Kelvyn Park High School Alums Seek Bargains

Our friend, from high school, Patti, is down here for a few more weeks.  But, with our guests and her guests, today was the only day that seemed to work for us to get together.  We made plans late last night after exploring many possible dates.

We went to the Holiday Travel RV Craft Fair, in Leesburg.

This has become an annual event for Terry and me.  Jean, from Jean's bags, who makes the bags from jeans was there and Patti started her shopping spree there.  Terry got another tie for one of her bags.

We then scoured the whole place, with Patti winning the prize for the most items purchased.  We had a great time and visited each and every booth!

We went over to Hacienda Country Club for lunch.  Patti had not been there ever and Terry and I had not been there this year.  If you are keeping track, we only have four more country clubs left (out of 11) before we have eaten in all of them this year.  I know it is a shallow goal, but it is easy to get shallow down here!

Terry, Marilyn and Patti



After dropping Patti off, we went grocery shopping at Aldi's.  For those of you who follow the blog, you know that generally I sit in the car while Terry goes into Aldi's. Knowing that we had a long list, I thought I would go in and help her put things in bags to take out to the car (you pack your own bags).  When I went in, she had not completed the shopping and I made some suggestions, but was told "when you shop with me - be quiet."  She now says she doesn't remember saying that - BUT, trust me.

At dinner tonight, we were talking about how accustomed we each are to doing things our own way since we both live alone.  I suggested that down here it is just easier to let Terry be in charge.  She suggested  that "we do it her way and no one will get hurt."  We both laughed until tears came to our eyes.  So, if you see me limping or injured in any way, you'll know that I did not do it her way.

Safe Trip

Ida left today for the frigid North!

Before we took her to the airport in Orlando, we went to the Morse Museum of Art.  The museum has the largest collection of Tiffany anywhere in the world.

We had learned about the museum from the above flyer that was at the Welcome Center on I-75 just as you enter Florida from Georgia.

Terry bought some postcards and took photos of them - see below:

We saw a movie about the making of the museum and the collection and we really needed more time there.

Here's a link to more information about the museum.  It includes a chapel, re-creation of rooms in Tiffany's home (using things salvaged from his burned-out home).

http://orlando.about.com/od/museums/a/morse.htm

We had to leave and have a bite of lunch in order to get Ida to the airport on time.

There was a Panera in the next block and it was Thursday!!!!  Thursday is chicken and wild rice soup!!!  That just happens to be my favorite soup!

We then went to the airport and dropped Ida off at Southwest Airlines.

We went home and did some laundry and then ate the leftovers from Martha and Marcella's dinner last night.  They decided that they wanted to eat at Disney today so they left the leftovers for us. Yummy!

Michigan Friends Visit

This morning was leisurely - except that Terry was in her Pearl Mesta mode (Ida and I kept out of her way as she dusted and cleaned)!

We had a quick bite to eat and then Martha and her friend Marcella arrived.  Ida and Martha met on a trip to the Rose Bowl Parade where they were roommates.  They discovered their Interlochen connection and we've had pleasant visits with Martha at Interlochen the past two summers.  We also had a delightful lunch at her home on our way home from Interlochen last summer.

She and her friend are staying in Orlando and came to see The Villages.  We took them on a tour and then went to Spanish Springs for Market Night and the music.

Marcella and Martha



Ida and Martha

Marilyn (wind blown) and Terry

 We made reservations to sit on the porch of Margarita Republic (which is right on the square).  Our guests could watch the golf carts, and people, go by.  They could also hear the music and see the dancers.

Martha, Marcella and Ida at Margarita Republic

After finishing looking at all of the Market Night vendors, we headed to our house for dessert.

Tough Life But Someone Has to Do It

After working and having breakfast, we piled into the car for a ride to Mt. Dora, a cute little town south of The Villages.

We went for lunch at our favorite spot... the porch of the Lakeside Inn facing the water.  The Inn is over 130 years old.

While we were having our lunch a seaplane landed to take people on a tour (for $50 per person)!  Don't know if you can make it out in the photo below.



We walked around the town and did some shopping (Terry was the only purchaser and got an inexpensive pair of earrings).  The town's economy did not improve during our visit!

