Nails, Pool/ Hot Tub, Met Switch Crew

We both woke up at 5am today, crazy. I was thinking about the slide floor problem we have. And how I can't imagine packing and having to move out for any length of time till it was fixed. I couldn't stop thinking about what all that would involve. 

So we got up and started the coffee. Wish we were at a better location to watch the sunrise. 

Around 8:30 I started breakfast  when we were finished we went for a walk around the park, there is a flea market across the street today.

There are Switch crew here, not home yet.

 I have an appointment to get my nails done at 11 a.m. we will try to make it after that to the fleamarket. We left about 10:40 Jim drop me off, and then he headed to Burger King for a slightly early lunch and went to the liquor store, and waited to hear from me back at  the rig. 

I went in to lovely salon and met Illa. She has five horses and does something called Cowboy mounted shooting. Never even knew it existed, you can go on YouTube watch videos, they are in a  commercial, her horse was in  with her husband on the horse running full out and shooting at targets with a rifle. NO hands on the reins .Was amazing video. I had a wonderful time and really enjoy talking with her. She did a fabulous job on my nails. And the next client that came in after me,  we had a lovely chat, she lives in Winter Garden. She was telling me about her property and that she has an RV spot she was thinking about renting.  I told her we might be interested for next year, technically this year cuz it would be end of October. We also had a lovely chat I gave her my card and got her number. After some nail drying time I texted Jim to pick me up.

 We went back to the rig and I ate some lunch and then we walked over across the street oh, but the flea market was pretty much wrapped up by then. We will try next Thursday. Went back again to the rig put on our bathing suits. Wanda my cousin, had called while I was at the nail salon so I called her back we talked about 50 minutes. They have their place down here listed for sale oh, her husband had some health issues. When we finished our conversation we took the golf cart across the road again to the hot tub / pool. Had a wonderful time relaxing in the hot tub. And we took a little ride around on that side of the campground, then  headed back to the rig Jim took a shower. I showered and Changed  over there before we drove back. 

The  motorhome a few sites up from us that has a switch it up flag out front, I've been waiting for them to be home to say hi. So  I grab my water bottle and phone and walked up to see if they were home yet.

 Their names are Billy and Cindy he was sitting outside when  he saw my shirt he said hi, it's like we knew each other for years, Cindy came out we chatted, we're so excited to talk with more crew members. I texted Jim said come up to our crew . She took me in and showed me her motorhome. We realize we did briefly chat at the meet and greet in Tampa  Florida. They live in Texas and will be going to the Huddle too. We're going the end of April. I told them to could come over and see our rig. We ended up walking over, probably was after 5. We gave them  the grand tour and sat and talked till after 7:30. Wow did we cover a lot of different subjects. We'll probably see each other again, I hope so,, I think they leave Saturday. We will definitely see them in Texas. 

We said our goodbyes for the evening. 

We didn't have dinner yet,  and I had thawed some shrimp and we had some strawberries and I ate

 some quinoa/ cauliflower rice veggie salad I make. We watched a few more YouTube videos before we went to bed late. Jim went up first what a beautiful fun day.

Mobile RV Tech, Beautiful day, set nail appointment

Today I was again up before Jim. Today not by to much. We had coffee,  I made him bacon and eggs he made us each an English muffin. I  straightened up. Got ready for our appointment with the mobile RV tech. Appointment was for between 9 and 11, she texted at 8:30, said she was on her way. Yes she, her name was Vega,  found out later she was from Allentown and was in the Army National Guard and was in the Gap, I said you ever go to Moose KZ, she smiled, OH yes. Small World, but I wouldn't want to clean it. Well I say that part.

She was here to look at our problem slide. We told her the long history of it's now many problems, and it never worked right since we bought it.  We showed her what we do to try get it in. She looked outside, and jacked it up a bit. 

But her real final diagnosis, was, she did all she could, and to take it for major slide repair of the slide floor. The slide would need to be totally removed and repaired, It has many problems, she said was not done right from the factory. She worked briefly at General RV, and suggested we try to take it there. 

