Congratulations

The EJK FAMILY BLOG has been an interesting website to click into more than once a day.  This morning I note that it was started in January, 2008.  This means that a FIVE YEARS ANNIVERSARY is at hand.

CONGRATULATIONS--ANN !!! Your faithful monitoring is much appreciated!  On behalf of the entire family, please accept our gratitude.

C & K in Florida

This was taken this evening (Monday) from the balcony of our condo in Marco Island, Florida.  We could not resist adding this trivia question:  Are we facing the camera or the sunset?
C & K

Birthday Celebration

Several of Mark's family, and the Bailes, came tonight to celebrate Papa's 83rd birthday.  Mike Bailes came late after work.  

 

All the grandchildren that were present:

The candles were the kind that wouldn't go out.  Grandma CLAIMS that she didn't know they were that kind when she bought them.

THE REST OF THE STORY

MOST of our time at Indian Rocks Beach has been wonderful. It has been very sunny, the surf has been beautiful, our condo is beautiful with a balcony facing the gulf and another balcony facing the road, the pool area is lovely. We have taken a long walk most days.

 BUT good is always mixed with a little bad and now I'm going to tell you "the rest of the story". The directions for access to the condo were sent to me via email about a week before we left home. The elevator key was locked in a box similar to a mail box in the parking lot under the building. We had the combination to open the padlock in our hands. If anyone was watching they surely thought we were a couple hillbillys. With his "new eyes", Jerry can't see to read so he asked me to do it. It was a little too high for me and I got frustrated very soon. So he got his little reading glasses and eventually got the numbers lined up and opened it. We took the "key" which is a credit-card-type electronic key that allowed access to the elevator. We got to level three, got off the elevator into our personal entry to the condo and there was another lockbox with the door key in it with the same numbers to line up to get in. Rerun of the downstairs fiasco.

 Another problem was the toilet - we're used to a "high" toilet. So we bought one at Walgreens, saw another at Walmart for half the price so bought that and took the other one back. One evening I did laundry while we were watching TV. We heard a bang followed by a "grinding" sound. I ran to the laundry room and turned the dryer off. The items were mostly dry so I emptied the dryer. Jerry turned it back on, it made the same loud noise so we turned it off and emailed the owners who sent someone out to fix it a few days later. The ball-bearings and the belt were broke. In the meantime, we found a laundromat with interesting people.

 We have done a lot of "eating-in" for weight-control purposes and it is definitely a money-saver. I noticed that the dishwasher wasn't getting the dishes very clean. I had purchased cheap detergent at the dollar store, but on next trip to Publix bought some good cascade which didn't do any better. Then one night when I emptied it, the dishes were just plain dirty and dry!! We ran the cycle again and watched it closely and could hear no water running or anything. So we turned it off and again sent an email that the dishwasher wasn't working. Same repairman came back the next day - and kinda laughed at us. He fixed it very quickly - and as he left the kitchen he put his hand on the refrigerator and said "now I'll put you on my list to come by tomorrow morning to fix this for you" - smiled and walked out the door. As of now, he has not had to return.

 BUT - and I really hate to admit this one! Yesterday I needed to go to Walgreens and renew my prescription and Publix for food. Our parking lot is very difficult as there are posts supporting the building everywhere! I was very slowly backing out of our spot when I very gently hit a post. Nothing major but enough to leave a scrape and a small crack in the rear light. We never know what tomorrow will bring. The pictures shown are our breakfast this morning as we are cleaning out the fridge. If you ever need to microwave bacon and don't have any paper towels, I recommend coffee filters and toilet paper!

FEW MORE AND I'LL LEAVE YOU ALONE . . .

I'm beginning to understand our camera, but still have much to learn. Enjoyed church in Sarasota this morning and got home about 3 pm. We walked about a mile down the street for an early dinner, watched the sunset as we walked back along the beach, and I am now playing with these pictures. Jerry is watching the football game while sleeping :)!! Hope all of you had a blessed Sunday.

MORE PRACTICE

One more picture - just practicing. Question for some computer experts: I get the picture to upload, obviously, but on the page where I'm typing right now, the picture itself does not show up, but a "script" shows. Anybody know how I can fix it so the actual picture shows on the draft.

UNBELIEVABLE!

I've been trying for days to get some pictures on here. My camera of many years died and we bought a new one. The first pictures is a view of our kitchen and the second one is a view of the pool taken from our 4th floor deck. We plan to go to Sarasota tomorrow - about an hours drive. Hope to stop at the outlet mall on the way home.

Congratulations, Preston!

Preston graduated from Franklin University in Ohio last month with a bachelor degree in science for Business Administration and Management.  His plans are uncertain, although he is applying for jobs in Sioux Falls, SD and waiting to see what opens up and works out.  Currently he is working for our store as a salesman and is becoming quite proficient in "cold calling" in person to businesses in Streator.  He also works in the store on Saturdays and fills in when our other two employees need a substitute.  ----Carol

WHOSE BIRTHDAY?
We came home from church tonight to find a message on the answering machine.  The message was a singing of "Happy Birthday to you"   followed by "happy birthday, Uncle Lynn."   No identification, but now after reading Carol's comment, it appears some dear niece or nephew confused Lynn's and Jerry's birthdays.  Try again on January 29!     And, Jerry, I hope you've had a good birthday--basking in the sun and having Ada wait on you all day.  

