New Roof and Memorial Day Weekend

Sunday was quiet and we relaxed all day.

On Monday, we went to the senior center to walk for an hour and then attend Heather’s exercise class. It felt good to work out! When we got home, we worked in the yard, trimming bushes.. The azaleas needed a good trim after blooming, or they would grow out of control.

On Tuesday morning, the roofing materials were delivered, and the delivery guy was really nice. We stood and chatted for a long time! He has 5 children and they live on a farm. They homeschool all their children. In the evening, I went to my local knitting group, and I always enjoy the time I spend with the.

Wednesday and Thursday involved watching the roofers and the progress of replacing the roof. It was pretty interesting how much the materials and technology have changed over the years. Wednesday brought 5 roofers, and they worked hard for 14 hours! They even brought their microwave! At lunchtime, they were relaxing under a tree and even taking a nap (which was well deserved). On Thursday, only 3 guys worked on the roof.

We left on Thursday around 4 pm to meet our senior center group at Travinia’s for dinner. Luckily, we were able to walk to the restaurant. There were about 17 of us. The food was very good, but the service was meh. We bought cannolis to bring home and have for dessert, but they weren’t as good as the ones we got years ago in Boston. We still had a great time with the group and hope to go out more with them.

On Friday, an elderly man (Mr. James) came to do a magnetized cleaning for nails. I called the project manager to make sure that he was with the company, and he was. We found some small concerns we wanted to discuss during the final inspection, which was around 4:30 pm. We walked around the house with Jonah and showed him the concerns. He fixed most of them, but they will have to come out and repair a screen and clean the siding. He got on the ladder and found about 5 more things they need to seal up when they come out. Overall, I like our new roof! Our Sounds of the Summer concert series started downtown, and I was able to hear the music in my sunroom with the windows closed. 🙂

While the roof was being replaced, I was able to get a lot of knitting done. The noise didn’t bother me. I’m trying to relax more and de-stress so I can get over these shingles faster.

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, and we won’t do anything special. We tend to stay home and off the roads during holidays because of the crazy drivers.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Shingles and other…fun

This week started off pretty normal. On Monday, I had my knitting guild meeting, which I attended on Zoom.

 
Tuesday, my hubby finally talked me into going to the doctor about this rash on my arm. It seems like the pain is getting worse, and by Monday night, it was very hot and hurt to touch. So, off to the doctor we go. I thought it might be poison ivy, and hubby thought it was a spider bite. Nope, it is shingles! I didn’t think I had ever had chicken pox, so I couldn’t get the vaccine, and didn’t think I would get shingles. I did have a touch of it somewhere along the line in the past 65 years so here I am with shingles! The doctor says the shingles are due to stress, and I need to find a way to deal with it.

On Wednesday, we went to exercise class and I struggled with some of the exercises, but I think the exercise is good for my stress levels.

Thursday, we went car shopping, not that we need a new car, but we have been thinking about getting a new car with all the safety features. We want another Prius if we get a new car because ours is 11 years old. Of course, we aren’t in a rush, so we are just looking.

On Friday, we went back to exercise class and then ran errands. Hubby mowed the lawn when we got back, and the weather was perfect for that. After lunch, I spent the day knitting. I haven’t been working on my big shawl project because of the pain, but I finished some little projects like 2 charity hats and a washcloth.

On Saturday, we went to an Antique Festival where my hubby found lots of treasures. I saw interesting things but resisted the urge to buy things. We did some car shopping (remember - not ready to buy, just looking) and somehow I lost my hubby’s favorite sunglasses. Luckily, I went on Amazon and ordered him another pair (which helped get me out of the doghouse!). The rest of the day, we watched my great-niece’s softball games online, and I was so glad her team won both of them!

I'm so happy to see all my flowers blooming, and they make me feel happy!

Original photos by Pat Hensley

55¢ Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park stamp (US #5468)

The U.S. Postal Service released a special stamp in 2020 to honor Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park in Florida. This stamp, numbered 5468, is part of the "American Gardens" series, which features ten beautiful gardens from across the United States. The photograph on the stamp, taken by Allen Rokach, shows a lovely walkway lined with pink and white flowers. The stamp was first issued on May 13, 2020, in Winterthur, Delaware, as part of a collection celebrating the beauty of public gardens.​

Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park is located in Tallahassee, Florida. Alfred and Louise Maclay began creating the gardens in 1923, combining native and exotic plants to design a scenic landscape. They wanted the gardens to bloom in winter and early spring, the time they spent there. After Alfred died in 1944, Louise opened the gardens to the public and later donated them to the state in 1953. In 1965, the gardens were renamed to honor Alfred B. Maclay.

Today, the park is known for its beautiful camellias and azaleas, with over 150 types of camellias and more than 60 varieties of azaleas. Visitors can enjoy the colorful blooms, especially in mid-March. The gardens are maintained to look as they did in 1953, offering a glimpse into the past. This special stamp helps share the story and beauty of Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park with people all over the country.

References:
https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/new-postal-stamp-commemorates-alfred-b-maclay-gardens-state-park
https://www.gcamerica.org/news/get/id/2898 https://www.mysticstamp.com/5468-2020-first-class-forever-stamp-american-gardens-alfred-b-maclay-garden-state-park-fl/

Georgia Aquarium

Click here for more pictures.

On Monday, we went on a field trip to the Georgia Aquarium with other seniors. This trip was sponsored by the City of Fountain Inn and organized by Sue Grubbs and Heather Johnson. This trip was so well organized and thoughtfully planned! The city paid for our chartered bus (for 56 people), t-shirts, entrance tickets, and our meal at the Varsity. We are truly grateful to everyone involved in making this trip an amazing experience!

We met at 7:15, and the bus left promptly at 7:30. On the trip, we played a trivia game, and prizes were given out. I had time to knit and visit with others on the long drive to Atlanta. The bus driver was a hoot, and she made the trip fun too! The bus dropped us off practically at the front door and we each got our ticket as we got off the bus. We were instructed to meet at this exact place no later than 1:30. 

After a group picture, we were all on our own. Don and I wandered through all the sections and enjoyed seeing some of the strangest creatures. I enjoyed the Beluga whales, but Don’s favorite was the seadragons. We were scheduled for the Dolphin Presentation at 11:3,0 so at 11, they announced that we could make our way to our seats. We got fantastic seats in the middle of the “theater” and 2 rows beyond the Soak Zone! I loved watching the dolphins perform and would definitely go see them again. After the show, we walked around some more in the aquarium and revisited our favorite sea creatures. Then we walked outside to admire downtown Atlanta. We walked to the World of Coca-Cola, which was right across from the aquarium, to stretch our legs before the long bus ride home. 

By then, the bus arrived and we boarded the bus exactly on schedule. Our next stop was The Varsity in Norcross, where we had a late lunch. As we got off the bus, we were each given a voucher card which showed our menu options on the back. We ordered our food, which was quickly served and enjoyed our lunch. We sat with Shawn (from our exercise class) and got to know her a little better.

By 3:30, we were back on our bus and heading home. We even got home early! I’m so glad we were on a bus because after seeing the traffic on the interstate, I would not have enjoyed the trip at all if I had had to drive to the Aquarium.

It was a wonderful trip and I'm so glad we live in a town like Fountain Inn! 

Original photos by Pat Hensley