Fine Dining with the Hollars

We had a surprise invitation to share a gift card given to my cousin, Hunter Hollar.   The restaurant was the Local Chop and Grill House.  (Construction on the building began in 1911. The four-story brick building originally contained well over an acre of floor space.  Click here to read more:  Wetsel Seed Company)   

Even though the menu was upscale and fancy, we all managed to find something that we liked, including delicious desserts.

Hunter and I grew up together and our families shared many activities, especially with the Youth Fellowship at church.  Then, when Hunter was at U.Va. and I was at J.M.U. which was then mostly a girls college, he really liked me because I fixed him up with girls!  We've kept in touch through the years and I never cease to enjoy his company. He married Mary Margaret, whom I just love, and they raised two lovely redheaded girls.  Hunter became president of a bank in Maryland and recently retired here in Singers Glen.

We always have a barrel of laughs when we go out with Hunter and Mary Margaret!!!

p.s.  Hunter, take note -- you've really made it in the world -- you're on our blog!

Yard Swap Party

I saw this on Carolyn Arnette's Facebook status in early May, 2010:

Our "Ultimate Girfriend Yard Swap" will be Sunday, June 8th, at 1:00 p.m.   Remember, beyond being economical, eco-friendly, and an excuse to clean out your home, this Swap with your Girlfriends is far more fun than a yard sale with strangers!  And best of all - NO MONEY NEEDED! " Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" and a Reason to socialize too.

Bring 3-10 items.  We will also accept  "extra" items, just to make it interesting.  You may have an extra kitchen item, piece of jewelry, a book or two, CD's, DVD's, etc. that we cam make them into a set.  

You may drop off  your items any day between May 30th and June 5th. Snacks and beverages will be served.  

Beyond being economical, eco-friendly, and an excuse to clean out your home, this Swap with your Girlfriends is far more fun than a yard sale with strangers! 

That sounded like such a neat idea so I asked if I could come, too -- just brazenly invited myself!  I especially wanted to go because I wanted to see how Carolyn organized the event.  

During the week before the party, each person is asked to bring at least 10 items that are good but they don't use.  Carolyn organized everything for display in a room.  When people arrived, they first had a potluck meal.  Then they ran it sort of like a Chinese gift exchange.  People drew a number, went into the room, and chose an item.  The next person could take that item or go choose another one.

Since I had a funeral to attend, Carolyn graciously had me come by and make a list of things I'd like.  My high school friend, Phyllis Flick, was there and kept my list.   That evening I went in and Phyllis had kept about 5 of the things from the list.  The left-over items are donated to a charity so I got to choose 5 more items.

Watch out, I just may get energetic and try one of these Yard Swap Parties!

p.s.  Carolyn is the first cousin and best friend of Leslee from Alaska. 

Another p.s.  2018  I got a sturdy oak office straight chair.  It has been a delight to use in the garage for putting my boots on.

Sleepless in Singers Glen

Today was one of those strange days of retirement -- where you make it up as you go.  I woke up about 7 a.m. and could tell Ed was sleeping soundly so I quietly read in bed for over an hour.  

Finally got up and made it to one of our sweetest computer clients, Frances Campbell, at 10:00 a.m.  She wanted to have me check her security programs and a few other small things.  It seemed that no matter what I did, the computer froze and crashed.  After rebooting several times, I called my guru, Ed.  He had me reboot in Safe Mode.  After several calls, I convinced him to come over.  Well, the same things happened to him and we ended up working there several more hours.  FINALLY, we got things working smoothly.

By that time it was going on 3:00 p.m. and we hadn't had lunch -- we're still on our Cure for the Middle-aged Middle diet.  We left one of our cars on the west side of town and went to Ham's restaurant, where we had their baby back ribs and salad.  As of today we've both lost 7 pounds......man, I haven't had a piece of bread for 4 weeks!  

During lunch, it absolutely poured.  We stopped at the bank, did a few other errands, and got our other car.  We went to Finders Keepers, this great local discount store.  One thing I bought was some hard candy for the church to throw out from its float to advertise Vacation Bible School on Saturday.  The Singers Glen Parade is THE big social event of the year - the parade is only about 15 minutes long but we do enjoy it!  The Singers Glen lawn party starts Thursday night and will finish Saturday night.

