Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Today was another great day at the Escapees Chapter 27 Spring Rally.  We started off with eggs-in-a-bag cooked by none other than Pete Petersen.    The ladies then started setting up for our Silent Auction for CARE to be held later in the week.  For lunch, a dozen of us went to the Umatilla Inn where most of us had delicious prime rib sandwiches.  During our business meeting we discussed merging our two chapters, and agreed to do it.  At 4:00 we had another happy social hour with donated wine and cheese and a crazy hat contest.  Then diner was deli sandwich rings and salads.  Dave Irons serenaded us after dinner with such great songs as “I don’t look good naked anymore”.

Here are pictures of  eggs-in-a-bag (prepping, cooking and eating:  DSC02229DSC02230DSC02231DSC02232

Our lunch was at the Umatilla Inn:

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Business meeting discussions:

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Crazy hat contest: 

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The winners of the hat contest were most original, best, and funniest:

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Then the entertainment was provided after dinner for a rapt audience:DSC02253DSC02255DSC02256DSC02258DSC02259DSC02260DSC02261

Monday, March 28, 2011

Monday, March 28, 2011

Today was a great day.  We are on the road.  Nobody called to have a tax return done.  Of course arriving at Olde Mill Stream RV Park, 11 miles away, we had to set up in the rain.

On the Road.  Moved to Olde Mill Stream RV Park in the rain

Still, it is a great place to hold the Escapees Chapter 27 Spring Rally.  A rally begins with Registration:

 2011-03-28 DSC02181 registration2011-03-28 DSC02182 registration2011-03-28 DSC02185 registration

Then, during the rally, we have to adopt and take pictures of those who are attending a Chapter 27 rally for the first time.

 2011-03-28 DSC02189 adoptions2011-03-28 DSC02190 adoptions2011-03-28 DSC02191 adoptions2011-03-28 DSC02219 adoptions2011-03-28 DSC02220 adoptions2011-03-28 DSC02221 adoptions

What is a rally without a social hour at 4:00PM.  2011-03-28 DSC02196 social hour2011-03-28 DSC02197 social hour2011-03-28 DSC02198 social hour

After Social.Hour we have to eat, and Pete Petersen made another delicious Hobo Stew.  He starts with meat and onions and spices, then he adds the cans of veggies furnished at one can per attendee at the rally. 

2011-03-28 DSC02205 Hobo Stew2011-03-28 DSC02209 Hobo Stew2011-03-28 DSC02211 Hobo Stew

After dinner  it is time to chew the fat before retiring to our rigs for the night.  2011-03-28 DSC02222 social time2011-03-28 DSC02225 social time

Have a good evening.  It has been a great day.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Drove to the Orlando airport  this morning to pick up Lee Squires who was returning from Michigan.  Lee took us to lunch at Wendy’s.  Marsha is in Michigan taking care of her Dad.  Marilyn and I put up a new inside windshield screen (black this time) this afternoon.  Then I scanned a few more pictures, and then Lee came over for dinner.  This evening it is time to read and relax.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Another great day here in Central Florida – high in the 80s.  Two more tax returns this morning.  Maybe they will be the last since we leave next Monday for the ch 27 rally.  This afternoon we drove to Center Hill to get some screen for the front windshield.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Monday, March 21, 2011

The past week was a busy one.  On Sunday, the 13th we drove down to Sumter Oaks, for a late lunch and visit with Larry & Carolyn Jarvis, and Frank & Maureen Halliday.  Monday, I had to go back to the dentist because of a cavity.  Tuesday, we took the motorhome to Barnett’s for new Toyo tires, and we went out to breakfast a Perkins, we picked up the motorhome at noon, brought it back to Haines Creek, went up to the Villages to visit Pete & Mitzi Hull, and went out with them to see the Wisconsin Singers – great show.  On Thursday, we went to Lakeland, FL for Paul Gifford and Peg Baldwin’s wedding – beautiful, and they are so happy.  Yesterday, the 20th, we went out to lunch with Bob & Gwen Lombard.  They are friends we met in the Army, after Vietnam, and have kept in touch with since.  Today, I washed the motorhome and Jeep (getting ready to depart Florida next week.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Sunday, March 13, 2011

We drove down to Sumter Oaks RV Park so I could help Larry Jarvis make audio CDs from music that was loaded on his computer.  Downloaded iTunes because I like it better and Larry was able to make some CDs.  Late lunch at the Riverside Grill with Larry & Carolyn Jarvis and Frank & Maureen Halliday.  We had Nobleton burgers.  Returned to the RV park, and walked around to visit with Ralph & Bev Hosford, and also talked with Marge & Gordon.  Nice day.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Saturday, March 12, 2011

This morning, I put together another email requesting additional information for a tax return.  After lunch, I mounted our little 20 inch bikes on the Blue Ox bike rack on the back of the Jeep.  Had to mount them upside down, but they fit on the rack.  Then we drove over to Emeralda Marsh, where we rode the trail both ways for a total of 9 miles.  We are both saddle sore, and stiff.

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The marsh is turning beautiful with spring.  We saw lots of birds (coots, gallinule, glossy ibis).

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Friday, March 11, 2011

Friday, March 11, 2011

Today, I spent working on tax returns.  Tonight we are going to a Mexican Potluck here at Haines Creek RV Village.

Thursday, March 10, 2011,  I put our new house batteries in the motorhome.  Then we had to go to the dentist for cleanings.  After another great lunch at Chick-fil-A,  we went to the storage unit to see if we could downsize from a 10 by 10.  We were told that a 5 by 10 would now be about $5 more than our 10 by 10, and a 5 by 5 was definitely still too small.  Next fall we plan to move our storage unit to Bushnell, FL.  IMAG0153

Wednesday, March 09, 2011.  In the morning I removed the house batteries after Jack suggested how we could keep the refrigerator working.  I screwed the house positive and negative wires into a piece of 2x4.  It worked, but kept going off when we put a load on the inverter/charger.  In the afternoon, we mad a Sam’s Club run to get the new 6 volt house batteries followed by a WalMart stop.  Then on the way home I decided to stop at Barnett’s to see if my new tires hac come in.  They are, so we made an appointment for Tuesday, the 15th at 8AM to have them mounted on the motorhome.

Tuesday, March 08, 2011.  We went out to lunch with Maryanne and Joe Mellon on their boat through the Dora Canal to Al’s in Tavares.  The town now bills itself as the Sea Plane City.  We had a good lunch with wonderful company, and we were able to see planes take off down the boat ramp, into the lake, and then the air.2011-03-08 DSC02026 entering Dora Canal2011-03-08 DSC02027 Dora Canal2011-03-08 IMAG0152 Tavares sea plane dock2011-03-08 DSC02035 Tavares sea plane dock2011-03-08 DSC02037 Tavares sea plane dock2011-03-08 DSC02038 Tavares sea plane dock

On the way back into Lake Eustis, I was able to get a good picture of an Osprey.2011-03-08 DSC02046 Osprey near Dora Canal

Monday, March 07, 2011.  I put the last of the MCD screens up in the motorhome.  This one was not easy, because I had to lie on the kitchen counter below the cabinets. Marilyn had to take pictures.                 2011-03-07 DSC00873 Larry and MCD kitchen shade2011-03-07 IMAG0143 Larry and MCD kitchen shade

We then went to Lee and Marsha Squires’ for social hour and dinner.2011-03-07 DSC00875 Lee & Marsha Squires happy hour2011-03-07 DSC00881 Lee & Marsha Squires happy hour

Sunday, March 06, 2011.  We spent the afternoon visiting Charles and Nancy Elkins in Lutz, FL.  Always a pleasant visit.