Our First Weekend of Fun

Friday-Saturday/April 28-39, 2017
After all the kids were home from school we drove over to the town center for the art festival which was just getting started.  The first thing Dagny wanted to do was get her face painted so we stayed with her while the boys enjoyed so of the more active things.

Then we enjoyed a bbq meal actually finding a table where we could sit to eat.  Anders found a friend to hang out with and enjoyed some freedom of moving around on his own and at one point actually winning a folding chair which of course he brought to us to hall around.  Janet and Jack found many different friends to interact with and Ken and I simply enjoyed wandering around checking out all the art items that were for sale in the huge quantity of booths.

Saturday, Jack made pancakes for the kids along with loads of bacon and omlets for each of us for breakfast.  Then we went to the gym for Karstens mini olympics which was more or less an opportunity for the parents of all the very young kids to see what they had been working on for the season.  They actually had us moving to various locations to see them in action and then at the end presented each of the children with a certificate and medal giving them their own time on a special platform.

Needless to say, Karsten was thrilled with the attention and his special awards.  Look at that smile!!

Jack  picked up individual pizzas for everyone that they then enjoyed in the afternoon before spending time just playing outside.  

Off for Texas

Wednesday/Thursday, April 26/27, 2017
Ken and I were up before the sun this morning eager to get packed, have breakfast, load up the car and get on the road before 8:00 am.  We were off for Southlake, TX and a visit with our youngest daughter, Janet, her husband Jack, and the three grandchildren: Anders, Dagny and Karsten.  Our drive went well with precious few problems - actually just a couple of slow ups due to road construction and one mislead by the GPS in downtown Dallas cause it didn't know about new expressway.  But we finally pulled into their place around 5:00 pm on Thursday.

We spent Wednesday night in a Quality Inn in Hattiesburg where we had a great fish dinner at the Cracker Barrel and had fun looking for a little gift for Karsten since we already had things for Anders and Dagny.

Anders was out the door as soon as he saw us parking out in front welcoming us to their place.  Everyone else was quick with hugs and welcomes once we got in the door.  We had finally made it.  Sometimes it seems like we'll never ever get there on that long drive. :-)

Jack had a good dinner of salad, veggies, and grilled steak all ready for us to enjoy and before we knew it, it was time for the kids to go to bed and us too.  While we sat all day, there was, of course, a time change for us so while the clock said 9 we felt like it was 10 pm and the kids had school in the morning - mom and dad had work.

But we were here and there were lots of days ahead for fun together.

A Perfect Week in Florida

Friday, April 21, 2017
We awoke to another perfect blue sky and sunshine this morning.  While the daily temperatures have pushed at times all the way to 90 degrees, the humidity has stayed in the 30 and 40s so it hasn't been overwhelming and there has been a very strong breeze.  For a week now we've had this fantastic weather and are enjoying it to the hilt.

I have been able to go to the pool in the early part of the day and not be chilled as I get my exercise bouncing, kicking, running etc in place - anything to keep the legs and arms moving water and bringing up my heart rate.  Bike rides are a challenge when I head down the streets going east as the wind whistles through my basket and blows my hair but speedy when going west with it pushing me along.

The few flowers that we have here in the park are providing lots of color.  Daily I thank my former neighbor Peggy for planting a couple of amaryllis bulbs when she was still here.  They have obviously multiplied and provided loads of orangey red flowers daily along with my Mexican purple petunias in the same garden. (this picture doesn't really show the beauty as the wind has blown off most of the petunia flowers and there is only one amaryllis now in bloom - there were 4)

 In the back the hibiscus has gorgeous yellow blossoms daily.

 Spring here in this area doesn't offer as much beauty as I remember in Michigan but it still does have its special plants.  Several people have knockout roses that are blooming in profusion.

Most everyone in the park has headed north so it is quiet here -- fewer cars and traffic on the streets within and outside of the park.  Making left hand turns on CR 54 isn't nearly the problem now and riding the bike around the park is truly carefree.  I can go as fast as I want and seldom run into cars, walkers and dogs on leashes.   But the best part is hearing all the beautiful birds talking to each other - Sandhill cranes and egrets along with hawks and woodpeckers (one has made a home in the pole near our house)

Emma Jean invited Orrie, Bev and I to her place on Wednesday for a couple of rousing games of hand and foot and lots of laughs.  What fun it is for us to get together and do that - especially after so many of us got sick during the season and our get togethers ended up not happening as often as we'd planned.  We also were able to enjoy time together in the pool just relaxing and chatting as we moved about in the water.

