THAT is a bunch of Tommy Rot. I have so much to do today I wish I were somewhere else. Don't you just love words like Tommy Rot. Another era, another time.
On our second night, we stayed in Black River Falls. Now there is a funny story there. I had posted we would be staying in River Falls, I wrote the name wrong - missed putting in the word Black so the kids thought we would be closer to them and could get together. My bad. Would have been fun, should have planned differently.
We put on 800 miles the first day, stayed in Manchester TN and 800 miles the second day and stayed in Black River Falls WI the second night with only 300 miles to go home. Yahoo.
1900 from Remember to Naples but for the people from Toronto its 2400 miles. Another day on the road.
Jim tells me he loves me all the time. It's a nice thing.
Well I think my bladder infection is better - thank goodness for antibiotics- I think it was more my kidney than my bladder. Boy did I have back pain.
Lots to look forward to this year- I will be 75 and thank God every day for my time on this earth, he decides, I don't.
Skye and Jon will have a new home on the Rum River. Can't wait till that deal is done. It is really unique. They both seem to love it.
A real fixer upper.
And on a river. He has a canoe, she has a kayak. Will be fun for them, they will put in a fence for the dogs. He now helps make their own dog food. When he hunts deer they can use that for dog food. I remember when we got our first Makons, they had all the puppies eating off deer carcasses. Interesting.
We were 2 months in Florida - I think it's too long, at least staying in April is out of the question, it will have to be February and March.
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Friday, April 29, 2016
FRIDAY EARLY MORNIMG
Well we are on our way home - we left Naples at 5am. Only 300 miles to be out of the state and Florida is a long state.
We stopped at a rest area after 2 hours to let all of us have a break. Dogs love it.
We went to Dirty Dancing last night and had dinner before at The University Grill- it was wonderful. We wish places at home had their bread and olive oil treatment. Oh it was yummy. We are about to stop for gas at a Pilot. It is 2.50 a gallon. Oh well.
Thursday, April 28, 2016
GETTING READY TO LEAVE FLORIDA
Well here we are getting ready to leave Florida.On TUESDAY we met Ron & Polly at 11:45 for lunch at MiroMare, hummmmm, I feel like I am repeating myself. Sitting over the water on a water inlet having lunch under an umbrella sue is pleasant.
I had Chicken Caesar Salad and have never seen chicken pounded that thin.
After we went to the Holocaust Memorial Museum, we had a wonderful docent that spent an hour with us. It is so hard hearing all the statistics and yet you want to remember so many of them but don't really want to quote them for fear of being inaccurate. The numbers are staggering and the stories break your heart. The photos really bring it home and the one message I heard loud and clear is the German people knew what was going on because of all the camps. I guess you just wanted to believe so many were ignorant of what the Nazi's were doing.
WEDNESDAY Frank wanted to get together with Jim and I was happy to see have one last gathering.
THURSDAY Jim went to a Men's Breakfast at Ron's church, the speaker was Michael Beck. Would love to have heard him speak.
We bought 2 of his books.
Jim ran some errands and one was to get more Balsamic Pomegranate Vinegar. It is so yummy. He had to gas up and run to Walmart and Publix.
OK here comes the hard part. We have noticed the dogs have been scratching themselves a lot lately, well there was a reason for that. Somehow they have got Florida Flees so Jim got special shampoo and flee & tick stuff - the scratching kept him awake last night, Otto kept hitting the wall with his claws. They are much better today.
Tonight we see Dirty Dancing and we will do dinner at The University Grill. Will be fun.
Going to have an apple.
LATER.
I had Chicken Caesar Salad and have never seen chicken pounded that thin.
After we went to the Holocaust Memorial Museum, we had a wonderful docent that spent an hour with us. It is so hard hearing all the statistics and yet you want to remember so many of them but don't really want to quote them for fear of being inaccurate. The numbers are staggering and the stories break your heart. The photos really bring it home and the one message I heard loud and clear is the German people knew what was going on because of all the camps. I guess you just wanted to believe so many were ignorant of what the Nazi's were doing.
WEDNESDAY Frank wanted to get together with Jim and I was happy to see have one last gathering.
THURSDAY Jim went to a Men's Breakfast at Ron's church, the speaker was Michael Beck. Would love to have heard him speak.
We bought 2 of his books.
Jim ran some errands and one was to get more Balsamic Pomegranate Vinegar. It is so yummy. He had to gas up and run to Walmart and Publix.
OK here comes the hard part. We have noticed the dogs have been scratching themselves a lot lately, well there was a reason for that. Somehow they have got Florida Flees so Jim got special shampoo and flee & tick stuff - the scratching kept him awake last night, Otto kept hitting the wall with his claws. They are much better today.
Tonight we see Dirty Dancing and we will do dinner at The University Grill. Will be fun.
Going to have an apple.
LATER.
TUESDAY MORNING
Tuesday and counting down.
It has been a busy few days.
Going to start with MONDAY: We had a wonderful day together and at 3pm we headed out to meet Frank and Helen at "The Blue Martini"
On the way we stopped and picked up some pain patches for me and "cash wonderful cash", let's get together.
We drove over to Frank and Helen's and hitched a ride with them to The Mercado shopping center where The Blue Martini exists.
Jim had lemonade, Frank a coke, Helen Pinot Grigio and I had beer.
They have a wonderful happy hour, we had a fruit and cheese tray which was huge and two different chicken dishes, a lemon pepper chicken with cilantro pesto and a Thai chicken tenderloins with a mild peanut dressing and slaw - it was wonderful. All 4 of us ate to our fill with 2 drinks each with 20% tip for $66.00. After we went back to Frank and Helen's for dessert. Helen made me a fake cocktail and it was yummy but I think I would probably tweet it a little, cranberry juice with tonic water on ice, Jim doesn't like tonic water so we could use soda. Will have to try that but we would n use diet cranberry juice. Had a wonderful time visiting at their home. It really is designed in the Florida style. A very comfortable home indeed.
My goodness I hope it doesn't take me so long to fill in the blanks for the last few days.
SUNDAY: what a wonderful day, I have been using my walking sticks, I have not been able to find rubber tips for them yet and everyone tells me their walking sticks come with rubber tips, mine didn't.
We went to The First Presbyterian Church for the last time. We will truly miss it.
We went out to breakfast with Ron & Polly after at Dolly's. It was really close to church and was good.
SATURDAY: we did the water taxi again, I love it. We had lunch at The Boathouse and took a ride the whole way around.
We also did The Museum of Military Memorabilia at The Naples Airport where it's housed.
FRIDAY: we were going to do the dog beach so the dogs could romp in the ocean but to get to the beach you had to practically submerge through knee deep schummy water. Jim said no but I would have gone for it. Instead we went to Thr Royal Scoop homemade ice cream shop in Bonita Springs. So fun and who doesn't like home made ice cream.
It has been a busy few days.
Going to start with MONDAY: We had a wonderful day together and at 3pm we headed out to meet Frank and Helen at "The Blue Martini"
On the way we stopped and picked up some pain patches for me and "cash wonderful cash", let's get together.
We drove over to Frank and Helen's and hitched a ride with them to The Mercado shopping center where The Blue Martini exists.
Jim had lemonade, Frank a coke, Helen Pinot Grigio and I had beer.
They have a wonderful happy hour, we had a fruit and cheese tray which was huge and two different chicken dishes, a lemon pepper chicken with cilantro pesto and a Thai chicken tenderloins with a mild peanut dressing and slaw - it was wonderful. All 4 of us ate to our fill with 2 drinks each with 20% tip for $66.00. After we went back to Frank and Helen's for dessert. Helen made me a fake cocktail and it was yummy but I think I would probably tweet it a little, cranberry juice with tonic water on ice, Jim doesn't like tonic water so we could use soda. Will have to try that but we would n use diet cranberry juice. Had a wonderful time visiting at their home. It really is designed in the Florida style. A very comfortable home indeed.
My goodness I hope it doesn't take me so long to fill in the blanks for the last few days.
SUNDAY: what a wonderful day, I have been using my walking sticks, I have not been able to find rubber tips for them yet and everyone tells me their walking sticks come with rubber tips, mine didn't.
We went to The First Presbyterian Church for the last time. We will truly miss it.
We went out to breakfast with Ron & Polly after at Dolly's. It was really close to church and was good.
SATURDAY: we did the water taxi again, I love it. We had lunch at The Boathouse and took a ride the whole way around.
We also did The Museum of Military Memorabilia at The Naples Airport where it's housed.
FRIDAY: we were going to do the dog beach so the dogs could romp in the ocean but to get to the beach you had to practically submerge through knee deep schummy water. Jim said no but I would have gone for it. Instead we went to Thr Royal Scoop homemade ice cream shop in Bonita Springs. So fun and who doesn't like home made ice cream.
Friday, April 22, 2016
FRIDAY - ONLY A WEEK LEFT
Well here we are only one week of vacation left, we talked yesterday and we believe it has been the best vacation yet. We visited urgent care yesterday because I have gone from walking with or without my walking sticks to almost crawling. Bending over is excruciatingly painful. Turns out it's a bladder infection, I think I tweeted my back about the same time and need to see a neurologist when I get home. I will get over all this in fact after getting some antibiotic's and Vicodin and a shot for pain I am doing better. She also recommended icy/hot patches - just like the ones I have seen them advertised on TV.
Jim has been a peach, but I need to get better fast. I have lots to do when I get home.
It's funny - all I want to do is celebrate this year because I made it to 75, I have 2 brothers and a 67 year old sister in hospice that didn't and won't get to 75.
It goes without saying we would love to have mobility. When I close my eyes I am speedy Gonzales. If only I could slow my brain down.
I need to remember to contact Heather Webster, she left me a message about some ideas for the rummage sale. Love it love it love it.
I think we need to have a fun food item too, we will see. So many wonderful people at church to count on. I miss them.
I even had time for laundry. Even on vacation it needs to be done.
After our day at the doctors we visited Pei Wei, I love that place and I always have leftovers? Lucky me!
Jim has been a peach, but I need to get better fast. I have lots to do when I get home.
It's funny - all I want to do is celebrate this year because I made it to 75, I have 2 brothers and a 67 year old sister in hospice that didn't and won't get to 75.
It goes without saying we would love to have mobility. When I close my eyes I am speedy Gonzales. If only I could slow my brain down.
I need to remember to contact Heather Webster, she left me a message about some ideas for the rummage sale. Love it love it love it.
I think we need to have a fun food item too, we will see. So many wonderful people at church to count on. I miss them.
I even had time for laundry. Even on vacation it needs to be done.
