Last March Paul and I went to Gainesville to visit his son, Greg and his family. We saw such beautiful pictures on Facebook of the azaleas in bloom , and it made me remember how beautiful it was last year. Well, because we went to Gainesville we missed the Chicken BBQ here at Circlewoods. Not that there is any comparison!
We were sorry to miss the BBQ but very happy with our decision to visit with our Gainesville relatives. (As always. We miss you!)
Last year BBQ:
We hadn't heard good reports about last year's BBQ. They hadn't par-boiled the chicken and only cooked it for a couple of hours. Lots of people said that the chicken was raw inside. And they went home and cooked it some more before eating it. It didn't sound very good, so we were reluctant to go this year but decided . . . What the heck - we decided to go this year.
This year:
I love BBQ chicken and looked forward to it all morning long. They had two sitting. 12:00 and 1:00. We met Carol O at the clubhouse at 1:00. Cousins Carol and Alice were helping serve, so it was another good reason for going then. We got there just before 1:00.
They had the round tables set up and we found a good seat up near the front. From those who went last year, it was 100% better since they par-boiled the chicken. I thought it was quite good, but Paul wasn't as enthusiastic as I was. When Paul cooked chicken, he always did it so that you knew it was done. The skin was crispy crisp. Now, let's remember . . . he has a special recipe that he uses. And it is good! My chicken was well done - falling off the bone. His wasn't. Nor was Carol's. The skin wasn't done on anyone's.
Now, I understand that you gotta give credit to all those people who were involved in the BBQ. And it's not easy to make everyone happy. I agree. It's a lotta work. Cudos to all of them. Especialy the cooks. People need to remember that these are all volunteers, and working as hard as they can. I didn't go last year. I did go this year. There was room for improvement. Practice makes perfect!
Took a walk around the big circle yesterday with Paul and Gracie. It's nearly a mile. My stamina is improving. It's a satisfaction.
Friday night, we and Bob went out to a fish fry at a place called The Fish Kamp, which is located in a small shopping mall near us. We had gone there once before and enjoyed it and it had gotten some good reviews in the local Herald Tribune. We got there around 5:00 because we wanted to get a seat! (These crazy old folks down here eat so early that it's a struggle to find a seat during the snowbird season. Yes, that's us. )
This restaurant used to be a breakfast/lunch place - quite small - with booths along one side, and tables and chairs in rows down the rest. I would say it could seat perhaps 70 people? There was a table near the front where we had sat last time a couple of months ago. It was okay BUT it was right where the waiting area was, and it was noisy near the door.
They had ONE bar table (one of those high ones) near the back and we decided that would be a good place to sit. The high seats are difficult for me to use, but I managed to "climb up" and get seated. Paul held the seat so it wouldn't tip over. The meals were all delicious, and the special was a bottle of wine for $10. We all had the fish fry.
When it was time to leave, I had to again return to the floor. Paul again held the chair so it wouldn't tip over. I kinda slid off the chair, and thought I was quite inconspicuous until I walked past the booths and lotsa people commented on "glad you got off that okay" and "was wondering how you were going to do that" and "good job." and "way to go".
Talked with Bill and Epril the other night when Bob was here, so we put them on speakerphone. They're both very busy. They had intended to come for dinner Saturday night, but I begged off since we were having the chicken for lunch. They couldn't make it anyway. Glad to hear that they're happy and busy.
Nancy's been posting some videos on Facebook which we appreciate. I guess it's the next-best-thing. It's hard not being near the little ones. Especially seeing little Walt. Evie's camera shy, but Nancy's good about tricking her and not letting her know she's being video'd.
We've had some cloudy and rainy days here, and it's been cool for March. I was thinking about going to the pool this afternoon after the BBQ, but it was cloudy and cool.
Our lanai addition still hasn't even started! We're getting restless. The windows and door were supposedly being delivered on Friday to their business. I'm assuming that was done, but perhaps I'm being overly optimistic.
I'm so glad Paul wasn't involved in any of the permit problems that are hitting this project. Let the guys that are "getting the big bucks" enjoy the fun. And they seem to be. No. Not really.
We recently got a phone call from them asking the tonnage of our air-conditioner. Why did they want that? And what the heck does THAT have to do with a 30 sq. foot addition? That was like the third call for information from them. They're as frustrated as we are - probably more so. They have to deal with these permit people all the time, and have to "make nice" or they'll make it even rougher on them each time they deal with them.
It's now Sunday and I meant to proof read this yesterday and get it out. We went to church and a wonderfully delicious buffet brunch at an exclusive country club nearby. Beautiful and delicious - overlooking the greens. We will not be eating ANYTHING for a long time! (Yeah, right.) BUT. . . I'm so full.
A short time after we got back from church, we had a two- hour meeting via speaker-phone with the neighbors at the Woods Edge. And a lot was decided such as . . .
*Now Paul's a member(one of four) of the Architectural Committee.
*Our neighbors have agreed to move their 22 X 20 shed to the back of their home.
It was rather exhausting listening to all that on speaker phone. After a while, the sound seemed to get clearer. Perhaps we were listening better, or emotions made people speak louder.
Paul spoke to Ida for her birthday yesterday. She and her friend went to Rochester to Build a Bear and got a new friend/pet. Then Paul talked with Sharon. The boys are involved with a high school play "Once Upon a Mattress." Lee's the back stage manager. Charlie's in the chorus.
I've written a lot. Hope you're all doing well. We are down here. Would have gone to the pool this afternoon, but the meeting kept us busy. They said it wa 58 degrees up there. Good news! Keep temp going up, up there!
How're things goin' in your neck o' the woods?
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