1/31/14. Friday

Good day my friends and family!!,  Ok I know it has been a week!!! I have had some problems with my internet and my I phone!!! I took several pics this week and lost many pics due to what I discovered yesterday was a soft ware problem on my phone!!! I was so disappointed!!!  Went to verizon first and they could not help,said it was an apple issue, they sent me to an apple store of which I was very thankful for Paula running me around town to these places!!!!  Yesterday I went to the apple store and they tried to recover my pics and reset my phone but today it still,has issues!!, YUK!!!! I'm a little upset with my apple,products right now!!! I guess I will have to wait till I get back home and see if it can be repaired!!!

It has been cold here or I should say cold for here!!!, 45 degrees and windy!! I know some of you have had much worse and I have kept up with your weather also!!!! Hope all are safe and staying warm!!!!

We did have a pretty nice day on Wednesday and we took the bike and rode around town. We found a little place in town and had my nails done!!,  YEAH it was much needed!!!! We ate at a little cafe we discovered and had a great salad and a bread bowl of French onion soup of which was wonderful!!! So good I took a pic and it was was recovered when they reset my phone!!!! 

Other than that we have stayed around the boat and did a few things on our list to be be completed before we ahead home next week. This whole week I have read a lot, watched movies and lay in bed every morning to watch the Today's show!!!  As you can tell relaxed a lot!!! We both are getting anxious to travel again and enjoy the water!!! We have both decided we really want to go farther south next year to have some warmer weather!!! We hope Paula and Jim will be able to meet us and travel south and go over to the gulf coast!!! I have already started booking several tour groups in March and some in May !!! Tour business is gearing up already!!! We thank God for the business!!! 

Overall we have had a very relaxing vacation!!! Rod's hip is much improved and we feel your prayers for his recovery!!!  I still want him to see a dr when we get home. I ask all of you to pray for our dear friend Dan Eaddy as he waits for his results on his cancer being in remission!!! It has been a long journey for him and his wife Peggy!!  We love you guys!!!!

Sitting here this morning in my PJ's ( I know it's 11:00) but it's cold out and raining cats and dogs!! Rodney went with Jim for some time at the man's store Gander Mountain!!! Ha!!! We have reservations for an airboat ride tomorrow as the weather is suppose to clear up this afternoon and be 80 degrees tomorrow!!! I sure hope so!!!! I am ready to put on shorts!!!!

Love to all!!!! Ms. Fran and Capt Rod 

A great cafe we enjoyed Wed on our bike ride!!!

I had to take a picture, this was the prettiest salad and a bread bowl of French onion soup!! Almost to pretty to eat, but we both sure enjoyed!!!!

Then they brought us this cute little 2 ounce cup of dessert apple parfait!!!  Ain't nobody don't like no parfait!!,  Ha  YUMMY!!!!

1/27/2014 Monday

Good afternoon to to all my faithful followers!!!!   We have had a great day!!! Cleaned house washed clothes, some bike riding and a great walk on the river walk!!! It's 72 degrees here, a little cloudy, had some rain early this morning!!!  It is suppose to be pretty her tomorrow also!!!  YEAH !!! I heard from people in Georgetown today and it is expected to snow 8 inches there tomorrow!!!  (Judy and Wayne I thought you left that in Michigan???).  Hope all stay safe and warm!!!

Saturday night we went to the theater here in Sanford to see a play called Nunsense. A great comedy if you every get the chance to see it is a must see!!! I attached a pic Rod took of me with one of the main charters Sister Mary Regina!!!  She was a hoot!!!

After our busy day we are having Jim and Paula over for grilled fish! and home made hush puppies!!!

Just to let you know Rod's hip has improved drastically!!!  I so thank you for your prayers for him. he really wants to get back home to see a dr. 

Clean house, a good exercise day and preparing a good supper!!! What more could I ask for? We are going to watch the episode ending to the series Firefly called Serenity!!! Looking forward to that his evening!!!

Love to all, I will be praying all keeps their power during the snow storm tomorrow!!

Ms. Fran and Capt Rod 

Sister Mary Regina !!!! 

Nunsense was on Broadway for several years back in the late 90s !!! A great musical!!!!!

