Time to see if I can think of enough that we have done to compose a new Blog.  We sure have kept busy, with the latest activities relating to a used pop-up camper that we bought.  We are determined to stay in this camper rather than spend so much money on motel rooms.  Thus we can also spend time sight seeing along the way.  And to take short trips in Florida for sight seeing through the winter.

It has been fun with new friends that we made in our Resort in Florida.  They have stopped to see us on their way through Ohio.  They have all made trips across and about the country through the summer while we have tried to catch up with our children here in Ohio and our friends and relatives as well. 

We did make a trip to Indiana to see my sister for a couple days.  Her daughter stopped by to visit also  It was good to see my sister doing so well!!!  I don't have those pictures downloaded from my phone yet.  Will share them later.  We are the only siblings left...  So sad to know that we are aging as well..... 

We also stopped to visit our RVing friend who we first met in Bushnell, FL in 2008.  Had a great visit!!  She lost her husband a couple years ago, so does not travel anymore.  She misses it!!

Gary and his friend Rick usually go out to breakfast.  And I go to a couple TOPS meetings here each week.  My scrapbooking friends group have spent some time together, and will do so a couple more times before our trip south.  My best friend, Louise, and I have not had as much time to spend together.  But we are hoping to have a little more of that between now and our departure date, October 16th.  

Gary has had some of his art in shows here.  He has kept busy drawing much more to have new work for showing when back in Florida. 

Our oldest son has purchased and moved to a condo west of here, beyond Alliance where he works.  He is happy getting settled there after a couple trips to Pittsburgh's IKEA store.  He says that it is about a third the drive to work which makes him very happy!!

Jan and Skip are back in Florida getting ready to go on their World Trip, mainly through Europe.   Then Susan and Mark will be joining us to eat at Yoder's Amish Restaurant in Middlefield, OH next Wednesday.  

Gary is busy today painting the black trim, bottom frame and tongue on the outside of the camper.  He sent me pictures and what a difference!!  Oops, he just walked in the door here at the condo.  Tired today as much as the other day when he was drilling holes through the steel tongue to install a sway bar.  

I washed a dinette cushion cover from the camper and I do believe it made a good difference.  I believe the darkness was mainly from dust.  So I will have to bring the other two to the condo to wash.  Then I need to buy the right size bedding and we'll be about ready to roll.  I'm not sure how the curtains come down, but hope to get them washed also.  If not here, then in FL.  

Would like to go to Minnesota to see our youngest son also.  But may put that off until next summer.

He is doing better since he was so sick.  Glad that is over with, and hope that he can maintain his health. 

Time to quit for today.  You all have a great fall!!!

CATCH-UP TIME, SUMMER 2023

There is not a lot going on, so I've not thought to write in our Blog.  

We did have visitors from SKP in our area.  So will try to fill you in on that!  Skip and Jan were here for a few days before they moved on into PA.  We kept quite busy and when nothing else to do we played Five-Crowns in the evening.  

Unfortunately, I did not take enough pictures!! 

We did go out to dine and visit with Mark and Susan along with Skip and Jan.  What a wonderful time!!

 

Audrey, Gary, Jan and Skip!
Susan and Mark also joined us 
for dinner near the Eastwood Mall
here in Ohio.

We also took Skip and Jan to visit with our son, Richard and his wife, Lynn.  It was a fun afternoon and good sharing with Jan, her past years of raising goats.  

Another day was spent with Gary and Skip touring the company that Gary retired from while Jan and I spent great time in two Thrift Shops.  I have never spent that much time in any two Thrifts before!!  But Jan had a great time getting ready for more Cruises ahead!!  I'll bet that I could take Jan back for a couple more hours!!

We are spending our summer much more quietly here in Ohio with family.  It is great too!!  Memorial weekend and the 4th of July were spent with much visiting at our son, Richard's.  

I am also wanting a few days spent visiting in Eastern Indiana.  My only remaining sibling is there and I need much time with her and some nieces and nephews. It is time to make time count!!  I will share pictures after we get that trip done.  

JUST BEFORE LEAVING FLORIDA AFTER THE WINTER SEASON.

 April before the 15th - - -

I should have done this Blog before the Ohio one.  Just some notes about activities in Florida. I do have pictures to share in this one.

Gary had a One-Man Art Show in Avon Park, Florida beginning April 1st.  It was to have been a one month show, but the 24th we cut it short so we could head north.  

The art directly on the walls is that of an artist that the Gallery is named for, Peter Powell Roberts..  Gary's work is on a few easels and all of the tables.  

