VISIT TO RALEIGH, NC -- MICHAEL'S GRADUATION PLUS!!

Sun, May 11 - While we were in Raleigh, the main event, of course, was my grandson Michael's graduation from UNC on Saturday.  But, we had a lot of time for other family events!!

Sunday was Mother's Day!!  My family treated Ken and me to a wonderful brunch on Sunday morning!!

Ken, Mother of the Day, Barry, Stasia, and Gene.

Modeling the beautiful scarf that Stasia gave me on the occasion!

I also had an opportunity to observe Grandson Thomas during his Equestrian lessons!

The riding lessons were quickly followed by Thomas' orchestra concert at his school (no pictures), after which we enjoyed Gelato at a local Parlour (my first).

On Monday, our last day in Raleigh, Barry joined us for a movie at the nearby Cinema ($2.25/pp), after which we picked Thomas up and went out for delicious Mexican!!

It was a great time in Raleigh!!  Loved spending time with the family again!!

FAMILY FUN AT DEBBIE AND JEFF'S PLACE AT THE RIVAH!!

July 7 - 9 - My daughter Stasia had made plans to come and visit us while we were at Thousand Trails Chesapeake Bay.  She mentioned that she would like for us to go and visit her cousin (my niece) Debbie who has a home on Lancaster Creek off the Rappahannock River.  Sounded like a great idea to me.  So, we made plans to spend a couple of days with Debbie and her husband Jeff.  When my son Barry found out that we were going to the Rivah, he wanted to join us, too!!

Sidebar:  When my children were growing up, my aunt GG and her husband Slick owned a home on Lancaster Creek off the Rappahannock.  Frequently during the summer, I would pile the kids into the car and we would take off to spend the weekend on the Rivah at their home.  In fact, my whole family -- mother, father, brothers, sisters -- would all crash at GG's place.  Anyway, Stasia and Barry had many fond memories of our times at the river -- swimming, sailing, games we played, foods we ate, etc.  In her elder years, my aunt sold her place and we have not been back in the area for years.  As it turned out, a few years ago, my niece Debbie and her husband bought a home just down the road from GG's place.  So, my kids were anxious to visit them to recapture some of the old memories!

We spent one morning canoeing the creek.  Not the same as sailing, but it was a lot of fun!!  Ended up capsized!!

Had lots of fun playing in the creek again!  No Stinging Nettles yet!!

My brother and sisters also came to visit while we were there!  Back Row:  Debbie, Stasia, Faye, Sister Jean.  Front Row:  Barry, Sister Beryle (Debbie's Mother), Brother Chip.  Fun family time again!

Enjoying lunch!

There is always plenty to eat and drink at Debbie's!!  After I returned home, I noticed this article in Martha Stewart Magazine.  A great idea to print or tape the names of guests on their cups!!

Martha has nothing on Debbie who has been putting our names on Solo Cups for years!!!

Thanks Debbie and Jeff for your great southern hospitality!!!

THE HOUSE I GREW UP IN!!

Fri, Jul 25 - Speaking of old memories, Ken and I recently drove by the house I grew up in on Warwick Road, Richmond, VA.  I could hardly recognize the place.  The old homestead used to be on a small country road with a good sized front yard all around and a big persimmon tree near the road.  Now it sits right up on a wide two-lane road with median.  Took up a lot of the front yard and the persimmon tree to make room for the roadway.

We were pleased to see that the place seems to be well taken care of.  It must be about 100 years old now!!!  HA HA!!

ASHLAND STREET PARTY!

Sat, Aug 16 - My kids Stasia and Barry were coming up from North Carolina to Richmond to visit their father Don for the weekend.  He plays in a band that was performing at the Ashland Street Party on Saturday night.  We were staying at the Elk's Lodge in the Richmond area.  I asked Ken's daughter Stacey if she would like to drive me over to the party.  Even though that was not her kind of thing, she was good enough to say"Yes".

The group performing:  Kind Edward and the BD's.  Don is on Sax, second from the right.

The beautiful people in front of the crowd are my family!!  Stasia's husband Gene, Stasia, Me, Barry, Stacey and Don's son Cable.  We all had a great time!(Note Kenny Rogers is in the crowd.  His head just above my hat!)  The blonde (far right) later came over and asked Barry to dance!

I messed up all of our dancing pictures, and I don't know how this happened, but Barry and I made the Ashland News as a result of being at the Street Party.  Check out this website.  http://issuu.com/mechlocal/docs/201410910rsma  You will have to arrow through a few pages to get to our picture on Page 16.  "Ashland Rocks Out With Kind Edward and The BDs".   Sometimes the website is a little slow to respond.

Had a great time at the Ashland Street Party!!

