Caribbean Cruise: Dominican Republic (2.8.25)

The first port on our Caribbean cruise was Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, where we stopped on February 8, 2025.  Bright pinks, yellows, blues, and greens adorn Caribbean cities and countryside.  One of the most photographed sights in Puerto Plata, the second largest city in the Dominican Republic, is the pink street honoring Dona Blanca, a booster and developer of Puerto Plata who died of breast cancer.
 

Puerto Plata is full of old colonial buildings and many, many scooters.  As we learned in Africa, a scooter is a sign of entry into the middle class in developing countries.

Another charming sight in the city is Calle de las Sombrillas, where more than 170 rainbow-hued umbrellas cover an alley in the shopping district.

We stopped at a chocolate and coffee shop on Umbrella Street, where we learned about how those primary exports of the Dominican Republic are grown and processed.

I was served some of the best hot chocolate I have ever tasted.

We also stopped at the main square of Puerto Plata, decorated for the Dominican Republic's Independence Day.

We finished the day at Monkeyland, where troops of small monkeys roamed within a huge enclosure.  Their keeper spread food among tour guests, seated in a circle, and the monkeys clambered around and over the guests. 

Caribbean Cruise: Miami (2.5.25)

We knew we were in Miami as soon as we checked into our hotel on February 5, 2025.  Our hotel screamed "Florida!" with its pastel murals, interior garden guarded by a flamingo, and turquoise-colored stairs and pillars.  We were passengers on a ten-day cruise on Royal Caribbean's Emperor of the Seas, leaving Miami for the Caribbean on February 6, 2025.

 

With a day to sightsee before our ship sailed, we drove south to Homestead, Florida, a rich farming area near the Everglades.  Jonny and Jenny introduced us to this delightful spot, discovered when they lived in Miami.  Our first stop was the Knaus Berry Farm, where we bought the iconic cinnamon rolls and key lime shakes.

Our next stop, near Homestead, was the "Robert is Here" farm stand, selling Florida fruits and jams, as well as lunch.  "Robert is Here" got its name many years ago, when the father of the present owner set his son by the side of the road with fruit to sell.  The son, only five or six years old, made a sign, "Robert is Here," to advertise himself and his fruit.

I enjoyed seeing all sorts of tropical fruits that I never knew existed.

We also visited Zoo Miami, which we came to love through visits there with both Lisa's family, when they lived in Ft. Lauderdale, and Jonny's family, when they live in Miami.

We walked several miles through the park, as other visitors pedaled 4-person bikemobiles past us.  We got in our 10,000 steps!

We made time for a session at the Ft. Lauderdale LDS Temple.

We finished the day with a seafood dinner at a Ft. Lauderdale restaurant.  Dave and I laugh about this photo of Dave solemnly viewing a huge slice of key lime cake, as if pondering the enormity of the challenge of devouring it!

Much Love from Gretta (2.2.25)

I held a Valentines Day dinner for my family a bit early, on February 2, 2025.  Everything was pink--pink lilies on the table; pink, hand-embroidered tablecloths; pink packages of Lindor chocolates at each place setting.  "I love all of you," I told my family, "and the sole purpose of this dinner is to tell you that."

I gave a valentine to each guest, with a personal note inside, saying what I loved about that family member.

Dave got a note on his valentine, telling him, "I love you! You are my best friend.  I also admire and appreciate the love you show to our family, and the testimony you have strengthened over the last few years."

Jonny is another of my favorites.  A friend once told me, "You love all your children, but Michael is your lamb."  I responded, "And Jonny is my baby."  Each of my children has a special place in my heart.

We were glad that Shauna felt well enough to join us, so soon after Alan's death.  We told Shauna she will always have a spot at our table.

I also adore my grandchildren and the "greats."  I keep adding to my collections of dolls and stuffed animals, stored near the dining room, so the children can play with them when they come for Sunday dinner.  Audrey chose this German doll, bought when I was a little girl. 

Alan Dale Spendlove (1.31.25)

Dave's younger brother, Alan, died on January 22, 2025.  We attended his funeral on January 31, 2025.  Alan and his wife, Shauna, were our good friends and frequent Sunday dinner guests.  We grieved with Shauna at her loss.  Shauna cared for Alan at home, as he declined over the last year.  She told of how much they enjoyed just holding hands and telling jokes, clear till the end.

David spoke at Alan's funeral, telling stories about Alan as a little boy with a big sense of humor.  Dave also told about Alan's courage after his life fell apart some ten years ago, when his daughter Trisha died of a drug overdose, his first wife, Lindy, divorced him, and he also lost his job.  Alan found himself another good engineering job and a second wife, Shauna, who loved him devotedly.  David also thanked Alan's son, Jason, for supporting Alan during his last illness and for carefully and tactfully navigating the relationships among the families from Alan's first and second marriages. Other speakers included Alan's son, Jason, one of Shauna's daughters, and Dave's sister Nancy.  Nancy's son, Jacob, played a beautiful arrangement of "Till We Meet Again," composed by himself.  After the service, David asked if Jacob would play at David's own funeral, as well!

Dave dedicated Alan's grave, which was next to Alan's daughter Trisha and his first wife, Lindy.  Heavenly Father will work out all those difficult relationships!
 

The Real Stars (1.28.25)

Dave visited Mike on January 28, 2025, to watch, in Mike's theater, as the JAZZ played Golden State.  The real stars of the show, though, were Mike's children, who strutted their skills upstairs.  Five-year-old Audrey showed her notebook, where she writes her own stories.

Calder was adorable in  his bear vest.

 

Chinese New Year (1.26.25)

One of my favorite family celebrations is Chinese New Year.  On January 26, 2025, the Spendloves gathered for a buffet of honey garlic shrimp, beef with snow pears, chicken with walnuts, sweet-and-sour pork, Chinese barbecued spareribs, fried rice, and pork dumplings.  Three-year-old J learned to use chopsticks.

Goodie bags were essential.  I filled them with fortune cookies, fans, stickers, chocolate coins in red and gold envelopes, and mints in wrappers stamped with dollar bills.

Annie brought her boyfriend, Mason, as Thomas played with toys from his goodie bag.

 

Jenny helped Thomas paste stickers for the Year of the Snake into a coloring book.

Calder liked the coloring book and colored markers best.

Audrey was totally caught up in the exciting party!

Henry tried out his chopsticks as he ate of a plate decorated with green bamboo, just like his Great-grandma Rose's china.