Happy Easter

Sunday April 4, 2021

It doesn't feel like Easter. No holidays do after your kids are adults.

I was up first this morning, only had to turn the coffee on, Jim premade it last night, not sure why he just did.

We watched the morning News, after 9 I made Jim breakfast of a mini zucchini pie, two eggs and the last of the lemon poppy seed muffins. 

I was working on more water bottle holders. Later went outside it was so beautiful out, Jim joined me and we sat outside for a long time pondering retirement when and how that would look. He took the rest of the bags out of the truck, to store them back in the trunk, but before he did I counted them to see what I had left. Found the paper that I started out with 62. Now I have eight large, 10 medium and 4 small, and four water bottle holders. I guess I did sell a lot. 

 I made us some leftovers for lunch soup zucchini pie some chicken, my leftover burger and french fries we shared from TooJay's yesterday.

Can't believe less then 2 days before we start to head back toward Pa. Have to think about what travel food have to prep yet.

We took a golf cart ride, I was driving and I drove over to the yellow house, right across from us, we had looked at last year. The lady was out and just got back from walking her boxer dog. We said Hi and chatted for a bit, told her we really liked her house and had looked at it last year. Her name is Julie, she's been living in it for 6 months, year round, just had a breakup, she said it wasn't quite ready yet but to stop back next year and say hi and she would show it to us. How nice.

 Then we continued on our ride saw Barb and Tony on their scooters got to say hi,  probably won't see them till next year. Although he did say they might come to Hershey, because their daughter wants to. We finished our ride what a beautiful evening. 

Went back to the camper I made Jim his pierogies and sausage for our Easter dinner,

very good, but it doesn't feel like Easter.  I went up to the pool had to wait for some people  with little kids to get out of the hot tub. Beautiful sunset, Jim took a few pictures as he started a fire and was out till 11 p.m. listening to music.

Craft and Art Show at Brownwood, The Village's

Saturday April 3, 2021

Today I was up first at about 8 am. Wanted to get an early start to get to the The Village's to be able to get a place to easily park the truck. I had also called the lady I met last Saturday that said she wanted my two largest bags I make. She called me back yesterday and we planned to meet up this morning. 

When we arrived, it  was almost 10 am, it definitely was getting full. I called her to tell her we were here and she drove around to our location. She loved my bags, and ran into TOOJAY'S to show her hostess friend, Shelly.  She took the first one and Joyce got 4 more. Total $75.00. YEA I did sell more this trip then ever before, alot to go. 

So I said a big thank you and we said goodbye. 

Then we all started to walk around the show.It started out cool.

Was not long till Jim changed into his shorts. It was huge. Alot of the same people that sold at the show we went to last year with Jim's boss and his wife. Lance and Crystal, and they just arrived today and want to buy a house in  The Village's. Funny thing they didn't even know about this place till Jim told them about it, now they love it too.

We walked around a little together and Jim sat under the roof, and today they were playing live music a mix of songs. 

Here are some pictures of the day. Alot of cool things for sale.

Huge artwork not RV size

These were like Christmas trees with shells on them.

Why am I seeing words are blue, this blog drives me NUTS, I have two pictures the same, can't remove it.

These are charcuterie boards made of wine barrels,  these are three put together.

Repeat 

Alot of beautiful things, most of which do not work for RV living. I did get 2 pair earrings, always room for them. I found cute hair ties for my girls. And Jim found the birds we got last year too. We had 2 for 20. Last year one for Crystal and we kept it till we got back to Pa. Jim has wanted a second one again. The guy couldn't get them out fast enough. They sold like crazy, I still think Jim should make and sell them.

They are made with sheets of PVC. He doesn't want to. We had the orange one, now a white one. He had all different colors.

I also got a pin to attach to a shirt, etc to keep it  closed. 

Then we went to TOOJAY'S for lunch it was packed. 

But I did get to say thank you to the hostess Shelly for buying one of my bags. She said how did you know. I said I made it. She showed it to me, she had under her podium station. Funny thing was when my MIL was here, we ate here with her, and and had a big conversation with her about cake. She wears a button on her uniform that says Ask Me About Cake, there bakery is Fabulous. I remembered that her least favorite was Chocolate and banana together. 

