I WANTED to Pick Apples

Well, unlike the last two years I didn't get to go to the house in the mountains this year and I am NOT happy!!! I wanted to go to the apple orchard and pick apples again. I also missed being able to see the trees changing colors. Oh, well...it was not to be this year. I want to go Thanksgiving but that is not to be either because a certain person is "on call" that week. Maybe we can go for Christmas, but I doubt that too. Woe is me....I have to stay here in this terrible place way too long. I will be happy when my time in Florida is over and I can get back to living like a real person again.

New Beginnings!!!!

Ok, I started a new exercise regime on Monday. I am now going to exercise under the direction of an exercise physiologist at the hospital. He tells me what to do and how to do it and how long to do it. So far it hasn't been so bad, but those abdomen crunches with 90 pounds of resistance are a bit challenging. I have also been walking around the track at the park. Well, actually I have only done that once and almost made 2 miles yesterday, but the rain stopped me. So, let's see how long this last. I bet it will last longer than most things I try because I am having to pay for this and you all know how I am when it comes to departing with my precious dollars. If nothing else gets me in there the fact that I have had to pay will motivate me. Actually the idea of losing 25 pounds by April when I go back for another academy reunion is also a big motivating factor. But then as they say...Pride Goeth Before a Fall! We'll see...........

Happy Birthday to ME

Well, it is official...I am a year older as of this past Wednesday! My presents started the day before when I received a wonderful winter shirt in my favorite shade of blue plaids from daughter #1. It was actually supposed to be my Christmas present but arrived before the birthday present so I was told to reverse them. I plan to wear it this weekend because we are having a cold snap (it is going down to 65 degrees.......oooohhhhh!!!!!!!! Also on the day before I was surprised my my mother-in-law with 2 undergarments that we won't mention here but I was glad to add to my lingerie drawer!!! Also, some Ghiradelli dark chocolate from my sister-in-law. My actual birthday started with a sweet homemade card and a chocolate lollipop from Grayson which he had saved from his Halloween stash. Next came a very welcomed, much needed chiropractic appointment. (OK, not really a present but still enjoyed). Next came a nice present from neighbor Jean and then off to a birthday lunch with her. Company was good...food was lousy! Next came a birthday phone call from brother Adam and sister Elva.
And that was the end. Everything was great except my present from husband-dearest.....he made me fix dinner! argggggggggg There is something wrong with that or is it just me?
Oh, well at tleat the dinner was good! Later, gators!

A Fool and His Money

I always say a fool and his money are soon parted and today I am glad that is true because I made over $600.00 at my annual garage sale with more to come on Sunday! It is impossible to decribe some of the utterly weird stuff some people will spend their money on. But as I say...bring it on!!
One year I had a man who lived in Auntie's rental house buy a womans wig! The weird part of that is that he lived alone and was rather reclusive. One early morning his car was hit by a bus and he was killed. I will always wonder if he had that womans wig on at the time. Leaving that with you to ponder, I will say goodbye for now! Have a great and peaceful weekend!!

Hurricane! Where?

Well, as you might have seen on the weather news, FL had another brush with the "wrath of God" in the form of Hurricane Wilma. South FL got a pretty bad deal and is predicted to be out of electricity until around Thanksgiving, but Central FL was spared this time. We just had a little rain and light winds. By the afternoon it was clear and sunny and hot...as usual.
Halloween has come and gone and we are enjoying Grayson's haul!!! He was the cutest little Ninja out on the block. Of course our house was decorated with the life size skelton with fake snakes crawling through it's orafices and the expertly carved pumpkin, complete with a knife sticking in it's head, compliments of the Ninja!
Now we have Thanksgiving to look forward to. Haven't made any firm decisions as to where we will be for that holiday, but I suspect we will stay home. Only time will tell.
Later, gators!

On the Road Again

Well, as usual I have been traveling again. We just got back home tonight from a short vacation at our house in the Virginia mountains. It was a quick trip...only 5 1/2 days but great. I love going to that house no matter how short the time. It is such a dramatic difference from what we live every day here. No TV, no telemarketers, very few phone calls (just from the few people who know we are there) no pressure.....I tell you, it is heavenly. Of course we spent Tuesday getting to GA and spent one night there and then on to TN to drop Grayson off on Wednesday morning. We decided to get off the interstate and go the "blue highway" for several hours and we really enjoyed that. We stopped at a roadside flea market in Niota, TN. What a hoot!! This was a REAL HONEST TO GOODNESS FLEA MARKET. I had never seen a flea market on a Wednesday before. This one was complete with goats, rabbits and chickens for sale. I would have loved to have some of those chickens but living in the city there is no way I could bring a chicken home with me. One of these days when I live at the mountain house I will have chickens. I can't wait. For now I had to settle for a bag of candy corn and a bag of maple nut candy!!
While in VA, we enjoyed spending time with Stephen & Donna and Joyce & George. Stephen took us to a big apple orchard about 40 miles away where we were able to pick our own apples and pumpkins. We brought about 1/2 bushel of apples and 2 pumpkins home. The best part of picking your own was that you were allowed to sample as many varieties as you could hold. Donna and I tried at least 4 or 5.
Joyce made us a delicious dinner on Friday night and we really enjoyed spending time with them and laughing like nuts.
Our time in VA came to an end much too soon and now we are back in town and not looking forward to getting back to the grind.
We are waiting for Hurricane Wilma right now and not happy about the prospect of what it might bring. They are predicting that it will make landfall during the night around 2:00am and we will be getting the winds and rain until sometime around 2:00pm. The winds and rains are not so bad, but if the thing sponds tornadoes, we could be in trouble. That is the part that worries me.
Well, I guess I have bored you all with my ramblings so I will say goodnight for now. Please leave comments so I will know who is reading this stuff! Tra-la!!!!!!!!!!

In the Beginning

Because this is my first venture into the blog world I decided to call it "In the Beginning". I feel sure that I don't have an interesting enough life for anyone to want to read about my fun filled days but Mandy encouraged me to do this so here goes.
As I am sure everyone knows, Grayson is with us again this school year. My day starts with preparing his breakfast, running his bath water and preparing his lunch. Then after breakfast, it is off to school. He is going to Orlando Junior Academy, like his mother before him, his grandfather before her and his great-grandfather before him as well. Yes, he is a fourth generation Sheffield to attend the school. All that really proves is a lot of Sheffield money has gone and is going into that place!! I am volunteering in the office on Friday mornings just to network with administration. I worked in that office about 11 years ago and loved it. The office has changed tremendously in that time and the principal has changed two times. I really like the principal, Mr. Bill Colum, who is there now. Most teachers have changed as well. Only two teachers from 11 years ago are still there. Grayson has one of them as his first grade teacher. That would be Valmae Lowry......a beautiful person and excellent teacher.
Just got back from Atlanta last Sunday after attending the first Willoughby Family Reunion. What a hoot. Had a really good time and saw lots of cousins, etc. that I had not seen in a long time and some I had never seen, but connected with quite well. Hopefully we will not loose touch as time goes by.
Well, I think that is enough for now. So until next time, tra-la!