Wednesday, April 30, 2008

AND WE'RE OFF...........

Yep, alot of you guessed it! We're planning some biking trips, hopefully with good friends, both here in the US this year and next summer in Europe. We'll be using Backroads. Our builder and his wife did this about 3 years ago and biked in France. They said it's an incredible experience. We're so pumped. Training is going well and is so much fun! More details later.
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I can't really blog much tonight. We've decided kinda spur-of-the-moment to make a quick trip to Atlanta tomorrow morning to see two of our grandsons' ballgames and we'll also get to see our friends, Bob and Jennifer. Can't wait. Miss Daisy is packed and ready to go too :-) You know how pets are...when they see suitcases, they start getting nervous. LOL

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

WELL, I NEVER....

Well, I never thought I'd do this....

it's kinda embarrassing....

but funny too! I just had to show you what I finally broke down and bought today. NO! These are not my hubby's underwear. Silly you! They're my new bike shorts. You know...the kind you wear under your regular shorts. The kind that has padding just where you need padding when you're riding for miles and miles. (wink, wink)

And the back view is even funnier! Okay...that's enough. You can stop laughing now! (Don't you worry...I WILL NOT post photos of me wearing these.)
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Tomorrow I'll tell you why we've been increasing our miles on the bikes. Isn't this exciting? Probably not for you, but it is for us. :-)

Monday, April 28, 2008

COME ALONG, PRETTY PLEASE

Believe it or not, we started tennis this morning at 7:30...and I'm not a morning person. But the good news is, I finished early and that gives me more time to do other things. I've done a few chores around the house and even have a turkey breast cooking in my slow cooker. So....let's go for a long bike ride and I'll show you around. But let's be good girls and boys first and go work out at the gym and then we can take our time and play. Don't worry, it's just 3.5 miles from my front door to the gym.

(photos are clickable)
See...wasn't that quick and look we get to park our bikes right here by the pool.
We have to climb a few stairs to get to the gym, but look at that view! The bay is just beyond the pool.

See...that was quick. Now we can have fun. Let's hop back on our bikes and take off.
I keep my camera in my zippered bag on the front of my bike and sometimes I just need to stop and take a photo. Other times, I just snap them as I ride. (Hey, it's okay...I'm v-e-r-y careful.)

Way in the distance... across the water, across the golf course, across the bay... is the village. We passed it on the way to the gym and we'll see it again on the way back.

Awwww...zooming in helps you see it so much better.

There's water and fountains and beauty everywhere.

What a gorgeous day. Perfect for being outside. The smell of Spring is in the air.

Let's stop and watch as a plane makes some "sky art" just for us.
Okay, now I want to show you a place I love to stop and visit.
It's a very long pier that leads out to the bay where you can catch a boat to take you over to the village. It's a fun way to travel. Our tourist love it. Come on...we can ride our bikes to the end.

Lots of marsh grass along the way. See the village and marina?

We're getting closer...watch for the dip coming up.

Look who's in the shallow water by the marsh grass.

For a small fee, the Miss Connie will take you to the village at night and when special events are going on at the village. It's kinda fun. During the day, no one's usually around. I love to come here when I'm out and riding by myself. It's a perfect place to sit on a bench and look out over the bay. It's so peaceful and I love to pray here.

Okay, now let's go out this entrance and head over to the beach side....

We'll ride through a tunnel under the road....pedestrians, bikers and golf carts use it.

It's gorgeous here on the beachside too.

This is the Beach Club we belong to. It's a wonderful place to bring the family when they visit. The food is really good too.

Let's head back to the bayside. We'll go back through the tunnel. Hang on tight...it's down hill! Yippee!

I'm thirsty, how 'bout you? Let's run in Publix and pick up something to drink and some of those yummy blackberries they have on sale...2 packs for $3.00. Don't worry...they'll fit just fine in my small backpack :-)

Awwww...a sip of something cool and refreshing (and low carb) sure is nice.!

Just a quick stop by the marina. Very quiet today. Oh, that's right...it's Monday.


Even Taylor is quiet today. It's okay Taylor. I was in a mood just yesterday. LOL


Don't you just love "bottlebrush" plants?! I sure do. They're everywhere.

Isn't this a pretty spot? If you look closely, you'll see our tennis center and a few of the courts. I spend alot of time here. Yep...I've sent many a ball into that water. LOL

Nope...we don't have time to stop today, but you can peek in this side entrance to see parts of the village. We'll take a visit to the village another day.
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What? You're getting tired? Really? Okay, let's head home.
Look...there's a new house being built right down the street from us. It's been fun watching it come together. It's awfully close to the street though!
There's our club's golf clubhouse.
We're getting close. Don't stop now.

We just have to cross this bridge and we're in our neighborhood.