Ed went on home and I stopped at the drug store for a minute.  I started home and realized he was probably already there so called to tell him I would just go on and run the candy down to the church.  I arrived at church and saw the very people I needed to give it to, thinking I wouldn't even have to get out of the car.  Wouldn't you know....the candy was in Ed's car!

I stopped at Thelma Hollar's, as she had told me to come get a start of a purple flower she has.  She ended up giving me several flowers I don't have and I had a nice visit with her.  She lost Leonard, her husband of 63 years, recently.  I've always loved her so and it's a pleasure to spend time with her, even during this difficult period of adjustment.

As soon as I got home, Faith and Jonathan, our new neighbors, called and said they'd be down shortly.  We'd asked them if we could hire them to trim our 3 forsythia bushes by the shop, which had gotten about 10 feet tall.  I thought they'd be here most any time so went out to dig some flower starts for Faith.  Naturally, the wet ground made the weeds just slide right out of the dirt so I'd just pull a weed here and a weed there......ended up staying out till almost dark, when Ed insisted I should come in.  Faith and Jonathan did a wonderful job - my, what young people working in a team can accomplish.

After a little time on the computer, I got in bed to read for just a bit.......Ed came into his recliner in the bedroom and we just kept reading and reading.  I finished my book (just started it last night --  "Big Girl" by Danielle Steele) and Ed only had 6 pages to finish his.  We didn't go to bed till 12:30 a.m.  

I'm itching to get back out to those weeds but here it is about 2:30 and I can't turn my mind off!  Bet I'll sleep tomorrow night........I'll be counting weeds instead of sheep!

Tomato Clause

I enjoyed growing some tomatoes in the past few years.  Our friend, Gayle Davis, had shared some Cherokee Purple tomatoes with us a few years ago that were simply delicious.   I've watched since then and had never been able to find the plants.  While I was still in Florida, Gayle emailed that she'd found some at the local farmers' market so I asked her to get me a couple.  She was only able to get one for me but I was happy.

Meanwhile, I'd decided to take a break from tomato growing this summer.  Faith and Jonathan have rented Mother's house at the top of the hill (a few hundred yards away from us).   They've plowed up part of the area where Grandmother May used to have her huge garden and are growing all sorts of veggies.  So, I gave the Cherokee Purple to Faith.

Faith was here yesterday and Ed asked her if she'd checked her lease because my brother was supposed to put a Tomato Clause in there.  Puzzled, she inquired,  "A what?"  and was met with,  "A tomato clause that says you have to give us every 5th tomato that you grow!"

The light dawned in her eyes and she laughed as she reassured Ed that she'd give us some tomatoes.

Shame on Ed.....he'd already cornered Gayle at church and somehow twisted her arm gotten her to promise him some tomatoes when hers come in. 

Catching Up in VA

The days seem to fly by here.  I feel like I'm making some progress on catching up with my weeds.   I finished spraying the thistles and poke weeds today -- although that's a never-ending process.

A few people asked about my birthday celebration on June 5th.  Since Ed and I are still on our "Cure for the Middle-aged Middle" diet, we decided to postpone the birthday meal.  I spent the day doing something that gave me great pleasure.  My cousin, Leonard Hollar (84) died on Thursday.  I called his son, Hunter, and offered anything at all to help.  We were pleased and honored that he felt close enough to request a casserole for Saturday, since family was coming in. 

We actually got up at 8:00 a.m. (early for us!) and went to Costco, Wal-Mart, and Redfront Supermarket.  We got lasagna, beans, rolls, Jamaican meat pies, fruit, cookies, tabbouleh, and breakfast burritos.   We delivered everything except the lasagna and beans to Hunter and Mary Margaret's house.  When they were cooked, we took them down.

