We have been here at Polk City since Sunday. We are camped beside a nice lake and here are a few scenes from our window. The bird is a Sand Hill crane.

My favorite TV show is CSI. This morning we had our own CSI, right here on the banks of the lake. About 2 AM there was a shooting/murder and the suspect fled and there was a car chase which ended on the other side of this lake. Wilbur got up at 6:30 and heard about this on the news so he looked outside and there was a regular crime unit right here in front of our row of motor homes. It gave you the hebe jebies. The police gave pursuit and shot the criminal and killed him and then they had a body in the lake. They used air boats and divers and helicopters to search for that body. I have included a few pictures of the action. The police put the air boats in to the lake right here in front of us. ----Yes, we feel safe.
We went to an RV show about 9:30 (after all was back to normal here). We spent the rest of the day just walking and looking at RV stuff.

Last week we went to Anna Marie Island with Phil and Dorothy Marner. It was a beautiful drive and we stopped at the Beach House to eat, it used to be named Harbor House, when our parents lived in Sarasota. I bought a sign that says " I'm Feelin Beachy".
We spent Thursday and Friday at the RV shop in Ft. Myers for a few repairs. On Friday night we went to cousin Steves ad they had a few of the relatives. Good evening.
On Saturday we went with Stan and Diane to a Native American Festival in Sarasota. My back and legs got quite tired but we both enjoyed the festival greatly. Stan's neighbor, a native American helped set up the festival. He is a very good artist of the Navajo tribe.
We left Sarasota on Sunday, Feb. 1st. We were all settled in our new spot long before the Super Bowl came on. It has been raining today but the groundhog did see his shadow for a short time.

We went to Myaka State Park with Alvin and Doris last week and here are a few pictures from there.We went on an air boat ride. We stopped at Linger Lodge for lunch/Dinner. We had alligator bites for appetizers. Their motto is to linger a while, very laid back but there were a few too many stuffed snakes on the wall for me.

Well, our patience has been tested. We arrived at the RV dealership (where we purchased 4.5 years ago) on Thursday morning, we pulled in at 7:30 AM.  We sat in line for over 6 hours before they even looked at anything.  We did have an appointment!  They did not get done, of course, so we stayed overnight here in Ft. Myers at the RV dealership.  Thrill.  We sat in line again today.  We got into line at 7:00 AM and it is now its 11:30 and we are still waiting.  No, we did not need any major  work done, just a routine check.  The only thing that we really wanted was the steering checked because it was a little loose. They are doing that today. 

We are having some rain showers, the first for the month.  I guess, we can say- what better place to be?  I have been cutting out quilt fabric, I have Zach's all cut out and ready to sew---sometime.  I started cutting out the Gracie fabric for guess who, today. Some year in the distant future, all the grandkids will get a fun quilt for Christmas or birthday!.  We do have to stay home if I am going to get them pieced!  I don't always take my sewing machine along on the road. 

Thanks for your comments.

We have only a few days in Sarasota before we head for the Orlando area.  

We are having a good time. Today we went with Phil and Dorothy Marner to Santa Marie Island and we ate in a resturant on the beach. The same resturant that we used to go to with both Wilbur's parents and my parents - that was a number of years ago. We had a nice walk on the pier on the island.
Tonight Wilbur is playing Sudoko while I update this Blog. Hope you all enjoy our news. Let us know on the comments. Tomorrow morning we will go to Troyers for the Iowa Breakfast. There will be at least 30 and maybe 40 people. If you have an Iowa connection- your in!!!!
We are going to Myaka State Park after the breakfast. On Thursday we will be going to Ft. Myers to have some RV work done. Then on Sunday we will pull out of Sarasota and head for the Orlando area for the month of Feb. We will leave early enough so we can get the (TV) all settled and tuned in before the Super Bowl comes on. We will be less than 100 miles away from the Super Bowl. That is close enough-me thinks!!! Wish you could join us.






Some of the sights we have been seeing on the rivers and beaches. Today the weather was finally like we expected Florida to be. We did not need coats or sweaters.
Saturday we went with Alvin and Doris to Casey Keys, etc and here we are shelling. We found a lot of Sea Urchins.
The Beachy cousins that are in Sarasota go together and played Five Crowns. Back row are brothers Menno and John Henry Beachy and in the front row is yours truly and Doris Marner.

Cold, Cold and more Cold

It cannot warm up here in Florida. This is where we are staying. It is a really nice place and we are enjoying it here. Today we saw some wild Parakeets in our park, as you can see from the pictures. We are right beside a lake and there are a lot of water birds in the area.

We are wearing jackets and sweaters, during the day and evening. I took the picture of Wilbur beside the swimming pool, "a very nice quiet pool", to give you a idea of how warm we have been dressing.

The Fruit at the right are lemons from my cousins tree. Yum Yum

The beach picture is from Siesta Key from cousin Ervin and Erma's balcony. It was very windy but still pretty.

We finally left home on the 11th, with snow falling. We had a wonderful sendoff by our family. Our oldest and husband hosted a breakfast of great food for us and all our kids before we left.
We have been in Sarasota since Wednesday the 14th. There has been a real cold spell (the locals say it rare) but its warm compared to the the -22 that we missed at home. It warms up during the day but its jacket weather at night.
Tonight we are going to be with our Slabach cousins. There will 18 plus, some of them live here, but most are vacationing. We will be from Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa and Florida.
We spent yesterday with Stan and Diane, Wilbur's brother. It was good to get reaquainted again. It has been several years since we have seen each other. We enjoyed seafood at noon and we had pizza at our "house" in the evening.
We have been enjoying fresh strawberries, oranges and lemons.
The internet is so slow this morning and I am having trouble adding pictures. But I will post some soon to show some local sites.