Post #2018 and Counting

Indeed, should you have noticed the title this is post #2018 and I am using that title because I could think of no other; not a good sign for the first post of 2026, but there you have it. 

Since last we met in this space, a whole heck of a lot has happened, including being in two states, having two Christmas trees, one of which remains in the upright position, seeing family and more family, as well as seeing a host of birds. Yup, birds and there were plenty. Of course we miss our family but big birds are right up there on things I miss from Florida. One chilly morning, one of only a few during our visit, we went to the lake for Bruce to have a few casts. This beauty was hanging out with us.

Lest you be shocked at this lead picture, one thing I have learned over my 18 and soon to be 19 years of blogging is that the lead photo must be strong to catch folks attention. Because blue is most people's favorite color I chose this Great Egret against the bright blue of the lake.

In reality it is hard to know what to leave in and what to leave out. It would probably be hard to go wrong with a photo of "little bit" my nickname for Christian. I will say he has already outgrown that name because he is now pretty darn sturdy, but I think I will still use that silly name for who knows how long?

Holy cow...it's a twofer what with two of my favorites in one shot! As many of you know, heretofore, Christian has been pretty much a stay-at-home baby so it was somewhat surprising how well he handled the crowd of us on Christmas day, and then again a few days later when Bruce's brother's family came to visit. He was a little trooper, particularly when Matt, Tom and Jonathan got down on the floor and played with him.

Alissa took the photo below, and Bill was in the garage having a refrigerator delivered, but the rest of us were available to smile for the camera. Apologies from me to Tom for not bending my knees a little bit.

It has been forever since we've seen Cris, Judy and Jessica which made this visit at Bill and Fallon's house so special. 

Bill and Fallon hosted both gatherings; for sure our place is not baby-proofed, now very much a neccesity  as Christian is an inquisitive toddler. Already! Can you believe it?

He also has a small swing set thanks to David and Michelle. I've never seen a baby swing set before but now I have. 

Matt and Tom, along with Jonathan and Alissa, were having their first experiences having a baby in the family and for one, Matt could not get enough of his new role as an uncle.

So I am making a presumption that whomever is reading this knows all the ins and outs of our family, and you know what they say about presumptions, so let me introduce you to the Peck men.

From left to right: Bill and Christian, Mr. Bruce Peck, Matthew, Jonathan, and David with apologies to David for not doing a very good job getting him in the frame! This might be a good time to remind folks that I grew up with four sisters and a brother so living in a house with all men was definitely out of my regular comfort zone. 

No longer are there the five Price sisters following Carol and Maureen's deaths. That is the thing about having a blog for so long, life has unfolded in this space. Just a warning, should you choose to click on those links, get a Kleenex beforehand. Being with family is such a blessing because you never know when it can be taken away from you. 

No more sad stuff, let's carry on with sister Nancy and Christian. 

From left to right, Tom, Nancy, Gail, Pat, Bruce, Matthew and Ruth.

It has been quite a while since I had a photo of Pat and Ruth and now I do thanks to our server at one of our favorite restaurants in Orlando, "Hawkers" which I know you have already heard many times before.

Before you roll your eyes at this first time grandmother (!), just a few more photos of our latest family member. Fallon has done an amazing job for a first time mother!

As has Bill for a first time dad, in other ways of course, but he deserves kudos as well.

Enough already Gail!!!

So many photos of folks in this post aren't there? That will happen when one is in one's home town. As many of you know, we learned to play pickleball at the courts in our community, now six years ago!! Just before Covid hit big time. There are still plenty of folks playing and I had the priveledge of photgraphing the group.

And a special photo of our "pickleball parents" as I like to call them because They not only paid for the lines to be painted on the tennis courts, but patiently taught everyone to play. Ta da! Greg and Leslie.

In spite of me playing for all these years I am still  only a very mediocre albeit enthusiastic player! 

Get this: I went to my very first yoga class Monday. I'm undecided about the next step on that.

I don't want to skip the bit where Tom had his folks in England on FaceTime.

It has been ages since we have seen Ray and Jane in person but most Christmases we do get in touch.

Visits with neighbors, meals out, bird watching at Lake Davis with Jonathan and Alissa, shopping, plenty of shopping, and more. It was a good and busy 15 days away from Campbell Street and now that we are home, we have hit the ground running, in part because the weather has not been very cold. On our way to the airport to drop Jonathan and Alissa off at the airport, we stopped at Lake Davis to look at birds. 

Much to our delight, they had just treated the lake, turning the water that gorgeous shade of turquoise! I spent countless hours circling this lake with camera in hand. I also fell and broke my wrist there but that's the only unhappy memory. So many, many birds.

We left Orlando on December 31 and it was an interesting way to spend one's birthday. 

We do have a nice place in Orlando but we have traded our view of the lake outside our door,

for a mountain view outside our windows. Both are great. 

And oh yeah, I turned 72 years old. My, oh my.

your friend,

Gail