Beach Getaway

beach at Sea Pines

The end of August we traveled with two other couples in our neighborhood to Hilton Head, South Carolina. We were able to get a decent weekly rate on a house owned by the son of another neighbor here. The house was large, including five bedrooms and an in ground pool. It was located in what I would call the second row, meaning one house separated it from the beach. There was a paved path to the beach, making it easy to get there.

It was quite hot, so for me spending a lot of time sitting on a beach was not appealing, especially considering all the skin cancer I have had. So we only went to the beach for short periods, staying under an umbrella. We kept our beach walks to morning or later in the day. 

We enjoyed eating out in the area, though we did cook at the house a fair bit. Our first night there the sunset view from the restaurant was amazing.

beautiful sunset

We also were able to play pickleball one day, which is always a bonus for us. Jim and I had to come back on Wednesday because I was hosting a ladies group in the community that night. But it was still nice to get away for a few days, though we decided we will not do that in the summer again. It's just too stinking hot!

Celebrating Seventy

Charlotte skyline

We have often traveled with our friends, Kathy and Paul. Kathy and I went to high school together, and later college at Iowa State University. Our birthdays are three days apart, with hers falling on Halloween. Jim and Paul were fraternity brothers at Iowa State, so we have all known each other a long time.

Paul and Jim put their heads together to plan a surprise for Kathy and me as we were both turning 70. They booked us into the Orchid Bay Resort in Belize. None of us had been to that country before, which is surprising since Paul was a captain for a major airline and has been around the world.

coming into Belize

Our ungodly early flight on October 30th necessitated a 4:30 a.m. Uber pickup, which was ugly. We had a few delays out of Charlotte due to maintenance issues and the government shutdown which has resulted in a shortage of control tower workers. From Charlotte we flew to Atlanta so that we could be on the same plane with our friends for the journey to Belize.

The resort was a two hour drive north of the Belize City airport, so we definitely wanted to share transportation for that ride. Upon checking in we were offered a welcoming beverage before being shown to our separate, thatched-roof casitas. They were lovely and included a good-sized screened lanai, which we took advantage of in the mornings and evenings. 

welcome to Orchid Bay

The next day we hung out at the resort. Because we had the all-inclusive package, we could have anything we wanted to eat and drink. We did some hiking on the resort grounds, played some games and also took out the kayaks to paddle around looking for birds. On Saturday we took a boat ride, which included a visit to some Mayan ruins, a trip down the New River, some snacks and then a stop to watch the sun set over the bay. It was lovely. Following dinner that night the staff provided both Kathy and me with our own cakes while they sang Happy Birthday to us.

birthday celebration

Sunday was our last full day at the resort. We decided to do a snorkeling expedition. Following a breakfast sandwich we made our way to the boat dock to meet the captain and his crew. It was only the four of us as passengers, so that was nice. They first took us to Bacalar Chico National Park & Marine Reserve, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the only place in the Western Hemisphere that a reef touches land.

Bacalar Chico

Next we made our way to the Belize Barrier Reef. Part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, it is the largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere and the second largest in the world. As we have also been to the Great Barrier Reef off Australia, we have now snorkeled at the world's two largest reefs. The first stop that we made was not very pretty nor were there very many fish. The second stop was super shallow and when the captain said you had to walk backwards over rocks to get to the deeper water, I decided to wait in the boat. That ended up to be a good call as they quickly spotted sharks and hustled the others back to the boat. The third stop was much better in that the coral looked healthier and there were a lot of fish. I will say that I have never snorkeled where there were not a ton of other boats around. We were the only ones there. And also normally the guides will feed the fish to draw them in, but that was not the case here. The fish were just there without added enticement.

snorkeling

One of the most interesting things to happen is that the assistants on the boat captured some conchs. They brought them on board and showed us how the conch hides within its shell. You have to tap the shell in a certain spot to loosen the conch so you can pull it out. They placed the shells back in the water as they become a home for other sea creatures. They then cleaned up the conch and served it in a dish called ceviche. You really can't have any seafood that is fresher than that!

conch

Following our breakfast Monday we make the two hour trek back to the airport. I have to say, it was a lot easier to leave the country than to enter it. When we arrived there were three other lines/checkpoints to go through once you got through Customs. Ridiculous... 

