Living Our Dream

Happy Thanksgiving

Bushnell, FL

We try to be thankful to God every day for all the blessings we have, but we also like to try to enumerate some of those blessings on Thanksgiving. This year, we have something very special to be thankful for. In addition to being blessed with good health and with the wherewithal to be able to travel this great country of ours to see many of its wonders, this year we were blessed with the arrival of our granddaughter, Lydia.

Just as Lora and J. Michael were contemplating giving up on the idea of being able to adopt, they received a call from the agency saying a pregnant high-schooler had chosen them to be the adoptive parents of her baby. The birth father, who also had a say in the matter, had independently put them at the top of his list, too. Lydia Grace was born on July 17, and since we were staying in Ohio only about two hours from Pittsburgh, we got to see her in the hospital the day after she was born.

Lydia Grace - one day old

Grand-parenting from a distance is a challenge, which is one reason we decided to replace our motor home with a 5th wheel. We feel 5th wheels are better suited to staying in one place for longer periods, and now that Lora and J. Michael have Lydia, we're likely to spend a good bit of the summer near Pittsburgh so we can be part of Lydia's life. Even though we don't have the new 5th wheel yet, we're looking forward to what we expect will be a more convenient way for us to travel in our new style of staying in one spot for longer periods.

We last saw Lydia when we were in Pittsburgh in September for a visit and for doctor appointments. Lora is very good about sending us pictures of Lydia so we can see how she is growing and developing. In addition to frequent photos of Lydia in everyday situations eating, playing, sleeping, etc., Lora makes a point of taking a number of photos on Lydia's monthly birthday. Shown below are a few of the most recent ones taken at 4 months.

Lydia playing with a toy

A big laugh

We're looking forward to seeing Lydia when we head north for Christmas. It won't be long now.

'Bye for now - see you soon!

The Market of Marion

Bushnell, FL - Events of Monday, November 17 through Sunday, November 23, 2014

Holy cow! The temperature dropped 30º in one day! We had temperatures in the low 80s on Sunday. Then it rained on Monday, the wind started to blow, and we had a high in the 50s on Tuesday. The lows overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday were in the 30s.

It may sound like we're complaining (well, maybe a little), but we can't complain too much because a lot of people had it a LOT worse. Buffalo got up to 6 FEET of snow in one day with 2 to 3 more feet expected over the following couple of days. Yikes!

We stayed inside most of the day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The wind was calm on Thursday; and it finally warmed up to the mid-60s, so we decided to head across the street from Blueberry Hill to have lupper at Coyote Rojo. Our friends, Pat and Mike, had arrived at Blueberry Hill a week or so prior, so they joined us.

Coyote Rojo

Pat, Mike and Paul all had a steak Super Coyote Burrito ($8.95) and Margery had a chicken chimichanga ($8.59). Everything was delish!

Mike, Pat and Margery

On Friday, we had some errands to run up near The Villages, so we left a little early and stopped by the Market of Marion on the way. The Market of Marion is a flea market located in Belleview about 10 minutes north of The Villages. They have a vendor who sells good quality knock-off sunglasses and reading glasses, and Paul needed some new reading glasses because his old ones were scratched. They also usually have nice produce.

The main entrance to the Market of Marion

It was a sunny day, but it was cool in the morning so the market wasn't very crowded when we arrived around 10:00 a.m. as the photo of the main aisle of the flea market below shows.

View down the main aisle - not very crowded

After Paul picked up his new glasses, we walked a couple of the aisles of the flea market then headed for the produce.

Produce aisle - not too crowded there either

We got an eggplant and some asparagus, but were disappointed we couldn't find a nice tomato. All the ones we saw were either pink and didn't look ripe or were hard as a rock and didn't feel ripe.

From the market, we headed to The Villages and made stops at Michael's, JoAnn Fabrics, Sam's Club and Kohl's. We then headed back to the motor home.

