Traveled to Melbourne, FLORIDA for a Couple Days

Tuesday we had Richard Kisler and Charlie McCoy performing at The Red Oaks. They were here last year while I was in Ohio. Gary had enjoyed them then, so I was glad to hear them perform. As we find with most groups who come here to perform, they are usually gifted with multiple music talents . Charlie is very talented with with the harmonicas and performed in Hee-Haw years ago for nineteen years. We will get to see an Elvis impersonator this week, also a repeat of last year. They do try to keep us busy here. It is a good thing as Gary gets bored too easily. We had no sooner arrived back in the park and Gary was wanting to go visiting here. I don't think so, tomorrow is another day!

On Saturday we left Bushnell under a very cloudy sky . But as we got farther east the sun began to shine through more . Friday it had poured rain all day in Bushnell, so we were hoping to leave that all behind!! By time we got to the Florida Turnpike and closer to Orlando it was full sun and we were able to enjoy the scenery around us. They even make the sound barrier walls along the turnpike beautiful!! Not just plain concrete or block, but designed concrete !! Then they even paint the designs and plant the palm trees and shrubs .

Our journey was for a surprise 50th birthday party for Audrey's nephew. When he came back to his house, he was first greeted by his father . It was good to see most of Audrey's brother's family and we had a wonderful visit. Connie, we so appreciate being able to crash the party. It was a great time of getting reacquainted and catching up!! The years do go by too quickly!! Tim also was surprised when his brothers showed up and another uncle! The brothers were able to leave the snow behind and come south for a few days!! We even got to see a couple great nieces and a great nephew . It was good to meet another nephew's wife and visit those we have missed seeing for so long. Unfortunately, we missed out on many events over the years.

You can see that they also put the Wii game to good use, playing golf, tennis and bowling ! Gary even got to check out Kenny's art work . While they were doing this I checked out the pool in the back patio . I love it!! But of course it was too cold for anyone to be making use of it. I'd like to fit one of these in a hobby trailer behind the motorhome!! I believe it is about the right size. Wouldn't that be a hoot??

And food - - - too much and too good!! We will never be the same! The "girls" were having a good time in the kitchen , fixing food and swapping stories.

We got into Melbourne early enough to visit friends we made in the summer in Salem OH. Sandy and Micky , we so enjoyed the visit and such a delicious lunch!! It was great to see another form of retirement life style. We will see you again in Ohio in the summer and then it will be our turn to treat. Micky, it was great to see that you are getting around so well. But from now on, just use the water out of the tap, ok?

The next time we get to the Atlantic coast we will have to spend some time seeing the sights. There really is a lot to do there and we missed it all this trip!

FLORIDA's Mount Dora Annual Art Festival 2010

Just eighteen days after our arrival in Bushnell, FL we received these photos by e-mail from our sons in Ohio !!! Nineteen inches, WOW, are we glad that we are out of there! And they are anticipating six to eight more inches tonight, just four days later. We have had rain and lower temps while they are having snow. But we can handle that as there are days of sun occasionally with t-shirt temps. We even went to our favorite Annual Art Festival in Mount Dora, FL. It was windy that day but comfortable. We spent three hours walking the streets taking pictures. Some of the vendors were the same artwork, but many new ones also. We did not see the Italian artist that we saw last year, but there was a French fellow who had a Bronze award received in France this past year. I did not take pictures of his work, since I got yelled at last year for taking those of the Italian's work. Not that we could ever copy their beautiful work!!! The streets were very crowded , and there was plenty of activity going on in the local cafes . And the boutiques were encouraging new patrons to visit them. We took this photo of the gal advertising for The Secret Garden and she reminded us of you, Hope. So just had to have her photo!! As we walked from booth to booth we noticed the clouds rolling in over head . And by time we got home it was raining, but up north you woke up to the SNOW. The art was visible before we even got to our first booth, as it begins on the outside of their booth . We will let you wander through with us

. We go from paintings to photography , metal sculpture to pottery and glassware to framed pencil art with antique objects and a collage of old postcards which I especially liked. While talking with this artist's helper, we had to prove to Gary that HAPPY is better!! Eh, Sandy??? Gary thought it was acrylic and I thought colored pencil. And I was RIGHT!! And Gary is a pencil artist! The pieces were beautiful and the fellows had a good laugh! I am sure they would have been happier if we had been buying! Uh, maybe next time. By this time the crowd was even moving very slow and we were getting tired. So we stopped to listen to these young fellows make music with their garbage cans and buckets , while we enjoyed a sandwich. They were very good!! Note, Richie, it's not what you play, but how well you play!!

As we walked to the bus stop we decided to detour past the lake. Wow, was it windy and there was still condos between us and the lake!!

Now take care and watch for our next venture!