Jacaranda and Hibachi

Sunday March 21, 2021

Today I was up first and got the coffee going. Jim joined me, he had a light breakfast I had my oatmeal and we got ready for our fun day we had planned. 

We left around 11 heading to the Jacaranda Hotel in Avon Park.

We arrived a little early to go potty and get some pictures. They were meeting Dee and Jim Walters, and Leslie and Ed, I texted Dee we had arrived. I saw this couple that looks familiar and I went over to talk to her and it was Leslie and her husband. She said it must be you, because you're the only redhead here. She was someone I used to talk to a long time ago when I was following full-time RVr's in the RV Dreams chat room.  Dee has kept it going. Back then I was known as lovely redhead, as Jim gave me my name. Dee  arrived shortly after. She gave them our names, she had called ahead for reservations. It was very busy on this Sunday. Jim talked to the piano man we bought his CD the other year, he was very appreciative. 

Here's some lovely pictures of the lobby of the hotel.

 I looked for the huge orange tree out in the lobby but it was no longer there. I hope it's okay somewhere safe.

 We had a lovely buffet lunch.

L to R Dee, Lessie, Ed, Me, My Jim, Dee's Jim
 

Salad and plenty of dessert. We were chatting away. Didn't want  to take up the table too long as it was still quite busy. So we went out to the Mall hallway sat at a big black table with 6 chairs.

The three of the ladies on one end and the three guys on the other side and we chatted for hours.

 I looked at the clock behind where we were sitting and it said 2:10, I looked again and it said  2:10  that's not bad, then the third time I looked at it I said hey wait a minute must be later than that. I discreetly looked at my phone and it said five. What, man apparently the six of us can talk.

 So we decided what to do, what to do. So we went for the record and decided to go for dinner. TWO Buffet meals in one day OMG. Dee's Jim gave my Jim  The directions, Hibachi Buffet, we all met there, had another great meal together.

Chatted a little longer and finally decided to call it a night. We were 40 minutes from home, Dee and Leslie were about an hour and a half. We arrived home around 9:30.

 Told her I would try to get on the chat room occasionally, I actually did pop in for a few minutes till my phone kicked me out. And as I was typing this I realized I wrote lovely lady instead of lovely redhead, it has been a while. Thank you Dee, Jim,  Leslie and Ed for a really FUN day. 

It was so nice to see Dee and Jim again, and finally get to meet Leslie and Ed and hear about their bluebird and their travels and the newest Adventures in they're tent.

First Day of Spring

Saturday March 20, 2021

This is probably most RV couples, at least Jim and I 

The pill bottles and cross Nan made, was shopping too.

Today I was up way before first light. It Was before 7 am. Drank some coffee then snuck upstairs to get ready. I left about 8:40 am Jim was just waking up. Said bye and put all my wears in the golf cart went up to just outside the meeting house. Most of the crafting ladies come  and a few others, we all set up.

The man standing, is the painter that did Manatee 

He is talking to Betty, she did the cards I bought above.

My recycle plastic shopping bags I make in bottom                                              right corner.

 I was able to sit next to Nan, we got to chat alot, such a sweet lady. Was so nice to talk to all the campers too.  Was a cool morning but beautiful. We sold till noon. I got a few more cards from the other lady who makes them. Got a few things from Nan too. As I said above. The guy who did the painting I got for my MIL of the Manatees was there too, he sold at least 3 more of them. 

At noon I packed up, I texted Jim I was about to leave and got back to the fifth wheel, he put everything in the truck. We had a quick lunch of the rest of the chicken patties from last night, and the tortellini salad and baked beans from our dinner party with Candy and Mike. 

 Then we got ready and went over to the SKP park for their yard sale. They had a sign out by the road people could see us there was a lot of outside traffic too I think. People there were really funny, one lady came up to Marcia and I and said " hello I don't know you. " Everyone knows everyone and a stranger sticks out like crazy. We had a long chat with this lady that was so funny. She said before they RVed they lived in a sailboat for 16 yeats. She said now what she would like to find is a young guy with a really nice sailboat alot of money, and like chubby old lady. She was so funny. Marcia's friend was there we all were chatting she's a massage therapist. Marcia hurt her shoulder and she called her friend and ask her to come  she was sending her a plane ticket to massage her shoulder pain away. She is from Missouri, and kind of thinking about going full-time, trying to figure out how she could Finance her way doing massages. I told her to talk to some of the residents here if they would pay for that service. The funny lady I just spoke about thought it was a fabulous idea.