Saturday evening we went to the visitation at the funeral home, Sunday morning to church, then to town for a bit (more on the Yard Sale Party later), to the funeral, the graveside service, and we were invited to the family dinner given at church afterward.  The funeral was very simple and touching.  Leonard's sons, Hunter and Barry, gave the best eulogies I've ever heard -- filled with humor, touching memories, and making important points about their dad's life.

Lunch with Leslee from Alaska

Leslee Orbaugh and I accidentally met through a mistaken email in November, 2007.  We first met in person in May of 2008.  This year I enjoyed two lunches with her!  We ate at Red Lobster one day and had a chance to talk one-on-one.  

On May 25th, we dined with Lois Horne (my dear friend since 1st grade who was a college roommate and went twice to the Iditarod dog sled races in Alaska.  She got to visit Leslee at her home in Anchorage this year!) and Phyllis Flick (my high school friend who happens to be Leslee's cousin).

 Leslee is just one of those special people.  We have a lot in common and she's very outgoing and wise -- one of those people with whom you can discuss life and its meaning.  It was great to see her, though our time together was too short.

Cure for Middle-Aged Middle

Ed ordered the book,  “The 6-Week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle: The Simple Plan to Flatten Your Belly Fast!”      http://www.eatprotein.com/books.htm

We've almost finished Week 1 and much to my surprise, we've both lost 5 pounds.  This diet took a lot of reading and shopping to get started -- it includes some unusual products.  The protein shakes are good and the one daily meal for Weeks 1 and 2 are very tasty.  

Tonight we had fish fillets baked in individually in foil with olive oil, diced zucchini, yellow squash, and green peppers sprinkled with cumin, chopped cilantro and basil.  Our side dish was fresh mushrooms sauteed in olive oil with garlic and thyme, followed by a half cup of melon.

If you're wondering why we haven't been calling you to get together, it's because this plan doesn't lend itself at this point to going out.

Oh, how I hope it works!!

Ed's Scan - May 2010

Ed had a scan last Friday and got the results on Saturday morning.  Compared to his scan in November, the tumors in his lungs have not changed.  Results were sent to his doctor in Florida and we are happy to report that nothing needs to be done.  Ed said it looks like I'm going to have to put up him for at least another 6 months -- I say,  "Gladly!"

Magic Jack = A-OK

I had written on February 15 about an almost-free phone called magicJack, which is a gismo Ed bought in Wal-mart. 

 
The magicJack is plugged into the computer and the wire from that goes into a regular phone.  We learned that wireless phones sometimes gave static so we now use a phone with a direct wire and it's working fine -- even in these hills in the country!   http://www.magicjack.com/5/index.asp 

The gismo and first year is about $40 and after that it's about $20 for a whole year -- including free long distance.  

Mary is now convinced that it works well.  It's such a deal and much easier to talk on than a cell phone.  So, it's an A+ for magicJack.

A Post about Posting

I am quickly discovering that weeding and spring cleaning are activities that do not lend themselves to blog posts.  I don't think you want to see a photo of all the weeds yet to yield to my hand of wrath nor do you want see all the various items I'm trying to purge, put away and gather to take to our Florida abode.

I suggest that you check back weekly or even less.   In the meantime, I really look forward to your emails, calls or visits so PLEASE keep in touch!

Home is Where the Heart Is

Yes, my heart is at home here in the magnificently beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.  The views from our house are more gorgeous than I remembered.  Ed doesn't understand about "roots".  

He grew up in Montreal, where he went to boarding school.  (He spoke only French until he was 8 years, when he started boarding school).  His family went to Miami for the winters and he ended up going to the University of Miami.  He moved to California in his early 20's and has lived in Oklahoma, Texas, and Florida.  Also, men don't usually keep in contact with friends and family like women do.

Several people in Florida last year commented that if something happened to Ed that I would be coming back to Florida, right?  Noooooo!  I already have my deposit paid and am on the waiting list for VMRC, a lovely retirement village nearby.  Even if the weather's bad, all the buildings are connected so I can go to the bank, the hairdresser, the pool, the gym, the library, the grille, or to visit someone without going outside.

