1/31/16 - On 1/23, we spent most of the day at the condo.  In the evening we went to a comedy club where Jimmy JJ Walker was performing.  It was very good.
1/24, we went shopping and then in the evening we had tickets to the Fort Myers Symphony which included the Midtown Boys (Jersey Boys type of music).  It was very good.
1/25, we went to Naples and visited Tin City which is a tourist type of shops in three different buildings.  It was really interesting.  I tasted some different homemade ice creams and found my favorite fudge.
1/26 - We left early in the morning to get Pat back to the airport since she was returning back to Cleveland.  Aunt Esther and I then went back to the condo and started to clean up a little, ate lots of late overs, we both did some packing since I was leaving early and she would leave later in the afternoon.
1/27 - We got up at 4:15am since my flight was out at 6:30am. I was flying back to Phoenix.  Aunt Esther then left a 1:35pm that afternoon for Cleveland.
1/28 - Because of the long day before, I slowly unpacked, checked e-mails and didn't do much of anything else.
1/29 - I was able to visit with friends I met at the RV park two years ago.  Ruth and Joe are only here until 2/11 so we wanted to be sure and get together.  Ruth made a delicious salad and we sure had a nice visit.  They are the parents of Cheryl who I met in Fort Myers that sings at the restaurant.

1/31/16 - Not really sure how to do this but I need to edit my blog when I dated the date of 1/16 because I did not make a note and forgot what Aunt Esther and  I did that day.  Anyway, we left around 10:00am and headed for Sarasota.  We decided to do the route along the coast instead of the freeway but you never really could see the coast line.  Because of that decision we got to Sarasota a little later than we had planned since Cousin Esther Miller told us she would be off of work around lunchtime so we decided to go visit Aunt Inez and then take her to a sandwich shoppe and meet up with Esther.  Esther informed us that she was available earlier and she would pick up Aunt Inez and meet us at the sandwich shoppe.  We had a very nice visit.  We then went back to Esther's house since I was meeting up with Cousin Roman Beachy, his wife and Cousin Mary Grace.  We visited for a while and then Aunt Esther and I went to see Aunt Martha and Wilbur.  We then went back to Esther's house, had some snacks and played marbles for a while.  Not sure when we left Sarasota and got back to Fort Meyers.  We then went over our schedules regarding Pat arrival and learned that we had been mistaken about her coming in on Sunday morning and instead she was scheduled in on Tuesday instead.

Because of the schedule change, I am not sure when we actually went to check out the beach but my writing from Tuesday (1/19) on appears to be more accurate!!

1/30/16 - On 1/20,  I am not sure what we did that day.

1/21 - It was the nicest day of the week and we decided to go to the beach. We ate lunch at the condo and then headed for the beach.  The traffic was horrible since everyone was headed for the beach.  We finally got there and the beach was nice although I was still in long pants and a sweatshirt while Pat was in a swimming suit and Aunt Esther in a top and shorts. They were determined to get some color and they really did get it accomplished!!

1/22 - It was a cool and rainy day and Aunt Esther and Pat did try to get alittle sun on the lanai while I worked on another puzzle. In the evening we went to a restaurant in North Fort Meyers because I learned from friends that they had a daughter that sang at the restaurant from 6pm to 9pm.   Her parents and myself are both RVing and I have known them for about two years.  When we got to the restaurant, I asked to meet Cheryl before she goes on stage and then they decided to put us at a table right in the front.  I did meet Cheryl before she went on stage and she visited with us during their first break.  It was so great to meet her.  I have attached a picture:

                                            Aunt Esther, Pat, myself and Cheryl

1/30/16 - On 1/19 we went to pick up her friend Pat from Cleveland. We went back to the condo for lunch and then decided to drive about an hour to Ave Maria.  It is a small town with a large Catholic church.  Parts of the stores and residential areas are built around this church.  There is also an university close by.  There was a mass scheduled at 5:00pm so we decided to stay for mass.  It was a very interesting day.  I lit a candle for a friend of mine that is suffering with cancer.  I have attached a picture of the outside of the church and the other picture is of the alter.

