VISIT WITH KEN’S DAUGHTER, TRACY

Ken’s daughter, Tracy, lives in Lake Mary, about 45 miles from our TT Orlando campground. We drove over to visit with her for Ken’s birthday on Monday. Tracy prepared a delicious Spinach Feta Cheese Omelet for Brunch. She’s a really good cook!! Uummm!!

After eating and playing with Tracy’s cats

We drove to the Big Tree Park and saw The Senator, one of the oldest and largest Cypress trees in America.

Then Tracy took us to one of the golf courses where she works part-time. We took our pictures in front of their Christmas tree. We were larger than the tree!!

A couple of years ago when we were at TT Orlando, we got Tracy to meet us at Winter Garden to take the bike trail. We carried our bikes and rented one for her. It was only a five-mile trail, but it was quite enough for us!! Shortly after that, Tracy bought herself a bike and has been biking ever since.

She told us that she had biked 20 miles the other day. Way to go, Girl!!

PICKLEBALL HAPPY HOUR AT TT ORLANDO

Diane is a relatively new Pickleball player [Summer 2009] but she is already known as the Queen of Happy Hours!! She is always ready to host a Happy Hour or meal of some kind.

So - Diane and Jack invited all the Pickleball players to their site for a happy hour and conversation. About fifteen of us were there, enjoying good nibbles and good company. A great time was has by all.

Thanks Diane and Jack!!

GOOGLE INFORMATION NUMBER (CORRECTION)!!

CORRECTED PHONE NUMBER!

Just in case you don’t already know. Google Information Number is the greatest! Just dial 800-466-4411. The automated operator will ask you for the name of the business and city and state. Then they offer to connect you or you may ask for details. Details give you the address and the phone number of the business. No Charge!!

We have used it to contact Pizza Hut in various towns, Wal-Mart pharmacies, etc. etc. And we used it today to contact Oakwood Smokehouse & Grill.

Maybe you’d like to give it a try.

OUT FOR RIBS BECAUSE OF A COINCIDENCE

We moved this morning from TT Peace River to TT Orlando. We choose a site across from the Pickleball courts where a number of players were playing when we arrived. We recognized a number of them and they recognized us and waved.

After we settled in, Ken and I were talking about the Oakwood Smokehouse & Grill up in Clermont. We know that on certain days they serve a full rack of ribs for a special price. Ken said it was on Wednesday. But, I was not certain. So I used my Google Information Number to call Oakwood. The special is Sunday – Wednesday, all day, a full rack for $11.95. Today is Wednesday! We debated about going – we would really rather not go alone, but it was a little too late to invite anyone to join us.

We decided to go over to say HI to Dee and Rich who were parked nearby. When we opened the door, there they stood!! After chatting for awhile, they mentioned they were going out to that rib place for dinner. Hey! We were talking about going there ourselves!! May we join you?? And, so we all went to Oakwood!!


People who were at TT Chesapeake Bay for the Labor Day Pickleball Tournament will remember Dee as the Winner of the Women’s Tournament. They will remember Rich by his alias Peg because we had so many Riches. Others of you may also know Dee and Rich as really good Pickleball players!! And a lot of fun!!

Our waitress, Karen. She was really cute and cut up a lot with us! Wants us to come back!!

Ribs and sides were great. Dee’s shrimp were so-so!! We’ll certainly go again and stick to the ribs.

SALLY'S PICKLEBALL PARTY AND HAPPY HOUR

What FUN we had this afternoon!!

Sally is at it again. This time she planned a Pickleball social at Torrey Oaks followed by a Happy Hour!! She invited the Pickleball players from TT Peace River to come on over!!

There were some great matches, and some not so great! But who cares!! The weather was perfect for an afternoon of fun and everybody had a great time!!

SOME OF THE PLAY

Krystal & Woody; John & Tracy; Stan & Doug; Austin & Rich (Torrey Oaks)

Austin & Rich again; Sally & Rich; Tracy & Donna; Buddy & Ken

AT THE END OF PLAY!

Rich, Austin, Woody, Nate; Diane, Buddy, Donna, Ken; Stan, Dottie, John, Doug.

CANDID CAMERA!! SOME OF THE COUPLES!