After shopping, we went to sit on the porch of the hotel again, in the rocking chairs, to have a drink and take in the view. While relaxing on the porch, Mindy emailed Terry some work.  Terry emailed back a picture of her sitting on the porch and that work would have to wait to later!!!

 Marilyn and Ida

Ida and Terry



Celebrating

What a lovely day.

It started with us picking up cousins Betty and Bill at their hotel and taking them on a tour of The Villages and the three squares.  Ida was seeing some things for the second time - but, she said she enjoyed the repeated tour.

 Terry, Betty, Bill and Marilyn

Ida in front of the movie theater at Sumter Landing

We had a nice lunch at Mallory Country Club and then drove everyone past the Temple and came back to our house so Bill could print out their boarding passes.

After dropping Betty and Bill back at their car for their trip back to Tampa in preparation for their trip home tomorrow, Ida and I went to a Beall's Outlet.  We got the senior discount (Monday) as I have the senior card!  It pays to be old!  Terry stayed at the house to finish some work.

Then Ida and I stopped at the post office so Ida could get some $.05 stamps.

After resting for a few minutes, we got our "fancy" duds on to have dinner at the Nancy Lopez Country Club.  It was lobster special night.... twin lobster tails for little money.  That's how we talked Ida into coming to visit!  It was also Diane and Tom's 51st wedding anniversary!

Terry had the surf and turf, I had just the turf (melt in your mouth) and everyone else had the lobster.

Ida with her twin lobster tails

The anniversary couple

Diane, Marilyn,  Terry, and Tom

Just the girls

After dinner, we had dessert at our house.  Diane had wanted us to go to their house but I had a Township meeting so we came to our house and had left over pie that Terry had made. 









Reunion

It was another beautiful day in The Villages!  Got up to the 80's!

Terry and I worked this morning and then we left to get to the trolley!  Yes, we took the trolley ride!
It was a hour and went to the new sections.  The person doing the narrative was the best that we've had and he was from Illinois!

We walked over to Too Jays for brunch/lunch and sat outside.

Ida at Too Jays

View from our table



We walked around the shops and we each bought something.  We all got sweatshirts that say The Villages and change design when out in the sun.  They had a sale and they were so inexpensive that we could not just leave them there.

Ida bought a top and some socks at Bass/Van Husen, so it was a successful day.  She got some post cards at Hallmark that were cheaper than the ones that I had purchased at Walgreens!

On the way back to the car, Terry took a photo of the public washrooms at Sumter Landing.

Our cousins Betty and Bill Shapiro drove up to see us and we had a yummy dinner that Terry made.



We look forward to showing them The Villages tomorrow.  They go back home to Philly on Tuesday.

For those who may be interested,  our maternal grandfather's sister was Betty's great grandmother.  Betty's great grandmother had eight children!  Our mother was close to most of the eight and to a good many of their offspring.



Another busy day

We worked this morning and then went to the Cane Gardens Country Club.  Though it was a little cool, we sat outside and had yummy pizza for lunch.

Ida at Cane Garden 

After lunch, we had our annual visit with Bobby Goldsboro and admired his art work.  Below are Ida and Marilyn in front of Seabreeze where his show was this year.



He signed our greeting cards that we bought.  Here he is putting them back into the plastic.

Here's a sample of his work.

We had a little dessert at the exhibit and then we left to again try to get on the trolley bus for a tour, but it was going to be an hour wait, so we decided not to wait.

So, instead we showed Ida Spanish Springs and went to Picture You (a fun jewelry store).  From there we went to pick up my mail at Diane and Tom's.  Again, Terry's mail was not there.  The Des Plaines Post Office is not doing their job!

Stopped at Walmart to get some wine and then went home to rest.

We were all full from lunch so just had a light dinner.

We then went to Lake Miona Theatre Group's Seniors of the Sahara.  A story of a woman who went to Israel for her grandson's wedding and took a side trip to Egypt and picks up a trinket.  A genie lives in the trinket!  Funny!

After the play, we went to Perkins for dessert.  Terry and I had their famous eclairs.  Ida had banana cream pie.

Terry and I are working on our computers and Ida is checking email on my I-Pad.