For the Last Time Ever on a Monday Morning in 2015 . . .

Another year down! The gang sent it out with coffee, egg nog, cookies and good cheer.

Without Donna and Sue the past two weeks, progress on the puzzle was slowed. Lyona did slam in twenty or thirty pieces (whether they fit or not). Barbara abandoned her Wall Street Journal and came to help. She and Adele added another few dozen pieces.

Ruth Ann left early. Said she had better things to do! 

Bocce was fun. Bill left his "A" game at home. Ted and Gunther humbled Bruce and Bill. The score was 11 - 4. Obviously lessons learned at bocce ball camp are not lasting. Mark and Jack, still gun shy from a beating they took several weeks ago, watched.

Harriett and Bill's daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter, Ava, joined us. Ava was quite the charmer, at first shy but in the end she gave everyone hugs. 

Donna was in Texas last we heard attending a jigsaw puzzle conference. 

Have a Happy New Year everybody!  See you in January for more Monday morning 

shenanigans.

On the First Day of Winter . . .

What a raucous table of puzzlers this morning! Granted the jigsaw puzzle is super hard but to hoot and holler on every puzzle piece added? Honestly? Gunther and Bruce were even enlisted to help - and help they did! Regardless, we're still optimistically betting on Spring 2016 for a completion date. 

"Bocce Bill" was noticeably absent but then so was Mark and Sue. In their absence, however, they made great topics for conversation! Rather than compete, Ted, Bruce, Gunther, Dolores and Jack chose to remain in the A/C and eat Ruth Ann's special pecans, Gunther's home-made Publix cookies, Ruthye's chocolates and Dolores' apple yummies. It wasn't as much fun as bocce but a lot more satisfying! 

Bruce promised to send us his recipe for rum cake and Ruth Ann her recipe for pecan thingies. When we recieve them, we will post them to our blog.

Next week will be our last gang meet in 2015. Hope to see you all then!

We're Rolling Now . . .

Eighteen gang members showed out 
today.  Harriet and Bill returned from the northern tundra - New Jersey that is. "Wild Bill" had been at a bocce ball camp and boy did it show. (More about that later.) Beanie came with Bruce but not being a full-fledged member had to stay outside on the patio. Leslie and Ruthye came after a 2-week hiatus and Angel came for the first time.  (He approved of the group and promised to return next week.) 

Sue showing off her bocce-girl form!

Bruce and Bill eeked out a victory over Sue and Angel on the bocce court. Bill then teamed with Gunther to beat Mark and Jack like a drum. The score was 14 to 6. Mark and Jack were seen leaving the clubhouse bowed and broken.

Bill scores again!

The puzzle is coming along nicely and still on schedule for a Spring 2016 completion.

Finally, Ruthanne spent too much time in the water, got water logged and could not make the gang meet. She missed out on cookies, home-made fudge, quick bread and marshmallow snowmen. Jack was beside himself. Sue had made him a cookie-flavored raisin patty. Can't tell you how it made him feel.

Have a safe week everyody.  See you next Monday.
      

First Monday in December

With the rainy weather and year-end commitments, we only had eleven club members this morning.  What we lacked in number, however, we made up with enthusiasm. 

The jigsaw puzzle is coming along nicely. With a little luck and some hard work, it should be finished by Spring 2016; with Lyona's continued good help, maybe by Summer. Jean brought a new puzzle for the gang. 

The conversation pit included topics from genealogy to college tuition. Ruth Ann informed the group about the benefits of being on a first-name basis with your movie theater manager. (Popcorn is still $12 for a small bag regardless.) Bruce, our kept-man member and Cuban cook extraordinaire, had to leave a little early to do some housework.

Laurie Boaz is no longer our property manager.  Our new manager is Cody Clarke. His email address is Cody.clarke@fsresidential.com.

Stay dry and have a great week.  Hope to see all of you next monday.

This Post's for you, Ruth Ann . . .

The Clubhouse Gang sent November out in style with cookies, muffins, coffee, conversation and puzzlemania.  (I know, it's not a word but it's descriptive none the less.) 

Sue, Donna Lyona and Adele rocking the puzzle!

Keith and Vickie joined us all the way from Iowa. They must have liked what they saw as they plan to return this winter for a longer stay. Ruthye and Leslie were missing in action, recovering from their Thanksgiving trip to Massachusetts. Harriet and Bill are still at bocce ball camp in New Jersey. Ted stopped by but Barbara couldn't tear herself away from the NY Times. The puzzle gang could have used her help by the way.  Ruth Ann (with the cap of many colors) and Gunther showed up fashionably late.

Dolores wants to see the Egyptian pyramids one more time. Bruce would like to revisit Mexico, something about the water - or was it the cervesa? At any rate, we were advised not to fly in an airbus wherever we go - French engines no doubt.