After our day at the doctors we visited Pei Wei, I love that place and I always have leftovers? Lucky me!
Thursday, April 21, 2016
MONDAY MORNING
Here we are working on a Monday again. We only have one Monday to go before we head for home. I am looking forward to my regular routine again. I need to start going through my junk so I can get ready for our church rummage sale. You feel so disconnected on a two month vacation. I know I should look at it as two months of just living somewhere else but its hard to relate to it like that. It is just too long a period of time. I think you need to establish another parallel life here but that's just not for me. I like the life I have and I guess I miss the day to day stuff in Remer. I miss being so far from the kids.
We have had so much fun this week.
With the exception of my bladder infection. I just kept getting sicker and sicker and figured it had to be my back but it wasn't.
I am quite silly, have medication and pain pills now so things should improve. I should have noticed my kidney was really
tender, where is Skye when you need her?
Sunday we went to a huge flee market after church.
Monday the inter-coastal waters so Jim could fish, we saw some cool alligator's and baby ones too - I bet we saw 15-20 babies. The MOM was watching close by.
Tuesday we stayed home and Jim washed the truck. Looks great.
Wednesday we went to the beach and Jim fished and I sat in a higher chair than a beach chair, I have been getting weaker and weaker, now we know why. I could never have got up out of a beach chair.
Thursday we did laundry and went to the Doctor, got a bunch of meds and went to Pei Wei. We will have to go there one last time so I can get some of their lettuce wraps. They are so very yummy.
This vacation stuff is mind boggling - who can go on vacation for 2 months anyway, what would I do or where would I be without my sweetie. He is just so good with money. Me, not so good but that's another story, and does he take care of me.
Do you know something, we leave for Remer one week from tomorrow. We will be home before you know it.
I heard the "Bear" is back. Oh joy.
We really never named him, I figure it has to be a boy, if she was a girl she would have her cubs with her some time.
We have had so much fun this week.
With the exception of my bladder infection. I just kept getting sicker and sicker and figured it had to be my back but it wasn't.
I am quite silly, have medication and pain pills now so things should improve. I should have noticed my kidney was really
tender, where is Skye when you need her?
Sunday we went to a huge flee market after church.
Monday the inter-coastal waters so Jim could fish, we saw some cool alligator's and baby ones too - I bet we saw 15-20 babies. The MOM was watching close by.
Tuesday we stayed home and Jim washed the truck. Looks great.
Wednesday we went to the beach and Jim fished and I sat in a higher chair than a beach chair, I have been getting weaker and weaker, now we know why. I could never have got up out of a beach chair.
Thursday we did laundry and went to the Doctor, got a bunch of meds and went to Pei Wei. We will have to go there one last time so I can get some of their lettuce wraps. They are so very yummy.
This vacation stuff is mind boggling - who can go on vacation for 2 months anyway, what would I do or where would I be without my sweetie. He is just so good with money. Me, not so good but that's another story, and does he take care of me.
Do you know something, we leave for Remer one week from tomorrow. We will be home before you know it.
I heard the "Bear" is back. Oh joy.
We really never named him, I figure it has to be a boy, if she was a girl she would have her cubs with her some time.
Sunday, April 17, 2016
SATURDAY
We wanted to go on a driving adventure, at least I did, we travel on Immokalee to the Ocean all the time and there is a town of Immokalee about 1/2 an hour from here so we shot out for it. We stopped in a Goodwill and I found the prettiest blue vase for Linda. I found one of my favorite prints for $7 and bought it on a whim for Skye, I did text her and she said if it was under $10 to get it. It is Van Goug's Starry Night. That is such a beautiful print. Then we went to the Seminole Casino. That made us feel old because we went to the service desk to get a players card because you can "spin" for money. You get $10 on a card and then play it. Well we did that but it truly took over an hour to figure out how to do it and walked away with $24 and it would have been more but the machine makes you spend the $10 on my machine anyway. Goofy, all we wanted to do was take the $10 each and roll it over to lunch. It was too funny really and took way too long and finally we decided to go home and have salmon. Good meal, The funny part of the meal is we stopped at Publix first to get a couple of sweet potatoes and I looked at the bill on the way home and for 2 sweet potatoes it was $4,29. That just seems like a lot for 2 potatoes.
Need to shower for church. Later.
Did laundry yesterday too.
Need to shower for church. Later.
Did laundry yesterday too.
WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY-FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
Well on Wednesday Jim and I went to the Ocean, he found this new place at Clam Pass. At least that's what I call it, it may be its name. We park for $8. It is so fun to just walk around in the Ocean, warm breezes and heavenly water. The people watching is great. Sometimes I have to wonder what people are thinking when I see huge people in bikinis. Its bad enough that I feel like a cow when I don a swimsuit but there really are some sights to behold.
I know its silly but I wish you could have pets at the Ocean.
I also know there are Pet beaches but Jim just doesn't want to go there and our dogs don't interact. Its the big dogs that really are fun to watch at the dog beaches. They romp and just have a hoot. I know I did laundry this week but I don't think I got around to it until Thursday when Jim went to Fish Alligator Alley with Frank. They were only gone till noon.
Friday we were busy busy busy.
Friday we went over to Frank and Helen's house. It looks like a designer home. A Florida designer home. All white and light blue accents. Sailboats and shells. Their condo is really beautiful. We met and they took us out for Pizza at a place called "The Crust", Good pizza but the wait was about 1/2 an hour plus. There are so many eating places in Naples but there are lots and lots of people that go out to eat. Here it is the middle of April and you would have think lots and lots of snow birds have already gone but there are a lot of people that live here year round. Imagine, paradise year round. Of course the summers get hot.
I know its silly but I wish you could have pets at the Ocean.
I also know there are Pet beaches but Jim just doesn't want to go there and our dogs don't interact. Its the big dogs that really are fun to watch at the dog beaches. They romp and just have a hoot. I know I did laundry this week but I don't think I got around to it until Thursday when Jim went to Fish Alligator Alley with Frank. They were only gone till noon.
Friday we were busy busy busy.
Friday we went over to Frank and Helen's house. It looks like a designer home. A Florida designer home. All white and light blue accents. Sailboats and shells. Their condo is really beautiful. We met and they took us out for Pizza at a place called "The Crust", Good pizza but the wait was about 1/2 an hour plus. There are so many eating places in Naples but there are lots and lots of people that go out to eat. Here it is the middle of April and you would have think lots and lots of snow birds have already gone but there are a lot of people that live here year round. Imagine, paradise year round. Of course the summers get hot.
We had a wonderful visit, and went back to their house for key lime pie and ice cream and strawberries. I don't really like key lime pie and this is supposed to be the pie of Florida. Jim loves it but there what sweet doesn't he love. Publix has really wonderful bake goods. We eyed a chocolate cake and it was truly a work of art. In this humidity it wouldn't look that good sitting out for long.
The girls at home had DOSS at Gail's house and I have to call someone and hear all the fun news. There is always fun news.
It was a good time with Frank and Helen. She is so accomplished.
The girls at home had DOSS at Gail's house and I have to call someone and hear all the fun news. There is always fun news.
It was a good time with Frank and Helen. She is so accomplished.
WEDNESDAY MORNING
Here we are closing in on only 2 weeks left of vacation. We didn't walk the circle on Monday, instead we went to Alligator Alley so Jim could go fishing. We can bring the dogs with so its a lot of fun and they love not being left behind.
Jim is always looking for ways to bring them with. He is far more sensitive to it than I am. I just make sure our plans don't include leaving them in the truck at all. It's against the law in Florida and by noon you know why because by noon it's usually already 80 degrees.
I love bringing a chair and watching him catch fish because you never know what he is going to bring in. He uses live shrimp when fishing in the ocean and I think he uses worms for the fresh water cannels.
I wish I could remember what we had for dinner that night but I know Jim went to Publix grocery shopping. I love it when I don't have to go. He does such a super job, he doesn't need me.
On Tuesday I think was the day we went on an adventure to find Pei Wei. I was so pleased to find Naples had one. Here it turns out it was in the same shopping center as Bokamper's Sports Bar. We were driving around the shopping center and finally asked a couple if they knew where it was when they were coming out of a bank and they said yes, its right behind you and we turned around and there it was, as big as life.
We were able to bring the dogs to the outside portion of Pei Wei to join us. After lunch we noticed there was a bakery right next door and what was fun is there was a huge sign in the window stating they had been a winner of "Cupcake Wars". Jim went in and bought me one little cake coin. It was the size of a silver dollar and cost $1.00. I just wish it had taste better. It was just fun to see all the different cup cakes they made. They had a free tasting of cinnamon bread that was scrumptious. We went for a walk around the mall with the dogs and you should have see the arbors covered with bougainvillea. The flowers just take your breath away.
I found a designer thrift store and purchased a Vera Bradley Back pack and used it when we went to the Ocean on Wednesday. Love it and its so colorful.
Jim is always looking for ways to bring them with. He is far more sensitive to it than I am. I just make sure our plans don't include leaving them in the truck at all. It's against the law in Florida and by noon you know why because by noon it's usually already 80 degrees.
I love bringing a chair and watching him catch fish because you never know what he is going to bring in. He uses live shrimp when fishing in the ocean and I think he uses worms for the fresh water cannels.
I wish I could remember what we had for dinner that night but I know Jim went to Publix grocery shopping. I love it when I don't have to go. He does such a super job, he doesn't need me.
On Tuesday I think was the day we went on an adventure to find Pei Wei. I was so pleased to find Naples had one. Here it turns out it was in the same shopping center as Bokamper's Sports Bar. We were driving around the shopping center and finally asked a couple if they knew where it was when they were coming out of a bank and they said yes, its right behind you and we turned around and there it was, as big as life.
We were able to bring the dogs to the outside portion of Pei Wei to join us. After lunch we noticed there was a bakery right next door and what was fun is there was a huge sign in the window stating they had been a winner of "Cupcake Wars". Jim went in and bought me one little cake coin. It was the size of a silver dollar and cost $1.00. I just wish it had taste better. It was just fun to see all the different cup cakes they made. They had a free tasting of cinnamon bread that was scrumptious. We went for a walk around the mall with the dogs and you should have see the arbors covered with bougainvillea. The flowers just take your breath away.
I found a designer thrift store and purchased a Vera Bradley Back pack and used it when we went to the Ocean on Wednesday. Love it and its so colorful.
Monday, April 11, 2016
MONDAY MORNING
Here I am posting almost a week later and supposed to remember what I did since Jim went to Lake Placid on Tuesday. I really think I need to reevaluate how I do my journal. It would only take me a few minutes each day to do this.
