Welcome to our summer home.....some are home...some are not!

Hello my friends! I can't tell you how much I am missing all of you! Thankfully we have lots of ways to keep in touch while we are away from our Avalon home. I have heard from a few friends so I thought I would pass a few messages I've received so we can all feel connected. Here goes:
Nancy Bendiksen from 2nd St writes:

Just wanted to let you all know we are still suffering with the heat. The heat and humidity. Also, have had lots of rain. Flooded poor Marvin's deck and spread to the RV's in the back. That's not usual, but the pump they installed is suppose to get rid of it before it gets too high. Pump wouldn't work, but they fixed it the following day and now it works great. Really sends that water down Second Street.

We're having a real problem with "lubber caterpillars" here. They are about three inches long and very colorful, but do they ever do a job on the brushes and flowers they like. They also don't like to die. Spraying them doesn't help. You have to throw them in soapy water or squish them. Ugh! What a mess. They seem to like Frank's old place at the end of Third street.

Don't know if anyone have told you, but Ace Hardware has closed it's doors. No more post office and no more Ace Hardware. The couple who own it retired. They have been in that same store for 36 years. There was a nice article in the paper about them. Snowbirds are sure going to miss that place. Us residents, too.

This is what the owner said in the paper. "We are closing because of the changing markets and buying patterns. This is certainly influenced by the big box stores, but we have always felt that there was some good in Home Depot and Lowe's. We began seeing a shift in business in mid 2007. The recession hit us at that point. At first, we thought it was a normal business fluctuation, but it continued. It was after the winter months, when all the snowbird customers had gone home, that we began realizing the end might be near". So, farewell to Ace Hardware. It was a good place to go if you were looking for just one item.

Went out to breakfast last Saturday to Smitty's, at 58th and 122nd. Ten of us showed up and we all enjoyed the morning and socializing. Dottie always comes, even though she doesn't live here any more and Brenda and Ray, who have also moved out, but enjoy coming to breakfast with us.

Hope you are all well. We are hanging in there. Will be heading north this summer for a couple of weeks. That's if the gas prices don't blow us away. Anxious to see family and friends, as we haven't been up there for a while. Maybe we'll try to find those great white sharks that are being spotted around the cape.

Look forward to seeing all our snowbirds soon.

Blessings,

Nancy (Joe says "Hi"!)

Thanks Nancy. It sure is nice to hear how things are going in Avalon.

Ron and Pat Vanover have been on the road again and send word that they are safely back from their trip to Denver and Oklahoma. They had some good news to report when they returned:

Guess what is building in our town? Yes! A Cheddars! Took the grandkids to see cars 2 in 3D and went to French Lick Inn to let them ride a really old train that after 1 hour out is robbed by cowboys on horses! Then we stopped and the kids got to sit on the horse. After an hour back to town we arrived at a hotel with a really nice water park. We stayed over night and spent more time at the water park the next day...a fun weekend and I know they had a good time. Memories.... that is what it is all about! Hope all of you are doing well. Glad Bill is out of the hospital.
Pat & Ron

I hear from Linda W on 4th St and she tells me that it is HOT< HOT< HOT and quite lonely without us. We MISS YOU TOOO Linda! Linda had some sad days this summer as she had to have her poor little Missy put to sleep. I know that some people think they are "only " pets, but to those who love them, they are our furry kids! We love you Linda!

Facebook has been a real blessing this summer. I have had the opportunity to keep in touch with Tom & Barb and Traci & Emma; George & Marie, Kirby & Deb, Donna & Lenny to name a few. I would encourage you to open a facebook account and find your friends! You don't have to talk a lot. It is just nice to know how they are doing.

Well friends, stay well and keep in touch. Soon we will be back in the sun together!

Happy Can-Am weekend!

Hello to all!
Ed & I just returned from a long weekend at the lake (Lake Erie) where we celebrated Canada Day (July 1st) There is nothing quite like sitting at the campfire and being surrounded by fireworks! Then to top it off, on Saturday night we were treated to another show in the sky....an amazing lightening storm accompanied by wind, rain and thunder...and a few tree branches tossed on the roof! Quite an exciting evening, but all is well, and Sunday the beautiful breeze off the lake made up for the early end to our evening Saturday. Tomorrow is the Fourth of July and fireworks will be high in the sky along the opposite shore as our neighbors celebrate. It is another reminder of the closeness of our two countries. Hope this special holiday weekend is enjoyed by all the friends of Avalon.
Missing each and every one of you!
Lori & Ed

Happy first day of Summer!

