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.

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!

  

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

FLORIDA HERE WE ARE

Well here we are in Florida.

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.