Jim had fun at their luncheon on Tuesday, there were 4 of them and 3 of the guys I think live here, I know 2 live here and maybe the other one just vacations here but I am surprised how many people live here year round, I know that makes me naïve but why?
It is funny, yesterday we were talking about me going on an airboat ride. Jim is being real encouraging because he would rather have his fingernails pulled out than go on an airboat ride. He was talking about the snakes falling out of the trees on me and fun stuff like that. What do you think, encouraging? It did make me laugh. For me I have horrors like, what if the motor stalls or the driver has a heart attack. I have no sense of direction. I don't know. Today we are going down by alligator alley and that is where we see the airboat places. I may have him pull in to one so I can inquire. Sounds good to me.
Can you stand it, yesterday I got up at my usual time about 5am and took the dogs out, I could see my breath. It sure makes good sleeping weather but really, I came here to get away from that kind of weather. That doesn't happen often.
I am typing without my glasses, they are somewhere but for the love of mike I don't know where and I don't want to wake Jim up. He likes to sleep in but in all honesty, my sacrum and only take so many hours on my back, or walking, or sitting or especially standing. Church about kills me, some of the hymns are 4 plus verses and go on forever. Whine, whine, whine.
Sunday we sure had a fun day, we started off with church, it was The First Presbyterian Church, now I know we would join that church if we moved here, we will never move here or stay more that 2 months if I can help it. They had the best female preacher. Pastor June Barrow. "May I Re-Introduce You" was here theme. She started off with the sweetest story about her parents and since they only live 2 hours North of here in St Petersburg she can see them often and how she is writing their memoirs. What a fun thing to do, she talked about all the things she is finding out about her parents that she didn't know. It was so interesting and she wove it in to the message. I love the message in Colossians. Out of the Lutheran Study Bible. "Because Christians of all ages have already been united with Christ through baptism, we therefore let Christ's love, peace and forgiveness guide our lives and our relationships with other Christians, with members of our family and with people who are not Christian." Anyway that is part of the message.
She also shared with us a story about a priest in Auschwitz concentration camp. It about tore out your heart. It's a true story about how a an SS officer decided to kill 10 men because one prisoner escaped. As he called the 10th man out, the man fell to his knees weeping and he cried, "my wife, my children, I will never see them again." A fellow prisoner, a priest offered to take his place and the SS officer allowed it and the 10 were taken off to a starvation room where they were given no food and water and over a two week period and everyone had died except the priest and the SS officer felt it was taking too long so they put the priest to death by lethal injection. Now that was a powerful story, the priest's name was Maximilian Kolbe, he died on August 14th 1941 and the Polish prisoner's name was Franciszek Gajwoniczek. He lived to be 92 and had a rock with the priest's name printed on it so he would see it every day and never forget what one man did for him. I looked up the story, needless to say - as Christians, we can make a powerful difference. To serve.
Back to Sunday: In the afternoon we went to Broadway Palms Dinner Theater and we saw "Funny Girl". I want you to know the lead star really carried the show. She did an amazing job. What a voice, it was probably the best show to date and we have seen some really wonderful shows.
We have one show to go, Dirty Dancing on our last night here.
We took a drive Saturday but for the life of me I can't remember to where. We do that a lot. I know we went Wednesday we went to Alligator Alley so Jim could fish and Thursday he went fishing with Frank to a new spot on the Ocean which we went to on Friday.
Wednesday night we went to The Barbara Mann Theater to see Broadway Big Bands, the two singers were ever so fantastic and the band was great and I loved the little quips the leader of the band shared with us. Loved it. Jim sneaked out during intermission and bought me a necklace and earrings, they match the beautiful enamel ring he bought me perfectly. What a surprise. I love it.
Brings us to today and we will have to walk the circle. I use the sticks and it helps. All the kids are back in the US of A. Just nice to have them all back from vacation.
Jim had fun at their luncheon on Tuesday, there were 4 of them and 3 of the guys I think live here, I know 2 live here and maybe the other one just vacations here but I am surprised how many people live here year round, I know that makes me naïve but why?
It is funny, yesterday we were talking about me going on an airboat ride. Jim is being real encouraging because he would rather have his fingernails pulled out than go on an airboat ride. He was talking about the snakes falling out of the trees on me and fun stuff like that. What do you think, encouraging? It did make me laugh. For me I have horrors like, what if the motor stalls or the driver has a heart attack. I have no sense of direction. I don't know. Today we are going down by alligator alley and that is where we see the airboat places. I may have him pull in to one so I can inquire. Sounds good to me.
Can you stand it, yesterday I got up at my usual time about 5am and took the dogs out, I could see my breath. It sure makes good sleeping weather but really, I came here to get away from that kind of weather. That doesn't happen often.
I am typing without my glasses, they are somewhere but for the love of mike I don't know where and I don't want to wake Jim up. He likes to sleep in but in all honesty, my sacrum and only take so many hours on my back, or walking, or sitting or especially standing. Church about kills me, some of the hymns are 4 plus verses and go on forever. Whine, whine, whine.
Sunday we sure had a fun day, we started off with church, it was The First Presbyterian Church, now I know we would join that church if we moved here, we will never move here or stay more that 2 months if I can help it. They had the best female preacher. Pastor June Barrow. "May I Re-Introduce You" was here theme. She started off with the sweetest story about her parents and since they only live 2 hours North of here in St Petersburg she can see them often and how she is writing their memoirs. What a fun thing to do, she talked about all the things she is finding out about her parents that she didn't know. It was so interesting and she wove it in to the message. I love the message in Colossians. Out of the Lutheran Study Bible. "Because Christians of all ages have already been united with Christ through baptism, we therefore let Christ's love, peace and forgiveness guide our lives and our relationships with other Christians, with members of our family and with people who are not Christian." Anyway that is part of the message.
She also shared with us a story about a priest in Auschwitz concentration camp. It about tore out your heart. It's a true story about how a an SS officer decided to kill 10 men because one prisoner escaped. As he called the 10th man out, the man fell to his knees weeping and he cried, "my wife, my children, I will never see them again." A fellow prisoner, a priest offered to take his place and the SS officer allowed it and the 10 were taken off to a starvation room where they were given no food and water and over a two week period and everyone had died except the priest and the SS officer felt it was taking too long so they put the priest to death by lethal injection. Now that was a powerful story, the priest's name was Maximilian Kolbe, he died on August 14th 1941 and the Polish prisoner's name was Franciszek Gajwoniczek. He lived to be 92 and had a rock with the priest's name printed on it so he would see it every day and never forget what one man did for him. I looked up the story, needless to say - as Christians, we can make a powerful difference. To serve.
Back to Sunday: In the afternoon we went to Broadway Palms Dinner Theater and we saw "Funny Girl". I want you to know the lead star really carried the show. She did an amazing job. What a voice, it was probably the best show to date and we have seen some really wonderful shows.
We have one show to go, Dirty Dancing on our last night here.
We took a drive Saturday but for the life of me I can't remember to where. We do that a lot. I know we went Wednesday we went to Alligator Alley so Jim could fish and Thursday he went fishing with Frank to a new spot on the Ocean which we went to on Friday.
Wednesday night we went to The Barbara Mann Theater to see Broadway Big Bands, the two singers were ever so fantastic and the band was great and I loved the little quips the leader of the band shared with us. Loved it. Jim sneaked out during intermission and bought me a necklace and earrings, they match the beautiful enamel ring he bought me perfectly. What a surprise. I love it.
Brings us to today and we will have to walk the circle. I use the sticks and it helps. All the kids are back in the US of A. Just nice to have them all back from vacation.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
TODAY JIM GOES TO LAKE PLACID TO GATHER WITH ARMY BUDDIES
We need to do our shopping this morning because Jim needs to leave at least by 11am. I think he will take the 91 mile route, not the 98 mile route. We will see, it would be fun to go but where would the dogs and I be as he gets together with the guys. This is his time and we will have fun here.
TUESDAY - TIME FLYS
To think we will be home in 4 weeks. Been here 5 weeks and the weather of course has been perfect. On Monday we went on an Adventure. We went up to Coral Gables and took a look at a house that John & Pam are going to rent next year in March. Great area. Their rental has a swimming pool, is on the channel and even comes with a boat. What is fun about this Adventure is that we can bring Otto & Makons with. We found "Rotary Park" and took them for a walk.
On Sunday we went to church at The First Presbyterian Church and heard Dr. David Cook. A wonderful motivational speaker. Author of Seven Days in Utopia which became a movie staring Robert Duvall. He was wonderful how he wove Christian values of change, acceptance and transformation into the road ahead for every Christian. Really wonderful speaker. It sure took me back to the old days of working and I so remember going to listen to Author and Futurist Joel Arthur Barker speak on Paradigms and Vision. Speaking of my old job, Ray Christensen, the past owner of ChartHouse International Learning organization passed away on March 26th. I started working for CH (ChartHouse) back in 1990 and worked there 14 years. I don't know when I had more fun in a job but I could say that about my job at the Grain Exchange for Benson
Quinn that I had for 14 years or working for my Ex-husband Smith's Jewelers Service for a dozen years. I have been so lucky in my work life. I wish there was a way for me to be in Minneapolis to go to the Memorial Luncheon that will be at The Mediterranean Café on April 15th for past and current employees but I am still in Florida and won't be back until after that date. I had so much fun with our special sales team at CH. Harry, Sarah, Sharon, Ken & Russell and I remember Paul & Connie, Kathy & Stephanie, I wish I could remember all the names of former employees but it escapes me but I so enjoyed them all. I was so lucky to have worked at CH but I know I could say that about every job I have ever had. Even the silly jobs I had in-between like being a Centrex-Information operator at The Star and Tribune on weekends or the Telephone Information Operator at the U of M. I remember working at the Dime Store, Kresge's in downtown Minneapolis across from Dayton's. I worked in the donut department making donut's and remember the food counter's from the old days. I really enjoyed that too. Also worked in the dry cleaning industry near 50th & Lyndale. I sure have gone down memory lane.
Ray gave me the chance to be in Sales and I flourished. It was fun. His storytelling in the videos he produced was so wonderful. I especially remember the Pat Summerall Safety Films. Their Are Choices, was one of my favorite and of course the Sigurd Olson Video. Of course the most successful was The Business of Paradigms and The Power of Vision. Wow we sold the heck out of them.
Ray retired and JC, his son took over and what can we say about The Fish Philosophy series. My goodness, to see a son hit that kind of success following the Father's success.
I have rambled down memory lane long enough but I am sorry I will miss the celebration of his life. He and I shared birthdays exactly 10 years apart.
