New Awning

It wasn’t a big photo week this time but I did manage to get a few shots.

First is this cute little car that the pesticide company has.  One of our neighbors had some ants so they had to call and have their fifth wheel done. I thought the car was darling!

On Tuesday (which was one of the hottest days since we’ve been here) two of the great people in the park volunteered to put our new awning on saving us the labor charges.  The people in this park are just fantastic!

It didn’t take them any time at all and soon we were able to sit on the patio again!

We went out to lunch and dinner several times this week with our new friends.  Last night when we got home we found another visitor at the unit across the street from us.

Although they are so cute – we really don’t want them in the park.  This guy was after the bird feeder in the tree so the owner removed it.

Today when we went shopping a Walmart we saw these sandhill cranes in the parking lot.  Isn’t the little one cute?

Maybe I’ll have more photos next week.

Still in Florida

We’ve decided to stay in Florida until March 15.  It’s still pretty snowy at home and we’re hoping it will be gone by then.  Second, we’d like to see some typical weather while we’re here.  It’s been really a cold month for this area – 30’s  at night and only 50’s & 60 maybe during the day.  Usually it’s about 75 to 80 at this time I’m told.  We’ve been mainly wearing jeans, sweaters, and jackets.  I’d like to wear my summer clothes and get some warm sunshine before I head back to the cold.  I’m not really complaining though, 50’s is much better than the snow and ice at home.

Because of all the dirt and a disagreement with the groomer here Katie has now been completely shaved.  The first few days were still chilly and she shook constantly.  Fortunately I brought her winter sweater and we keep her covered up at night. (She wakes me up with her shaking when she get out from under the blanket).  So here’s my black and white hound dog!!

Thursday night was Talent night at the campground.  I was expecting people to just play their instruments, sing and joke around a little.  But WOW!  The talent in this campground is amazing.  A lot of these people are professionals.  I couldn’t get many photos – I was too far back and the lights too dim.  I did manage to get two decent photos.  The guys in the chorus and the guys playing their instruments.  One lady sang with the big bands in the 40’s & 50’s and boy was she good.   Here are the two photos I did manage to get.

 

On Friday, we went to Fisherman’s Village in Punta Gorda with Tom & Kim for dinner.  It’s full of shops and restaurants under one roof with apartments on the second floor.  It’s on the harbor and has lots of boats.  I managed to get a couple of shots of some pelicans on the piers.  These are basically the first I’ve seen this year.  Of course, we’re several miles inland.  I see lots of vultures, but not too many other birds at the campground.

 

Of course I also got a photo of Rick and Tom playing around at the wharf.

We went to the super huge flea market in Fort Myers Sunday.  All I can say is it was huge and lots of people were there.  We didn’t pick up anything.   That’s all I need more junk. 

Things are winding down a bit as people start to pack up and go home.  There’s still a few things we want to see before we leave.  I’ll try to get some photos if I can.

Mardi Gras in Florida

First I got my painting finished.  I’d love to start another one but will probably wait.  I’ve got too many hobbies now.  But here is the final result.

Also a really nice lady a few spaces down offered to show Rick some oil painting in March and gave us a lovely painting that she had done.

The lovely folks in the park have a Mardi Gras day every year.  You start with a pancake breakfast (yum) and later in the day there is a parade, followed by dinner, an ice cream social, and entertainment.  We went to the breakfast and the parade, and then out to dinner with a big group at the one of the local restaurants.

Here is Rick wearing his beads waiting for the parade to begin.

This was the beginning of the parade.

Here’s Dieter – one of the activity directors for the park!

Next came the chicken revolt – apparently the Colonel’s chicken is on the outs.

Here’s a close-up of the costumes which I thought were darling!!!

Here’s baby 2009!

Apparently it’s the thing in Florida for campgrounds to sell their lots individually.  Unfortunately Riverside has come up with this idea.  Many of these people have been coming here for ten years or more and are a little put off by this move.  Here’s a bunch moving out.

Of course – Snob Hill Realty is representing the owners.

The gentleman representing the realty company really does need clothes.  His mysteriously disappeared from the laundry room one afternoon and he had to replace them.  Of course he attended one of the informative meetings wrapped in a towel pleading for his back!!  But now he’s representing the owners of the park in the Mardi Gras parade!

Finally the kayak paddlers in the park were represented by this float!

There were a few more but these were the best.  Of course the week’s not over yet.  We have a talent show in the park tonight and a flea market and craft sale Saturday.  Rick and I aren’t going bowling tomorrow since my leg is still bothering me.  We are going to the Punta Gorda fisherman’s village instead – a shopping mall, fish place, and more.  I’ll try to take more photos and post them soon.

Happy Valentine’s Day

We had several things happen this week and we took lots of photos.  First we went to Fort Myers to see the manatee’s.  We’ve never gotten to see one while we were here.  They are very gentle and since it’s been a bit chilly here, they’re hanging out in the warm waters near the power plant.  See the white on it’s back.  That’s where boat propellers have hit it.  Almost all the manatee’s have scars on them.  People seem to pay little attention to the boat speed limit and manatee signs in the rivers.

On Wednesday I had another painting class.  I had worked on my painting last weekend to get all the lines inked in so I would be ready to start the painting this week.  Here’s what it looked like before class.

This is what it looks like after class.  I have to finish the leaves and the background this coming Wednesday and then it will be finished.  I’m delighted with it.

