Apricity South 2

​December 19, 2025 - Friday

Today is warm again - 70 degrees at 8am. So swimming was no problem. I got a message from backyard neighbor back home alerting me that the wind took down a big branch which crushed my fence! Always something to deal with…

December 20, 2025 - Saturday

Walked early as our last concert was this morning. There were 36 of us in the band with 60 in the audience at the Braden River Library. The libraries here are amazing - large spaces and conference rooms with kitchenettes. They have ukuleles to borrow for those tempted to learn. This is our last time with this group until January 8th, 2026 when practices will begin again for other seasons. Playing with them has really helped us improve our skills - Rich is actually singing now. Everyone is a volunteer and any money donated at the concerts goes to buy ukes for kids…

December 21, 2025 - Sunday 

Walk and online church this morning. We played a little music - Rich got his harmonica out to accompany me on a few songs. Bob’s cousin, Lynn, called to invite us to Christmas dinner in Port Charlotte - about an hour away. We look forward to it. Got a package from my son’s family which we put under our pseudo-tree…

Watched A Few Good Men - a real classic indeed. 

December 22, 2025 - Monday

Water aerobics followed by nothing at all really. Just hanging around most of the day. Watched Dancing with Wolves - such a good movie. Though there is violence in this movie, it is balanced with the beauty, peace, and tranquility as well. 

December 23,  2025 - Tuesday

Nothing going on after my walk. We are in withdrawal from no more 2-hour practices and performances until next year. On top of that, the line dance teacher is not doing classes again until after the new year. 

December 24, 2025 - Wednesday

Laid low all day after aerobics in the pool. Betty brought us a bag of assorted delicious homemade cookies.

Opened our gift from the Driscolls which was a delight. Kristie makes jams and candles. She is also a potter, so made the holder for the candle.

Chocolates and a jigsaw puzzle will be fun to do. Lily and Leanna gave me a Lee High Wildcat volleyball T-shirt and a soccer sweatshirt. 

They all had a Christmas Eve party at Shannon and Dave’s. They Facetimed us and passed us around the room. Love them to pieces…

I crocheted head gear for the boys and gave the girls journals along with gift cards…

The Colombs had a party at Perry’s so we got passed around the room there. So much fun - the kids are growing soooooo fast. Silliness…🤣

December 25, 2025 - Thursday  MERRY CHRISTMAS

Though I am on a Christmas break from Weight Watchers, I am still walking and swimming so I don’t blow up!

We drove to Lynn’s - about an hour away - for a delicious Christmas dinner. Lynn loves to decorate as you can see below…

Until next week, tata…

Apricity South 2

December 12, 2025 - Friday 

Totally blew it today! Did NOT walk or swim, because I slept sound and late. I am glad for that, but ran out to time before our performance in the University Mall, Sarasota, FL. I have not been in a mall since pre-Covid, so was reminded of the enormity of Macy’s alone! And the clerks walking around in high-heels. And the bright shining bling in the jewelry department. And the samples of lipstick which people actually put on their lips. Thanks to on-line shopping, I felt like it was a different planet. 

I have always enjoyed the reels showing pop-up musicians starting with one voice or instrument, and joined in by others, creating a flashmob. The shoppers stop what they are doing and watch the magic happen. Well there we were, 30 Alohaukulelers, at the foot of the elevator outside of Macy’s with people sitting in front of us and others looking down from the 2nd floor, creating our magic. In this large and open space, the sound gets a little lost, but the energy is still there and people appreciate it. 

Since we haven’t been to this area yet, we decided to try something new and exotic - Tommy Bahamas. Another spectacular lunch of homemade chips with fresh guacamole and salsa. Then another appetizer of coconut shrimp, washed down with a pricy margarita. 

When I’m good, I’m really good. But when I’m bad, I’m really really bad!

December 13, 2025 - Saturday

Back on track with my walking regimen. Other than that, we never left the condo. The screened in lanai counts as fresh air though. Siting alligators, birds, and turtles counts as nature watching. We also prepared our Christmas cards and packages and will mail them Monday. 