1/25/2014 Saturday

I am so excited I have so many followers of family and friends!!!! I started getting emails today from people saying OK what's going on??  You Ok??? I have not seen anything on the blog in a few days!!

Sooo I figured Id better post a few words to let all know what's going on!,Ha.    Well!!! ITS COLD!!!

Wind blowing, there are white caps on the water thats unreal !!!  I'm just happy staying in the warm boat!! The temperatures have been around 45 degrees here in the morning but wind chills are around 36-38 degrees!!   Sure I know what your saying..... That's not cold, you don't know what cold is!!, Ha 

Enough to keep me inside !!!! It has gotten up to the high 60s during the day.  We went to get groceries, and by a Michaels as I bought yarn for knitting!!! We have some great movies thanks to a great selection Jim and Paula have!! (Their selection of movies is almost as good as redbox!!,) read several books, and most of all, taxes are ready to take to the accountant when we return home!!!!!  yeah!!! 

Rod still is suffering with hip issues and really wants to wait till we get home to see a dr that he knows. He has good days and bad, but Tylenol and Aleve seems to keep the pain tolarable. Heating pad and tens unit has helped also. We did get out yesterday and rode with Jim and Paula to Titusville, where docked a few weeks last year. They had to go to a storage unit there. Do decided to make a visit to the Mexican restaurant we went to a year ago for lunch!,  The Little Lion in Spanish!!!! beautiful drive down the back roads there lots of wildlife and scenery!!!  had a fun excursion!!!

Tonight we have reservations here in Sandford to see a play at the theatre called Nunsense !!!!  Long time play on broadway back in the early 90's.  It's a comedy play so should be fun!!, I will post about it later!!!! And give details!,   Also no cooking tonight I'm going out!!!!!!!

Thanks soooo much for sharing our time here with us !!! I will not wait so long to post again!!   Love to all, Ms. Fran and Capt Rod 

Lunch in Titusville (this is where Cape Canaveral is located) 

The El leoncito "the little lion". A needed day away for the boat!!!!

1/20/2014 Monday

Good evening to all!!!  Hope you are doing well and enjoying your cold weather!!!   Lets face it, it's colder there than here!! The weather has really been beautiful here the last few days, you still need a jacket first thing in the morning at 45 degrees but over the weekend, daytime temperatures were around 68-72 degrees and today, Monday, reached 77 degrees!!!   WooWhoo!!!!!

Saturday we got up early and went to the farmers market here in town. A bit cold at 45 degrees but the wind was blowing so it felt colder!!! I wore thermals!!! Picked up some great fresh veggies and fruit grown right here in the area!! Paula was more involved with a man that had several beautiful trained birds and for a small donation we were able to photo her with them!!! She is a bird (or any animal for that matter) LOVER !!!! I have attached a pic!!! They were very well trained birds and of course he showed off their talents for us!!!! I guess we looked like good tippers!!!  Ha

We enjoyed lunch later on in downtown Sanford at Christo's pizza!! The calzone Rod and I split was wonderful!!! Spent much of the evening in as Rod is still having the hip issue and just felt like he needed to rest!!!

Sunday we were expecting much better weather so we decided to go to Blue Spring, and see the winter gathering of the manatee!!!  What a beautiful site!!!   100's of them gather in the spring this time if year as the temperature in this spring is 72 degrees year round!!! Hugh older manatees, along with younger, and several Mom's with nursing babies!!  I have attached a few pics, I took 20-25 but I will attach some of the best!!!  NOTHING like seeing these animals in person!!! I love the manatees!!! 

After a long walk through that park we came home for some lunch and a little rest time then the guys decided to go fishing at the park we had visited a few days ago!! So Paula and I packed up some peanuts for the squirrels and decided we would go walking while they fished!!! Got a great pic of 2 hawks there near the pier, the wild life is beautiful!!! I was not able to get pics of the squirrels, as they would eat peanuts right out of your hand!!! When we got tired of squatting,( as I am getting to old to do that much anymore). We started  laying peanuts on the toe of our tennis shoes for them to come get!! Paula said here we are to old ladies sitting on a park bench feeding squirrels off of our tennis shoes!!! Ha  Ain't life good !!! ???  We cooked pulled BBQ chicken in a crockpot( compliments of Paula). I had gotten some fresh corn on the cob at the farmers market, so we enjoyed those. Butternut squash, and rolls!!!   YUM.  Great supper!! I also made a pie using a packet of seasoning(red velvet cake) I purchased at the farmers market along with cream cheese, and cool whip!!!  Quite tasty!!!!