And best of all - there still are no bugs short of a few wasps if there is a nest in the vicinity.  I can sit outside and watch beautiful sunsets with nary a mosquito or other flying insect bothering me.

Yes it has been glorious!!!!!!!!

Easter Sunday

Sunday, April 16, 2017
This morning we drove to San Antonio to attend the Heritage Bible Church.  WOW!  What a service. Totally different than usual.  We were blessed by fantastic music with both members of the Huron family and the Hopping children.  Piano, violin, harp and piccolo provided some of the music along with various combinations of these two families.  Then at the end of the service the whole group along with other members of the church sang 3 different pieces.  All of this was narrated by Santiago sharing both scripture and thoughts concerning this very important time in the Christian faith.  He really brought to life that period from Palm Sunday to Easter filling the morning with all the emotions that must have been felt when they happened.

Afterwards, we went to Frank and Bette Foulkes for a wonderful ham dinner that she prepared.  It was so wonderful having time with them again.  After dinner Bette and I went for a short walk and then we played a couple of rounds of Sequence with the guys winning 3 times in a row and then Bette and I winning the next four games.

The weather was spectacular with temperatures in the high 80s and lots of sunshine but low humidity. Wonderful!!!!!

The kids all participated in a group conversation with pictures via the phone messaging system so we were able to see pictures of all of them.  Scott and Jackson both had to work part of the day.  Scott is now working on the grounds crew at the zoo and Jackson continues to work at Jersey Mikes and the shoe store.

Delicious Gift

Friday, April 14, 2017

We got a wonderful surprise gift today - a beautiful fruit "bouquet" from Beth.   Her card said: Thought you might be missing the fresh fruit from the ship!  Thank you so much for the fantastic vacation! Love you, Beth

So today we've been enjoying lots of strawberries, grapes, pineapple and melon.  There was so much we drove over to Frank and Bette's and shared some with them while we talked about plans for Easter Sunday as well as things they have planned - a redo of their guest bedroom (Right now Bette is busy cleaning out the room and putting lots of boxes in storage so the room can be empty and worked on).and a trip north to Pennsylvania during the same time we'll be traveling to Texas to spend time with Janet and her family.

Siblings Day

Monday, April 10, 2017
I never even knew there was something called Siblings Day but according to all the postings on Facebook today it must be so.  It was fun seeing so many pictures of friends with their siblings but the best postings were from our own kids.

Sue put up this one that was taken not long after Janet was born in 1971.  Aren't they the cutest??

And Beth posted this collage of pictures

So many wonderful memories!!!!!! 

How lucky we are to have these four wonderful children along with their equally wonderful spouses and all of their children, our grandchildren.  

What a Loss

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Sarah Muller called me around noon today after she received a text and then a follow up phone call with Matt Hannon.  My cousin Laurie and her husband, Manuel, were traveling by car from California to the Lake House in Ohio for a 6 week stay so they could do some construction work and general maintenance before the rental season began Memorial week.  They spent the night in Anderson, Indiana.  Got up, had breakfast, repacked the car and then as Manuel opened the driver's side door to crawl in he collapsed.  Laurie called 911 but there was nothing that could be done despite a high speed trip to emergency.  Manuel died as the result of a pulmonary embolism.

What a shock.  He just retired a year ago, a brand new grandchild had just arrived a short time ago, and they were looking forward to many wonderful years together.  Instead, she found herself in a strange city with no family or relatives nearby, and her husband suddenly gone.

Sarah was able to talk with her for a short time and offered to come up to the Lake House where she wanted to go and spend some time with her.  Laurie was in too much of a shock to really say yes or no but was happy about the offer.  The kids all wanted to fly up but she told them not to - that she would continue on and see them again in June when she returned and they would do a memorial at that time.  But all that could change - only time will tell.

But what a loss for Laurie, her children and grandchildren and all of  us.  We were just really getting acquainted as a result of the cousin weekends we started a couple of years ago at the Lake House. Now we will be one short.

Becky posted this photo of herself with Manuel at a game last fall.  It truly reflects his love of life.

Mid-Florida Winnies Campout at Daytona

Monday, April 10 - Thursday, April 13, 2017
We were up early this morning so we could get everything gathered together to go over to the motorhome and get the refrigerator turned on to start cooling down.  Since I had a doctor appointment we couldn't leave till that was done but we wanted everything ready to go so we could be on our way as soon as possible.  We have really got this done to a science now - what needs to go and how to bag and transport smoothly once we look at the campout schedule and know what we need to supply for food and what we will be doing.

All went smoothly and other than some traffic slowdowns the travel went well so we were at the International RV Park and Campground on International Drive in Daytona and settled by around 2:00.  Others were coming in around the same time so we just relaxed for a bit letting them also get settled before making connections.  By Happy Hour all of us were in and eager to gather and start catching up with each other.

