2018 DN North American Championship Iceboat Regatta On Lake Michigan, Cute Merman, Shopping for New Toys

                                                          February 2018

This year Lake Charlevoix was the host for the 2018 DN American Championship Iceboat Regatta.

Of course we were not there, because snowbirds go south for the winter. My daughter found these pictures on Facebook.

Temperature for the race need to be 10-30 degrees,

with winds at between 5 and 22 knots for good ice conditions.

Because of changing weather conditions, race locations can be chosen with less than 3 day notice. Below is a link to see parts of the race:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDnbQ2MQndo

The 2018 race was held January 23, with 90 racers.

Down south I found this handsome mermans. Mermans live in the south where the waters are warmer.

After getting over the 2 to 3 week respiratory cold flu, we finally ventured out and did some boat shopping for fun,

as well as some trailer shopping. We have thought of getting a trailer so we could go into Florida for a month during the coldest parts of winter. It could also be 2 extra beds for up north. We wanted a small one for easy pulling, but after looking at them, the smallest we felt comfortable would be 21foot. Our SUV will not pull that big of trailer. Plus trailers are not fun to pull long distance. 5th wheels are much stabler. We really didn't want to go that route so maybe this idea won't work.

Family, Taco The Cat, Gulf Shores New Boardwalks, Books, & The Flu

                                                 January/February 2018

Our oldest daughter Alisha got her Real Estate license the first of September. Now we have two Real Estate Agents in the family. This is the first home that she got listed with her sign in the yard.

It's been a rather rainy and chilly winter this year with a few good beach walking days. On this day we had Agent Alisha and Nana Girl 2, Madalena.

and Nana Boy1, Noah.

At one of the houses Agent Alisha showed, there was a cat following her around meowing continuously. A neighbor came over during the showing to talk to her. This gave Alisha the opportunity to ask about the cat. She was told the cat was left behind two months ago. She went home and told her husband about it, and because the temperatures were going to hit freezing that night, they decided to go back and get the cat. Meet the newest addition to the family, Taco. This family already has 2 rescue dogs and a rescue cat.

Noah welcoming Taco to her new home.

Maddy and Taco, becoming best friends. Who moves and leaves their pet behind? At least take your pet to a rescue center. Alisha took Taco to the vet the next day and got her updated with shots. Taco was covered in gashes which indicated having to fight for her life with other cats or other animals for the last 2 months.

Our oldest granddaughter turned 21 December 24th. We didn't get to spend time with her on her birthday as she was in St Paul, MN with her dad.

After Christmas, she came home with her boyfriend John, and Jamie and Alisha took everyone out for her 21st Birthday to the Rock N' Roll Sushi. Other people at the table were Hayleah's friend since grade school, Taylor and her boyfriend. Tiffany and Blake were in St Paul, Minnesota for a wedding during Hayleah's 21st Birthday celebration.

Alisha making a weird face with her 21 year old daughter. I am very picky about posting picture of me unless they are good. Alisha doesn't mind posting funny pictures, (she must be more secure than me). I asked her for pictures of this night for my blog, and she gave them to me, so I figured she was cool with them.

After dinner in Jamie & Alisha's jacuzzi.

Because Alisha lives about an hour away from Gulf Shores, it was a bunk party weekend.

Alisha catches me washing my face before bedtime. No mater how many glasses of wine, it has been a ritual of mine since a teen! Joe didn't attend our party this night because he didn't want to spend money at a restaurant. I told him the next day, you snooze you lose, Jamie and Alisha bought!

A picture of Joe in our condo that I found on my phone. The photographer: Lennox our 3rd grandchild.

Joe and I have not got the exercise this winter as we did last year. On a semi warm day, we  decided to try out the new Gulf State Park boardwalks just put in this summer.

This entrance starts on  the beach side state park parking lot next to the new Gulf Shores State Park Hotel.

Once across the main beach highway, the boardwalk crosses over many waterways and marshes.

As we got farther into the marshes, you could hear all sorts of birds singing.

A few days later, we drove further down the beach highway, and jumped onto another new section of the connecting boardwalk.

This new boardwalk is just a small section of an already 25 miles of hiking and biking trails in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach AL.

This bench area is a great place to sit and watch the real snow birds flitting around during migration.

One of the marsh land areas on the boardwalk.

I do love all these trail in this area. I just wish it had been a bit warmer weather this year to use them more. Maybe next year.

