getting there

Well, I've spent the better part of an hour looking at flights. This is a real problem getting to JAX at a decent hour. Looks like 10:30 at night and we travel all day. Has to be a better way. I'll look again tomorrow.

JAX News

Well, here I am. It's cold in Jax, into the high 30s at night and the 60s during the day. That is an improvement since we had that record 10 day cold snap when it was below 35 at night.

Ryan is still at Dover Bluff. The studio apt. he was looking at above the surf shop was rented, but he told me last night that another one may become available the middle of March. I guess there are 3 up there. He was in a great mood last night when I talked to him. He had gone golfing at Sea Island (very ritzy) for free and the weather was perfect. Another manager at Outback from down here had a connection. He was cooking himself a steak on the grill and had rustled up some veggies to go along. He normally doesn't eat, if he works, he eats there for reduced or free depending on his job that night.

Rick has been in Tampa the last two weekends, but will be home this weekend. We may go up to Dover Bluff. He is going fishing tomorrow with Bob Holmes, then on Saturday some friend wants to come over and work on his Healey with him. (overdrive) We have to be here for the AFC/NFC game on Sunday because we only have a few channels up in Dover and sports is not one of them. That alone should encourage Ryan to move out. So, after looking at this schedule, maybe we won't go up. Ryan's contacts are supposed to come in some time this week and I thought we could get them up there for him.

I have been busy with several projects. I finished a hand appliqued/quilted pillow top that I started before Kyla was born. Now I have the pillow! I started and finished a machine appliqued large ocean/fishy quilt that I won (the kit) and never did anything with. I am now working on a hand applique quilt that has 6 blocks, I finished 2 and am working on the 3rd. This will be a long term project. Tonight I am taking a sewing class where we are making a "big shirt" with five different batik materials. I haven't sewn clothes in many years. You should see the pattern, nothing like the ones of 20 years ago.

I'm meeting Delphia for lunch.

Yesterday I got another biopsy scrape on my back. I've been going every 6 months and they always seem to find something. Yesterday's appointment was supposed to be just a check on the large one she took off my back 6 months ago.

Rick's brother Mike is coming to Florida next Wednesday. He will stay mostly with Bob in Palm Coast, but will probably spend the first night here and maybe get some dental work done too.

How are the plans coming for you guys. I got Bert's agenda, sounds good. Betsy, did you decide on a flight or destination?

I volunteer in Kyla's class each Tuesday and this past one, we had a fire drill - it's been quite a while since I was in one of those. The children were unbelievable. No one talked and it was very orderly. They all took it as very serious business.

Betsy, glad to hear you are actually going to start next week. Good thing Bob's job is in Cruz Bay too since you only have one car. No scooter yet :)

Okay, that's all. love, Marilynn

It's been a while

Thought I better get on here and say "HI", it's been a while since I posted anything and I still don't really have any news to share. Biz has been real slow here for me and our office. I'm working with some new buyers and have a couple new listings, but nobody's writing any contracts, frustrating.

Kathy's off work today for some holiday and we slept in. I'm heading in to the office shortly. Rained all weekend, in the 40's here.

David and Lisa had a neighbor lose their barn and 21 horses to a fast fire yesterday, tragic. I've heard from Betsy, but haven't seen Marilynn on here for quite a while. What's going on in JAX?

It's a go

Took Bob and went to STT yesterday a.m. at the request of the principal to a mandatory meeting about the financial end of the grant. Looks like we are a go in 2-3 weeks. Exciting, but it will be work getting things set up. I have to keep track of all the data for the kids and teachers plus all the ordering of anything from computers to pencils, report it once a month to the local Bd. of Ed anad then report it all at the end to the FEDS. Looking forward to working for a change and getting paid for it!!
The TV crew was here again today to film as a progress report. Everything is coming up nicely. They had me talk a lot more this time. Felt like kind of a dork!! You'll see it in the fall on YouTube and we can all laugh together.
Had some friends who were staying in the cottage up for cocktails, then we had mahi late tonight and are watching "Hope for Haiti"

It

Jan. 18, 10 A concrete job

Yea, Bob landed his first concrete polishing job today. The woman came out with a buddy to the house to see our floor. they are nurses in Cruz Bay at a tiny clinic that has been in existance since the 50's. Fran, client, has been here for 29 years and Sally, from England, has been here for 40 years. Sally came over on a freighter with her 9 year old son. they were interesting and told extensive stories about how corrupt the gov. is. I guess we all know that, but continue to hope that when you have a problem or question, you will get some assistance-what a laugh!!
We have had 2 days of continual rain, albiet misting, but it has gone on for 2 days. We love to see the rain, but, of course, we have lots of weeding to do. My plants are in heaven. Today was beautiful, sunny and cool. Lettuce, beans, beets, tomatoes, peppers and spinach and white radish all coming up.

Test Blog this is the "Title"

Labels are known as "tags"

Test

This is a test. Herb, there is only a box and next to it are sample labels. Then underneath is "All Labels", which are yours
By the way, I didn't hear much in the way of David's children as to their states of mind. How do you think they are doing?