I took a walk around everything and saw an IP air fryer lid. I was thinking about it, have always wanted one. Was telling Jim. Then I saw this lady carrying part of it to the check out line, then saw her hubby carrying the rest. The lady that we met the other day Jan, was trying to explain what it was and how to use it. I heard her say that you need the main instant pot to for it to work, by then I had walked over there was listening. And he kept trying to walk away towards the direction it was, seemingly to put it back. I thought to myself if he wants it, it wasn't meant to be, but when I saw him doing that. I asked him if he wanted it, he said no he needs to get an instant pot first, and I said just keep it here and then I ended up buying it. I heard her say it was only $20. Woohoo I have an air fryer lid.

It was brand new, had the instruction books too.

Jeff talked to Jim for a few minutes he was on a break from a class he was taking online. 

We said our goodbyes might see each other one more time before we both leave Florida. The last-minute some lady came over and bought two of my baby blankets oh, hooray. We packed up and headed back to the RV. Then I put yellow rice in the instant pot, got a few things out of the freezer out front, then we took a golf cart ride. We came home and I heated up some pork in the instant pot. I steamed off the rest of the green beans in the microwave. I made a chocolate chip zucchini brownie Sunday with ice cream strawberries and topping for dessert . Then I washed up the dishes and get ready to go up to the meeting house for meat bingo.

The room got pretty full, was pricey to pay $ 13.00 each person to play, for 8 games total was fun, and good brain exercise trying to find all numbers called while checking one page with 3 cards on it, but we did not win AT all. 

They call this room meeting house  MH

Got home about 8:30 Watched TV small snack, bed. Long long day, SOooo F U N.

Day of Entertaining

Day of Entertaining 

Friday March 19, 2021

Today I was up first made coffee. Watch news quietly till Jim got up. 

Last night Mike had texted me,  Candy was not feeling well after her second covid shot. So he questioned whether they were going to make it today.  But around 9:30 he texted me and said she was much better so they planned on arriving close to noon, after he was done with his shuffleboard. So I got ready around 9 ate my oatmeal and went up to see my ladies crafting. We had a nice visit.

From L to R Linda, Deb she made the cards I bought. Sally with head down in the back, Joan,  just met Sandy, both of us like going out to restaurants, especially OakWood  and Nan cute accent from Virginia.

I took a picture of these slippers Linda was working on, what to try to make them too.

Time flew by, went back to FW about 11:30. Jim went to the store to get ice cream, chips, Pepsi and beer.

They arrived just before noon. It had been a long time since they saw our RV.

Candy and I got in the golf cart and went up to the produce and Shopped this is what I bought for $13.

A little pricey but good stuff. She bought a few things too. After we got back and put everything away I took her inside the RV and showed her my new shoe cabinet that I like so much. We chatted for a bit then went outside with the guys.

Jim got the grill going and we grilled two burgers for them two turkey burgers for us. She bought some great brioche buns, add sliced tomatoes, chips pickles and onion I heated up the mini zucchini pies, tortellini salad. She made a brownie with peanut butter in it and we had the ice cream he bought we topped with fresh strawberries and whip topping, look very similar to the dessert I made last night with the chocolate pancakes, equally as delicious. We enjoyed our lovely meal together under the awning.

Jim was going to make a fire but it was just too windy. We moved from our dining table, aka picnic table to our comfy lawn chairs sat and talked for hours. We never seem to run out of things to talk about. OH the RV Stories We Share. They packed up and got ready to leave around 5. 

Later I texted Marsha we had made arrangements the other day for me to take some of my crafts my plastic shopping bags, baby blankets in a few of my dish cloths I made. Over to the escapees park where they are, they're having a yard sale Saturday from 1 to 3, she's going to put my stuff to sell with her color street nails Saturday. I will be here with the yard sale here at Peace River starting at 9 I think it goes to three but we won't quite stay that long oh, I'm going to cut out early in go over and do as much of that sale as I can. We ran over to drop it off, we were home before 6:30.

