Month: May 2024
-
A Modern Miracle or Two
Reading Time: < 1 minuteMy beloved mother is turning 90 this coming Sunday. It’s definitely cause for celebration in our family. And that is exactly what we’re going to do. My brother and his wife are hosting a birthday party for mom at their beautiful 6-acre property on the outskirts of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.… Read more
-
Swamp Peddlers
Reading Time: 5 minutesA couple of weeks ago our Rotonda West Homeowners Association held a presentation by the Charlotte County historian on the history of Rotonda. I’m always interested in history, especially when I am fairly new to an area. I’d read a book written by Rotonda resident Jack Alexander in 1995 called Rotonda: The… Read more
-
Shamalama Smothered Chicken at the Twisted Fork
Reading Time: < 1 minuteMy mom’s love language is food. Consequently, I love to eat. Mom loves me and it shows. I found a meal at a restaurant at the Twisted Fork in Florida that is the best meal I’ve ever eaten anywhere. And that’s saying a lot. I have a favorite restaurant, Buffet City,… Read more
-
Tulum, Mexico Policia Shakedown
Reading Time: 4 minutesTrip Advisor says Tulum, Mexico is one of the most Instagrammed (since when is THAT a verb?) spots in Mexico. There are stunning beaches, luxury accommodations and restaurants, incredible flora and fauna with ecological adventures, and ancient Mayan ruins. Supposedly, it has become the “Go To” place in Mexico over the past… Read more
-
Venice, Florida
Reading Time: < 1 minuteSometimes Friday creeps up awfully fast around here. It’s been a busy week, full of activities. Yesterday one of my cousins and his lovely wife arrived for their first ever visit to any of our homes. Today we’re off to explore Venice, Florida’s downtown. When we were looking for a house… Read more
-
My Space
Reading Time: 4 minutesHere in Florida one of the fun things we get to experience regularly is watch, from about 200 miles away, the launch of rockets from Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center. What we actually get to see is hit and miss, depending on the clouds and whether it’s a day or night launch, but… Read more
-
Pure Escapism
Reading Time: 2 minutesI stumbled on an interesting book on the New Books shelf at the library last week. The interesting metallic cover caught my eye, but the thickness of the book, with the edge of the pages stained black was what really caused me to pick it up. The book itself was marketing genius. … Read more
-
Florida to Wisconsin. The Hard Way.
Reading Time: 5 minutesI have a nickname (in the vein of Native American names like Sitting Bull, Wilma Mankiller, or Crazy Horse) in the Grathen family…. Maps Are My Life. Randy’s sister, Kristine, calls me this because I love road maps. I especially like them when we’re traveling by car, which, if you’re a regular… Read more
-
Hug Me Like You Mean It
Reading Time: < 1 minuteYears ago an 18 year-old niece came to live with us. We loved her dearly but she and her divorced parents were at odds and she’d had a few rough years finishing high school. Randy and I both come from a family of huggers and it’s standard operating procedure to greet… Read more