Monday - Another Hot, Humid Day, but So Nice!

Ken was up about 2 hours before me and did his reading and devotions sitting in the screened in porch.   I have been having rather restless nights due to some leg pain from my scoliosis - not fun!  I definitely need to see the pain management Dr. when I return to PA.  He did wake me when he came to the BR to get the camera, for while reading, he saw the "resident alligator" in the small canal behind our property.  He was so excited.  We weren't sure there would be any in that area, but now we know!!!!

I think we will name him "Wilbur"!!!!!

He's a large one!

After breakfast, Ken decided to take a long walk while I got ready and did some laundry (the new towels I had bought!).  He stopped to talk with our homeowners insurance agent to make sure we had what we needed.  Upon his return, we ate lunch and then Ken, being such a good sport, went with me to return the towels I had just washed for one of them came apart in the wash (the side hem frayed apart!)  Then he stayed in the car while I went into Wal-Mart to return some unneeded items and buy some spray paint for the wicker headboards we had bought at the Thrift Store.

When we got back we began the process of spraying the headboards, but ran out of paint.  So again, being the good sport, Ken drove to Wal-Mart to get 2 more cans while I prepped for dinner.  We finished the painting when he returned, ate dinner, and then he went to Celebrate Recovery.  I washed the new towels I got today and played on my tablet - I was tired.  

Spent some time working on this blog before going to bed.  It has been another busy day.

Just a few photos of some of the changes we made to the BR's and baths and the current LR and DR areas.  The new furniture gets delivered on Thursday for the LR so new photos soon!  Things are coming together and it is starting to feel like home.

This area will soon have a total new look minus tables!

When the kitchen was redone, they didn't put the 4 cabinets
back that separated the kitchen from the dining area.  Makes
it look so open and much larger!

I am getting new lights for the nightstands and changing
the curtains.  You will see that soon!

Leading to the Master Bath.

New bedding but without the headboards we painted
yesterday!  I am excited to see the difference they will make!

Will show you the new look in the guest bathroom another day!

Saturday and Sunday - More Hot, Humid Days, but it's Florida!

Saturday was another beautiful day and after breakfast, we decided to do some additional furniture shopping, because up until now we haven't been very successful.  So with Joyce's recommendation, we went to Kane's.  Althea was a wonderful salesperson and we were able to find a very comfortable sofa and 2 chairs. 

We decided to go to 2 additional places to be certain we were happy with the chairs and then went home to have lunch and do more talking and thinking about our decision.  Ken stayed home and I headed back to Kane's to order the sofa and chairs but then got a bit "carried away" and ordered the coffee table and 2 end tables we had also liked.  Everything will be delivered on Thursday - hallelujah!

Rick and Joyce arrived at 4 and they checked out what we had done since they were here on Wednesday.  I had put chicken in the crockpot for dinner and also roasted some potatoes, made salad, and they brought corn on the cob.  It was a delicious dinner if I do say so myself and we entertained our 1st house guests in our new abode!  

We spent the remainder of the evening playing Hand and Foot and the men were victorious.  They left around 9 and Ken and I went right to bed.  

Sunday morning we were at Edgewater Church by 9:15 and it was a great reunion seeing many of our friends that we spent time with in the winter months.  We were thrilled that Bob and Pat were able to be there because both of them have had some major health challenges.  

After the service we met Joe and Carolyn at Denny's for breakfast and then they came back to the Condo.  We told them they were welcome to come see it, but they need to return when we get the furniture replaced and the decorating completed which probably won't be until next winter!  We had a very nice visit and when they left around 3.  We got a phone call from Kane's and Ken and I were both in agreement that we would cancel the tables for now and hope to find some at the many thrift stores in the area.  That was a good decision!   I headed out to get towels, rugs and a shower curtain for the guest bath (Ken's too when no one is visiting!)  Finally I was able to find almost everything I was looking for.  I even found the right colored towels for the Master Bath.

We made salads for dinner and then both of us spent the rest of the evening calling our friends and catching up on life!  It was a good day!

Thursday and Friday - Back to the Food Pantry

Thursday morning was the day they unload the truck and set-up for the Food Pantry at Edgewater Church.  Ken knew they were short of help, so he decided to volunteer.  Ken felt so welcomed when he got there.  Everyone was so happy to see him and he was thrilled to help.  They were also appreciative of the items donated to their thrift shop.

When he returned we spent a lot of the afternoon furniture shopping for the LR.  It is extremely difficult to find a sofa that is really comfortable for both of us.  No success today.  When we got back to the condo, Ken rested and I set out to find items for the spare BR and both baths.  So difficult when you know what you would like, but just can't find it!

