You don't look a day over "fast cars" and freedom....

Early this morning we picked up Doug and Darlene (Rowe) and headed for Leesburg and the weekly Saturday market in the square. We took a stroll up and down the village streets looking at the many scarecrows/mannequins.....There were so many good ones but I only included some of my favorites.

This one was "The Little Old Lady who was not afraid of anything".....one of the elementary school classes.....


This was the contribution of the Eustis Garden Club.......

The "Headless Horseman".....

My very favorite was created by the local fire department......

Always one of my stops, as Emma still loves her American Girl dolls. This year we bought a new dress for "Bitty Baby" to wear home from the "Doll Hospital". She has to be shipped there to fix her broken arm!!

They have music in the square every Saturday.....today it was the "Alabama Cowboy"......


Lots of stands.....

Our first lunch at Cracker Barrel.....I am sure there will be many more when Gene and Terry return. Their cars automatically turn into a Cracker Barrel parking lot!!!

We came home for a few hours; did some laundry, cooked dinner and headed for Eustis. Before we did the Car Cruise-in, we did the nature walk along the lake. No alligator sightings today but we did capture a shot of this Egret......The weather was perfect with a warm breeze coming off the lake and a beautiful sunset.

We try and do these cruise-ins as often as we can because they always have such neat cars there. I would love to have this "Woody"....

I am not sure what this was....no sign, and the owner wasn't around.

I saw this little kid from a distance and I am thinking...."OH NO...he is going to be in big trouble leaning against that car. Got up close and it was one of those stuffed dolls....


Here was the original car and a pictorial of the progress.....

And the finished product....a beauty!

Now there's a "caddy".....


This is one of Darlene's and my favorite stores....we can't pass it without stopping in. Checkout the cat in the window. He lives in the store and is beyond spoiled. If he's not in the window he is right on the counter by the cash register, just purring away.


The store is huge and the whole thing looks like this......you can't really tell in the picture but everything is SO WELL displayed, and so color coordinated.

And of course our last stop is always Strawberries .....I had ONE dip of sugar free, low fat Butter Pecan and it was amazingly good. You would never suspect it was "legal"......

Tomorrow we are off to our new found "tiny" Methodist Church and then off to Daytona Beach for sun and sand!!!

I get by with a little help from my friends.....

Friday morning bowling is back.....Was it really that bad Sandy?

Merle shows us how it's done!

Lunch with Terry and Susie at the Mt Dora Diner and Friday night BINGO. Fridays are always busy/fun days!!

We were young scholars, eating spiedies and hoagies....now we are back, a bunch of old fogies....

Here I am playing catch up once again!!! The problem is the weather is so darn nice we stay outside either visiting or walking/biking and by time I get in I am ready for a shower and bed. Then we are up early and on the go again......

I really need to get caught up and stay on the ball, since the social life really starts moving this week.

Salt and I are officially FL residents now.....YEAH, no more NY state income tax!!! We still have a few things to take care of , but we are almost there. First order of business was driver's licenses and anyone from NY would be amazed at how organized and FRIENDLY the workers in this office were!!!! Had our 2nd annual spiedie roast....Pearl, Buck, Pat, Manney, Doug & Darlene. Lots of laughs and good food with great friends!!

Take me in pretty woman...take me in cried the snake...

OK.....so I am always saying "Emma is just like her Grandma"....well NOT this time. I have never and would never pick up a snake. You have to love the shirt with "Princess" on the front and her holding the snake!! Betty said she was afraid at first and then decided she would not be outdone by a 5 year old boy who gave it to her!

She went for her first couple of orthodontist appointments and is going to have to wear braces for 4-5 years....That darn thumb!!

Pop has been busy putting up Halloween decorations!!

We were in Teddy Roosevelt National Park (out in the "Badlands" in North Dakota) where we met a couple who live just a few miles from us here in FL....small world. I mentioned I wanted to attend a service at this little church which is just a few miles from us. Come to find out she sings in the choir here. Salt and I are planning on going to the 9:15 service this weekend. It reminds me so much of the church on Grindstone.

Today was our first day back to bowling....we had lunch and bowled three games. I bowled way above my average, which is a surprise as I have not had a bowling ball in my hand since last March.

Mikey Sullivan meets the curse of Kitty's camera....

And notice Darlene pointing to Doug's chair, as he was trying to escape the same curse!!! Love you guys!!

Having our first dinner party tomorrow night. Waiting patiently for the rest of our friends to arrive!!

Here comes the sun...here comes the sun...and I say it's alright!!

Since we have been doing LOTS of work, settling in, there hasn't been too much playing. Salt has all the planting done and the inside is clean (including the blinds....which I hate cleaning) and organized. I will post pics of the landscaping next post. It's so nice to have all these flowers and not have to worry about deer eating them!!!

We did get to dinner at Doug and Darlene's who are now settled in their new home here in the resort. Darlene made a great homemade lasagna...was so much laughing and catching up on their travels last summer.

Our patio is finished....new furniture, rug, plants and ready for dinner.....

Did the first farmer's market this morning and forgot how many vegetables and fruit one can get for $6.00!!! Sure missed that up North!