On Sunday we went to see Young Frankenstein (the musical), which was really wonderful and out to dinner after at the 821 Bistro again. Fun fun fun.
On Sunday we went to church at The First Presbyterian Church and heard Dr. David Cook. A wonderful motivational speaker. Author of Seven Days in Utopia which became a movie staring Robert Duvall. He was wonderful how he wove Christian values of change, acceptance and transformation into the road ahead for every Christian. Really wonderful speaker. It sure took me back to the old days of working and I so remember going to listen to Author and Futurist Joel Arthur Barker speak on Paradigms and Vision. Speaking of my old job, Ray Christensen, the past owner of ChartHouse International Learning organization passed away on March 26th. I started working for CH (ChartHouse) back in 1990 and worked there 14 years. I don't know when I had more fun in a job but I could say that about my job at the Grain Exchange for Benson
Quinn that I had for 14 years or working for my Ex-husband Smith's Jewelers Service for a dozen years. I have been so lucky in my work life. I wish there was a way for me to be in Minneapolis to go to the Memorial Luncheon that will be at The Mediterranean Café on April 15th for past and current employees but I am still in Florida and won't be back until after that date. I had so much fun with our special sales team at CH. Harry, Sarah, Sharon, Ken & Russell and I remember Paul & Connie, Kathy & Stephanie, I wish I could remember all the names of former employees but it escapes me but I so enjoyed them all. I was so lucky to have worked at CH but I know I could say that about every job I have ever had. Even the silly jobs I had in-between like being a Centrex-Information operator at The Star and Tribune on weekends or the Telephone Information Operator at the U of M. I remember working at the Dime Store, Kresge's in downtown Minneapolis across from Dayton's. I worked in the donut department making donut's and remember the food counter's from the old days. I really enjoyed that too. Also worked in the dry cleaning industry near 50th & Lyndale. I sure have gone down memory lane.
Ray gave me the chance to be in Sales and I flourished. It was fun. His storytelling in the videos he produced was so wonderful. I especially remember the Pat Summerall Safety Films. Their Are Choices, was one of my favorite and of course the Sigurd Olson Video. Of course the most successful was The Business of Paradigms and The Power of Vision. Wow we sold the heck out of them.
Ray retired and JC, his son took over and what can we say about The Fish Philosophy series. My goodness, to see a son hit that kind of success following the Father's success.
I have rambled down memory lane long enough but I am sorry I will miss the celebration of his life. He and I shared birthdays exactly 10 years apart.
On Sunday we went to see Young Frankenstein (the musical), which was really wonderful and out to dinner after at the 821 Bistro again. Fun fun fun.
Saturday, April 2, 2016
WEDNESDAY
We walked and then went to Miramar Shopping center, the fountain in one of the courtyards is pretty amazing and huge. I needed didn't even go in to many stores that were beckoning and calling me by name. The spender in me stuck to the task at hand and visited just two stores. Legg's Hanes because I needed some new unmentionables and The Crocs Store. I like the pair I bought at our rummage sale from Jean so much I wanted another couple of pairs and since they were buy one and get the second pair for half off, they had me at Hello!
I know I spent too much time looking but Jim said he didn't mind since he had a book and was waiting in the truck with the dogs. I even managed to sort of loose my way when I came out a different door but used my "Find Friends" App on my phone and walked toward Jim's location. Love that App.
From there we looked for a Goodwill store. I was looking for a couple of specific things. Can't remember what now but we know it had to be important. Ya rite.
I did find tons of fun stuff. Today I can't remember what but I am sure I couldn't live without it. Wednesday is Senior day and red tags were 50% off. I have a whole case of vases for Linda so we can give away more bouquets. There a pourple one I didn't get and wish I would have to go with the. We have tons of knives and spoons in the camper but no dinner forks. You should see the nice forks. Doesn't take much to excite me.
I just talked to Skye, she and Jon just took off for Mexico, they are so excited, they went to Jamaica in January and now Mexico. They will overlap with Mac and Laura only one day. I wish we were all together like last year but I don't see that happening again. Maybe next year and I will take Heidi with me. She would be really good company and willing to stay back with me. Hummmmmmmmmmm. There I go dreaming again.
I am having so much fun here in Florida and next year we will be here but I think we have to be back in April. Cancer treatment. It won't go away for Jim for 2 years. We haven't even started treatment yet. Home to dinner.
I know I spent too much time looking but Jim said he didn't mind since he had a book and was waiting in the truck with the dogs. I even managed to sort of loose my way when I came out a different door but used my "Find Friends" App on my phone and walked toward Jim's location. Love that App.
From there we looked for a Goodwill store. I was looking for a couple of specific things. Can't remember what now but we know it had to be important. Ya rite.
I did find tons of fun stuff. Today I can't remember what but I am sure I couldn't live without it. Wednesday is Senior day and red tags were 50% off. I have a whole case of vases for Linda so we can give away more bouquets. There a pourple one I didn't get and wish I would have to go with the. We have tons of knives and spoons in the camper but no dinner forks. You should see the nice forks. Doesn't take much to excite me.
I just talked to Skye, she and Jon just took off for Mexico, they are so excited, they went to Jamaica in January and now Mexico. They will overlap with Mac and Laura only one day. I wish we were all together like last year but I don't see that happening again. Maybe next year and I will take Heidi with me. She would be really good company and willing to stay back with me. Hummmmmmmmmmm. There I go dreaming again.
I am having so much fun here in Florida and next year we will be here but I think we have to be back in April. Cancer treatment. It won't go away for Jim for 2 years. We haven't even started treatment yet. Home to dinner.
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
TUESDAY AND DOWNTOWN
Well what a fun day we had. Got laundry done after our walk. I did another 5 miles and I feel pretty good about it, especially since I slacked off on Sunday and Monday. Makes me crazy - I am so committed and then miss a day or two. I am doing OK on the walking but I have had more fun, I am using my walking sticks but it is soooooooooo hard. Otto is wonderful, I have even walked both dogs with a double lead and it works but all Makons wants to do for the first few blocks is sniff. Then her business. The blessings of having dogs, I have to remember to tell Gail one camper had 2 Westies. They are so darling, I always want to go and ask their names. There are so many
cute dogs in this park, this morning I saw two Boston Terriers.
Enough about dogs, except Jim pointed out to me in the laundry room someone was looking for a permanent home for some Papillion mix. The photo was superb. That can't be how you spell that. Can it? He should never do that. I want all the unwanted dogs in the world and it hurts when I can't have all of them. To heck with going to Europe, I have dogs.
OK on with the day, you know only one day has passed and here I have to try and remember yesterday, Jim is worried. I remember the old lady from one of the first Spring Gatherings I ever went to that said after a devotion, "when you worry, you take away from God's plan for your life, shame on you", my goodness she was terrific. Made quite an impression on me.
We took a ride, went to downtown Naples. It is a fun city and all they cars on the road are exotic. You would, not believe it, it is like being in a movie set. Bentley's, Mercedes, BMW's, Lamborghinis, just tons of different lavish cars and when we go to the theater, the East coast influence. The women and you can just see the money dripping off them, their expensive faces, hair, clothes and the shoes. We are so close to the beach in downtown Naples so many wear beach cover-ups over their swimsuits and the outdoor cafe's. It is fun to visit. Of course I get into it, I sometimes even order a bottle of wine with a cork instead of a screw top but mostly, the screw top. Don't you love it.
We stopped and took a bunch of pictures of the welcome center and motel near downtown, it was so fun, the photos were too fun and all the animal's there, not real of course but fun none the less.
You know Naples reminds me of Harry Potter. It is just as unreal to me as Harry Potter. But lots of fun.
We ended going to Tin City to park, because we took the water taxi. You can go on a 50 minute water taxi ride for $7 each. It was so fun and then we had a waterside lunch at the Riverside Café, I asked to be seated on the railing and the hostess, a male, asked me if I would be comfortable on the railing. He was a riot and I bet he uses that line with country bumpkins like me everyday. We drove from there to a shopping center called "The Village", I want you to know that each shopping center is truly an experience. This one had many restaurants and tons of shops with names I certainly never heard of before, one place I actually stopped in had a favorite name of mine. "A Horse of a Different Color, fun huh, I bought a bracelet and cocktail napkins for Darla, they really made me laff, at her expense of course, about Canadians and some pretty ones for Linda. She will love them, she loves napkins. She entertains so beautifully.
What else did we do. Can't remember, but we headed for home just at the right time. Can't leave the babies too long.
cute dogs in this park, this morning I saw two Boston Terriers.
Enough about dogs, except Jim pointed out to me in the laundry room someone was looking for a permanent home for some Papillion mix. The photo was superb. That can't be how you spell that. Can it? He should never do that. I want all the unwanted dogs in the world and it hurts when I can't have all of them. To heck with going to Europe, I have dogs.
OK on with the day, you know only one day has passed and here I have to try and remember yesterday, Jim is worried. I remember the old lady from one of the first Spring Gatherings I ever went to that said after a devotion, "when you worry, you take away from God's plan for your life, shame on you", my goodness she was terrific. Made quite an impression on me.
We took a ride, went to downtown Naples. It is a fun city and all they cars on the road are exotic. You would, not believe it, it is like being in a movie set. Bentley's, Mercedes, BMW's, Lamborghinis, just tons of different lavish cars and when we go to the theater, the East coast influence. The women and you can just see the money dripping off them, their expensive faces, hair, clothes and the shoes. We are so close to the beach in downtown Naples so many wear beach cover-ups over their swimsuits and the outdoor cafe's. It is fun to visit. Of course I get into it, I sometimes even order a bottle of wine with a cork instead of a screw top but mostly, the screw top. Don't you love it.
We stopped and took a bunch of pictures of the welcome center and motel near downtown, it was so fun, the photos were too fun and all the animal's there, not real of course but fun none the less.
You know Naples reminds me of Harry Potter. It is just as unreal to me as Harry Potter. But lots of fun.
We ended going to Tin City to park, because we took the water taxi. You can go on a 50 minute water taxi ride for $7 each. It was so fun and then we had a waterside lunch at the Riverside Café, I asked to be seated on the railing and the hostess, a male, asked me if I would be comfortable on the railing. He was a riot and I bet he uses that line with country bumpkins like me everyday. We drove from there to a shopping center called "The Village", I want you to know that each shopping center is truly an experience. This one had many restaurants and tons of shops with names I certainly never heard of before, one place I actually stopped in had a favorite name of mine. "A Horse of a Different Color, fun huh, I bought a bracelet and cocktail napkins for Darla, they really made me laff, at her expense of course, about Canadians and some pretty ones for Linda. She will love them, she loves napkins. She entertains so beautifully.