I actually called them while she was still here, said they would call me back, still never did today.

After she left we sat a bit out in the sun. Jim was setting up outside, took the golf cart out while she worked on the slide. We talked about how it would work for us to take it somewhere, and have to be out of it. 

Then we took a golf cart ride, pretty small on this side of the CG,  I drove and we crossed the road and went on the other side to look around. Is alot bigger on that side. Nice bigger pond. 

Nice pool and hot tub. 

But it is really full and some sites had alot of mud where you have to park. And really packed in tight. We thought that our site wasn't that great, but after looking around it is not that bad. We stopped and talked to a guy with a Brookstone he talked to at Peace River, they just pulled in as we drove in.

We came back to FW. Came in for a bit and decided to go for a walk around this side. We got back Jim put the grill on and I made him flat tater tots and me a few sweet potato fries in the air fryer. He grilled a few burgers and turkey hot dogs. We had more glazed strawberries with topping for dessert. 

I called someone to set up a nail appointment today, she said she was booked till March. Gave me a number of her friend  who might have available openings. I called she wasn't at her shop. Said she would call back. I had to call and leave a message, then she called me we set a time for tomorrow at 11 am, yea, I can understand her too. She said she was out riding, I said I wanted to ask her about that. She said she has 5 horses. I said you ever need a buddy to go riding with, she said YES sometimes I DO. I said OH we could be best friends. Told her looking forward to talking about horses with her.

Jim Watched hockey while I did this stupid blog again, lol sure hope we like reading it when we're old.

I went to bed first my leg hurts for some reason after our walk.

Cool Day, rain on the way for Moving Day

Jim was up first today. Always is on moving day. We had coffee and I made him breakfast with sausage red peppers from last night, and green ones with onions and eggs and cheese. 

The weather report last night said rain was going to start at midnight, never did. Was dry out the whole time we packed up. Our problem slide was a real problem today It didn't want to go in at all. He worked HARD to get that bugger in. 

We said Hi and bye to our neighbors, right before they left. I was looking at all the air plants in the tree above us. It was loaded with them.  One was huge looked like the top of a pineapple.

                 Picture below, whoops.

We left at 10:15 am, still dry out. Was a nice drive, not to much traffic today. Was dry till we stopped at Love's for a quick potty break and grabbed a protein bar. Saw one RV tire seams to have a wear mark on it.  Then it started to drizzle a little after our break, just after  I  4.

We arrived here at Southern Palms Encore Park, just after 1:30.  

  One of the Palm Trees at Southern Palms, nice.

They help you back in they still lay rope down to guide you in, kind of weird but whatever. 

It was raining heavier than, he got level, unhooked, not in that order. I went in did my stuff. Started late lunch. I almost always have a plan. For almost ready to eat items. I heated up beef noodle soup for Jim first. 

The huge Air Plant

Then made us cassadee and dessert from last night, with my glazed strawberries with topping and 2 Lorna Doones. 

I put a spaghetti squash in the microwave.

We relaxed for a bit. Jim talked to Bryan he called.

Rain stopped by then. We went for a walk around the park on this side of the road.  Got a few shots in before it got to dark. 

I little pond here, cool reflection 

People had a little pond with fish,, and a dinosaur theme  

We got back I squeegeed the truck and RV a little, kind of dark then. 

Our new site at Southern Palms Encore Park 

We went in I put spaghetti in the instant pot. Watched a few Ozark episodes. I took a shower and washed the dishes before bed.

Strawberries More Strawberries

It finally happened, I Was up first this AM before Jim.

I don't mean by minutes, but it was almost an hour. Good to see him get some good  sleep for a change.

 I did save him some coffee. I made him a nice breakfast, we put a few things away, tomorrow is moving day. Then we got ready for our day of fun. 

We made plans to see Bob and Sally.  I met them first in the pool here in Peace River, years ago They invited us to meet up with them at Goodson's Strawberry Farms.

