Unhappy Holloween

Halloween --- my least favorite "holiday".  I don't like to be frightened, don't like people in costumes so I can't tell who they are and other reasons.  Decorating for Fall is fine, just not the Halloween stuff.  It will all be over tomorrow for a year.

The 10 AM coffee crowd is getting bigger, louder.  The office crew decided it is time for us to move to the clubhouse.  Good plan.

Our friends, Mary and Rich, we saw at McDonalds yesterday have now moved behind us.  Small world!

Fall in Florida

Strap and Brush

We went into Bushnell today for breakfast at McDonalds and sitting there were friends that we see in unexpected places.  They are moving into our park today, maybe by us.

Then we went to Walmart.  The strap on my clutch purse broke all the sudden, so I bought a cheap purse with a similar, clip on strap to put on my purse.

Don power washed the trailer as well used a brush.  It was so dirty that he said the front window was fogged over, but just mildew and tree sap.

Nice day, clean house

Another nice day, what have we done right?  It got cool last night but we had our electric blanket to keep up warm.

Cleaned the house, mostly put stuff where it belongs.  I don't know how things move themselves to where I don't want them! 

Waffle House visit

We went to Waffle House for breakfast, good as usual.  It had been since last spring that we had been to a Waffle House.  We picked up a Sunday newspaper and spent the rest of the morning reading.  In the afternoon we tried to hook up our auxiliary speaker for the TV.  Couldn't get it to work.  I did manage to "bluetooth" it to my phone, now I can listen to my music on a nice speaker!

It is a beautiful day, cool and dry.  We got could during the night so we got our electric blanket ready to use.  Hate to heat up the whole house when we end up opening up the windows.

We grilled steak for dinner.  Talked to our daughters later.

Donuts and Chinese dinner

Nice day today, cool and low humidity.  We went to Dunkin Donuts this morning for coffee and a donut.  Then we did stuff around the place.

We picked up some Chinese food for dinner.  It really cooled down in the evening!

Humidity, shrimp and shopping

It started raining during the night and has been raining on and off.  We just stayed in the trailer and got some things done.  It didn't cool off last night, AC ran some, but then that was good to get the humidity down inside.

Later we went into Bushnell for dinner at Beef  O'Bradys, had their Friday special Surf and Turf - steak and shrimp.  Then we went to Walmart again, Winn Dixie and Tractor Supply.

Hot Florida day

I thought we had enough groceries but decided today to go to Brooksville Panera for breakfast bagels and to ALDI for a "few" groceries.  Ended up with about $50 worth of groceries and then we went to Walmart for a couple items, $40.  We should have enough groceries forever!

It was by then noon time by then and so we stopped at McDonalds to get bugers to bring home.  Grilled pork chops for dinner.

Hot and humid today, a good day for the AC!

Bug Juice

For the first time this season we went to 10 AM coffee.  It is currently in the campground office, until more people arrive.  That way they don't have to cool both areas.  Some friends just came in today and no doubt more each day now.

In the afternoon Don washed the car.  The front window was about covered with bug juice.  It was a hot old day, Florida Style.

Into Bushnell

Another trip to Walmart today.  Hopefully, now we have all the groceries we will need  for awhile.  First we went to McDonald's for breakfast of egg McMuffin.

Don did some work outside and I nursed a sore leg.  We grilled brats for dinner.

Settling in

We cleaned inside, getting the last of the dead bugs - I hope.  Also washed clothes, a weeks worth and got them put away.  The place looks nice and feels like home now.

We had to laugh.  We have such a challenge getting our newspaper delivered in up north but here in Florida we looked outside this morning and there was our paper.  No calls, etc.  The delivery person must have just seen our car and left a paper!

My dad and brother built this band shell in Belle Fourche, SD, in about 1958, saw the picture on Facebook!
(I scared them by climbing up a ladder to the roof in order to talk with them, I was about 12 years old)

Where should I put this?

Our trailer looked like a hurricane hit inside.  Don brought in the rest of the stuff from the car and I went to work putting things away.  Later Don sanitized our water system (after sitting for 6 months, a good idea).  It is cooler today, mid 80's but still seems hot to us!

