Cool Day But, Sunny

After working, and doing laundry, I was ready to go exploring.  I talked Terry into going to a Flea Market, in Mt Dora, called Renniger's.

Our GPS got us there and once there, and parked, we were disappointed.  Prices were higher than the Marion Flea Market.  We got a flavor of it and left.  Long ride for nothing.

It is huge, as you can see from the above.  There is an arts building, an antiques building, and the flea market - inside and out.  Because it was cold we only did the indoor flea market.

We then picked up Arlene and Joan to go to another fund raiser for the Wildwood Food Pantry/Soup Kitchen.  This one was at Hope Lutheran Church and Mary Jo Vitale was the entertainer.  She sang with Josh Legitt also.  It was a wonderful program!

During the program, she wore a sign that said "due March 4th, not twins, a girl, and YES, we are sure."

Her husband, the Associate Pastor at the church, introduced her.  As part of his introduction, he said she had good taste in men.

She wore three-inch spiked heel shoes!

This is her last public engagement before the baby is born.  She has a son who is about 4 or 5.

We generally see her a few times a season and could not understand why her website was void of engagements.  We thought that her MS might have flared up.  Just recently found out that she is pregnant.

Since it was Super Bowl Sunday, it was not as crowded as last year.

Speaking of not crowded, we went to Mallory Hill Country Club for dinner.  There was one person at the bar and 3-4 tables of people in the whole place.  By the time we left, we were the only table!

When we dropped off Arlene and Joan, we went in to try to figure out why Joan was having trouble with the Internet connection.  They are on a neighbor's wifi.  They don't know which neighbor!  We could not figure it out.

Terry is reading and doing laundry.  I hope to start reading soon.

Rainy Day

Another rainy, cold day.

We both worked in the morning, had a bite of lunch, and went to the book fair at Lake Miona Recreation Center.  It's a author showcase that we go to each year.

We bought a book:

The author is from Illinois.  She and her husband had moved to Tennessee.  She moved to The Villages three years ago after her husband's death.

We had planned on going to the chilli cook off at Sumter, but it was raining and we are wimps!

We went down Rainey Trail and found a hospital that was written up in the local paper.  We had never heard of it or seen it.  Discovered a lovely park area on Lake Miona and some beautiful homes.  Also two non-Village developments.

We next went to Aldi's for some staples.  Did I say we?  I stayed in the car while Terry shopped.

After dinner, Diane and Tom picked us up to go to Temple Shalom, for a Dixieland Jazz concert (fund raiser for the local pantry/soup kitchen).

After the concert, we came back to our house for coffee and dessert.

Delightful

We picked up Arlene and Joan to go to the Holiday Travel RV Craft Fair.

We all bought earrings.  Terry and the girls each purchased a woven necklace.

My mail arrived!  Terry's arrived a day late, but, it arrived!!!!

Went home for a quick bite.  I made scrambled eggs.  Yes, I cooked! I'm hoping it won't be habit forming.

We had a 4:30 pm reservation at Ruby Tuesday, in Spanish Springs.  Ethel and Steve picked us up to go to dinner.

After dinner, we went to the former Church on the Square, now called The Sharon, for Three Tenors + One Concert. 

We were in the balcony- we could see everything and the acoustics were wonderful.

This concert is a benefit for The Villages Opera Club's Harold Schwartz Music scholarship fund.  Harold Schwartz was the founder of The Villages.

One of the three tenors scheduled to sing went into the hospital and Fernando Varela substituted.

Other tenors: Davide LaVerde and Fabio Valenti.  The plus one was Soprano Renee Lawless.

The accompanist was Bill Doherty.  He organizes the singing waiter programs that we go to.

Oscar Feliu had started this program and unfortunately passed away suddenly in Oct.  Missed him!

Rainy Day

I got up early and did laundry and started working.

I was busy, busy all day and never left the house.

Terry was on a conference call for a few hours for work.

Other than eating our three squares, it was work, work and more work.