                                                             Front entrance of the church

                                                  The alter of the church
                               

1/28/16 - On 1/13, I left for the airport for an early flight to Fort Myers, Florida.  It was a good travel day and Aunt Esther picked me up and we went back to the condo that she has rented for the month.  She made some dinner and we just took it easy the rest of the evening.
1/14 - We did some grocery shopping and since it was a little cool for me, we just relaxed.
1/15 - We had been told that weather conditions for today were not good to spend time outside.  We ended up with severe thunderstorms, a small tornado not far from where we were and lots and lots of rain and wind.  So was a day to spend in the condo. Aunt Esther had gotten a 550 piece puzzle that glows in the dark so I started to put it together.  It was a very interesting puzzle and really the outline of the animals and the moon did glow in the dark.
1/16 - a much better day so we took a drive over to Fort Myers Beach to find the best beach to spend some time later.  We did find a spot to park and walk a little.  I wore my coat so was able to handle the wind and the temperature.
1/17 - We had another thunderstorm and rain so worked on the puzzle and started to make some plans for the rest of the stay since Aunt Esther's friend Pat was also coming in on Tuesday.
1/18 - Weather was good and got to spend some time on the lanai and read my book.

1/12/16 - The  past week has just been very day living.  On 1/8 -  I did go to a Blackwood Brothers concert at church.  It was very good.

Tomorrow, I will be leaving for Fort Meyers, Florida to spend 2 weeks with my Aunt Esther so will blog when I return.

1/5/16 - On 12/27, we went to church with Ron and Teresa.  It was a neat service and Teresa was asked to help play the piano and Ron was an usher.  We did not spent too much time after the service, since Lauren and her friend Lydia had to get back to Dallas and we wanted to have lunch as a family.  Teresa had put a roast beef in the crock pot.  It was delicious.  We had a lazy afternoon and evening which was great.

On 12/28 - Teresa has a friend that is very active in art fabric which includes some quilting and we drove to Fort Smith to visit her studio.  I could not believe the type of art that could be done using a sewing machine, ironing and dyeing of material.  It was so interesting.  Teresa has learned to do alot of that herself and it is just amazing the outcome of that type of art.  Was quite fascinating.

On 12/29 - Robyn, Teresa and Erin went shopping and Aunt Ada and I stayed at home since it was rather cold and we did not really need anything.

On 12/30 - we left around 11:00am for the airport in Tulsa, Oklahoma to head back to Phoenix.  We had a good flight to Houston, Texas and since we had a long lay over, we had some dinner.  Flight was good to Phoenix and I got home at 12:45am and Robyn and Aunt Ada got home a little after 1:00am.  It was a great two weeks and I saw a lot of territory.

12/31 - I did some unpacking, went to the store to buy pork ribs and sauerkraut since we were going out to Aunt Ada's for lunch.  I put all the ingredients in the crock pot.  Since I had friends from San Diego in town for the Fiesta Bowl, I caught up with them for dinner.  It was great to see them.

1/1 - Sue (cousin/friend from Indiana) was staying here with me and she turned the crock pot on very early in the morning.  Around 11:30am we went to Aunt Ada's house.  There was six of us for lunch.  It was really nice and since Robyn had to work that night and Sue was house sitting a dog, we had a early evening.

1/2 - Went over to where Sue was house sitting and did two loads of laundry and then did nothing the rest of the day.

1/3 - I stayed home and rested most of the day since I had been fighting a cold and I was just tired!!

Yesterday, Sue and I went to see the movie "Joy" and later I made spagetti  sauce so we had something to eat the rest of the week!!  Finally, I am caught up with blogging.  I have no special plans for today.  Back to every day living!!

1/3/16 - On 12/21, Teresa, Aunt Ada and I made two batches of cookies.  We made the peanut butter cookies with a chocolate kiss on top and then buttermilk cookies.  It was a quiet day and we actually only baked the peanut butter cookies since the buttermilk dough needed to be kept in the refrigerator overnight.

On 12/22, we made the buttermilk cookies in the morning, drove to Fort Smith to pick up Cousin Robyn from the airport and stopped off for a great lunch at Cheddars.

On 12/23, we got ready for a office party luncheon.  Ron's office staff and partner were all there for a great luncheon.  The partner's wife also helped Teresa with the food.  It was nice meeting some of his staff.  There are two physicians and a NP in his clinic.  It is a family practice clinic.  Of course, with my experience in the medical field, I find it always very interesting to hear about his day.  Ron has been practicing in this clinical setting for quite a few years.  In the late afternoon, Lauren, Erin and a friend of Lauren's drove in from Dallas.