What else did we do. Can't remember, but we headed for home just at the right time. Can't leave the babies too long.
MONDAY IN ARCADIA FLORIDA AND I DIDN'T SEE ONE ARMADILLO
We had a fun Monday driving to Arcadia FL to see an Army buddie of Jim's. Karl and Dottie, Dottie has lived in Florida all her life so I had real fun talking to her finding out about her history in Florida. She in fact lived in Homestead FL growing up and then went to Miami to go to Nursing School. She met Karl while he was at Homestead Army base. I love a good love story, the base sponsored dances and invited nearby groups to meet and greet and dance with the soldiers and they started up a friendship that turned to love and marriage, going on 52 years I think.
You wouldn't believe their wonderful place, 10 miles from Arcadia and 30 plus acres in the woods with a wonderful brick home and pond. By the way a wonderful pond that's 9 feet deep and full of fish and did Jim ever have fun fishing. A fish with every cast. The platform was one to be envied, it even had an aeration system in the pond, and a automatic feeding dumpster. It was great.
We went out to lunch and I even got to ride in their new (2 day old) Masda Sports Car!
Loved the tour of Arcadia, some of the old homes looked spectacular, nothing like that in Remer, but then Remer has many other qualities. I even heard Linda Johnson won at least 3 times at Cribbage. I wonder if that's true. Way to go Linda, and she just joined the group a few months ago. I wonder how she would have done with Jim Churchill. Heard he was quite an Ace.
We had a wonderful day and Dot made us a fun dessert. Dirt Cake. It was really good and sent us home with a couple slivers of Pistachio cake. Really good. So Green!
You wouldn't believe their wonderful place, 10 miles from Arcadia and 30 plus acres in the woods with a wonderful brick home and pond. By the way a wonderful pond that's 9 feet deep and full of fish and did Jim ever have fun fishing. A fish with every cast. The platform was one to be envied, it even had an aeration system in the pond, and a automatic feeding dumpster. It was great.
We went out to lunch and I even got to ride in their new (2 day old) Masda Sports Car!
Loved the tour of Arcadia, some of the old homes looked spectacular, nothing like that in Remer, but then Remer has many other qualities. I even heard Linda Johnson won at least 3 times at Cribbage. I wonder if that's true. Way to go Linda, and she just joined the group a few months ago. I wonder how she would have done with Jim Churchill. Heard he was quite an Ace.
We had a wonderful day and Dot made us a fun dessert. Dirt Cake. It was really good and sent us home with a couple slivers of Pistachio cake. Really good. So Green!
Monday, March 28, 2016
MONDAY MORNING BUT ABOUT SUNDAY
It is actually Monday morning but I want to write about Sunday while it is fresh in my mind.
I know we are having a big day today going on a new adventure but that is today. Listen to me a big adventure could be going to the Publix Grocery store.
We did decide to go to sunrise services. We went to The First Presbyterian Church. A wonderful service and they also had a wonderful soloist.
We came home, I had a nap of course, I am just not sleeping as late as I would like, sleeping in just never seems like an option for me. Do you know tomorrow we will have been here four weeks. Hard to believe our trip is almost half over.
Well we headed downtown for The Naples Players Theater. We had tickets to see "Liza and Judy", they were spot on in both voice and actions and you wouldn't believe the costume changes. Frankly Jim liked this show probably better than any other and I probably liked it the lease. For me there was just a disconnect and it felt like it would never end. I think I would have rather they just got on with the singing and had more Judy than Liza but it was more Liza than Judy.
They sure looked and sounded like them but something was missing for me. Wish I could articulate it but it escapes me.
We are sure busy on this vacation, you should see the beautiful enamel ring Jim picked out for me made by Belle'etoile, I think it said the name of the design is "Groovy", perfect for us. We say that all the time.
I know we are having a big day today going on a new adventure but that is today. Listen to me a big adventure could be going to the Publix Grocery store.
We did decide to go to sunrise services. We went to The First Presbyterian Church. A wonderful service and they also had a wonderful soloist.
We came home, I had a nap of course, I am just not sleeping as late as I would like, sleeping in just never seems like an option for me. Do you know tomorrow we will have been here four weeks. Hard to believe our trip is almost half over.
Well we headed downtown for The Naples Players Theater. We had tickets to see "Liza and Judy", they were spot on in both voice and actions and you wouldn't believe the costume changes. Frankly Jim liked this show probably better than any other and I probably liked it the lease. For me there was just a disconnect and it felt like it would never end. I think I would have rather they just got on with the singing and had more Judy than Liza but it was more Liza than Judy.
They sure looked and sounded like them but something was missing for me. Wish I could articulate it but it escapes me.
We are sure busy on this vacation, you should see the beautiful enamel ring Jim picked out for me made by Belle'etoile, I think it said the name of the design is "Groovy", perfect for us. We say that all the time.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
HE IS RISEN - HE IS RISEN INDEED
HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!
What service to attend - sunrise might be fun since we are up, we are up indeed.
What service to attend - sunrise might be fun since we are up, we are up indeed.
TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
Well where does the week go?
Here it is Saturday, I need to re-cap the week and I don't know if I can. I did Monday and it was a wonderful day.
Tuesday was a stitch because Jim got to go to the Twin's game.
John, Pam, Mikey and Rachel all went too. I guess we won but I have no idea who they played, what I was grateful because it was a beautiful day and that's why you come to Florida.
Wednesday we really had a fun day - we got to celebrate Mikey's birthday. Pam and John and the kids came over and we all went to Wiggin's Pass. Fun day, the guys fished, we walked the beach, we came back , cleaned up and went out to dinner at Buzz's Lighthouse. Fun time and came back and played shuffle board had birthday cake and ice cream - full day and lots of fun.
Thursday we headed out to Old Fort Myers to The Florida Repertory Theater.
We had time to have a fun lunch at a one of the outdoor restaurants, The Lodge and stopped in a boutique and Jim picked out a red purse for me. We all need a red purse, right?
Off to the Theater.
We were in an intimate theater seating about 130 and it was a tribute to one of my favorite songwriters Johnny Mercer. They had a cast of 5-6 and sang and danced many of his songs. We were in the first row on the end but there was no room for feet so it was like being in a box. Uncomfortable but not unbearable. When you wear size 14-15 shoes you need room for your feet.
We got home in time to go to Maundy Services at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Not ELCA and they made sure you knew it. Good speaker and I suppose we shouldn't have taken communion but we did.
Friday back to The First Presbyterian Church for Good Friday services. We have been walking the circle at our park which is 2-3 miles around but with the heat you need to walk early. Believe me, it takes a while to walk it. I use my sticks a lot and have Otto's leash in my pocket. Works fine, I am so proud of him, he dutifully walks in front of me all the way around. We have pretty much been able to do the 10,000 steps a day but I don't know if I can keep it up. I will as long as I am able. I have to keep up with the kids. I will never catch Alexis however.
Here it is Saturday, I need to re-cap the week and I don't know if I can. I did Monday and it was a wonderful day.
Tuesday was a stitch because Jim got to go to the Twin's game.
John, Pam, Mikey and Rachel all went too. I guess we won but I have no idea who they played, what I was grateful because it was a beautiful day and that's why you come to Florida.
Wednesday we really had a fun day - we got to celebrate Mikey's birthday. Pam and John and the kids came over and we all went to Wiggin's Pass. Fun day, the guys fished, we walked the beach, we came back , cleaned up and went out to dinner at Buzz's Lighthouse. Fun time and came back and played shuffle board had birthday cake and ice cream - full day and lots of fun.
Thursday we headed out to Old Fort Myers to The Florida Repertory Theater.
We had time to have a fun lunch at a one of the outdoor restaurants, The Lodge and stopped in a boutique and Jim picked out a red purse for me. We all need a red purse, right?
Off to the Theater.
We were in an intimate theater seating about 130 and it was a tribute to one of my favorite songwriters Johnny Mercer. They had a cast of 5-6 and sang and danced many of his songs. We were in the first row on the end but there was no room for feet so it was like being in a box. Uncomfortable but not unbearable. When you wear size 14-15 shoes you need room for your feet.
We got home in time to go to Maundy Services at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Not ELCA and they made sure you knew it. Good speaker and I suppose we shouldn't have taken communion but we did.
Friday back to The First Presbyterian Church for Good Friday services. We have been walking the circle at our park which is 2-3 miles around but with the heat you need to walk early. Believe me, it takes a while to walk it. I use my sticks a lot and have Otto's leash in my pocket. Works fine, I am so proud of him, he dutifully walks in front of me all the way around. We have pretty much been able to do the 10,000 steps a day but I don't know if I can keep it up. I will as long as I am able. I have to keep up with the kids. I will never catch Alexis however.
Saturday was laundry day and Jim went grocery shopping. I try to make sure I take one load to the laundromat at a time so I get more exercise. Jim fishes off the dock here whenever he can so he has fun catching bass.
We has especially a good time Saturday night.
We called Bistro 821, where the kids bought us a gift card for Christmas, we made reservations for 4:30 tonight, that is when they open, no other reservations available till 9:30 and 4:30 suites us fine. We got downtown about 1-1:30 in the afternoon and had super fun just shopping around. You don't want to know what Jim bought me, a really fun ruby diamond ring which we are having sized and a adorable enamel ring by Bellee'toile at Kristoff Jewelry. You wouldn't believe the beautiful bracelets, earrings and pendant's that match. My ring goes with everything. While he was shopping at Provident Jewel I went next door and found an adorable stemless wine glass with starfish on it at Regatta. It is so pretty.
We killed some time at the Von Liebig Art Center, we had such a wonderful time with a woman that works there. She also shed some light on The Naples Baywater Shuttle. For $7 you can get on and off a boat that takes you all over the Gulf Shore around Naples. We will have fun with that one day. Great way to visit shops and have lunch.
We had such a nice dinner, if you can't drink all of your wine you can bring it home, which I did - Jim had pork and I had the ribs. They bread was divine and so was their Caesar Salad. What a fun fun day. He has to stop being so good to me. We have been married 30 years and still he surprises me so much. Makes our outings so much more that just outings. They are more like events. I am one luck duck.
THANK YOU MAC & LAURA, ALEXIS & SKYE. Don't we have just the best kids ever?
We has especially a good time Saturday night.
We called Bistro 821, where the kids bought us a gift card for Christmas, we made reservations for 4:30 tonight, that is when they open, no other reservations available till 9:30 and 4:30 suites us fine. We got downtown about 1-1:30 in the afternoon and had super fun just shopping around. You don't want to know what Jim bought me, a really fun ruby diamond ring which we are having sized and a adorable enamel ring by Bellee'toile at Kristoff Jewelry. You wouldn't believe the beautiful bracelets, earrings and pendant's that match. My ring goes with everything. While he was shopping at Provident Jewel I went next door and found an adorable stemless wine glass with starfish on it at Regatta. It is so pretty.