Our flight to Atlanta left a little late, but we had sufficient layover time in Atlanta to weather that. Plus our flight leaving Atlanta was late anyway, so no big deal. Going through Customs in Charlotte was a piece of (birthday) cake since we have Global Entry. It is worth every penny if you do international travel.

goodbye Belize

Cheers to Seventy Years

pickleball party

Today was a new dawn and a new decade as I turned 70. I began my celebration yesterday when the gals at my pickleball facility threw a little party for me after our clinic. Can't think of a better way to kick things off than pickleball and good friends!

There's always something special about leaving one decade and entering another. I can't say that I really feel any different. Having just completed my annual Medicare Wellness Exam, they obviously look at things a little differently. The cholesterol level that was considered mildly elevated last year now is considered a little more menacing now that my age has a 7 in it instead of a 6. Even though the blood work did not show it to have raised much at all.

The doctor has recommended that I undergo a CT Cardiac Calcium Test, which is a noninvasive test that looks for calcium deposits in the heart arteries. Because it is considered a screening test, my insurance will not cover it. I spoke with the radiology booking people today, and they advised that the CT would cost me $125. As I think the information will be beneficial, I went ahead and scheduled the test for next month.

My doctor also has been after me to get a bone density test done. I have never had one, and I tried for the past two years to get one scheduled. My prior insurance carrier would not cover that test either because they said I don't have any underlying conditions to warrant it. Hello, old person here! Surprisingly, my new carrier will cover this test. I was lucky enough to be able to schedule both of them back to back so I only have to make one trip to the radiology center.

My bloodwork also indicated elevated thyroid hormone levels. This led the doctor to suggest thyroid medication. As I don't have any of the signs of hyperthyroidism, I am reluctant to jump on the medication bandwagon. It occurred to me to question whether the flu shot or Covid shot could impact the thyroid levels in a blood test. Guess what? They BOTH can, and as I had taken one of each in the two weeks prior to the blood work, that makes me wonder if the results were reliable. The doctor agreed with me, and suggested that I have my blood test redone in four weeks. That seems very reasonable to me. Here's hoping that the level will be back in the normal range by then. I do not take any prescription medications, and I sure would like to keep it that way.

The Gateway City

St. Louis Arch

Following our Kentucky and Indiana stops, we drove the remaining three hours to St. Louis. Even after all these years, it remains a thrill to catch sight of the Arch as you cross the Mississippi River into Missouri.

The main purpose of our trip was to attend the 30th Anniversary celebration of SWT Design, the company Jim founded with Ted Spaid and Susan Trautman in 1995. What an accomplishment!

But the trip also gave us an opportunity to catch up with friends and family while we were in the area. We were able to see my sister's family, which was great, and Jim got in a bit of motorcycle riding with his friend.

While he was off the first day, I met a girlfriend at the Sophia Sach's Butterfly House. It was a pretty hot day so neither one of us wanted to go on a long walk outside. While the butterfly house is on the warm side, at least you are in the shade. It was great to sit and chat while the butterflies flitted around us. We grabbed lunch after that. 

Butterfly House

The next day while Jim rode, I picked up another friend and she and I went to the Missouri Botanical Garden. I have been to many gardens in my travels around the world, but I have yet to find one that is as wonderful as the one in St. Louis. It is easy to navigate while offering a different visual and sensory experience around every corner. As this particular friend is also a photographer, we were in perfect sync stopping to photograph the flowers and insects around us. When we were finished, we went to the Trainwreck Saloon for lunch. This restaurant is owned by a gal that I worked with at the American Cancer Society from 1980-1982. In all the times I have eaten there, she has never been around. But that Wednesday was my lucky day as Chris was in! We had the best time catching up, and since my lunch friend graduated from the same high school as Chris, they had things to talk about as well.

Missouri Botanical Garden

On Thursday Jim and I spent the day together since the party was later that afternoon. We first went to the St. Louis Zoo. Again, I've gone to a lot of zoos in my lifetime, and none of them compare to this zoo. And it is FREE to get in! SWT Design has done a bit of work in the zoo, so in addition to enjoying the animals it was fun to check up on the progress/maturation of some of their work. The nice, hot day necessitated a stop at Ted Drewes for some frozen custard - always a highlight of a visit to St. Louis.