Christmas Day - we got up in the morning, Ron read the Christmas story and then we opened gifts.  Since there was a late breakfast, we had a 3:00pm lunch.  A tradition in their house is not to have the turkey or ham since that all happened over Thanksgiving.  I watched Teresa and the girls make beef enchiladas.  It was very interesting and I have decided that it is something that I can make myself.  It was a wonderful lunch/dinner.

On 12/26, plans had been for a shopping day but it started raining and sometimes pouring and the shopping center is outside so that was cancelled.  We did have breakfast at Cracker Barrel with a Mom and two daughters that were close friends.  It was nice meeting them.  In between all of these activities, we did play alot of family games which was a lot of fun.

1/03/16 - On 12/20, we went to Lauren's church, then out for a brunch and headed for Grapevine, Texas to take in a walk through a Christmas ice craving display at the Convention Center.  It was absolutely unbelievable with all of the themes that they used.  They had a Santa toy workshop, various Christmas themes and at the very end they had the nativity scene and that one they left it natural color so was white and it was beautiful.  They included life size animals as well.  I have attached a picture of me walking through an ice tunnel in Santa's workshop:

                                                        The parka they gave us
We then headed back to Alma, Arkansas.  We stopped at an Arby's for a quick sandwich and then Ron introduced Aunt Ada and I to Braum's ice cream.  It was so delicious.  I forgot what time we got home but was late.

1/2/2016 - On 12/19/15 we left for Dallas around 7:30am.  It was about a 4 1/2 drive.  We got to their daughter Lauren's apartment and then decided to go for lunch and ate at a little french cafe called Le Madeleine.  They had the absolute best tomato soup.  We then drove to the Dallas Arboretum and that was huge.  They had a display of the 12 days of Christmas with music all over the Arboretum.  It was incredible.  I have attached a picture showing one of the displays in the background:

                                             Lauren, Aunt Ada and Erin (all Schlabachs)

After dinner we then drove to a city park and saw a lot of little trees all lite up.  It was absolutely beautiful.  It is set up like a river walk and the trees were along the water.  I have attached a picture:

                                            Reflections in the water.

1/1/16 - I need to start blogging and catch up with the last two weeks.
On 12/16/15, I met up with Robyn and Aunt Ada and we headed for the airport at 6:00am for a 8:00am flight to Houston, Texas.  Aunt Ada and I had a good flight and when we got to Houston, an airline attendant decided it was way too far for us to walk to the next gate but the cart at the gate could only take one of us.  They insisted that another cart would be here soon and to just wait.  But since we have been sitting for a while, we decided we could walk.  It was a little bit of a hike, but we did fine.  We then flew to Tulsa, Oklahoma and there were met by Teresa (Aunt Ada's daughter-in-law).  She was so sweet and met us in the lobby to help with our luggage.  She also gave both of us a wonderful warm neck scarf for the time we were scheduled in Arkansas. It was very nice and I was very thankful for it.  After getting our luggage, we headed for Teresa and Ron's house in Alma, Arkansas.  We had a two hour drive but was very interesting since it had been territory that I had not seen before.  We arrived and got settled in.  We then met Ron (Aunt Ada's son) at a local Mexican restaurant and it really  had good food.
On 12/17/15 - Teresa had to work all day since she had an event at the Performing Art Center so Aunt Ada and I had a little down time.  Ron came home, picked us up and we went to the Center early since he works in the box office but we did get to do some people watching.  Teresa did have a minute to give us a tour of the Center and we got to go back stage as well.  It was very interesting.  The performer for the night was David Phelps. He had the support of a band and back up singers.  It was a great Christmas concert and he was great.
On 12/18/15 - Teresa had to work for just a few hours and Aunt Ada and I took it easy.  In the evening we went to the arena where there was a high school basketball game.  Ron volunteers as the physician on duty in case of an injury. We caught up with Ron and got a tour of the arena.  It was interesting since it is huge with all kinds of activities behind the scenes.  During half time, there was a dance performance and that was interesting as well.  We did not stay for all of the game since we had plans to leave early for Dallas.