I am not sure what is going on, but I think Ken and I will soon need to take a day to stay at the CG and get "caught up" on somethings!
We were not able to walk this morning because we had to be at a storage area at North Pointe by 9 to help pack hygiene kits for homeless and less fortunate children in the North Pointe schools. A group called "Backpack Angels" do this once a month and Ken and I had signed up to help. It is a well organized program and we were out of there by 10:30 after packing over 400 kits. It felt good to be part of this project.
From there, Ken and I went to Hobby Lobby so I could return two items and then check out their 50% off sale on all Photo Studio items. I purchased some great paper and envelopes. Then on to Wal-Mart for a few groceries returning to Wilbur around 1:00 and we were very ready to eat lunch. It was a perfect day to eat outside. We went to the office to reserve our same site for next year and to request a site for John and Cindy who plan to spend their winter here in 2020. It will be so nice to have them with us!
After some reading, we made salads for dinner and Ken grilled steak and salmon. After dinner and clean-up Ken went to Celebrate Recovery and I had a fun time playing pickleball. I stopped by Ernie and Noela's to give her some instruction on crocheting, and then back to Wilbur to shower and watch The Voice. Ken was back by 9:30 and we were in bed by 10.
Tuesday the 4 of us finally all met to take our morning walks and after breakfast we spent time here at the campground "catching up" on a few things. After eating lunch outside, we drove to Detweiler's Farm Market in Venice for some fruit including 2 lbs. of Plant City strawberries for $2.99 - quite a deal and they are delicious. Then we went to Rick and Joyce's house where we spent time chatting about their trip to Aruba and our mission trip. It was great to be with them again.
Then it was time for some serious double deck Pinochle. It wasn't a good day for the men, for they lost both games. Rick and Joyce surprised us and made dinner for the 4 of us. We had delicious salmon and pork, plus baked potatoes, broccoli, and salad! By then it was 8:00 and Ken and I decided we needed to leave because tomorrow was going to be a long day. We are heading to Marco Island to visit Dave and Sharon Horst, friends from our marketing days in Lancaster County.
After we got back to the CG, Ken got some devotions ready for his CR friends back home and we also packed a few items for tomorrow's trip. Bed by 10 and we were tired!
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Sunday - Hot, Sunny Day!
Ken was up early to read and then left at 6:45 for a walk. Usually Ernie leaves at 7, but he had left early also, so they were excited to meet close to Wilbur and enjoy walking together. I stayed back and got ready for church after doing my morning routine.
We were at church by 9:15 and it was so good to meet with the folks we had gone with to Louisiana and other folks from the Food Pantry. After church, Ken and I went to Publix where we helped sort food that people purchased in the store and then donated to Feed the Harbor. There donations will go to the food pantries in Charlotte County. We had a 2 hour shift and it was amazing how much food we received - folks were very generous!
From there we headed to the Costco at Sarasota because we had emptied a lot of our refrigerator and cupboard when we left for our Mission Trip. We did have our expensive lunch at Costco - hot dog and soda for $1.50! We were back to the CG by 4, put things away, and then Ken rested while I played on my tablet and worked on this blog. One of these days we are going to slow done and relax, but I am not sure when that will be!!!!
We went to Ernie and Noela's around 7 to play cards, something we haven't done together for over a week. The women beat the men again at Hand and Foot. Bed by 9:30.
We were at church by 9:15 and it was so good to meet with the folks we had gone with to Louisiana and other folks from the Food Pantry. After church, Ken and I went to Publix where we helped sort food that people purchased in the store and then donated to Feed the Harbor. There donations will go to the food pantries in Charlotte County. We had a 2 hour shift and it was amazing how much food we received - folks were very generous!
From there we headed to the Costco at Sarasota because we had emptied a lot of our refrigerator and cupboard when we left for our Mission Trip. We did have our expensive lunch at Costco - hot dog and soda for $1.50! We were back to the CG by 4, put things away, and then Ken rested while I played on my tablet and worked on this blog. One of these days we are going to slow done and relax, but I am not sure when that will be!!!!
