Okay, we drove on down to Sarasota, Florida.

This is the place to be, yes we are staying at the Hampton Inn.(Hilton) I can tell you this, wow what a room. This is a suite. yes we have a beautiful room on the third floor.  

Now this is a room, and it is FREE. for three nights. Then we will see what happens? 

Okay this being our first night here, we took a drive to Siesta Key.  

We were checking out different places to eat. As the evening was coming fast. We need to get something to eat.  

So we stayed here. We were siting down on the left hand side of this picture. After ordering our food the rains came down, big time.So if you look to the right hand side of the picture, there is a table there. that Jeanne saw and we ran to it. 

I am not sure who ordered this, but it sure was good tasting and very enjoyable. I think I know who ordered it, yes my babay. She is always looking for some thing new to eat. This was shrimp and a special sauce. It was sure good tasting. 

The rain stopped and we took a little more of a walk. 

Found this place, Rome Organic Gelato. So I got cameral, not sure what my little girl got. But I have to admit,  it was rick and creamy. Very good. 

This places rocks too. I think it is around 9pm or so? 

We we left there and got back to our room and slept very well. Jeanne has a class the next morning and I dropped her off at the Keizer Collage. From there I started north to go see my cousin Greg, again. He  is up in Largo. Only problem there is I have to drive over the Skyline Bridge. 

It is a very high bridge above the Tampa Bay. The only is I don't like heights. I drove over this bridge many years ago. Oh I did drive over this at night the last time. so it really didn't worry me at all. 

But the only other time I drove over it was after the bridge was hit with a barge and it cause the bridge to collapse. I just looked it up the date was May9th 1980. I know it was many years after that, I drove over it. Maybe around 1987 or so. All I remember is I was sacred. Never wanted to drive over it again. 

But you will hear and see what happens in the next couple of days. As i try to get caught up on my blog. As we are driving up north to Savannah Georgia. Which we are here now.  

I pray that everyone out there is enjoying some of the freedoms we are now free to do. 

HEY WE ALL NEED TO CELEBRATE OUR FREEDOMS. 4TH OF JULY IS THIS WEEK-END. 

MAY HE BLESS YOUR TIME, WITH FAMLIY AND FRIENDS. 

 

We spent a night in Lakeland Florida.

As we were driving around. I thought let us go see where I use to live. yes when I first moved to Florida, I stayed at Greg and Alice's home in Davenport, Florida. Then bought a brand new double wide mobile home. So this is park I moved into. Sundance Village. 

But the funny thing is, this is NOT the home I put here. I bought a double wide, blue and white. I even put a gutters all the way around it. The only reason I know this is my lot, #84. Remember buying it and putting it here. So I would never forget the year I moved here. 

Oh well it has been 37 years. REALLY CRAZY 37 YEARS. WOW. Things, I guess need to be changed out. Maybe my place wasted away? Hey I remember only paying $15,000. for it back then. It was brand new and I thought I was living like a king, back then. 

Okay enough on the pass. Jeanne and I are staying in Sarasota, Florida, now. Staying at the Hampton Inn. It really is a nice room. They are doing remodels thru the whole hotel. Each floor is getting redone. 

It will look great afterwards. 

So as we have been here since the 22nd. It has been a wonderful time. 

I will be sharing all the neat things we have done, later on. But for today it is our last one. Going out to the pool and eating our breakfast and start packing our clothes up and ready to start driving north. 

 

Okay I need to back up a little. On Friday the 18th of June.

Jeanne has known Jim and Julie for over 5 or more years. So Julie and her have been talking about meeting and enjoying some good food, together. So that day came and we drove south to Port Salerno, Stuart, Florida.

We meet at the Manatee Island. We actually have meet here before about two years ago. So this is like half way between West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce. 

Okay after enjoying some great food. We got some Double Chocolate Cake, (dessert)

That is what is in the above picture. 

While we are sitting there eating, we see some folks riding around on this small pontoon boats.

Found out down a little ways, they rent those small pontoon boats. 

