC
Savannah, GA

So if you can get an inexpensive flight into one of these cities, that’s great!

We can leave as early as Thursday April 1st if it works better for you guys to fly on a “non-weekend”

Talk with you guys later,

Baldwin Family (Mt Gilead) Christmas

Here's a short video on Bubby opening gifts at our house on Christmas Day.

Is Santa coming?

What does Bubba think? Quiet day here today. We are organizing to get back to MI
Liz, Ron's wife, is coming in today and we are dining here on Friday with them. there is nothing open here on Christmas Day. Hope we make it back as we have a stop over in New Jersey. Very foggy here. Turns out, the volcano on Monserrat is sending out lots of dust
Going to Shipwreck for free o'doerves and drinks on Christmas Eve. All the locals are invited. It's a good time.
Merry Christmas to you guys. I know it's really more fun with the little ones. Enjoy.

Just Some Pix From Herb

Our first measureable snowfall in Mount Gilead. Looking out our back door to the garage and the alley over toward the neighbors house on the other street.

Bubby spent the afternoon and early evening with us while his Mommy and Daddy were doing something else. Now it's time for hime to go home. He's got his sippy cup and his police car.

Dinner

Hi Marilynn, I would like to blog that I feel if we go to visit you in April and if you have to go to a wedding that we and Burt and Kathy go with you to the wedding for a free meal. I really am starting to enjoy blogging because you can really share good ideas with your friends and family. R Melnik

Silent Monks Christmas Video From YouTube

Melnik Michigan Trip

Bets,

What are the dates you will be in Michigan?

Have you heard anything from the Baldwins about a memorial service?

We thought we would drive up one day, attend the service, have dinner with you and Bob and stay the night at Linda's house and then drive back the next day.

Let us know what you know,

First Snow in Mount Gilead

We had our first measureable snow in Gilead yesterday, need to upload a pix.

Just got back from church, have left over chilled shrimp from our company Christmas party last night, think I'm going to saute' some in butter/garlic/parmessan cheese.

Kathy is wrapping gifts, going to visit Lois shortly and then we're going to the hospital with some folks from church to sing carols, then Christmas shopping a little for a few more things and then at 6:15 to meet Sara and Stu for a nice dinner at Sweeney's Supper Club.

Off for now, later ....

Growing Old Together

Yesterday we went to the house in Coral Bay to do a few things. Renters come on Jan 3 while we are in MI. We were moving a single bed frame that wss made by the original owner many years ago out of wood. The legs on the thing are 4"x4". Anyway, really heavy. Of course, Melnik says, "Come on we can do it". We were sliding it and sort of carrying it and I started to fart and couldn't stop, then started laughing. We put the bed down and Bob was mimiking the farting which only made us laugh harder. Made me think of you guys.
Friends coming for lunch today and she is supposed to take picture of us to email to family and friends for Christmas. Don't hold your breath. Marilynn, your Christmas card was really cute.

ARGH

How do I find my draft???????

Georgia Vacation

Yes, yes, and yes. Let's do it. sounds like Rick and you are pretty busy. Looks like the end of the month might be better. No, April 1-5 is o.k. for all of us if Kathy wants to take time off. That doesn't seem like much time when you consider travel time. Assuming we see each other, Herb and Kathy, in MI end of the month, maybe we can chat about it then. I guess some of that will depend on the weather in MI. We, however, here in STJ don't have to worry about the weather.

Easter Vacation in Georgia

OK, back on November 23rd Betsy gave us two sets of dates that could work for her and I posted that Kathy would take the time off work, regardless of when it was.

But I've not heard back from either of you as to when it will be, are we meeting in Georgia in April?

Can't stay, it's 4:00 pm and I gotta run over to Gordon Foods to get chicken wings for the Christmas party this weekend.

I'll write more tomorrow,

Wednesday's news

Well, the Jags lost on Sunday, so tomorrow is our last home game. We are playing Indy at 8:20 p.m. so I don't think there will be a big crowd. Most people work on Friday. The last turkey tailgate was good. It felt like Christmas dinner. Tomorrow we are having hamburgers and hot dogs with the sides.

Rick had a squamas (sp) cell taken off his temple this morning. It was MOS surgery so I believe they got it all. Friday we are getting together with Pat and Bob and celebrating Pat's birthday and Christmas, then Saturday morning going to a Christmas breakfast at some friends. Saturday afternoon and Sunday, Rick and Ryan will be going quail hunting in Georgia with Bob and his son. I will invite Kyla over to pick fruit. Our orange tree is really full and we also have some grapefruit, limes and lemons to pick. I buy Christmas baskets and then give them to friends we see over the holidays.

I'm pretty much ready for Christmas. I still have to polish my silver. It is looking a little yellow and I haven't polished it in years. I should ask Kyla over to help do that too. She would love it. I taught her how to do dishes over Thanksgiving. I guess she doesn't do them at home.

Today I'm going to try to make a label on my embroidery machine for the quilt I will give Ryan for Christmas. I should be able to do this, but we only have Macs and the programs for the Bernina are all for PCs. It gets a bit tricky. I've made one in class before, but never alone. Ryan is coming home for the game, I don't know if he has to go back to work Friday night and then back here for hunting on Saturday and Sunday.

It was 84 here yesterday, a record high. Today it is in the 60s and should remain so now for awhile, no more summer heat, or so they say.

Okay, time to get busy. Love, Marilynn

Innovative concrete Polishing

Tradewinds Newspapers wrote and article about the concrete polishing that Bob has here in this week's paper. If we can figure out how to do the link, etc, we'll send you the link. It was quite a nice article.

