OUR WINTER HAS BEEN GOOD, SOME RAIN, BREEZE AND PLENTY OF SUN !! NO SNOW!!

It seems like a lot has happened since my last Blog on January 27th.  So I will try to catch up.
Gary has been in Sebring, Florida working at the Clovelly Gallery today.  I imagine that he will be home soon. I have kept busy on the computer all of my morning.  I thought that I would finish by writing another Blog since three weeks has gone by since the last one.

You can just barely see Gary working at the far end.
I'm taking the pictures from where I was sitting to work
on my first day. 

This is the view that I had out over the lake on
my second week there.
Director, Janelle thought that I should have someone
working with me next week.  I hope!!

One of Gary's most recent drawings.

Going to Sebring FL happens at least twice a week to the Highland Arts Center and Clovelly Gallery.  Gary began there as soon as we arrived in the area in November. But then Janelle, the director, got me involved with my scrapbooking. Or I should say that Gary did!!
I've been discouraged with scrapbooking here in the park. A person will stop by once in a while to check out what I am doing.  But they do not seem to want to add to their activities list either. Or they do not keep pictures. I understand as when we first began our travels almost twelve years ago I did all of our kid's lifes books and then took a break.  But decided if I wanted to meet people, I would have to get involved again. I did so in Arizona with family and friends pictures (those we met up with during travels). So I will just have to pick and choose when and how often from now on!!
Our temperature (74) here is about ten degrees cooler than yesterday, but both days were great!!  Kind of dark and cloudy all day with rain off and on yesterday. But we did get in water aerobics just before noon  It has been partly cloudy today but real light with sun showing through and there some wind.  I have not decided to sit out in it yet.  I need to get the flowers worked on outside, but I dread it because of the ant bites that I have suffered when I do.  I finally narrowed my treatment down to Benedryl, Hand sanitizer, and/or Ice!!  I use the ice through the night which works quite well. No itching then!! I use the ice blocks that you can get at Walmart.  Many people give me ideas, but I have found these to be best!!
FEBRUARY is half past and has gone fast.  There is almost too much activity planned here in the park, so we are beginning to skip some things.  Valentines dinner and dance last evening was one of those that we skipped,  and I am picking and choosing on the crafts too.  I love the socializing and try to get plenty of that!! I try to get in the water aerobics twice a week as the doctor ordered and when weather permits.  I dread going but enjoy it when I get there!! I need to get in much more walking, but drag my feet!  Ha, ha!

SKP Resort Birthday, but only had cake for celebration
this year, and stories from some of the old-timers.
There are two or three in their nineties and they still come out.
Many in their eighties!!

At Hibachi Buffet.
Met this lady on left with her husband for the first time.
They are from Perry, Ohio where my nephew lives.
She taught school there.  And my nephew's wife
drives school bus.  Small world.  We find that often!!

We pretty well filled this room at Hibachi!!
The hat lady, almost always wearing a hat.
I wonder where she stores them all in her rig??

Bud on the left, is usually at coffee in the early
morning when Gary goes to the clubhouse for coffee.
His wife, Marsha,  beside him is our craft organizer!!
Jan to Marsha's left is the yard sale organizer. That is
a job that keeps her busy much of her year here.

Robert and Phyllis sat across the table from us at Cody's..
They both go to water aerobics also.
There sure wasn't a shortage in conversation at Cody's!!

From us on to the kitchen!!
And I think that we filled more than two rows of tables. 

 As usual there are many eating events here at the park and some at church.  Many from the resort have been to Habachi Buffet,  and Cody's Steakhouse and we always join them.  And Gary has been with the guys (ROMEO's) to the Avon Diner and will soon go to Wild Turkey Tavern.  I have been with the ladies (SKPettes) to Red Lobster and will soon go to Cowpoke's Watering Hole.  The Habachi Buffet and Wild Turkey Tavern are the only ones new to us this year.