Today Monday we headed out to Bok Tower Botanical Gardens just south of Orlando!!! It is listed  on the American Historic Register. Google it if you have a chance!! I never knew this place existed!!! We spent the entire day there had lunch at their cafe, took lots of pics and enjoyed the "Singing Tower" of bells!!! Even in the winter, lots of blooming foliage!!! We had a great day!!!   Tired when we got home, so leftovers for dinner, and needed rest for Rodney!! He seems to feel his hip is improving some as we are using a tens unit, loaned to us by Jim, and muscle relaxers at night!!  I am still not ruling out that we need to see a dr before we leave here!!! Please keep him in your prayers!!!!

I will keep you updated on events!!!  Love to all, Ms. Fran and Capt Rod 

Beautiful birds at the farmers market downtown Sanford !!

Watching hawks at the fishing pier!!!

This eagle sat on the post just out on the lake where we are docked!!! Fishing for lunch I guess!!!

Rod and I on the pier viewing spot for all the manatee at Blue Springs!!!

2 young manatee !

Mom with nursing baby!!!

100's of manatee!!! had a great time watching these wonderful animals!!!

Jim or Rod did not catch any fish but As Rod says, any day fishing is a good day!!

Bok Tower Gardens!!! This bell tower is 260 ft tall. The stone is ornately carved!!! If your ever in the area it is a must see!!!

The base of one side of the tower.

Standing at the base looking up!!! magnificent!!!!!

The tower is surrounded by a moat filled with Hugh COI Fish!!! 

Look at the leaves on this plant!! I said if Eve had 2 of these her wardrobe was complete!! Ha

Look at the next picture to see just how big!!!

WOW !!!  That's a big bell!! The music was fabulous that could be heard throughout the park!!

A Powder Puff tree!! No smell, but sooooo soft to the touch!!!

This century plant was the largest one I have ever seen!!! It was the size if a car !!! 

Rodney had never seen a tangerine tree with this many on it !!  Don't know if I have either!!!

An overlook at a Hugh orange grove!!!!

1/17/2014. Friday

Good Evening to all!!!!  As usual lately I am on a 2 day run at blogging!!! We have battled the cold so much we are just staying in a good bit!! I thought we would have much warmer weather than this here in central Florida. We are completing inside repairs and things that are on our list to get done as there is always things to do on a boat!!!!!  We have also been able to book a few speciality tours with Hobcaw Barony for March, and excited about that !!!  

Yesterday we did go out to a Sears store with Paula and walked around a little and then all of us went out to Logan's Steakhouse for dinner!!! Yum!! We did enjoy a great steak and baked potato which is a real treat for us!!!!!! The rest of the evening we relaxed and read !!!

Today it reached 68 degrees so we all decided to go to Daytona and check the race track and a boat marine shop. We ate at a Cracker Barrel and returned to a beautiful state park here near Sanford called Gemini Springs state park. There are great walking trails and 3 beautiful springs that feed this lake. We just enjoyed each others company with great friends (Paula and Jim) and the scenery was well worth the trip!!! Thank you guys for sharing this place with us!!! I have attached a few pics I took today. Tomorrow we plan to go to another place where the manatee go when it is cold!!! They tell us there are hundreds of manatee there to wait out the cold as the water there is very warm year round. 

Spent some time face timing with Sherry and the kids this evening, I miss them a lot!! Tomorrow my only daughter will be 40+ years old!!!  MAN I AM GETTING OLD FAST!!!!! 

I will keep in touch!!!  Love to all and many blessing!!! Ms. Fran and Capt Rod 

Rod was getting his fishing gear out of storage and Lexie found her a fishing line float!!! Needless to say she destroyed it, but oh what fun!!!!

I saw this on a door at the marine store we were shopping in Daytona, just thought it was tooooo funny!!!  Not beware of dog, just BAD DOG!!!  Ha    ( never did see or hear him )

Daytona Speedway!!  Lots of construction going on here preparing for the big race in February!!

This is one big place!!!!!!!