We went to Ernie and Noela's around 7 to play cards, something we haven't done together for over a week. The women beat the men again at Hand and Foot. Bed by 9:30.
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Saturday - Woke up at Harbor Lakes!
Ken was up his usual early time and by 7:15 he was walking to meet Ernie. Noela and Joyce had invited me to join them at a neighboring community garage sale, but I wasn't ready to get up to meet them at 7:30. I only got up at 8 and was feeling so tired.
I headed to the laundry to do 2 loads and met up with Ken, Ernie, and Noela when I returned to Wilbur. It was so nice to chat with them and we appreciated that they checked on Wilbur while we were gone. Ken and I went to get our wash and then hung it on our washline. We ate breakfast and I told Ken I was going to go back to bed. I didn't feel 100%. He spent that time setting up outside - awning, chairs, sunscreen, windchimes, etc.
I felt much better when I got up (I guess I was just exhausted) and brought in the wash, ate lunch, and then worked on our blog. Ken took an hour nap (he was tired too) and after showers, we were on our way to Venice to have dinner with our LCBC group from back home at Burgundy Square. There were 11 of us and we had a delightful time together. The food was very good, but they were short 2 cooks, so service was rather slow. It is also a rather "noisy" dining area, so it can be difficult to chat, especially when there are so many at a round table. All of that said, we had a wonderful time and were so happy to see everyone again!
Ken and I were back to Wilbur by 8:45 and I went right to bed to read and relax.
I headed to the laundry to do 2 loads and met up with Ken, Ernie, and Noela when I returned to Wilbur. It was so nice to chat with them and we appreciated that they checked on Wilbur while we were gone. Ken and I went to get our wash and then hung it on our washline. We ate breakfast and I told Ken I was going to go back to bed. I didn't feel 100%. He spent that time setting up outside - awning, chairs, sunscreen, windchimes, etc.
I felt much better when I got up (I guess I was just exhausted) and brought in the wash, ate lunch, and then worked on our blog. Ken took an hour nap (he was tired too) and after showers, we were on our way to Venice to have dinner with our LCBC group from back home at Burgundy Square. There were 11 of us and we had a delightful time together. The food was very good, but they were short 2 cooks, so service was rather slow. It is also a rather "noisy" dining area, so it can be difficult to chat, especially when there are so many at a round table. All of that said, we had a wonderful time and were so happy to see everyone again!
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| Took 2 photos to get everyone on the picture. What a special group of friends and to think we all get together here in Florida because of our Church in Lanc. County, PA! |
Ken and I were back to Wilbur by 8:45 and I went right to bed to read and relax.
Friday, February 22, 2019
Friday - A Long Drive Home!
Burt, Pat, Ken and I decided to skip breakfast at Sager Brown so we could be on the way back to Florida by 6 AM. Pat drove the 1st leg of the trip, stopping around 9:15 for breakfast at Burger King. We ate while Burt was driving. When we stopped for gas, Ken took the "wheel".
We decided to stop at Wendy's for lunch and did take the time to eat "in"! On the road again with Ken driving, then Pat, and Burt drove us back to Wilbur. We did stop at a Dairy Queen for ice cream around 7:30. Traffic flowed well the entire trip until we got below Tampa and there was a major accident. We were probably delayed about 20 minutes or so, but all in all it was a great trip. We did change time zones when we got to the Panhandle of Florida, so we only got to Wilbur around 9:30 after driving about 825 miles - a long time in the car!!!
During the drive, Ken had the opportunity to talk to his sister, Priscilla, who had knee replacement surgery on Monday. She has been having a lot of pain and it took some time to find a pain med that helped without making her sick! I chatted with my mother, sister, and Lanie, catching up on what has been happening in their lives.
We did have one "tense" moment when we were leaving Dairy Queen and nothing happened when Burt turned the key to start the car - not even a click. So, the boys got under the hood and moved a few wire, said a little prayer, and hallelujah it started! I think there was only 1 "mechanic" and it wasn't Ken or Burt!!!
Ken and I put most of our things in their proper place before getting into bed. We did a little reading and then off to dreamland!