 Another event late in January that is making our February rather exasperating, but we will survive.
A gentleman who speaks NO English pulled away from the curb in front of Walmart into the side of our car when I was driving.  He was driving his grand-daughter's car so he got her on the phone to talk with me.  Two police came and took the reports so it was documented that he was at fault, though he was not cited.  Then a couple days later our insurance company came back to us with the facts that her insurance was cancelled in 2018!!!  So now our insurance is paying all of it. And we also found out that when our insurance was transferred to a new company by our agent a couple years ago (because of insurance coverage changes), they missed the car rental.  So that had to come out of our pocket up front. Good thing that they did not miss anything more costly.  I think that all except the deductible will be paid eventually.  $4200 in damages sure seemed like a lot for no faster than we were moving.  I suppose because he had just stepped on the gas??
We are now driving a Toyota pick-up since Enterprise did not have any cars available the day we had to take the car in. And I'm not crazy about driving it, but did once.  They have had it almost a week so far.
While the car has been in the garage, the glass people finally came to replace a half windshield on the motorhome because of a crack that happened before we got here to SKP in November.  They sure have been so-o slow getting here.  But the job was a quick job once they got here.
Well, I've been writing away so I had better stop and go back and insert pictures after I get a bite of lunch.
This week there was a Dulcimer Recital here in the park and they gave much information about it's origination and history.  They are staying here in the park right now. They played and sang Celtic songs also.

The lady made the hammers that she is using here.
They have hummingbirds in the hammer.

He looks pretty somber, but he did play his guitar and
sang as well.

The park also had a movie night once a week and we finally went this past week.  A two and half hour movie!!  We did take cushions!!  The movie was Ford verses Ferrari.  It was very good, but I do recommend a comfortable theatre.
I also go to Bingo once a week, but have only won once.  A fellow across from me this week, won three times in that one evening.  Several across the room have won more than once also, but not that night.  I have always enjoyed Bingo though never a big winner.

Well, Gary is back and complaining he is tired.  So he had a bite of lunch and is now painting some    of his frames in the shed.
I'll close for now and share with you again soon.  Take care and have a wonderful spring!!

JANUARY IN WAUCHULA, FLORIDA, OUR WINTER LOCATION

Golly!! Another month almost come and gone!!

Resort entrance very near our Site.  

It takes so much hassle to keep up with things.  Another phone bit the dust for me after I dropped it on concrete this month, and I am still trying to get all passwords back to normal!!  After changing again for this account, I am ready to get going??
Gary is just getting lunch so that he can go to the clubhouse for his colored pencil workshop this afternoon.  So I thought I would work on the computer for a while since it is too cold to want to be outside reading or working in my flowers.
Our Cracker Capers began with a fund raising Spaghetti Dinner and Dance.  FYI a Cracker was an early Floridian who raised cattle.  They were known as Crackers because of the whips that they used to control the cattle.  Did you know that Florida is known to be the second largest state in the US for production of beef?  We learned that last year when we attended a Cattleman's Association Dinner with friends in central Florida.

The Resort's Fun-n-Sun group has done their fund raising this past week during what we call Cracker Capers.  They announced a good return from the Craft, Activities and Food Auction, and the Indoor Yard Sale open to the public this past Saturday.   There was a Craft Sale early in January where many sewn kitchen items were sold also.

Lanette using her dinner carry bag
that she sells at the craft sale.
It carries our place settings for dinner
and placemats, etc.

I decided to make my own bag! It took me
about four hours but that includes my tear-outs.
But it did save me $35.
I figured if it did not turn out,
I would buy one  from Lanette.

Also good money made from the dinners and breakfasts,  God only knows how it affected our weight!!
While Gary is drawing much of the time, I have taken on water aerobics twice a week.  The doctor says either that or physical therapy to help with the pain I have much of the time.  I do like the water aerobics best.  But I do need to get in more walking too.  The cooler weather should be encouragement enough!!  Gary's chiropractor has helped his pinched nerves in his back a lot too!

My flowers are looking much better also.  I can't wait for next fall when I will spend more money to border them with bricks and stones.  I spent enough on the flowers for one year!!  I just hope that the weeds don't do too much damage over the summer when we are not here.  The mulch is not good for down here as it deteriorates too much from one year to the next.