After lunch we walked around a little more. Goodbye Brownwood we will MISS you.

Then we headed back to our RV home. 

Was so nice out, I sat out a bit, I was texting with Christine she is back from California. Jim had a stiff neck, and he had the heating pad on it. He fell asleep, never wake a sleeping Jim. 

When we woke we had a small dinner of a few leftovers. Another amazing sunset over the golf course.

A Day Cooking, Door open, Windy but Sunny

Friday April 2, 2021

Today Jim was up so I got to enjoy his coffee again when I got up. I had alot of cooking and baking I wanted to do,  and use the convection oven for 4 different things, it was not going to be very hot 68, but very sunny. Perfect. First I had a lemon poppy seed muffin mix I wanted to make first as part of Jim's breakfast for later.

But first I wanted to work on my business cards. I have this little blue one was full. I wanted to separate them into RV business we use and Pa RV friends and Rally people we know, etc. I worked a long time on it. 

Jim was going to eat cereal, because it was almost 10 am. I said I had something for him. I made 2 dippy eggs with one sausage he grilled last night, that I put the rest in the soup. And one poppy seed muffin. Then I ate my oatmeal thing. Then I stood at the kitchen island to finish my business card project. 

Just a quick plug for the green Holy Moly these are the best cleaning clothes I ever had. Only make wet and they do windows mirrors. Fantastic, I got these last year when I shopped with Terri Hein from Vegas. We shared a pack. I cut one in half, we each had one and half. I use half inside cleaning and the whole large one outside on the car, windows and RV. The  Best thing ever, glad I got them. Because a cleaning thing wasn't my first choice of what I wanted to buy at an outdoor flea market.

Then I started cooking. I made ham and bean soup in my IP. Then Chocolate chip cookies with almond flour and mini zucchini pie. 

               Zucchini pies on left before baking. 

                     This is after baking them.

Then I took a shower after all that.

Then around 1:30 I got lunch ready. We had rest smoked pork, veggie chicken sausage soup from last night. Zucchini pie and a cookie I just made. 

SO after lunch this was the aftermath of all that cooking and baking. 

NOW Jim's turn. My wonderful hubby washed all these dishes. Then he took a shower. 

We put 2 bowls of each soup I made in the freezer out front.

Then we took a short ride in the golf cart to take the trash out.  It was cool out in the golf cart was a little bit windy especially when it whipped inside. When we got back to the RV, Jim plugged the cart in and we walked back to our water view to check it out. There was no golfers out now. But Our neighbor saw a 7 foot gate walk out of this pond.

I had washed one load of wash and hung outside. Was perfect drying conditions. Then I went in to get dinner ready was just after 5:30 when I started. I put a frozen pizza in the oven. I told Jim we had a six course dinner tonight, all small portions. First heated the leftover French fries in the air fryer, from yesterday's dinner out, just had a few.  Then small serving of broccoli salad,  Jim had bowl of ham and bean soup I made earlier. Then we shared half pizza save rest for tomorrow night. Had burrito bowls, a small piece of pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing a scoop of frozen yogurt. I washed up the dishes, went out and brought the laundry in off the clothesline.

Watched the sunset from my chair, very busy day for me. Watched a little TV before bed.

Visiting Hawthorne, Pills, Diet Pepsi, New Restaurant

Thursday April 1,  2021

Today was my Mother's birthday.

Today I was up first Jim's coffee was better when he was up first and made it. 

I tried to make a list of things I wanted and things I wanted to get accomplished. Today was going to be about 20 degrees cooler then it has been. We both put on long pants today. Oh well, winter day in Florida, OH Jim reminded me, it is Spring now.  I made Jim an omelet.

 We had some smoked pork I had some veggies too, a quick lunch before we left.  We got really for our appointment to tour Hawthorne an active 55 plus community today at 1 pm.

We arrived and met our tour guide Dave, he has lived here with his wife 6 years. I was expecting the guide to be a woman, not sure why. He was funny and did very well. We went into a van and he drove us all around.

 The property is gated and 24 hour security and medical care on site. 

Each home has 2 call buttons. They have alot of volunteers that help each other. Over 200 clubs, access to many connected lakes, can go all the way to Jacksonville. They have their own marina, and boat slips. They have a long waiting list to get one. They have free RV storage too.

