ACTIVITIES IN OHIO

Just three and a half weeks until a side trip to Outer Banks to join our son and his family for their vacation.  We are looking forward to this special time with them, as well as some new sight seeing!!

My last doctor visit gives us the impression that my last phase of surgery can be the first part of October.  He is promising a much easier and faster healing than what I have experienced since May!!  I plan to hold him to it so that we can leave by the first of November to reach Bushnell FL for our job at Dade Battlefield (10 hours per week for each of us).  There will be five couples there so it should be fun.  And we also have friends in that area from our previous winters there.
 
We are having a very gentle light rain off and on today.  I hope that it will be sunny tomorrow as Gary's nephew contacted us to stop out and visit.  With rainy weather outside, I have spent the morning baking cookies and making potato salad.  I told them it would not be a fancy picnic, but I would be prepared with hotdogs and such.

We went to the Dutch Haus for lunch with friends, Don and Lois, who have stopped wintering in Florida because of health issues.  We originally met them in Bushnell.  Had a wonderful visit and they took us out by their old home to show us the new gas lines that are going in there.  There are so many transient workers in this area because of the oil and gas jobs now available.  Many of them have trailers here in the campground and at one south of Salem as well.
 
On Friday Gary had breakfast with friend, Rick and Richie.  Then they went to a few garage sales.  The plan had been to go to the Rogers Flea Market, but they decided that it was way too hot for that!!
That evening, friends, Eugenia and Bob, invited us along with Bill and Jane from Timashamie to have dinner at their house.  Delicious!!  Ham loaf!!  Thank you for a wonderful dinner and visit!!

Jane & Bill Weikel, Gary, and Bob & Eugenia Tullis

The very next evening Jane was hungry for hamburgs and hotdogs over the open fire.  So we joined them at their campsite and combined food from both of our fridges.  Needless to say, we ate too much, but had our hamburg, hotdog and marshmallow fix!!

Bill, Gary and Jane

It takes three cooks for hamburgs and hotdogs???

We stopped by our son's house to check the progress of putting a footer under an enclosed porch.  Good progress in spite of the heat!!  He is amazing!!

Too bad he did not have a trencher!!  Looks like back breaking work to me!!  But he did put his son to work also.  Great work, guys!!

 Off to Scout Camp!!  Summer camp for Richie and a week away from home.  We took Richie's mom and Uncle Victor to visit on parent's night.  Since Richard is working nights, it was not an option for him.  But Mom made sure that Richie got his new supply of Dew, and we had a wonderful dinner at camp.  We got there for the evening following a day of rain, but the camp was in good shape.  No standing water.  Guess the ground must be pretty dry.

Lynn and Richie

Lynn, Richie and Grandpa Gary

Troop 2 of Salem

Grandpa, Richie, Lynn and Uncle Victor

Gary and Victor took a Sunday afternoon to check out the YSU Art Show.  While there they saw Gary's dentist, Dr. Fisher, and his wife and their  photography display. 



Dr. Fisher and his wife.

So Gary is still trying to take in art shows as often as he happens upon them.  He has also gotten back to drawing more himself!!  It is good to see him keep at it.

 

Our rain is stepping it up a notch or two!!  Wonder if it will be like we had a few days ago where the kids in the campground were running and riding bikes through the puddles??

I stayed safely inside and took the pictures from the window.  I'm no dummy!!

Guess it is time for me to wrap this up and get my potato salad finished.  Stay tuned, as we will get some traveling done again sometime!!

UPDATE FROM OHIO

I found pictures of a few more outings so thought I would share them with you.  
When we first got back, we found that Pete and Mandy (our pastor and wife) were in Portland Oregon for Pete to receive his Master of Divinity Degree at George Fox University.  We got to see them at the reception that the church had for him when they returned.  Amazing to see how their children have grown as well.



Pete and Mandy Fowler

Pete and Mandy with Don and Bonnie from our ABF

We also got to our first Class of '62 luncheon at Salem Hills before my surgery and had a great visit with a few former classmates.  I had received the hard back copy of our 2008 Blogs and Pat is seen here going through that book.  I still have the next four years to have printed and hope to have them done soon.

Roger, Pat, myself and Kenneth

Carolyn, Carol, Carol, Marylou, Jim and Delbert

Margaret, Sicilia, Roger and Pat

We should be able to get another of these luncheons or breakfast in before we leave Ohio.  I always look forward to hearing what everyone is doing these days.  It is fun.

Norma, Debbie, Janet and Audrey

Just after arriving in Ohio I had to get together with former work friends!!  After twenty plus years with them, they are like family!  Norma, Debbie and Janet met with me at Ricky's English Pub. Seems that the gatherings always are about food!!  I guess it is what we do best.

 

While Audrey met with former HS&L people, Gary was busy going to SES to see his friends.  He just never took pictures.  He also sees his friend Rick quite often.  There again, no pictures unless it is a family gathering. 

 

I made plans early to catch up with friend, Louise.  We ate at Olive Garden and it was bitter sweet as we had to reminisce old times with Ruthie and Jeanette, both we have lost.  Ruthie passed away this past year after a four year fight with cancer.  We have so many good memories though, going back nearly forty years!!

Audrey and Louise

We have since met up again at Island Creek Grille.  Surprised Louise with the menu that they have!!  I got the pulled pork that I had seen before, but still have to go back to get their fish.  While we were there, some came in at the boat dock to dine at ICG.  It is a well liked restaurant.