We killed some time at the Von Liebig Art Center, we had such a wonderful time with a woman that works there. She also shed some light on The Naples Baywater Shuttle. For $7 you can get on and off a boat that takes you all over the Gulf Shore around Naples. We will have fun with that one day. Great way to visit shops and have lunch.
We had such a nice dinner, if you can't drink all of your wine you can bring it home, which I did - Jim had pork and I had the ribs. They bread was divine and so was their Caesar Salad. What a fun fun day. He has to stop being so good to me. We have been married 30 years and still he surprises me so much. Makes our outings so much more that just outings. They are more like events. I am one luck duck.
THANK YOU MAC & LAURA, ALEXIS & SKYE. Don't we have just the best kids ever?
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
MONDAY
I so wish the weather would cooperate for the "Spring Breakers". We only reached a high of 65 today and we were tickled when John called as asked if they could come over to our place here and swim. They had a good day on Saturday and finding a prom dress for Rachael, she is so beautiful in this beautiful gauzy exquisite light teal colored dress with a peak-a-boo cut outs and a flowing skirt. Words cannot describe how lovely she looks in it. I know they found old downtown Fort Myers and had a really nice dinner at "The Fish House" in Bonita Springs.
This morning they went to Sanibel Island but with the strong winds and low temperature made it miserable so, lucky us, they came over and we really got in a really good visit. Our pool is heated and so you can get out of the wind and we have two hot tubs. We only had a high of 65 on Sunday. Two days ago it was 89.
This morning we walked the circle, I am getting my walking in, used my walking sticks this morning but most of the time when I do Jim has to handle both dogs. I know he would rather not. It is just a lot more work to control both of them. Makons wants to smell the world and poor little Otto, he is afraid of the walking sticks. When I wear baggy shorts, and heaven knows I have plenty of those, I can put Otto's leash in my pocket. I have to remember that when we get ready for our walk. Yesterday I wore jeans. It was 50 degrees when we took off for our walk.
Pam and John and kids left about 4pm for Fort Myers and we got ready and left about 5 pm for old Napes to go to the Naples Players Theater to see "The Bronx Wanders", what a show and what was wonderful about the theater is every seat is wonderful. Seats about 350 and we were in center top. It was a Father and his two sons, very Italian. The other 3 band members were friends of the sons. They were really good, they just signed to work a theater at "The South Point Hotel and Spa" in Las Vegas. What they did with a song from Queen was simply amazing. I could hardly believe the talent in that group plus all the oldie but goodies they played, the kids in the group got to play plenty of new stuff. I remember a trip with Alexis and Skye ad Mac to AZ in 1989 and we listened to Queen the whole trip out there. I drove. So Fun.
I love downtown old Naples, you would not believe the lights and the shops. When we drove home back to our Resort we drove by the largest shopping center, I think it might have been called CenterPoint, anyway it was huge. I will have to go there won't I.
This morning they went to Sanibel Island but with the strong winds and low temperature made it miserable so, lucky us, they came over and we really got in a really good visit. Our pool is heated and so you can get out of the wind and we have two hot tubs. We only had a high of 65 on Sunday. Two days ago it was 89.
This morning we walked the circle, I am getting my walking in, used my walking sticks this morning but most of the time when I do Jim has to handle both dogs. I know he would rather not. It is just a lot more work to control both of them. Makons wants to smell the world and poor little Otto, he is afraid of the walking sticks. When I wear baggy shorts, and heaven knows I have plenty of those, I can put Otto's leash in my pocket. I have to remember that when we get ready for our walk. Yesterday I wore jeans. It was 50 degrees when we took off for our walk.
Pam and John and kids left about 4pm for Fort Myers and we got ready and left about 5 pm for old Napes to go to the Naples Players Theater to see "The Bronx Wanders", what a show and what was wonderful about the theater is every seat is wonderful. Seats about 350 and we were in center top. It was a Father and his two sons, very Italian. The other 3 band members were friends of the sons. They were really good, they just signed to work a theater at "The South Point Hotel and Spa" in Las Vegas. What they did with a song from Queen was simply amazing. I could hardly believe the talent in that group plus all the oldie but goodies they played, the kids in the group got to play plenty of new stuff. I remember a trip with Alexis and Skye ad Mac to AZ in 1989 and we listened to Queen the whole trip out there. I drove. So Fun.
I love downtown old Naples, you would not believe the lights and the shops. When we drove home back to our Resort we drove by the largest shopping center, I think it might have been called CenterPoint, anyway it was huge. I will have to go there won't I.
SUNDAY - WONDERFUL SUNDAY
Palm Sunday - we started off the day going again to
"The First Presbyterian Church", we were late, now why would we be late, I have no idea, Daylight Savings Time is the culprit I just know. Maybe it's just being on vacation. The service was wonderful, what a wonderful speaker.
We stopped at the bookstore and purchased the Michael Beck book and purchased on for Pastor Dale and Gwen. I haven't even had time to spend with the book yet so I will let you know what I think of his comments but his photography is so moving.
It so reminds me of the "WWJD" bracelets we all used to wear and it is something you think of so many times a week. His whole concept of Jesus and in our lives today. I think Dale will really love the book and Gwen loving photography as much as she does will appreciate it as much in that way too.
We took a run out to where Pam and John, Rachael and Mikey. They rented a really nice house with a hot tub. We were able to bring the dogs because the house even had an enclosed fenced in yard. Pam and John had already been to the grocery store so we enjoyed a cup of coffee and their company.
They had some running around to do so we headed for home.
"The First Presbyterian Church", we were late, now why would we be late, I have no idea, Daylight Savings Time is the culprit I just know. Maybe it's just being on vacation. The service was wonderful, what a wonderful speaker.
We stopped at the bookstore and purchased the Michael Beck book and purchased on for Pastor Dale and Gwen. I haven't even had time to spend with the book yet so I will let you know what I think of his comments but his photography is so moving.
It so reminds me of the "WWJD" bracelets we all used to wear and it is something you think of so many times a week. His whole concept of Jesus and in our lives today. I think Dale will really love the book and Gwen loving photography as much as she does will appreciate it as much in that way too.
We took a run out to where Pam and John, Rachael and Mikey. They rented a really nice house with a hot tub. We were able to bring the dogs because the house even had an enclosed fenced in yard. Pam and John had already been to the grocery store so we enjoyed a cup of coffee and their company.
They had some running around to do so we headed for home.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
SATURDAY
A wonderful day at the campground. We met and visited with some friendly people from Maple Grove. They were biking around the park.
Today was wonderful for me because as Jim washed the truck I walked around the loop, 2 miles and in the afternoon, Jim joined us and we did it again, I didn't get up to the 70,000 steps for the week but I came close, yesterday I did 14,049 steps, 67,759 for the week but I am not sure for fitbit if the week is Mon-Sun or Sun-Sat. All these questions? Jim was willing to go again after dinner but 6 miles in a day was my breaking point, though I have to say the pain lessens the more you walk. Go figure.
We heard Pam, John, Rachael and Mickey arrived in Ft. Myers safely Saturday night about 7-8 last night, they left Hastings Friday afternoon. Hip Hip Hurray that they arrived safely. We hope they won't mind if we do a pop in after church. They will all probably still be asleep.
Today was wonderful for me because as Jim washed the truck I walked around the loop, 2 miles and in the afternoon, Jim joined us and we did it again, I didn't get up to the 70,000 steps for the week but I came close, yesterday I did 14,049 steps, 67,759 for the week but I am not sure for fitbit if the week is Mon-Sun or Sun-Sat. All these questions? Jim was willing to go again after dinner but 6 miles in a day was my breaking point, though I have to say the pain lessens the more you walk. Go figure.
We heard Pam, John, Rachael and Mickey arrived in Ft. Myers safely Saturday night about 7-8 last night, they left Hastings Friday afternoon. Hip Hip Hurray that they arrived safely. We hope they won't mind if we do a pop in after church. They will all probably still be asleep.
FRIDAY
What a fun day, or night I should say, we did the usual things during the day, walked the circle, but the big event was Friday night, we went to the First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs for their "Let's Hang On!" concert series and our friends Ron and Polly saved us seats in the fifth row and we relived and enjoyed the classic "Jersey Boys" sound and look from the 60's. There were also two female singer doing songs from the same era and they were awesome.
Enjoyed the concert immensely and am grateful to Ron and Polly for thinking of us.
http://www.siegelent.com/siegelent_profile/lets-hang-on-frankie-vallee-4-seasons-tribute
Enjoyed the concert immensely and am grateful to Ron and Polly for thinking of us.
http://www.siegelent.com/siegelent_profile/lets-hang-on-frankie-vallee-4-seasons-tribute
Friday, March 18, 2016
THURSDAY WAS A AT HOME DAY WITH A SURPRISE
Well, I can say it was a nice relaxing day and then just in the late afternoon Jim pops his head in and ask me what I want to do, Anything, so I said I still needed a summer nightgown. I only brought one and wanted another one. Well he read about this wonderful boutique up in Ft Myers so off we went at 3:30 or 4 pm. On a nightgown hunt.
It was too fun, I got a brand new nightgown with new tags and about 6 tops, all for a mere $71.
What fun we have had at the fancy thrift stores down here.
St Matthew's house here in Naples has racks with designer names and not to be out done. Ft Myers has a Goodwill Boutique, lots of racks with brand names. High end brand names, for instance I know I wear a size 2 from Chico's. I love that I wear a size 2. In the US, my thumb can't get in to a 2. It was fun and on the way back we stopped at a Bass Pro shop. Jim needs to have some fun too. He fishes for bass right off the dock at our camp site not 100 yards away from our camper.
We came back and had a wonder dinner of salmon, salad and ciabatta bread with Pomegranate Balsamic Vinegar, it's all about the bread. Yummy.
It was too fun, I got a brand new nightgown with new tags and about 6 tops, all for a mere $71.
What fun we have had at the fancy thrift stores down here.
St Matthew's house here in Naples has racks with designer names and not to be out done. Ft Myers has a Goodwill Boutique, lots of racks with brand names. High end brand names, for instance I know I wear a size 2 from Chico's. I love that I wear a size 2. In the US, my thumb can't get in to a 2. It was fun and on the way back we stopped at a Bass Pro shop. Jim needs to have some fun too. He fishes for bass right off the dock at our camp site not 100 yards away from our camper.
