Friday and Saturday - More Hot, Humid Days

After breakfast, Ken and I were off to help at the Food Pantry at Edgewater Church.  I was excited to see several of the women that were not there last week and spend some time talking with them!  We did not have as much food for the clients that we normally have, but not as many people came today so it was fine!  After taking 3 people around, I left to run some errands including some food needed for when Chuck and Melissa arrived later in the day.

Cereal, dry goods, and veggies!

So many good looking desserts and even boxes of candy!

Each person gets a bag of canned items, "surprise" items,
and water!

Edgewater Church also has a bike ministry and gives many free
bikes to the homeless.  They will do 3 free repairs also to
the bike owners!

I also stopped at the Humane League Thrift Shop where I purchased a small shell lamp, a holder for my sharp knives and a container for the master bath.  I stopped by the condo to put the refrigerator items away before returning to the church.  No one came after around 11:45 and we don't close until 12:30, so there was time to chat.  After cleaning up, Ken and I left at 12:45 and came back to the Condo.  We had lunch and Ken rested while I did some reading and put chicken cacciatore in our crockpot.  I was working on a cardholder when Chuck and Melissa arrived at 2:30.  It was so wonderful to see them again and be able to spend about 24 hours together.  We so appreciated their willingness to drive 3+ hours so we could enjoy time together.  They are such special friends.

Obviously we spent time chatting and catching up on our lives including what is going on with our children, my parents, and Melissa's mother.  Several years ago we took a  2 month "leaf tour" in our motorhomes going from Canada to see Ernie and Noela and ending the trip in Florida.  During that journey we stopped to visit and spend time with each others children and parents.  It was a very special time!  After "catching up on life" it was time for dinner and I had decided to cook so we could stay in for the evening and play games which we always like to do.  So, Melissa and I made individual salads to have with our pasta.

After dinner, we played 3 games of Pinochle stopping to have dessert after the 2nd game - Key Lime Pie from Publix (YUM!)  We ended the evening around 10:30 with the women winning 2 of the 3 games and Skip-Bo.

After getting ready and having breakfast the 4 of us walked around some of the property here at the condo.

There is lots of gorgeous, mature landscaping!

This is one huge palm!

Lots of large live oaks with Spanish moss here at our
community - Oaks I and II!

The front of our building!

We drove to Venice to have a scone at the Upper Crust, something we had done numerous times when we camped together in this area.  They were definitely as good as always especially when you spread on the Devonshire Cream.  There was a craft show downtown, so we walked through it but didn't come away with any packages. 

Smiling faces when eating those delicious blueberry and
raspberry scones, but the Devonshire Cream is a must!

Busy craft show but it was so hot in the sunshine and with
all the folks so close together!

Several weeks ago Ken had seen a show on Italy and they talked about the making of Espresso.  We passed a Coffee Shop that offered it and he thought Chuck and him should give it a try.  The lady that made it was a "hoot" and enjoyed having fun with the "boys"!  I was surprised but Ken actually liked it!

Ken and Chuck's 1st experiences with Espresso!

Cheers to the boys!

After leaving downtown Venice, we drove to check out the new winter training stadium for the Atlanta Braves outside of North Port off River Road - a rather amazing property. 

We were back to the Condo by 1:30 and had a few snacks while playing 2 more games of Pinochle which were won by the guys.  They also won the Skip-Bo game.  It definitely was their day!

At 3:30 we drove to Jason's Deli where we all enjoyed their salad bar.  We said our good-byes and they were on there way back to The Villages by 4:30.  We are so excited that we will all be in this area this fall and winter and be able to spend more time together.  Reminiscing about our many days of traveling together in our motorhomes (150 days 2 years in a row) brings us so much joy and makes us feel so blessed.

Ken and I rested when we returned to the condo and did some reading.  I downloaded photos, worked on this blog, and worked on a cardholder.  Ken did some prep work on his phone for sending his devotions to numerous of his CR brothers!  It was later night for the Hoslers only getting to bed around 10!  Looking forward to seeing our friends at Edgewater tomorrow and hopefully spending time with Rick and Joyce!  We are so blessed!