MILESTONE DAY

The weather has been beautiful since we arrived in Florida with temps in the low 80's every day. We've been walking, reading, sleeping, shopping (lots of malls around here), and just enjoying the life of leisure. Last night we went to a Gospel Music concert - just good old songs like I'll Fly Away, Precious Memories, Shall we Gather at the River, I'll Meet you in the Morning, and many more. It's a Saturday night event and we'll probably ago again next week. Vic and Jeann introduced us to this the first year we came down here and we've enjoyed it every year.

Today has been a good day. We "went to church" via the internet and listened to Byron's sermon from St. John 6 - not as good as being there in person but were able to feel the Holy Spirit in our kitchen and think of all our dear friends in church.

THE BIG MILESTONE - Jerry turned 70 today! Each of the kids "skyped" us this morning and they all had birthday wishes for Jerry - and that was fun. This afternoon we went to a music concert of music from the 50's and 60's at the Largo Cultural Center. I believe we were among the youngest people there, so we've decided maybe we're not so old after all!!

Still can't get my pictures posted. I'll keep trying.

Allen wrenches

I thought I would share this here to make sure my dad sees it rather than on fb  or my personal blog.

Several years ago Dad bought me a "real" toolbox to replace the plastic fishing tackle box I had been using. It's a big metal one with a very sturdy handle. Then he began upgrading my tools.

At some time he bought a set of allen wrenches for me. I have probably used them once or twice in the 10-15 years I've had them.

This morning I packed up my garage closet and decided to keep my tool box out and available. The set of allen wrenches wasn't in the box but was on a shelf by themselves. I debated if I should pack in a box or keep them out and available. I opted to keep them out and set them on top of the box.

Sure enough this afternoon when I was replacing the shower curtain rod I needed allen wrenches.

So Dad, thanks for the foresight many years ago that I would need allen wrenches. They surely came in handy today!

GETTING SETTLED

We are settled into our beautiful third-floor condo and loving it. It is located on a narrow stretch of Gulf Rd. that has the Intercoastal Waterway on the East side and the Gulf on the West. We can sit on the east balcony and watch the boats on the waterway and sit on the west balcony and watch people on the beach. Or we can go down by the pool and read/sleep.

Cloudy day today, but we will take our usual 2-mile walk soon - hoping to increase the mileage a little day. Weather supposed to clear up mid-afternoon and be beautiful and sunny for the next 10 days or so. But we all know how accurate those weather forecasters are - so we'll just have to wait and see.

I've been trying to get a picture on here, but it won't work! Obviously, I've been sending pictures "forever", so can't figure out what's wrong now. Probably hit the wrong button someplace!!

Mary Lee's Trip to Guatemala

The second week of December, Mary Lee took an educational/missions trip to Guatemala with the education department at her college.  They visited an international school one day, and the rest of the time they traveled out into a rural area to hold a Vacation Bible School in the church pastored by the missionary parents of one of the girls on the team.

I posted some different picture on my own blog, here, if someone wants to see more.  Didn't want to overwhelm the audience with too many.

Eric, I would be interested to know how this compared to your Guatemala trip.

Here she and the other team members are doing a craft with the children.  She said it was really cute to watch the teen boys - who in the States would have been far too "cool" to do simple paper crafts - but they loved the various projects.  One day they were gluing "jewels" on Burger King crowns and the boys would say in Spanish, "Hey, we need more jewels over here!"

Two of her aunts publish a bi-weekly newspaper called the Electric City News, and one of the features is to show people reading the paper around the U.S. and the world.  So she took one along.

Typical example of the roadside scenery.

Blurry picture, but you can tell that it is an active volcano.

And this is my favorite picture!

TRIP TO FLORIDA

We arrived in Indian Rocks Beach on Sunday, went to a rental agency and a very nice lady found a condo for us with a great view from our balcony. I had earlier rented one for three weeks beginning Jan. 5 and we will move into that condo on Saturday.

As most of you know, Angela and family have moved to Jacksonville FL. Last Friday we traveled with Angela, Kelsie, and Nathan in three vehicles including a Budget Rental truck, Angela's car, and our car. We had four drivers so we were able to trade driving. It was a little "hairy" at times, several major traffic backups that were very frustrating. Twice there was an accident site involved, but other backups just suddenly began moving again with no indication why we had to "stop and go" for an hour or two!!

We arrived in JAX about 5 pm. Jerry Wetzel was there waiting for us, took us on a tour of the apartment they have rented. It is a very nice complex with a cute apartment. We went out for pizza, then headed to the Hampton Inn where we always stay when in JAX.

Now we are enjoying the view from our balcony, listening to the surf, taking walks on the beach, and relaxing.