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

Walk the park, Tire repair. chilling and grilling then Hockey

This morning we pretty much woke up at the same time, 6:30. We had coffee,  later on we had breakfast, I  made us each a bacon egg and cheese sandwich. Then I realized it was 8:30 and I thought I can make it to the ladies that do  walk the park. So I got dressed and ready quick and met them up there.

There was a few new ones but a lot I new from last year. We probably walked at least three miles. 

When I got back I changed and got ready and we took the truck up the road to get that nail out of the tire, we found it yesterday right when we were leaving Steve's house. Big old nail in there. We stopped in and they had us all ready to go in half an hour. $34 for the tire repair. 

Then we stopped at a new place for More Produce.

 Stopped at Winn-Dixie to get water, but the water kiosk was closed. We also went to Save-A-Lot,. 

When we got back to the RV, I put the groceries away and had lunch. Then I worked on this stupid blog. And we took a golf cart ride.

Came back sat out in the sun for a bit. Was about  73 today. Then Jim grilled some turkey burgers and chicken for later. And he grilled a steak from last year, we are going to restock the freezer with meat Thursday at J and K. Then we ate he had a fire and watched Hockey outside, YEA.

I did dishes and took trash out took a shower and watched my own TV inside. 

Visiting with old friends

This morning Jim was again up first. We had coffee and breakfast. After watching the news and weather for a bit, I got moving and did my walk fit video inside. It was still a bit cold out for that.  Jim showered while I walked, then my turn after I cooled off. 

We had a lite lunch of soup. Got ready and left at 12:20 for Frostproof to visit Steve and Katrina. 

Jim noticed the same back outside dually tire was low again. So we stopped and filled it before we left. It takes about 45 minutes to get there.

Steve picked us up in the huge golf cart, they really make ours look small. We got a tour of the second park model they bought in this park, where her parents, Ellen and  Gary live now. They did alot of work to it, alot of paint. I can't believe I forgot to get pictures of it.. Then we left in there car to go to the restaurant they recommended. It's  called Cherry Pockets. She said it's not much to look at but food is really good and large portions.

Have to go early gets really full with mainly locals. We arrived just before 3, happy hour is over at 4.

We ordered 2 appetizers to share, and extra hush puppies, which I love. They both ordered different kinds of shrimp, Jim had fried catfish and I had grilled grouper. Everything was fantastic. We didn't get dessert but looked great. 

They have live music every night. 

There was a lady playing the guitar, she started right before we left, she was outside but we couldn't hear her very well. Our friends said they cleaned the place up a lot, new flooring and a lot cleaner, they weren't there in 5 years.  They have a little RV park, and a boat launch there too.

Jim and I would like to go back before we leave the area.

Then we went back to their park called Camp Inn. We took a golf cart ride in their huge cart again, met there neighbors across the road.. Checked out the area stopped in to see her parents, but only her dad Gary was home her mother was up helping with the Bingo going on. So we said our goodbyes when they dropped us at the truck. Hoping to see them again before we leave the area or when we come back in a few weeks. But then it was just starting to get dark we arrived back at the RV at 6:30 ish. We watched a little TV before bed. Was getting cold again.