March 27, 2016

Easter Sunday 

All the kids but Charlie and Garrett went to church about 7 AM. Tommy worked there, the kids led worship for 3 services. Garrett stayed at Kim's house last night and babysat last night and this morning. Tom, my parents, and I went to the 11 o'clock service. 

When we got home I put together the Easter bags. I passed them out to the big kids but we made Garrett, Tommy, and Charlie find theirs. I started on the food. I made vegan Reubens and a pasta salad loaded with veggies. I even made mango sweet tea. We also had the carrot cake that I made yesterday. TJ and family came over. Mikki, Jared, and Randy stopped in too.

Tom and my dad got the hammock chair hung up. Later In the evening the boys played hockey and Grandma Fran, Charlie, and I watched HGTV. Then I helped Tommy with his math homework and went to bed. 

March 27, 2016

Sunday

I've gotten a few days behind again...

Friday evening Tom, my parents, and I went out to eat with Randy, Mikki, and Deb. We went to Boondocks first but there was an hour wait so we went to Kiki's Sandbar. We got a table right away but it was an hour before our food came. They must have been short staffed in the kitchen. 

Saturday  Tom, Charlie, and I went to the beach BBQ baptism at Bahia Honda. Tommy went with Kim to help with kids. It was a very nice relaxing morning. Afterwards,  my mom and I worked at reupholstering my office/teaching/kitchen chair with the same green fabric as the bench cushions. I made a carrot cake for Sunday's supper. I made vegan meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans for tonight's supper. Tom and my dad worked at hanging my wicker chair swing and the hammock chair swing below the house. The big kids were at church most of the day getting ready for all the Easter services. My dad and I went to Walgreens for some Easter candy and stopped at Winm Dixie and bought frozen apple pies and ice cream. I wanted to make pies but there wasn't enough time. 

Bobby came over for supper and all the other boys showed up too, with Aaron and Luke. Everyone ate and it was loud and pretty crazy.

March 24, 2016

Thursday

Ed and I went to Dick's shop and paid for the Denali.  Dick also had an Audi convertible. I told him I'd take that too but Tom said no. I just want my own car.  Mikki picked up Charlie and me and we went to Deb's house to swim and hang out. I needed that. It was over too soon. TJ had asked me to babysit and while Mikki was driving me home TJ called to say Bonnie offered to babysit. That was great because I had lots to do. 

I wanted to get the beds ready for my parents arrival, do laundry, and get the dishes done. I couldn't get the beds ready without 2 strong boys to help take the top bunk down, so I decided to do the dishes. I dumped a bowl of water down the sink and heard water under the sink. Arghhhhh!!!!! Something was broke. I called and texted Tom too many times but he had misplaced his phone so didn't get my messages. So I also could not do the dishes. I ended up working in my room. I went through a few more bins.

Tom finally came home and temporarily fixed the sink. You won't believe how he did it. I'll take a pic and put that up tomorrow. I'll give you a clue, -- He had and idea.

My parents arrived about 8:30 pm. We hung out. I did  the dishes. The big boys finally came home and Ben and Tommy helped me move the bed. I made the beds and then got the room ready, just in time for bed. Zzzzzzzzzz. 

March 23, 2016

Tuesday and Wednesday 

Tuesday

I dropped Tom off at work, then drove to the park to get his glasses. They were right where he left them. I took them back to him and then took Charlie to his fiddle lesson. Today he had a group lesson and I stayed to watch. His teacher is moving but is going to keep teaching the kids through Skype. She will give them three lessons and on the fourth week I will give the kids a group lesson. 

When Charlie and I went to leave the Tahoe wouldn't start. I sat there for a few minutes and then I saw Kim. She gave Charlie and I a ride home. I had something to eat and then it was time to leave for Sloppy's. All the boys (Tom included) seem to think they should get ready to leave at the time we should actually be leaving. Grrrr. 

I met a couple from Eden and I knew the guy's brother. That was cool. :0)

Wednesday 

I went walking and practiced fiddle with Charlie. We did school and even sat out on the porch and read. Ed mopped the floor throughout the house. Thanks Ed!!

The boys had a meeting and then practiced. Then they went to Sunset Pier. Tommy worked at church.  Tom worked late, picked up Charlie and me, and then we went to church. Kim wasn't there. She wasn't feeling well. 

On our way out of church we talked to Dick and Judy, and Dick sold us a 2002 GMC Denali. It's really nice and I was really excited. Tom acted like it was for me, but I'll get to that in a minute. On our way home from church we stopped at Bobby's. He said the oven/stove wasn't working, which also meant the electric (fridge) in the other apartment was messed up. 

Tom worked on that electrical panel for close to two hours. When he got something to work, something else didn't work. I was also scared he was going to get electricuted. He finally got the wall to work with their wifi and the air conditioner. That made the electric not work in Kurt's room but too bad. We needed to go home. 