Have a great week, everyone! We hope to see you next Monday. 

It's Been One Year

Can you believe it? We've been meeting for one year now. Monday morning coffee, goodies, games and conversation. Can't imagine starting the week without it.

The puzzle table was busy as was the conversation pit. The bocce ball court was empty. Bill and Harriett were up north for November. (Really?  Aren't you supposed to come south in the fall, north in the summer?)  Rumor has it Bill is attending a bocce ball camp and Harriett is enjoying the quiet.  

Ruth Ann is back, dragging Gunther, her husband, with her. Good to have her back and to finally meet Gunther. 

Sue was absent. She is a key member of the puzzle team but the group pushed on anyway (next man up!) and finished the puzzle.  A new, more difficult puzzle has been started.

Ruthye brought some of her famous banana bread; Donna came with her famous store-bought rugelach. Smiles and crumbs were everywhere.

See you next Monday!

One More Puzzle Completed

Another Puzzle Down

Need we say more?

Sand in our Shoes

Well, that was interesting. When we arrived at the clubhouse today, we found our jigsaw puzzle broken up and thrown in the trash along with a puzzle board and our mats. Did that ruin our day? No way! It was just sand in our shoes.

We started another puzzle, played some bocce ball, caught up with our friends and neighbors, had some coffee (Dunkin Dark and Dunkin Original) and generally enjoyed ourselves. 

The Clubhouse Gang rocks!  

See you next Monday for more good times.

Good Times in Tuscany

We had a full house this morning. Tom and Liz stopped by from New Haven to see what we had going in Tuscany. They were impressed. Maybe they can get something going in their clubhouse too.

Mark showed up to learn to play bocce. Bruce had told him how much fun it was. Ted, Tom and Bill completed the bocce-boy rowdies. Leslie kibitzed and Jack and Muffin officiated, kinda. 

There was some serious concern at the jigsaw puzzle station. The current puzzle has a Halloween theme. It is rather difficult and the puzzlers were not sure they could complete it by Thanksgiving (gasp!) much less by Halloween. They might have to schedule an extra morning to finish it in time. Such problems we have here in Tuscany!

The goody table was overflowing with coffee, mini muffins, candies and sweet breads. 

Good times!

Fall is in the Air

The first real Fall Monday in Tuscany and the Clubhouse Gang played it to the limit.  It was Sue's birthday. We all sang. Sue cried. (A dozen people singing different harmonies separately was no doubt the reason.) 

Sue brought ginger cookies. She made a special one for Jack. It was covered with zombie grapes! (Must have been in observance of Halloween.)

Ted and Barbara joined the group. Barbara rocked the jigsaw puzzle while Ted kept Leslie in check. Bill, Bruce, Jack and Adele played bocce. Bill is still unbeaten over the past two months.  Jack is still a loser.  We now know who the weak link really is. Bruce is a natural, says it's just like throwing hand grenades. Ouch!

The jigsaw puzzle is coming along nicely. It is a particularly tough one with many pieces and few colors. It might get completed by Thanksgiving.

Have a great week, everyone.  See you next Monday!

Never in the History of Man . . .

have so few had so much fun with so little! I think Winston Churchill said that, or maybe it was Bob Dylan. At any rate a good time was had by the four of us. 

Sue was on top of her game. She taught Adele and Donna how to play contact jigsaw puzzle - even forcefully drove the point home to Donna. Contact Jigsaw would make a good Senior Olympic sport if it weren't so violent.

And Sue was not done yet. She explained the "no, I'm not going to do it and that's all there is to it" philosophy of life to Jack. He couldn't wait to go try it out.

Donna brought chocolate-caramel-pretzel goodies and Sue brought fresh-from-the-oven cookies. It was all good!

Hope to see everybody next week. 

Another One Bites the Dust!

Another puzzle completed.  Ruthye scored the last piece but was too modest to even smile for or salute the camera. Regardless, her puzzle prowess will now live for millennia in ones and zeros on the net. Way to go! Next week another puzzle. See you all then!

Modest Ruthye -
Not-So-Modest Sue and Adele

Monday, Monday

Another summer gang meet - Coffee and doughnut holes, jigsaw puzzles and conversation. Leslie showed up after a two-week hiatus with a new hair style. Looking good, Les! Sue rushed back from her morning appearance at Rachel's. Some progress was made on the puzzle. There would have been more but Ruthye and Sue spent some time rehearsing the glee clubbers. Give a listen. Are they good or what?

A good time was had by all.  No one wanted to leave. 

See you next Monday!

"Boo" on Jack Day

Another fine morning in Tuscany. Harriett and Bill returned from their out-of-country trip to New Jersey while Susan and Lyona got back from Iowa. Donna, Lyona, Susan and Nancy made progress on the jigsaw puzzle and Joe challenged Bill and Jack to a bocce ball match when Sue gets back. (Bill and Jack remain undefeated over the past 6 weeks.) 

