2010 Cape San Blas Vacation

On Friday, June 25,at noon, Fred, Shelley, Joanne Klitzing, our dog Sophie and I left Carbondale with our destination the Gulf of Mexico penusula of Cape San Blas, Florida on the panhandle coast.

We drove about 81/2 hours, reaching Montgomery, AL, where we stopped for the night.  Grabbed dinner at Ruby Tuesday, which was down the street from the LaQuinta where we were staying, then turned in for the night.  Joanne and Shelley bunked together. Joanne said she woke up at 3 a.m., got up and put on her make-up and was ready to hop back in the car again before discovering what time it was.  Finally, she layed back down, napped for an hour or two, and then got up after daylight!  At 7 a.m., she knocked on our door saying she was going to the lobby for breakfast!  After eating, we left Montgomery around 9 a.m. continuing on to Florida.

Got to Port St. Joe around 2:30 and shopped at Piggy Wiggy for groceries.

Arrived at Barrier Dunes #452 about 4 p.m.  Lots of sunshine and lots of daylight.  Fixed brats and hotdogs on the grill, ate, then took a short walk on the beach to introduce Sophie to the Gulf of Mexico and the white, sandy beach.

Sunday, we all spent time in the pool. The pool water was as warm as bath water.  Of course, I liked it!  Had the fresh green beans from our garden that I brought along and Sloppy Joe's for dinner.  Sunny again. Walked around Barrier Dunes showing Joanne the Club House/pool area and took pictures of the Sunset.

Monday was cloudy as we began to see the effects of Hurricane Alex churning somewhere around Cancun, MX.  Took a daytrip into Port St. Joe.  Went to the Movie Clearance Sale and ordered take out from The Sisters Restaurant.  Ate in a little pavillon next to the Bay at Port St. Joe.  Some of the Oil Spill workers stationed at the Marina told us they had found some evidence of the chemicals used on the oil spill in the Bay on Sunday and felt the oil would eventually get to this area.

Fred and I took a dip in the pool after we got back from Port St. Joe and then took a walk on the beach. The sky was cloudy and pretty hazy at Sunset.

On Wednesday Fred, Shelley and Joanne drove into Panama City Beach and had lunch at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville.  The following video highlights their afternoon.

Moore Family Reunion

Once again the Moore clan gathered on the first weekend of June for the annual Moore Family Reunion. It was the second year for the reunion to be held at Walnut Point State Park at Oakland, Illinois. And once again, several of us gathered at the home of Darrel & Randi Moore on Saturday evening for a few hours of fun, visiting and a good old fashioned weiner roast. Thank you Darrel & Randi for having us.

Amy Paris and her mother, Mayme Bialeschki Satterthwaite, hosted this years reunion. The Marshall men cooked up pork loins and chicken before the noon meal and the rest of the clan filled the food tables full of delicious side dishes and desserts. The traditional cake walk provided lucky winners with cakes and other prizes of choice.  A silent auction was added this year and the regular guessing games were part of the day of fun. After the meal, Amy conducted a short business meeting and she again accepted the call to host the reunion for another year. Special guests were Zora Moore who celebrated her 96th birthday during June and Stephen and Editha Moore from Brown County, IN.  Stephen is a great nephew of grandfather William G. Moore and has done extensive genealogy research on the Moore and Henderson families.

Graduation, Memorial Day and the Beginning of Summer

Fred announcing the recipient
of the Moehle Scholarship
 at Okawville High School -2010.

Many years ago, the Moehle family set up a scholarship fund in honor of Walter and Minna Moehle's Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary at Okawville High School.  The award goes to a graduating senior who has achieved academic success in high school and who will be continuing their education toward a higher degree. Each year at OHS's graduation, one of the Moehle brothers would present the award to the graduating recipient. As the years have gone by, the next generation of Moehle's have been presenting the award and this year, Fred did the honors. It is always inspiring to attend this celebration and to acknowledge the academic achievements of graduates at Okawville High School.

