Almost ready for another long weekend away from home, we spend the day before leaving with our friends, Judy and Jeff, from Niagara Falls Canada. We drove up to Eustis to check out their weekly Flea Market. After seeing everything there, but pretty much empty handed, we went on to a large Thrift Store. It is always fun to look through those, but again we left empty handed. Guess there was not enough money burning a hole in our pocket. Uh,uh, we stopped at Big Lots and managed to find scrap booking supplies there!
By then it was past time for lunch! And Gary is a 7, 12, 5 diner, most generally by the clock! So on the good word of friends back in Ohio, we stopped at Stavros Greek Restaurant to find the atmosphere good and the food even better!! We left taking half of the food home with us for another meal. And many thanks to Jim and Cathy for the good word!!
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| Gary, Audrey, Judy and Jeff |
We spent the first evening with Pearl, Tina and Tina's kids and grandkids for a spaghetti dinner and goodies for Valentine's Day. With nine little ones around, we did not do much except play cards while the kids played. It was a busy place and I did not think to get the camera out, but the memories will stay with us!! Thanks to all for a wonderful time.
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| Bob Sebo, speaker |
Our speaker this year was Bob Sebo who filled us in on the things going on back in Salem regarding business, and the efforts to get more businesses interested in coming to town. Seems there are two new motels slated to build there in addition to other business expansions. He also lauded Mr. Yarnell for a wonderful job done scheduling entertainment for the Waterworth Memorial Park Band Shell for all of the years since it was built. Mr. Yarnell announced his retirement from this position and it will take another special person to fill those shoes. This just touches the tip of updates that Bob gave us.
We heard that Bob sold his home in Florida because the time is so limited for his family to be in FL. Hope that he continues to make it for the special Salem Day though.
There were many drawings for things donated by businesses in Salem. Many nice items, I must say!! But we did not win any. Maybe next time.
There was also an auction of a wood sculpture of the Quaker Sam logo carved and donated by Ray D Smith, Class of '64. It was made from a white wood from here in the US, a black wood from Africa and a red wood from South America. It was very nice and the bidding was started at $100. Not in our ball park, especially since we do not have wall hanging space in our home!!
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| Jerry and Cathy Hendricks |
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| Gary and Audrey |
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| Tim Dean |
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| Bill Goodchild, Janice Wells, and Ester Goodchild |
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| Tim and Carolyn Bowser and their guests, Linda and Jim Mueller |
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| Michael and Sally Hary with Gary |
Sunday we went off to church with Tina and then out to dinner at Olive Garden. The afternoon was spent resting and soaking up some sun. The week is promising to by great and in the lower 80's!! Then we got out the Five-Crowns card game and the three of us ladies got in our usual three rounds.
Since Monday was our last day to be there, we planned a day of sight seeing. We drove on west to Boca Grande Island. And here we thought we already were on the "west coast" of Florida! It was a wonderful day of walking and sitting out in the sunshine, picking up sea shells, after checking out the lighthouse and museum. Check out the pictures.
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| Tina and Pearl |
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| Boca Grande Lighthouse, view from inland. |
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| Boca Grande Lighthouse, view from the Gulf shore. |
Here we are reading a plaque about the water tanks that were used to catch rainwater for the island people's only freshwater when the island was first inhabited.
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| The First Baptist Church built in the early days on the Island. |
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| Episcopal Church built in the early days on the Island. |
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| Tina and Pearl under the Banyon Tree. |
Enough sightseeing, it is time for lunch!! So we stopped at PJ's SeaGrille for some awesome delicious food, from Cuban, to crabcakes and baked shrimp. Yum!!
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| Tina, Pearl, and Gary |
It is now time to head back to Tina's. It has been a day well spent, but time to end it. Here are a few sights along the way.
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| What is left of the railroad track used in early days when phosphate was mined in the area. |
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| The turtle was hardly a match for the traffic. |
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| Osprey Nest, a common sight. |
Us gals ended the day playing cards again, but think that we were tired. The highlight was when Pearl threw her cards on the discard pile right after they had been dealt for her without realizing it was a new hand!! This was Tina's reaction. . .  |
| Are we not playing cards anymore?? |
Tuesday is our day to return to the motor home and Bushnell. But not before Gary makes a side trip to meet up with my great niece's husband, Michael, at a business shop at the Punta Gorda Airport where he works. He wanted to show Gary some planes that they were working on. One had just come in from Italy.
Michael called us gals and told us that Gary was like a kid in a candy store. So glad that he took the time to check it out.
Our trip back up the I-75 interstate was safe and uneventful. PTL! That highway can be a bear some times. Guess we picked the right time to travel it.
Take care and God Bless you all!!
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