We learned that Poughkeepsie means "the reed-covered lodge by the little-water place." Abacoa still means "Abacoa." 

The apple bread and cookies were both infested with raisins waiting in hiding to jump out and ruin a person's morning. It didn't seem to bother anyone but Jack however. 

Lyona declared today "Boo on Jack Day." We all booed "concierge" doctors. 

Tomorrow (Tuesday) is "Noodle Day" at the pool.

Everyone had a good time. Laughter and smiles ruled the morning!

Until next Monday . . . .

Warm Weather, Cool Conversation

What a grand time we had this morning! Elephant ears, pumpkin bread with chocolate chips (yes, really) and Duncan Donuts coffee! We learned that there are well-fed worms in the community strawberry patch and that Abacoa means . . . well, Abacoa. Granny flats are allowed in Tuscany and bourbon makes a good glaze for Cosco's rib eye steaks. And, we were warned not to mess around with Sue. All good stuff. "Wild" Bill was off attending a fantasy bocce ball camp and missed out. The jigsaw puzzle was finally completed only to be broken up. Nancy brought two new puzzles. 

Until next Monday . . . .

Duncan Smokes Maxwell House

Not even close! Four out of five gang members prefer Duncan Donuts Original Coffee over Maxwell House French (or is it Freedom) Roast coffee. Harriett's coffee cake disappeared quickly and Lyona's maple candies were delicious.

The jigsaw puzzle was not completed as predicted, maybe next week. 

Bill and Jack remained undefeated in bocce ball, now for THREE weeks in a row. They were seen high-fiveing in the clubhouse and challenging all comers to a match.

Another good morning in Tuscany. 

TGIM

Coffee Face Off

Okay Gang Members,

If we aren't having enough fun . . . . Monday morning will feature a coffee face-off between Maxwell House French Roast and Duncan Donuts Original Blend. Both coffees will be available to enjoy. The favored blend will face-off with another coffee at a future gang meet and so on. Eventually we will come up with the Official Coffee of the Clubhouse Gang. May even get a sponsorship offer!

See you on Monday for jigsaw puzzles, coffee, conversation, goodies and maybe even a little bocce if the weather is not to oppressive. BTW Bill and Jack have yet to loose a match over the last two weeks. 

It is quite possible that the current jigsaw puzzle will be completed. 

See you then!

Good People, Good Conversation, Good Coffee, Good Treats.  Good Times!

Sue made muffins with real Florida blueberries (really!) and Harriett brought cookies. Dolores showed up with her wrist in a cast. Sue and Donna attacked the jigsaw puzzle. Everyone else chilled. Too hot for bocce ball. 

Another good summer morning in Tuscany. 

Another Monday in paradise, Tuscany that is.  Gang members wore red, white and blue in recognition of Memorial Day. Joe finally made an appearance on the bocce court and along with Sue proceeded to hand Bill and Jack another defeat. Some people are just natural athletes. Others aren't. Ruthye and Susan made greeting cards. Donna, Nancy and Lyona were hard at work at the jigsaw-puzzle station. Donna's cinnamon, cream cheese muffins were fantastic as was Harriet's pumpkin bread.  A good morning indeed! Check out the photos.

Monday, Monday.  Another good start to the week.  Sue and Adele scrapped greeting cards while Lyona and Ruthye started another jigsaw puzzle.  Brad introduced a European-styled board game and Joe and Leslie engaged in good-natured repartee.  Ruth Ann stopped by to say goodbye for the summer. She'll be back in November dragging her husband along with her. 

Laurie, our Property Manager, stopped by to see how we were doing and to offer any assistance we might need.  She received a round of applause from all present. We do appreciate her support and guidance. 

Next Monday is Memorial Day.  All agreed that we should meet and wear red, white and/or blue. 

Another fun morning.  Thanks, everybody!

Another enjoyable Monday morning.  We had 14 gang members show up. Harriett and Bill's granddaughter was hands down the cutest.  Sue got up at the crack of dawn to make Dove chocolate candies from scratch.  Sue, you're the best! Bill, still smarting from last weeks loss to the girls, left his bocce set at home. And, another jigsaw puzzle was completed, this one in record time. (It was only 500 pieces though.) When the tech support team can convert a cell phone video for viewing on-line, a clip of the puzzlers singing a victorious "We are the champions" will be posted.  Thanks, everybody.  It was fun!

Had a fun morning.  Thanks everybody!  Good food, good company. Even won a game of dominoes, my first win. Didn't fare so well at bocce, though. We guys were winning until Susan jumped in and made the winning toss. Way to go, Susan!