December 14, 2025 - Sunday

It was cool and cloudy when I walked at 8:30am - much more comfortable when it’s cloudy. 

Rich has been focusing on his art and even taking classes online to create new pieces to sell at the Farmers’ Market. He is intense when in that groove, and when he’s not, he’s not. Here’s a few that he has done lately…

December 15, 2025 - Monday

No swimming today - too cold, but I did bundle up and walk. Line dancing in the afternoon. Then I rested a bit for the outdoor show at Waterside in Lakewood Ranch. I really doubted that we would have an audience due to cold and wind, but it was a decent crowd. Thirty of us showed up to entertain and it really went well. One more show to go for us on Saturday.

December 16, 2025 - Tuesday

Still cold and windy, but I did do my walk anyway. Went to Publix to do my Christmas shopping (gift cards) and stayed home after that to wrap it up to mail and do some chores around here. 

December 17, 2025 - Wednesday

Did water aerobics even though the air was 59 degrees. It felt like stepping into bathwater with both heaters working in the pool. 

Went to UPS Store to ship my Christmas package home - not as expensive this year as I didn’t send home any Arizona rocks for the kids…

Hot Heads is right next door so I walked-in and was lucky enough to get Joe (the owner) to cut my hair. Originally he retired after 40 years of hair styling, but his wife works from home and was always asking him to do this and that. He decided he needed to go back to work. A woman told him she was selling - was sick of it and wanted out. He said he’d buy her shop and here he is 3 years later. He gave me kind of a wild look which is fine with me. Only one tinsel came out in the process - he said Dianne did a really good job fusing them to my hair. 

I asked if he owned the Corvette outside based on his personality - and it is! It’s two years old, but would have cost $100k brand new. A client asked him if he could sit in it - he said, yes. A week later he came back to show him the one he bought - it was red!

Went to the Elks for a burger and good conversation with the members there. 

When we got home, Rich’s latest purchase was there - a pineapple ukulele! At least he is playing now, so whatever! It’s really cute, but too hard to hang on to for me. 

December 18, 2025 - Thursday

Slept late today, but still got my walk in before 9am. We took a ride over to Palmetto to shop at Detwilers. A few of my friends (you know who you are) have always told me about grazing through this store. They sample soooooo many things - we had ginger SNAP cookies, hot mini cinnamon donut, apple cinnamon bun, caramel popcorn, and cheddar cheese. We got a small rib roast for Christmas dinner…

The Story of Detwiler's Farm Market 

• Early Years & Inspiration: The founder, Henry Detwiler Sr., was raised in a Mennonite family in Pennsylvania and was the grandson of a butcher. He worked in the butcher shop as a youth and realized his passion for the retail side of the food industry, selling produce at a farm market in the summer when he was about 16.
• Move to Florida: After getting married in 1986, Henry and his wife, Natalie, moved to Sarasota. Henry worked in construction for 15 years while they raised their nine children.
• Humble Beginnings: The business officially started in the early 2000s, beginning with Henry selling produce and Amish barns/outdoor furniture in Virginia, and later operating out of a 10x20 foot tent at Sutter Egg Farm in Sarasota, grading eggs and selling produce. They also ran a farm stand at the Fruitville Grove Market.
• First Brick-and-Mortar Store: In 2009, after losing their lease at the grove, the Detwilers opened their first physical store on Palmer Boulevard in Sarasota. This location, though small (around 5,000 square feet), established their unique farm market style, emphasizing fresh produce, meat, and seafood.
• Expansion & Family Business: The success of the first store led to expansion. Detwiler's now has multiple locations across Sarasota and Manatee counties. It remains a family-owned and operated business, with many of the Detwiler children involved in running the stores; the two oldest sons serve as the president and vice president of the company. 

Helena and Terry invited us to Smash Burger night at the club along with 10 others from aerobics class. She gave us snack bags of assorted candies and cookies. Can’t believe Christmas is next week! Until then, tata….