So as we were walking out, I just took a picture of what was around us inside. 

This is Jim, Julie and my baby and guess who, ME!!!!

As we said our good byes. I talked to Jeanne about, let us walk around a little and see what is here. 

As we just enjoying our surrounding. 

We stopped and got some ice cream and just had a nice walk around this area. 

This is where we enter to see the things in the pictures before.

Okay now we are some what up dated. 

Today is the 25th of June and this is Jeanne last day at Kiser University, for her classes on Culinary.

As the day is winding down, around 2pm she is done there. 

So I guess our vacation starts then? 

We are staying here for a couple more days. We hope to do some site seeing. 

Prayerful our time will be blessed. 

 

Auction Day is here, June 19th

These people looked at everything. 

This was the sign in table for the auction.

Wow this street is a parking lot. 

Called everyone to the back yard an let. Let us start our auction. 

This is Mr. Marshal. He is the guy that we used about year ago. Which we walked away with the funds she was looking for back then. So why not use the same guy? 

 

The women that is in the middle She is the one in the blue top. As they started up it went very smooth. 

At the end my little girl was very happy for what she got. 

Okay now I still have the shed to get emptied out. 

Okay now as it is Thursday morning, June 24th. My little girl is in school Keiser University down here in Sarasota. 

Jeanne and I drove over here and picked up Bonita (my cousin) in Winter Haven. We got over to Largo and spent the day with my family. Then we had dinner at Miller's Draft House. 

Okay it is I, Jeanne, Greg, Bonita, Debbie (my cousins) and her hubby Jon. .

Then drove back to Winter Haven and dropped my cousin off and stayed at the Sleep Inn Hotel.

Then the on Tuesday we got back to Sarasota. 

So we are here now for a little while and enjoying the time we have had together. 

Our Lord is a big and loving for both of us. 

 

Friday evening at the American Legion Hall of Fort Pierce, Florida.

We drive by here every once and while and see their marquee sign out in front. 

Fish Fry Every Friday Evening at 4:30pm to 7:30pm. 

So Jeanne called and asked if it is open for the public? They sure are, on Friday evenings. 

I got the large fish dinner for $10.00 and Jeanne got large fish and shrimp dinner for $12.00. Hey it tasted pretty good and for $10.00 you can not go wrong. 

While sitting here, the entertainment started up. I think it is a couple. He plays the piano and organ and sang.  She did most of the singing. Hey they played some oldies and Jeanne and I actually got up and danced. SLOWLY. There was a older couple that danced during most of the songs. They really knew what they were doing out there. It is funny, but when I was in Jr. High, I use to go to dance classes. Miss Cooper Dance Class. I went for two years. I knew the Fox Trot, Waltzing, Cha-Cha and others. It sure was fun back then. As we all get older and look back, wishing I kept doing it. Now I have forgotten how to. The funny thing is, last night was Jeanne and mine first dance in public. I am not sure but I was like nervous. 

We both had on flip flops, so fast dancing was not going to happen. But we danced a couple of songs and just held on to each other tightly.  

I didn't realize how blurry this picture really was. But as we first walked in, this place busy. We sat over next to the band stand. Mean while we  ran into Jim and Pat, my old neighbors from Spanish Lakes. 

Got some what up dated on what is going on with their home. They asked Roy and I if we would put in a dish washer and new showers. We told them sorry, a little to big for us to do that kind of work. So they found a plumper and electrician come in and give them a prices. Not sure what happen, but they decided not to put the dish washer in. But they are still getting the showers put in. I guess the one shower they ordered came in and the glass doors were broken. Now they have to wait another couple of week for that to come in. They started this job 4 months ago. 

While we were getting ready to leave. I asked the bartender, where is the BINGO being played The reason is, on their schedule shows Bingo at 630pm.  In the area we were in, just dancing was going on.  She told us the Bingo was in the back room. We walked back there and Jeanne asked a couple of question about the rules and how much it cost. $1.00 a playing card. Hey about two years ago, Jeanne and I went and played Bingo at this brewer in St Lucie. It was fun, so I guess we will be back to play, one of these days.  