We came back and had a wonder dinner of salmon, salad and ciabatta bread with Pomegranate Balsamic Vinegar, it's all about the bread. Yummy.
WEDNESDAY - ROBIN AND TERRY
Well we received a wonderful phone call from Terry and we will have company this evening. How fun for us. I needed to get the laundry done in the morning and we needed to walk and pick things up around here. Job easily done and I pulled out all the stops. I had a box of Jewel Box wine ready. Traveling it's all about the "Box", isn't there some song, "it's all about the something" ah, now I know, it's all about the BASE, That's it.
They came and we had put in reservations for "Inca's Kitchen", a Peruvian Restaurant a few miles south of us on Collier. What fun and what good food. We spent a few hours there and downed two bottles of Balduzzi Wine, Robin shared with me that she dates the cork and writes the names of the person she shared the bottle with and is making a bulletin board for her kitchen. What a wonderful idea. I had her write on my cork so I know it will be the first of many I share a bottle of wine with. How fun. Robin had surf and turf, Terry had a seafood plate and Jim & I had the Pork entrée but in truth it was a bit over done. Still good. It was a perfect evening. Robing and Terry stayed up in Ft Myers on the Gulf. It is a fun drive at night up to Ft Myers taking the beach roads.
Everything all light up and the bridges. Too fun. So good to see them.
They came and we had put in reservations for "Inca's Kitchen", a Peruvian Restaurant a few miles south of us on Collier. What fun and what good food. We spent a few hours there and downed two bottles of Balduzzi Wine, Robin shared with me that she dates the cork and writes the names of the person she shared the bottle with and is making a bulletin board for her kitchen. What a wonderful idea. I had her write on my cork so I know it will be the first of many I share a bottle of wine with. How fun. Robin had surf and turf, Terry had a seafood plate and Jim & I had the Pork entrée but in truth it was a bit over done. Still good. It was a perfect evening. Robing and Terry stayed up in Ft Myers on the Gulf. It is a fun drive at night up to Ft Myers taking the beach roads.
Everything all light up and the bridges. Too fun. So good to see them.
TUESDAY
On Tuesday we took a run up to Ft. Myers to look at a new campground. I wouldn't mind a change, this campground is wonderful but Ft. Myers would be so much closer to where the action is. That's where we go to the theater and dinner shows. At least it has been so far and I would like to try the Ft. Myers beaches. I would miss Delnor-Wiggins State Park. It sure has been great for parking and walking the beach. The campground has 3 phases. Phase 1 is finished and lakeside sold out and Phase 2 almost completed and that lakeside is only available to Class A Motor Coaches. Phase 3 yet to be started and there is no lakeside on that. The pool looks divine and what I do like about that is there is no screening over it like here. I don't see us trading up. We have enough invested in "The Castle". We had a wonderful time and met a lovely, lovely lady, boy would she fit in at DOSS. Her name is Sharon and she is the wife of an old customer of Jim's. He had lunch the day before with 3 old customers at Cracker Barrel the day before and Fred, is Sharon's husband and they are full time RV'ers and own a place at the new park. It's called Cypress Trail I think. We talked about renting a boat for the day with them. What a fun day that would be.
Thursday, March 17, 2016
MONDAY- AGAIN
Well it's been a week, and one wonders where the time goes. Yesterday was a day at the campground for me and Jim went to Lunch up in Fort Myers with three old customers from his work days that have settled down here. Fun for him and fun for me to just lay around all day with the dogs.
We did start the day off by picking up a 5 year pass at Delnor Wiggings State Park in the morning at 8am.
We went to The First Presbyterian Church for services Sunday and what services they were. Wonderful music, sermon and you wouldn't believe the Art Gallery, a 36 piece photography exhibit about, what as a Christian do you see when you look in the mirror, Do you see Christ? It was really a moving exhibit and the photo's by Michael Belk, I think that was his name.
We did start the day off by picking up a 5 year pass at Delnor Wiggings State Park in the morning at 8am.
We went to The First Presbyterian Church for services Sunday and what services they were. Wonderful music, sermon and you wouldn't believe the Art Gallery, a 36 piece photography exhibit about, what as a Christian do you see when you look in the mirror, Do you see Christ? It was really a moving exhibit and the photo's by Michael Belk, I think that was his name.
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
MONDAY-TUESDAY
Well this is so much easier on my computer. No only if I could do this in the sunlight. It is Wednesday morning and I just have to be outside. What a day it has been already. We did the one thing I have wanted to do since I arrived and that is walk the circle. It's two miles around if you don't do the cul-de-sacs and three miles if you do. We have been here a week and a day. Boy it sure doesn't take any time to make life a routine.
The first night we got here we had dinner at our favorite place.
Buzz's Lighthouse. It is my favorite lunch place. You sit over the water outside. So Wonderful.
Monday: supposed to be a pretty normal day, what a joke. Jim really wanted to get rid of the walleye for his friend Ron Maki that lives in Naples year round, We had called him to pick up the fish but he was just too busy and I needed the freezer space so we ran the fish over to them. They have a pretty place in a gated community called Sterling Oaks. We spent maybe an hour there and headed to the Ocean to look for our favorite place,, Buzz's. Found out they are closed on Monday so we went in search of another place on the water for lunch. and found it but there was no parking that would accommodate our truck, they had lots of parking lots but all the parking spaces were for cars and it was really full. Doesn't anyone work anymore or is everyone retired, oh ya, I am in Naples. You won't believe this but we went to a Wendy's because I just couldn't take it anymore, I wanted to eat. We ran a few errands and went back to the campground. By the way, you won't believe the beautiful wine decanter I found for $2.99 at a thrift store.
You wouldn't believe the bamboo or fern wall between our campsites. There is noise coming from it, something lives in there, it is at least 30 feet high and 6 feet wide and you cannot see through it so I can believe something lives in there. Otto 's wants to know what. In a way it's kind of creepy. I just hope it's not an armadillo - did you know you can catch leprosy from Armadillo's - go figure. All you have to do is handle them or consume their meat. Armadillo Anyone? I wonder if dogs and get leprosy. Hummmmmmmm.
Tuesday: Ocean day. We decided to take a drive up to Sanibel Island. Of course we had to go to best buy first. We are busy getting the right router so we can use our 5 devices outside if we want to. Our phones, my iPad, our computers. It took three try's to do it buying and returning but we finally got the right one. I wish you could hear the noise in "our woods", I see nothing.
We headed to Sanibel after Best Buy, We wanted to eat at the Purple Giraffe - we have eaten there before and you can have dogs there. In fact you can have dogs at 15 different places in Sanibel. Jim found the same jeweler we found two years ago where he got my starfish necklace and this time cute, dangle earrings. You will love them when you see them.
We then headed for the causeway beach. We could have the dogs there on a leash. Fun Fun.
Jim and I arrived home by 7pm and tired. This vacationing is tough work but someone had to do it.
The first night we got here we had dinner at our favorite place.
Buzz's Lighthouse. It is my favorite lunch place. You sit over the water outside. So Wonderful.
Monday: supposed to be a pretty normal day, what a joke. Jim really wanted to get rid of the walleye for his friend Ron Maki that lives in Naples year round, We had called him to pick up the fish but he was just too busy and I needed the freezer space so we ran the fish over to them. They have a pretty place in a gated community called Sterling Oaks. We spent maybe an hour there and headed to the Ocean to look for our favorite place,, Buzz's. Found out they are closed on Monday so we went in search of another place on the water for lunch. and found it but there was no parking that would accommodate our truck, they had lots of parking lots but all the parking spaces were for cars and it was really full. Doesn't anyone work anymore or is everyone retired, oh ya, I am in Naples. You won't believe this but we went to a Wendy's because I just couldn't take it anymore, I wanted to eat. We ran a few errands and went back to the campground. By the way, you won't believe the beautiful wine decanter I found for $2.99 at a thrift store.
You wouldn't believe the bamboo or fern wall between our campsites. There is noise coming from it, something lives in there, it is at least 30 feet high and 6 feet wide and you cannot see through it so I can believe something lives in there. Otto 's wants to know what. In a way it's kind of creepy. I just hope it's not an armadillo - did you know you can catch leprosy from Armadillo's - go figure. All you have to do is handle them or consume their meat. Armadillo Anyone? I wonder if dogs and get leprosy. Hummmmmmmm.
Tuesday: Ocean day. We decided to take a drive up to Sanibel Island. Of course we had to go to best buy first. We are busy getting the right router so we can use our 5 devices outside if we want to. Our phones, my iPad, our computers. It took three try's to do it buying and returning but we finally got the right one. I wish you could hear the noise in "our woods", I see nothing.
We headed to Sanibel after Best Buy, We wanted to eat at the Purple Giraffe - we have eaten there before and you can have dogs there. In fact you can have dogs at 15 different places in Sanibel. Jim found the same jeweler we found two years ago where he got my starfish necklace and this time cute, dangle earrings. You will love them when you see them.
We then headed for the causeway beach. We could have the dogs there on a leash. Fun Fun.
Jim and I arrived home by 7pm and tired. This vacationing is tough work but someone had to do it.
Monday, March 7, 2016
IT'S MONDAY MORNING AND I AM COLD
You would love fact that I have a little heater warming up my feet in the living room in the morning. Jim likes to sleep in and of course I have been up since before dark. By hook or by crook I am going to the Ocean today. I feel it calling.
We have done a lot of running around since we arrived. We of course have gone to St. Matthew's house and thrift store.
It is a treatment center , and working store for chemically
people.
We went to church in the common room on grounds Sunday, 9:30. Good sermon, same pastor we have had the past years.
We decided to take a drive to "The Big Cypress Preserve" we haven't had the dogs out for a drive since we arrived. We left after church and a bite to eat, church is same time as at home. You can tell there was a water problem here, the fresh water mixing with the seawater. They have had lots of news about it and those yellow floater barriers up all over the place. You should see the dump trucks full of that yellow plastic barrier stuff. We had heard it rained a bunch here and on the loop it sure became evident on our drive. When we have taken this drive before the water was feet below the many bridges we went over and now it was maybe 2 feet to the water. Not nearly as much sand and rock for the alligators to sun on and this time we didn't see any sunning on the gravel road. We saw a few but very few. It was just a fun day for a Sunday drive.
I of course have to talk about Downton Abby being the final show of the series. What will I watch on Sunday nights now is the question. What will I enjoy. I did enjoy the series so much. Just like a good book where the characters come alive to you, like friends. I certainly had a goodI laff after.
