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Saturday, January 25, 2025

Bahamas 2025-Day 5 and 6-January 19 and 20, 2025

Sunday in the Bahamas

Of course as it's Sunday it was a low key day.

We found a local ward meeting and went there. I planned to join the group but when we entered the chapel it was small and quite perfumey. So I went back out to the foyer. Of course a bunch of people came in late so the foyer was pretty packed. The most perfumed lady that came in came over to welcome me...which was super nice but also cemented the headache to be. Anyway, after the sacrament, I went out and sat in the van while the meeting continued. Apparently the mission president was there and gave a good talk so I'm glad everyone else got to hear him. I opened all the doors to the van and there was a lovely breeze so I had a nice relaxing time. I took some meds that I brought with me.

We made lunch at home. I napped due to the headache and eventually felt good enough to go outside and relax in the shade by the pool.

We decided to take a Sunday drive and found a beach near Adelaide Village. The beach had tons of huge Conch shells but wasn't really the kind of beach you could relax on...lots of seaweed and other flotsam. We walked around but didn't stay long. We realized that we must be quite close to our next airbnb which made us a little nervous because the area seemed kind of dilapidated with razor wire etc on the fences. We decided not to find the airbnb but let it be a surprise.

Monday January 20th was the day to move to the second Airbnb on the other side of the island. We spent the morning packing up. This airbnb had a guy that seemed to be combination of worker and property security guard. He was always working: painting something or doing yard work! Seemed like a hard working guy. I thought he was the owner at first but when I asked he said no, he just worked there. We left him a good tip and he was appreciative.

We decided to play some pickleball before heading to the other side of the island. We were just walking around before our time came up and saw a couple playing by themselves. We asked if they wanted to play doubles and they did! We took turns playing with them (since we had 3) and had a really nice time playing for a couple of hours.

We drove over to our new place around noon and the owner met us there. She was so sweet and she showed us around. It was, indeed, very close to the beach we were at the day before. The property is all fenced in and we were told to lock the gate anytime we left. But she said that she stayed here all the time by herself and always felt perfectly safe. That was good to hear.

The little house was quite cute and sits right on the beach! The ocean on this side was less wild and just very calm and shallow really far out. It was lovely!

She told us that we were welcome to any of the coconuts on the tree and Frank picked several to put in the fridge for later

There was a machete available but turned out to be pretty dull. Frank had to work hard to get his coconut water!

We knew about a restaurant in this little village (had good reviews) so we decided to go for lunch. But it was not open...so we found a little mom and pop place just a few blocks away and had lunch there. The place was called Da Spot and seems like lots of locals like to eat there. We told them that we would definitely be back!

We spend the afternoon just enjoying our lovely spot. We had lounge chairs outside where we could sit and read or nap. We walked along the beach and waded in the water a bit.

Da Spot was so much cheaper than anything else we'd done that we decided to get take out for dinner. When the guys walked in I'm sure the owners were surprised to see us twice in one day. We weren't kidding when we said we'd be back.

Bahamas 2025-Day 4-January 18, 2025

We went to the local Baja Mar resort to play pickleball today. It was super hot but we had a fun time.

I took no other pictures of this day. sad.

We tried to go to lunch at a place that Frank had seen that had good reviews. When we arrived, they said they weren't serving lunch yet. So we went across the street to the beach, which was lovely. We walked in the shallow water and enjoyed the sand. We found lots of shells there.

There was a little food stand there on the beach and the guy was out barbecuing. It looked amazing. I thought we should just eat there but everyone wanted to try that other restaurant. So we waited until lunch was officially started and walked back over.

As soon as we entered, the lady immediately came over and said, "lunch isn't ready yet. It will be at least 30 more minutes"

So we went back across the street to the food truck. I had jerk chicken with sides of corn on the cob and macaroni and cheese. It was sooo delicious and the right choice! Plus we ate right on the beach!

We went home and did laundry, took naps and I did more reading by the pool. Frank actually swam a bit but it was too cold for me (ridiculous since I supposedly want to do cold plunging!)

Dinner that night was a nice restaurant right on the water called "The Poop Deck"

I have no memory of what I ate there. Probably chicken. LOL

That night we introduced Diana and Rob to "Severance". I always think a show is so good til I show someone else and then all of a sudden there is so much cursing! UGH

Bahamas 2025-Day 3-January 17, 2025

We started the day just relaxing for the morning. I did more reading by the pool.

We hit a local grocery store for TP (our airbnb had only one roll and no extras per bathroom), dish and laundry soap (none provided)

In the afternoon we decided to go to cabbage beach. It was supposed to be a happening place and we were able to rent chairs there but there was no food to be purchased and the waves were very high. Frank got himself another coconut though and we lounged for awhile. We were hungry for lunch but luckily I had a few snacks in my bag. Rob and Frank braved the water but Rob got rolled really good by a big wave. I stayed on my chair and read. We also walked along the beach for awhile. It was a nice afternoon.

