Madeline was the grand prize winner of a raffle at the clubhouse earlier in the year, so she won a free photo shoot and some pictures. The day after Thanksgiving we took the photos in our community and we used the photos for our Christmas card.

This year was definitely a new beginning. We didn’t have to worry about snow for the first time in 28 years. It was kind of weird only turning the heat on for a month, and planting a garden in February. We got used to it, though. Living in Orlando means not only spending lots of time in theme parks, but it also means that we get visitors from time to time. We started the year off with seeing Madeline’s brother on his way through town. Visitors continued throughout the year.

2016

On New Years Day, Pete came through town. Later that month, the Goebberts stopped in.

I planted my garden on February 1. By the end of February, the plants were getting big, and by early March, I already had fruit.

Dory stayed with us in early February while Alicia and Mel were in California.

In October, Hurricane Matthew came through Orlando. We pulled all our lanai furniture into the house, but the hurricane turned a little just before it hit the Atlantic coast, so we just got some rain and gusts of about 60mph.

More guests in town from Chicago.

Thanksgiving with the kids.

After we came back from the photo shoot, we went to the Emergency Room at Celebration Health. Madeline’s ankle had swollen up tremendously. We spent the next three weeks in and out of the hospital where she had surgery on her ankle and knee. Eventually we left and I became Nurse Dan, administering antibiotics into her PICC line.

The year ended with a family Christmas. We were lucky again that everyone was off for Christmas Eve and at least part of Christmas Day, so that we could go to Mass, open gifts, and share two great meals.