Sunday 23 March 2008

Been awhile but have been busy, the photo above was taken by Nancy after dinner the first night out on our cruise. We went on a 4 day cruise out of Tampa, stopped in Key West, we had never been there before, took a sightseeing trip around the city, it was nice, the homes are very nice, many different types, old, new, big and small. Chickens running wild everywhere, something about you can't kill birds in Key West and they consider chickens birds and they are everywhere, interesting. Had a nice lunch there and got back on the ship. Second day we stopped in Cozumel, Mexico, we got off and looked at the tourist shops, Nancy found some silver jewelry that was "almost free" and I got a tee shirt and we went back to the ship, went up to the pool deck and rested. Cruises are fun, very relaxing, and I almost forgot, the casino was open and I spent a few minutes there. Didn't have much luck but didn't lose enough to help run the ship for very long.
Got home on Monday and started getting ready for the second annual Rogers family cookout, hosted by yours truly. This is done when Stew's family is here and I do the cooking. I have to really try hard because Kevin the real Chef comes and it hard to please a guy who cooks for a living. Last year I did a good job but this year I felt I had to excel to a new level to keep Kevin coming back. This year I grilled, pork ribs, steak, chicken, salmon, two kinds of sausage, onions, and peppers. There were no complaints on the meat, Nancy made German potato salad, Hannah brought mac and cheese, and green bean casserole, Stew brought bread, Kevin made a fancy drip...But most of all, a good time was had by all. There were pictures taken but I don't have any, so if you were there and took pictures, email me one and I'll see that it gets published.

This morning was Hannah's Easter breakfast, had about 40 people. Hannah does most of the work but Nancy helps get everything together, then this morning, I do the pancakes, Stew cooks bacon. This year we also had help from . I guess if you read this you would think that we eat all the time, not really, we need an excuse to have a cookout or family feast, but not much of one. Side note, on the cruise I only gained one pound...........

Its Sunday so Stew and Merry will be over to watch sports and have supper, won't be long before they will be closing up the house here and going home for the summer, if summer ever comes to the north land. Its be fun having them here this winter. We still have a couple projects to finish before they leave.

I hope that I can get back to some more history lessons real soon, maybe next week. Keep watch, it may happen.

I forgot to mention we have had company this past week, Karrie, Kevin and Finn, followed by Kristie and for a day Jody. Was nice to see them and have the chance to visit and have family here....

11 March 08

Good evening, Hannah just asked me what I was doing, I told her I was doing a bit of an update, she said "about time". I guess it is, but like others I haven't been in the mood. No reason, just haven't. Nancy and I are leaving Thursday for a five day cruise to Key West and Mexico, so I should have some "stuff" for the blog next week. Hope to have some pictures and news about my good fortune in the ship's casino. When we get back I have to get ready for the big Rogers family cook out. Last year when Kevin, Kerri, and Fin were here I cooked dinner for everyone and had the largest array of grilled meats ever. Everyone enjoyed my great cooking, but many were sick the next day, it didn't really have anything to do with my cooking but you can believe I took a bunch of grief from everyone. This year Kristie and Jody will also be here, so it looks like a really big evening of good food, good conversion and a few old stories. I am enclosing a picture tonight of the living room now that it is almost complete, the only thing left is putting the TV on the wall, for those of you who have seen the old living room, I think you will like the changes.Remember next week, big cruise report and cookout update, till then............

Sunday Night

Wow, what a weekend, I'm almost asleep and will be shortly. My weekend started on Friday, Stew came over and we painted the living room, then went and played a few holes of golf. Saturday morning we put on the second coat of paint and then went to Ocala, Silver Springs, to set in the sun all afternoon at a Kenny Rogers concert. Had quiet evening, then this morning we torn out the carpet in the living room, all the baseboards and proceeded to put down a new wood floor. Somewhere in the morning I grilled a whole chicken for us for lunch. We finished the floor about 5:30, fired up the grill for the second time today for a much needed steak dinner. Need I say more. Tomorrow will be almost as bad, go to Gainesville with Hannah at 6:30, pick up Stew to make one more trip to Lowe's, get the new baseboards to put in, then have help Merry put up the new border in the living room and then I hope the room will be done. I think the only thing left will be to get someone to mount our TV on the wall, really getting uptown. But the best thing is that Tuesday morning I have to go to work and there I can get some rest. No manual labor.....But in closing tonight I have to thank Stew for all the help this weekend. He did most of the work and I was his gopher. Thanks Stew and good night all.