Florida After Europe Trip 2010

Florida: Mostly during May 2010

After the April trip to Europe and before the June trip north to New Hampshire

Back home and back to our fun routines that include Tai Chi several times a week at the Y, and twice per month on the beach.

Our instructor, Larry, shows us the techniques and helps us to refine our style. Artie also does his Aikido a couple of nights a week at the Y, and we both do our dumbbell workouts there plus our at-home exercises too. It feels great to enjoy good health with nice people, and in such beautiful surroundings.

We had a whole series of improvements done to the house during May, including changing two old windows (first floor, left in photo), modifying the ceilings in a couple of rooms, and a major project to replace our hot water tank with a new gas-operated, in-line tank-less water heater.

We were happy to have our favorite and excellent craftsmen, Gustavo and Antonio, on these projects.

Careful installation and thorough sealing around the windows assures that the new windows will be weather-tight before the exterior trim is installed. A big improvement over the leaky older windows we had.

Our lakeside back yard becomes an on-site workshop, to make precision cuts so all will fit snug and square.

Attention to detail and quality work are the strengths of this dependable and careful team.

Completing the exterior window frame.

A separate contractor installs 3M Scotchshield ultra safety and security window film to complete the interior work on the window.

Window job done! All now look the same, work well, and allow us to more fully enjoy the pretty lake behind the house.

Inside the house, two of our sloped ceiling rooms needed this type of wood trim, made from a long single slab of wood.

Our new water heating system is based on LPG stored in an underground tank in our front lawn.

A friendly work team dug the hole, placed the liquid petroleum gas (LPG) tank, tied it down and covered it up.

The gas heater is mounted in the garage, and the exhaust goes through the garage wall.

It didn't take long for a daring frog to explore the new hiding place, soon finding out that he could warm his feet! We did not see him again after a short while, so we assume it got too hot for comfort!

Gas lines are run to the heater and the new gas stove.

Water lines are run to and from the new wall-mounted heater.

The original water tank was too big to clear the closet door! It had to be cut up to extract it from there.

When the tank was removed, we discovered that there was no carpet below the tank, just a big circle of concrete. Then Margy remembered that we had left over ceramic tile in our garage from our sun-room project from two years ago. We used up all the remaining tiles to cover the closet floor.

With new tiles, new lighting in the back of the closet, new hooks for the cleaning tools, and a longer rod to hang jackets, the cramped and dark closet suddenly was transfixed into an orderly and bright storage area.

After filling the LPG tank, the guys brought in our new gas range for the kitchen.

Cookin' with Gas! Artie prepares a variation of "Pop's potato egg," and Margy makes her special pancakes. Yumm!

On May 3rd, about a month after submitting his manuscript to the publisher (see our home page 2010 link to "Spring in Florida"), the first "proof" copies of Artie's book arrived at our house. An exciting moment!

During the month of May, Artie worked diligently checking and re-checking the book, cover to cover, with help from his "editorial team." The publisher needed a red-lined corrected copy of the proof book to make the latest refinements. Artie's target is to have the book available from www.Amazon.com, www.Buybooksontheweb.com and at bookstores by August.

May 20 we had a reunion with Artie's former secretary Gail. They worked together when we lived in Florida in the 1980s.

In addition, two other good friends from work, Marvin and his wife Beverly, joined us to reminisce, look at old photos, laugh with stories of the past, and catch-up on the recent years.

After lunch we visited the downtown Fernandina Beach ice cream shop for dessert.

Marvin's catching the drips!

Bev, Marvin, Gail and Margy

Fun to be together!

Artie wore a special shirt for the visit. It was given to him over 20 years ago by Gail, to celebrate Artie's 40th birthday!

We had such a fun visit with Gail, Marvin and Bev.

May 31 our Tai Chi group at the Y provided a surprise birthday cake to our instructor, Larry. Louise, assistant instructor, made the presentation for our group. The cake provided a fun "memorial weekend" celebration of our own, with lots of "chi" (positive energy) flowing.

The next day, Gail returned for a short visit with her sister, Dolores who had an errand to run in Jacksonville. We enjoyed this "extra" visit with Gail.

