2/3/2014 Monday

Good Evening My family and friends!!!!  We have had a wonderful past 2 days!!! Who wouldn't , it's been 85 degrees !!!  Ok, so first of all since it is predicted to be beautiful for the next few days, we have decided to wait and leave next Monday!!! We thought we would leave on Thursday, but travel up the St. John's River on a weekend is very slow and lots of boat traffic, soooo we decided yesterday we would wait and leave in a week!!! 

Yesterday, Sunday,  we went to a small city about 20 miles from Sanford where Jim grew up called Mount Dora!!  Wonderful old town that hosts a yearly art and craft festival. Jim said he had never saw it this big!!! It covered 10-12 city blocks. We walked forever and had a great day!!! I have attached a few of the pics we took. Came back to the Marina and had dinner at The Port, a restaurant here near the Marina. Enjoyed tilapia, and grilled tuna!!!  Yum!!! Then returned home to watched what not many would call a Super Bowl!!! What a disappointing game!! I did not have a favorite but did feel sorry that Peyton Manning played the sorriest game I know he must have ever played!!, Ha    So I say congrats to the Seattle Seahawks!!!!  

This morning, Monday, we started out early with a bike ride!!!! Paula and Jim have 2 foldable bikes and there was a couple here beside us that have a set for sale, soooo we borrowed to give them a try. We have considered buying us 2 folding aluminum bikes, and get rid of our heavy tandem bake. Off we went to cruise the town. I have attached a few pics we took on out 2 hour ride!!!  We had some sore butts when we got back home!!! Ha.  We rested up, had some lunch and headed over to take the airboat ride we had scheduled at 2pm!!!   What an incredible view we had of the river, alligators galore, that thrilled Rodney, and birds, saw this hugh bull sitting out in the marsh all by himself!! I have attached some of the pics, I took so many the scenery was beautiful!!! We received our new 60 lb anchor we ordered several days ago so glad it arrived!! Got a good pic of Rod carrying that humongous thing to the boat!!! The boys, Rodney, Jim, and his twin boys went to the shooting range, Paula and I chose to walk through town and enjoy  a pizza of basil, mozzarella, and tomatoes!!  Again, YUM YUM!! 

Just resting this evening waiting for the guys to come home, I may be on vacation but laundry, still has to be done!!! Of course Lexie had a nice walk down the River walk, she loves all the people and other dogs we meet!!!

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

Art and Craft festival in Mount Dora. Whose those ladies hogging the street???

TD bank was taking pictures and giving away post cards, so this is picture of a picture!! Oh and that's an alligator standing between us!!!!

This is a drone that was cruising all over town in Mt Dora we waved at it a lot, don't know if it had a camera or not!!! Looks small but this thing was the size of a small car!!!!

Preparing to board!!!   Ready to ride!!! Airboat tour!!!

Heading into the marsh!!!

Attempting a selfie!!!!  Rod looks like wolf man jack!!! His hair is growing in preparation for the play of the Living Lords supper.. He he trying his best to not cut his hair!!! gets harder to do everyday!!  Ha

I know we were in his home but, he never offered to move when the boat stopped right beside him!!!  BIG GATOR!!

TOO funny!!!  Just not something you see often out in the middle of a swamp!!!  They raise a lot of beef here in Florida!!!

Capt Ron and Capt Rod!!! They got along well!!! Needless to say they had a lot in common!!! 

Our Bike ride this morning !!! Stopped at the Veterans Memorial for pics !!!

The 60 lb anchor arrived!!!! We are hoping it will mean a better nights sleep during bad weather when we anchor at night on the way home!!! This should hold us steady!!!!

2/1/2014 Saturday MY BIRTHDAY!!!!

First of all Thank you Thank you for all the wonderful birthday wishes today!!! I have had many emails, texted, phone call and phone messages!!!  Loved them all!!!!!

I have had a great day!!! First we had scheduled an airboat ride today, and we showed up at 3pm and our scheduled time was at 2, so had to reschedule for Monday!!! Oh well better then than not at all!!!ha It  is suppose to be a prettier day Monday anyway!!!  82 degrees here today but we did have rain off and on today!!!  Sorry you guys up there I must rub in a shorts and tee shirt day!!! Rodney and Jim went to a gun and knife show here in Sanford this morning, right here at the civic center beside the Marina. It was a good boy thing to do!!  Paula and I went to the farmers market, and had a nice birthday breakfast in town!!! 

We all decided to go to Olive Garden for dinner. Had a great time!! Of course they sang happy birthday to me and brought me a whipped cream desert !! I have pics attached!!! 

Rodney surprised me with a pair of earrings of fresh water cultured pearl that completes the set of the necklace I got for Christmas!!! That was a real surprise!!!  

We also went to  Baskin Robbins for an ice cream treat after the great Olive Garden meal!!! It's been a fun day!!!! 

I have attached pictures of the gifts from Paula and Jim!! A cute kitchen apron!!  A cute hat that is soooo me, (picked out by Jim), A warm pair of soft fuzzy socks, bath gel, and a microwave plate cover I needed to prevent splatters while cooking in the microwave !!!! A much usefull item!!!! They also gave me a singing card that was just tooooooofunny !!!

Now that I am over 60 I am now just looking forward to the year I recieve my first social security check!! Ha 

Still planning on leaving here Wed or Thur weather permitting and heading back toward Georgetown. 

May make a few stops in between for a few days !!! I will keep you updated!!!

Much love to all!!!!  Ms. Fran and Capt Rod 

Me wearing all my birthday!!! Ain't that apron just the cutest ????

Our waitress and a few others singing happy Birthday!!!  I love it!!!!! I ain't shy!!! Ha 

My birthday cake!!!! I still made a wish!!!! Never get to old to do that!!!!! I am blessed!!!!

Just wanted to share this beautiful anhinga bird sitting on an awning behind our boat!!!  I never get tired of the birds!!!!!