He did sell two of his drawings which made him happy!!  While he visited with his guests, I took care of the refreshment table.  We had a few gallons of drink left over so we stopped by the church we attend and left it in the fridge for the youth groups.  

When we told the youth pastor Sunday that it was there for his youth groups, he was thrilled.  He told me we could over spend any time we want!!  

The SKP park had a group of 40 attend a tour of the RR Museum and lunch in a RR dining car in Avon Park the week before the Art Show.  It was very interesting as they narrated the stories of the beginning of the railroad in that part of Florida.  And the lunch was wonderful!!  And the lunch room lovely and very cozy.  

RR car turned into a Dining car.

Waitress staff
The lady on your right was the
lady with the stories.  And one of the
stories was about Babe Ruth. 

Good friends , Jan and Skip sitting across from us.
They are from southwestern Ohio.

Back at the Park, they are playing chair volley
ball in the Clubhouse, where they were not 
supposed to lift their seats from the chairs!
It looked to be a very fun game!!
The ball is difficult to see because of it's
color.  Hope they change colors before next
season.  

Another couple, Jane and Bob, in the park
are from northeast Ohio.  

At the park we were also serenaded by a new
band. This group just began with both new and 
experienced ukulele players.  They were good!!

We got our share of music because friends who were not able to use their tickets for one of the shows at the Central Florida State College, shared by giving those tickets to us.  We got to enjoy two of those shows and have decided that we will get season tickets for the next season of shows there.

This next show was twin brothers who were quite talented.  They quite often play in Las Vegas.

This twin played and sang the theme song for "Godfather"

I can't put my hands on the program for the show,
So will keep looking and will insert that when
I run across that info.  

   His twin brother shared his Kermit the Frog act

   with us and he did several songs of other famous

   singers, including Cher.  We weren't quite as awed       by his act.  (Gary said, "poke his mind's eye out

   with a stick"),  but it really was not that bad!!

   

In the mean time, Gary continued to add to the interior of the travel trailer which became our new home.  As you can see the closets on each side of our bed were so narrow that he built a clothes rack that could be in the extra room.  It was formerly a bunk room which he turned into a computer and art room.  What do they say, "Hind sight is always 20/20? So I imagine that we could have achieved better had we bought a different trailer. But we are making do.  It will keep us out of the snow in the north!!  

This cabinet that he put shelves in,
was originally where the bunk ladder
was.  That bunk above has quickly 
become storage for many things.

Suppose we could get rid of some clothes??  But we managed to buy a few more when in South Carolina!  I really should not blame this on Gary as it is mostly me.  But when you can get tops for $1. - - -  A thrift in Ohio became a source of shorts for me.  I had been looking for them for several years as all I had were becoming quite raggedy!!  Now I have three new pair at $3. each.  If I could only find that again!!

Mine on top rack and Gary's plus
sweat shirt/jackets on bottom rack.

Hope you've enjoyed the stories of our capers!!!  Stay tuned!!

OHIO SUMMER BEGINS !!

Behind again!!                                                                                                 May 23, 2023

We are finally settling in at the condo in Ohio.  Our motor home having been sold before we began our trip north, made it necessary to be in the condo for the summer.  I imagine that Victor doesn't relish being crowded, but he's not complaining.  We are living by his schedule because of his work hours, but we are adjusting.  He is still looking for his own home, but it will take time.  The house industry is changing all the time.

Vic will soon be going to Minnesota to visit Ben  so our schedule then will be our own for a week. I can sit up late and read!! And we can tear apart closets to clean and maybe get rid of stuff.  

We were quickly reminded that we had a plumbing problem at the bathtub and shower, so some of our first calls were to plumbers.  After two days of repair work and clean-up of flooding from pipes, we now have a very easy on and off control for the tub and shower!  We are so happy!  We had almost forgotten the need, though Vic had informed us.  And our social life can now move on.

We've also been to church in Salem and were greeted by our friends there.  And we've been out with our closest friends at least once and with family.  We are ready for the summer holidays, so bring it on!! Gary even stopped out at the park we stayed in last summer to say "Hi" to our RVing friends, Bill and Jane.  They come north for the summer also.  

On our trip north we stopped in Lexington SC to visit with friends there. 

Sandy, Audrey, Gary, Johnny and Mary

Mary and Johnny were gearing up for trips they have planned for their summer, but we did get to make a trip to Sheely's Buffet with them and our other dear friend, Sandy.  After a few more days together with Sandy for church, and thrift shopping and great fellowship, we traveled on the rest of the way to Ohio.  It was a little colder there than we had expected, so our thrift shopping was geared to getting jeans and jackets.  It was a good thing as Ohio wasn't any warmer.  