Gemini Springs State park!!  beautiful place!!,

This is one of the 3 fresh water springs that brings large amounts of water into this lake per day!!

There was not a skinny squirrel in the park!!! You can tell they are all feed well!!!

Mooring Hens!!! Came right up to us hoping we had food!!!

Another georgeous view!!!!

Rod and Jim wishing they had a fishing pole!!!!

Lexie just soooo glad we came home!!!!!

1/15/2014 Wednesday

Good evening to all!!!   Ok I admit I have really been lazy!!!! I'm in Snow Bird mode!!, Ha 

I guess if they had a K&W here Rod and I would frequent it also!!! Ha. The last 2 days we have done very little. walking Lexie down the water front, which is a great place to enjoy, has been our big thing for the day!!! We did download the tide charts for Winyah bay in Georgetown and completed our tour schedule for the year!! THAT was our big accomplishment that took several hours to complete. I also worked on taxes some, it will be April 15th before you know it.  I spent some time with my friend Paula and visited a BJ's (it's like a SAMs Club) and did a little shopping. Jim is battling a very bad cold and sore throat so he is quarantined himself the last 2 days!!  Other than that we have rested mostly trying to keep Rodney somewhat inactive to assist with the healing of his hip!!  It still is giving him much pain and discomfort. If he does not see some improvement soon we may have to visit a Dr here and get it checked out. Of course, you know so far he has refused that avenue!!!!  

We have had such beautiful weather the last couple of days, but tonight the temperature is to be around 33-34 degrees!!!! Brrrrrr!!! The polar vortex is coming again to Florida!!! They are saying it will get warm again, sure would like to have more sun before we leave!!!

Hope all is doing well, Rod and I both feel so blessed to have this downtime before our tour season starts again in March!!!    Love to you all!!   We would sure like to hear from any of you, I check emails a lot!!

Sursumcorda525@aol.com

Ms. Fran and Capt Rod 

PS sorry no pics to share!!!!!

1/12&13/2014 Sunday & Monday

Good evening all family and friends!!!  Looks like I am on a 2 Day roll of blogging!!!  Ha  I had a very relaxing day yesterday, Sunday, i only left the boat long enough to walk Lexie for a short walk and returned to the boat!!  Just exhausted from the Color Run walk on Saturday, I just needed a day of rest!!!! So I DID NOTHING !!!!!!  Rodney and Jim went to walmart to pick up some things they needed and the sweet guys they are,they returned with a rotisserie chicken and deli potato salad, with Hawaiian bread rolls!! Paula and I were so happy!!!   Supper delivered!!!

Today, Monday, (we have now been here a week) we decided to take the bike and ride to the Central Florida Zoo!!!! About a 3 mile ride but 84 degrees and sunny it was a beautiful !!! Great bike paths on on the roads so we really enjoyed the trip. It's a small zoo but a very clean well maintained place. It covers 116 acres with a lot of the walkways being in some georgeous botanical gardens. I have attached a few pics we took today, zoo animals are the same no matter what zoo you visit, so nothing out of the ordinary, except!!!  We stopped at a picnic area there in the zoo to eat some snacks of grapefruit and tangerines along with some cheese crackers and a squirrel decided to climb into my backpack!!!!  He ate fruit out of our hand and almost climbed up Rodney's arm !! Great pics attached. 

Returned  home 3 mile bike ride, and I prepared a tastefully simple wild rice and chicken cream soup with cheese biscuits for dinner!!! Invited Paula and Jim to partake with us!!! GOOD supper!!!   Resting this evening I caught Rod in our bathroom in a funny situation!!  A Must see picture I snuck and took!!!  I laughed sooooo hard!!!! Don't worry it's attached as it is too good not to share!!!!!  

It is supposed to rain tomorrow so I don't know what will be on the agenda, we will probably spend with Paula and Jim!! 

Hope all is doing well!!!  We are still enjoying our time here very much!!! 

 Love to all!! Ms. Fran and Capt Rod 

One more picture I received that Paula took at the finish line on Saturday!!!  Covered in powder!!! 

Rod has a hard time staying away from a any gator!!! !! They had one in the zoo almost this big!!

THE RHINOs!!!! They were very friendly and walk right up to the fence!!!

They Decided to swim for us in their private pool!!!