We took a golf cart ride around when we got home.

 Jim grilled a couple chicken patties we had one each and some steamed green beans in a few hush puppies for dinner. Watched a little TV can I cleaned up ALL the dishes.

Relaxing Day

Relaxing Day

Thursday March 19, 2021

I was up first this morning, Jim got up really late today. I made him breakfast, I had eating my oatmeal already.

 Today we did a whole lot of nothing, and it was Relaxing and FUN. I wanted to go to a talk on  Financial Security, at 2, I didn't make it, saw later on there activity board it was canceled, don't know why.

Later in the day I made my tortellini with grilled vegetables for our dinner party tomorrow. I chopped up my last two zucchini and made  little mini zucchini pies. Manly for tomorrow,  I pan-fried 3 for tonight. I had boneless skinless chicken thighs for him to grill for dinner, I asked how I could make them, he said let's put barbecue sauce on them oh, such a good idea they were fantastic. We had a little bit of the tortellini salad to try it, and the little zucchini pan fried cakes, homemade applesauce, broccoli, fresh tomato slices. I accidentally bought dark chocolate pancake mix. So for dessert I made us two chocolate pancakes with ice cream strawberries and Topping.

Wanted to go to the pool after dinner, very hot today, but extra windy. Time got away from me and I never made it there either. I told Jim how can we not do anything all day, and then run out of time to do the one thing that I wanted to do.

 Later Jim watched hockey on  his phone, I decided to take a walk around the park, sat on the swing in front of the building. Was dark till I got back. Saw this cute little camper on my walk.

Took a shower till hockey is over. 

Happy St Patrick's Day

Happy St Patrick's Day

Wednesday March 17, 2021

We both woke up this AM before 7, was just starting to get a little light out. The solar lights on the flag were still on. We sat and drank coffee for 2 hours and watched the news, well I do, Jim stares at his phone, and tries not to listen.  We had breakfast, I made him 3 dippy eggs with 2 of the garlic bread from last night. I made a huge salad to take along.

While I tried to figure out what to wear for the day, Jim took the golf cart up to see what St Patrick's Day activities we would miss. They had something going on outside which would be too hot for me anyway. Some kind of free meal with corned beef and cabbage I guess. Update, found out later they ran out of food, people complaining, free food and they still complain, Oh well glad we missed all that.

 Then we finally got moving and started to get ready to go over to Marcia and Jeff. We left just before 11 am back to Produce place with the firewood, and smoker always going. D.E.M. Boyz Bar B- Q

We decided to get 4 orders of pork. Had sides, got one each, Cole slaw, baked beans, cucumber salad, pasta salad. They all came with ranch potatoes kind of potatoes squished but not totally mashed with cheese and Ranch of some sort really good. Wish I could have gotten a picture, I never did but it smelled so good. Forgot the whipped cream in the RV and was hoping there was barbecue sauce on it. There was,  SOooo good. We all shared the sides. I dumped the pasta salad in my big salad bowl before serving it. We almost finished that. 

Really nice decorations Marcia's friend made her, on the wall behind Jeff's head, can't quite see it above.

After we ate, we all took a walk around the escapee park, talked to some people that  kind of help run the place I guess. On some committees. They were very nice, neighbors of Jeff and Marcia. We got a tour of the inside building. Cool map by road they had up so you see where everyone lives with there picture and names. Never saw anything like that, great idea.

 

Then we walked back to their fifth wheel,  sat inside, was so hot out today and more humid than previous days. We had dessert then, she made strawberry shortcake with cornbread, I always do, though it would go good with pork, but she still had alot of strawberries to use up, that is a delicious way to.  We chatted till 3 and packed up and went back to the RV. 

Changed our clothes. Did a few things inside. Jim is outside for a bit and I prepared zucchini to make zucchini fries in the air fryer.

I started them about 4:30 a large batch takes a little bit of time in my small air fryer. Then we had the leftovers for dinner from Giovanni's we each had two pieces of pizza share the spinach ravioli.

Later we took a golf cart ride and got rid of our trash.