What a blessed week we had with so many amazing people and we were thankful to be home safe and sound. It was a wonderful opportunity to serve! There will be lots of buckets (they verified over 900 this week) and school kits (about 4, 500 verified) that are ready to go when a disaster hits the USA. Fortunately we didn't have to pack any trucks this week for a major flooding, hurricane, etc.
Did have to share this one photo of Burt breaking into a room - actually it was his room but with our keys and name tags around our necks, it made for a great photo -
We decided to stop at Wendy's for lunch and did take the time to eat "in"! On the road again with Ken driving, then Pat, and Burt drove us back to Wilbur. We did stop at a Dairy Queen for ice cream around 7:30. Traffic flowed well the entire trip until we got below Tampa and there was a major accident. We were probably delayed about 20 minutes or so, but all in all it was a great trip. We did change time zones when we got to the Panhandle of Florida, so we only got to Wilbur around 9:30 after driving about 825 miles - a long time in the car!!!
During the drive, Ken had the opportunity to talk to his sister, Priscilla, who had knee replacement surgery on Monday. She has been having a lot of pain and it took some time to find a pain med that helped without making her sick! I chatted with my mother, sister, and Lanie, catching up on what has been happening in their lives.
We did have one "tense" moment when we were leaving Dairy Queen and nothing happened when Burt turned the key to start the car - not even a click. So, the boys got under the hood and moved a few wire, said a little prayer, and hallelujah it started! I think there was only 1 "mechanic" and it wasn't Ken or Burt!!!
Ken and I put most of our things in their proper place before getting into bed. We did a little reading and then off to dreamland!
What a blessed week we had with so many amazing people and we were thankful to be home safe and sound. It was a wonderful opportunity to serve! There will be lots of buckets (they verified over 900 this week) and school kits (about 4, 500 verified) that are ready to go when a disaster hits the USA. Fortunately we didn't have to pack any trucks this week for a major flooding, hurricane, etc.
Did have to share this one photo of Burt breaking into a room - actually it was his room but with our keys and name tags around our necks, it made for a great photo -
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| Really, Burt????? |
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Thursday - Last Work Day at Sager Brown
We were up at our usual time, 6:00 AM and were at breakfast by 7:15. The food here has been so good and so plentiful! After breakfast Ken went with a group to Matthew 25, a local thrift shop, to help sort and display clothing donations they had received.
I was back at the Depot verifying school kits. I worked with a great crew all week and got to know them well.
We all met for lunch at 12:00 and then it was back to work at the Depot, with Ken returning to the "bucket brigade"! He left a little early to work on devotions for our Team that he and Carolyn were in charge of today and to go to the Gift Shop to buy a hat. It was only open a total of 3 hours this week, so not much opportunity to shop there.
Our Team met at 4:30 for devotions (that was a daily activity) and then it was time to eat again. Our Team was in charge of devotions before eating and then we had clean-up duty following the meal. We pretty much had that routine down to a science!!!!
We left the cafeteria and went right to the Chapel for one of the highlights of our week - our Vesper Service! There was one member from each team on the committee and our team had elected me when I was sitting at the end of the table and didn't know what was happening! What a group, but it turned out to be a wonderful opportunity. We had 2 great pianists and a wonderful choir of at least 15. I was the Worship Leader for the service and had a great time leading the hymns and Ken did the responsive reading. A very dynamic gentleman was in charge of the sharing time and many folks shared the moments that meant so much to them this week. On the last hymn, This Little Light of Mine, we sang some very "touching" verses and were accompanied by a banjo - so special! For most of us, it was a major highlight of the week!
We went right back to our rooms, packed a lot of our "stuff", loaded the car, and by 10 it was lights out! This has been one amazing week!
I wanted to share some photos of the Sager Brown Complex which is UMCOR - United Methodist Communities On Relief -
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| Ken's group at Matthew 25! |
I was back at the Depot verifying school kits. I worked with a great crew all week and got to know them well.