Blueberry Hill has "yard sales" periodically throughout the snowbird season, and the first one was scheduled for Saturday. Unfortunately, rain and wind moved back in late Friday night into early Saturday. Since we ordered the new 5th wheel, we have been slowly going through the basement storage of our motor home, and we have found lots of things to sell. A check of the weather radar early on Saturday morning showed there might be a break in the showers for a while, so Paul decided to attempt to set up a table in front of our site and try to sell some of our unwanted items. However, showers kept popping up seemingly out of nowhere. That coupled with the fact a lot of snowbirds haven't arrived yet led to a very poor turnout, so Paul gave up after selling one item and put the rest of our stuff back into the shed to save for next time.

We got a call from Pat and Mike after church on Sunday saying Harlan and Linda, whom we met at Blueberry Hill a couple of years ago, had just pulled into a site near them. We made plans to meet up with the four of them later for lupper.

Even though we had recently had Mexican at Coyote Rojo with Pat and Mike, we all decided we were hungry for Mexican, so this time we went to Pancho's Villa. It was a good opportunity to compare the two restaurants within a short time. We like Coyote Rojo because they have good food, friendly service and they are only 5 minutes from Blueberry Hill. However, we think the food, although slightly more expensive, is more flavorful and more plentiful at Pancho's Villa.

Left to right - Harlan, Linda, Margery, Paul, Mike and Pat

Evereything was delish, and the company was great!

There is a mix of sunny, rainy, warm and cool weather in the forecast, so we don't know how to plan our week. However, with Thanksgiving on the calendar, a big meal is definitely in the works. Stay tuned.

Anna Maria Oyster Bar and Yet Another Project

Bushnell, FL - Events of Thursday, November 13 to Sunday, November 16, 2014

On Thursday, we decided to drive down to the Tampa area to do a little shopping. Since we had gone that far, we thought it was worth driving a little farther after our shopping to get some clams at Anna Maria Oyster Bar near Bradenton. Anna Maria Oyster Bar is our second favorite place to get clams after the Ipswitch Clambake Co. in Ipswitch, MA.

Anna Maria Oyster Bar

Margery had cole slaw and onion straws with her clams, and Paul had slaw and red potatoes. Everything was yummy!

Paul ready to dig into his fried clam strips

It looks like this will be the year of projects at Blueberry Hill. Paul likes to work on improvement projects, so we have come up with a number things we want to do to our site to make it more like home. Once our new 5th wheel arrives, we'll be spending a lot of time "nesting" and getting settled. We also will have a few projects in the new 5th wheel we want to work on before we leave Florida in the spring.

Speaking of our new 5th wheel, we got word assembly will start in early December. We also found out the new truck we ordered to tow the 5th wheel with was built and had been received at Colussy Chevrolet in Pittsburgh.

Our new Silverado fresh off the transporter

Colussy will keep the truck safe for us until we get there at Christmas time to pick it up. It looks like everything is falling into place for us to pick up the 5th wheel right after the first of the year.

With the workbench and the planting of some flowers and a new European fan palm completed, the next project Paul tackled was to put skirting around the bottom of the shed. Some people here at Blueberry Hill used lattice to dress up the bottom of their sheds, some used PVC soffit, and some used PVC mobile home skirting. We like the look of the mobile home skirting best, so Paul picked up the materials earlier in the week at Pat's Sales in nearby Leesburg.

The first step was to nail the backing for the top strip to the shed.

Paul nailing the backing for the top strip

The next step was to install a bottom channel on the ground. Paul used asphalt roofing material under the bottom channel to prevent grass and weeds from growing close to the skirting because weed whacking can chip holes in the PVC. The bottom channel is held down with long, thin, galvanized nails.

Bottom U-channel in place

Step 3 was to cut vertical strips of skirting and fit them all the way around the shed. Corner pieces are scored in the backside with a knife and then bent to 90º. The bottom of the skirting rests in the U-shaped channel on the ground, and the edges interlock with the neighboring pieces.