It is very green around here but should be after all the rain they had last summer.  It's good not to be getting on the road after so many days of being on the road.  We stared home all day, went to bed early.

Into Florida

Just before we got into Florida we started seeing damage from the last hurricane.  Lots of trees down, some almost on the road way.  Some roofs covered in blue plastic, etc.  One whole motel was covered in blue plastic.  All this was some distance from the coast.

We made it to our park in Florida about 5 pm.  Unloaded some and put away enough that we could get to bed and get going in the morning.  We were really tired.  We got the Satellite TV connected, went easier than normal.

It was 95 degrees when we got here, so were anxious to start the air conditioners but first we had to open up and air out the trailer after the chemical we had left inside to control the mold and bugs.  We then went to eat and to get groceries.  When we got back we had the AC on full blast!

All looks well inside, no mold but dead bugs (at least they were dead).  The outside isn't too bad but will need a pressure wash.


Some of the hurricane damage:

Night at Prattville, Alabama

Now is the time when we head south.  We got to Prattville where we often stop.  Ate dinner at O'Charley's, a place we discovered last time we stopped in Prattville.  It was a long hard day on the road, there was a lot of construction and other unknown traffic slowdowns.

Was good to get to our hotel.


Inside Ford's library:

Ford's Library

We went to President Ford's Library.  We couldn't get into the files but there were displays around and a couple timelines.  It was interesting, didn't take long so we were on the road by noon.

We made it to south of Louisville for the night at a Super 8.  Again had trouble finding a motel that was not extremely expensive.  Super 8 was fine, redone.  First one I have seen with an elevator.  We had problems with the TV but finally got it fixed.  We had dinner at a new Panera across the street.  We were really tired and went to bed early.


Some gifts given to Mrs. Ford

President Ford's museum

After not sleeping too well we made it to Grand Rapids, Michigan where we visited former President Ford's museum.  It was well done and very interesting.  Lots of people there:  Kids, some young ones and some teenagers  They were also having a citizenship ceremony so to parking lot was packed.

From there we went east finally getting to Ann Arbor.  We checked into a Red Roof Inn, a place I would normally never stay but unless we wanted to pay $150 or more, that was our choice.  Turns out a good choice as the room was refurbished, clean, nice beds, etc.  My favorite, it has a "charging station" built into the bedside table.

We ate dinner at a very near Appleby's - good food.

Lake Michigan

Got to South Haven, Michigan

We had the car loaded and we were on the road about 7:30 AM headed toward Michigan.  And we made it to South Haven, MI eleven hours later.  We went through Chicago in their early evening rush hour and it still was hectic.  We made a total of 3 stops during the day, 2 for gas, 1 for lunch.  We went to dinner at Cracker Barrel for dinner before we pulled into the motel.  Our motel, Bayport Inn, was Ok, not great but clean.  We had noisy young kids next door who finally gave it up about 10 PM, about the time we went to bed.  Our TV didn't work well.  Wouldn't stay there again but then probably won't be in the area again.

Ready,set

We are earnestly getting ready for our trip, cleaning house, washing clothing, etc.  I have left packing to today so big job.  Have to take things for the trip and another suitcase for extra clothing for Florida.  What did I forget????


Brenda and Becca

Snow

No sunshine today, we had about an inch of snow.  It melted fast as the temps were around freezing.  Just too early for snow, makes we look forward to warmer weather.

We went to breakfast at Denny's and skipped a trip to Walmart.  We did stuff around the house in prep for our trip.  Sheila and Ken had us all over for pizza, their college son Josh was also there and Brenda.  We had a good visit and said "see you later'.


Snow on our tree:

Some Sun!

Most of the day we had sunshine!  It is still cold, I have been shivering all day even though the house is warm.  We have been pre- preparing to get ready for our trip east and then south.

It is Sheila and Ken's 28th wedding anniversary today!


Where we will be in 4 months, 4 days:

Freeze

Third morning in a row for breakfast out, we ate at HyVee.  They have a great California Omelet!  We didn't need much for groceries - just some pears.

