April has been a pretty busy month for us thus far! As we pass the half-way mark, it has become a reality that we will be hitting the road sooner than later and this makes us very excited and anxious to hit the road again for a long journey through the United States!
This month we had the beginning of our landscaping plan put in place with our sod removed and a bed put in with crape myrtle trees, bottle brush bushes, and red knock-0ut roses. In addition, we have planted a few plants to make it a bit more colorful until the purples and reds come alive! We will add to our plan when we return in the fall.
April 2014
April 2015
Marigolds
(I can't remember the name of this one, but it is so pretty!)
Knock-Out Roses
I planted bulbs in the new garden bed and some have actually started popping up, along with a few that I planted months ago in an existing bed. It has been an exciting spring here in Ocala! I have already given Erica "strict" instructions to send me pictures while I'm gone so I can see the progress being made!
Easter marked another holiday without Phil. I can't say it gets easier, but I am thankful for modern technology with "Facetime" on the computer to see him and talk with him. I am in countdown mode once again until we see him in July.
Our holiday otherwise was spent with our neighbors, which was really nice with everyone bringing something to the table and having lots of laughs and good conversations. Erica and Matt were here as well and were entertained by our neighbors' nephew Dennis. It is not boring here that's for sure!
In between our regular SummerGlen activities, we have had company with friends from SummerGlen, Cape Cod, MA and members of the Mid-Florida Winnies RV Club, as well as a campout with our club to Cedar Key. I finally hit the jack pot at BINGO and split the coverall, pocketing $100! I didn't think O-63 would ever be called, as I sat there staring at that number which seemed like forever!
We have been busy together, but Thom has been extremely busy with his baseball officiating, as well as being asked to explain the "Ref Pay" to the Mid-Florida Officials Association Board of Directors and attending games with the Director of the MFOA, Dave Stewart, to evaluate other crews. I am hoping that football will embrace him this fall and he can return to enjoying being a football official once again. Wade, the Football Commissioner, is actually interested in Arbiter Registration after Thom's presentation and it has been published that that is the way it will be for now on; so ... keeping fingers crossed!
We are still aiming for May 11th as our official first day on the road, which will also be Phil's 26th birthday! We might have to leave a few days later than expected depending on Thom's baseball schedule; we shall see. We have a few issues to tend to with the RV, but nothing Thom can't do himself; he seems to enjoy the little projects needed now and then, and he does a good job doing so!
Erica and Phil continue to do well. Erica will be flying to MN while we're there in August and I know she is looking forward to seeing Phil and Phil is looking forward to seeing her. It will be a wonderful family reunion!
Until I blog again, here are a few photos!
A few days after our new bed was put in, one of the bulbs I planted months ago popped up in the old bed! What a nice surprise!
This is the newest addition to our lanai! Not bad for $6!
Pigs do Fly! Come to Casa Coste and you will be greeted by this lovely piece of metal art!
Cedar Key RV Resort, where the Mid-Florida Winnies spent 4 lovely days! Our club is returning next year for at least a week!
Lot 16, Cedar Key RV Resort.
Downtown Cedar Key! I love crazy tree art!
Dinner at Tony's for great seafood, especially the New England clam chowder!
See photo below - this garden was unique and entertaining!
This is Polly Pillsbury's "tea" Garden!
There's nothing like a hibiscus!
The club took a 2-hour boat tour of Cedar Key and the surrounding Keys. It was the perfect morning for this tour, and very interesting information shared by the captain of the area! We were entertained by dolphins and ironically a manatee and a pup or a mate (we aren't quite sure), but the captain did state that manatees are not normally seen in that part of the Gulf. I looked at Thom and we both smiled and agreeing this did not surprise us ... another gift from above!
Atsena Otie Key "residents"
Atsena Otie Key
After the boat tour, we stopped here for lunch, another unique spot at Cedar Key; a great lunch!
This was once the Cedar Key International Airport! This runway is still used but there is no control tower, and we were driving on a road that once crossed the runway!
One of the 6 planes parked at the airport.
Thom driving along the runway!
A pretty shot of the Gulf from the road leading to and from the airport.
This was just a portion of the artwork on the frame of an empty building in downtown Cedar Key. I found it quite interesting and actually pretty to look at.
Downtown Cedar Key - it was a Monday evening and no longer "tourist season"! We were told the current population is 400 and "everyone knows everyone's business"!
Cedar Key art is everywhere including this street sign!
Interesting art, that I look forward to exploring more of next visit!