Richter and Hudson

Here's a picture of Ed Richter and Dave and Judy Hudson. Dave and Judy (Dave used to live on Negaunee near Dave Hayden) still live in Westland. Ed was in Detroit for a photo shoot and we all met at a great little mexican restaurant about an hour south of Ann Arbor (at Dundee). Then we went to Cabela's after to tour the store and take some pix.

new camera

Got a Fuji camera. Nathan got it for us and is shipping it on Monday. Looking forward to taking pics and sending some to you guys. Got Nathan a Racheal Ray cookbook for Christmas. He's called me 2 or 3 times to tell me what he cooked from the book and how good it was. Going to the gym all the time and has a cute, nice girlfriend. Seems very happy. I'm so glad. Evan is out looking for a job. May land one with the census takers, but has applied many other places including thru financial aid office at school (I've been on his ass to do this for a year)Maybe we are growing up?
As the April reunion of the Baldwin siblings comes closer, we are figuring out the most expedient route. Keep you posted. We may just fly into Jax.
How do I put a label on the post?

New Year

Just looking at the blog. Really haven't been here since Christmas. We are back home safe and sound, despite uproar in Detroit the day before we landed and security "breach" in New Jersey the day after we got to Detroit. Am checking flights. Looks like Charlotte is it, but the price is much more now. Have to do some looking and get this thing done. Marilynn, we decided to take your sugg. and drive to JAcksonville and then whatever time you want we can go to Dover Bluff.

Nathan owed us some money so he is getting us a camera with cable and shipping it soon. Looking forward to that. I can carry this one in my pocket and really start blogging. Herb, just love the story about the baby cow. The only cows we see here are at the sand and gravel guy's yard. The generally chew near the pile of sand and hump each other. They are huge and saggy, like my skin is getting. they can't get rid of them as they belonged to the guy's grandfather.
Ron was here for dinner. They poured the walls for the second story of the pool house today. He goes back to MI next Sun - no neighbors again.

Cow In The Kitchen

We were at David and Lisa's yesterday for a brief visit. They had a calf in the kitchen. She was born Friday and Mom would not claim her, she laid outside in the cold overnight and was near death. Kids brought her in and used a feeding tube down her throat and then within a day she is now starting to lift her head and will stand if they pick her up. She is all gray or silver all over, real pretty. She went back outside Saturday night to the barn, hopefully she'll make it 'cuz Saturday nite is down to zero.

Also a picture of the one remaining puppy, growing up fast.

Dinner with Akron Kids

Here's a couple pix of our China Buffet dinner with the Akron kids last Saturday. Pam and Mike came down to visit from Mich and we all went out, then David took the kids back home to Akron.

Lisa and Bubby weren't there.

Holiday Happenings

We had a nice holiday. Ryan was here, as well as Darin, Ashley and Kyla. Ryan is now in the process of moving. I think he may have something soon. It's really cold here. It has been and will be below 32 and into the 20s for 10 days in a row. It is just barely hitting the 50 degree mark in the daytime. We picked all the oranges and grapefruit on Saturday and Sunday that we hadn't picked earlier, so we have a garage full of the fruit. We gave some to every friend we know, plus at the office and Rick's patients. I don't like to keep it long. We've been having lots of juice.

The week between Christmas and New Years we went up to Dover Bluff for a few days. We laid a paver sidewalk, changed our mind in the middle about the pattern, but it still looks good and much better than what we had.

Rick is going to Tampa the next two weekends. One is a study club (maybe) and the other is FDA business. I'll have Kyla on the 18th for Martin Luther King Day, no school.

I made chili over the weekend and we've had it 3 nights in a row. I guess I'll have to cook today.

Saturday Morning Jan 2

Had a nice New Years Eve dinner at Kim and Mike's house along with 2 other couples. The eight of us played "Pasta, Pistols, and Poison" a murder mystery that was staged around the Italian dinner we had. Good fun with friends and home by 11pm!

New Year's Day over to Denny & Marilyn's house for her traditional Pork & Saurkraut dinner followed with Devilsfood Chocolate Cake.

The Akron kids finally got to come (since August) and so Kathy and I went over to David and Lisa's place on Friday after the pork meal at Marilyn's place.

Lisa and Bubby were napping, and we visited with the kids and David for a couple hours and then came home and brought Abby with us, she spent the night last night. Papa just finished making pancakes for Abby and Grandma and Papa had eggs.

Going out to show 4 homes to someone I've met via email but not in person yet. We'll be out for a couple hours noon-2pm today and then Pam and Mike from Redford are coming to spend the night with us. They come once in the winter, usually around the holidays and again in the summer to the cottage. Good friends since high school. We'll all go to the China Buffet in Mansfield tonight and we'll meet Stu and Sara there as well, so there'll be 13 of us. Then David will take the Akron kids back home from the restaurant and we'll bring Lisa, Bubby, and Shania back to their house. Then Pam and Mike back to our place for the night.

I'll try to remember to take some pix at the dinner table and post them here on the blog.

Marilynn, Betsy's found a pretty affordable flight into Charlotte, NC so Kathy and I will pick them up at the airport and then we'll spend the night near there and drive the rest of the way on Friday the 2nd. I think that flight goes back out the 6th or 7th, not sure.