After eating more of our Chipotle meal, we played some Pinochle and then went to bed fairly early - so tired!

Friday we both went to the Food Pantry to help set-up and then take the clients through to select their food items.  Fortunately we had a lot of help, so I left after about 1 1/2 hours to do some additional shopping.  I was back to pick-up Ken at 12:45.  We drove to Room to Go to check out their furniture, but was not too pleased with the quality or styles.  We did stop at Habitat for Humanity on the way back and found 2 wicker headboards for the guest BR for $5.00 each and all they need is some spray painting - what a bargain!

At 5:00, we met Lloyd, Deb, Rick, Joyce, Frank and Barb at Farlow's on the Water for dinner, one of our favorite places here in Florida.  What a great evening of fellowship and delicious food.  Ken and I were back "home" by 8:00, chatted for awhile, and then it was off to bed!

Just a little side note - It has been in the low to mid 90's everyday since we arrived and rather humid, but only about 2 brief showers.  Ken has been taking walks in the morning, but he returns rather "wet"!

Tuesday and Wednesday - Homeownership!

Tuesday we arrived at Rick and Joyce's around 2:00 and we were so excited to see each other.  We spent the afternoon chatting and then started a game of Pinochle, stopping to eat the delicious ham, bean and potato dinner that Joyce had prepared.  The women were the winners.

Wednesday morning, the 4 of us went to breakfast at Peaches and by 9:00 Ken and I were on our way for our 10:00 walk through at the condo.  We were a bit anxious because we had only toured it about 20 minutes the last night we were in Florida in April.  At that time we had no thought of purchasing a property in Florida.  So, we were a bit "anxious" to see it again and hopeful that we would be happy with our purchase.  No problem - we really loved it as soon as we walked in.  

Back to the Venice area for our settlement which took about 15 minutes!  WE ARE HOMEOWNERS AGAIN - WOW!  We have not owned a "stick and brick" property for almost 6 years, just Wilbur, our home on wheels!  This is exciting.

We stopped at Chipotle to get their bowl as a take-out and went back to the Condo to eat it.  We are last of the big spenders and celebrators!  I started removing everything from the kitchen cabinets to determine what I wanted to keep and what I wanted to replace with my things from Wilbur.  The condo came completely furnished - dishes, silverware, pots and pans, towels, etc. which was nice, but I preferred most of my own things.  

Rick, Joyce, Lloyd and Deb arrived around 2:30 and the men unloaded Lloyd's truck and our car while the ladies helped me wash the cabinets inside and out and then put back what I chose to keep.  We also boxed the items I wanted to take to the Thrift Shop at our church.  The men unloaded the dresser that Rick and Joyce graciously gave us for our guest BR.  They all left at 5 and we so appreciated all their help.  What great friends!

Ken and I were both exhausted but I have a problem when there are unpacked boxes "sitting around".  By 9:30 I had almost everything unpacked and in what I think is it's proper place.  We were in bed by 10 and fell right to sleep, exhausted but excited!

Monday - Beautiful Travel Day!

Ken and I were up and getting ready to head to Florida by 2:45.  We finished loading a few last minute items and by 3:45 we were on our way.  It was a beautiful morning with temperatures in the upper 50's.

We made our traditional 1st stop at Rutter's in York for hot drinks and then were quickly back on our way.  We both enjoy getting up early and driving for about 2 hours until the sun starts rising.  When not driving Wilbur, we usually stop at Denny's on the south side of Richmond for breakfast.  To our amazement and disappointment, it was closed and for sale - what is that about????  So we went about another 20 miles and found another Denny's for the pick your slam breakfast that we always share!

During the drive I talked to Deb who is already in Florida and with Melissa who lives at The Villages and she and Chuck are planning to visit us in Port Charlotte some time next week.  We look forward to seeing them.  Friday night Deb made reservations at Farlows on the Water for her and Lloyd, Rick and Joyce, Frank and Barb, and Ken and I.  That will be a special evening with wonderful friends and at one of our favorite places to eat when in the Port Charlotte area.

Around 2 we stopped at Wendy's for a bowl of chili and a small Frosty - both really "hit the spot"!    We did stop at some Rest areas and Ken actually had me drive about 2 1/2 hours, that was all!  It was a perfect weather day for driving, but it was 98 degrees when we stopped at a Best Western Hotel for the night within 38 miles of the Georgia/Florida border!  It was a long day of driving, 13 hours, but the traffic moved well.  We decided that we really didn't feel like going out for dinner, so we ate some cheese, peanuts, and fruit we had brought with us.  We needed a relaxing evening!