Larry & Dottie; Nate & Krystal; Karen & Doug; Shirley & Neal; Pat & Woody; Tracy & John; Garret & Jean (Jean is teaching Pickleball at Torrey Oaks this year).

Thanks, Sally! Let's do it again soon -- before the Torrey Oaks people get here for the winter!!

BUTTERFLIES

During the Pickleball social, Krystal told me that her son, Austin, thought I was really cool to have gotten a tattoo!! She said he wanted to see it.

Me showing Austin the butterfly tattoo!

Later, when a group of us was talking, Austin revealed his paranoia about butterflies. Strange as it seems, Austin is afraid of butterflies!!! (Except, of course, my butterfly tattoo.)

LASAGNA DINNER AT TORREY OAKS

Torrey Oaks is a very nice RV resort only about 12-15 miles north of our campground at TT Peace River in Wauchula, FL. We plan to rent a site there for the month of January. Friends Sally and Stan are renting a site for December and January. We all drove over there a few days ago to take a look around, talked to Pete the manager, rented a golf cart for January, etc. We noticed a sign-up sheet for their Lasagna Dinner on Friday night so we signed up.

The dinner was very good and plenty of it. Torrey Oaks provided the Lasagna and everyone brought a side dish to share. There were lots of salads, breads, and desserts!! My spinach salad was all eaten; Sally’s Bread and Bruschetta was all eaten; too. Jean (at our table) said the Lasagna was frozen, not made from scratch the way the chefs did it last year. Still, I thought mine was very good!! My favorite dessert was a wonderful pineapple upside down cake; Ken’s favorite was the monkey bread!


I took these pictures to send to friends Cis and Joe who own sites at Torrey Oaks. Then I thought, What the Heck, I'll put them in the Blog!!

Stan and Sally. I thought Sally was getting ready to take some pills (that's how I hold mine), but now I realize she is holding Chex Snacks in her hand!

Faye and Ken.

Our Table – Stan and Sally; Faye and Ken; Garret and Jean; Kathy.
We have known Jean for several years through Pickleball. She is teaching Pickleball at Torrey Oaks again this year. Kathy is an owner at the resort (we did not know her).

Pete the manager. He welcomed us to the resort.

Here I am enjoying every Mad Housewife's wine of choice. I found it at the Walgreen Winery!! HA HA They will probably never let me back into Torrey Oaks RV Resort!!! (Click on the picture to enlarge to read the label!)

DOWN BY THE PEACE RIVER

This afternoon Ken and I took a stroll down by the Peace River that runs through the Peace River Preserve. We went looking to see if we could find alligators!! We were in luck!! But we could barely see him!! You’ll have a hard time, too!! He’s a little to the right of the stick sticking up in the water. Hope we have better luck next time.

And, we found a big turtle across the river sunning himself on a fallen log.

But, most exciting was the hawk we saw sitting on a dead limb of a tree!! Ken loves hawks and can spot one a mile away!!

On our walk we happened to meet Clyde, 83 years old, taking pictures of the little butterflies, birds, and whatever else he could see. He had a beautiful camera and we thought Mark should get with him to compare notes on photography. We chatted with Clyde for awhile. He said he was baptized yesterday in the Peace River, right near where we stood. He said he lives in a condo where he can take pictures of birds and even some deer just outside his window. We told him where he could find our hawk. Hope he got a better picture than we did!!

Looks like Ken and Clyde arehaving a grand ole time!! Actually, he's trying to explain to Clyde that I wanted to take his picture. I wanted to put him on our Blog!!!

GROUP OUTTING AT CHINA BUFFET, WAUCHULA

Pickleball friends Donna and Rich had a craving for Chinese food. They invited us to join them at the China Buffet in the little town of Wauchula, about 2 1/2 miles from Peace River campground. When we were here last year, we partook of the Buffet quite often, so we were ready to go again. We were not disappointed!!

Ken slurping his Lo Mein. HA HA By the way – the window was down in the car on the way over. That’s why my great hair-do!! HA HA

Sally and Stan drove us to the Buffet.

Gena and Bruce joined us, too.


Donna and Rich – It was their great idea to meet at the China Buffet!!

Thanks Donna and Rich!!!

