March 23, 2025
We are on the Gulf Coast for the winter. The holidays are done, and the decorations got stowed away for next year. December’s weather was very nice, not much rain, many sunny days, and some 70-degree temperatures. Better than normal. We are waiting for the other shoe to drop.
A look back, A look forward
It is 2025. It seems just a short while ago everyone was worried about Y2K. It was a non-event. I retired in 2017 and really quit working five years later. And Maggie came to live with us. Susan and I shared another anniversary, 49 years together.
We have lived through turmoil and challenges, the loss of friends and family, through a broken leg, 3 broken ribs, several surgeries, and two rounds of cancer. Together, as we always do, we made it through to the next day. And we are always looking forward to life’s adventures, come what may.
There is no way to adequately express our gratitude for the friends and family support we always get, for the opportunities we are able to enjoy, for each other, and for the joy Maggie has brought to our family.
January
My cousin Sue and her husband Lloyd were in Orange Beach in January. They are staying in a bay-side condo about 4 miles away. So we got to see them frequently. We got together to play Quiddler, a word card game, share some meals, and go to the beach.
December weather was really nice. January had some nice days, a few warm days, and about half of the days when it was just cold (much warmer than Minnesota though)
Sue and Lloyd’s granddaughter, Elyse, and two of her friends came down for a long weekend. They flew into Destin, Florida. Sue and Lloyd picked them up.
The girls were very busy. No sitting around for the youngsters. They rented E-Bikes one day and rode for a few hours, then took a boat tour of one of the bays to see dolphins (they saw a lot), and then we went to Tacky Jacks for Thursday Tacos.
Fish, Shrimp, Chicken or Beef. Grilled or Blackened. Anyway, any filling, just $3 bucks. They were all good, I especially liked the shrimp tacos.
The girls were fun, they were OK with the older folks. Tacky Jacks had strips of every color of Duct Tape all over with messages left by customers.
And they liked Maggie and she liked them.
Susan and Sue
Roger and Lloyd.
There were a few stretches of cold weather so it was a good thing we had a Lee Valley Jigsaw puzzle with us.
And a second one. They come in sets, one gardens, and one antique tools. This was a collection of old tape measures, one piece left to put in.
Maggie’s friend, Daisy, would come for visits. Daisy’s owners, Sonny and Randi from Quebec came too. Even though Daisy is twice the size of Maggie they played well together. Maggie would go after Daisy’s ears.
And then some rest in the shade.
There was a cold snap across most of the country that reached all the way to the Gulf Coast. We got 8.8 inches of snow, an all-time record. It lasted for 2 days and then was gone. But it was exciting to be somewhere where history was made.
Maggie and Daisy had lots of fun in the snow.
The snow man with the umbrella lasted almost a week.
We tried one of the the mobile groomers in the area. It worked well. They come to where we are with a spa in a trailer. Maggie got a bath and a trim. She always looks good. They are scheduled to come back in March.
Lloyd’s brother Tim and his wife Candy were here for the last week in January visiting.
Susan and I rode our bikes to the Woodside Cafe in the State Park to meet them for lunch on the patio. It gets chilly here but warms back up quickly in the sun.
Tim and Candy were here last year too. We had some great Quiddler games and another game (we don’t recall the name) where you have to bid on the number of tricks you would win. Sort of like Hearts or Bridge. It was fun too.
We got in as much biking as we could during December and on the nice days in January. Out biking buddies included Joe and Rhonda from Illinois and Sonny and Randi and Judy and Doug from Canada. Most rides were 10-15 miles with a few over 20 miles. The easy access to the bike trails in the State Park and in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores is a major part of why we like coming here.
That is enough for January in Orange Beach
More Later, Much Love,
Maggie, Susan, and Roger
Home2 with Roger and Susan 