There were 3 or 4 palm trees cut down in the park
because of bacteria growth.  This one was only
a couple sites from us. 

Saturday, January 11th, we went to St. Petersburg Beach area to meet up with Ohio friends, Mike and Joyce, to go to a street Arts and Crafts Show.

Show was only two blocks long, but we also found
an Antique Shop.  Or I should say, Joyce spotted it. 

We were at another Craft Show, probably out West
where someone else also made banks our of post office
boxes from the past.  They are beautiful!!

Joyce, Mike and Gary
Mike  who is now retired was Victor's boss
when he started at SES about 19 years ago.
 Not sure of the number of years. 

I only spent money on some Dill Dip mix, but was interested in a couple other things which I refrained from spending on.  But we had a great visit and lunch at Beverly's Restaurant there on the corner. We might connect with them again before they head back north in the spring.  Another couple of retired co-workers of Gary's are down here, so hope to meet up with them too!!
We have so many people to meet and get acquainted with here within the park that it is a full time job.  And remembering the names is a real challenge!!  There is a Coffee clatch here at one of the RVer's sites each month.  So that helps.

Clean-up crew after New Years dinner.

I work at some of the dinner/ lunch times here at the Clubhouse. So that does help in making some acquaintances also.  We not only bought membership and a site here, but we are also expected to keep active volunteering to keep up the activities.  We can pick and choose, but also we are asked to do other things.  I imagine we will eventually have to learn to say "no" sometimes.

I did get Gary to go with me to play Bingo last evening since the winnings were a little bigger.  But neither of us won anything.  I enjoy it each week though.
I am also going to join Gary once a week when he goes to Sebring FL to work on his art at the Highland Art Center.  The director has asked that I do scrapbooking there to help her get a group going.  She is busy trying to expand the interests.

Building where Gary and I work on his art
and my scrapbooking.

The Clovelly Art Gallery at Highland in Sebring FL

Some of Gary's drawings on the left  wall.

WOW, 1:30pm and the sun just came out!!!
The Resort's ROMEOs and SKPettes went out again in January.  Red Lobster served the SKPette's well.  Their Lobster Bisque was delicious!!  I'll have to try it again!!

Jane, blond with stiped top, has been my boss
in the kitchen in the Clubhouse.  And June on the right
came to our motorhome to interview us as new
members for the Cracker Crumb Newsletter. 

Marjory in the center is a college friend of
Marilyn Herron from Salem Ohio.
Small world!!

And the ROMEO's (men) enjoyed lunch at Avon Park Diner.  Gary took me to try it out a couple weeks later.  It was good also!
Gary and I spent another day going to Lakeland and Tampa to look for stores where he can get some prints made of some of his drawings.  He did not luck out with that hunt, so will have to keep trying other locations. The copier must be just right!!

Bridge over the Tampa Bay.

Sunday evening, January 19th, the Brown's entertained at our New Hope Baptist Church.  They are from Iowa and we have seen them in Pace, Florida a couple years ago.  They are good with many talents.  Their introduction to music began in the family car when they had to travel many miles to town and sang all the way!!

Mom on the left, still sings with the three children,
though these children are now parents..
Many years since their humble beginning as a
family who sings together.

Mom's solo!!

They now, after many years of school,
play many instruments also.

 

I especially remembered the "children"
sharing one violin!!

We did have a soup, sandwich and dessert carry-in
 after the concert.  Always more good fellowship!!

The Christmas decorations from our motorhome, are now stored in our shed!  No carrying them with us anymore.  If we are in a location other than here in Wauchula or Ohio at Christmas time, we will just do without.
This is helping us lighten the load!!

Auctioneers preparing to sell all of the donations.
Much of it is baked goods, but there are services
auctioned off also., like a dinner prepared for four
or an RV washing, etc.

The beginning of the filling of the Clubhouse
for the auction.  It was much fun!!!

 Gary loved this camper!!!  It sure would have saved us money??

You all take care and comment, if you like!!