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| This is Jeretta, the main manager of the Depot, giving some instructions to the folks doing the buckets and school kits. She is so enthusiastic about her job and runs a tight ship in a very nice way! At the end of our work on Thursday, the teams could take items back to their churches that were "rejects" for the kits! |
We all met for lunch at 12:00 and then it was back to work at the Depot, with Ken returning to the "bucket brigade"! He left a little early to work on devotions for our Team that he and Carolyn were in charge of today and to go to the Gift Shop to buy a hat. It was only open a total of 3 hours this week, so not much opportunity to shop there.
Our Team met at 4:30 for devotions (that was a daily activity) and then it was time to eat again. Our Team was in charge of devotions before eating and then we had clean-up duty following the meal. We pretty much had that routine down to a science!!!!
We left the cafeteria and went right to the Chapel for one of the highlights of our week - our Vesper Service! There was one member from each team on the committee and our team had elected me when I was sitting at the end of the table and didn't know what was happening! What a group, but it turned out to be a wonderful opportunity. We had 2 great pianists and a wonderful choir of at least 15. I was the Worship Leader for the service and had a great time leading the hymns and Ken did the responsive reading. A very dynamic gentleman was in charge of the sharing time and many folks shared the moments that meant so much to them this week. On the last hymn, This Little Light of Mine, we sang some very "touching" verses and were accompanied by a banjo - so special! For most of us, it was a major highlight of the week!
We went right back to our rooms, packed a lot of our "stuff", loaded the car, and by 10 it was lights out! This has been one amazing week!
I wanted to share some photos of the Sager Brown Complex which is UMCOR - United Methodist Communities On Relief -
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| Right along the bayou. We could see it from our bedroom window! |
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Wednesday - Milder, but Mostly Cloudy with a Few Light Showers!
It was our normal routine here at Sager Brown - up at 6, showers, get ready, and be at breakfast by 7:20. I forgot my name tag this morning, so the silly director had me ring the bell and then chatted with me in front of the group. It was fun and I think everyone now knows my name!!!!
At 8:45, 4 of us ladies from our Team drove into the town of Franklin to help sort clothes at the Thrift Shop of the Chez Hope Family Violence Crisis Center. At one time this older motel would have been amazing and the lobby area is still impressive when you walk in. Other than that, the entire place need so much work. They can house 6 women with their children but they can only stay for 6 weeks. It really was a rather depressing place. The women who come here meet with someone right away to get restraining orders against folks who intend to do them bodily harm. This past year 2 of the young ladies who were staying there were killed by their boyfriends (not on the premise!).
The room where we worked only had light by opening the blinds (lights didn't work) and you couldn't even walk in the room because of all the bags and boxes of clothes. We only worked about 2 hours, but we really made quite a difference. I can't begin to imagine having to live in a place like this and how hard it must be for the children.
We were back to Sager Brown by 11:30 and our Team met for devotions. After a delicious lunch, we were on our own for the afternoon to do some sightseeing - our day off! So, 8 of our Team members decided to go to Avery Island to tour the Tabasco Factory.
After the tour, we went to their store/gift shop to sample the different sauces and other products made with Tabasco -
We also got tickets to drive the 3 miles through the Jungle Gardens that are on the Island. Avery Island is actually a salt dome that extends some 8 miles beneath the earth's surface. The protruding "island" part of the formation rising above the surface is home of one of the world's most beautiful sanctuaries for the preservation and study of flora and fauna. It was here that Edward McIlhenny helped save the snowy egret from extinction. In 1895, when the bird was being hunted for its plumage, he built an aviary on the Island and then captured and raised 8 wild egrets. After they had raised their hatches and were ready to migrate, he freed them. The egrets returned the next spring and every spring since as well as egrets and herons that come by the thousands to the rookery now called "Bird City".
Jungle Gardens is home to one of the largest collection of Camellias in the nation. Thousands of these plants represent over 600 varieties including some from Japan and France -
You will also find thousands of azaleas of many varieties, but unfortunately they were just starting to bloom -
We also enjoyed the Buddha that was a gift to E. A. McIlhenny in 1936. This statue overlooks a picturesque lagoon -
There are many varieties of bamboo also. The timber bamboo, imported from China, grows a foot or more a day and in 65 days is fully grown.