St. Louis Zoo

That afternoon was the SWT celebration garden party. While it was hot, it was wonderful to catch up with staff members and clients. I don't think Jim and Ted ever anticipated what their dream would one day become. It's a huge milestone to make 30 years in the design field, and to know that their projects have made and are making a lasting impression not only in St. Louis but throughout the country.

Friday was our last day and we began it by playing pickleball in a nearby park with Jim's riding buddy, who has been playing even longer than me. Then the three of us had a late breakfast, and the guys dropped me off at the hotel so they could go pick up the motorcycle trailer. For a few months Jim's motorcycle has been garaged in St. Louis. But it is time for the annual inspection and licensing, so we needed to get it back to Charlotte. It seemed easiest to trailer it back so Jim wouldn't have to make that long bike trip on his own.

Saturday morning we left St. Louis as the sun was rising and made the thirteen hour drive back home. The trailer added time to the trip as we had to stop more often for gas, and be a little more cautious when driving through the mountains. So we saw the sun rise and the sun set, but made it safely back here.

sunrise, sunset

 

Grandma Time

 Following our week in Massanutten, I spent a little over a week with the kids to help out with my granddaughter while my daughter-in-law went away for the long holiday weekend. They had her in daycare for the first few days so I took advantage of the beautiful weather and enjoyed a local park and long walks with Monty, their small dog.

Green Springs Gardens

I also visited our nation's capital. I rode the train in with my daughter-in-law, so I arrived pretty early in the morning. A good friend from college lives in Arlington, so she took the metro in and met me on the mall. We had an incredible day together, picking right up as if we had just seen each other last month instead of years ago. We saw many of the iconic structures of DC in addition to stopping at some of the Smithsonian exhibits. I logged over 22,000 steps, and had the time of my life. It never gets old to visit the seat of our democracy.

Washington, DC

On Friday we took A to the National Zoo. It was another beautiful day, and we were blessed to see the new pandas that have arrived from China. There's nothing like a trip to a zoo to bring out the kid in all of us.

National Zoo

The days passed quickly, and soon it was time for me to fly home. It was such a treat to get to spend so much time with my sweet little gal (and her parents, too, of course!) She is still very much a grandma's girl, so I'm going to eat that up while I can. I know it won't last forever.

North Myrtle Beach Part 2

Tropical Storm Chantal arrived the day after our neighbors went back to Charlotte. It hit in the early hours of July 6th, and I will say the wind and rain blasting the front of the condo were pretty impressive. As our bedroom was ocean front, we definitely were awakened by the storm. By mid-morning Chantal had been downgraded to a tropical depression, leaving only high winds. The rainbow almost made up for the lack of sleep we had gotten the night before.

rainbow

Mid-week some friends from Charlotte came to stay with us for a few days. They are also not ones to just sit on the beach all day, every day, so we filled our time with other activities. They are avid pickleball players, so we got on the courts a few times with them. They enjoyed learning the Shag with us on Tuesday night, and also the Thursday night concert near the condo.

Back at the condo we got caught up while playing card games and Mexican Train. It's so nice to have friends who enjoy the same activities as us, while also being on the same schedules of waking up and going to bed. That is pretty rare!

North Myrtle Beach

The next post will wrap up our visit to North Myrtle Beach.

Visiting North Myrtle Beach

view from the condo

A lady in our community offered her condo in North Myrtle Beach to residents here, and our next door neighbor asked us if we would like to go in with them and rent the condo for the month of July. It is right on the beach, and has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The downside is that the unit is on the third floor, and there is no elevator. Despite that and the fact that July is the hottest month in Myrtle Beach, we agreed to the rental.

fireworks on North Myrtle Beach

The four of us spent the first week of July together. Our neighbors then headed home and we stayed there until July 17th. There were pluses and minuses to being at the beach for the 4th of July week. It was incredibly crowded, and the heat was a factor. But it was really amazing to see the Patriotic Flyover, and to be able to put our chairs on the beach for the fireworks was great. We didn't have to drive anywhere, and there were fireworks displays all up and down the beach. As fireworks are legal in South Carolina, that meant lots of amateurs were setting them off all around us. That was somewhat disconcerting, especially when a display fell over and began shooting rockets off into the crowd!

