beginning of summer

Well, looks like summer is arriving. It's very hot and sticky here. we have had 3 days of rain, which we really enjoy because it makes everything grow right up. You can almost watch the plants grow. Last month we planted another lime tree and a star fruit and transplanted a passion fruit given to us by our neighbor. Had to baby that one and couldn't actually put it in the ground until we had 2 days of rain. Donkeys visited the other night and kicked over lots of my empty potting things as they were looking for water. (see pic)
Seems like your new "digs" is coming along. Looks like sooo much work, but we know you will be happy there. How far away are you from David and Lisa?
What happened with the job at Nationwide?
Went to Water Island two weeks ago. It's such a beautiful place. A very small ferry runs there from STT every hour and when you arrive, the first thing you see is a two sided building with a roof, one wall of which contains mail boxes and the other wall is the "library". Some guys are building a house there and asked us to come over to look at the concrete. Had a really nice day. Felt like we were on vacation. It took us 2 and 1/2 hours to get there!!
Nathan is coming June 26-July 4 with his girlfriend. Our lower unit is empty until July 15, so we are putting them in there.
Having some visitors coming up this morning, so have to go.
Keep the pics coming
Marilynn, how was Savannah. bob and I went there and just loved it. The food is fantastic!!
luv,
Betsy

Been a Bad Boy

Just been super busy both with work and trying to get the new place ready to move into.. It's not done yet, but we're moving this weekend. Here's some pix. First the original before we bought it.

Didn't have any ceiling insulation so I bought 40 pieces of foam ... 4" thick by 27" by 12 feet long. Then we painted them all and then installed them against the ceiling between the rafters and held them in place with 1/4 round trim nailed to the rafters. Here's some pix;

Will take some recent pix now that the insulation is in and much of the painting is complete.

More later,

Herb

May news

Hi You Guys,

Bert and Kathy, I know you will be happy when you are settled in you new house and have begun the minimalistic life. When space is small you find out you really don't need all that crap you thought you did. I'm glad we had a chance to see the picture (before) and we're looking forward to seeing the pictures (after). It sounds like such a cool place. I loved your log cabin house in the woods and this seems like the same sort of country setting.

Ryan has a new job. He has been working as a bartender at 2 different restaurants on St. Simons Island for about 6 weeks now. The same guy owns both, they are both right down in the "village" near the water. One is a regular restaurant called the Iguana and the other is a bar, jam place with live music called the Rafters. It hasn't been too busy and he is only getting his tips plus $50 bucks a shift but they all say it will pick up after Memorial Day. He is looking for housing again in St. Simons as he figured it is costing him $400-$500 a month for gas. Sometimes he has double shifts, first at the Iguana and then the Rafters. He is still dating Tracy. They went up to S. Carolina this past weekend as her nephew was in some sort of drag race or something. I keep forgetting to ask him Tracy's last name. The last two girlfriends were both named Hayes. How odd, eh?

We are still working on the fence. The right hand side of the yard is about 2/3 done. Now it is good and hot here so it is much worse to work on it. On our anniversary Saturday, we hauled the riding mower over to Rick's office and cut, edged, and blew the yard, plus cleaned up the parking lot of leaves, weeded the beds. Ryan used to do this but he isn't coming home as often. We had a nice dinner that night at the Wine Cellar with our friend Bob and Pat.

Kyla is coming to spend a couple of nights with us Thursday, Friday and some of Saturday. We'll go up to Georgia and Ashley will pick her up on Saturday. We are going up to Savannah

with the Kuroskos and Weeks on Sunday and Monday.

The strep infection in Ashley's leg is slowing getting better. It sounds like it may drag on for awhile. The pain is much better, but it is still swollen and red. She doesn't have to go back to the surgeon for a month so I guess he feels it is getting better.

That's all the news for now. love Marilynn

new stuff

Well,had dinner and I see that no one has "blogged" in quite some time. We had a nice visit with Evan (May 4-11). A friend offered to take us sailing for the day for $25 pp, donation to the KATS (Kids and the Sea). She is an instructor. We took pics, but, of course, they are not on the laptop yet, so I'll send more later. Evan, this time, stopped to see some of his old buddies. His attitude was much better and I think he feels much better about himself. He made the Dean's list this last semester!!
Our renters in the lower unit moved out about 2 weeks ago to go to Hawaii to manage a dive shop. We had a call today and a "showing". Think she will take it. A teacher who has lived in Yellowstone for some time and never been to STJ. Looks good. I think she will be a good fit to the island. In the meantime, we are painting and staining.
Went to Water Island yesterday. these two guys are building a house there and called Bob about the concrete. They came over here about a month ago to see the floor. Of course, it was an all day event and we had lunch and took them back to Cruz Bay. They are not totally decided on the polishing process, but invited us to their little island. It's right next to STT. It's very beautiful, no crime and only about 200 people live there. The US used it for defense and built bunkers for citizens during WWII. War ended before they could complete the stances for the gun turrets. It was a very long day as it takes a lot to get there, but it was fun. I'll send some pics soon. Hopefully, someone else will blog soon.
We are planning to go to MI for about a week in June. Kathy and Herb - what's going on with the house?
luv,
b

ANNIVERSARY?

Happy Anniversary to you guys. It was 37 for us. Kathy said 36 for them. How many for you and Rick? I thought we were the last to get married, but I think it was we were the last to have children.