FUN ON THE RIVER WITH KAREN AND DENNIS, LOIS AND GENE

Wed-Thur - Aug 27-28 - We spent a couple of fun days with our friends Karen and Dennis at their beautiful home on a creek off the Great Wicomico River.  Other friends Gene and Lois were there too.  All of us used to play tennis together years and years and years ago!!  It's always fun to spend time with this group.  Being on the Rivah is a bonus!!

Dennis took us on a boat ride down the river to historic Reedville.

Gene, Karen and Ken ride in the stern.

Lois and I helped Dennis pilot the boat!  HA HA

We passed a Menhaden boat heading to harbor.  "Reedville is home to the fishing industry for Atlantic menhaden, a small oily fish found in great abundance in Mid-Atlantic coastal waters. By some accounts, it is second only to Dutch Harbor, Alaska for the annual quantity of fish brought to port in the United States.^[1] 

Old smoke stack being renovated.

We passed by Fair Port Marina (now Leadbelly's) where we have enjoyed many delicious soft shelled crab sandwiches.

Lois and Ken enjoy lunch on the screened porch overlooking the creek.

Karen helping me prepare chicken stuffed mini peppers.  Note new glasses for Faye.  This is the first time you have seen me in glasses since my cataract surgery.

After lunch we had a competitive game of Ladder Golf.  Champions holding the winning strings!!

And then a game of Bocce Ball!!

FUN, FUN, FUN!!  Thanks Karen and Dennis for a great time!!

THE BUDWEISER CLYDESDALES AT NC STATE FAIRGROUNDS, RALEIGH

Sep 12 - Once again we are at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh for a few days to go to my grandson Jason's wedding on Saturday .  The fairground has a great campground for RVs with several hundred sites.  This week they are having a horse show in a different area but this morning the Budweiser Clydesdales were out exercising and walked right through the campground!

Barry and I went down to the stables where the horses were being put through their paces.

Then we stopped by the wash station.

We tried to help wash the horses until the handlers told us we could not stand so close to the horses.

Horse chariots!!

Fun day hanging around such beautiful horses!!

GRANDSON THOMAS - THE EQUESTIAN

On Sunday afternoon while we were in Raleigh, I went with Barry and Thomas out to a beautiful farm where Thomas has Equestian lessons.  He is in the Jumper class and is doing very well in the competitions.

Thomas and his horse Willy.

The Instructor, Thomas and Barry with Willy.

And Willy patiently poses with me and Thomas.

Wow!!  Great job Thomas!!

GRANDSON JASON AND JENNY'S WEDDING

Sat, Sept 13 - Today my grandson Jason and Jenny were married.  We got all dressed up for the occasion.

Faye, Michael, Barry, Stasia and Gene in the church vestibule.

Entering the church sanctuary.

The handsome groom and beautiful bride.

During the ceremony.

Mr. and Mrs. Jason Fields.

It was a wonderful day!!  Congratulations Jason and Jenny!  #jjallday

BLOG CATCH-UP

SEP 09 - THE FOLLOWING FOUR ARTICLES TOOK PLACE THIS PAST WINTER WHILE WE WERE IN FLORIDA.  THE FOUR ARTICLES ARE POSTED IN THE ORDER THEY OCCURRED, BEGINNING AT THE END OF MARCH.  SORRY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO GET AROUND TO POSTING.  HOPE IT IS NOT TOO CONFUSING THAT I WENT BACK IN TIME.

FAYE ENDS UP IN THE HOSPITAL IN WAUCHULA, FL!

March 31 and into April -

Our last posting carried us through the 4th of March and indicated that we had been out of commission for one reason or another.  That article ended with this statement:

     Hopefully, next week both Ken and I will be fully recovered and can go out and PLAY AGAIN!!!

Well, I'm here to tell you, it did not turn out that way!!

I guess this picture will explain why we have not been on the Blog for quite some time!!  I ended up in the hospital in Wauchula, FL for ten days (March 31 - April 10) with PNEUMONIA!

Ken took this picture of me in the hospital bed!  Unknown to me!!  Looking pretty bad!!

Ken and I both had been feeling poorly for awhile --  a lot of coughing, no energy.  Then I developed aches and pains.  Thought I had the flu.  Finally Ken insisted that I go to the Emergency Room at the Hospital in Wauchula.  They immediately did chest X-Rays, contrast MRI, blood tests, etc. All of these tests told them I had Pneumonia!  I have had Pneumonia before, but this time they said I would have to be admitted to the Hospital!

Later, when I met Dr. Kathy Lee, a really nice Asian doctor, she said in her Asian accent:  "You have really bad Pneumonia.  Really bad Pneumonia!!  You have Pneumonia in both lungs!   I will have to treat you for TEN days!!"

Wait a minute!!  Did you say I have to stay here for TEN days!!  YES!!  What could I do??  I settled in for ten days in the hospital.  But things were not too bad!

That afternoon, Ken brought me a beautiful potted plant.