We went home and showered before dinner

Dinner was back to Meze Grill

All of the meals were amazing as expected and expensive as expected.

I got the "30 layer cake" for dessert and was shocked at how big it was! it lasted me days of desserts!

It was very yummy!

After dinner we played games again: Sequence and 5 crowns

We watched a Netflix move: Back in Action

Bahamas 2025-Day 2-January 16, 2025

We decided to do a walking tour of Nassau downtown area today.

I'm already a nervous passenger in any car, but put me on the "wrong" side of the road and I'm a mess. I decided to try reading a book anytime we were in the car and just NOT pay attention to what was going on around me. I wasn't 100% successful but it did help quite a lot actually!

But driving in the downtown roads which are narrow and full of pedestrians was not great for me. We did eventually find a parking lot (I much prefer that to street parking) and began our walking tour.

During the morning we saw Straw Market, Museum of Bahama, Queen's Staircase, Fort Fincastle

It seemed like endless people and booths. Most booths had the exact same sorts of things. I no longer buy souvenirs when I travel. I prefer a t-shirt or a Christmas ornament to remember. But straw market sure was interesting!

The Museum of the Bahamas was super interesting! The volunteer there was a Bahamian from many generations back. He had so many interesting stories and facts. The Bahamas was sort of started by the Loyalists during the Revolutionary War. And They have a much different perspective on the revolution!

From there we went to the Queen's staircase. This place seems to have varying information on how it was built. Some say Free men did the work and others say enslaved people did. It's a really interesting and cool place to see. The amount of work to accomplish it is staggering.

Fort Fincastle:

Frank got himself his first fresh coconut. One of his favorite things!

At this point we were hungry so we went to lunch which was very expensive as usual.

After lunch we walked some more streets of downtown and decided to see the Graycliff Chocolate tour and John Waitling Distillery Tour

The chocolate tour was fun and informative. It came with some delicious samples as well! Diana decided to be brave and try the onion one and said she did not recommend it! ha!

We went back to our lodgings for afternoon naps and I sat by the pool and read, which was lovely.

Dinner was a Mexican place nearby called Mexicaba. It was fine, nothing to write home about...very much like a chipotle here.

We hit the DQ next door where I had my usual hot fudge sundae for desert.

Frank and Diana played a game at night. I think I played one game but was mostly just tuckered out.

Bahamas 2025-Day One-January 15, 2025

We went to Nassau Bahamas from January 15-24th. It was our annual vacation with Frank's sister, Diana and her husband, Rob.

I had originally received an email from Delta with a "sale". I looked at it and the cost of tickets was less than anything I had ever seen. We could got to the Bahamas round trip for only 22,000 miles. I literally got the email at work and hit "buy" without even talking to Frank. I had enough miles in my own delta sky miles account to pay for them. I had 24 hours to return them so it seemed like a no brainer. Frank agreed! The only issue was that the dates were pretty limited and I did have to go for 9 days (which is a long time for me to leave work). Later we told Diana and Rob about our plans and they decided to come along!

Wednesday January 15th

We had a red eye flight on the 14th-leaving from Salt Lake with a layover at JFK. We flew from there to Nassau where we met Diana and Rob. Going through customs was pretty easy but the line got seriously long behind us and we felt lucky to have gotten in when we did. Diana and Rob ended up in that big crowd.

We went first to a restaurant near the airport where we got Italian food. It was good but very expensive...it was our first inkling of the cost of food on the island! It was our biggest expense.

We saw that it was a short walk to the beach from the restaurant so we went for a little stroll. The weather was lovely and the beach very nice. But we weren't dressed to get wet or anything so we just walked a bit.

Next was the grocery store for expensive food (cereal-$12, milk-$10).

We checked into our VRBO next. It was a nice looking set of condos with a small yard as well as a nice small pool. I don't think I got any pictures!!

It had several bedrooms and a washer and dryer.

We all took naps.

I got a pretty bad headache so I opted to stay home rather than go out to dinner that night. The rest of the group went to a place that ended up being a favorite, Meze Grill. Everyone enjoyed their food and they brought me back a $30 hamburger that was very delicious.

We spent the evening playing skyjo together.

We realized we were hearing fireworks outside so we went onto the balcony and watched for awhile. We assume it was one of the big hotels setting them off. It was a pretty good show!

Then it was off to bed! We were all exhausted.

Monday, January 6, 2025

Birthday 2025

Well, I turned 58 on January 5, 2025. So crazy how I can be this old...though when I look at certain pictures, I see it. LOL

It was a Sunday so there were no big plans. Thankfully Doneen invited us over for dinner! The day is saved!