The condo is located in a great area, and you could literally park your car and never have to drive anywhere. Restaurants, bars, shops, and groceries are all within walking distance. We even found a park with pickleball courts that was within walking distance. Also, this beach is the birthplace of Carolina Shag, the official dance of South Carolina. Fat Harold's Beach Club was right around the corner from us, and they off free Shag lessons on Tuesday nights. It was fun to go and watch the dancers there.

Every Thursday night there is a free concert at North MyrtleBeach. We were able to set our chairs up mid afternoon, and head back to the condo. Then we went to Buoys for happy hour, timing it so we could then head to our chairs for the concert. The bands were great, and what a turnout!

We had decided the four of us would go on a dolphin watching cruise, but unfortunately the ocean was too rough as tropical storm Chantal was heading towards the coast. Instead we took a ride on the intracoastal waterway, which was fun as well.

intracoastal waterway

After our friends headed back to Charlotte, we ended our first week at North Myrtle Beach by driving a little north to do some hiking at a preserve. We had the Heritage Shores Preserve to ourselves, and it was nice to enjoy the peace and quiet after all the crowds on the beach and in town.

Heritage Shores Nature Preserve

My next post will cover part 2 of our North Myrtle Beach trip.

one of the beautiful sunsets

 

Picture Perfect

gorgeous sunrise

Our son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter and granddog came for a visit last weekend. It had been over a year since they have come here, so it was very exciting to see them. Not that we haven't gone to their home, but it is always fun to be able to show off the grandbaby in our neighborhood.

So many people were generous in lending us the items we would need, like a crib, booster seat, extra toys, etc. That is one of the things I love most about living in Imagery - ask and you shall receive.

Despite a dismal forecast, the weather cooperated while they were here. We were able to visit parks, take her to the community pool, play outside and go on walks. We had a fabulous time, and can't wait to see them again in August. I'm not allowed to share photos of A on any social media, but trust me when I say she is so cute and at a lovable age.

Imagery cornhole tournament

In other news, we played in the community cornhole tournament in the same sex divisions as well as the couples division. Suffice it to say we did not win any medals. The last time Imagery held a big tournament, we took first place in couples. We probably haven't tossed a bean bag since then, so there you go. 

The flowers at our house have been loving all the rain we have had this spring. The front in particular looks gorgeous. The heat is coming in this week, so hopefully the natural beauty will hold up to it. We had a drip irrigation system installed last fall, so we are counting on it to do its job.

front yard

 

The Not So Sunshine State

January 14th we began our drive down to Florida to visit friends from our neighborhood. Our first stop was Palm Coast, where the Hamiltons spend their winter on a small yacht. While we had been on the boat before, we had never gone out on it with them. The weather was cool and a bit windy, but it cooperated enough that we were able to boat on the intercostal waterway for a few hours. It was fun, and it's always great to see them!

Palm Coast

After a couple days in Palm Coast we headed south to Key Largo. I had been there once before in 1991 for a meeting, but Jim had never visited. In Key Largo we stayed with the Staleys in their condo. Again it was unseasonably cold and rainy for this part of Florida. Our plan was to get in lots of pickleball, but we only had good enough weather to do that once. One day was actually sunny and warm, and we went out on the Staleys boat. I loved seeing the birds, dolphins and the manatee that came to drink the fresh water from the hose. That ended up being our one and only warm, sunshiny day the whole trip. Again, we made the best of the situation and enjoyed being with our friends.

Key Largo

Our next stop was a quick one in Naples, where we had lunch with the Bambergers. I had met them in 2017 in St. Louis through pickleball. I wish we would have more time, but it was good to reconnect with them in person rather than just through Facebook.

Naples

The last destination was Port Charlotte to visit the Stuckeys. It rained every day but one, and even that day was quite cool. No pickleball for me as I did not pack warm enough clothes to play outside, but Jim was able to play once. We did visit the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, which we really liked. It was nice to get outside and walk, even if it was cool and windy yet again. 

We ended up staying one extra day in Port Charlotte as it was bitterly cold and snowy in the Charlotte area. When we did leave we drove straight through, which we normally don't do. But with the weather not cooperating, there was really no place we wanted to stop and see for the night.

Port Charlotte

Note to self - maybe going to Florida in January is not a good idea! 