With the colder weather, I have been doing my research. The first 3 books I had already read, but I like to bring them for references. Two of the last 3, I have read some of them and one I will read later when we get back home. I have been trying to uncover my many health problems for 10 years. I tried traditional doctors, and their legal drugs didn't do a thing for me. I always liked science, so I have become my own self health advocate. What I am finding is the unraveling of health issued that started in my 20's. Healing health problems is like peeling an onion, one layer at a time.

Unfortunately the last 3 weeks Joe has been dealing with a respiratory flu, and I for the last 2 weeks. We both are almost completely well. Praise the Lord. The first 3 nights I coughed my head off, and finally gave in and went to the health food store and got this product. It is best to start the elderberry drops before flu season starts (taking 25 drops once a day), because I was already sick, I took 25 drops 3 times a day as instructed. Joe took regular drug store cold medicine.

Another product I took was this Boericke & Tafel Cough & Bronchial Syrup. This stuff completely ended the nighttime coughing and hacking. I highly recommend this stuff.

I had registered Lennox for swim class, but because Joe and I were sick for the first class, Tiffany and Blake had to take Lennox. My other two grand kids live to far for me to get them picked up as well as Lennox and to class in time.

Just an adorable picture of our oldest granddaughter's cat, Nugget, that she text to our family group text. Hayleah lives in Birmingham while attending college. Always a good way to end a blog with something that gives you warn and fuzzies! The world has way to little warm and fuzzies these day. (You know, all the hate promotion in the news these days).

First 2 Months Snowbirding In Gulf Shores, AL.

                                                  December 3, 2017

I know I haven't blogged since we arrived here in Gulf Shores, AL., but sometimes I need to take a break and just enjoy God's Blessings of sunsets, family, and time to sit down with a good book.

We are at the same condo this year, as last year. It use to be called the "Salty Dog", but with new owners, the name has changed to "My happy Place". I liked the old name better! All my doggie decor is gone too. Our condo is in the Seacrest Condo's right on the beach. It's been a bit colder this winter, but on a sunny day, depending on the temperatures, it is a delight to sit in the sun on the patio. On this day, I just bared my toes, on other days, it's down to shorts and a tank, even when it would be to cold with the same attire on the beach. Our side cement patio walls heat up the patio really nice. Not happy with the new patio set up though. The new owners took away the chaise lounges. Instead we have a table which is nice, but it is a cheap table that bumps everything on the table when you try to get up (just the way the table is made  because so cheaply made).

Here we had Lennox for the night. He got bored with me, so went to hang out with Papa who was watching a western TV show. Lennox didn't last long with Papa either. The picture on the wall is the  only doggie decor left in the whole place. Last year, this place was covered in doggie decor. I felt at home with all the doggy stuff since I had just lost my Yorky, Mallery a few months earlier. I really want another dog, but Joe isn't so keen on it. He told me he won't help me if I get a dog. I tell him it's just a matter of time, before I get one. Right now I am concentrating on healing myself so I can give more time to a dog. Plus I am trying to find a beach place that will take a dog. It is very hard to find a beach front condo that is pet friendly. If we had the money to buy a condo, it would not be a problem, but that is not an option at this time.

I went shopping with Tiffany, Blake, and Lennox in Daphne. Tiffany and Blake had a wedding to attend on News Years Eve in St Paul Minnesota, so it was a struggle like it is for most girls to find the just right dress. This is the dress she ended up wearing for the occasion.

This one was really cute too but not for the wedding she decided.

Lennox (9) on his way to school one morning.

A walk on the beach on a cloudy day!

Lennox enjoying the hot tub on another day we watched him for his parents.

He was bound and determined to jump into the pool even though it wasn't heated and it had been really cold for the prior 2 weeks. He didn't last but a few minutes in it and was back in the hot tub there after.

We had Christmas Eve at Alisha and Jamie's new home in Daphne which is 50 minutes from us. I don't get to see my Noah and Maddie very often with them in school and it being such a drive from our beach condo. But I am happy with their new home that they have been blessed with.

I think we were trying to get a picture here, and the picture organizing got confusing between us which evidently struck a funny bone in us. The Vodka Ginger Beers probably had a little help too.

Tiffany got engaged on Christmas to all our surprise. Now I can officially call Blake my "Son In Law", even though I have for years. Legally they are already married  by Alabama Common Law.

A picture of a crown of angel wings off from our patio on Christmas Day 2017. Such a great sign of our Great Savior King Jesus's Birthday!