Last night was the first freeze for the season.  Today we finally have sunshine!  Our freezer in empty so went to Culvers for dinner, had a Reuben Sandwich and raspberry frozen custard for dessert.

Cold color

It is down right cold out today, in the 30's with a wind.  We saw some snow in the air when we were outside, nothing accumulated.

We went out for breakfast at Panera and then mailed our absentee ballots, went to Walmart and then got gas in the car.  Wow we had a whole 1.5 gallons left in the tank!

Again, in the process of cleaning out the freezer, we ate dinner at home. 



Maple tree by our front window.

A Star and a hurricane

We went to Perkins for Potato Pancakes for breakfast.  Perkins is so far away from our Florida place that we don't go there.

In the afternoon we went to the show "A Star is Born".  It was very good - good music, good story, good actors.  Highly recommend. 

We stayed home for dinner, grilled some hot dogs.  Cleaning out our freezer!

Hurricane Michael has reached land as a cat 4.  Lots of destruction.

Hair, Hurricane and Tacos

We got hair cuts today, the shop was not busy so we both got in right away.  Mine might be a bit shorter than I like but thankfully it grows fast.

Another gloomy day,  but not like Florida is expecting.  Just hope the hurricane doesn't damage our place.  Feel sorry for those affected by it, especially those who will be hit the second time this season.

Being Taco Tuesday, we got Tacos for dinner.


Hurricane Michael is gaining strength.  +
Our place is pointed to by the red drop.

Weather

When will this camp, cold weather ever end.  Probably not until we head south.  Usually we have a nice Fall, but not this year.

Cleaned the house like usual and dealt with some hard to place stuff.  Had leftovers for dinner.

Long exposure shot.

Gloomy Sunday

We went to Denny's for breakfast and then to Menards for some sale things.  We went to the Manards a bit further away as it is a bigger store and more likely to be better stocked.  They had everything we wanted.

In the afternoon Sheila and Brenda came over for a visit.  We grilled steak for dinner.

Gettin stuff done

Decided I need to get some things done before we head south.  Hate to wait until the last minute unlike "someone I live with".  So I got dated food moved out to the garbage and stuff we are not going to eat ready for a food shelf.  Looked for some stuff I want to take along and made a list of what I need to buy.

We went to TGI Fridays for dinner, had their good whisky ribs.


Looks like another hurricane is going to invade Florida.

Eating out on another miserable day.

Breakfast at HyVee today.  I had a California omelet which was very good - came with guacamole,  sour cream and salsa to make it even better.  Didn't have much for groceries to buy.

It's another misty day, this is more than tiresome.  I continued to try to setup my security camera but would not connect to the internet so have ordered another brand from Amazon.

We went to Panera, this time for dinner as we had a coupon.  I had French Onion soup, very good.  Don liked his Clam Chowder.

Target

We actually had some sun for awhile today.  Good to see the sun is still in the sky.  We went to Panera for bagels today.  Then we went to Target, it has been recently renovated and looks very clean, modern and appealing  BUT can't find anything - will take awhile. 
I got my Amazon order with, among other things, a new security camera which I can't seem to get set up.  Will try again tomorrow.  My old one still works but wanted a second.

Hot and humid

Don went to the doctor today, he was having trouble hearing.  Now, after a second cleaning in a week, he is hearing well.  Hope it lasts.

It is a warm and humid day.  Had trouble keeping the humidity off our car windows - on the outside.  A weather front came thru in the afternoon, we didn't get bad weather but some places did.  Then it cooled off, a lot.

Survivor night!

IKEA

Today we went to IKEA for breakfast and then walked the entire store.  I bought a few things, nothing important.  Then it was lunchtime so we stayed for their good salmon meal.

Another dark and damp day.  I remember nice fall days, cool but with bright sunshine, where are those days?


IKEA dinning room:

Happy October

The month of trees turning colors, pumpkins, apples and Halloween.

We started the day by cleaning the house, again.  Read in the afternoon and had leftovers from last Saturday for dinner.  It was a dark, cold, wet day - had no motivation to get outside.


Our trees are just starting to turn.