It was about an hour drive for both of us. We arrived just after 11:30.

They started to get ready busy, they have great sandwiches for lunch, we shared a Cuban and a club sandwich, and they have strawberry shortcake with the works, they call it, the cake, strawberries, ice cream and Topping, and I got a strawberry Pizza slice it has a cream cheese topping with it.

 Course we forgot to get pictures of that. It  was kind of chilly outside they only have seating outside to eat. We had a nice visit and caught up on their travels. They're staying at Royal Coachman for the winter season. We went in to buy some strawberries right before we left. Jim was anxious to get home and start putting stuff away, as they said rain  was arriving tomorrow. We bought our strawberries and I also found some beautiful red peppers $0.25 each. Here is a picture of them when we got back home. 

Here are pictures of the area, kind of like Parksdale. We really liked it,  we took some of my dessert home.

12 dollars for the half of a flat of berries 

Beautiful produce

That is where you order the food. Bob said they didn't raise the price in over 4 years. 

On the way home we stopped at Wal-Mart wanted a few things, but they didn't have it. Jim did find a couple of flannel shirts he needed. 

We got back to the RV after 3 and I started to put stuff away, I made glazed strawberries, chocolate covered strawberries, I missed one, and I chopped up the red peppers. All that took forever, 

Jim worked outside putting things away, he put the golf cart away too. He worked untill after dark, he didn't come in till after 8 pm.

We watched TV before bed he went up first.

           Thanks Bob and Sally for a fun day. 

Birthday cake, dice game,

I heard Jim get up this morning at 5 a.m.,  still a little early for me, then I woke up at 8. We had our coffee I made him bacon, two eggs, hash brown potatoes and a strawberry fruit cup for breakfast,  I had my usual.

 He went outside and recharged the water softener, drained both black tanks. I went outside around 10:30 and did my 3 mile walk fit tape outside with Leslie Sansone.

Then I made us a lite lunch of taco soup, Jim had a slice of the meat loaf I made last night. 

We got new neighbors today. The TT Sales lady stopped and gave us our paperwork and said she messed up big time, we Can't get 2 holidays on the books, it did let him  for some reason. She said she would understand if we wanted to cancel, because that is one big things he really wanted. We didn't, BUT I did Try to get a bigger discount.

Then we went to the MH for the celebration of February birthdays, they have cake and ice cream. 

We met Barbara and Tony there.

 Eddie and Nann were with them. They went to lunch together, she is so cute and funny. They have strong Virginia accents, you really have to listen to understand him. Last year I saw her almost everyday at our ladies who craft.  This year they are staying at a different park. 

We chatted for a bit after the cake and they had to go home they were tired after the long day, I think they're both in their early 80s. 

Then we went back to the fifth wheel grabbed a couple drinks, and quarters, then  went over to Barbara and Tony sat  outside at the picnic table and played a dice game called Left Right Center, then we played the game called Farkle,  not my favorite.

We stayed until almost 5:30, then we got home put a quick chicken casserole in the microwave and Jim was outside a bit talking to a coworker, Jeff. He even ate outside. I took a shower and started a load of laundry before he came back in. 

Then we watched TV before bed.

Pancake breakfast, craft sale, Upgrade

Jim was up Again first this morning. I was up right before 8. We had some coffee together,  I started getting ready for the day, I could tell Jim was wondering what was for breakfast, because he forgot, today was the pancake breakfast with strawberries on top, sausage, juice and coffee for $3. 

At the same time they have a craft sale going on in the building, I like to take my bags too. Jim said he forgot and we got ready and grabbed the bags out of the trunk and I found a few more items I wanted to sell, dish cloths, and some infinity scarves, that I make when my hands hurt doing the heavy plastic. We headed down just after 9, breakfast starts at 9:30.

 I started setting up my bags, while Jim went up to get his breakfast.