Kicking off summer

is usually spent at Crab Orchard Lake enjoying the three day weekend with friends and fellow boaters.  As mentioned before, this year is different as we've all been 'dry docked.'  However, we did have the good fortune of spending time with many of the boaters at a great fish fry and carry in at the home of Kenny and Chris Smith's over the holiday weekend.

It was a beautiful summer day to enjoy the company of friends in the Smith's backyard and to savor fresh fried fish and many delicious sides and desserts.  Thanks, Ken and Chris for a great day!

Kenny & Chris Smith, Fred & Patti Wood, Fred Moehle.

Mother's Day Remembrances

Betty Moore Hartman

Reminiscing back on past Mother's Days bring back memories of gatherings and events that will forever be etched in my book of  precious moments. During my child hood, Mother's Day would invoke visits with and dinner with my Grandmothers, Melissa Moore and Theresa Hartman.  These two women were both influencial role models of mine and taught me so many things that helped me develop skills that I continue to rely on everyday of my life.  Then there was my mother, Betty Moore Hartman, who I remember as a youngster clinging to her leg whenever we would go anywhere that I was unfamiliar with and shy about.  She was always my pillar of fortitude and strength.

Melissa Moore

When I became a mother in 1965, motherhood took on a whole different meaning as the bonding between myself and my daughter, Shelley, instilled in me a human love of such depth and strength that could never be broken. And my appreciation of all the love and sacrifices that my mother and grandmothers endured in raising and caring for their children took on a whole new and deeper meaning.

Theresa Hartman

Over the years, on at least two occasions, Mother's Day has fallen on major milestones in my life.  I attained both my bachelor and master degrees on this day.  When I received my bachelor's degree in 1985 from SIUC, it was on Mother's Day weekend and I was honored to give the Valedictorian address for my college from University Studies at the graduation ceremony held at the Arena.  In 1990, I again participated in SIUC's graduation ceremonies, this time to receive my Master's of Science degree from the College of Education's Educational Administration and Higher Education program. Following this milestone event, a family celebration took place in the new pole barn Fred and I had recently built on our new property at what was then Route 3, Carbondale.  In attendance on that special day were my mother, Betty Hartman, my aunt Fay Lawless, brothers Joe Hartman, Tom Hartman, and daughter Shelley and my husband, Fred.

In recent years we have often celebrated Mother's Day with friends, Dick and Ruth Pommier. In the past, we've got together and shared dinner on this special Sunday in May on the houseboat or at Bogie's Restaurant at Stone Creek Golf Club.  This year, we headed to Cobden to take in a bountiful buffet at the CInfinity restaurant.

Oh, what I wouldn't give to be able to go back to one of those wonderful Mother's Days of years long past.

Mother's Day 2010
Dick & Ruth Pommier, Shelley, Nancy & Fred.

Pansy and Bob Jones 50th Wedding Anniversary

Our good friends, Pansy and Bob Jones, invited us to join with them in celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary.  Their daughters and granddaughter planned a lovely evening celebration to honor their parents at the Giant City Lodge. Friends and family gathered to witness Pansy and Bob renew their wedding vows and to rejoice in their happiness together.  Congratulations, Pansy and Bob as you celebrate your 50th Wedding Anniversary.

HurricaNe ParTy

Ever since we bought the houseboat in 2004, by May we are usually settled in and living on the lake until the end of October.  That is until last year after the Inland Hurricane came through the first of May and destroyed the docks, and now again this year.  Seems the Federal Wildlife Service hasn't been able to get things in place to get the houseboat docks rebuilt at Crab Orchard Lake Marina, so the boat will remain dry docked for the 2010 boating season.

Because almost all the boat tenants on our dock are 'in the same boat' (no boats in the water), we thought a party was in order on the first anniversary of the date the Inland Hurricane came roaring through. On May 8th, Fred and I hosted the Hurricane Party. With Kenny Smith frying up the fish, and everyone pitching in side dishes, the boaters gathered for a nice afternoon of fellowship, food, and fun.

Friends and neighbors visit while Lucy, our neighbor
Labradoodle sits
patiently being a very
good guest.



What a good dog!