Home sweet home!
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Come on in. Wow...doesn't that turkey smell delish?! There's nothing like coming home and smelling dinner almost ready. But hey, we deserve a snack. Let's rinse off those blackberries and add some grapefruit and sit back and blog for awhile. Okay?

Great job! I think we got in around 18 miles today. I'm proud of you for hanging with me. Wanna go again tomorrow?
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Thanks everyone for the prayers and concern for Bree's breathing problem and my eye problem. Bree feels better and my eye is just fine now. Thank you Lord.

Also, I'm so glad I didn't offend anyone with my comments yesterday. It looks like EVERYONE hates that darn word verification "thingy". Do you hear us Mr. Blogger?

Sunday, April 27, 2008

FORGIVE ME IN ADVANCE

I'm in a mood this afternoon, so watch out. Run now while you have a chance. LOL

It's so hard to get caught up on my blogging, especially when things slow me down. Here's just a few things that make me want to snap today.

That word verification "thingy" is driving me nuts, and I didn't have far to go! It seems to be getting harder and harder to get the darn thing right. I have to type it a gazillon times before it finally will work for me. Thanks to all of you who don't use that mean thing. Can someone tell me why it is necesssary?

Next...am I the only one who has trouble reading blogs that have music playing? When I first open one, it sounds so nice, but I have trouble staying focused on the words. And some blogs play the same song over and over and never update them. I'm sorry. I know it's probably just me. It doesn't keep me for visiting, of course, 'cause I love you all. Seriously.

And then....

Nope, I'm gonna stop right here and now and go ride my bike and calm down. I'm sure you all also have grips aggravations with blogging, even about my blog. Go ahead and vent yours too. It actually feels pretty good.

This might be the problem. Forgive me.....

Saturday, April 26, 2008

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE! (this is a BIG one!)
I adore you!
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Thanks for everyone's sweet comments and prayers.

The hospital did x-rays and blood work last night on Bree. They do believe it's a reaction to the paint fumes. She's home today, resting and taking it easy. They gave her a strong non-steroid anti-flammatory to take, but she's still having problems with her breathing.

As for me...my left eye was matted closed when I woke up this morning. Gross! I had to put a wet cloth over it for awhile to get it open. It looked terrible and of course I can't wear any makeup. Urgggg...I look soooooo cute! NOT! (The photos above are not from today. lol) My eye is better this afternoon, but still aggrevated. What a pain. Pun intended.

Friday, April 25, 2008

PRAYERS REQUESTED PLEASE

I had lots I wanted to post about tonight, but I just can't. I need your prayers please.
Bree has been have some breathing issues, last night and all day today. We're thinking it might be a reaction to the paint fumes. Anyway, we just got a call and she's heading to the ER to see what's going on. You know how it is in the ER...it could be hours before we know something. Please pray!

Also, I tore my contant lens for my left eye when I was taking it out tonight and a piece is still in my eye. I CAN NOT find the darn piece and it's driving me c.r.a.z.y. It's hard to keep my eye open, so no more computer time for me tonight.


Thursday, April 24, 2008

THURSDAY'S MIXED BAG

Pardon me while I brag (again). Our youngest daughter, Bree, is a neo-natal intensive care nurse. She loves to draw pictures for her babies and hangs them on their beds. The parents love it. Well, not too long ago, the hospital asked her to do murals in one of the rooms on her off days. And she got paid for it. It's something she loves to do. She had to co-ordinate when she could do it, when the room was empty and when maintenance could bring her a ladder. She finished it today and I think she did an incredible job. We're so proud of her. I know her work will put smiles on lots of faces for years to come.

WAY TO GO BREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


This is the first wall she did....I love those cute monkeys! And the elephant makes me smile.

But just look at the tiger....how cute!!!!!

But wait...I love the zebra.....

and the giraffe....

oh, and this sweet lion.....

and the squirrel hiding in the tree is darling too.

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Today I went crazy with my exercising. I rode my bike over to the gym on the bayside, did 30 minutes on the treadmill, did the weights and then rode my bike over to the village and met George and Miss Daisy for lunch. After lunch, I rode another 5 miles before going home for awhile. Then (yes there's more) I rode another 10 miles this afternoon with George. i'm guessing I rode about 20 miles total today. Why all the bike riding? I'll tell you....tomorrow...how's that for a cliffhanger?

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Here's what I'd love for breakfast on Mother's Day! Blueberry filled pancakes. Yummy! William Sonoma sells a special "filled pancake" pan, but I'm wondering if I could make them just using my small muffin pans. I think I could. Go here to see the pan and to get the recipe. Don't they look wonderful?!

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And last, but not least...guess whose birthday is tomorrow (Friday the 25th)? It's our sweet friend, Teresa at Living The Life.


HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TERESA!!!!!!!!!!