And the Saga Continues...

Day 7:

This morning Jan headed out the door early to work at a Church Rummage Sale and should be back this afternoon.  After my morning walk around the subdivision, laundry duties called.  We began packing our suitcases for our trip north to Clermont where we meet up with Dan and Shirley at Summer Bay Resort near Disney World.  Goodbyes were said and we left at 1:00 p.m.  The interior of Florida is mostly grassland and barren with scrub brush and cattle.  Arrived at Summer Bay at 3:30 with no problems.  Dan and Shirley welcomed us with “open arms.”  Unloaded and shopped at Publix for staples, including Florida shrimp (yum, yum!).  After cocktails and dinner, we walked the resort and checked out the place, including the beach and clubhouse.  Played cards and jumped in the sack, readying ourselves for the next day.

Day 8:

Beautiful  day, plenty of sunshine!  Temperature today should reach a high of 74!  Dan and I put on our tennis shoes and did an early morning walk.  Had a quick breakfast and left for Downtown Disney which is an large complex full of shops and fun stuff to do.  There was a bus system and water taxi system in place (for free!) that connected all the various Disney resorts.  As a result, we toured Animal Kingdom Lodge where we saw a menagerie of wild African animals.
We water-taxied to the Riverside Resort whose décor and architecture reminded us of the landscape along the Mississippi River , including huge plantation mansions and all-things of the genteel Southern Living.  Next came the whimsical Port Orleans Resort featuring all things New Orleans.

Iron wrought balconies and  French architecture interlaced with fantasy Mardi Gras masks  and sculptured alligators .  Loved it!    Lunch at the Earl of Sandwich filled us; no need to eat dinner!   After a long day’s walking and touring we headed  back to the condo for cocktails and snacks.  Great day was had by all!

Day 9:  On Monday we checked out the Highlands Reserve Golf Course for tomorrow’s outing.  And naturally we shopped somewhat in Wally-World.  In the afternoon we awaited the arrival of Lee and Jan as well as Dick and Pat.  The day was overcast, but temperature was good enough to sit out on the patio—eatin’  and drinkin’ as normal.  The next-door neighbors from England,
Penny and Andy, joined our group.  Ordering pizza ended the evening.  Another good day in the Universe.

Day 10:  Tuesday we headed out early for a long, exciting day at the Epcot Center.

Marvelous weather and warm temperature!  Lots of walking for us “old farts”.  I bet we walked a bazillion miles.  Man, what a place for the old and the young.  The fireworks over the lake at the World Showcase was amazing and a good finish to the day’s end.  Made it home by 10:30 and totally pooped out.

Day 11:  Our tee-time for golf was around noon.  The men played their three-some while we women played our own game.  The first nine went well; I even par-ed one hole!  By the time we hit the 11^th hole, the skies let loose and chased us to the golf clubhouse.  Eventually we decided to take a rain check for Friday; most of us were drenched anyway. 
The rest of the afternoon was spent in playing cards (I learned a new card game:  1-11), preparing dinner, and again playing games late into the evening hours.  By 11:00 we headed into the beds.

Day 12:  This morning we said our goodbyes to Lee and Jan who were heading back home to North Port. Since the weather turned much cooler (a high of 57 degrees and a low tonight of 37 !!!!) we just did the day shopping and sightseeing.  The flea market was huge, and I picked up some great bargains—1200 count sheets for only twenty bucks!  We arrived back at the condo around cocktail time; we plan on cooking in tonight and eating out tomorrow.  Feels good just to sit after a day’s outing.
Day 13-14:  Dan and Shirl took us "around and about" the neighborhood.  We did get another 9 holes in with Larry playing a really great game!  We (the girls!) took care of laundry, etc. before leaving.  Larry and I headed to the Keys via the Florida Turnpike while Dan and Shirl headed to Jan and Lee's for a few days' visit.  By 3:30 we landed in Homestead at the top of the Keys.  We took care of getting some fresh herbs for planting, as well as fresh veggies right out of the garden.  The tomato crop was hurting from January's frost, but we still got some--along with freshly dug potatoes (eat your heart out Cotton!) and other stuff.  We connected with Sue, our lessee for the Keys' property, and we'll leave for Marathon tomorrow morning.  The day's temp reached 75 and we had our martinis pool-side.  The sun felt great!

Day 6

New shoes don't work, huh Larry ?

Day 5

We did errands today.  Stopped to purchase tickets to Epcot at the AAA(planning on going there on Tuesday).  Did some shopping at Beall's--got a new swimsuit and Larry picked up some shirts.  He also bought new golf shoes; perhaps they'll lower his golf score!

