Sight Seeing Close to Our FLORIDA Home

Another week has gone by and we spent much of our time at home getting settled. And you say, "What is there to getting settled in a motorhome?" Let me tell you that the Jeep and car top carrier held a lot of STUFF on the trip south. Getting it all put away was a lot tougher. I know that I need to be throwing away, but I have a hard time doing that. We can't do without our hobbies, but we really should cut down on the clothes, I suppose!! It is so tough!! Ha-ha. After doing laundry on Monday, we spent Tuesday running around. We set out to see the Florida National Cemetery which is here near Bushnell. I can't believe that we did not see it last year when it was so close to us. Since I have never been to Arlington, this was very interesting!! The first appearance was impressive to know that there are so many buried there and that the grounds are extensive . There are directories on the grounds so that you can look up any name that you wish. This view was interesting and all I could guess was that it might be above ground tombs over a rise . I wasn't far off in my thinking, but we were looking at it from the back. After driving around, this is the view from the front . We looked over many of the names and markers. Many of the crosses, and church emblems we recognized. However, these were unknown to us . Do any of you know what they are? Give us a shout and let us know. We had heard that there is usually an interment every twenty minutes. And I believe that is probably correct. We saw a couple services and heard taps being played for others. Then when leaving, one was coming up the road toward us also . We also found upon leaving that this area is surrounded by State Forest . Gary also went to a podiatrist for his foot, but no immediate solution to his pain. He has exercises to do and it all sounded reasonable. So we will see if it is effective!! While out on that excursion, we stopped at a Thrift Store and checked it out. I found another stove top grill, unused and still in it's original box. That is the second one that I found that way. I sure like using it when we can not grill outside because of the dry grass, but others must not use them. I have worn one out already! Today we checked out the Annual Kumquat Festival at Dade City. The rain held off just long enough for us to see what we wanted and for Gary to get his Kumquat Jelly. It rained most of the way home. The rest of the festival was just the usual craft booths except for a couple booths selling some unusual plants and flowers , and the Epcot display advertising their Flowers and Garden Festival March through May . Notice the Kumquat tree (or bush) in the center of the display. Mickey, the pirate's, coat was a ground cover that I had in my perennial garden back home. I do miss the flowers! I haven't decided that I want to bother with flowers or plants though, as I think that it would be too much trouble when we go to move!! A silk spider plant is enough for now. I do have one live plant that Gary's sister is taking care of for us until we get north in March. Before leaving Ohio, I had a discussion with a friend about so much of Florida land being farm land . I also told her that I thought there is an awful lot of poverty. And there is that, but there is also so much brown to the ground cover that it looks quite bleak if the property owner does not plant greenery and work hard to keep it green. So I took a few pictures to show you the contrast.

Have a great week and we will be back!

HELLO FROM FLORIDA !!

Following Christmas at our two son's homes,

life continued much as it had been since mid-September. We had one doctor appointment after another. We also had much snow, but it did not stop us!! Gary just had to work a little more !! It sure was beautiful , but we still were anxious to be where it was warm.

We rang in the New Year with church friends, a home cooked dinner and DVDs showing travel pictures of trips that two of the couples made in 2009. One couple went on an Alaskan Cruise with their sons and daughter-in-laws. Now we want to go to Alaska!! It was so beautiful and interesting!! That is so funny as we had not wanted to travel to Alaska or Florida when we started out traveling, but here we are in Florida for the second winter. The second couple traveled going through the southwest to California and coming back through the northwest. That also was beautiful and we have been waiting to make that trip. In fact, it had been our intention to go southwest and spend winter in New Mexico. But God had other plans for us and here we are in Florida again. There were many things that we did not do here in Florida last year. So we will be able to keep busy.

After New Years First Night in Salem, Gary went down to State Street and took pictures of the ice sculptures that were done during the First Night celebrations. It has been so cold that they were still on display when we left Salem on January 12. I had him take pictures so that I could share them with you.

We finally hit the road and only had a few flurries as we drove south in Ohio. So the roads were dry for the most part. There is still snow on the hill sides , and in the mountains , with water coming out of the layers of rock and freezing there . How beautiful is that??

Our first stop was in Hillsville, VA and then on to Lexington, SC where we stayed with friends. We were greeted by Molly , and spent time with Sandy looking and talking scrap booking, shopping Thrift stores and visiting with her friend who had just had a heart valve replacement. Mary, I trust that God is taking good care of you and you will be back to normal soon. Take your time to mend well!!

We missed seeing Mike as he had a truck run to Texas and did not get home until the day we left. I am sure that having been gone as long as he had been, he needed some time with his wife. So Mike, we will see you on the next trip through!! Not that we want you to miss any work!! You have a beautiful place and we enjoyed it very much. And the weather co-operated also!! One day was so great that Gary washed both Sandy's van and our car . Our car sure needed it from all of the truck splatters!! Notice that he is in his shirt sleeves for the job!!

Barb, I had to show you that Sandy and Mike really do dress as clowns as they visit shut-ins and people in the hospital . It is a ministry very suited to both of them. Sandy also keeps herself busy sitting with friends who have trips to the hospital for tests and surgery, and also makes dinners for them. How fortunate these friends are to have her!!

From there we were off to the Florida panhandle to pick up the motor home at my brother's house. Thank goodness he was willing to look after it for us while we had our delay with Audrey's health problems!! Thank you again!! While there we visited a friend of his and also had lunch with another brother in Pensacola. We had a great visit and look forward to doing it again. They do the lunch thing every week!!

Now we are off to mid-state and know that we are in the south with the pines all along the highway and so much brown grass . We rolled in to the Red Oaks Resort about 3:30 on the 20th and began unpacking the Jeep and car top carrier. The next day was soon enough to begin cleaning and putting stuff away!! Thank goodness the weather was great to do so. Gary began the outside work while I looked for cupboard space to put things away! The park is pretty full of snowbirds as well as permanents. A neighbor not far from us here is from Columbiana, OH and they were able to come south sooner than we were.

I had to finish up my radiation and then have a few more tests done before I had the go ahead from the doctors to leave. We will need to make a short trip north in March for follow-up exams. So we pray for good weather for that trip. But thank the Lord that all has gone so well with my treatment!! It did alter our plans to go southwest this year. But we will take advantage of it to go back north in the spring and summer, by traveling along the east coast to see all that we missed last year on our first trip south.

So follow along with us and see what we see!!