I called Dot and Jim thought we should have a cigarette after it was over. I guess you would have to know Jim and his sense of humor. I must have laughed for 5 minutes straight before I could compose myself and talk. His comments was almost as good as the show. Well today we police up the place, best get cracking, Jim is up having coffee with the guys I guess down at the clubhouse. I know on Tuesdays from 2-4 they have women's bible study. You know what I don't understand is why we don't have a couples bible study at home. I would enjoy it but I don't think Jim would. I have some notes to write and things to think about. Jim talked about looking at a rental down here for 6 months. One of their double wide's. Eyes are playing tricks on me, I had better quit while I am ahead.
We have done a lot of running around since we arrived. We of course have gone to St. Matthew's house and thrift store.
It is a treatment center , and working store for chemically
people.
We went to church in the common room on grounds Sunday, 9:30. Good sermon, same pastor we have had the past years.
We decided to take a drive to "The Big Cypress Preserve" we haven't had the dogs out for a drive since we arrived. We left after church and a bite to eat, church is same time as at home. You can tell there was a water problem here, the fresh water mixing with the seawater. They have had lots of news about it and those yellow floater barriers up all over the place. You should see the dump trucks full of that yellow plastic barrier stuff. We had heard it rained a bunch here and on the loop it sure became evident on our drive. When we have taken this drive before the water was feet below the many bridges we went over and now it was maybe 2 feet to the water. Not nearly as much sand and rock for the alligators to sun on and this time we didn't see any sunning on the gravel road. We saw a few but very few. It was just a fun day for a Sunday drive.
I of course have to talk about Downton Abby being the final show of the series. What will I watch on Sunday nights now is the question. What will I enjoy. I did enjoy the series so much. Just like a good book where the characters come alive to you, like friends. I certainly had a goodI laff after.
I called Dot and Jim thought we should have a cigarette after it was over. I guess you would have to know Jim and his sense of humor. I must have laughed for 5 minutes straight before I could compose myself and talk. His comments was almost as good as the show. Well today we police up the place, best get cracking, Jim is up having coffee with the guys I guess down at the clubhouse. I know on Tuesdays from 2-4 they have women's bible study. You know what I don't understand is why we don't have a couples bible study at home. I would enjoy it but I don't think Jim would. I have some notes to write and things to think about. Jim talked about looking at a rental down here for 6 months. One of their double wide's. Eyes are playing tricks on me, I had better quit while I am ahead.
SATURDAY IN THE PARK - I THINK IT IS THE 4TH OF JULY
Well, I am working on doing my blog on my computer, not on my iPad. Interesting. Listen, everything I do on my HP computer is interesting. I have downloaded the photos from my first adventure getting here. Now to figure out how to put them on my blog. My goodness, technology is confusing. I can say this, it is so much easier to type with the computer.
We had such a fun trip on the way down.
On Tuesday we left Ocala, FL and headed for Sarasota, FL. A two hour trip, Jim was wonderful and parked the camper in the parking lot while I went on an 11 o'clock tour and a 12 o'clock tour of the mansion. "Ca d'San", house of John.
John and Mable Ringling had no children and left everything to the state of Florida upon their deaths. I think it's Southwest State University that runs it now.
Well here we go again, I type and I type and somehow I seem to shut things down and loose everything thing I have typed and have to start over. Drives me nuts.
I would really like to invite you in to the house of John, I had such fun on the tours.
John Ringling's bathtub was huge and carved out of one solid piece of marble. When that sinks in, pardon the pun, but to think someone can take a huge enough chunk of beautiful marble and have a bathtub carved out of it, it kind of gives you pause. Wow. The attention Mable paid to detail was just mind-blowing. The wooden toilet seats were faux painted to match the marble and they looked so real. All the bathroom doors had beautiful artist paintings on them of floral and fauna. Exquisite birds too. The door knobs were all different to match the décor of the bedrooms, there were about half a dozen bedrooms, and each were color themed, the green room, the yellow room and the rose room to name a few.
The bedroom that was most spectacular besides John's was the Tower Bedroom, All by itself on about the third floor. Will Rogers came often and wouldn't come if it was occupied by someone else and often there were celebrity guests.]
One of my favorite rooms was the ballroom, the ceiling had at least 20 sections, and many sections depicted individual painting of dancing scenes of different countries.
The game room had canvas scenes, the artist painted on canvas and that adhered it to the ceiling. The paintings were fabulous.
I had such fun going through the mansion and of course the main patio overlooked the ocean. Mable and John were crazy about Venice and even had a gondola which eventually sank and I think John had at least 3 boats that all sank.
I had loads of fun. The grounds, the artwork, just taking it all in. What an experience.
We had such a fun trip on the way down.
On Tuesday we left Ocala, FL and headed for Sarasota, FL. A two hour trip, Jim was wonderful and parked the camper in the parking lot while I went on an 11 o'clock tour and a 12 o'clock tour of the mansion. "Ca d'San", house of John.
John and Mable Ringling had no children and left everything to the state of Florida upon their deaths. I think it's Southwest State University that runs it now.
Well here we go again, I type and I type and somehow I seem to shut things down and loose everything thing I have typed and have to start over. Drives me nuts.
I would really like to invite you in to the house of John, I had such fun on the tours.
John Ringling's bathtub was huge and carved out of one solid piece of marble. When that sinks in, pardon the pun, but to think someone can take a huge enough chunk of beautiful marble and have a bathtub carved out of it, it kind of gives you pause. Wow. The attention Mable paid to detail was just mind-blowing. The wooden toilet seats were faux painted to match the marble and they looked so real. All the bathroom doors had beautiful artist paintings on them of floral and fauna. Exquisite birds too. The door knobs were all different to match the décor of the bedrooms, there were about half a dozen bedrooms, and each were color themed, the green room, the yellow room and the rose room to name a few.
The bedroom that was most spectacular besides John's was the Tower Bedroom, All by itself on about the third floor. Will Rogers came often and wouldn't come if it was occupied by someone else and often there were celebrity guests.]
One of my favorite rooms was the ballroom, the ceiling had at least 20 sections, and many sections depicted individual painting of dancing scenes of different countries.
The game room had canvas scenes, the artist painted on canvas and that adhered it to the ceiling. The paintings were fabulous.
I had such fun going through the mansion and of course the main patio overlooked the ocean. Mable and John were crazy about Venice and even had a gondola which eventually sank and I think John had at least 3 boats that all sank.
I had loads of fun. The grounds, the artwork, just taking it all in. What an experience.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
FLORIDA HERE WE ARE
Well here we are in Florida.
The second might we stayed in Chattanooga TN. Very pleasant camp ground but finding a spot that wasn't wet or muddy was a task for the dogs to do their business, I just say that they travel well and Otto is taking on a new doo. He had so many matts in his hair I have been cutting it
about 1/4 inch long. Thank goodness for warm weather. Only 8 hours on the road, so glad we have bananas, clementines and apples for the road though I could have done better. No mattter we will be at our destination today.
This is the third night, we made it to Ocala FL. Grabbed a spot here because it became really hard to find a spot near Sarsota. Yes you guessed it. Wonderful Jim is taking me to the Ringling Brothers Estate so I can see their Mansion - Ca' d'Zan. Means "house of John". We stopped their one year and spent 1/2 a day going through the Art Museum, which by the way is a must see. It was like going through the Old Testament in pictures. And what pictures they were. 10x12 foot paintings depicting all the old stories you
have heard since you were a child in Sunday school. We never went inside the mansion. I get to do that today,
Today is March 1st and that is the start of our rental at Crystal Lake RV resort in North Naples. I can't wait till tomorrow when I take a run down to Wiggins State Park 10 miles from us and romp in the ocean, the sun will feel so good on our frozen Remer bodies. Now let's see if that happens. Maybe Jim can just drop me off. I just want to lie in the sand. Especially my feet.
I can't get in to the grounds until 9:30 - I can just see Jim dropping me off in our camper - he is going to find someplace to go for a few hours - the guided tour starts
at 10 and I want to be on it. They call the mansion "A Terrace of Dreams".
And I can't wait to see if any of the roses in the rose garden are in bloom, I would think it's too early. Can't have everything. I am overjoyed to be able to be dropped off. Hope my back holds out. Standing is my least favorite thing.
We stand too much at church but isn't it funny how a younger pastor doesn't see it my way - I mean who is in charge anyway. Oh that's right. NOT ME.
First night in Effingham I'll.
13 hours on the road but all you can think of is getting out of the snow and not sliding in to the cold sheets. Burr.
Dinner with Jim's army buddie Norm and his lovely friend Judy. She is amazing, after becoming a widow, she has drove her rather large 5th wheel to Golden Colorado and that is no small feat. I think of taking this beast, sorry beast, I mean "The Castle" all by myself and I shutter. We sure make ourself dependent on our men. Thank you Jim.
I get such a kick out of Jim and Norm on the phone, a couple of old hens.
The second might we stayed in Chattanooga TN. Very pleasant camp ground but finding a spot that wasn't wet or muddy was a task for the dogs to do their business, I just say that they travel well and Otto is taking on a new doo. He had so many matts in his hair I have been cutting it
about 1/4 inch long. Thank goodness for warm weather. Only 8 hours on the road, so glad we have bananas, clementines and apples for the road though I could have done better. No mattter we will be at our destination today.
This is the third night, we made it to Ocala FL. Grabbed a spot here because it became really hard to find a spot near Sarsota. Yes you guessed it. Wonderful Jim is taking me to the Ringling Brothers Estate so I can see their Mansion - Ca' d'Zan. Means "house of John". We stopped their one year and spent 1/2 a day going through the Art Museum, which by the way is a must see. It was like going through the Old Testament in pictures. And what pictures they were. 10x12 foot paintings depicting all the old stories you
have heard since you were a child in Sunday school. We never went inside the mansion. I get to do that today,
Today is March 1st and that is the start of our rental at Crystal Lake RV resort in North Naples. I can't wait till tomorrow when I take a run down to Wiggins State Park 10 miles from us and romp in the ocean, the sun will feel so good on our frozen Remer bodies. Now let's see if that happens. Maybe Jim can just drop me off. I just want to lie in the sand. Especially my feet.
I can't get in to the grounds until 9:30 - I can just see Jim dropping me off in our camper - he is going to find someplace to go for a few hours - the guided tour starts
at 10 and I want to be on it. They call the mansion "A Terrace of Dreams".
And I can't wait to see if any of the roses in the rose garden are in bloom, I would think it's too early. Can't have everything. I am overjoyed to be able to be dropped off. Hope my back holds out. Standing is my least favorite thing.
We stand too much at church but isn't it funny how a younger pastor doesn't see it my way - I mean who is in charge anyway. Oh that's right. NOT ME.
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