Ed points out that my family isn't here (Anita's in Ohio, Phil's in Texas and Mother's in a nursing home near him).  He says I only see my local cousins once or twice a year and the same goes for my school friends. It's hard to put into words......you can leave the Valley, but the Valley never leaves you.

The view from our deck is ever-changing.

p.s.  I was adamant about this until we got our house in Florida.  Maybe I'll continue my winter pilgrimage after all.....I never get tired of the cranes, storks, ducks, egrets, alligators and turtles in the lake in our backyard.   It appears that I now have the best of both worlds!

Blanche was to Blame -- After All

Poor Pepper.... we thought she was the one to blame for the "calling card" on our bedspread.  This evening, we were in the bedroom and Blanche was on our bed.  Ed asked why she was scratching the blanket.  I said it looked like it felt good on her feet.  About that time, he yelled.....she was wetting the blanket.  I quickly picked her up to hold her over the bathroom sink but she had stopped.

We're pretty sure she doesn't yet understand that she needs to go out the pet door into the garage for the litter box.  She is only about 2 pounds so maybe pushing the little pet door seems difficult for her? 

Anyway, we apologized to Pepper and are still trying to give her extra attention.  Blanche will be out of the laundry room (cats' room) only when we're right with her.  Plus, we added another litter box inside the room.

Just when she was finding her way around our house in Florida, we took her in the car for 2 days, a motel for a night, then to yet another house.

Blanche will be 3 years old on July 4th but seems like a kitten.  She's lived her whole life in a cattery, which was a double garage that was tiled with cages on the sides and lots of climbing cat trees and many cats.  Besides that, she's been to cat shows -- won several ribbons, too.

She's never lived in a house, so everything is new and exciting to her. 


Poor Blanche....she's used to lots of kitties to play with all the time.  Now she only has one playmate who isn't quite friendly yet....

We're getting there little by little.

Pepper is Peeved

Pepper has been the one and only queen bee Cornish Rex kitty with us for several years.  She did well traveling and living in the RV with us.  But, it did seem at times like she was depressed -- sleeping away the days.

That's when we researched, found, and bought Blanche Devereau, a small female to play with Pepper.  After almost a week in Florida, they both stayed in Pepper's room (the laundry room) overnight without killing each other or bothering us.  We thought that was a step in the right direction.

The trip from Florida to Virginia was a long one.  The cats were in separate containers and meowed by the hour -- especially Pepper.  We don't know how she didn't end up with laryngitis.  They were fine in the motel sleeping with us, although they did wake Ed several times.

Here in Virginia, we set up several beds and sleeping cubicles in the laundry room.  The nights seemed to go OK.  We began to notice that we were seeing less and less of Pepper.  Well, this afternoon she made her statement -- yep, you guessed it -- a "calling card" right in the middle of our light colored summer bedspread.

That's our warning that we've got to make sure Pepper gets more attention.  To be continued......

Heading Home

Today we finish details....it's amazing how much time the refrigerator takes -- what to leave here, what to give to George, what to throw away and what to take.  Then George and Kay are taking us out to dinner.  

Tomorrow we are heading home.  I'm really looking forward to going to my home-home.  Even though Florida is now our legal residence, Virginia will always be my REAL home.  The Shenandoah Valley is just part of my being!

The cats seem to be at an impasse - kind of a mix of watching and ignoring each other.  So, Pepper will ride in the cage and Blanche in the carrier.

We have to return the Comcast box so will be off the internet in an hour or so.  See ya in VA!

Babysitting Blanche

As of yesterday it appeared that Pepper was going to tolerate Blanche.  When we let them into the house from the Florida room, Blanche explored like crazy.  Pepper followed her around -- babysitting her.  A few times Pepper approached Blanche in an aggressive manner, but the smart little thing flattened herself down into a humble position. 

This morning began with hilarious chases and hide-and-go-seek games.  We laughed and enjoyed the interaction.  Blanche initiated some of the chases.

We tried to practice periods of putting them in the travel cage together. At first, it looked hopeful....until Pepper started swatting Blanche.  So, we will be using both the carrier and the cage in order to provide separate quarters during travel time.

