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Bon Voyage Barbie

Birthday Barbie was my sister’s genius idea to surprise me for my birthday.  She and my daughters and brother-in-law brought her to me on the Sunday before Memorial Day.

I wish I had a video of them marching into my house to present their creation.

They were so excited and apparently had a lot of fun putting Barbie into the cake and covering her with sprinkles.

LB had made last minute plans to take me on a cruise to celebrate my old age aka birthday.

So… since I would be away on the actual day, someone decided that we would celebrate my birthday early.

We enjoyed the Barbie dress for dessert at the Memorial Day Pool party.

It was 3 layers: white, strawberry, and lemon.  Very tasty.

I can’t remember who had the great idea that Barbie should come along on the cruise to help document the event.

But Barbie was all in… she even helped me pack…

When we left Wednesday morning for Miami, she called “shot gun”, but I outranked her.

We made it safely to the port in Miami and found our living quarters.  Here’s Barbie enjoying a seat in the living area of the cruise cabin.  Birthday Barbie became Bon Voyage Barbie.

And on the balcony just before we sailed…

Barbie enjoying a chocolate chip muffin for breakfast on the balcony

[Yes, that is a choc chip muffin she’s holding].

~

Barbie in Key West

Our first stop was Key West where we WALKED for miles (it seemed) to reach the

SOUTHERNMOST POINT

OF THE CONTINENTAL U.S.A.

It was SO hot in Key West that Barbie broke a sweat.

Before we made it back to the ship, we stopped at Margaritaville and let Barbie indulge…

 

Stop #2 was in Bimini Bahamas.

Barbie on the beach

 

 

Did I feel like an idiot carrying a Barbie doll around?

You bet.

But it was still a great time!

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

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It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Just three days after Thanksgiving, LB and I started our annual Christmas festivities.  This year the festivities began with date night at the Alhambra for dinner and the show

Miracle on 34th Street

As usual an evening at the Alhambra always begins with soup and salad.  LB has the soup and I have the salad.  Then for the entree I will typically have salmon and he will have the traditional holiday feast.

The stage was beautiful and the performance was great 

LB says he has never seen the movie Miracle on 34th Street, but I just can’t imagine having never seen such a classic.  I will make a point to have him watch both versions with me this Christmas season.

While the movie isn’t a musical, you can’t have an Alhambra production without music.  One of the songs that was incorporated into the production was

Pine Cones and Holly Berries

and it carried me right back to childhood.

LB had never heard the song.

He was amazed that I was singing along…

Pine cones and Holly Berries
Popcorn for you, apples for me
Red strip-ed candy, nut cracker handy
Kettle a-bubbling hot as can be.
snow clouds hang low and threatening
Maybe in won’t, praying it may
the brightest fireplace glows in every face
Waiting for Christmas day.

There’ll be walk-a-round songs and
talk-a-round songs
Songs of the inn and stable.
There’ll be morning time songs and
evening time songs
And grace at every table.
And Jingle bells will jingle all the way all day.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go;
There’s a tree in the Grand Hotel,
One in the park as well
The sturdy kind that doesn’t mind the snow.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
soon the bells will start
And the thing that will make them ring
is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.

I knew this song as a little girl from Mama and Daddy’s 1965 record

This morning I found it on YouTube and listened to the whole thing.  LB and I plan to visit a vintage record shop soon and this will be one that we’re looking for.

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

Welcome to my Friday Favorites featuring nothing to do but sit in the house propping my foot. LB takes time to bring me coffee and breakfast every day.  Lately I’ve been enjoying a piece of toast.  But not just any toast.  My

Favorite #ONE

is

Cheese Toast

Made in the toaster oven using KETO white bread [0 net carbs] and a slice of pepper jack cheese.  That’s the way I like it.

Can you believe that there is a website that provides instructions for how to make cheese toast?

So… that’s my first weekly favorite.  Cheese toast.  Because we are out of eggs. 😆

~

Although last week was a hot sunny week, this week in Florida the rain began again.  On Tuesday, it rained early in the day and never dried out enough for me to sit outside.  This made for a loooong day.  So I watched a new-found TV show.  My

Favorite #TWO

is

No Demo Reno

“Home renovation expert and social media influencer Jennifer Todryk combines clever design solutions and cost-saving ideas to create stunning home overhauls for clients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, all without major demolition.” [source]

Its the closest I’ve ever been to binge watching.

~

I haven’t done any shopping this week, but something I ordered a few weeks ago arrived yesterday.

Favorite #THREE

Comfy to go Velvet Storage Bench, Upholstered Tufted Storage Ottoman with Golden Legs

Mine is black.  I’m guessing I bought the last black one because only blue and green are shown on the website now.

~

For a change of pace, LB and I ordered dinner from a place just down the road we had never visited

Favorite #FOUR

Hokkaido Japanese Restaurant

Hibachi Dinner

It won’t replace my love for fajitas, but it was a nice change.

and speaking of fajitas…

Favorite #FIVE

National Fajita Day

There has been a lot of focus on food this week.  Hopefully my foot will heal quickly so I can get back on the treadmill!

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Happy Birthday Gina!

My sister Gina is four years younger than me.  I was a surprise to my Mama and Daddy, but Gina was planned.  I consider her to be their gift to me.

Her name is Georgina Grace.  She is one of my favorite people.Given that, I dedicated this post to her a few years ago.

~

At the beginning of the month, my brother-in-law, Stuart posted this in our family group text:

“Today is August 1st and it’s the first day of the birth month of my beautiful Gina! I plan on celebrating her everyday this month! I love you Gina!”

Stuart shared some of his August celebration in honor of Gina with our whole family.