Thankful for Friends

fall is hanging on

We had a non-traditional Thanksgiving this year. Our kids were not coming into town, and we were not traveling anywhere. We could have attended the Thanksgiving gathering here in the neighborhood, which is comprised of other people like us who do not have family living in the area. We have gone to that in the past, and it was very enjoyable.

But we found out that another couple in our community were not spending the day with their kids either. They are neighbors who have turned into good friends. So we decided to just have them over for the meal. We made the turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing and gravy. They provided two side dishes, rolls and a couple of pies. I made a cute pumpkin cheese ball, which was served with crackers, to tide us over until all the food items were cooked. Everything turned out great, and after stuffing ourselves (pardon the pun) we played a rousing game of Mexican Train.

Thanksgiving 2024

When we moved here five years ago, knowing that we had no family or friends in the area, we could only hope that we would make new friends in our community. We never imagined that we would find people that would become closer to us than our own family members, or that we would share holidays and vacations with them. We have a lot to be thankful for, that is for sure!

You Can Go Home Again - But You Might Not Want to

Last month we went back to St. Louis to visit friends and family. We also made sure to hit some of our favorite food and tourist attractions. For the first part of the trip, Jim and I were together for the food and attractions. Our first stop after picking up the rental car was Imo's Pizza, and we hit the one near our old house since it was too early to check in to our hotel. After eating, we stopped by Jim's old business, SWT Design, to say hello to some folks. Then we drove by the house that had been our home for 32 years. It was so nice to see that the new owners are taking good care of the 1902 beauty.

Imo's & Favazza's

That night we had dinner with Jim's former business partner and his wife at Favazza's, which is our favorite Italian restaurant in St. Louis. The next day we visited the Missouri Botanical Garden, Merb's Candies, Dad's  Cookie Company, and Ted Drewe's. We were saddened to hear that Ted had died the previous month. He was quite an institution in the area! We had dinner with another couple that night.

MoBot, Merb's, Dad's, & Drewe's

The rest of our time together passed quickly, with stops at the Missouri History Museum to see the World's Fair exhibit, looking at new SWT projects in the area, and finding a nice spot for a sunset. It was also great to see my sisters family for just the second time since she passed in 2020. We, of course, managed to get in a little pickleball as well.

Missouri History Museum, Creve Coeur Lake, MO Pickleball Club

Jim then met up with his motorcycle riding buddy, and they took off south for a few days ride. I drove out to my friend Diane's to stay with her for a bit. She has a new house out in the O'Fallon area, and it was fun to see her place. We spent time eating, walking, going to parks, and checking out the Rawlings baseball museum in Westport.

fun adventures

The fun times were somewhat marred by Hurricane Helene, which somehow managed to swing up and around to North Carolina. With all the rain, Duke Energy had to release water from the Lake Norman dam, which then flooded our lake and subsequently the lake below us. Our community was without power for about 30 hours, so of course food spoilage was a big concern. Our area was very lucky compared to what went on in the mountain region of North Carolina, however. It will take years to recover there.

My flight to come home was on September 28th, while Jim was scheduled to come back on October 2nd. But something happened to my rental car on the 28th that messed up all those plans. And it is why I may not want to go home again. I'll write about that in my next post.

High School Memories

Charlotte to Des Moines

My high school class recently had it's 50th reunion, and we flew to Des Moines for the festivities. I can remember when my mother-in-law told me she was going to her 50th and I thought, "Man, you are old!" And somehow here I am...

The flight to Des Moines was blissfully uneventful. It wasn't until we got to the Budget Rental Car counter that we encountered a snafu. I had requested a small SUV, which usually means a Rav 4 or the like. The lady told me that she had a Jeep Wrangler for me. I informed her that no, she did not because I requested a "small" SUV. She said my options were the Jeep, a minivan (are you kidding me???) or a pickup truck (seriously? I'm 5'3" on a good day.) 

I chose the Jeep, but as it ended up it was a Jeep Wrangler Sahara - one they hadn't even bothered to wash for us. It is definitely a vehicle better suited for off-roading than driving around town or on the interstate. It has a terrible ride, uncomfortable seats, and is noisy as heck on the road. While it was supposed to be a hybrid, the gas mileage we got was 19 miles to the gallon. The best I can say is thank goodness it had a grab handle so I could hoist myself up into the driver's seat. And it was cooler to show up at the reunion in that as opposed to a minivan!