On Thursday after visiting with Tom & Kim the pavilion was all decorated when we pulled into the parking lot.  It was the Valentine Party.  None of the people we have made friends with mentioned going so Rick and I didn’t sign up.   Some of them stopped by and said to come on over they had brought plenty so we did go over for a while.  These are the photos I took.

These are some of the new friends we’ve made while at the park.  Most of these are the campers around us.  They are mainly from Wisconsin and Michigan.

Here’s another group photo but not very good!

On Friday we went bowling again.  Rick bowled much better than last week, but my left leg was cramping up so I quit after the first game.

Did I mention it’s been chilly here?  We’ve been wearing  jeans, jackets, and sweaters alot.  We also have to turn on the heat at night.  I think it was 36 this morning when I took Katie out.  On Friday while we were bowling it poured the rain and we had a windstorm.  When we got home Friday night after dinner we found our awning had collapsed.  We’re not sure whether our insurance covers it or not.  We’ll find out Monday.  We had to take it down so I took photos in case it is covered.

The bent bars in this photo are supposed to be straight!

Apparently between the wind and the weight of the water (it rained alot), it was too much.

On Saturday it was “Paws in the Park”.  Sort of a dog show and seminar.  I entered Katie in the shortest tail category but her’s is about 3 inches and the winner was less than an inch.  So she didn’t even place.  We didn’t even get to walk across the stage because they had to measure her tail the day before and the winner was already chosen.  This is my favorite dog in the park besides Katie.  His name is Rusty and he is a Golden Doodle which is a mix of Golden Retriever and standard Poodle.  He’s only 6 months old and a doll.  I may steal him before I leave.

One of the other categories was “looks most like owner”.  Rick had to take down the awning but he got there in time to snap a few photos.  Here are two from that category.

These were the winners in the category.  The second one is darling!  The owner dressed up to look like his dog.

 

If I have any photos next week I’ll try to post them!

This week in Florida

It’s been a busy week for me.  On Monday I gave blood for the first time ever.  It was a bit scary.  They tried my left arm and all they got were big blood clots.  It was really scary when the tech said “this is the largest one I’ve ever seen”  Made me wonder if I had a problem.  They said not to worry and tried the other arm.  It did okay that time and I was done in no time at all.  Here’s a goofy photo.

Who say’s it’s clean down here.  When you think of Florida you think white sand and nice and clean.  Wrong.  Little Miss Katie is getting absolutely black, especially her legs, tummy, and feet.  We had to get her groomed.  Here is a before and after photo.

Before: she’s more gray than white!

After:  She’s white again (at least for a day or two)

I hope you can see the difference.

I love this campground.  I managed to get into the painted class that I wanted to do so badly.  It’s 3 hours a week for 3 weeks.  She only takes 10 but since I was the only other one waiting, she let me join.  It’s a pen and ink painting.  You trace the design and then ink it.  Finally you paint it.  Here is the one I’m doing.

 

This is what I had done after the first class.  I’ve traced the design and am doing the ink lines.

On Thursday, Kim O and I went to see the Lipizzaner stallions in training at their Florida stable.  These are the young stallions they are training to be future stars in their show.  Kim and I got some great photos.  These are just a few.

Rick and I have been to one of their shows at the civic center in Wheeling.  If you’ve never seen one, it’s a great show.

Florida

We left Savannah Ga. the morning of the January 23 and started towards Port Charlotte, Fl.  When I figured out that we might actually make it to our destination that day I started calling campgrounds to see what might be available.  Most of the ones I called didn’t answer.  One was supposed to call me back but she didn’t.  I called the top rated site – Riverside RV Park and was told they had no openings.  Hm, we might have to boondock at a Cracker Barrel or someplace until we find a site.  We saw a sign that said Englewood (close to where our friends Tom & Kim live) so we got off the interstate.  We stopped at one campground – they had room but it was expensive and you had to arrange for your own cablevision and internet and wait a week before you could be hooked up.  We missed the entrance to another campground – remember we’re long and can’t turn too quick or make a u-turn.  No more campgrounds in this area, so we get back on the interstate and head further south.  After about 20 miles we came upon the exit for some of the campgrounds I had been calling so we got off.  After driving for about 5 miles we came upon the Riverside Rv Park which was full.  Rick was really getting tired and hungry and it was almost dark.  He pulled in anyway and they had one site available!  We got it!  Of course, we might have to leave the next day.  When we checked at the office on Sunday, whoever had the site reserved for the summer didn’t show or cancelled so we could have it for a week.   We stayed for one week and that turned into two and now we are staying at least until March 1, and have put in a reservation for a site next winter.

There is always something to do here.  They have activities going all the time, computer club, photography club, line dancing, square dancing, luncheons,  card games, movies on Sundays, crafts, woodworking, etc.  Something for everyone.  We were lucky to get in.  They have a waiting list of people wanting reservations but since we wormed our way into the park, we go on a different list ahead of people who have never been here.  The people are just fantastic!  Very friendly and nice!  Dogs are very welcome! I took some photos, but they don’t do justice to the park.

Here we are.

Rick walking Katie.

They have two heated pools and a hottub.

There are over 500 campsites but lots of open spaces too.

Nice showers and laundry room facilities

  

You don’t feel all jammed together.

This is a cute wind sox someone has at their site.  It looks like a giant butterfly.

It’s the nicest park we’ve ever stayed at!