"Big Boy" came to the bench at the window to show us his food bowls and intertained us for a while! Again a very friendly animal, he loved to play!!! 

He would try and touch your hand when I touched the window!!

Macaws!!!  We thought several times they said words!! 

They baby squirrel checking out my backpack!!!

He hung out with us for 3-4 minutes!!!

Asking for food!!!

you can tell we had fun with this little guy!!!!

Why take a book!!!  Just take your technology and cup of coffee with you!!  I never thought I would see the day he would like a computer!!!  Ha  TOO FUNNY!!! 

Day 12&13 Friday & Saturday 1/10&11/2014

 Good Evening my Friends and Family!!! Again got busy yesterday evening and did not blog, so thought I would include both days!! Yesterday we had a beautiful day of sunshine and 80 degree weather!! We decided to give up cleaning and repairs and take off on our bicycle. We cruised down several of the streets and saw many of the old homes here in Sanford ate some lunch at a cute little downtown restaurant, enjoyed an Italian Stromboli. We walked through some antique shops and found a popcorn shop that had gourmet popcorn (to me all popcorn is gourmet) Ha  I bought a bag of popcorn puffs, and some chocolate and Carmel popcorn, a real treat!!!! We enjoyed Paula's first attempt at pulled pork in her crockpot for dinner! it was yummy!! We completed our list of all we wanted to take with us to the color run and went to bed early as we needed to leave for Orlando by 6am!!!!! 

Some how on Thursday Rod injured his hip and last evening that pain came to full force. So with lots of Tylenol and some Percocet he finally was able to get a little rest. Still giving him issues today!!!

We left this morning 6am and arrived in Orlando about 8 am as we picked up another one of our group on the way. Our group "Who let The Girls Out!!!"  5 of us total arrived at the civic center in Orlando along with, looked like, 3000 others!!!  They all looked about as gaudy and tacky as we did!! I have included several pics I took, and will receive the other girls sometime later so I will be sharing some more of these later this weekend. We walked the 3.5 miles although many that were behind us when we started the run was in front of us when we crossed the finish line!, Ha. I think there was about 15-20 people behind us!!Ha.  Slow walkers but we had a blast!!

We looked pretty good when we started the race but was covered in Yellow, Blue, Purple, and Pink colored powder when we finished. you just know there is no way it will all come off. But back home, a nice scrubbing shower, and poof it was down the drain. I had to take a nap after that !!!!!

OK so what did Rodney do while I was gone?? Besides nursing that bad hip, he and Jim installed some incredible florescent lights in the kitchen!!!!  Aways been poor lighting in the kitchen, but I had gotten use to it!!   WOW what a difference!!! I have attached a pic!!!

Oh and the weather today could not have been better. Sun with some clouds, lite breeze, 82 degrees!!! 

We are having a thunder storm at the present, it's suppose to pass on through in a couple of hours!!

I will be in bed early tonight to try and catch up on some sleep. 

We continue to enjoy being snowbirds!!!  Still got a list of things to do before we head back to Georgetown!!! 

I ask for prayers for Rodney hip, he does not whin so I know it is very painful and really keeping him down!!!  Love to all, Ms. Fran and Capt Rod 

Pics!!!! Attached 

If the city can give away free car chargers, what can't we get some free gas??? These are all over town!!!

Sanford has these all over town!! Free 2 hour car chargers!!!!

You know me and Popcorn!!! it's my favorite food!!! They had every flavor under the sun!!!

This is how I started out the walk!! I thought we were bazaar!  But you should have sent all the different outfits!!  

Paula !!!  She sported her first hand made tutu!!!! We were a pair!!!!

Standing at the staring line!! When the race started it took 35 minutes before we took off!! there was a lot of people ahead of us and another large group behind!!  I am sure there was 2-3000 people!!! Or it looked like it anyway!!,  Ha 

Paula after the first color station of yellow!!! I will have my shots she took of me for you tomorrow!!

Here we are at the finish line!!,  What  a mess!!!  Havin fun!!!!

I took 52 pics today !!! I will have more to share later!!!

NEW LIGHTS IN MY KITCHEN!!!! May not look like much, but it is a thousand percent improved!!

So nice to have a handy man!!!!  He's a keeper!!!!!