We decided to stay at the reunion hotel in West Des Moines, as did our good friends Kathy and Paul. The four of us had dinner the first night with some other Des Moines friends. The next morning we were joined at breakfast by my friend Mary Ann. She and her family lived right across the street from me in Des Moines, and I often baby-sat their three kids. It was great to catch up with her.

We were excited to see that Smash Park - an indoor/outdoor pickleball and games facility - was located right across the parking lot from us. We checked it out, and even got some games in Friday afternoon before getting ready for the informal event at Felix and Oscar's Restaurant that night.

Smash Park

Felix and Oscar's was packed, which meant a good turnout from our class and their guests. But it was very difficult to hear and talk to people. I did get to spend a little time with my speech teacher, Bill Springer. We found a quieter back room at the restaurant, and shared a table with a few of my classmates and their spouses.

Saturday morning we did a tour of my high school and wow, what a lot of changes! My class had 439 students that graduated in the spring of 1974. Another 30 or so had graduated early. The school had 1,200 students in grades 10-12. Today the school only has 900 students in grades 9-12. We had perhaps 3 Black students in the whole school when I was there, and that was the extent of our diversity. Today over 40 languages are spoken at Hoover, so English as Second Language classes are a huge deal. It was fun to walk the hallways again to relive memories and see all the improvements. 

Hoover High School

After the tour we went directly to Merle Hay Mall as the class had organized some play at Dink's Pickleball. Dink's is actually located in an old Kohl's store, and what a great reuse of empty retail space. Sixteen of us came out to play pickleball, and we had a lot of fun!

Dink's Pickleball

Jim and I broke off after pickleball while he sought out some billiards with Paul, and I drove to my old neighborhood. It's always interesting to go back to the house where I lived for 17 years. It stills looks really good, as does the whole area. We met back at the hotel to get ready for the evening program, dinner and music. That night it was much easier to have conversations with classmates. We had a great time, and I'm very glad that we went. We have already lost so many from our class, so it really points out how we never know if or when we will see each other again.

50th reunion

The next morning we went to another friend's house for breakfast. Steve and Michele lived down the street from us in Webster Groves for awhile before they moved away. Coincidentally, they also graduated from Iowa State University, and we have remained friends for nearly 40 years. They are one of those couples where even when you don't see them or talk to them for years, you can pick right back up where you left off. 

From there we headed up to Charles City to see Jim's sister and her family. We stopped first at the High Trestle Bridge, which I had read about but never seen. It is part of the Iowa trails system. It was very cool, and definitely worth the detour.

High Trestle Bridge

We had not been to Charles City since Jim's mom died. It was hard to go knowing that neither Lorraine or Jerry would be there to greet us as they both died within months of each other in 2020. But it was good to see family and friends in the area and catch up with all of them. A couple of cousins even drove down from Minnesota to see us, which was fantastic. We also drove around town to see all the beautiful murals that have been installed since we were last there.

Charles City Murals

The visits to Des Moines and Charles City prove that you can go home again. It just might look a little different from the last time you were there.

Escape to the Beech

Our friends purchased a condo in Beech Mountain, North Carolina recently. They invited us up for a visit last weekend. We have stayed in the complex where their unit is located in the past. It has nice views of the mountains and ski lift, and has an indoor pool and tennis/pickleball courts. It is walking distance to a playground, dog park, small grocery store and several restaurants.

We watched as our friend played pickleball in a tournament on Friday at the Beech Mountain Club, which is a really great facility. We have played there before with some other friends who have a membership. The rest of the weekend we hiked, played Mexican Train and just enjoyed the company of a really fun couple. While it did rain a bit, the temperature was nearly 15 degrees cooler than what we left behind, so that was a welcome relief in August for sure. What a great natural area less than 3 hours away from us!

Beech Mountain, NC

The weather has broken a little bit here. Today the high only hit 82 degrees, but what I love most is the fact that it gets into the 60s at night. It's wonderful to sit in the screened porch in the morning and drink my hot tea while catching up on the news. 

Last night was a Super Blue Moon. The moon is called "super" when it is closest to the earth and thus appears larger. Typically a season only has three full moons, but summer 2024 has four of them - thus the "blue moon". Our cloud cover parted in time for me to snap a picture of it. Gorgeous!

Super Blue Moon