We invited Dave and Donna Rumrill to join us for a trip to the North Turn restaurant for some supper afterwards.  The restaurant sits on the beach at the point where the north turn of the old race track use to be giving us a gorgeous view of the ocean and the beach while we enjoyed our meal.  The inside of the place was filled with all kinds of pictures and memorabilia from the days of racing on the beach which came to a close in 1958.  It was fun just checking out all of those things before heading back to the campground.

Tuesday we had the opportunity to tour the Daytona Race Track - a 90 minute tour

arranged for our group.  Most of us wore our club shirts so there was a sea of green riding in our tram

and in and out of all the special points of interest.

Our first view of the inside track area including the stands was from the centerfield area where there is a small lake

These flags

fly over the center field area where those with special tickets can come and go getting close to the garages

the track and even Victory Lane - though that area is very restricted.  We were able to enter it, go into the building where the "high rollers" can entertain, watch the races, and get into the Victory Lane when the race ends.

Here is our group posing up on the "stage" where the winners go for pictures

We also visited the building where the drivers and other officials attend briefings prior to the race and also where winners are interviewed.  There we watched one of the films they see giving the rules and regulations for the race.

Then we drove around to the entrance areas for the main stands so that we too could get up into them and see the field. Each of the entrances has a corporate sponsor - this being the Florida Hospital gate.

We went into the center gate where you could see the start finish line on the track, through the stands, down the steps and into the parking lot.

Because the stands are so huge, this has become a popular meeting place."Meet me at the finish line".

But best of all we could see the start finish stand and get a great view of the track itself.  And there was a driver going around so we could get the sound effects when a car came zooming by.

The slant on the track is amazing!  I had no idea it was like that.  Later at the museum we were able to stand in a spot to get the feel for that slant.  It was tough!!!!!  Though Ken makes it look simple :-)

Our guide took us to one spot in the stands where this race car is on display

with this explanation.

Amazing that a race of 500 miles could have that close an ending.

Nearby was this fun display of some of the famous race cars driven here.

It certainly makes for an interesting ride up and down the escalator next to it and adds to that particular entrance to the track!

Our tour ended at these doors

where we entered the museum area filled with all kinds of neat things that have been raced here (like boats, planes, and motorcycles)

including this 2016 Daytona 500 winner on display just as it looked in Victory Lane complete with confetti and a piece of grass up on the hood from the driver's victory lap that included a whirl in the grass. In the foreground is the winning "cup" with all the winner's names ingraved in it.

This photo is a great one showing the original race course as it looked near the end of its use.  It is amazing how close it was to the ocean - with cars and attendees parked so close you would think they would have gotten wet as the tide came in.  (the restaurant where we ate last night was built at the north turn - thus its name)

We returned to the campground just in time for happy hour followed by a delicious ham dinner provided by the staff of the campground.  And followed that with a rousing game of "chase the ace" -- I won at our table

After breakfast casseroles and fruit in the morning we had our monthly meeting and then Ken and I drove down to the beach area just to see what this famous Daytona Beach was like including its "board" walk which is cement.  We both agreed that the Virginia Beach area is far nicer but I did take some pictures to show what was there and we did enjoy being out along the water hearing the waves crash and just seeing all the people enjoying themselves on a beautiful sunny day.

At this entrance there is a booth where you pay for the privilege of driving on the beach in designated areas.  I'm not sure why they do this because it certainly doesn't make it very inviting to be there as you can tell by this picture.

Lots of people were also riding their bikes in this area

Turn to your left and this is what you see

Now this was more what I prefer to see and enjoy if I'm at a beach

This was an entrance point to the "board walk" and long pier with lots of fishermen along it as well as a huge Joes Crab Shack restaurant and some beautiful views of the water and beach.

And then there were views like this along the "board walk"

where we saw this monument to all the motorcycle racing that takes place here

This huge band shell/stage area was also along the walk 

and this intriguing high rise set of shops

We then returned to the campground in time for happy hour and a pizza party

followed by 43rd anniversary cake and ice cream and many members sharing MFW memories including how they found the group or what it has meant to them. Richard Menge was our baker chef.

A few stayed to play cards but most everyone else enjoyed just chatting and looking at all the scrapbooks that have been gathered over the years as well as the slide show of photos that Jeff has created over the years he has been president. We took advantage of that to say our good byes as we were leaving very early the following morning so I could get to a cardiologist appointment at 10:30 am. that Dr. Dudlani had arranged on Monday just before we left for Daytona.