ART SHOW at ARCADIA BRANCH OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE

I've just downloaded photos from Gary's phone and think that I also found some that I had intended to share, though had not had them on my phone.  So will share now.

I had been looking to buy this style of laundry basket for many months, but had not found one.  The other day I was killing time in Sebring, Florida after a TOPS meeting in the morning and before another committment at noon.  So I stopped in a Beall's (which I almost never do).  Low and behold I ran across the "wanted" basket!!  Since it folds so flat when not in use, you can see why I wanted it in the motor home!!  

Sunday, February 6th our SKP Park held a birthday celebration for the Park's 33 years.  There were only two of the original founders present, but they shared of their many memories.  Miss Vera loves to share!!  And we all love to listen.  They both still live on their original location in the park next to the woods to the south.

Orange groves from the park on east side.

Today the Park is holding another Yard Sale where they invite outsiders into the park to spend their money.  The one they held in January brought our Activities committee a good sum.  Wonder what this one will bring in? They definitely need to purge when this one is over because of lack of storage space.

<  This is one of Gary's recent drawings.  Thought you might enjoy seeing it.  He recently took a picture of a friend's pet, Jake, and plans to draw him as well.

Jake

  A couple Blogs back I mentioned a PVC art display that Gary bought at an art show and I just ran across the pictures that Gary took just before he stored it overhead in the shed.  The back ground that he will hang his art on is a burlap look canvas.  I'm anxious for him to use it so that I can get a picture of it in use.

  

Yep, that is Gary's shed that is becoming crowded!!  Not too much of mine in there except what is in totes and a large refrigerator for overflo.  We are thinking that we need to get rid of that fridge and find an apartment size. ???

Last evening we went down to Arcadia for an Art Show that Gary had entered three of his drawings in.  It was held at a branch of SW Florida State College.  It was very nice and enjoyable.  

<   This was his drawing of an alligator in Highlands Hemlock State Park that got an Honerable Mention ribbon (bottom drawing)

A drawing of our friend, Wilbur's bull.

<   And an under water scene.  (bottom picture)

He always enjoys entering shows as often as he can!!

More below from previous wood carving shows:

I love the cypres knees!!

    

This next one was from a table that had many variations,  written and illustrated books, pottery, carvings, wood turning,  painted gourd bird houses, etc.  

The gentleman who entered the wood turning
explained some of his work.  Beautiful!!

  

Enjoy and take care!!  See you all soon!!

FEBRUARY AT HOME IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

Since they have recruited me to run the once weekly Bingo here in the park and the once monthly Ladie's lunch out, and Gary keeps us running to his Art Shows,  I feel that we are sufficiently busy.  He is at wood carving here in the park this morning and we will go to an art show at a West Florida State College branch in Arcadia this evening to check out his art competition.  We took his art pieces down there yesterday to be entered in this show.  Gary has kept us busier this week than usual.  

We also spent some time meeting up with some of his former working buddies who are down here from Ohio. Thursday, February 10th We drove north to Frostproof to meet up with one of his former co-workers, Dan and his wife, Cheryl, but found that his brother, Chuck and his wife were there also. 

We had a good lunch and visit!!  We look forward to seeing you all again.

Turned out it was sooner than we expected!!  We were invited by Dan to meet at Mike's in Lake Placid where we visited a lot and then went to a former Golden Coral for lunch. It makes me feel stuffed just thinking about it as we sure ordered too much food!!  But we sure enjoyed their reminiscing.

Gary and Audrey, Mike and Cathy,
Cindy and Doug, Cheryl and Chuck

February 11th, we attended another travel show here in the park. Jim Hendrickson shares his travels the world over and they are so interesting!!  This one was about North Korea, behind the Bamboo Curtain.  They are very restrictive when you travel that country and give the tourists a two page list of do's and don'ts for while they are there.  Much of the restriction was what you can talk about!! I will show you pictures that he had taken, but I will not try to remember what all they were about.  Most of what they saw while on that tour was their advanced children's schooling. They did not show their normal children schooling!!  

Some countryside

Jim talked a lot about this border.

This is all hand embroidered!!

You can well imagine that the wealthier
classes were the ones with musical 
instruments!

Tae Kwon Do classes

I should have taken notes while Jim explained his pictures.  You and I both would have enjoyed more!!

I am sure that there were parts of the country that were very poor, but that was not on his tour. 

The ladies here in the park who go once a month to eat out call themselves the SKPette's.  We met at Red Lobster Wednesday, the 16th for lunch.  The lunch was great, but as it is with most restaurants since the pandemic began the service leaves a lot to be desired.  Oh well, maybe all of this hastle will end.  

These ladies were seated to my left:

 

And these ladies were across from me and to my right.

The men in the park call themselves the ROMEOS and they ate at Azul Tequilla the same day we went out.  The combined group called the LEOS had to cancel eating out for this month.  Guess there were too many activities!

The only other activity on the horizen now is tomorrow, the Yard Sale here in the park.  Gary will help move many tables from the clubhouse for that.  I don't know if I will go to it or not!!  I really would only look!!

That pretty much sums up the activities for the month of February.  I feel like this season down here in Florida is coming to an end much too soon.

Hope you are finding some way to enjoy your winter.  Stay warm and healthy!!  See you soon.