May 10 2022

And we are home! got here april 28th and got into our spot pretty easily for a change. Glad to be here. 

we were only on the road to get back from florida for 8 days but it seemed a lot longer. We stayed at the house in Inverness for 19 days and got a feel for the place. bought a number of things that we thought we needed as soon as we got back in the fall. met our neighbors across the street  Ray and Rita. very very nice people and i am glad to have them as neighbors. got to know the new neighbors next door when they got there but within 3 weeks of being there they have put up their place for sale. they can not tolerate the manager Lori. she will be a challenge. the writing is on the wall there. found out who the park gossip is and the park snitch so with that being said we now know all the important park details. 

On our way  home we stopped in Tupelo for 2 nights and visited Elvis's birthplace. made for an interesting stop.gas was soooo expensive on the way back. cost over a $1000 to drive  back. lowest price $4.69 and most expensive $5.39. crazy. we hit good weather and minimal wind all the way home tho and that was wonderful. first night we just stayed in Perry Fl at a walmart for the night. we had to get a new battery for the camper and while changing that out some guy came along, visited briefly and then wanted to know if we carried a gun! WTF. for the rest of the way home we stayed in campgrounds i didn't care if it cost more. 2nd night we stayed at a campground we have stayed in previously. Montgomery South RV in Hope Hull Al. $48 a night and 3rd/4th night in Tupelo ms at Over Younder Rv #15 (horrible site) $50 a night. Tv ok no internet. overall, not a great campground. place was landscaped with large rocks. hard to walk on and hard to drive on. would not stay there again. Onto Mt Vernon Ill. Archway Rv Park. $40. no tv but the best wifi we have ever had. Then onto Rockford Ill at an out of the way place called Blackhawk Rv. Passport America at $25 a night. beautiful park! then we landed on kevins doorstep for a couple of nights while we had some camper repairs done. 2 new refrigerators replaced. slides realigned. now have to replace the pantry shelfs. some of the roads were quite rough on the way home. 

since being home we have been busy. went and got my car from cindi's and i now need a new battery in that too. cindi, karen and myself did some house cleaning for mom and then we all went for pedicures and lunch at red lobster for mothers day. the neighbor behind us had a retirement party one evening and then the next day was the kentucky derby party held at another neighbors house.friend wanda was here for a visit and a walk. got half the garden planted  and of course working a bit at the campground here.

Pine Harbor Kentucky Derby 2022

abby,sharon, laurie, patti, donna, peggy and myself

moms day out. 

blackhawk rv park. rockford ill

Natchez Trace trail. 

The Stable. Tupelo Ms. best catfish nachos EVER!

elvis's birthplace. interesting day

elvis as a boy playing guitar on the street and as a well known performer

he lived in tupelo till age 12. very poor family

overyounder rv park. tupelo. big rocks everywhere in campground

ouch. 

hope hull al. 

happy 48th to us

brett and bode at easter

the bottle of rum chata friend laurie gave me didn't last long!

our bedroom

guest room

view of living room

withlachoochee bike trail. fun!

a bit of florida in the guest bathroom

back of house. gazebo area next fall

driveway side

other side

 april 72022

happy 65th birthday to my dear friend Laurie Tamas! only been a week since we dropped her off at the airport in orlando but seems sooo much longer. a great winter spent with herself and friends beth and todd ehlenfeldt.  so many fun happy hours or excursions to various establishments. gathered up (not near enough times) with friends staying in Webster florida Jan and Phil Gordon and Jo and Dave Peterson. Lots of laughs shared. i will miss the Websterites as beth and i called them. they are headed off to different places next year. we may, just may be able to connect with them in Nov in Gulf Shores. 

we are essentially moved into the house in Inverness Florida. Feb and March were spent cleaning, fixing, and furnishing the house. still need lots for the house but until i take inventory of the stuff we have in the storage unit we will need to hold off. we have met a few people in our new park.  ray and rita across the road seem very nice. winter in wisonsin is still holding on so hopefully, we will be able to be home by the time the campground opens the last weekend in april. .

our last gathering before some of us moved on. 

laurie was excited to have a cigerette in a bar. florida is a smoking allowed state

tom and todd put together the kitchen island. still need to get chairs for it.

beth and i just thought we would enjoy wine around the island

power washed the house and raked this week. driveway side

side door. we are very close to neighbors on all sides.

 

 march 9 2022

well, it has warmed up considerably. for the last 2 weeks it has been in the 80's. and humid..very humid..

we closed on the house on feb 2 2022. so we have been busy cleaning, fixing and furnishing. nothing came with the place. oh boy that could get expensive. we have to put a shed on the property, (done) and carport ( which sounds very expensive) and a screen room. ( still trying to figure out how that can be accomplished in the least expensive manner.)  friends val and ken from Mason Wi brought their camper down for a week to visit. ken helped tom with a number of  projects while here and we were both very grateful for that. we went on a paddle boat ride in Tavares Fl. with our little group here along with the webster group. jan,phil,jo and dave fun afternoon. feb. went fast and march is going even faster. we all start breaking up next week when jo and dave are the first to leave. we intend to stay till mid april at least staying at the house for a few weeks before heading back to wi. gas prices are going thru the roof in the last few weeks. now paying $5 a gallon for diesel. covid has settled down and people are nearly back to normal, but the world seems as if it going crazy. war in russia and ukraine, still shortages in the stores. help wanted signs everywhere and price on everything skyrocketing. tom has been fishing with new friend keith a few times but the fish have not been biting much. 

new shed at house

spare bedroom is almost complete

well, tom can now cook with the new set of pots and pans

ken and tom put it together but val and i enjoyed  wine by the fireplace!

ken cooked walleye for the whole gang here at Lake Pan, delicious!

cheers to kevin on his birthday

wine tasting goes well here at the park

two of my besties. laurie and beth

new shutters installed at house by great friend Chad Crotteau

the other bed

flowers in front of house where beautiful while they lasted

paddle boat ride

jan and laurie

paddle boat ride at sunsetguy

guys at one table gals at another. love the way that works!

tom, phil, dave and todd

new big sky owner pete kasinskas sent us a shirt, hat and new garlic flavor

new recliner (free) installed at house

laurie checking out furniture while helping me spend money

free hutches!

chad, becky tom and i out for lunch, chads the blinds installer. 

hail hail the gang is all together and we got a picture for once. tom, roxi, phil, jo, dave , jan, beth, laurie and todd. Boo didnt want to smile for the pic

my one tomato from a 4 month growing process. worth it!

our welcome committee at the new house

a nice sunset in the park on evening

it did get cold. frost on truck 2 nights in a row, buurr