I threw in a load of wash and when the boys got home from their gig I heard Tom telling them about the new truck, and that it's set up for towing, and from the way they talked I could tell it won't be for me. Ben  and Ed will use it. They are already talking about taking it to Nashville. And they will leave their garbage all over  just like they do in every other vehicle. And I'll be the one stuck at home without a vehicle, again. The Sprinter is still in the shop (since before Christmas), the Tahoe is broke down in the church parking lot (and it's TJ's), and Tom thinks the little black car has a broken power steering line. I don't like the little black car. I don't even have a bike. Do you feel sorry for me yet?

I don't even know if I should post this. There's an awful lot of whining. Maybe you all will forgive me. I still have a cold.

March 21, 2016

Monday 

Today was the first day of spring break. Spring break is different at our house. Tommy has no classes but I wanted to go over math problems that he's having a hard time with. He also has a self-paced online class that he's behind on, so I wanted him to do that. Normally we play at Sloppy's on Mondays, but we got bumped for Kenny Chesney, so we had today off. We are always happy to have days off.

To start the day off, I went walking. I walked out to No Name Key and back. It was neat walking on the bridge, but the 20 mph winds were a bit much, and it was a chilly 65 degrees. 

When the boys got up Ed amd Ben helped Tom and I go through more of the stuff that was still downstairs. We've been through it all now. I'm anxious for Tom to hang my wicker swing and my hammock chairs, even though I can't really decide the best place to put them. After that, I started to feel my cold getting worse,  a runny stuffy nose and just that feeling in my head that I'm sick. So my energy was all gone. I spent the afternoon on the couch. I wanted to go to Ave C and get my plants today but it will have to wait. I didn't even have the energy to quilt. 

After a while I did go with Tom to Salvation Army and we got rid of that pile from downstairs. The boys played hockey and I made Spicy Thai soup and baked sweet potatoes. Tom came back from hockey with an injury. He got hit in the face with a puck, just over his left eye. J.C. doctored him up, but then Tom showered and it kept bleeding. Ed and Ben had to doctor him after that. They all need to wear helmets and face shields. 

Around 10 PM Ed went to Winn Dixie and brought home pizzas and ice cream. Oh, I forgot. I taught Tommy how to make the salad while the other boys played hockey. I need to delegate more. :0)

March 20, 2016

Sunday

We went to church. The plumber came and finished the plumbing in our bathroom. For the first time we sat on our couches in our living room and watched the race. I quilted on the tractor quilt. I finished quilting on Angelica's quilt yesterday. Now all that is left is the binding. 

Tom and I went to church before the race ended. When we got home Tom watched hockey. I watched the movie "Inheritance" while quilting on the tractor quilt. We ate leftover lentil curry soup for supper. The boys were supposed to play hockey tonight, but it rained. They hope to play tomorrow. We are not playing at Sloppy's tomorrow because Kenny Chesney is playing instead of us. 

I think I am getting a cold. I'm going to bed. Kurt have me these pics for my blog. They are my dad and their giig in Inverness FL last weekend. 

(Oops! The pics are from Nervous Nellies.)

March 17, 2016

Thursday

The days are flying by again. I walked 4 miles yesterday and hoped to atleast stretch this morning but didn't.  And Tuesday we closed on our house. I've been running kids around. I watched TJ and Ang's kids three days in a row, today being the third. I've been taking Angelica's quilt with me and it's getting close to being done. Exciting!

But I have been staying up too late too many days in a row, just trying to get things done. I must get to bed earlier and I'd better finish this before I fall asleep and delete it.

P.s. I got a new used couch. :0)

March 14, 2016

Monday 

I walked 4 miles this morning, then did school with Charlie. At 3:15 the insurance company for our homeowner's called and I had to go to their office to sign papers and write them checks. It was bad timing because we were supposed to leave for our gig at 3:30, but I didn't have much of a choice, plus I figured the boys would all be late. I couldn't call Tom because his phone was messed up. So I just went. 

It didn't take too long, I was two blocks from TJ's house so I picked him up. Jake was still a little sick so he didn't go. Then we met everyone else at Walgreens and switched propel around. We took two vehicles. The Sprinter is still in the shop. They are still waiting on a part. 

We played our gig at Sloppy's. I got spicy salami foccacia from Duetto's and a peanut butter cup from Kilwin's. Charlie got a carmel apple. 

It was hot today. Feels almost like summer. 

We are closing on our house tomorrow. There is so much going on I'm ready to pull my hair out.

March 13, 2016

Sunday

The boys made it home at 8 am. We went to church and Kim came over afterwards. Ed and Ben went to KW to play with Nina's band. I went through all my plastic containers and through out 2 bags full. I still don't know where I'm going to keep the little I kept. Tom and I watched a little of the race till it was time to go to church. We had to leave earlier to get Tommy there to work. 