"Sandy, thank you so-o much for putting us up for those few days.  We'll stop again, you can be sure!! 

After arriving back in Boardman, I reunited with a Florida TOPS friend,  Alice, and joined her at her TOPS chapter in Cornersburg near us.  She moved back here to live with her daughter and this will give me a closer to home chapter too.  It will be better for me any time that I have to be here during the fall and winter.  It will save me from driving to Salem at night and in rain. 

Now the ladies here at the condo are out lying in the 85 degree water in the pool.  They are happy!!  But the air is not 85!! 

But I'd rather have the views of the flowers.  The Red petunias on our balcony are Mother's Day from our daughter-in-law.  The other flower bed is just out a little from our balcony.  The lady who takes care of the flowers around our condo building does an awesome job!!!!  I'm so glad to have this view and all pictures of flowers that are out around the pool.  

I keep forgetting to have pictures taken when we are out, so I've not much to show you.  I will try to do better with that.

Gary has found food so he is feeding his face and watching TV.  And I am getting hungry so I know it is noon at least.  Actually Gary is the best time clock when it comes to meal time!!

We are hearing from our Florida SKP friends as they are also traveling for the summer.  One couple is going to be leaving soon for a 274 day world cruise.  We envy them that, but maybe we can get in a very short cruise closer to home here.  

We did have a day visit in Amish country here at Mt. Hope, Ohio, to connect with four of our Florida friends.  One couple was visiting with some of their family near Columbus and the other couple lives in Willoughby, Ohio when not in Florida.  Great visit you-all!!

Take care now and bring on the summer!!  I will update you sooner.  Love to you all.

SOME OF OUR RESORT GROUP ACTIVITIES

 We often find things to do both inside our park and about town.  Many of them include or are about eating!!  No surprise there!!

This is the 34th birthday of our park and there are still some original members who live here.  That is always a great story sharing time! 

Let the stories begin!!

The women of our park are a group called the SKPettes who go out once a month to eat at a local restaurant.  I got to plan those this year.  This day they went on blind faith to Dee's Place in Sebring when I told them that it was a good food location.  When leaving, they agreed that it was good!!  Since the SKPettes try to do this once a month I was happy when they were pleased.  

 There are two other groups who try to eat out once a month.  One is the men who call them selves the ROMEOs , standing for Real Old Men Eating Out.  Then there is a group of combined men and women who call themselves LEOS, standing for "Let's Eat Out".      

That is routine.  Then you add the usual holidays with a meal celebration in the Clubhouse.  Add to that the Hawaiian LUAU and  the Mardi Gras with a dance following each of these.  As sure as I end with these names I'll realize that I missed one!!  But you get the idea.  Most of the dinners in the Clubhouse are planned by a committee with additional covered dishes provided be each home owner.  Once a season there is a Hot Dog Roast, etc.  They usually have a Flag Burning Ceremony each year to properly dispose of worn out flags.  And the list goes on!!

Monthly Coffee Hour at one of our
homeowners lots.

    

A couple visiting the park this season started what he called (Tell Your Story).  "Those were      quite interesting!! I use Gary's picture for this but there were some stories that were quite    unusual including hardship, routine and surprises along the way.   

Also tickets were given to us for a Matinee at the local South Central Florida University in their Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts.  We expected this to be a one time occurrence, but were surprised!! 

The Neil Diamond Experience

Featuring Robert Neary and
The Mystics

Our second surprise was the Edwards twin brothers who portrayed Many No. 1  Las Vegas impersonators.  We enjoyed them all except for the one of Cher.  We decided that we want to get season passes for all of these shows next season when they come on sale in July.  

Another evening we went to a Southern Baptist Church in the area for a Jeff and Sheri Easter show.  It was awesome, as it usually is.  It will be interesting to see if they have special programs next season.  The pastor's wife joined their program to sing a song when she was asked.  She had a great voice also.  Is that just typical of all Pastor's wives??

 

I don't want  you to think that all we hear and do are Entertainment per/say.  We do a lot in our local church just a mile or two up the road from our Resort.  They are very down to earth people and good friends.  This season they have had two new Pastors who are very down to earth and lead us well.  We have great singers in our own congregation as well.   

I hope that you enjoyed all of our interesting entertainment during this season.  Stay tuned as you never know what we might find.    Hope your winter is not too harsh.  

GARY'S ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF OUR PARK - -

Like I said before, we do keep busy!

Gary likes to plan outings for the morning Coffee Klatch guys, also known as the guys at The Table of Knowledge.