Hey there friends! Hope you are all well and enjoying the weather. We have had some good & some bad, but all in all it has been fairly nice (soggy, but nice!) I received the following message for everyone from Linda Williams (Fourth St):

WE'RE STILL HOLDING DOWN THE HOMEFRONT. IT IS HOT,HOT. I FORGOT TO THANK NANCY & JOE FOR HOSTING OUR BREAKFASTS EACH MONTH. THEY PICK A PLACE & WE ALL MEET THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH. THE CORP. OFFICE HOSTED A BBQ FOR MEMORIAL DAY. WE ALSO ARE GOING TO HAVE A POT LUCK AGAIN THIS MONTH.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR NOTES TO ME FOR MY LOSS OF MY DOG MISSY. SHE WILL BE MISSED.
OK TILL NEXT TIME.SEND US SOME RAIN OR SNOW OR SOMETHING THAT WILL COOL US OFF.
LINDA 4TH.ST.

It's good to know that all is well in Avalon. I always enjoy spending time in Canada with my family, but I sure do miss my friends from Avalon!
Take care & keep in touch. If you have any news to share, you can send me an e-mail or post it as a comment.

Happy days to all.

Time for an update!

Hope you are all well and happy and enjoying the summer with family and friends. Ed and I have been busy selling our Fifth Wheel at the lake in order to replace it with a bigger unit eventually.Right now we have put our 27 ft travel trailer on our lot at the Lake so we can still enjoy the summer with our friends. We are still trying to sell our house.Some day.... when God is ready to unleash us on the full time RV world!
For those of you who have been asking, our granddaughter is walking and running and doing very well. We are hoping to spend a weekend in October at Avalon, just her and I - doing all the things a 13 yr old and a nana can enjoy together.
I am headed to Sudbury this week to see my sisters and of course, to drop in on Norm and Brenda and see if I can stir the pot a little!
I have heard from the Seddons, the Vilanis, Ron & Judy Steeves, and Mary and Ray Schmidt. I get the feeling we are starting to miss each other! I know I miss each and every one of you!
Keep on having a great summer. Musicians...get busy picking a few new songs for Thursday night....its coming up quickly.
Love you all & can't wait to be back in paradise with the nicest folks on earth.
God Bless you all real good!

I wonder how the old folks are at home?

Well, the words of one of Joe's favorite songs came to mind so I thought it was time to say hi to all. Although we are far apart we are still close to the heart. I get the odd piece of news from Avalon. Linda Williams sent along this greeting:

I thought I'd write & let everyone know what's happening here in AVALON. The weather is beautiful & hot,hot. We still have NICKEL BINGO on TUESDAY. LARRY & FRIEDA from 3rd St. hosted a last minute POTLUCK SUPPER this past SUNDAY. We had about 20 people. Most everyone who is leaving for the summer has gone. I went to the Doctors the other day & it's been 1 yr. & I'm cancer free so far. JACKIE & JOHN from 5th St. are getting married on our cruise in JAN 2012. I have everything set for that . The bus is booked, the cruise is booked and I'm ready to go. Well goodbye til next time. We're all fine here and we'll keep it going till you guys get back.
LINDA 4TH ST.

Thanks Linda for holding it all together for us while we are gone. Hooray for you and your cancer free body!!! I am sure we are all thankful for your super recovery.

Ed and I are enjoying our weekends at the lake and we are happy to report that our granddaughter Erin is walking and running and doing great. She is even participating in some sports. Thank you for all the prayers on her behalf.

Everyone else is doing fine as far as I know. I will post any news I get as it comes in.
Take time to smell the roses this summer and take good care of yourselves.

Update

Greetings to all.
Sad news from my brother-in-law Norm Vanier. His mother passed away quietly late Thursday night. All of her children were able to make it to Oregon in time to see her before she passed. She lived 88 years, mostly in wonderful health, survived 2 husbands and had 5 children, around 20 grandchildren and over 30 great-grandchildren. I guess none of us can ask for more than that. RIP Margaret Vanier-Stossel.

On another note, Donna and Scott Hillier (4X) made it home last week. They were trying to slip through Georgia in between storms but I guess their truck didn't want to co-operate. They had to hunker down while a few repairs were being made, but all in all they managed fairly well and are now back in Ontario.
I haven't heard of any other troubles so I guess the rest of the crew is making out just fine.

The weather here in Windsor is as fickle as ever. Spring in the afternoon and winter after the sun goes down. My brother-in-law Norm Depatie who is still at Avalon tells me it is a hot as h*** but strangely enough I do not feel sorry for him!

Take good care of each other wherever you are!

Just when you thought it was safe to go home....

After a great ride home on Sunday we woke up to the cruel reality that it is still winter in Canada....not officially, but that white stuff on the ground is strong evidence that Mother Nature is not finished playing tricks on us yet. Hopefully the Easter Bunny won't have to borrow a sleigh from Santa to make his rounds.
I hear from those at Avalon that the sun is still shining. Wouldn't it be nice to have just one more day at the beach?
My sister Pat and husband Norm Vanier (from Third St) arrived home last Friday, but are already on the move. Norm's mother (88 yrs old) who lives in Oregon is doing poorly and the family has been called in. His sister Vivien from Washington state suffered a heart attack just 2 weeks ago. I am sure they would all appreciate your prayers at this time.
Take care and keep in touch.