Around noon, friends called to see if we wanted to go to Spanish Springs for Mardi Gras.  We decided to speak later to see what the weather was going to be.

It poured - they decided to go to the movies, we opted to stay in and continue to work!

Warm Day

We both worked for hours this morning.

Finally, left the house to run errands.

Went to Post Office to get a refund for postage paid to send a package to the Township.  It never arrived and Kitty had to go to the Post Office and have them look for it.  They finally found it.

We stayed on Highway 301, after leaving the Post Office, to go to Belleview (a small town before Ocala).  

Just before we got to the intersection where we would turn to go NE, the highway was closed with an accident.

We made a UTurn and approached from another highway.  Helps to know your way around.

I bought a pair of black sandals and Terry bought some make up and hose.  Not too exciting!

We then went to Walmart to return something.

Headed to Spanish Springs to walk and view market night and listen to the music.

I bought a cute hard-shelled credit card holder.  Mine was falling apart and I'd been on the hunt for one with a pretty shell and I found two!  One for $6 and 2 for $10.  What would you do? Right! I bought them both!

So crowded, that all four bars, and a liquor tent, had long lines.  It seemed like everyone wanted to be outside enjoying the weather - it was 82 degrees.

We ate outside at the Mexican restaurant in Spanish Springs.  It was 82 degrees - Terry had a sweater on her shoulders!

The square is down two restaurants - the Greek and Italian restaurants are gone.

The Villages wanted the Greek Restaurant's space - not sure what happened to the Italian restaurant.

Came home to check emails and return telephone calls.  

Last night was the debate between the two Democrat candidates for Congress from the IL 10th.  I helped plan it but had to miss it since I am in Florida.  I had emails and calls telling me how good it was.

Also spoke with our friend Fran and got updated on a health problem she is experiencing.

Also marshaling other Township in IL to help the Deerfield Township whose food pantry had a sewer backup that destroyed tons of food.

Fog and Sun

When I went out to get the newspaper, the fog was very thick.  It took hours to burn off.

We were up early as we had a cooking class to go to.  I know, I don't cook, but....

Getting out of bed this morning was difficult as my nephew, Jeremy, was texting most of the evening about the Iowa Caucus.  He was gloating that his candidate, Bernie Sanders, was doing so well.  At midnight, I said that I had to go to sleep!

This morning, I worked for a couple of hours and dressed and left the house.

Our cooking lesson was at The Eaton Beach Restauant  right at the beach

The chef, Dave, made two shrimp dishes and a bread pudding with bourbon sauce.

We then had those items for lunch.  OMG so hot, our mouths were burning.  Best part of the day was sitting outside on the water.  

There were 7 of us in our group.

Terry, Joyce, Karen, Gloria, Beverly,

Diane and Marilyn

The beach below us.

After lunch we went to Beall's Outlet, at Milberry.  It redeemed itself - Terry bought two tops.

From there we went to Belks to pick up my Clinque makeup and gift that I had ordered a few weeks ago.

While there, I got some earrings to match a necklace that I got at Stein Mart yesterday.

Got gas $1.72 per gallon.

Worked until dinner and now reading.

Oh What A Beautiful Day

Got up early to work so we could get an early start.

We recycled our newspapers at Temple Shalom.

Stopped at Bank of America.

Terry wanted to weigh in so that was the next stop.

From there we went to a new breakfast place, KeKe's.  It was very good.

We then went to Stein Mart, Dollar Tree, and Beall's before going to Walmart to pick up my prescriptions and to grocery shop.

Came home to put things away and rest.

I was also interviewed by the Illinois Association of Realtors in connection with an article to be published in April about political involvement.

We had a 4:30 dinner at Glenview Country Club with Ethel, Joan and Arlene.  Steve went home for a couple of days.  We had a nice round table on the porch over looking the golf course.

After dinner, except for Ethel, we had tickets for a play at Mulberry Grove Center-Til Beth Do Us Part.  It was well acted and very funny.