Thursday, January 28, 2010

Manatee Park - Ft. Myers



This is a picture of a manatee. You have to look hard to see the shadow of it - it is about 8 feet long. The day we were there we saw ones from 4 foot (baby) to 15 foot long. They sure are interesting animals to watch.



This looks like Jack has a bird setting on his head!! It really is part of the mural behind us.





Linda and I with our new friend.....This was a great park to visit. We recommend it to everyone to see.

Lipizzan Stallions



Here are some of the pictures that Jack took while we were at Hermann's Royal Lipizzan Stallions. They are beautiful horses!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Fun in Florida

Since the weather has improved here we have really been enjoying the outdoors. Jack has been cleaning on the fifth wheel. He usually just works on it a little each day so it not too much of a chore at once. He got the roof all cleaned and then started on the sides. It is looking real nice. The neighbors are giving a hard time about making them feel guilty about cleaning theirs.

A week ago Thursday, we went to LaBelle to visit our friends, Don and Linda. We had lunch at a good bar-a-que place and then drove over towards Ft. Myers to see the manatees. There is a power plant next to a river - so the power plant discharges warm water and the manatees come to the warm water. The day we were there - there were about 25 - 30 manatees in this small area. It was very interesting to see them - there were babies as well as very large ones. Hoping to post some pictures.

We got back into our square dancing last week. It was fun to get back to this and see the people we danced with last year. They are having it at another RV park just down the road. We have also been walking and riding our bikes.

Last Saturday night, we went to the famous Spaghetti Dinner here in the park. It was delicious. There is a small group here in the park that cook everything - homemade sauce, etc. We had around 300 people attend it and each person got 4 meatballs so this is not a small project but they pulled it off wonderfully.

Last Saturday, we went over to Myakka City to see the Herrmann's Lipizzan Stallions. This is their winter training area. These are beautiful horses and they perform really great. The show was about hour and half long. They had a good crowd. This group comes into Kansas City but we had never been able to go to them so were glad that we made it over to see them. Hope to get some pictures posted later.

Next week Jack and I are going on a cruise out of Miami. We leave on Monday and get back next Saturday. We are going to the Caribbean with stops at Key West and Cayman Islands. Since we are so close to Miami it is crazy not to take advantage of driving to get on a ship. Brandy will be taking her vacation at the "Dog Haus" which is a pet resort here in Lake Placid.

Friday is my birthday and we are going to celebrate it by going to the outlets in Bradenton. As most people know me - that is my way of celebrating "shopping"!! DeAnn sure knows this!! Wish you were here to go with me. Next year, maybe we will be together to celebrate.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Sunshine and Warm in Florida

The warm and sunshine is back in Florida!! Yes, thank goodness it is back in the 70s and sunny again. Since Tuesday we have had wonderful Florida weather like it should be here. Hopefully, the cold weather is gone for good.

We have been out and about checking the area over. We have gone into Sebring a couple times to Walmart and to the computer store. Did some shopping there too.

On Friday, Jack and I went into Tampa to the Florida RV Show (Wendy thought about you guys). Last year Wendy and Rick went with us to this. This show is very large - over 1200 models and lots of vendors, etc. We walked our legs off and saw a lot of new things. One of the models we went through was the new Montana model for 2010 and it had five slides with a loft living area. This was a different layout than most fifth wheels but looked like it would be nice. Jack and I was surprised about how many of the models had SOLD signs on them. So I guess people are still buying their RVs.

Friday night the park had some entertainment. It was a Elvis impersonator and a comedian. They were both very good. We remembered them from last year. They have been performing for a number of years in Nashville and Pigeon Forge.

We have been watching the football playoff games this weekend. Looks like Minnesota is going to be playing the Saints next weekend. I was rooting for Brett (the old man) to make it.


Saturday, January 9, 2010

Brrrrr......in Florida

Florida had snow in the panhandle yesterday. Thank goodness where we are located which is in the southern part it didn't do anything like that but it has been cooler than normal by 15 - 20 degrees. The poor farmers (strawberries mainly) have had a terrible week trying to keep their berries warm. We have had a couple of nice days with high 60s/low 70s with sunshine but it has been cloudy and cool most of the week. The forecast for next week is showing a big improvement so hopefully once we get through this week it will turn around.

We have been talking with our kids and KC is really getting hit with the winter weather. They have already had 20 inches of snow and the temps have been very low (-5) and the side roads are terrible. Our grandchildren have been out of school since December 22. If they don't get back before long, they will be going to school through June which they won't like. But the forecast for next week is better - suppose to warm above freezing for a few days which will be nice. It hasn't been above since before Christmas. So Florida weather is great!!

We haven't had the best start to our stay in Florida. I had an attack of diverticulitis (colon infection) and ended up in the ER for 8 hours on the night of New Year's Day. What a way to start the year!! Don't recommend that for anyone. But I got all checked out and got medicine and am feeling better by now. So I haven't done much this week. Hoping to get back to our activities, etc., next week.

Our friends that we met here last year, Don and Linda, called us on Wednesday and said they were coming by to visit. It was great to see them. We went out to eat with them and our other friends, Dave and Becky. It was great to catch up with them.






Friday, January 1, 2010

Arrived in Florida!

We left KC on Monday, December 28, with 11 inches of snow and drifts up to our mailbox, and got to Florida, on Wednesday, December 30. We had good weather all the way down - it was three hard days of driving but we made it without any problems. Glad to be here. It was 77 degrees and sunny when we arrived; yesterday it was 78 degrees and sunny. Today it is partly cloudy with some rain but the temp is around 62 so that is good compared to back home which is about 10 degrees today.

Yesterday Jack got the trailer all set up with everything and I worked inside to get things organized. By the time we finished, we were pooped out. So we didn't celebrate too much last night. Just enjoyed the weather and met new people.

I'll blog later when I get caught up with other things.