Margy, Dolores and Gail are all smiles on Center Street in downtown Fernandina Beach.

Most of May and early June was consumed in planning and paperwork. We updated our Last Will and Testament, and reviewed our estate plans.

Fortunately, we had great support from Kristen and Nicola who worked diligently with us to help us with the many details involved.

We felt ready for our trip north, knowing that our affairs were in order. By the way, the pink and blue stickers were to distinguish the boy-girl documents. Such organization!

Kristen - our attorney

Nicola - our financial advisor, with Margy

Downtown Fernandina Beach, Florida, is always quaint and picturesque, especially at sunset.

Our three months, from late February to early June, seemed to fly, with visitors from the north, family reunions, the trip to Holland and Italy, house projects, progress on Artie's book, local visitors and the joy of happy times together. Hard to believe it became time already to head north to New Hampshire. More adventures to come!

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		Back home and back to our fun routines that include Tai Chi several times a week at the Y, and twice per month on the beach.

Our instructor, Larry, shows us the techniques and helps us to refine our style. Artie also does his Aikido a couple of nights a week at the Y, and we both do our dumbbell workouts there plus our at-home exercises too. It feels great to enjoy good health with nice people, and in such beautiful surroundings.


		We had a whole series of improvements done to the house during May, including changing two old windows (first floor, left in photo), modifying the ceilings in a couple of rooms, and a major project to replace our hot water tank with a new gas-operated, in-line tank-less water heater.


We were happy to have our favorite and excellent craftsmen, Gustavo and Antonio, on these projects.


Careful installation and thorough sealing around the windows assures that the new windows will be weather-tight before the exterior trim is installed. A big improvement over the leaky older windows we had.

		A separate contractor installs 3M Scotchshield ultra safety and security window film to complete the interior work on the window.


Window job done! All now look the same, work well, and allow us to more fully enjoy the pretty lake behind the house.


Inside the house, two of our sloped ceiling rooms needed this type of wood trim, made from a long single slab of wood.


Our new water heating system is based on LPG stored in an underground tank in our front lawn.


A friendly work team dug the hole, placed the liquid petroleum gas (LPG) tank, tied it down and covered it up.


		The gas heater is mounted in the garage, and the exhaust goes through the garage wall.

It didn't take long for a daring frog to explore the new hiding place, soon finding out that he could warm his feet! We did not see him again after a short while, so we assume it got too hot for comfort!


Gas lines are run to the heater and the new gas stove.		Water lines are run to and from the new wall-mounted heater.


		The original water tank was too big to clear the closet door! It had to be cut up to extract it from there.

When the tank was removed, we discovered that there was no carpet below the tank, just a big circle of concrete. Then Margy remembered that we had left over ceramic tile in our garage from our sun-room project from two years ago. We used up all the remaining tiles to cover the closet floor.


With new tiles, new lighting in the back of the closet, new hooks for the cleaning tools, and a longer rod to hang jackets, the cramped and dark closet suddenly was transfixed into an orderly and bright storage area.


		After filling the LPG tank, the guys brought in our new gas range for the kitchen.


Cookin' with Gas! Artie prepares a variation of "Pop's potato egg," and Margy makes her special pancakes. Yumm!


On May 3rd, about a month after submitting his manuscript to the publisher (see our home page 2010 link to "Spring in Florida"), the first "proof" copies of Artie's book arrived at our house. An exciting moment!

		During the month of May, Artie worked diligently checking and re-checking the book, cover to cover, with help from his "editorial team." The publisher needed a red-lined corrected copy of the proof book to make the latest refinements. Artie's target is to have the book available from www.Amazon.com, www.Buybooksontheweb.com and at bookstores by August.


May 20 we had a reunion with Artie's former secretary Gail. They worked together when we lived in Florida in the 1980s. In addition, two other good friends from work, Marvin and his wife Beverly, joined us to reminisce, look at old photos, laugh with stories of the past, and catch-up on the recent years.

		Artie wore a special shirt for the visit. It was given to him over 20 years ago by Gail, to celebrate Artie's 40th birthday! We had such a fun visit with Gail, Marvin and Bev.