I spent the morning addressing my New Year's cards (I was so late but I'm impressed I got new years cards done!).

Frank has been having some issues with A-fib so he wasn't feeling fantastic. He rested a bit while I did this.

We had gone to Logan on the 4th to visit Harley and the grandkids (Carter had to work). I had my official birthday lunch while we were there. We had Texas Roadhouse because I wanted a meal that I could have as leftovers on my actual bday.

Frank heated them up for me for my lunch while I continued to work on the cards.

Our church is at 1:30 this year so Frank went to church but I chose to stay home to avoid a headache on my birthday.

When he got done, we went to Doneen's.

She had fixed salad and a Pork Roast. Summer brought cheddar broccoli soup. Josh made me a homemade chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. It was all very yummy!

Frank and I are going to the Bahamas for the first time on January 15th so that's our official celebration of both of our birthdays

Sunday, January 5, 2025

2024 in Review

I seem to set a new record every year for how bad I am at blogging. I really do want to do better. Finger's crossed for 2025!

What did you do in 2024 that you'd never done before? Big home remodel! Did new fireplace, new kitchen, new floors, new doors/trim, new laundry room, new entry floors, new lights. It was a big deal and a long time living in a construction zone! love how it turned out.

What would you like to have in 2025 that you lacked in 2024? Just in the last few months, not the whole year, I've felt pretty off and a bit down. Not sure if it's hormones or seasonal depression or what. But as of right now, I'd like to feel more peace and less anxiety in 2025.
What dates from 2024 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Elliott David Hill was born on 11/12/24 to Carter and Harley. He is completely adorable. The birth went well and we are so happy to add him to the family!
What was your biggest achievement this year? I accomplished a home remodel without losing my mind and also without any debt. (though the money part was mostly Frank's accomplishment, though I did help
What was your biggest failure? I fell off the wagon on scripture study, Inklings and also temple attendance. I struggled A LOT with migraines when attending church. Not sure how to fix that one but I don't like it one bit.
Did you suffer illness or injury? My foot had a lot of trouble healing after the foot surgery. It looks fine on X-ray but just hurts all the time. I finally went back to doctor when my second toe started to hurt even more than my big toe (the surgical toe). I got a cortisone shot which has helped the big toe pain a lot. Second toe is migrating toward big toe which is so annoying and painful. I started wearing toe socks with a silicone toe spacer and it's helping a lot. It's January 2025 now and that's over a year from the surgery. If I wear the spacer, my foot feel pretty much ok. Hoping I can eventually not wear it all the time because it limits my shoe choices a lot.
What was the best thing you bought? All the stuff for the remodel!
Where did most of your money go? Remodel!
What did you get really, really, really excited about? Super excited for new kitchen, fireplace and laundry room. I love the laundry room so much that I sometimes just go in there and stare.
What song will always remind you of 2024? Probably none. I should listen to music more. One moment I'll remember is when we had William here for a visit during conference weekend and there was a children't choir on the tv. William was absolutely mesmerized by the singing! I think if I hear the song Gethsemane, I will always think of that moment. That boy loves music.
Compared to this time last year, are you: Happier or sadder? Fatter or Thinner? Richer or Poorer? Sadder atm but hoping it's just hormones. Fatter. Ugh! Menopause is kicking my butt. Same rich/poorness. YNAB is still my jam and I feel like I'm handing the money ok.

What do you wish you'd done more of? I would like to read more. Have more time with other women. See all of my grandkids more.More time with the Lord. Need to be more regular with the weight lifting/building bones.

What do you wish you'd done less of? Being lazy.

What was your favorite TV program? We enjoy a tv show each night. We really enjoyed Severance on Apple TV. I also watched Modern Family which was fun. Frank finally got more into The Chosen this year.

What was the best book you read? Reread all of the Stormlight Archive to prepare for the latest book (Wind and Truth) which came out in Dec 2024.

What did you want and get? Home remodel! A summer visit to Michigan and the lake with the Michigan Hills. Lots of fresh peaches.

What did you want and not get? more visits to Michigan

What was your favorite film of the year? Wicked Part One (Saw it twice in one day!) I thought they did a great job and can't wait to own the movies and watch them together.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 57. Here is last years post about my bday.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2024? The same pair of Lucky jeans with random work tops. Flannels in winter. Also, due to the foot issues I wear the same pair of Astra Shoes with every outfit...even dresses. It's not good.
What kept you sane? Audiobooks, trips to Logan to see grand babies (and kids), lunches with Ryan/Kristal/Dante, coworkers that I like, tv shows in the evening. Lunches with Julie (cousin)
Which celebrity did you fancy the most? I don't care about celebrities.