April Blog

Good Morning all,

Rick and I are in Destin, FL. He is in a meeting and then fishing this afternoon. The girls will meet the guys at the docks when they come in and the restaurant right there cooks your catch. At 10 I am going to a cooking demonstration and lunch here at the hotel. It's a 4 star restaurant so the lunch should be good. Bonnie and Tony Kurosko and Trisha and George Weeks are our guests to the meeting. We'll see if the join. It's the Academy of Dental Practice Administration. Tomorrow night is the dinner dance and then head for home (5 hours) on Saturday afternoon after the guys meeting.

I took Baxter to Dover Bluff on Tuesday so that he could stay with Ryan. I hope that all works out okay as it is so expensive to board him. He also has a skin rash that requires an antibiotic for 3 weeks, every 12 hours. Good luck with Ryan remembering that or even being there when it's due.

Ashley has a streep infection on her leg. It was getting worse because she had seen a nurse practitioner twice that was treating it as cellulitious. She finally had to go to a surgeon and fully expected to be cut, but he has gotten it under control. She sees him again on Tuesday.

Bert, it sounds like things are looking good for you. I'm anxious to see some of the pictures of the lodge after you have painted and moved your own stuff in. I think you guys will really enjoy living there. It looks so quiet and peaceful. Have you heard anything about the job at Nationawide? Kathy, I am sure is ready for the end of the year.

I got my hair cut. It's still about the same length, but it's layered and I have bangs. Much more work, as I can't just fall out of bed and go, but I like it much better. I may send a picture if I ever get these off the camera. Have to do that at home.

Okay, I'm moving on.

hey Bloggers

What's up. No blogging lately.

News of East End

Thought I would bring the laptop out here on the deck, write you guys and watch the few sail boats that are out. It's been VERY calm the last few days. Bob says you could water ski to Venezuela. Everyone else got deluged yesterday and all is well as long as your cistern is full. We didn't get a drop until sometime during the night, so I got up early and was out weeding at 6 a.m. Going into the rainy season now.
Sad news we got 2 days ago. 5 or so homes on the East End were broken into and vandalized. rumor has it that the same day, several homes in Coral Bay - above Skinny's were also vandalized. They plugged the drains and turned on the water. Turns out it was several white kids. They were picked up by the police and are headed for the St. Croix detention center. I'm sure they will be paying for the damage for a long time to come. They didn't even take anything, just trashed the homes.
Bob got a job with our friend Jim on STT, very small. He called Jim because the concrete was in such poor shape, they will only put micro topping and stain on top of the old stuff - only 400 sq.ft. A woman who came to interview me at school the day before we left for FL from the Source, came to interview Bob about the concrete polishing business. It's an online newspaper. She has been a reporter for some 20 years. She writes for Fedor's also. Very interesting. You really get the "news" from someone like that.
Evan is doing well. He is working about 40 hours a week. They have trained him to run the projection equipment in the theater - he's at that little tiny theater downtown Farmington. Seems to like it. doing well in school and riding his bike most mornings. He is coming down May 4-11. Looking forward to seeing him. bob has a few projects here that he needs help with.
Herb and Kathy, I quit my job after 6 weeks because there was little communication between myself and the principal. They would change the rules all the time and her secretary was verbally abusive. Everyone has said since to me that they probably wanted a West Indian in that position, but couldn't find one on such short notice who was qualified. Too bad because I really liked the kids and the teachers, but my "office" was shared with a senior citizen and the janitor. I could have worked around that even. In the end, I'm better off, but the money was good.
the people in the lower unit are moving out first week of May. told us they are going toa cheaper unit and told others they are going to Hawaii. they were pretty good renters.
Going to ladies East End Annual Potluck tonight. A woman who has had a house here for 30 years always hosts the party. she was a judge in NJ. She's 82 and a great person. Always fun. Sure I'll learn more about the breakins.
Nathn is fine. He has his last payment for the 3 month period as to the reduced mortgage this month. He will send his letter and income statement today. We will see what happens. He seems to have a rather serious relationship with a girl. We met her (Laura) at Christmas. She's very nice and Nathan helped to get her a job at the bank.
O.k. that's all for now.
love,
b

Update from Ohio

Wow, it's been like crazy since we got back. I'm so tired of work, but you gotta make hay while the sun shines. I've got files piled on my desk and haven't had time to enter new listings, been on showings and more listing appts. (and I've got a few In Contracts as well!)

Betsy, what's this about quitting your job? I thought you were starting to work when you got back from FL, you had to quit already?

Kathy didn't get the job at DrugMart, but they kept her application and there will be other jobs. I've got a personal interview at Nationwide Insurance tomorrow at 11am, regardless of what happens, it'll be interesting and it'll be fun to interview. It'd be nice to get it so I can get health insurance.

The purchase of the new home is going along great. We should close by the end of April and we are already in there and pulling up carpet and painting it inside to lighten it up. I've ordered the insulation and got a guy to help me install it in the ceiling -- We're pretty excited about it, it's beautiful out there (and quiet!)

Chuck and Dolores are great folks and will be super neighbors. That's all for now...

Catching up

O.k. let's follow up. Herb and Kathy, how did you find the place you are going to buy after the family cleaned out? Were there any good books? forgot to remind Marilynn to give you the lighthouse book I found here in STJ. What happened with nationwide? How did all those appts work out this week?
Had some friends over for dinner last night. We know the two couples, but they didn't know each other. It was fun. One couple has been here for 30 years and completely understood what I went through in my job and why I had to quit. Augie said, "they change the rules all the time". My only problem was that they didn't tell me the "rules" in the first place.
Bob has had 2 more calls on the concrete polishing business. Two gay guys who are building a house on Water Island came over on Tues and we had lunch. That could turn into something. Moving along.
Hope you guys are all well
Let's keep in touch