Closeup of vertical skirting

The final step was to snap on the outer trim strip to cover the tops of the vertical pieces of skirting. The vertical pieces of skirting just float between the top strip and the bottom channel. That way they won't buckle due to temperature changes or due to settling of the shed.

Top cover strip in place

Shed before skirting

Shed with skirting complete

We like the appearance of the skirting because it gives the shed a more finished look. The skirting is vented to allow air to circulate to prevent excessive moisture buildup, and it also helps keep "critters" from taking up residence under the shed.

Paul finished up fitting the final pieces of trim around the step of the shed on Saturday. After church on Sunday, we relaxed and watched the final NASCAR race of the season.

We didn't have any firm plans for the following week, but we probably won't sit still for long. Look for our next post to see what we found to do.

Another Project

Bushnell, FL - Events of Wednesday, November 5 to Sunday, November 9, 2014

Building a workbench was another project Paul wanted to get done fairly early in our stay so it would be available to use should he need it for any future projects. Previously, he would work most of the time on the ground. Paul has good knees, but bending over for long periods is hard on the back.

After picking up materials for the workbench on a previous trip to Home Depot, Paul started the project on Wednesday. In the photo below, Paul clamped pieces of 2x4 together for the legs so he could cut them all at one time to be sure they end up the exact same length.

Paul getting ready to cut the workbench legs

Paul assembled the frame for the top of the workbench upside down on the floor of the shed so the top would be nice and flat. After attaching the legs, he moved outside where there was a little more room and got ready to attach supports for the lower shelf.

Ready to install the supports for the lower shelf

All that remained was to attach the top and fit the lower shelf. The workbench isn't anything fancy, but it's nice and sturdy. It fits in the front corner of the shed so Paul can work inside on cool days over the winter or he can move the workbench outside if it's a warm day. Paul also installed a piece of pegboard for convenient tool storage.

Completed workbench and pegboard

Paul got the workbench completed just in time to get cleaned up and make it to OakWood Grill where we had previously made plans to meet friends of ours from our old church in Pittsburgh who live in The Villages. Since it was Wednesday, the ribs were specially priced at $13.99 for a full rack, so that's what everyone had. Not only were the ribs delicious, but we also had a good time visiting with old friends.

Paul took the Equinox to the local Chevy dealer for an oil change on Thursday morning, and we relaxed a bit in the afternoon. On Friday, we drove to Hobby Lobby in Ocala for some craft supplies for Christmas projects, and we made several additional stops on our way back including one at Kohl's. When we got back after shopping, we placed the Kohl's bag on the bed as we frequently do to put the contents away later.

Freeway always likes to snoop in the bags when we come back from shopping, and this time was no exception in spite of the fact we always warn him to stay out. Margery was working on dinner, and Paul was napping when Freeway suddenly bounded off the bed and came flying to the front of the motor home. It seems he was snooping in the rather large Kohl's bag and got his head stuck in the handle. When he moved, the bag also moved, so he panicked and ran. Of course, the bag followed him. When he got to where we were, he stopped short and looked at us pleadingly as if to say, "I know I was a bad boy, but I need help."

Freeway looking ashamed after snooping in the Kohl's bag and getting stuck

After we untangled Freeway, he was happy to be free; but we doubt if he learned his lesson. We know he will continue to nose around our shopping bags every chance he gets.

We left space in our landscaping to add some flowers for color, and we picked some up on Saturday at Lowe's. We planted pansies by the shed and ornamental kale and snapdragons in the larger space near the palm tree. Those are all fairly cold hardy and should survive when the weather cools off in December and January. The plants don't look like much yet, but we'll have more photos later when they get established and fill out more.

Snapdragons and ornamental kale for added color

Except for planting the flowers and going to church on Sunday, we relaxed the rest of the weekend. Paul had yet another project planned for the following week, so stay tuned.