 

There have been other dining out occasions, but no pictures.  Yesterday, I met up with our Bible Study Group at the Dutch Haus and had a great visit.  We had hoped to have friend Kathy with us.  But since she had just gotten home from a Rehab Center in Boardman, she was not up to the outing.  We missed her smiling face and pray that she can join us in August.  She has had a very rough road over the past years with cancer at least three times that I am aware of.  But her spirit is great!  It has to be the Lord's presence in her life!!

 

There is so much to be said for leaning upon Him!!  Many things would seem impossible with out Him.  It is just so important that we recognize that.

 

We removed our drab little loveseat/bed last week and had two new recliners delivered to take it's place.  They are so comfy, but a little overwhelming in appearance.  But I am sure we will adjust and be so glad for the comfort.  I did not even find the love seat comfortable to sit on to read.  We get so spoiled.

 

I go back to the doctor on Thursday and hope to get the last phase of my care scheduled.  Have to do this so that we can get south before winter!!  We will keep you posted. Love to all.

 

HELLO AGAIN - WE ARE STILL IN OHIO

I know!!  It has been six weeks since I have posted, but time flies when you are having fun???  The fun is questionable!!  It has been six weeks since my surgery and I am still just laying around on the lawn lounges and reading.  Can not do much more than that, but visit a lot.   The healing process is taking much longer than anticipated.  I think that is due to the damaged tissue from radiation back in 2009 or maybe the fact that one drainage tube was taken out much too soon.  I still have another tube with me and Gary is playing nurse maid for the wounds which will be around for a while.  He has been wonderful and I will never complain!!
Our plans are to go to the Outer Banks the end of August to vacation with our son and his wife's family, but we are not sure but that we might have to return to Ohio for more care.  Only time will tell.  I want to find a wound care specialist in Florida for the winter, if need be.  But Outer Banks should be special!!
We have been out and about visiting here, too often forgetting to take the camera with us.  Forgive us that!!  But we will show you what we have recorded here over the last six weeks.  Since my surgery and follow-up was in Richmond Heights at University Hospital, we do make many trips up there and stop to see my brother and sister.  Pearl has been so helpful with many things, like washing my hair and washing/drying laundry and fixing wonderful lunches!!  We try to keep her from being too bored or lonely!!  Haha

Before the surgery date, we did have a picnic at Timashamie campground for Memorial Day.  We had a good time and much good food.  I was exhausted from doing food, but figured it would be my last time doing so for quite some time.


Richard, Lynn, Gary and Rick.

Richie with sister, Miranda and her friend.

I thought that we would never get the left overs used up!!  But you can see where it went!!

Pearl and Audrey

My first official outing after surgery was to a great niece's graduation party.  I thought I might stay for an hour, but after getting seated out under the trees, I found it quite easy to visit and listen to all going on around and about and before we knew it three hours had passed.  There were many cousins there along with many church friends.

Wayne doing what he enjoys best, feeding his face!!

Tom and Judy Ross, cousins

Gary with Curtis and Pat Ross, cousins

My nephews In-laws, Roger and Jackie, with their friends

My nephews In-laws, Grams Evelyn and her son!!

Audrey's sister, Pearl and her son, Scott and granddaughter Emily.

Great nephew, Conner, showing off his motorcycle.

While staying in Mentor, Gary took a day to go to Fairport Harbor to see the light house.  He was disappointed though, that the one museum closed just as he got there!!  So that will make another day trip.

Audrey got to take an evening out with former work friends.  There is not ONE of the original workers left in the Salem Branch where she worked!!  So sad!!
We went to Island Creek Grill on Rt 14 at North Benton.  They had very good food and we had an awesome visit, with the room to ourselves.  We did take the time to walk out on the back deck.  That is a nice location to eat, as well!!  They have a great fish sandwich and a pulled pork that I promise to get back there for on this visit to Ohio!! 

Isis, Darlene, Debbie, Janet, Norma and Debbie

Joyce, Brenda, Rehka and Jessica

It is always good reunion time!!  Joyce just transferred to the Lisbon office.  She was the last to leave Salem. Sherry, Norma C, and another Debbie, we missed you all.  See you next time??

My fingers are gong numb!!  Guess this is too long at the computer, but will try to stick it out and finish.  Then I want to make Cabbage Rolls today???

My Class of '62 and Gary's Class of '63 have been trying to have periodic luncheons at Salem Hills.  We got to them each a couple times, but did not always get pictures taken.

Class of '62

Class of '62

 

Time is flying right along!!  July 4th upon us.  So we all joined at Victor's house for another picnic.  The rain held off for the day and much good food was had by all!!.  See that recliner back there,  I just took it easy the whole day.  Gary and Victor did a great job!!  Bill and Jane from Timashamie joined us as well.  We even got in a game of Five Crowns!!

 

Yesterday after church we went to one of our son's to see the finished upstairs of his house.  So much awesome and beautiful detail!!  The pictures really do not do it justice, but enjoy.

Going up!

Looking down!

This is one of those secrets where we have to kill you after we tell you about it!!  This section of the railing is removable for the purpose of moving furniture upstairs.  The secret is under the newel post cap.

And Gary is showing it off.  He is so proud of Rich's work!!

This is the computer corner and a much used space!!

Richie, I am not sure what you have planned for the chest, but I am sure that you can find another awesome color!!
It has all come together well and is making everyone anxious now for the rest of the house to be finished.  With school at YSU starting in the fall for Rich, it will take some time for sure.  Take it easy, all in good time!!

So glad to share with you all and I promise that I will carry the camera more and be back with you sooner!!  Stay safe.