When we came home we were all very lazy. We ate some ice cream and Tom wafched hockey, but not very much, because when I went to do dishes I heard dripping from under the sink. When I opened the door a cockroach scurried away and I saw the puddle. :0(  So Tom worked on that, and then took the broken dishwasher out. 

I read to Charlie. We finished "The Home Ranch" and started "Mary Emma and Company."

March 12, 2016

Saturday

I went over to TJ's and picked up Callie and Violet. We went to my house for a little while, then met Kim at the park with her kids. It was pretty windy. We blew bubbles, played on the playground, and Reed ate sand. He's following in Stevie's footsteps. We went back home and I continued to unpack, throw out, and put away. Today most of my work was in the kitchen. 

The technician came and hooked up our internet. We had a week and a half with no internet. So now I won't have to cart Tommy around for his classes. I did have to move a bunch of bins that were in the way at the end of the bookshelves. Now they're in my room waiting for me to go through them. 

Kim and Bobby came over for supper. Angelica came over to pick up the girls and we hung out for a while. When I tried to run the dishwasher I smelled that electrical burning smell, and no water was coming into the dishwasher, so I turned it off. And of course it was packed with dirty dishes and I had the dishes from tonight's supper that weren't even in it, so I hand washed all the dishes in three shifts. I had to take breaks. Poor me. :0)

To make myself feel better I baked and apple pie while I washed all those dishes. Charlie and I had apple pie for a bedtime snack. 

There was a brush fire on No Name Key, which isn't too far from our house. People said they could see smoke from the 7 Mile Bridge but I couldn't see anything. 

March 11, 2016

Friday

Tommy woke up with a fever. He's looking for any excuse not to get his schoolwork done. Charlie's been the most neglected during all this moving. He's spent so much time on his iPad it makes me sick. I need to take it away for a while. 

I picked up Kim at 10 AM and we stopped at TJ's housee so I could water my plants. (We are not done moving). Then we went to the studio and I helped Kim beam her warp onto her loom. I went home and wasn't there long when Joe texted me asking for a ride to church to get an amp. I made him get groceries with me. I'm sneaky. 

On my way to pick him up, about a half mile from our house there was a man standing in the middle of the road with a shirt on but no pants. Oh my! I drove around him and after another 1/2 mile to Joe's house I called the police. I picked up Joe and we passed a police car heading that way. When I told the story to Ben later he said they had drivin on Watson too and that their had been an ambulance there. I was glad they found the guy and hopefully he will get the help he needs. 

Deb invited us over again, so Mikki picked up Charlie and I. We went back to Deb's house for more swimming. We ate pizza for supper and sat out on the screened-in porch. It was a beautiful evening. 

This bug was under TJ's house. Eeek! 

March 10, 2016

Thursday 

Tom and I left at 9 AM for 2 meetings in Key West, the first with an attorney who explained the land lease for our house, and the second with a woman about belonging to a home owner's association. Both meetings went well and we hurried home. Tom went to work and I picked up Tommy from church and we met the other kids (everyone but Kim and Garrett) at Deb's house for a pool party. We spent most of the afternoon there. 

After we went home TJ and Ang dropped the kids off and the went to their gig at Hogfish. I unpacked some more and made supper. Bob came over for supper. None of the grandkids fell asleep and it was close to midnight when TJ picked them up. 

March 9, 2016

Wednesday

I took Tommy to church again so he could do his schoolwork. I unpacked another box or two and then got ready to go to lunch. My friend Deb picked me up and we rode the boat to Little Palm Island. It's so pretty out there. Mikki was our waitress and she took excellent care of us. Thank you Deb and Mikki!!!!

Deb dropped me off at home afterwards, and I had a little time to move the laundry and then Mikki picked me up. We picked Deb up and went out again, this time to Sunset Pier to watch the boys. While we were there I met some super fans wearing their Doerfel sunglasses. Don't they look great?

Oh, I forgot to mention that while walking in KW to Sunset Pier we almost got run over by a bus that we thought was going straight. Then a guy on a bike ran into Deb. It's crazy down there right now. Look out!!

Here's our super fans pic and my new curtains came today. Aren't they pretty?

March 8, 2016

Tuesday

I walked to TJ's this morning to get the black car. I needed to take Tommy over to the church to use the internet for his classes. TJ's internet was disconnected today and ours won't be hooked up till Saturday. I came home and made breakfast, then went to TJ's to help pack. We took two trips of TJ's stuff to Ave C. I was then home for a few minutes and then had to take Charlie to church for his ride to swimming. I came home again and took a quick shower before Sloppy Joes. 