Apricity South 2

​December 5, 2025, Friday

Skipped swimming today so that I could go on a solo trip to Finklepott Fairy for tinsel in my hair. No worries, I walked before I went there. Apparently, there are Fairies across the country that I never knew about. The tinsel is actual hair that looks like thin tinsel. Don’t ask me how, but the point is that it is not metal, so no problem with MRI’s, curling irons, dyes, etc. I have a couple of people in mind who might want to learn this trade and do it out of their home like Dianne. She went to Raleigh, NC for two weeks for training and is the only hair fairy in Sarasota. The sparkle doesn’t show up in pictures, but it is bling in person. She is also an artist and did the pictures behind us. 

Had our debut Florida performance at Lakewood Ranch Library - all went well - holly and jolly. 

December 6, 2025, Saturday

Did my walk before today’s concert in Rocky Bluff Library in Ellenton. A nice turnout of all ages to join us. There was another performance in the afternoon, but we didn’t sign up for it. Two back to backs with a commute in between is a bit much for us…

December 7, 2025, Sunday

Walk, church, and laundry this morning. We hosted our first cocktail gathering in Florida. Charlotte and Shatzie came over for a visit. They have been Florida friends with Betty, Joe and Maddie for years. They are “downstairs and one over” neighbors from Illinois. They have been married for 43 years - she’s the comedian, he’s the straight man. It’s so fun to get to know a bunch of new people, NEVER forgetting my “old” SMILE people. You know who you are!

December 8, 2025, Monday

Thunderstorm in the distance last night, but we got a fair amount of rain. It was foggy before aerobics, but it cleared before we hit the water. 

Line dancing at 1:30pm after a brief resting of my legs after lunch. FaceTimed with grands Leanna and Lily, and their mama bear, Kristie.❤️

December 9, 2025, Tuesday

What will we do with no ukulele practice this week? Well, we were in Publix at 7:30am and then to a pedicure next door. Still trying to figure out where to get my hair cut, but there are THREE shops in this one plaza - SuperCuts, Hot Heads, and Me Too… Hmmmm.

Took my walk late and then rested my legs for a bit. Then Rich cooked yummy chicken stir fry for dinner. 

December 10, 2025, Wednesday 

It was 59 degrees, but we were in the pool at 9am which felt like bath water. The hard part is getting out an hour later. Still better than -1 degrees in Massachusetts. 

Went to the Elks for a delicious 1/2 pound hamburger - rare, no bun, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles with fries on the side. Soooo good. They just got three new machines today…

Starting to get Christmas gifts together to mail home. 

December 11, 2025, Thursday

Almost skipped my walk since I had a very restless night. That’s the second night in a row - YUCK! But I pushed through it in the crisp chilly air. Since we had no place to be until tonight, we took a leisurely ride to the Manatee Beach with a few errands and lunch on the way there. Nam Fong was the lunch spot - a small narrow space with tables and to-go tableware. Our waitress Suwanna told us it has been owned by the same family since 1981 in this very spot. I have never had homemade egg rolls before - they were huge and let me tell you they are amazing. Almost like a tempura coating - can’t believe I didn’t get a picture. The duck sauce and mustard were the real deal too - not in plastic pouches but in bulk, mixed then poured into little soufflé cups. I sure got my sinuses cleaned out with that mustard.

All meals on the lunch menu were $9.25! The egg roll is ordered separately for $2.50. It was a huge serving size - we took half of it home. 

Suwanna asked about my hair sparkles; she loved it and wants to get it in her black hair for the holidays. I gave her a card to get in touch with my fairy, Dianne. 

On to the beach which was fairly populated even as the air was cool and it was windy. Ocean goers of all ages were settled in with their book, or one old man just curled up in his chair, wrapped in blankets at the water’s edge with eyes closed, listening to the rhythm of the waves breaking. A true lover of this scene as he had to use a cane to get there carrying a chair, blanket, et al. 

As we crossed the Intercoastal waterway headed back home, we spotted horse riders in the shallow water. Tim and Dee had told us about them, but our first time seeing them. Looks fun!

First basketball game for the Wildcat Girls tonight is in Lenox. We won  61-33…

Leanna #23 had a.great game with a block, put-back basket, and steal. 

First basketball game for the Wildcat Boys tonight at Home - they lost.

Jacob #21 is still rehabbing his knee…

GO CATS!