The Drug Bust

Check it out. today's paper said they confiscated (sp) 3400 pot plants territory wide, 150 plants on STJ. No arrests!! What? We all just laughed. The DEA, FBI, Border patrol, 5 day long eradiction of the pot, so today's paper says. The helicopter flew over at least 10 passes. they say that if you are growing less than 5 plants, they can't detect it.

where are you guys?

No new blogs all weekend. Probably to cold to type up there in Ohio!! Are you guys really going to come to MI and go to Aunt Pauline's memorial if there is one?

The trip from Hell

Went to STT on Wed and bought a futon and a queen size bed frame. Of course we had all these other plans including a blood draw for me. That took 1.5 hours. On to cost U Less and Home Depot. that went ok., then lunch, good. Now, let's see about furniture for the lower apt. 3 stops . These arabs just pray on the poor of the islands. It's really pathetic. today we go to unpack and set up. Oh, missing 4 little legs and two cushions. they were to come in another box. The guy wanted us to pack it all back up in the box and return it to STT. He would give us a new box, which we would inspect, Duh!!! bob is still trying to talk him into sending the little pkg. on the ferry. Will find out tomorrow. Life is never easy here. Wish us luck!!
Had friends over for dinner last night who are staying in the house while we are inMI. They were here until 11 p.m. Our bedtime is about 8:30 or 9 at the latest, but we had fun and got all the gossip. This island is like hight school or Payton Place. Everyone knows what everyone else does. Gossip, gossip

Christmas Card From The Gardners

Got a Christmas card from the Gardners (Jack Jr & Julie) yesterday. The picture was taken at Jacob and Kathy's (between Jack and Julie) wedding on August 1st and Joshua, Maggie, and Luke are in the pix on the right. Maggie gave birth on Sept 4th to a new "little one" but I can't find the card right now to tell you the details!

Office party

Today it's going to be a high of 82 and a low of 52, tomorrow it's going to be a high of 52 and a low in the low 40s. do you believe that change? So, today, I washed the dog and did some work outside. Now I'm going to pick up a ham and smoked turkey. I'm boiling potatoes now to make potato salad for tomorrow's office Christmas party. We are having it at the office this year. The girls are anxious to get going. They all have plans. Tracy is going to Jamaica. We have our Healey Christmas party on Saturday at someone else's house (yeah) so maybe it will stay cool and I can wear a Christmas sweater. On Sunday we will go to the Jaguar game, but the tailgate before will be a big one. We are frying 3 turkeys and everyone will bring a dish. Tony bought his whole staff tickets and they are invited on Sunday, that's their Christmas party.

Our house is decorated on the inside. Rick still has to do the porch and lawn. Kyla and Ashley came over last Friday and we trimmed the tree and had pizza as Rick was in Tampa.

I'm off to run my errands. I'm still looking for poinsettias for the girls for tomorrow.

Marilynn

Productive Day

Well, productive day today. Rehab first thing, then off to a new listing to take pictures, measure rooms and actually show it to an investor buyer I have. Who knows, might be a quick sale. I had to pop a Nitro pill for the first time in about 5 years or so. It was so cold and windy today, I think the cold air got to me. Been fine since then. Off to lunch (Chinese) with an old friend from Coldwell Banker I haven't seen in 6 months or so. He's changing jobs (again) and I'm going to help him with his internet marketing. Then a listing appt at 4pm, wrote the paperwork, got the signatures. I'll go back later to take pix and measure rooms.

Home kinda late for dinner, now in the recliner watching Vanna White on Jeopardy and writing this post. Full day tomorrow in the office putting together these listing files. It's supposed to be 30 degrees and VERY windy (50-60 mph winds) big blizzard coming from out west heading our way.

Later,

dinner with friends

This was a fun dinner at a rental property. These people we've known since Bob was living in a tent. They are building just coming into Privateer. They are from NY. Great people. He took the phota and she is sitting far back on the right.

comments

Thanks guys. Very helpful on the camera information. no information on the drug bust as yet. Will keep you posted.
How do we put "labels" on the posts?

Another Day at the Rental

We done good today. Bob got the toilets in and today the fan in the bedroom (without directions) What a genius!! I think he was as surprised as anyone that it worked, light and all. We stopped on the road and talked to Ron about the colors of the wires and what went where. That was helpful.
We had a big drug bust here yesterday, hum v's and the army helicopter. He swooped about 10 times. I'm sure we will read about it in the paper tomorrow.
We want a new camera (pocket size) for Christmas. Anyone have any good suggestions?

Rainbow

Not much to say this morning. just working every day getting the other two units ready for the new renters. bob installed the new toilets successfully with no leaks. Kind of busy as we leave for MI soon and have to get our own house ready for the couple who are staying here watching it.
thought you would enjoy this photo.

Tree Trimming Saturday

Well we went to see a great adaptation of Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" last night with Porters and Elmores. We all piled in the "herbmobile" and went then had dinner at Ruby Tuesday afterward. The mini-musical was produced by a client of mine. It was a good time.

Today, we're getting out the Christmas decorations and right now Kathy is decorating the tree. It's so small (we have a small living room) that it makes me feel like some old folks in "the home".

Tonight we'll just chill out and watch a Netflix pix or two and tomorrow nite we'll head on down to the Columbus Zoo to see some animals and all the lights. It's 30 degrees here today, no snow yet.

I've included a short clip from the play last night,