We watched the Evening News, Jeopardy and did some reading.  We didn't get a lot of sleep last night, so we turned out the lights early.  Settlement day on our condo is fast approaching and I am getting so excited!

Saturday and Sunday - Very Nice Days Until Sunday Evening!

Saturday was a rather uneventful day for Ken and I.  After breakfast, he decided to take a long walk but I chose not to join him.  (I knew we were walking downtown later!).  I spent that time getting ready and packing a few more items - not sure the things will fit in the CRV. 

Around 11:30, we decided to walk downtown to tour the Lititz Museum (Mueller House) to enjoy the 1st ever Lititz Historical Society History Day!  What an amazing historic day presentation!  They had about 20 artesians there demonstrating the arts and crafts of early days - lace making, blacksmithing, tinware, herbs basket weaving, cloth weaving, soap making, and everyone was dressed in garb of the day.  Many of them were also explaining their craft.  There was also a Conestoga Wagon on display and the owner told you its history which was very interesting.  All in all, it was a very worthwhile venture and so informative!

A perfect day for many of the crafters to be outdoors explaining
what they were doing!

This gentleman did a great job giving information about
Conestoga Wagons, many of which were made in our
area.....

...and this gentleman who owns many Conestoga Wagons had
more information to share!

We learned a lot about the old time Taverns from this
storyteller!

We were back home around 1:30 and it was time for a light lunch.  Ken read and rested and I spent the rest of the afternoon making cards while doing a load of wash.  We made salads for dinner and did some more preparation for our trip to Florida early Monday morning.  We did finish our game of Hand and Foot and I was victorious.

We were in bed by 10 and getting so excited for heading to Florida!

Today, Sunday, I got a phone call from Noela before we left for church.  They had just returned from about a 10 day camping trip visiting family in Canada.  She also wanted to wish us safe travels to Florida.  It was nice to talk to her! Ken and I went to LCBC for the 9 AM service and it was a good one with great music and a very interesting sermon.  We spent time afterwards talking with Jamie, Dane, and the girls and headed home by 11:00.  I did my devotions and then we left to meet Dan and Jackie at Scooters for lunch.  We were able to sit in their outside porch area and it was a perfect day to be outside.  After a delicious lunch, we went back to our house to spend the afternoon playing 2 games of Hand and Foot.  The men won the 1st game by a huge margin, but we were the winners of the 2nd game!  What a fun time!

They left around 6 and Ken and I did some organizing around the apartment before he loaded some last minute items in the CRV.  We will have more loading to do in the morning of some food, electronics, and toiletries.   We hope to be on the road by around 4 AM, but knowing Ken, it will probably be closer to 3! I had a nice chat with Pat in Maine whose husband, Burt, had hip replacement a couple of weeks ago.  He is improving daily! We watched some TV and by 9 we were in bed!  Florida, here we come!!!!

Friday - Beautiful Warm, Sunny Day with a Breeze!

After rather restless night's sleep, we were both up by 5:30 and by 6:30 I was on my way to have breakfast with the Curvette ladies in Ephrata.  We had a fun time celebrating Shirley's birthday.  Don't tell anyone, but she was 83 today and we all decided we want to be Shirley when we are that age!  She still works out 3 days a week at Planet Fitness and walks about 10,000 steps daily - wow!

After breakfast, I meet Ken at the storage area where we keep Wilbur and we loaded the car with all the "stuff" that was in Wilbur's basement to take to Florida.  We are so thankful that Deb and Lloyd took about 2/3's of our things, because our car will be filled to capacity when we leave on Monday!  Ken went to the bank and they wired the money to Florida (that is the only method you can use to get the money to the title company - Florida law!).  When he returned, we spent time packing more things and loaded them in the CRV.  I know we probably won't be able to find a place for everything at the condo, for it is already furnished including the kitchen.  But, a lot of the items I had in Wilbur will replace the things that are there like dishes, cups, pots and pans, etc.  Whatever we don't need we will take to the Thrift Shop at Edgewater Church that we attend in Florida.  

Ken took a long walk but because I am still having problems with my back and leg, I decided to spend that time making more cards that are ordered from friends.  After lunch, I worked on this blog and Ken did some reading.  I also enjoyed playing some games on my tablet.  

We left at 4:15 to go Millersville to meet Cindy and John at Jacks for supper and then went to see Servant Stage perform My Fair Lady at Millersville University.  What a fantastic show!  Their small orchestra was wonderful and the actors did such a great job!  Our school had presented My Fair Lady when we were sophomores so I could have sung along with all the well known songs.  We were back home by 10:45 (it was a 3 hour show) and we went right to bed!