Today we drove north to Sarasota to visit the Ringling Circus Museum, a huge complex devoted entirely to the John Ringling Circus.  John and Mable's "winter home" was situated directly on the Gulf and is filled with the opulence of their day--tapestries, art, furniture, etc.  Ironic, though, he died with a mere $200.00 in his bank account.  Go figure!
It was very interesting to see the original circus wagons, costumes, etc.--so colorful!  We spent several hours viewing the exhibits;n probably we could have stayed an hour longer but were too tired from walking!  Martinis were calling!

Day 4

Chilly here in North Port--the high today should reach 61! Larry and I both headed to Wally World to buy some warmer clothes for the golf outing.   At least the sun is shining bright.  We are heading to the Myakka Golf Course to play 18 holes with the 'gators.  Maybe I'll be lucky and play well; that definitely would be a miracle in itself.  It does feel wonderful not to be traveling in the car for a while.

The golf went well, cool,but sunny.  Jan won with a score of 98, Larry had 105, Lee 105, and poor me---114 !  "Gators were out, too,making it a great day.

Day 2-3

Day 2:  Left Troy, Alabama, in the rain…just misting.  Eventually drove all day in the drizzle.  At least it wasn’t snow!  We crossed the Florida State Line at 9:22 and landed in Cedar Key at 3:00 p.m.  What a quaint little town, full of old fishing docks and seaside hotels; lots of shops as well.  Our seaside room was huge with two sides with full-windows looking onto the Gulf.   Sipping cocktails while watching the seagulls and the waves—how nice is that?!  The high for today only reached 58 and tonight is will drop to the 30s…..ugh!  We can only hope that tomorrow will be much warmer by the time we get to North Port.

Day 3:  Left Cedar Key early--without coffee!  Had to travel 30 miles before we could find a cup of java!  Traveled 19 South down into Crystal River then headed onto 75 South.  Eventually we made it to North Port around 2:30--after we found Tervis Tumbler Company for new glasses for the neighborhood.
We are now enounced in Jan and Lee's home for the duration of the week.Tomnorrow...GOLF.

Off...and Runnin'

The adventure begins...  We awoke at 6:00 a.m. and were on the road by 7:05!  We left home with just a dusting of snow, with very little falling.  By the time we hit Interstate 64, the dusting turned into one or two inches and one lane travel-able road.  Our average speed was an amazing 52 mph !  I drove the first leg, and believe me, it was awful..even the truckers were slowed down in the slush.  Eventually, on the other side of Rend Lake the highway cleared up and I increased the speed to a whopping 65!  The further south we traveled, the better the weather.  We ended up in Troy, Alabama, for the evening...parked at 5:00.   Turns out we got the same exact room at the Best Western as we did in 2009 !  What a coincidence.!  More snow is predicted for southern Alabama for tomorrow morning.  Hopefully we'll be on the road early and will miss the shit!

Illinois Winter

UGH!   More Snow!

Need I say more ?

Changing Seasons!

Ah, February...the changing of seasons.   For most people, their yearly seasons consist of spring, summer, fall, and winter.  Not here at the Schurman Household ,for our seasons are different...  We celebrate The Traveling Season, The Boating Season,  The Football Season, and the Holiday Season.
February brings us The Traveling Season, that time when Larry and I begin planning, anticipating, and packing for our traveling adventures.  On the 14th of this month we leave for sunny Florida; our pit stops include North Port to visit my sister Jan, a side trip to Orlando to spend time with brother Dan, and then last, but not least, the month of March in the Florida Keys.  This is followed by Los Cabos in April, Tennessee in May, and Alabama in June (not to forget Carolina, too!)  Oh, there`s joy in Muddville tonight!  Hubby ( as well as most of my family!) know how I love to travel the open road.  I believe I was born a wanderer. Or...maybe I have the traveling gene of past generations.  
The Boating Season, of course, begins in June with the arrival of hot weather, warm lake water, and boats galore.  Family members and friends descend upon us, eager to begin the summer boating experience:  riding the pontoons, tubing the waves, skiing the boat wakes, and zipping along in the fast run-abouts.  Barbeques, beers, and brats are the rigors of our summer days!
The Football Season speaks for itself:  Sunday football, football, and football!  The "Football Pool" makes everyone a player, and for me, a loser for most of the weekends.  This year hubby and I did manage $40 wins.  
The Holiday Season, of course, runs Thanksgiving through New Year's Day which is the norm for all. I must say that the Holiday Season joy is directly proportional to one's advancing age.  The older I get, the less joy I feel.  I wonder why that is...
These seasons are my "Circle of Life".  As Thoreau once wrote:
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.

Here's a toast to your Seasons of Life!