More catching up

Motorhome pictures?

I did it. Some views of our "new" motorhome. It is a 1988 Pace Arrow, 32 ft long with basement storage and most of the options available then. 43,00 miles, mostly very good condition.

As I already stated we gave it a 143 mile trial run Saturday and it did very well.

Sunday we went to a local Church picnic, which had music, a flea market, food, and other entertainment.

Yesterday, Monday, after water aoerbics, it was back to the orthopedic surgeon for three week checkup. Basically, I am doing well, but have episodes of not being able to put weight on the knee for 45 seconds or so after sitting for long periods. After hearing this the good Doctor the gave me a cortisone shot. at this point nothing has changed but soon it will(I hope). We also had blood drawn for a PSA test for the other Dr.

Today, Tuesday, we went to the Miracle Ear specialist to check out a problem with one of Lauras' hearing aids. It turns out to be wax, which we have to remove with hydrogen proxide.

We are now awaiting the arrival of a motorhome from Brocton,NY, which would be Bea and Clifford Lee. Bea is a former co-worker of Lauras' from many years ago at the Jamestown Stamp Company. They are on the Nothern swing from their Florida vacation.

Nothing new on the local abduction of Haleigh Cummings of Satsuma. Lots of mud slinging going on between parents, but no Haleigh, nor anything new about the case. There, finally caught up.

catching up

I have been trying to put in some motorhome pictures but so far, no luck.

Since we did not have company last weekend, we decided to do something we have talked about but never done, that is to be tourists at St Augustine. (I was just handed a glass of wine for health reasons) so better finish this quick.

Anyway, we went to St Augustine and signed up for the Red Train Tour. $15.99 each for seniors and good for 3 consecutive days. This is really a good deal as it takes you a 22 stop tour through the area, and allows you to get off when desired and back on when ready. We went Sunday, Monday(half day) and tuesday. The weather was not totally co-operative but was ok. Some of did the Ripley museum($13.00), which was ok(for some).
We all did the Fountain of Youth which is very good($7.00). The movie at $2.50 was so-so. The Flagler College tour at $6.00 is worth doing.We all did the Jail, which was built in 1908 by Henry Flagler to relocate it from being near his new Hotel(which is now the College.) the jail cost $9.00 which is far more than it is worth. It was interesting as they would take a group through, actually placing you in a cell for awhile, and indicating in many ways that being a prisoner in Joe Perrys' jail in 1908 waould not be a pleasant experience.It all went so fast. there were things we did not do, but can do them on our own if we wish.

There is more to catch up on, but it is time to go to supper, so will add to this later today

I am sitting outside on the porch, enjoying 83 Degrees, light wind, and the smell of orange blossoms. I guess it is not all that bad.

This past week, we went to the Putnam County Fair on Senior Day, which is of course, Free to Seniors. They provided entertainment, fed us hot dogs and hamburgers, and gave some of us $25 gift certificates to local grocery stores. This fair is about the size of Cattaraugus county fair.

Thursday, we went to the Clay Electric Co-op annual picnic at their main office in Keystone Heights. They provide music, have a health fair, give all the fried chicken we want, and then after a formal meeting and a humorous motivation speaker, they too give out prizes, about, 125 of them. We were lucky enough to win a 4 qt crock pot. we did not win the 37' tv or the pickup truck. Bob and Laverne went with us.

It has been very dry here recently, with the area being about 11" behind normal. as a result numerous grass and woods fires have popped up here and there but not too serious yet. We did just have a storm pass through, but not much rain.

I might mention that on Wednesday, I got on a bike for the first time since the surgery. I ride every day now and it seems to be helping.

Friday, we went to Daytona for some dumpster diving, Aldi's, Harbor Freight, and Alfies(with Norma).

I should mention that we brought home the motorhome. It had been at Bob Dentons', a local mechanic in Pomona Park who has a reputation for being honest, etc. Bob replaced all the engine belts, checked all the fluids, made adjustments to various systems, replaced all 3 batteries. When we brought it home we were confident that everything was in good working order

Saturday, we decided to test it, so took it on a trip to Ocala, where we put 145 miles ont. everthing worked well. It was 85 degrees, but no overheating problems, etc. we intend to run another trip in a week or so and stay overnight to further check it out. assuming it behaves ok, it will go back to Bob to have the belt tensions checked, and have its oil changed and some 25 grease fittings lubricated, and then I guess it will be our transportation home to Ripley. our plans are to take the trailer and leave the car.

while we were in Ocala, we went to the Super Flea, and then to Silver Springs to see/hear Glen Campbell. He put on a very good show, singing many of his hits, and overall, being very entertaining.

slowdown in Florida

This week has been quiet with meetings and parties at the local community center. Norma came Tuesday and spent the night after the singles dance at Palatka. The motorhome went to Pomona Park to have new belts installed and some other work done on it. Some work was done in the boathouse to organize it and get rid of some stuff. Music was made at Lou's and the Senior Center. It was the last time for some as they are starting to head North. it has been a slow process, but finally my guitar efforts are starting to pay off.