 I ate my oatmeal, with Greek yogurt and fruit before we left. Barbara and Tony showed up just after we arrived. She was just selling a few things she no longer needed in the motorhome. Tony also ate breakfast.

 We enjoyed watching the lady in front of us selling these clips to  pull your hair back. 

Below on left.

My bags as I started to set up.
The room was really full there's all different kinds of things. Was funny this small Campground had all these people selling their Wares, and huge Thousand Trails Orlando, only myself and the Tupperware lady. 

After breakfast Jim  headed back to the RV. He showed up again at 11 which is when the breakfast was over but we could sell until 1. 

Everyone around me said I'm not staying that long. So just after 12 noon we packed up and headed out. I sold two huge bags for groceries or for going to the beach, and a water bottle holder, but the lady who bought it put her phone in it. I was quite happy with that. 

I condensed the bags from two banana boxes down to almost one. Then we headed back to the RV for lunch. We had some leftover food we had pre cooked.

Jim relaxed a bit after lunch, I started to made taco soup, put a meatloaf in the instant pot, straightened out the refrigerator, cleaned some romaine lettuce, and put in my Tupperware container. And probably a few other things, before we knew it it was time to go up and meet Barbara and Tony up at the meeting house at 2 to talk to member services to see about a membership upgrade. Jim loves the idea of a larger booking window and 2 holidays bookings. 

It was just the four of us, we were up there almost 2 hours, long story short we upgraded from our Elite basic, to Elite connections, of course they're still one level above that, I guess they're always will be. We upgraded with the understanding we would have the two things I just mentioned above in our new contract. She couldn't find the 2 holiday on, in there,  Jim said I definitely want it in writing. She told us he could start booking right away.

We said goodbye to each other and went back to the RV. I still had the meatloaf to put away and the soup cold off, so I could finish that.. Jim  started booking more trips right away. He was able to book two holidays at the same time,  he found the contract and it only said one. Have to see what that's all about tomorrow when she drops off our paperwork. 

Then I texted Barb and Tony to see if they wanted to stop up for a visit to see the fifth wheel, they were never in here before. They used to have a FW too. She laughed and said I don't like to look at a lot of fifth wheels, because then I am reminded how much room they have inside, compared to a motorhome.  

So they brought the scooters up, they each had a drink, we had a nice visit for a while, they haven't had dinner yet so they left about 7 to go eat. We ate soup before they arrived, we had a little something else after they left and I made us each 2 paleo chocolate chip cookies for dessert. We relax the rest of the evening and watch another episode of Ozarks before bed.

Strawberry Festival

Today Jim came downstairs at 6 am, I was up at 7:30. We had coffee later made breakfast. 

We took an early golf cart ride.  

We took my flowers out of the hole, ( ie our storage compartment, we call that one the hole ) so the squirrels won't dig them up.  This is what I purchased and my after picture.

We saw Barbara and Tony scooters up where the produce stand is. We saw them chatted a bit. I got more strawberries. We made plans to meet up for the Strawberry shortcake at 2:30 after lunch. We talked again about the food we smoked yesterday, I said I could make her a plate if she wanted to try it, she said she would love to, just a little,  I said I would make her a tasting plate.  I said I would bring it over after lunch. 

We had lunch,  I heated up pork made Jim a sandwich. After we ate I told Jim I was going to take the food over to them. He said just be back by 2:30 for the strawberries.

 I took it over told them what everything was, tasting portions of the roasted corn salad, quinoa and cauliflower rice with veggies, smoked pork, grilled chicken, and smoked chicken. She said they would have it for dinner tonight,   then we sat outside under awning and chatted for a while. Then we realized it was almost 2, I said I better go get Jim. We would drive by when we were ready. I picked him up and they followed us over to the Strawberry Festival.

It was another beautiful day out 87 degrees and I 

Never remembered to get any pictures. 