Ed's already been on the web and found motels that are pet friendly.  We plan to leave Saturday morning and we have a reservation for somewhere in South Carolina for Saturday night.

Now Pepper is sleeping on Ed's lap after a big, busy day of babysitting Blanche.

Our Kitchen Geyser

Saturday we had a big, exciting event here in our Florida house.  We were sitting in the living room, minding our own business and waiting for our weekend company to arrive.  I was on the phone with Billie Brown, our friend in Virginia.  

All of a sudden we heard a sort of bang and water gushing.  I asked Ed if he'd started the dishwasher but he hadn't.  I practically hung up on Billie.  We ran into the kitchen to discover that the hot water pipe under the sink had burst and there was a major geyser pumping water all over the place under the sink and it was quickly filling the kitchen floor.

Ed couldn't get it cut off underneath the sink so ran out to the main water valve.  Then we couldn't find his wrench to tighten the tough valve.  Meanwhile, I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off grabbing every towel I could find.  

It was a great blessing that we found a plumber who came within the hour.  But the biggest blessing was that we were at home when this happened!!!  What could have been a major disaster turned out to be another one of those bumps in the road to deal with.

Pepper and the Intruder

Bringing Blanche Devereaux home to be a playmate for Pepper has turned out to be quite a process.  We're  on Day 4 now and Ed's been pretty discouraged along the way.

About a half hour ago, we had the major breakthrough - Pepper was eating, Blanche started eating out of the same bowl and there was no hissing or swatting.  We're almost ready to let them stay in the Florida room without us supervising their every move.

Blanche has always been on tile in the cattery so she's finding every piece of carpet to be a marvelous scratching pad! 

Family Fun Times

Sean was wary of the cats at first but soon warmed up to them.  Blanche was very hyper for a while but soon showed what we hope are her true colors -- a sweet little lap cat.

 Grandfather Edmond gets a massage from Grandson, Sean!

 

Lorraine and Sean Angelil

Steve and Lorraine

Is Little Lorraine cute, or what??

Ed's Son & Family Visit

 

Ed's son, Steve, his wife, Lorraine and grandson, six-year-old Sean, came for the weekend.  The weather was perfect for sitting in the Florida room, which we did.

We went for pizza Saturday evening.  On Sunday morning, we met George and Kay at Golden Corral for brunch.  

On our way home from brunch, we stopped at the Savanna State Preserve educational center.  (A savanna is a flat grassland in tropical or subtropical regions.) 

This 5,000 acre preserve is on the east and north sides of our Savanna Club development.  That explains why we have so much wildlife here.

We hit a good time because there were only two other people there so Sean got the full attention of the forest ranger.  She was really age appropriate in her presentation and with answers to his questions.  

Secondly, we hit a good time because she had just fed a mouse to a small boa and we could see it moving down inside his body!

Would you like to touch the corn snake?  

Dad, you go first.

Sean was brave and touched it!

 The shininess of the skin gave the impression it would feel wet. 

Mom was surprised to discover it was smooth and silky.

This was probably a 

once-in-a-lifetime experience -- 
seeing a snake drink water!

Old Folks at Home
Ms. Mary, Sean, and Grandfather Edmond

Taste Treat was just that!

Lisa Lerz, this one's for you!

A Playmate for Pepper

We did it.....we brought home a playmate for Pepper yesterday!  

 

Her name is Blanche Devereaux (dev-er-roe, there are several spellings that show up), named after the flirty character on The Golden Girls TV show.

Ed and I started considering other names.  In his research, he discovered that "Blanche" means "white" in French.  Since Blanche is white (with some tortie coloring on her head and tail), we will keep her name.

Bob saying bye-bye to Blanche -- I wasn't quick enough with my camera to catch the big kiss her gave her.  He said he'll cry over this one because she's so friendly and sweet. 

Blanche arriving at her new home.

 Pepper checking her out.  One small hiss then friendly sniffing from both kitties.

Just curiosity...

Ta, da!  Presenting

 Pepper's new playmate, Blanche