Tomorrow we are going to a lunch and bowl....can't wait to see a lot of our bowling crew!! Neither Salt nor I have had a bowling ball in our hand since March so it should be interesting!!

Off for a long bike ride!!! Then home to start fresh tomato/basil pasta sauce which we will have as a side dish Saturday night at the spiedie cookout with Doug, Darlene, Pat, Manny, Pearl and Buck.

Going down to Florida and get some sand in my shoes.....Going down to Florida and lose these New York blues.....

Just a quick update.....We are at our home in Florida. Won't be doing too much blogging for a few days as we are going to get unpacked, the house opened and cleaned and the lawn and flowers put back in shape.

We are happy to be back in the sunshine!!!

I know there's a light at the end of this tunnel.....

OMG.....talk about your day from hell!!! We left New Jersey, with big smiles and great anticipation. We were headed to Myrtle Beach for another "ocean fix". The sun was shining and everything was going well until......We just entered the Chesapeake tunnel when we developed a vapor lock and STALLED. Yep right in the middle of the tunnel. So here we sit with a 37' motor home and a 25' trailer loaded with a car. Talk about scared!!!! We were not sure at the time that it was in fact a vapor lock so you can imagine the visions running through both of our heads ($$$$$$$$).

Fortunately, the authorities are used to this happening and they were there within minutes to help. We had to be towed out; the good news....no charge. The better news, I had my live-in mechanic with me!!! Yeah Salt, saved our butts once again.

Karen wrote and asked me if I took pictures? The answer is NO (and I am bummed that I didn't) but I was on my knees praying!!!

We drove as far as Virginia (just outside Richmond) and after dinner we took a walk and found this"Krispy Kreme" shop so decided to stop for a cup of coffee.. I think that may have been worse than being stuck in the tunnel. They had a assembly line with a window for viewing and they were making fresh hot doughnuts.....The smell was incredible and people sitting around eating them were close to orgasmic!!!

This little girl on the end insisted on telling Salt all she knew about "making doughnuts"....so cute!

And all I got was a coffee and a HAT!!!

We are on the road again......next stop; Myrtle Beach!!!

The wheels forever spinning. The dice are thrown and scatter. The words are all of winning, but only numbers matter.....

The end of our trip through New England....a trip to the largest casino in the world. http://www.foxwoods.com/


One of the gazillion beautiful statues.....this one in the atrium where there is nightly free entertainment.

I actually came out a winner......but then I went back...LOL. There will be no more casinos for me until the cruise. We enjoy a stop once in awhile but I am still amazed how anyone can spend much time in one of these places???????

Be true to your school, like you would be to your girl or your guy....Be true to your school and let your colors fly!!

Janna and a friend getting ready for the homecoming dance....

This is why I love these kids.....aside from being good students, they know how to have fun.

And Paul, I must say that anyone who is a senior boy and dares to wear a kilt to school, is surely full of self confidence!! Good for you!!! Spirit week, 2009. Oh yeah, that's Janna behind the face make-up!!

Here is the volleyball team in their pink breast cancer awareness day!

Janna looks a little surprised that you would wear that!!!

I miss you kids!!!!!

Hey ramblin boy, now you can settle down...Boston aint your kind of town....

Here I am playing catch up once again. We have been SO busy that by time we get home in the evenings, we shower and fall into bed.

Today we did Boston....I love that city; there is SO much history here. I knew Salt would NOT like driving in the Boston traffic, so we opted to take the train in from Newburyport. When we arrived in Boston we hopped aboard the city trolley, which enabled us to hop on and off at different stops.


This was one of our drivers....quite a comedian as well as a articulate, knowledgeable tour guide.

Can't do Boston without a stop at the USS Constitution.....

We thought about taking the famous "duck" tour which of course is the amphibious bus. Opted instead for the trolley we could hop on and off.

In the water ....and up to the street....

Of course a visit to "Cheers".....disappointed that everyone didn't know our name!!

City Hall......

It was the Bruins first game of the season, so we got totally caught up in the Fan party going on....bands, balloons and free t-shirts...what fun!

They really had a party!

Good old Quincy Market.....so much GREAT food!!!

We picked this restaurant for lunch because of the name of course......

and lucked out because it had some of the best chowder in the town!!

I have never seen such huge portions of shrimp and lobster for a reasonable price!!!

and if you like Italian Ice (who doesn't???)....they had more flavors then you could imagine!

We walked down to China Town and ran into all kinds of cute markets.....

These are the gas lights that burn 24/7........

and China Town does have a McDonald's, but check out the lanterns.......

We did the Freedom Walk and hit all the historic spots.....SO much history in this city.....and so well preserved!

Couldn't get a straight answer on why there were all these pennies on Paul Revere's grave. Most believable one was that he forged all the copper latches on the USS Constitution and since it was being restored, they were donations????? There were a lot of pennies but I'm not sure they will pay for it this way!!!!!

Of course, James Otis.....I think Emma may be related!!(known for his great arguments).

We took the harbor tour......

and passed the oldest brick building in the city.......

The beautiful harbor.....

I planned on adding so much more, but since I am so far behind again....it is short but sweet. We did love Boston though!!!