 It is very close to The Village's. They take you shopping and other outings. They have a garden where you can have your own plot. Speaking of plots,  believe it or not you can be buried in  their Cemetery for free you pay for cremation.  Also library, workout room, craft, stain glass etc.

This was an ice cream social going on. Most states have a club too.

Funny thing today was Pennsylvania club meeting, we were not invited. 

Here are some pictures of our tour. 

          They have over 1100 homes, just one road.

Huge pool and party area. He said he never saw it empty before. Pool is 83 degrees year round. 

When we left we went to CVS to pick up our pills. We had 2 for each of us. We just got a Good RX card and showed it to  the pharmacy guy. He said you can look up each pill and find discounts for them. We looked up 2 of ours and saved us over 100 dollars. We were glad they had Diet Pepsi on sale 4, 2 liter bottles for $5. We got 8 bottles. The last 8 they had.

We found another dry erase sheet, the last on they had. Want it for the main bathroom upstairs. 

Then we tried a new restaurant we never went to before. We just wanted a quick lite early dinner. Was almost 4:30. We went to Culver's.

Jim had a grilled Reuben I had a fish sandwich we were thrilled they had Diet Pepsi. It was pretty good we took some FF home.

After that we went to Walmart found a few of the 

things we were looking for. Found some plastic business card holders. Did some food shopping too. 

Of course Jim got more beer. Getting it at Walmart never gets old for him.

We returned to our home, by now it was 6:45. Jim brought everything in. It was alot cooler out, but nice. Watched the sunset, had the door propped open. Jim grilled chicken and chicken sausage I made a vegetable and rice soup with it my IP. 

We watched a little TV before bed.

Line dancing, Happy hour, pool

Wednesday March 31, 2021

Jim was up first this morning. I made a few phone calls, still trying to get the right paint ordered. Called TTO to get our 500.00 security deposit back. I left that place SO clean. Called Hawthorne an active 55 plus community, made an appointment for 1 pm on Thursday to get a tour. 

Jim was working on our motion light, it keeps falling off. And my other light, he said that was not fixable.

I made him breakfast. Dippy eggs, the man loves his eggs.

 I got really to go up to the last line dance of the season, from noon till 2, The new teacher Carolyn was there also Lee and Linda we're back. They've been gone for a year, he had some health issues, and covid-19, waiting to get their vaccines. He wasn't teaching, but it seems like it was killing him not to. He has been the teacher there since we've been coming to Clerbrook. It was a lot of fun I was able to dance every dance. They both do a great job teaching.

     Linda and Lee are the 2 in dark clothes in middle 

It was really hot when I came out from dancing, very humid went back to the FW. I got lunch ready for Jim and I, we have the leftovers from Oakwood. 

Before we knew it it was after 3. He was watching some dumb movie, we got ready around 3:30 to go to happy hour at the Veranda.

Barbara and Tony said they would be there too, we arrived fashionably late. I was afraid it would be super hot but there was just enough shade against the building where they were sitting. We had a really long visit. Didn't get any more pictures but it was packed when we were there. And all the tables were empty when we left, we closed her down. They were serving food, but we have plenty at the RV. Only hot dogs, burgers and fries. We talked to our old neighbors when we got flooded out, they where they're also. Then we took the long way home with a little golf cart ride. By then it was after 6 and I made pasta outside in my IP, to keep all steam out, made it with the homemade alfredo cheese sauce, added my grilled zucchini, and added the shrimp that were defrosted by now. It was very good, if I must say so myself. 

Jim washed hockey. After I washed up the dishes I got ready and went up to the pool. 

It was almost too warm. I didn't even go in the hot tub this time. There was only one family up there at the time that were very well behaved. But still haven't found anyone really to talk to up there as of yet. When I returned I took a shower and washed  my hair. After hockey was over, with a sad loss again. We watched Naked and Afraid,  Jim went to bed first, but still kind of late. What a fun, full day we had together.