We saw more of Bonnie's friends from last year. Mo and Larry. Chatted for awhile.

Jim made a fire with the good wood, and got ready to watch hockey outside. To bad they lost 9 to 0 NOT great news.

I watched TV while he stayed out till after 10. 

Wauchula Italian Restaurant

Wauchula Italian Restaurant 

Tuesday March 16, 2021

Jim was up first this morning and turned on the pre-made coffee pot. After breakfast we took a golf cart ride. Then we got ready for a day of fun. First we took a drive into Wauchula to go to our favorite Italian restaurant here Giovanni's Main Street Kitchen.

 Jim had sweet Italian sausage with onions and peppers, I had spinach ravioli only ate one. He ate one too.  We ordered a small pizza for an appetizer.

I think he was making ours here, everyone inside had food already. 
 

Took 4 slices home, and she brought us a basket of garlic bread, we bought 3 of those home. I brought three raviolis home also. Dinner for tomorrow. Then we shared dessert a mini cannoli, and tiramisu. 

Then we went to Walmart saw some pretty orange flowers I wanted to get but did not. 

Then we went back to the produce stand, they had firewood Jim bought 22 pieces for $20. 

Then I got some produce more strawberries, mini new red potatoes, oranges, tomatoes. We checked on the pork barbecue we want for tomorrow but they were sold out,  only had brisket left. We will be back. 

Then we went to the Dollar Store we found really nice solar lights there last year oh, not so much this year. Only bought TP. 

Then we went to Save-A-Lot all I could find that I wanted was chicken, bananas, and provolone cheese. 

Then we came back to the fifth wheel and took a ride in the golf cart. Sat out under the awning thinking about what to make for dinner later. Nan and Eddie stopped by in their golf cart, we met her last year with Bonnie and she goes up and crafts when I do too. They're from Virginia and have a very cool southern accent.

 After they left I made salads with chicken for dinner. I went and bought a painting for my mother-in-law, as a remembrance gift of our trip. Didn't take a picture of it yet.

Byron called and Jim chatted with him for a while. Came in when the mosquitoes started getting him I washed a big pile of dishes we watch some TV before bed, as usual.

Happy Monday

Happy Monday 

Monday March 15, 2021

Today Jim was up first, I made the coffee last night, all he had to do is push the button. I had a sleepless night so I got up but seems to be later than usual oh, but the time change messes everything up. 

He wanted to go up to the food truck for breakfast. But turned out they weren't there. So he dropped me off with the ladies that craft. He went home had bowl of cereal. 

We had a lovely visit. I forgot to get a picture but we all had masks on. Everyone had a different craft they were working on. I  remembered  everyone from last year, just not all there names. And one  new face, Deb the card maker.

 I called Jim and he came up in the golf cart, they were doing free Taco salads in the meeting hall,. I bought some thank you greeting cards from a lady that makes them, Deb.

The 5 thank you cards I got, she is custom making one more for me. Not finished yet.

We took the salads back to the fifth wheel,  I put chicken on top of mine, and we ate under the front in the shade. 

Saw kayaker in the river when we were on  the golf cart ride.

An artist had his paintings out. Richard Gordon's artist.com

Then we went for a nice long hot golf cart ride found some people from Lebanon Pennsylvania that an older couple in a red Cricket told us about. Had a long chat, they live really close to my MIL. Denise and Diana  Fox, they have a Reflection FW, and are pretty new to RVing.

 Have to get out of sun now. I blogged inside Jim listened to music outside for quite awhile.

When I was finished I went outside, his music was playing the Garth channel. We did a couple line dance together. 

He grilled us each a burger for dinner, we ate out on the picnic table. I made plans for us to go over to Marcia and Jeff Wednesday afternoon for another lunch pot luck, this time at there FW, they are close by at the Escapees park.

He chopped some firewood, his old chopping block. He is my lumberjack. Got fire ready to watch hockey.

 

I started a load of laundry and got ready and went up to the pool and hot tub for a quick dip. Not to many people there, was after 7 by then. 

Got home did total of 3 loads, watched my shows while he still was outside with hockey, yea they WON.

He came in after 10, we watched one show together and went to bed.