He started with this then and now photo:

~

On August 2nd Stuart shared this fun photo with the caption:

“Today’s memory of Gina!  I love her so!”

~

The following week Stuart shared this tidbit:

In Greek mythology, Georgina is associated with the goddess of agriculture and fertility, Demeter.  Georgina was on of Demeter’s many epithets, and it was used to refer to her as the goddess of the earth.  In this context, Georgina is often associated with growth, abundance, and prosperity.

~

Then he shared this interesting information about Gina’s birthstone…

 

Later he would share more about the peridot/chrysolite from Revelation 21:19-20:

19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.

~

Stuart also shared the “how do I love thee” [sonnet 43] written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning…

It is obvious that he loves her dearly.

I do too.

Happy Birthday Gina!

🎂

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

This is one of those weeks in which Friday is not better than Monday, which is typical when you are on vacation and Friday is supposed to be the finale.  And that is how my week started.  Now my vacation has turned into disability.  I never thought I would see the day that my superior-work-ethic self would be on disability.  Nevertheless, here we are.

With the recent excitement, I’ve been blogging more often than usual.  This is mostly due to my position.  I’m sitting.  All the time.  But this hasn’t stopped me from having my weekly favorites.

I was shopping online Saturday morning.  Before my unfortunate foot fracture befell, I bought some new shoes.  These are my

Favorite # ONE

Dr. Scholl’s Delaney Espadrille Wedge Sandals

For now I can only wear one of them.

But that isn’t the only shopping I’ve done because something is profoundly wrong with me and if I am sitting still, all I do is shop.  Since Old Navy was having a 50% off pants and jeans sale, I bought a few.  I haven’t received them yet but I predict these to be my favorite…

Favorite # TWO

and I’m sure they will look nice with my new espadrille and broken foot boot combo.

~

Next is something I bought this week because I can’t stand up to take a shower.  It has proven to be the smartest purchase I’ve made this week.

Favorite # THREE

Everyone needs one of these!

~

I had a hankering for chicken wings this week.  Fortunately for LB, this was in the freezer…

Favorite # FOUR

They are especially good if you bake them twice as long as directed.

~

After my visitors left on Tuesday evening, I found this artwork that was left behind…

Favorite # FIVE

signed by…

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Summer 2023 Vacation… The End

On Tuesday I made my first visit ever to an orthopedic surgeon.  Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute is a busy place.  Luckily I have LB.  He has graduated from vacation planner to chauffeur, escort, and personal caretaker.  We met with Dr. Vosseller and he gave me some interesting information.  My very special injury is referred to as the Jones fracture.

“Jones fractures are caused when you put sudden force on the outside of your foot with your foot twisted away from your body”.  This is basically what happened to me as I mentioned in this post.  After Dr. Vosseller explained the Jones fracture, he gave me some news that blew my mind.

Face Wow Sticker

He said that I would need to stay off of my feet and do so “for at least 3 weeks until your next appointment” at which time we will evaluate the situation.

Later that day, I called my new supervisor and told him my story.  He said “oh wow” about 17 times during that call.  Then he referred me to an attendance specialist who cancelled the remainder of my vacation and referred me to Integrated Disability.

I have never felt more like a little old lady in all my life.

[sigh]

So here I sit.

Later that evening I received visitors and LB picked up pizza from Dominoes.

Like my attention-deficit, rabbit-chasing Mama, I’m going to veer to a  side note here because I’ve been judged before… DON’T judge me because I like Dominoes.  I am NOT a pizza connoisseur and I’m not going to go searching for the city’s best pizza.  Pizza isn’t something that I enjoy very often and it isn’t worth my time.

Back to the subject.  I enjoyed seeing my kids and grand-kids. They always bring enthusiasm for life with them.  Also, there is never a dull moment when they are around.  And although I’m confined to my chair, I enjoyed their visit.

One little visitor presented me with this well-wishing artwork:Lydia is so clever and creative.

I will do my best to get well soon.

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Summer 2023 Vacation Day 3

I skipped right over summer 2023 Vacation Day #2 because ALL I DID that day was go to the ER, then come home and sit with my iced foot elevated.  My Aunt Sharon couldn’t have said it better… BUMMER.

On Monday

I regrouped and regained mental clarity.

To start the day off right, I got on the phone with the Insurance company to verify that the ER recommended Orthopedic doctor was within network. Then I called that office to make an appointment.  All this took only about an hour of my day so I’m not mad.  I mean, what else do you do on your summer vacation???  Afterward, I took the advice from a high school friend on social media who said “get pampered” [thank you Kim Stafford] and had LB make my breakfast.  A fried egg over easy on avocado toast.  He did an excellent job  for a man who never uses the stove.

After this I went shopping online.  Old Navy has a 50% off jeans and pants.

So, I placed an order…

SHOPPING.

It’s what I do.

Then, just after noon, LB helped me into the pool.

I stayed in the pool for 5 hours.

My backyard is the closest thing to vacation without going on vacation.

Who is the Lucky one???

Later in the afternoon, Mama walked over and joined me in the pool and shared some of her stories.  She is a fantastic story-teller.  I’ve told her that she needs a blog but I’m happy to post her memories here in my Mary’s Musings page.  One day I’ll get her cooperation.  Either that or she needs to tell her stories on YouTube.

After I successfully burnt myself to a crisp floating in the pool, LB helped me out and propped me up at the kitchen counter where I made two salads for dinner.  It wasn’t like anything we would’ve ordered from Middle Grounds in Treasure Island, but it hit the spot.

~

And here is one last happy thought for Monday, vacation day 3…  0n FRIDAY… My last full day of walking upright without crutches, I got to hold this sweet little man.Y’all have GOT to be jealous!

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

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