A break from the normal day drudge....

Today... my dreaded put out the trash day (the one job Rudy left behind that I truly hate and despise but have to do anyway) was interrupted by a delightful time having lunch with friends and catching up with two people I have not seen in a very, long time.

Mary Alice Carroll had called me a bit ago.  The locals in Cecilton were going to have a lunch for Janet Flower as she and her husband, Ron, were moving to Dover as a result of all of the 'crap' that came down at Indian Acres regarding living there full time.  We were meeting today in Chesapeake City at Shaffer's Canal House.  M A had asked me to give her a phone number that she no longer had and I suggested that Marji be included.

So I showered and dressed for lunch with friends.  Headed down to Elkton and picked up Marji and we arrived at the restaurant at noon and joined 26 other ladies who were there to honor Janet for all that she had done.

Shaffers was once a lovely place to eat with outstanding food.  But over the years that Rudy and I were going to Indian Acres, it steadily declined and then closed.  It sat, closed for several years and someone finally bought it and has been slowly getting her back in shape and they opened either last fall or this spring.

They had a lovely menu and there were many great sounding things to chose from.  I had a cup of cream of crab soup and a seafood salad.  The soup was good, but a tad salty for my taste.  I have gotten to where I do not salt my food much, so this may be perfectly normal for most, but I found it just a bit more salty than I like.  But good, nonetheless.  The seafood salad was delicious.  A large bowl of fresh greens, topped with shrimp, lobster and crab meat and covered in a delightful champagne vinaigrette.  There were two whole large shrimp and one that was cut in half and placed to make it look like there were more.  There were several nice chunks of lobster and lots of crab.  If I get to go back, I would happily have it again.  But they also had a very nice chicken salad sandwich that those who ordered it raved about.  There was also a Reuben Sandwich that was stated to be delicious.  Marji had dessert first of cheesecake that looked good, but she did not share.  She had friend oysters and said they were a little overcooked and would probably not order them again.

After everyone ate, Janet sat down with Marji and I along with Lorraine Rees.  It had been a couple of years since I had been able to chat with either of them and it was wonderful to catch up.  Lorraine had also moved in Florida.  She had purchased a house when she first moved there and last year decided to sell it as it was just too much work for her.  She is in a condo, now, and loves it.  She has just put her place at Indian Acres up for sale.  I am surprised that it took her this long to do that, but we each find our 'new normal' after losing a spouse at different rates and in different ways.  I am sure there are people who wonder why I did not move to Florida after I visited, but I am happy in my house here in Parkesburg, so I will stay here for quite a while.

Janet has moved to Dover, DE and they are still getting settled.  She seems to like where they are and I an sure will find all of her things to do in time.  It is not so far from Cecilton that she cannot get back there if she wants to see her old friends.  We must have spent and additional hour catching up.  The chatter was like old times when we did things together as Red Hat Ladies.  It was comforting and familiar.

SO, I have been sitting here with Winston after getting home.  It was in the 90's today and steamy.  I will go out after the sun gets a little lower and cools down outside to finish the trash chore that I just hate doing!  I have been looking at putting in a different alarm system.  It has been advertised all over and is called SimpliSafe.  100% cellular, self-installed and several different types of monitoring.  Also thinking about not having any, but that will increase my homeowners insurance.  Decisions, decisions.....