A Few Projects

Bushnell, FL - Events of Thursday October 30 to Sunday November 2, 2014

After we arrived at Blueberry Hill, it didn't take Paul to get started on a few projects around our site. One of the things we needed was a step into the shed. We could have gotten a ramp delivered with the shed, but it was extra cost. We preferred to have a step as opposed to a ramp anyway because the step takes less space. We also decided Paul could easily build the step himself. After a quick trip to Home Depot on Thursday for some treated lumber and after about two hours work, we had a nice step.

New step for the shed

While Paul was at Home Depot on Thursday to get the wood for the step, he also picked up the some lumber for a shelf inside the shed. The shelf will help make good use of the space above the area where we plan to park our bikes. Paul got to work on the shelf on Friday.

Paul installing vertical supports for the new shelf

Completed shelf with space underneath for bikes

Later on Friday afternoon, we had an errand to run up near The Villages, so we stopped for lupper at OakWood Grill afterward. OakWood Grill is one of our favorite restaurants anywhere because we love their ribs, which are fall-off-the-bone tender, and their delicious smoked meats.

OakWood Grill

Margery had a blackened blue burger with onion rings, and Paul had a smoked turkey lunch plate with slaw and lima beans. Everything was yummy!

Margery with her blackened blue burger

Last spring, we went to a plant sale in Ocala. While there, we found out about another sale held the first weekend in November in Mount Dora located about an hour east of Bushnell. Paul, who was previously an avid gardener, wants to learn more about semi-tropical horticulture. Therefore, since this was the weekend for the sale, we decided to head to Mount Dora on Saturday to check it out.

We learned when we attended similar sales back when we had a stick house you have to arrive early because the best plants frequently sell out within the first hour or so - sometimes within the first few minutes. The downside to arriving early on this day was the sun was barely above the trees making it VERY cool because a cold front had moved through overnight. Mount Dora sits on the eastern shore of Lake Dora, so the wind that accompanied the cold front was VERY strong coming off the lake, and that made it seem even colder...you might even say blustery.

The streets are closed for a block or two in both directions from a main intersection in downtown Mount Dora, and booths are set up in the street and in a large parking lot located at the central intersection. Since we arrived early, there was plenty of free, on-street parking space within a block or two of the sale.

One of the larger booths at the sale

View of several smaller booths

We didn't find any plants at the sale to buy, but we did find a vendor called the Yard Stop that had very reasonable prices and also has a garden center right outside Mount Dora. Because the garden center was so close and since there was a much larger selection available there than at the plant sale, we decided to go to the Yard Stop on our way back to the motor home. After looking around the garden center, we ended up buying a very nice European fan palm to plant in front of our shed. European fan palms are slow growers that only get 7 to 10 feet tall so it should fit in well close to the shed. European fan palms grow with multiple trunks, but they can be pruned to only one or two trunks to keep the plant from getting too wide.

Yalaha Bakery, which is a German bakery that has delicious breads and pastries, is on the route from Mount Dora back to Bushnell, and we succumbed to temptation and stopped to get some pretzel rolls for our lunch. They have plain pretzel rolls and pretzel rolls with swiss cheese baked right into the tops of the rolls. We like the ones with cheese.

Yalaha Bakery

While at the bakery, we were also tempted by all the decadent baked goods in the display case. For dessert that evening, Margery got a Bee Sting, which is yellow cake topped with honey and candied almond slices, and Paul got slice chocolate mousse torte.

Tempting baked goods in the display case

Since it was still too cool and windy to plant the palm when we got back to Blueberry Hill on Saturday, Paul waited until the wind died down on Sunday.

Paul relocating the edging to enlarge the planting bed by the shed

After enlarging the bed, Paul planted and watered the palm. Now all he needs is another bag of mulch to cover the bare soil. Once established, we think the fan palm will be a nice addition to our landscaping.

Fan palm in place

We still have a few more projects to work on, more restaurants to visit and more relaxing to do. Look for our next post to see what was on our schedule.