January 30, 2011

Pojchoka Dinner

Jeanette on Tee

Got invited to visit friends Ken & Jeanette Pojchoka in Daytona Beach Shores.   They have a very nice condo there, right on the beach with a beautiful view of both the ocean and the inter-costal water way.  They arranged for a golf tee time at the Crane Lakes Golf Club in Port Orange.  Pretty course with lots of water making it a challenging par 66 course.  Fun Time!!  After golf,  a nice happy hour at their place and then fish out.  A great visit.  Back to the park, Bob continues to Golf of Thursday's with a group of guys, now up to three foursomes.  Shari involved with a craft group on Tuesdays.

Theater Gang

Orange Blossom Opry

Friends from the Villages invited us to join them for dinner out and then a show at the Orange Blossom Opry in Weirsdale.  Five couples and great seats.  Shows on Fridays and Saturdays, with headliners on Saturdays and the local cast on Fridays.  We went on Friday, and the cast was great!!  Primarily a country music theme, but mixed in lots more.  Great talent!

On Sunday we got invited for the Packers / Bears playoff game party.  Casey's and Jorgensen's played hosts with the guys watching at Jorgensens and the gals at Casey's.  Six couples, so worked out well.  After the game all joined at Casey's for dinner.  What a great game!!!  Super bowl here we come!!

Golf Casey's / Jorgensen's

On Monday we joined Casey's and Jorgensen's for golf at Baseline Golf Course in Ocala.  A very pretty executive par 64 course.  Guys played ahead of the girls and even though the course was full, play went fast.  Finished day with happy hour at our coach and then a great dinner at Harry's in Ocala.  Fun to be with such nice people.

At the Silver Springs park we once again took advantage of their entertainment program.  This time was Roy Clark and his band.  Weather was sunny, a little cool breeze, but nice.   Roy of course aging, but put on a great show and brought some really nice young talent with him.

Had a nice surprise call and visit from friends Wayne and Shawnee Gayhart stopping for a couple hour visit enroute from Oshkosh to their condo rental in Naples.  Showed them the Ocala Square downtown and a quick lunch at O'Malley's Alley.  Nice to see them.  In spite of all our activity, still getting time to walk and read.  Bob finishing Stieg Larsson's, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", and John Grisham's, "The Rainmaker".  Shari finished her cousin Tom Sholes adventure book "The Green Witch", which she really enjoyed.

January 15, 2011

Florida continues to be cold with low's in the 20's and highs in the 50's with an occasional 60.  Been too cold for boating so mostly walking and some biking.  Met a few more people in the park.  Bob joined a weekly golf group playing every Thursday.  Last week teed off at 9:30am with two foursomes, temperature 31 degr, coldest golf ever for Bob.   By the time we got to the back nine, temp got in the 50's with bright sun, so not to bad.  That evening joined a large park group for dinner to a local pub, Terry's Place.  Must have had 15 couples, so opportunity to meet new people.  Fun!

1964 Mustang

Had a nice brief visit with friends John & Jane Crowe on their trek from Wisconsin to Cape Coral.  They had been driving in "frigid" temperatures for three days, so they were anxious to visit us in our park with fore casted temperatures going into the mid 70's.  Arriving temps hit a blustery 74degr, so they were delighted.  Showed them around our park, lit a campfire, and grilled burgers for supper.  Closed evening with a game of Sequence, boys winning of course.

Silver Springs park had a huge Ford / Mustang car show.  Day was nice so we decided to take in.  Probably the largest car show we have ever seen, all Fords or Ford products.  Everything from vintage, custom, to modern.  Our favorite the '64 Mustang.  Easily could spend a full two days here.

Operation Migration

Ultra Light Bird Plane

Whooping Cranes in Flight

Highlight of the week was observing the final leg of the "Whooping Crane" migration.  Most all of you have heard this story of the attempt to save the endangered specie, reaching a North American population low of 16 in 1941 with a recovery program rebuilding to a current level of 400.  The program consists of hatching young chicks in Necedah, Wi wildlife refuge, raising them, and training them to follow an ultra light air plane, migrating 1250 miles to Chassahowitzka Wildlife Refuge here in Florida.  They only cover 30-70 miles a day and fly at a speed of 35mph prox.  A major project at best.  We were able to see a low fly over at Dunnellon Marion County Air Port. It was a beautiful sunny/cold morning.  Only six birds in this flight.  After landing the birds in a nearby reserve, the pilots returned to our viewing area and answered questions and sharing the story.  Really a great experience.

38 Special Crowd

Ended the week with a concert at the Silver Springs Park.  The group "38 Special", a little to "hard rock" for our taste, but it was a beautiful afternoon in the park.

Week Ending January 1, 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Bill's House

Christmas Dinner

After taking in the "Festival of Lights" at the Silver Spring park, we prepared to head south to Palm Beach Gardens to spend the Christmas and New Years Holiday with daughter Lisa and her friend Bill.  Was a good 4-5 hour drive from Ocala, so decided to take the Florida turn pike to US 95, exiting at Jupiter then into Palm Beach Gardens. Arriving a little after 4pm, was great to see Lisa & Bill, having not seen them since this time last year.  Bill's home in this upscale gated community looked great, particularly after receiving a first class exterior paint job,and after having gone through a difficult Association approval on,  believe it or not "color".   Apparently the soft gray they picked out did not meet the "pastel" theme for the Association, but they finally won approval. Boy, life can be a "bitch".

Fort Lauderdale

Bike Trail Tree

 Had a lovely Christmas Eve service at a local Community Church along with daughter Lisa.  Then joined Bill and his dad at Carrabba's for dinner.  Bill's dad in an assisted living home nearby.  Restaurant was very busy, but our reservation seated us fairly promptly and we had great service and a great meal.  Christmas Day just hung out.  Bob did some biking in Palm Beach. Awesome tree along trail.  The four of us spent a day in Fort Lauder dale touring on the water taxi system.  Mega homes and yachts.  Dog "Suzzy" resting at home!

New Years eve spent at home with Lisa & Bill, serving us a beautiful standing prime rib roast.  It was great.

Shari Tee Up

Suzzy Nap

Then headed over to visit friend Ron Tenpas in Naples.  Very nice gated community, Vanderbilt Country Club.  Great to see Ron.  He gave us a nice tour of the community and amenities.  Played golf on a beautiful course, did "ok".  Ron introduced us to some of his friends, joining us in some evening card and board games.  Fun!  A couple of evenings out in the Naples downtown area, 5th & 3rd streets.  Nice shopping and dining.  Weather in the Palm Beach and Naples area was great, temps in the 70's.

Back to the coach after two plus weeks gone, stopping for a short visit in Riverview, Fl, visiting friends at Hidden River RV park.  Fun people!  Considering moving coach down there in Feb or Mar.  Will see.
We had a wonderful Holiday Break.

 Back to Ocala, Jan 7, another cold front, highs in the 60's.  Yuk!