Ken's daughter Tracy sent flowers the next day.

And my daughter Stasia and son Barry sent flowers the day after that !

All of the beautiful flowers brightened my days and the staff enjoyed them as much as I did!  In fact, I left them for the staff when I checked out.  They were still beautiful.  THANKS ALL OF YOU!!

The staff took good care of me.  The food was delicious, too!  This is my lunch salad one day!

For four days I was on IV for fluid 24/7 and antibiotics every six hours.  And for those four days I guess I was pretty sick.  The doctor said after four days I would be transferred to Rehabilitation.

Transferring to Rehab was something I had difficulty wrapping my head around!  First, they removed the IV for fluid, so I only had to have IV for the antibiotics every six hours.  Then, still in bed, I signed some papers discharging me from the Hospital.  Another set of signed documents transferred me into Rehabilitation!!   It seems Wauchula Hospital has a Swing Program whereby they can "swing" you over to Rehab!  Same room, same bed, same doctor, but now I was in Rehab!  It was all a matter of paperwork changing the way Medicare would be billed.  In other hospitals I would probably have to go to an entirely different facility!  Lucky me for Wauchula's Swing Program.  I just stayed where I was.

I was able to move around at will.  Therapists took me to physical therapy to build up my strength two times a day.  I could check myself out for a few hours to have dinner with Ken, so I did that a couple of times.

I had planned to go with friends Lois and Gene to see "The Story of Noah" at the Cattleman's Arena in Wauchula on Friday, April 4.  Instead, they came to visit me in the Hospital on their way to the play.  They brought a beautiful fruit basket but unfortunately I lost the pictures of their visit.  One of my therapists said the husband of her best friend had written the play, The Story of Noah, and composed the music!  Small world!!

I finally got out of the Hospital on April 10 and am slowly recovering.  Thanks to all of our friends and family who helped us through!

Sidebar:  It is now September and I still have residue of Pneumonia in my lungs.  The doctors are not planning any additional treatment.  Guess I'll have to live with it unless it heals itself!

KEN'S BIG TOE SURGERY!

March 25 - Back in February, on Ken's first visit to Podiatrist Dr. Jones, she pointed out that he had fungus under the nails of both big toes.  In fact, she said he did not have any nail left on those toes.  It was all fungus buildup!  She said if left unattended, the fungus to go into his foot, into the bone, up his leg.  It could result in having his foot amputated!!!  Ken should let her remove the fungus from both big toes.

Because of Medicare guidelines, surgery could not be performed on both toes at the same time.  Ken's first appointment was on March 12.

Ken's toe after surgery.

At home we had to treat the toe with Epsom Salts bath, drops, band aid on and off to protect the nail and then allow the nail to dry.

Dr. Jones removed the fungus from Ken's right big toe two weeks later, on March 25.  I was still in the hospital while Ken was recovering from this surgery.  He had to manage the treatment of Epsom Salts bath, drops, band aid on and off all by himself!!  He did a great job!

Recovery is going slowly and he has not been able to wear tennis shoes yet (June 1) to play Pickleball.

VISIT WITH TRACY AND VICKIE

April 26 - We had received a call from Ken's oldest daughter, Vickie, telling us that she was coming to the Orlando area to visit her sister Tracy in Stratford.  We of course made plans to spend some time with them.

You may recall, Tracy lives with her friends Chuck and David in Chuck's log "cabin" in the middle of a ranch.

It is the home of Royalty Pups.  Here are some of the newborn pups!

We gathered by the side of the pool.  The two of us in the middle.  Tracy on the left; Vickie on the right.

Tracy and Vickie with Chuck and David.

We all had a great time talking, drinking, and eating, eating, eating!!  Tracy is restaurant manager on a nearby country club and is an excellent cook!!

FERNANDINA BEACH SHRIMP FESTIVAL (AMELIA ISLAND)

May 04 - We left Florida, heading back to Richmond, VA on May 02.  We stayed at RPI Walk About campground in Woodbine, GA just north of the Florida/Georgia Line.  (Sounds like the name of a country western band!)    It happened that this was the weekend of the Fernandina Beach Shrimp Festival just a few miles south in Florida.  Fernandina Beach is the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry in the United States.  In Fernandina Beach, Florida, the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival is an annual tradition, always held the first weekend in May. This huge festival attracts over 100,000 people during the weekend .

I can't believe it!!  We decided to go to the big event!!

The marina was full of boats!!  The JUDGE was a well-known Shrimp Boat.

There were lots of shrimp and food vendors everywhere, crafts and music.

Everything was perfect!!  Even the boat lines!

It was a lot more walking than we like to do at our OLD age!!  We were certainly glad when Pirate Calico Jack came to pick us up in the shuttle bus!!

If you are ever near Fernandina Beach on the first weekend in May, we highly recommend their Shrimp Festival!!