Retired and Lovin' It: 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.