Cool & Warm In Florida - Heading to KC

This picture is the Goodyear blimp that went right over our park on Saturday. I believe it is here for the Super Bowl.

The weather has been both cool and warm. We did have some cool mornings this last week but the days have been pretty nice. Starting on Thursday we have had ideal weather - 70s and sunny. But one morning it was 30 degrees with frost on the truck. That wasn't good!! But I guess you have to take the good with the bad.

Our dance last Saturday night was great. Finally we had the music we like - variety with 50s/60s/country/pop. It was a one-man band type music - good voice - he played the guitar and fiddle. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Fun time...

We did our routine activities and had fun. On Wednesday, we went to the movies with Becky and Dave (couple across the street). We saw the new Clint Eastwood movie - Grand Torino which was very good. Was surprised he didn't get any nominations for the Oscars from it. He acted in it; directed it; and produced it.

We met Wendy and Rick (friends from Arizona City) for lunch on Thursday in Sebring. Had a good visit with them.

Jack and I also started taking square dance lessons on Friday. We danced years ago but haven't done it for a number of years. Two years ago in Texas we took a few refresher lessons and enjoyed it so thought we would try it again. It was fun and it is definitely good exercise, which we can always use.

Last night the park had their annual spaghetti dinner. It was real nice. They had decorated the club house into a Italian restaurant with red checked tablecloths and wine bottle centerpiece/candles; played music while we ate. It was very good and had the right price. After the dinner, we had a bonfire down by the lake. Here is a picture of our table.

My sister called us right after we got home to tell us that my Aunt Arlene had passed away. She had been in bad health for the last year and has lived a long good life but you know you are never ready for the final goodbye. Aunt Arlene was like my "second Mother" as she lived in KC while my Mom lived 200 miles away. She was a wonderful woman and knew how to live life every day. God take care of her. I will be flying to KC on Tuesday to go to the funeral and then fly back on Saturday. Not looking forward to going to the cold/snowy weather but some things we just have to do.

Here is a couple of pictures Jack took today down by the pool and lake.

Cool Front in Florida?

Can't believe we have been here for almost three weeks already. Time flies when you are having fun!

The Floridians think we are having a real cold front come through, but if you are from the Midwest it is just a little cooler than normal. We did have a front come through on Tuesday and we got a little rain and clouds. But you know it isn't that bad for January. It is in the 60s in the day and high 30s and low 40s at night. It is suppose to get to the higher 60s today and a little warmer tomorrow. The clouds are pretty well gone and the sun is out.....yippee!

Let's see we went to Ft. Myers last Saturday to the flea market. It was a pretty nice one. It had a lot of stuff and was similar to the one we had in Arizona last year. Only bought a few things but will probably make it back now that we know how to find it and where things are located.

We did our usual activities this week. On Wednesday, we went to Tampa to the Florida RV show. This was one big RV show - over 1300 models to look at and hundreds of vendors and suppliers. We really enjoyed it but was tired from all the walking. Wendy and Rick (from Quail Run) went with us and that was nice to visit with them. Didn't buy much but did get us a new yard sign with our names on it.

Went out to eat with our new friends, Dave and Becky, a couple times. They watched Brandy for us while we went to Tampa and then we watched their Yorkie yesterday so they could go. This is nice to have someone close that can let Brandy out if we are gone for a while.

This morning we went to the pancake breakfast here at the park. It was nice and they had plenty of pancakes, sausage, O. J. and coffee. Tonight we are to have a dance and music - hopefully it will be good.

Sunny Florida

We are adjusting to the Florida lifestyle. It really doesn't take much to get use to it though...just set back and enjoy it.

We have tired some of the activities this week. Monday, Jack and I went down to shuffleboard. We have played it before but we have never learned the rules and how to keep score, etc. So we went to learn the basics. It was fun. They have a group probably 20 -22 people who play most of the time. There were about 6 - 8 new people so we had a good time. But the deal is you play for about 2 hours or so - so you spent the morning which worked out fine. I have been going on Tuesdays and Fridays to Tai Chi which I'm liking real well. It is a fun exercise and not too hard on you!! On Tuesday afternoons they have line dancing which is always fun. I have tried the water aerobics - they have three times a week. The pool is nice.

Here are a couple of pictures Jack took of the front entrance of the park. It seems to be well taken care of and landscaped nice.



The weather the first part of the week has been really warm - in low the 80s - but a front came through on Wednesday and it has been much nicer. It has been a little cooler - low 70s - and the humidity is lower. Can't ask for more than that!!

Jack has been fishing a few times but hasn't had a lot of luck. He has caught a few little ones but nothing to talk about but he is enjoying having a lake right on the property. Here is a picture I took this a.m.

Tomorrow we are going to drive to Ft. Myers to the flea market. It sounds like it is similar to the one we went to in Arizona last year at Mesa. I'll let you know how we like it.

The park is getting fuller. Still have empty sites but each day we get new people into their sites. Yesterday a couple from Canada moved in and they are going to be here about as long as we are.

Enjoy your weekend!

Dinner w/friends and Lake Okeechobee

We are getting settled in at our new home. We are getting more into a routine and enjoying the park.

Last night we met our friends from Arizona - Bud and Shelley; and Rick and Wendy. We met them at a restaurant in Sebring - the Sebring Diner. The food was really good and very reasonable. They had ate there before but we haven't been there. We talked and laughed just like old times. It was really nice to see them and catch up. Here is a couple of pictures we took:

Afterwards, we went on into Sebring since we were there and stopped a couple places - I didn't find as good as bargain as Wendy did though. But I hadn't visited the Mall so I wanted to check it out. (You know DeAnn we always have to do that!!)

Today we got up and went walking early before it got too warm. Then we came back and loaded up Brandy and we went over to Lake Okeechobee which is about 40 miles or so from here. We were a little disappointed that it didn't have as many accesses to see the lake as we thought. But we enjoyed the drive and looking at the lake, etc.

Here are a couple pictures of the lake:



Drove by a number of orange groves and lots of sod farms. Florida is so flat it is ideal for these types of farming. It must be orange picking time as we are seeing lots and lots of trucks full of the oranges. A couple of days ago we stopped at a roadside stand and bought some called "Honey Bells" and they are delicious - so juicy and sweet.

Florida Home for the Winter

Jack was able to get some pictures of our new site today. As I said we are really liking this park. We have met a lot of new people and everyone seems so nice.

The only thing we have had a good laugh about is the New Year's Eve dance. I can't wait to talk with DeAnn on this one!! The band was aimed more at an older group. They played songs from the 40s and some 50s - not really what we had in mind. And then we heard they had paid them something like $1000 for the night. Oh what a waste of money. We ended up leaving around 10:00 p.m. and going with three other couples to play cards. Had a lot of fun with them. Oh well, I guess we were just spoiled in Arizona City with all the good entertainment. Hopefully the other dances, etc., will prove to be much better. Had a great Chicken dinner last night.

Yesterday we went into Sebring (which is the largest town around us) to visit the Walmart store. Got our staples, etc.

We hope to meet Shelley & Bud - Wendy and Rick for a meal this weekend. They are within 20 miles or so of us. It will be good to see them.

The weather is great. Suppose to be in the 70s for the next week.