Friday am we all (Lester,Sue,Laura and myself) all went to Leesburg, Fl to visit Bobbie and Dick Rackl. They are snowbirds who used to live in Amherst and Silver Creek, and now spend their summer months at Bluewater Campground in Westfield. The Doerffels were scheduled to play there Friday night. so we went to see them play and spend the night with Dick and Bobbie. The Doerffels are a family Bluegrass Band from Springville. There is a mother and father and 10 children, ranging from 3yrs to 20 yrs old. The second oldest is a girl, all the rest are boys. While they are on the road, they live in a 40 foot bus/motorhome. How do they do it? anyway the oldest 5 perform in a bluegrass band , while the younger ones are learning. We have been following their progress for about 5 years, and they are very good.

Saturday morning we visited the huge live oak at Griffin State Park, did some garage sales, toured the "Villages" some, then went to Market at Marion Flea market , and came home tired.

Today, we started acting as tourists. We go to St Augustine fairly often and know our way around pretty good, but we decided to ride one of the Tram rides that take you around, and identify the various locations of interest. Today, we just rode the tram around and let them inform us what was what. it was cool and windy. Tomorrow and/or Tuesday, we will go back and visit the various locations, such as the Fountain of Youth, the old jail etc. our tram tickets are good for three days, and the weather is getting better, so this should be fun. After this we should have a better handle on what to show our guests, when they come. speaking of guests, we should not have more until April 1, and then several are coming.

The local county fair is this week. It is not too big but they have a nice Senior Day, with a free lunch and prizes. Thursday is the Clay Electric Annual Picnic with BBQ chicken, free prizes, etc.

Sat and Sunday is a big Art and Craft Show in Deland, Sunday is a big local church picnic. we will be busy for a while.

Nothing new on the local child abduction case. Both parties have lawyers, the mother is seeking custody of the other child, they have knocked down their tent quarters, and established other sites..meanwhile nothing happens or changes.

The knee is still coming along, some days better than others, but overall, getting better.

comings and goings

Today, Saturday, the 14th, Jerry and Shirley Burkley left for their home in Orchard Park, NY. They were here for 6 weeks and enjoyed all of it, I hope. They lived in their 27 ft camper in between Lester and Sue and us. Among other things they enjoyed, they went to the Flagler Home Show, the Bluegrass Festival at Palatka, various flea markets, Bike Week at Main St, Beach St. and cole slaw wrestling at Samsula, and card games at night. Jerry got to go to the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, played music with us at Lou's and the Senior Center, and got to go fishing a few times with some success. They should arrive home tomorrow afternoon and settle down to their normal Northern routines. They have been foster parents for many years and Shirley needs her "baby fix". They have been foster parents to 83 children. and lately, the children have been newly born, with many of them being crack babies.

I forgot to mention that they also went to Disney World for a whole week, courtesy of their daughters' family. A whole week, with everything paid for, meals and all.

I went to the Dr again on Monday. New x-rays showed everything OK. The knee is still sore and tender, but gradually getting better.

We have one more set of visitors coming in a few weeks, then will be alone for a while, until time to come North in late April.

We had our big Musician Jam Picnic on Tuesday. We wanted to have it before Jerry left. We had 41 people come and enjoy garbage can turkey, ham, pies and everything good. The weather was perfect and everyone had a good time. local musicians included Chuck Hardwicke and wife Vernie, Virgil Jarrett and wife Helen. Dan and Nancy, Roy and Alma, Ebo and wife Mary Ellen, Frank Trivette and son Frankie , Jr. We also had a visitor from North Carolina, as Greg Folts and Melanie , as well as Norma , all showed up. Greg seemed to enjoy himself, even though I am sure the music was different than he is used to playing.

Laura and I went to Silver Springs to see John Michael Montgomery, but his brand of country music did not do much for us . one song, that he called rock and roll was 5 minutes of noise. we did ride three of the boat rides they have and these are always pleasant. Did you know that the water from the Springs forms the Silver River, which joins the Ocklawaha River, then flows into the St Johns River a few miles south of us?

The amber alert situation next door is still ongoing, with no new info that we know about. With the father marrying the babysitter, the picture is very clouded. I am predicting that the babysitter is very much involved, that she and the father cooked up this deal for some unknown family reason, however, it ballooned into a bigger situation than they could handle, and they are trying to figure out to have her show up with out themselves appearing to be involved.

