Happy New Year!

We worked and then went to Weight Watchers for Terry to weigh in - last weigh-in of 2015.

On to Sumter Landing to meet Ethel and Steve for lunch - we are early so stop to say hello to Barbara at Hallmark, which is next door.  We need to set a date to get together with them.

Ethel and Steve got here yesterday after a challenging ride down.

Had a nice lunch at Too Jays.  Ate too much!  They were going home to binge watch college football games.  No line to get into Too Jays, that will not happen again when snowbirds all come down!  Wait, WE ARE snow birds!

Took a photo for Jeff to prepare him for his visit to Too Jays later in the month.

I think he only comes to visit for the rugelach at Too Jays!

A nap, some reading, New Years phone calls and texts.  Found out that Bevi's son did the lighting for the star that will fall at midnight in Chicago.  A big deal thing to rival New York.  Jeremy worked for that company for a few Summers.

We were too full from lunch to eat the big dinner we had planned, so just had shrimp, salad and, of course, Champagne.  We are feeling no pain.

Checking Out Stein Mart and.....

After breakfast at home and multiple calls to Comcast we have Internet access!

We both spent some time catching up with work now that we have the Internet.

Late pancake lunch at First Watch.  One of my Christmas presents was lunch there!  Delicious!  Sugar-free syrup reduces the calorie intake - yeah, right!  One can dream.

There is a Stein Mart that just opened so it was our sworn duty to check it out.  It's the least we can do as a Villager!  Bought nothing there, but, we will be back.

Of course Anthony's Dress store and Beall's Outlet screamed for equal time.  Terry and I each bought something at Anthony's!

Grocery shopping at Publix- we are bringing veggies and dip to a New Year's Day party.

Also bought dinner for tomorrow night for our stay-at-home New Year's Eve.  Champagne is on ice!

The Villages Year 8

Eight years ago we came to the Villages for the first time.  Diane and Tom showed us such a good time, we knew we had to come back!

Seven years ago we rented for a month - as we did 6 years ago.  Then a major snow in Chicago. on Feb 1st, while we were visiting cousins in South Carolina made us think 2 months was a better idea.

So- this is our 5th year in a house in Summerhill.  Always something new here in The Villages which we will be exploring in the days ahead.

Today, we took the car to Cadillac.  They are over booked, but gave us a loaner until they can look at it.

We went to Dollar Tree and then had an egg salad sandwich bagel lunch sitting outside!

Next we picked up our Villages IDs and went to the AT&T  store so Terry could get some questions answered about her I-Phone's storage problem!

From there we went to Walmart for staples.  Came home to put every thing away and rest before having our chicken dinner.

Now resting and reading.  I'm doing laundry!  Internet should be up tomorrow!

On the Road - Day 3. 12/28/2015

We arose early, dressed, went down for breakfast and left the hotel about 8:30.  Took wrong turn and saw more of Atlanta than planned.  Thank God for GPS.

Stopped for lunch at Cracker Barrel had a little money left on a gift card - that was nice! 

Temp moved to 85!!!!

Stopped at Florida Visitor Center

 I-75 moved fairly well until miles from the exit we generally take.  Got off at Ocala and took Highway 27 in.

Car stalled in bumber to bumper traffic.  Bad gas or????  This is the new car - not happy.  Will try to get to Caddy on Wed.

We unpacked and I started getting calls about the weather in Chicago from Township Trustees - result no quorum - I cancelled the meeting!  A first for us!  No sense in people risking life and limb!

Dinner peanut butter and jelly on crackers.  Thanks to my always ready former Girl Scout leader.

Tomorrow is a shopping day!

Resting after a long day.  Stay safe for those dealing with weather.

On the Road Again - Day 2 12/27/2015

Left Elizabethtown overcast - with evidence of rain.

Further South we went the sun came out and temps moved into 70's.

Lunch at McDonald's in Smyrna,TN

Tie ups on I-24 before I-75 and again outside Atlanta.

Staying at Hyatt Place. In Smyrna, GA

Dinner and wine at Carraba's.

Watching The Intern On Demand.

On The Road Again-12/26/2015

Great Christmas except that Glenn was sick!  Jeremy made lasagna and Ashley made Oreo cookies to die for+ cookies in Christmas shapes!  Terry made dessert too.  I brought salad.  Stacy made her wonderful pizza appetizer.  Mindy made stuffed shells and deviled eggs.  We stuffed ourselves.  Fun evening!

Left Des Plaines at 9 AM today!

Rain and fog most of the way 

Lunch at Steak and Shake - thanks Stacy!

At Baymont in Elizabethtown, KY

Dinner and wine at Texas Outlaw (no new photos - see last year's post on this day). We are creatures of habit.