Lunch at Oakwood Smoke House

Tuesday March 30, 2021

This morning after our morning ritual we left around 12:30 to go do some errands and have lunch. We stopped at CVS to get two pills for each of us refilled. We will go back in a couple days to pick him up. We asked about getting the Johnson vaccine. They're not doing them yet using a different one also. I found out from work, until I'm 2 weeks past being fully vaccinated I have to wear the N95 mask at work. I was hoping to find the Johnson & Johnson one shot and done. 

We went to Oakwood Smoke house for lunch arrived after 1.

Brought a lot of leftovers home, we're trying to cut our portions more in half, again. While we waited for our food I called my employer in PA to schedule my vaccine Upon Our return. I hate to spend ( waste) alot of time looking for one here.

On our Drive to the store Jim got a phone call from his mom and Shannon. She was offering to be his mother's caretaker as she was having some issues, and she didn't want her to be alone during the day. Shannon's new job at the daycare near the house, closed for two weeks because of some covid related issue. Before she gave a two week notice they both wanted to make sure it was okay with Jim if she did that. We had a chat and I believe that's what's going to happen. She is doing well now. She also mentioned Thomas came to visit yesterday talked about getting a new job, first we heard about it.

Then we stopped at Save-A-Lot. Found more than I expected in there of things I wanted. Then we went to Publix Jim filled our water jugs while I looked for a few things that I couldn't find at the other store. We drove by Lake Mineola. When we got back to the FW we had a lot of things to put away.

After we  put everything away. Jim grilled more chicken, and zucchini, we eat alot of chicken.

I made us chicken burrito bowls for dinner, they make them at our new favorite Mexican restaurant in Pennsylvania. I made rice in the instant pot, then you top it with cheese any kind of beans you like chicken lettuce tomato avocado and sour cream. I could eat one 4 days consecutive days oh, delish. 

After dinner we took a golf cart ride. As we watched the sky darkened with an approaching storm. We headed back a little early as we saw a few people putting awnings and chairs away. We got a couple drops of rain, a wind gust and  that was about it.

On the other side of the campground pink clouds and blue sky. 

Jim washed the dishes. While he did that I was hanging a piece of dry erase bored inside the medicine cabinet door in Jim's bathroom downstairs.

I want to keep a list there of what's in the outside freezer. I had texted Thomas earlier and mentioned his new job. So he called while we were doing that we had a nice chat. The new job offered him $6 more an hour. His previous employer matched the offer. But he said he took the new position. After our chat we watched a little TV before bed. I finished the project I was working on. Now what to start next. That's always the big decision.

A little Rain, chilling, grilling, pool and a fire

Monday March 29, 2021

Can't believe the month is almost over. 

Jim's turn, he was up first this morning. I got up around 8 a.m. We spent the day not doing much. We had the TV on, had a little bit of rain in the morning. I was crouching alot today.

Jim had rest beef noodle soup, have 2 servings in the freezer. I had the last quesadilla and we shared more carrot cake. Jim went for a golf cart ride. He said he saw the 2 baby redheaded sand crane they were so big. Hope we can find then again.

Today I was able to  watch some of my shows and get them out of my DVR. 

Trying to think of what to make for dinner is worst then just making it.  Thought of ordering pizza.  

I said I was  going to go to the pool. Was nice and warm, relaxing. Then 3 teen boys went in with  one teen  girl. I waited till they got out of the hot tub. Before I got in. Was there almost an hour. I took a quick shower up there. Was alot cooler out today, about 83. 

When I got home Jim was sitting out. Said he almost ordered food to be delivered, would have been expensive I'm glad he didn't. And 45 minute wait. I said we could  WELL he could grill burgers. He grilled some seasoned zucchini planks too. I steamed some broccoli and green beans. Put a piece of butternut squash in the IP. Then I put in pan and sauteed it with butter and cinnamon orange juice and little brown sugar. Just till it starts to caramelize. So good like dessert, but Jim's won't eat it. Ok more for me. Was a great dinner, for a quick last minute dinner. I took more stuff out of the freezer too for tomorrow.

After we ate Jim went out to have a fire, he had prepared it last night but never lit it cause he thought it was to windy last night. But tonight it was not as bad. He was out till after 11:30. I almost always can tell who he is talking to by the way he talks,. Its been 42 years, I know the guy. 

I watched recorded American Idol while crouching.

Jim went to bed first. 

End day with beautiful sunset picture.