Two more shootings in Jacksonville Today. I think they average one a day. what a world.

no time to rest, we are in Florida

Thanks to Heidi for linking the different family blogs together, to make it easier to get to them. I hope it helps those of you that are interested.

Happy Birthday to Heidi, tomorrow. She came into this world, on March 9th, 1967. You do the math.

I am starting do more with my new knee, and it feels ok at the time. I replaced the rear brakes on the Caravan, and certainly felt it later. It has been 8 weeks plus, and we go the Dr tomorrow for a routine visit.

Last Wednesday, we all went to the cabbage patch wrestling at Samsula. This is a traditional event for Bike Week. In addition to the wrestling, they added a bikini contest, and said if the girls did not have a bikini, that a bra and panties would be sufficient. anyway 7 girls/women signed up for the $250 prize. One woman was 67 years old and not shy. After the appropriate gyrations, etc they decided the 67 year old deserved a special prize of $50. They then determined a winner by crowd noise, and the crowd was not happy with the decision so co- winners were announced, $125 for each. The cole slaw wrestling then went on, with $750 going to the winner. we did not stay for the end.

we went fishing one day because Jerry, from Orchard Park likes to fish. we found a spot that worked, except Lester caught about 30, I caught one, and Jerry caught none. no explanation for why this happened.

Yesterday, Saturday, was kind of a momentous occasion, as Mel and Greg, along with Janice and Don and Norma all showed up. We all went for a beautiful boat ride, saw some alligators, and ospreys, and turtles, etc. Lester and Jerry were making some good music and were very entertaining. Greg joined in with his Taylor Guitar, and appeared to be enjoying playing old time music. It should be noted that 4 of the 6 Mohr children were together in Florida. Come on down Greg and make it 6 out of 6.

Steve and Scott(Lester and Sues' son and friend) left for home friday Afternoon, after a nice boat ride with lots of big alligators. They were replaced today by some of Lester Sues' friends from Portland, NY. They will be here about 16 days.

I will be adding more pictures soon and agreed to show Norma how to do this so soon, Norma"s World should have pictures.

Let this be a lesson

Heidi here. Dad asked me to add a few links to his blog, which I did. I may have taken some liberties...... I did the logical thing and asked myself WWJD? What would John do? Well, John would add links to swingers blogs, no question. I took a quick look at a few but since they were pretty explicit and a bit too racy for Mom & Dad's family blog, I decided against it. But I did insert a random blog and some random gadgets, though they're pretty lame so far. We'll see what else I find to add, at least until Dad changes his password again..... The revolving globe is supposed to show viewers' locations....we'll see.

Busy doing what?

Tonite marks 3 weeks since the little neighborhood girl disappeared. At present, no clues, no nothing. There have been over 2000 tips, and $26,000 in reward money. It is like she literally has "disappeared into thin air". During the last week, the police had "cadaver dogs" searching the area. seven dogs one day and 12 dogs the next. 3 dogs pointed to a dumpster that hadn't been dumped in a month. The police went through it quite thoroughly but found nothing. The police have released the house as a crime scene, but the Father refuses to go back into it. Too many memories, etc. Most of the media vehicles have left, but today there are 3 of them again. We do not know why.



As mentioned before, we have acquired a 1988 Pace Arrow, 32 ft motorhome. We just finished getting rid of the other one(the wreck). We lost some money on it, but not too bad.



We have been busy eating, as we had additional coupons from Dennys, I-Hop, and Alfies.



Jerry wants to fish, so we finally got started. not too much luck the first two days, but the third day was ok as we got one large catfish, and 25-30 Bream, which have been cleaned and are in the freezer.

Saturday, Laura and I went to see George Jones at Silver Springs, Ocala. He still puts on a good show(when he shows up). The others went to the Whale of a sale in Jacksonville.

Bike week is here. We went down to Daytona on Friday, which was the first day. We went again on Sunday as we had Lester and Sues' son, Steve . and his friend Scott, who had just arrived from Mayville, on Saturday. Wednesday we are going to take them to the famous "cole slaw " wrestling in Samsula.

Last Thursday, was 7 weeks after my knee surgery, and it is taking its time. I can walk ok for short distances, but then revert to the wheelchair. my legs feel so clumsy. I will be so glad when they ere normal again.

The weather continues to be cool. We had close to freezing this morning and expect more tomorrow morning. Maybe then it will stay warmer.

Our apologies go to Derek . concerning Birthday Best Wishes. We knew his Birthday was the 25th, but we did not realize the day he called was the 25th. Anyway, Heidis' birthday is already marked on the calendar.

Jerry and Shirley left yesterday for 2 days visiting friends in Vero Beach