Blake, Lennox and Tiffany came over to see us on Christmas day. They still live in Gulf Shores, just 5 minutes away. Blake is playing the new generation Simon Optix that I got the evening before during our annual Dirty Santa game. I must say it is much harder to do than the originally Simon. Having it on your head and watching the lights above and around your head is much more difficult. Maybe my peripheral vision is not as good and that is causing the confusion. Or maybe it's just the old brain, hee hee!

Christmas 2017 Newly Engaged Family.

While Tiff and Blake were in St Paul Minnesota for a family wedding, we had Lennox. I took Noah and Maddie, and Lennox to the movies that day and we had a bunk party that night. I am sure all you grandparents can relate to this picture of grand kids and their electronics. It literally is hard to get them away from them. I heard it called the other day, "Nature Deficient Disorder", because kids don't go out and play anymore, and just play on their electronics. The new couch potato kids!

Blake and  Tiff at wedding in St Paul Minnesota. They were there when the temperature were at extreme lows. It made me nervous the morning the flew out to come home with temps at -10.

On a day that was in the high 60's, Joe and I walked the bike trail. I miss not having our bikes, but there is really no place to keep them while in the condo.

My Nana kid's Noah and Maddie got "Real" snow for the first time in their lives and enjoyed making a snow angels and snow balls. Lennox missed it because he was too close to the Gulf waters.

Our neighbors Mindy and Larry were up state to check on their cottage, and sent us a picture of our Lake Nest. Looks like the tarp Joe put over the chimney was holding up.

Another neighbor about a block away, Robbi, sent me a picture of their cottage while they were up state also. She said it was a winter wonderland up there.

On Jan 8, Joe and I took a drive along the coast going toward Florida. It was not a good day for the drive, but we stayed ahead of the major rain.

Here we were crossing the bridge into Destin, Florida.

We made a stop at our favorite place in the pan handle of Florida, Grayton Beach State Area.

We didn't want to pay the entrance fee into the state park, so we pulled up along a few condo's homes.

Time for lunch. We have been bringing our lunch (salads) for years when ever we do road trips. The lunch is healthier and less money, which is the Diane and Joe way.

Yes we parked right in front of this sign. You can get away with things in winter that you wouldn't be able to do in any other time of year.

I like this area because  it is more quiet and quaint.

The sign below the large sign says it all!  We didn't take a walk on the beach because we didn't want to come back to a towed away car,

and because we were late to our next stop. We headed north from Grayton Beach going across  the Choctawhatchee Bay. We arived into Dothan, Alabama after dark and checked into at the Country Inn & Suites for the night.

I needed to see my Holistic Dentist Nathan Pfisher once again. Last year we drove the 3 1/2 miles to see this dentist to get an amalgam (silver filing) out. It was my last one in my mouth so I was happy to finally get it out. As you can see from the blood work that I had done with my doctor from Norther Michigan, I am in the high levels of mercury. With my history of working as a hygienist, I was exposed to mercury vapors for 15 years, plus with the many I had in my mouth. Most of my mercury fillings were taken out by my last dentist I worked for. Unfortunately he or I didn't know there was a special way to do it, without increasing mercury levels in myself or the staff.

Here is a picture of the microbiome that was taken from under my gums and put under a microscope.

Here is a close up of another area, with the hygienist pointing out the various bugs (good or bad) living under my gums. The long stick like object above her knuckles is candida, a fungus, which we all have, but when it over populates, can be a problem. In real life you can see the bacteria moving around in the microbiome.

Before the amalgam filing is removed, you are given activated charcoal to swish in your mouth and then swallow. This is to bind with any mercury, if it would get into your system. The next day your stool will be black with any mercury bond to it. Two rubber dams are placed in your mouth, and the opening around the tooth being worked on, is sealed off around the rubber dam and sulcus. A oxygen nose system is placed on you so you don't breath in the vapors. A special high volume air filtration system is turned on to keep the patient, as well as the staff, safe while mercury is being removed. Joe had all his mercury filings removed also by the last dentist I worked for. He didn't have as many mercury filings as I did. If you need to get a filing, get a white colored filing. If you can find a dentist near you to remove and replace any you already have, get them out. Mercury vapors are released when you brush, clench, or chew your teeth, building up your mercury load. Of course you also get mercury toxicity by eating too much fish that has mercury. If you want to read more about the SMART or Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique, or find a Smart approved dentist, you can go to the www.IAOMT.ORG