I won't remember the names of the places, but I have heard comments that Gary sure knocked himself out finding INTERESTING locations.  One of the businesses even gave the guys safety vests and hard hats.  

This was the tour at Fly Wheelers:

 

Tour of the Aviation Area at the Vocational School:

Tour of the Metromont Plant - It was the first tour that plant had done, so they were especially good to the guys.  

That just touches on Gary's activities outside of his Art.  And it keeps him out of my hair!!

It's a good thing today that he came back from his time with other men in our park who gather to carve.  If I had needed him while he was gone, I would have been SOL as I had forgotten or didn't hear where he said he was going or what he was doing.  I guess we both need hearing aids!

So that is just a touch on what he finds to do.  

Everyone is going north, home or leaving to travel more around the country.  So it is getting sparse for people around here and we've had our last meal at the Clubhouse for this season.

Friends of ours who we met here (originally from southwest Ohio) , went on a European tour just after they finished our deck and steps.  Many of those guys went.  Now those same two friends are going soon on a World Tour for 274 days.  We will be sitting their golf cart for them while they are gone to keep it working well.  That sure will not be a hardship for us!  We have at times wished we had one of our own.  But we really only need it when there is laundry to do at the Clubhouse Laundry Room and Gary is off with our car. 

You all take care and keep the warm weather when it gets to you!!

OUR NEW WINTER HOME!!

 Working up to be ready to leave for Ohio in little more than a week.  Unfortunately, Gary just found out today that, if we want ac for the trip, we need to have a new system installed in the Honda.  We thought that getting rid of the motorhome would stop those large repairs every time we make a trip.  Guess not!! So it goes in the garage next Thursday.  

We are accumulating STUFF in our living area to take with us, north to the condo.  It will be wonderful though when we get back to be free and clear!  I have a feeling that we need to sort in the condo as well, to rid ourselves of excess!  How quickly we accumulate!!

I also need to be working on scrapbooking to cut down on all of those supplies.  I've neglected that work for quite some time.  Now the question is where do I keep those supplies, in Florida or Ohio??  You girls in Ohio had better have some SB days set up for the summer.  I also have another friend there who would like to join us for our fun.

Not sure what Gary will be doing with his art while up north.  It is in a Gallery on display here in Avon Park.  It has been there since April 1st and he will pick it up the 21st to get it out of their way for the next artist.  He had a good opening reception the First of April and enjoyed it immensely.

When at a Show in Sebring, Florida, Gary learned that one of his drawing subjects had passed away just two weeks prior to the show.  So he made a decision to give his drawing of Silly Willy and Fluffy to Willy at the show.  It always touches his heart to do this!!    

I don't think that I have shown the new home that we acquired for our Florida Park location.  So will find a few pics to show now.  I will also show pictures of the deck and steps that were added to make it a real home.  Those metal steps could be a leg breaker!

There is an outdoor kitchen which gives
us more fridge and storage space, although
I think that space would be more useful inside!

We do miss the storage that we had in the motorhome!  Amazing to realize the difference. There again, we just need to rid ourselves of STUFF.

The two cabinet doors above the sink are
the only cabinets for dishes!!
However, the fridge is a little larger than
the one in the motorhome, but not much.

The entertainment center is new to us.
The fireplace is electric, of course.
Loveseat to the left and kitchen to the right with
bedroom door and main outside entrance in
between.  

The kitchen cupboard.
Wow!!  It didn't take much to fill it.

This is one of two cabinets over the bed.
So much storage space!  Not!!

Gary's bedroom closet.  Mine is no larger!
So Gary did building a two rack closet frame
for our clothes!!  And it takes up space 
in the Bunk room that Gary uses as a computer
and art room.  No room for bunks!!

A trip to IKEA in Tampa with friends, Tom and Dianne, got us some shelf cabinets and cubes to use as shelves to relieve our need for storage.  

Hind sight is always better.  Oh well!!  It is our winter home.  Good thing we don't need northern winter clothes!! The home is now anchored down to the concrete for the summer storm season.  Ready for us to leave.  I'd like to trust that there will not be hurricanes here!!

 

Our view from our door!!

I did check it out!!

Two of the guys helping.  The neighbor
guys did most of the work!!
I think Gary was in the shed at this time.

Finished, except for stain.
Guess that will wait for Fall.

You can see that we have kept busy this season!!  I'm sure we will find more to do next season.  I for one will have to work on the flower bed.  I ignored it this season for lack of free time with no one in the way.  Except, I did pull a few weeds!

Hope that your weather up north is warming up a bit!!  We will see you soon.