Blog of Events & Happenings

The trip to Virginia for Thanksgiving was great.  We’re back and getting ready for Christmas.  We moved Apolonia (new 37′ Maxum) to Sailfish and started work on the rest of the engine maintenance and we decided to replace the upholstery in the cockpit and driving area.  We’re getting ready for some cruising on the new boat.  Paget, the runabout is on the market and we’re hopeful to sell her soon.  Showing her tomorrow!!!  Last week we had a great time with Rowdy and Chris at Village Green beer festival.   We enjoyed good food and beer and watched a couple work on the stack block game.  Fun!

The only negative so far this month is that our guest toilet developed a leak … water went under the tiles in the bathroom and office, requiring some major work to fix and then repair damage that was not initially visible.  Ouch.  Repairs almost complete now though so we’ll be ready for Lauren and family on the 26th, just after Christmas.  And if plans go the way we’ve laid it out Apolonia will be ready on the 26th for some family fun.

Jack and Ann Southard came for a few days prior to Christmas as they needed to see Ann’s brother Jimmy who had gone into the hospital here for a few days.  We are sorry about the reason for the visit but really enjoyed seeing them.  It had been too long.

They went home the weekend prior Christmas and Carey and I prepared for Lauren, Cynthia, Oliver, and Benji for their Christmas visit started the 26th.  We were ready with a host of activities but we really knew that the Oliver and Benji would just want to enjoy the pool, and they did all day, every day!  And Carey and I are getting ready to use our other names, Cammy and Papa.  We drove Lauren and family to the airport on the 28th and now we’re slowing down after all the activities.

A pretty good month!

Great holiday trip even though I did not take any pictures.  Carey, Maddy and I left home early Sunday, the 18th, and made a two day trip to Jack and Ann’s in Manassas, VA.  We stopped along the way at Dahlgren so I could drop off my computer for an update at BCI.  On Monday Patti came by and we ate a great Italian home cooked meal.  Tuesday was an easy day and included going to a great Greek restaurant in Manassas.  Wednesday Carey and I left for Annapolis, MD and a visit with Lauren, Cynthia, and the grandkids.  We also stopped along the way in Dahlgren to pick up the updated computer.  We had a fantastic visit with the family over Thanksgiving except for the 25 degree weather … where did you say Florida is?  Friday morning we drove back to Manassas to pick up Maddy and enjoyed some more visiting with Jack, Ann, and Patti.  Saturday morning off once again, this time  for Virginia Beach to stay with Karen, an old friend and college roommate of Carey’s.  Two nights there and we decided it was time to get back to warm weather so Monday we headed out for Florida.  Our normal two day transit was uneventful and we smiled as we laid our head’s down in our own bed on Tuesday, the 27th.  Good holiday trip!.

It really is pleasant.  Fall is nearly here and the temperature is in the low 80s.  Loving it.  We’re pretty much settled in the new house.  On the 25th of October we invited Rowdy and Chris Rowan to join us for a boat trip from Ft Pierce to Stuart Sailfish Marina in Manatee Pocket.  We were taking the boat down to the Stuart area at Sailfish Marina to get a quote for some winter work prior to setting out on a long boat trip after Christmas.  They joined us and we left Ft Pierce at 9AM for the 20 mile trip south to Sailfish.  Pleasant ride.  I got the quote and we cruised back, stopping at Nettles Island Marina Restaurant Slater’s Landing for lunch.  Great meal.  Back in our slip at Ft Pierce by late afternoon.  Good day.

 

On the 27th George Cajigal and Polly Parks came from Florida’s west coast for a two day visit.  We enjoyed the Port St Lucie area and each others company.  Great fun.

We’re now planning our fall and winter schedule.  We’ll get a few things done on the boat, travel to Annapolis for Thanksgiving to see the kids and grandkids and then hopefully head out for a good long boat ride.

The moves are complete.  Earlier we closed on the new home in Highland Glen, Ballantrae, Port St Lucie and today we closed on the sale of the Villa we purchased last year.  We are very fortunate.  Now back to one home, we’re settling in and deciding what to do about the boats.  It’s fun!  We just must get settled so we can start boating again.  We both miss it.  Take care all.

The saga continues.  We closed on a new single family home in the Highland Glenn area of Ballantrae 21 September 2018, less than a mile from the Villa we purchased a year ago.  Pictures of the home are in the last blog update.  Yesterday, we signed a contract to sell the Villa.  The inspection was today and went well.  We expect to close 8 October!  Great day as we’ll be moved into our new single family place on the 2nd.  All going well.  And to make it better, Gail Green, Jan’s cousin, came to Vero to visit Jan.  We got together with them on our boat in Fort Pierce and out touring the area on the 23rd.  Had a great time.  Would have loved to go out on the boat but the rainy weather precluded that option.  But we did get to show Gail the new home.

Where we are at today is a far cry from where we expected to be, but it’s all an adventure.  Moving into the new place next month and quickly selling the Villa we purchased a year ago.  We have Apolonia, the new one, in her slip at Fort Pierce, where we spend 3 to 4 days a week; Fort Pierce is a great little town with lots going for it.  Paget is on a lift at a marina in Ballantrae for easy evening cruises, although we are seriously considering selling her as two boats are hard to care for and also hard to use.

Carey is planning the decoration for the new home.  I’m watching Gunsmoke reruns, and doing a bit of work on the boats.  I just completed a lung rehab program and my quality of life jumped upward a few notches.  Loving it.  Carey is doing well but decided the second knee has to be replaced so that is scheduled in early January 2019.

Below you see us out at lunch with Jan and Gail.