UNEXPECTED HITCHIKER!!

We saw this little guy clinging to Stan’s windshield wiper as we drove to the China Buffet. He hung on for quite a while before he went flying off. Must have been quite an experience for him!!

SHARING DINNERS WITH SALLY AND STAN

Sunday evening we enjoyed grilled chicken dinner at Sally and Stan at their place. Today, we had Sally and Stan over for grilled pork chop dinner at our place. What Fun!!

Stan acting like a squirrel after an ear of corn!! Sally being her nice self!!

Everyone enjoying dinner. (I'm behind the camera.)

PICKLE PINNING CEREMONY AT PEACE RIVER

Today we had a Pickle Pinning Ceremony for those players who had not been pinned in a ceremony before. Faye conducted the ceremony and presented pins to Travis, Doug, and Karen. With paddles over their hearts, they pledged to play and promote the game of Pickleball at every opportunity.




Congratulations to each of you. Wear your pins proudly!!!

PICKLEBALL POST-THANKSGIVING DINNER

Diane and Jack, relatively new at Pickleball, had a great idea for their new Pickleball friends. Since almost everyone had personal plans for Thanksgiving Day, why not have a post-Thanksgiving dinner for all the Pickleball players who are at Peace River campground. We all agreed! We’d be there!! Never turn down an opportunity to eat!!!

And so, on Saturday afternoon, Diane prepared a big turkey for us, and everyone brought a dish to share. I guess we had about 35 players, all enjoying Thanksgiving dinner together.

Here’s the crowd!

Every one cheered Diane for a great job of coming up with the idea, planning and organizing the event, and carrying it out!!!

John presented her with a gift!!

J

A really neat Dolphin hard hat!!

Diane loved it!!! Just what she always wanted.

But we're not finished yet!! It was also Travis' birthday!! We won't ask him which one. Charlotte and John presented Travis with a handmade bike seat cover! He loved that, too!!!

I'm certain a wonderful time was had by all!! Thanks, Diane and Jack!!

CHARLOTTE'S CREATIONS

Pickleball friend, Charlotte, has talents beyond the Pickleball court!! She is an expert at crocheting!!! Here is her latest design and creation.


A beautiful throw dedicated to Pickleball in Orlando, Florida.

Charlotte spends most of the winter months at the Thousand Trails Orlando Resort where she will be playing Pickleball and chrocheting. She told me she does do crochet projects for others and does take orders. Contact her by E-Mail: cjgonet@yahoo.com..

DETOUR TO FORT LAUDERDALE

I had an eye doctor’s appointment at Bascom-Palmer Eye Institute in Miami on Tuesday morning (11/24) to check the pressure in my eye and also to sort of get a second opinion as to the condition of my eye. We also planned to go to Ken’s daughter, Vickie and Steve’s in Pembroke Pines for Thanksgiving. Normally, we would have driven the car down and stayed at Vickie’s, but since it would involve four nights away from the RV, we decided to drive it down and stay in a Passport America RV Resort in Fort Lauderdale – Paradise Island. It was “An Oasis in the Heart of Fort Lauderdale”.

Good news, the pressure in my eye was good – that’s always a relief. The doctor changed my eye drops so that my eye is more comfortable, and I follow up with him again in early February.

We were just 15 minutes from Lauderdale’s beaches. We drove over Tuesday afternoon for about 30 minutes, thinking we would return the next day. But, it rained all day Wednesday!! We did get a few pictures.

And, we were only 20 miles (mostly highway) from Vickie. We all went out to P. F. Chang for dinner on Tuesday evening. We all had a wonderful dinner with their usual great service.

Then, of course, we had Thanksgiving dinner with them. Vickie and Steve prepared turkey and trimmings. Ken baked his specialties – pumpkin and minced meat pies. UUUMMMMMM Wonderful dinner.

Vickie and Ken’s son, Rich in Chula Vista, CA both have Skipe for talking with each other and seeing each other live at the same time using the computer. We used it ourselves to talk with Richard and his family and wish them Happy Thanksgiving. It was the neatest thing, that we could see Richard talking with us all the way from California. That was such fun!!

Thanks, Vickie, for a great Thanksgiving.