They give you one ticket each for a strawberry shortcake, strawberry milkshake, and chocolate-covered strawberries. Luckily we got in the shortcake line first we were one of the last four to receive Shortcake,  because they had just ran out, 160 servings gone in a good half hour. They never seem to buy enough here. Then we got the chocolate covered strawberries and milkshake next. So we sat on the swing chatted for a while, then we headed back to our our RV's for dinner.

Travis called on facetime got to see him and Mia. He wanted me to remind him how to make chicken and rice in the instant pot. We had a nice chat, took phone outside to show them how beautiful it is out.

Then later after our chat I made chicken cassadee's with the black beans and corn for dinner.  Then we took a golf cart ride ride before it was getting dark. When we got back, he plugged the cart back in. Put my plant away again for safe keeping.

I took a shower then we watched Ozarks new season 4. Then went to bed. 

Arcadia, K & J Produce & Meat Market

Today Jim was awake at 3 and came downstairs to sleep a while. I got up at 7. We had her coffee, I made breakfast, I worked on the Blog for quite a while this morning. 

Then I went outside to do my walk fit tape with Leslie Sansone. Took a shower we had a quick lunch of leftovers. 

First we went to Walmart we got a trimmer for tall branches touching the camper, tire pressure gauge to reach the back Duallys, bug spray, some plants for my flower pot, Kleenex, toothpaste and a little bit of food.

Then we went to K & J produce and meat market in Arcadia Florida, 20 minutes away. 

This is what I purchased. A pork loin, 2 New York strip steaks, whole chicken, boneless chicken thighs, 6 T bone steaks, Salmon, cooked Shrimp, 3 lbs ground burger, not in picture, forgot it. 

Produce I found was romaine, apples, corn on the cob, celery, spaghetti squash, etc

Jim is husking the corn at the picnic table. 

It's not pretty, but this is our smoker, we love it.

We are still looking for water,  they had a purified water kiosk but not the spring water than I like oh, it will have to do for now.

 When we arrived back at the RV it was after 3. Jim got the smoker going, I prepped everything for the freezer he put the whole chicken and the pork loin in the smoker. It almost immediately starts to smell fabulous.

I was able to talk to Christine and Drew today. 

We took the meat out of the smoker around 6:30. 

We ate a little late tonight, I put corn in the instant pot then roasted it a little made a corn salad with it. Jim made a campfire and was outside for awhile, talked to Larry then came it at 10 pm, wow so late went to bed.

Day trip to Sarasota

This am we both woke up at 6:30 am. Jim had cereal I ate a banana,  and left to walk the park with the ladies here. There was lot today, once we all gathered, one had a cane, they were walking really slow.  I heard someone say I can't walk that fast. They were going to walk in the jungle, which goes around the perimeter of the park. I said hope you don't mind, but I'm going to walk ahead, mentioned we were leaving for Sarasota soon, I felt bad, but I started booking it after we said our goodbyes.

I walked around all the roads, 3 miles or so, got back to RV at 9:45.

Then had my oatmeal took a shower. We left for Sarasota 10:20 took a little over an hour. Was a nice drive, did get a little busy when we started to get close. We arrived at Sarasota Lakes RV Resort, alot of park models here too. 

We visited for a bit. They have jets go over  every 15 minutes, was cool to watch, I always loved to, but probably would get old quickly.

We jumped in there car and headed to Sarasota Bay Front Park, to Marina Jack Restaurant right on the water Front, beautiful place to have lunch.

Our friends Sue and Tony Costanza

I had Lobster and shrimp roll, sweet potato fries

Jim had blackened grouper Ruben with fries.

We walked all around the park area took some pretty pictures. 

Statue of an iconic photo

There was Yachts everywhere, they even had a place for Yacht Sales if you felt like shopping.

We went back to the MH sat outside a bit was beautiful day, 83 degrees. Watched the planes go over. We started thinking about heading out. We said our goodbyes and left just after 4:40. 

Was a nice drive home, arrived at 6:30. SO good to be home,  was a beautiful sunset behind us,, wish I could have gotten a picture of it.. Jim was pooped.

We relaxed and watched TV a bit before bed