Let The Cruise Begin!

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My guests are in flight on their way to AZ…it was not the best night for any of us, but especially for Julianna.  As the night wore on, it was determined that perhaps she was having a gall bladder attack.  For a while we weren’t sure that they would be able to fly today.  But by morning, her nausea had passed and it was determined that she would be able to fly and get home so she can head to her own doctors this week.  She was still pretty miserable.  I just got a text from Cheryl and they are starting to descend. So they are getting closer to home.

They dropped me off and said their goodbyes to Wade, Melany, Erin, Alex and Brooke…and, I guess, me.  Then we came in and had brunch without them.  I did a pretty good job of dozing throughout the afternoon. This evening we went out to eat to celebrate Brooke's birthday.  It was an Italian/Cuban restaurant.  I felt like I was already eating cruise cuisine.  They are playing Five Crowns card game. I am watching and blogging. Note my place at the table has my iPad at it in place of cards.  I prefer watching to playing card games. 

Well, one short sleep till we head to the airport.  We plan to load up the vehicle this evening…but so far not able to, as it started raining.  When it stops we will attempt loading again.

I am not sure that I will be able to blog while on this cruise.  We are off the grid quite a bit and I don't know if we will have connection when I have my iPad…time will tell.  But figure that, if you don't hear from me, that I am just cruising and not abandoning the blog!  I will attempt to have a "few" photos to share when I get back! 

Arizona relatives just texted: "Landed!" So that part of my 4 week vacation has ended…now on to the next ten days! At the moment, I feel like it is all a dream!

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 

A Bit Distracted

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Sort of running around like this chicken!  We have been busy getting packed for trips to Arizona and Alaska!  I had Nathan come over and haul my heavy bag downstairs, weigh it, and load it in the car…so I am ready…I hope.  What has gotten us off schedule tonight is that Julianna isn't feeling well…hate this for her on this last night of her trip.  She has really seemed to enjoy hanging out with us and hate to have it end on this note. We think that these last couple of days our diets haven't been the best…as we try to empty the refrigerator.  Plus she ate out this afternoon with her mother when they went to do a little shopping in downtown Tullahoma.  So we don't know what set her off, but hope that her tummy settles quickly.  Rachel DoorDashed again…this time from Walgreens for stomach settling meds. 🙁 I have been introduced into a whole new world with this door dash concept! 

Nathan, Kathy, and Isaac stopped by to say their goodbyes to the four of us!  We visited for a little while.  Then I called on Nathan to return this evening to help me with my bag.  He weighed it…and I am just under the maximum weight…I tried hard to pack light…but for ten days and for Alaska's need for layered clothing…I guess I wasn't very successful.  I hope that my scale and Nathan's math are accurate.  Oh, well, I am packed and not thinking about it any more…I hope!  

We will head out in the morning, to take me to Melany's and Wade's and maybe for brunch…depending on the condition of our current patient.  They will at least drop me off! Oh, my…so sorry she is feeling so bad.  

I plan to blog from Melany's tomorrow…not sure about after that.  We may be pretty much off the grid once we embark on our Alaskan adventure! 

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 

A New Experience…For Me, At Least

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Door Dash!  I was in the other room copying a cross stitch graph for Julianna…I’m teaching Julianna how to cross stitch.  I come back into the living room to the comment:  “I’ll bet Aunt Lois has never door dashed before.” Which was a true statement.  What surprised me the most is what was ordered…Julianna was hungry for a Snickers bar and some Gatorade…so they ordered a bag of small snickers and a Gatorade!  😳 The way this came about was that Julianna wanted to drive to the grocery store down the street…but because they have a rental, only her mother can drive it. And, it was raining and her mother didn’t want to get out in the rain. So…they Door Dashed!  

We have had a quiet-off-and-on-rainy day.  Rachel and Julianna made a short trip to Lynchburg, TN to do some souvenir shopping.  Cheryl and I stayed home…porch sitting.  We continue to dine at the Dorrell Diner…emptying the fridge of leftovers that have accumulated over the week. Tomorrow is the day to finalize the packing.  It is three days till cruise day for me and two days to flight day for Cheryl, Rachel, and Julianna.  

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Farm Day!

Cheryl, Rachel, Julianna and I paid a visit to Nathan's and Kathy's farm today.  Julianna wanted to see the animals.  I think she enjoyed getting to see their menagerie. Cheryl, Rachel and I went on part of the tour…but ended up inside much before Nathan, Joy, Joseph, and Julianna joined us. While we sat in the cool of the inside, Abigail stopped by with some cookies for us to test.  She is hoping to add cookies to her cheese cake offerings to sell.  We all said, "mmmmmm…good!" 

We all ran errands today…Rachel and Julianna went off together and Cheryl and I went together. Cheryl and I got a couple of things for our larder to fill in till we leave.  We are having what I am calling Dorrell Diner…Nathan originated that term when his family just chose what they wanted out of the leftovers in the fridge.  We are to that point now…needing to empty out the fridge before we all leave for our travels. Time is getting close…three days for them and four days for me. 

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Wednesday Wanderings

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Rachel and Julianna headed off to Nashville this morning.  They had a day planned to make special denim jackets at a place called Gigi Pip and eat brunch at Milk and Honey and do a little shopping.  They have just returned and had a fun day.  They said it got really hot when the sun came out.  I guess they have not experienced true TN weather…hot and humid. 

While they played in Nashville, we worked on getting me the rest of the way packed…and, I am…sort of…can't really pack some things till just before we leave.  We also did a couple of errands.  I had planned to run three errands, but forgot to bring the list for one of the planned stops.  🙄 So we will do that errand tomorrow, Friday, or Saturday. At times I wonder if I will ever be ready!  But…I will say that I am much more ready than I was. Once we leave on Sunday for Melany's and Wade's, all will have to be done!  The plans are for us to have brunch at Melany's and Wade's and then Cheryl, Rachel, and Julianna will head to the airport to head AZ way.  I will stay the night at Melany's and Wade's and Alex will take us to the airport early Monday morning.  Five more days till I will be cruising! 

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 

A Good Day!

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Tonight I’m using one of Rachel’s photos of one of my balloon flowers. It has been a very good day for several reasons…having Cheryl, Rachel, and Julianna here and it was hair cut day…which is always a very good day for me!  The four of us headed off to do a little shopping. This shopping trip met the wishes of Julianna…she wanted to go to my drugstore that has neat gift items and wanted to go to Hobby Lobby.  Granted her wishes!  Rachel has spent time in the kitchen making us a Mexican meal.  I helped a little…mainly finding pans and utensils that she wanted/needed.  It was a yummy meal.  We are all feeling rather full!  And, I am feeling noticeably sleepier!  Struggling to stay away while writing the blog.  Cheryl is trying to get a photo of me sleeping…her goal on this trip…to get her sister sleeping in as many places as possible.  She missed getting one yesterday and so far for today,  I will get up and move after I post and hopefully wake up!  

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Memorial Day 2026

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