Just a few extra photos while on the Jungle Garden Drive -
It was time for dinner when we left the Island, so all 8 of us went to dinner at Jane's Seafood and Chinese Restaurant. Not my type of place, but it was packed and the group really enjoyed the seafood. The portions were large and the prices very reasonable.
We were back to Sager Brown by 7:30 after a wonderful day of fellowship, food, and fun. It is such a blessing to spend time with these special folks and get to know them better!
At 8:45, 4 of us ladies from our Team drove into the town of Franklin to help sort clothes at the Thrift Shop of the Chez Hope Family Violence Crisis Center. At one time this older motel would have been amazing and the lobby area is still impressive when you walk in. Other than that, the entire place need so much work. They can house 6 women with their children but they can only stay for 6 weeks. It really was a rather depressing place. The women who come here meet with someone right away to get restraining orders against folks who intend to do them bodily harm. This past year 2 of the young ladies who were staying there were killed by their boyfriends (not on the premise!).
The room where we worked only had light by opening the blinds (lights didn't work) and you couldn't even walk in the room because of all the bags and boxes of clothes. We only worked about 2 hours, but we really made quite a difference. I can't begin to imagine having to live in a place like this and how hard it must be for the children.
We were back to Sager Brown by 11:30 and our Team met for devotions. After a delicious lunch, we were on our own for the afternoon to do some sightseeing - our day off! So, 8 of our Team members decided to go to Avery Island to tour the Tabasco Factory.
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| What group from our Church Family in Florida! |
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| Tabasco Peppers |
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| The "mushed" peppers with some salt stay in these barrels for 3 years before they are made into Tabasco Sauce! |
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| So many Barrels! |
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| After 3 years vinegar and salt are added to the mash and placed in these vats for 3 weeks and stirred regularly before it is bottled! |
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| The bottling begins! |
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| Now we get labels and the seal around the lids! |
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| Many kinds of Tabasco Sauce! |
After the tour, we went to their store/gift shop to sample the different sauces and other products made with Tabasco -
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| A very nice looking gift shop/country store! |
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| You could sample everything and some of them were extremely HOT! |
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| The ice cream was very good. There was even a chocolate raspberry chipolte one! |
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| Not bad, but after drinking it, your mouth burned! |
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| For a real Tabasco Lover! |
We also got tickets to drive the 3 miles through the Jungle Gardens that are on the Island. Avery Island is actually a salt dome that extends some 8 miles beneath the earth's surface. The protruding "island" part of the formation rising above the surface is home of one of the world's most beautiful sanctuaries for the preservation and study of flora and fauna. It was here that Edward McIlhenny helped save the snowy egret from extinction. In 1895, when the bird was being hunted for its plumage, he built an aviary on the Island and then captured and raised 8 wild egrets. After they had raised their hatches and were ready to migrate, he freed them. The egrets returned the next spring and every spring since as well as egrets and herons that come by the thousands to the rookery now called "Bird City".
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| Lots of Spanish moss on the live oaks! |
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| This is the President Grover Cleveland tree because he spent time visiting here on the Island! |
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| They are off the water to protect them from water predators! |
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| They are getting "frisky"! |
Their plumage is beautiful!
Jungle Gardens is home to one of the largest collection of Camellias in the nation. Thousands of these plants represent over 600 varieties including some from Japan and France -
You will also find thousands of azaleas of many varieties, but unfortunately they were just starting to bloom -
We also enjoyed the Buddha that was a gift to E. A. McIlhenny in 1936. This statue overlooks a picturesque lagoon -
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| It is over 900 years old! |
There are many varieties of bamboo also. The timber bamboo, imported from China, grows a foot or more a day and in 65 days is fully grown.
Just a few extra photos while on the Jungle Garden Drive -
It was time for dinner when we left the Island, so all 8 of us went to dinner at Jane's Seafood and Chinese Restaurant. Not my type of place, but it was packed and the group really enjoyed the seafood. The portions were large and the prices very reasonable.
We were back to Sager Brown by 7:30 after a wonderful day of fellowship, food, and fun. It is such a blessing to spend time with these special folks and get to know them better!
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