Over all it really was a lovely evening with my beautiful bride. 

Well ,today folks is the big auction on the other house. Prayerfully all is going well and He has picked out the person or persons that will buy it. 

We are trusting in Him and knowing that, half the battle is won.  

 

Do you know how many people it takes to move this safe?

Well as we are moving everything out of the house, that is getting auctioned off Saturday morning. 

This is one thing I was not looking forward in moving. But my baby wants it. She shale have it moved. 

Well on Wednesday evening Jake (Jeanne's son) came over and looked at and we moved it from one room to the living room. 

Now this thing weights around 600 pounds +++. So as we moved it on a piece of carpet, it really was some work. But as Jake pulled the carpet I pushed with all my might. But as we talked about it, thinking okay we get it out the door, then what? I was thinking dropping it into the back of my truck. Then what? Oh it is raining outside as we talked some more. Jeanne spoke up and said how about renting a lift gate truck? Okay that sound s good. But Jake will be out of town during the rest of this week. 

Okay we left it there and we will find out who can help us. 

Jeanne made a couple of phone calls. Calling Pastor Craig (Crossing Church) if he knew how we can get this done? 

He called back and said we can use the lift gate truck from the Thrift Store. Plus he will bring a couple of guys. GREAT NEWS. 

Okay we did have a couple of items to give to the thrift store anyway. So yesterday afternoon, John showed up with the truck. We loaded up another gun cabinet. Plus a small storage closet. Around 1 pm Troy came by. We took down the big screen TV. Gave that to the thrift shop. Plus a couple of carpets. 

Okay now we loaded up everything for the thrift shop. 

Now we need to load up our stuff. 

A kitchen table, Gazebo (new, in box), Jeanne's cook sheet machine, a piece of granite ( counter top) Plus a couple small items. NOW the safe. We dropped it down on a  4 wheel dolly. Pushed it towards the doorway. NOW what? They had a piece of plywood in the truck and we made up a ramp to go out of the doorway. It worked some what. It came off of the dolly. Okay Craig showed up now and we manhandled it to the lift gate of the thrift truck. Used two dolly now to get it on the lift gate. Raised it up and pushed it into the truck. Okay that was fun??? NOT??? 

Now we got to our house, that is where we live. Had some trouble getting the lift gate to pull out from under the truck. But after a few minuets they got it out. 

NOW LET US MOVE THE SAFE???

Got it on the lift gate. Let is down, slowly. It wanted to roll off a couple of times. 

On the ground and now what? Got the 4 wheel dolly under it, some what? Started rolling it to the front door. It came off again. Mean while my little girl is not to happy about the scratching the gun (safe). 

I am very sorry that it happens, but I believe we will get it in and we can touch it up. 

After a couple of tries we got it into the house. Now have to get it into the bedroom (office) 

It is in there laying down on it back. Now we need to pick it up and stand it in the corner. 

After a few tries we got it in place. We are so grateful that it is here and looking forward in taking these guys an their wives out to dinner after our time away. 

We unloaded all the rest of the goods .We were so happy to say 

THANK YOU THE CROSSING TEAM. 

 

Have a couple of repairs.

Well folks this house is being auction off this coming Saturday. So as I pressure wash it and getting  it looking good. I see there are some screens missing under the soffit. I drove over to Home Depot and looked for 4" vents. They had 3" and 1" but no 4" 

I went on line and found these at the Maurice Franklin Louver. 

So I bought 15 pieces. They were $3.00 each. But worth the money. Wanting the house to look it best an get the top dollar.

Looking great. They just pushed into place. And stayed. 

This is the shed in the back yard. Really was dirty. 

This is the plastic fence along side where we use to store the boat. This way the neighbors would not have anything to say. 

Over all I am very happy how nice it all turned out. 

Over the outside is some what ready for the sale. But there is still some stuff in the house that I need to move out. 

As it is Thursday, only have a couple of days left. 

I know by God's grace all is going to be okay.