Ed, Ben, and Emma left earlier to go set up lights for another band at Sunset Pier. They met up with us at Sloppy's when we got there. There was a great crowd at Sloppy's. Friendly people. 

March 7, 2016

Monday

TJ picked me up about 8:30 this morning and we went to Ave C and scrubbed the kitchen cupboards inside and out. That reminds of a poem my dad used to tell us when we were little: Old Mother Hubbard, went to the cupboard, to get her poor daighter a dress, but when she got there, the cupboard was bare, and so was her daughter I guess. We thought it was funny. :0)

That took us about 3 hours. We stopped at the bank, then TJ bought us sandwiches, and he took me home. I emptied a few more bags of stuff and then made spaghtti. Dominic from church brought us over his marinara sauce and meatballs yesterday. It was lush. 

I did dishes and was ready to take a 15 minute rest when Tom said, "Let's go!" He wanted to leave early for Sloppy's. But everything was all confusing. I tried making a plan earlier, and nothing was worked out. Alex and Joe were helping TJ move his washer and dryer. Kurt went to Walgreens to get medicine for Ed. Tom and I finally left with Charlie and went to the boys apartment. By then Alex, Joe, and Tommy were there. TJ was there getting Jake and Callie ready to go with Tom and I. Kurt went over to Wilhelmina where Ed, Ben, and Emma were getting ready to leave in the GMC. So the GMC showed up while we were getting kids in their car seats in TJ's van that he bought yesterday. 

Soooo, Tom and I left in TJ's van with Tommy, Charlie, Jake, and Callie. We dropped Charlie off at swimming and then went to look at a 15 passenger van at a dealer. We are considering trading in the Sprinter. Then we went back to swimming and picked up Charlie. The band members went straight to Sloppy's in the GMC. We got there during the second song I think.

Randy, Mikki, and Deb were there and I sat with them. Emma helped me out a lot. She watched Callie and Tommy watched Jake. 

I think TJ is going to move tomorrow and we have Sloppy's again. 

March 6, 2016

Sunday

I had some time to relax this morning before church. After church Kim came over. I unpacked a few more boxes, then Ed, Garrett, and Tom helped me organize for a while downstairs. Hopefully tomorrow someone can make a run to Salvation Army. 

I went over three math lessons with Tommy while Charlie played with Ian and Ariel and some of the neighborhood kids. The band went to Schooner Wharf. Emma stayed here. She is on Spring Break and will be here this week. 

A little before 6 o'clock Tommy, Charlie, and I went to Randy and Mikki's and watched the race. She also fed us supper. Thanks again Mikki! I almost dozed off a few times during the race. I never do that. So as soon as the race was over we went home. Tommy finished his homework and I plan on being in bed early.

Tomorrow we have to finish cleaning Ave C so TJ can start moving in. Yesterday I filled three garbage cans with dead amd non-thriving plants. Everything I kept needs to be repotted. Hopefully this week we will be able to get the plants from the porch, my wicker swing, the hammock chair, the hammock,  and my piano. Tom will probably wait another week to get the hot tub. 

We have gigs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday this week. Saturday is on the mainland, all the way to Inverness, FL. I gave Charlie this past week off school but we are back at it tomorrow. I can't find his Kindle and we use it everyday for school. :0/ I'll have to borrow Garrett's. He never uses his. 

March 3, 2016

Thursday

Sometimes pictures say it all.

March 1, 2016

Tuesday 

Wow! What a nightmare. Moving. We are bad packers. We packed with no rhyme or reason. There was little time to pack before. Finally we ran out of boxes, bags, and containers. They loaded all the big stuff, including the fridge, and we made the trip over to the new house. 

Do you think guys like to move fridges? I don't like watching them. I always think someone is going to get hurt. After we unloaded everything they had to move TJ's fridge. I'm not looking forward to them moving the piano. I bet they aren't either. I think I'll take a walk then 

We had this notion in our head a that we could move us and TJ's family on the same day. Where did we come up with that? There was no way that was going to happen. Ave C needs to be cleaned and painted. We lived there for five years,

10+ people. I'll say it again, what a mess. I've been reminded once again about the importance of spring cleaning, every drawer, cupboard, nook, and cranny.  

I spent the afternoon/evening cleaning the fridge and putting the food back in it. I made my bed. Our good friends, Bonnie and Brianna, brought us supper and dessert. I cooked it in our new double oven and it was delicious. Thank you so much!! (There's was only one serving left).

Ed got the hockey game on his little projector and he and Tom watched. Tom fell asleep on the couch surrounded by all the books waiting to go back on the shelves. 

At the end of the day my feet hurt. My feet never hurt. I was so tired but I had a hard time falling asleep. There were so many  thoughts running through my head. I remember thinking, "Where's my sewing machine? I don't want it under the house unprotected from the weather." It was fine, though,  on the floor at the end of my bed.