Our schedule for this week has gone pretty well, although their were a couple of things that didn't work out. I wanted to go with the Lee Girls to Lily's gymnastics class yesterday and that didn't happen. A couple of afternoons when we were at the Lee's, Jim was getting really tired and we came back to camp not long after the girls returned from school.
While I typed on Monday Afternoon, late, Jim and I were uncertain as to whether or not to go up to the KOA with the Lazy Lakes Gang. Jim finally decided we should take advantage of the opportunity and go up and join the group. And, we were glad we did.
After drinks at the KOA, we had been invited to join some of the camp folks for a going away hot dog cookout. The cookout was held at Jerry and Char's campsite, so we simply walked across the street behind the camper.
The cookout was being held in honor of JoAnn and Niels. They were leaving to start their travels back home early Tuesday Morning. A large crowd for hot dogs and then Charlie and Jerry got their guitar and banjo (respectively) out for entertainment. Once the music started, lots of other campers came by and as often the case, they were joined by kazoo's, tambourines, harmonicas, spoons, washboard, etc. Seems the Lazy Lakes Trailer Trash Band continues to grow.
I think I mentioned that Terry had bought me a kazoo. I didn't bring it out on Monday Night. Although, JoAnn did get hers out and JoAnn was presented with a Lazy Lakes Trailer Trash Band shirt. She seemed to be thrilled, kazooed her part in the band and she and Niels had a lot of laughs.
I did not know, until Tuesday, that JoAnn was somewhat sad because she thought this may be the last Lazy Lakes Trip for she and Niels. They have been coming here since the 1980's. Remember, they are the couple that celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary back in February.
Monday was just a great day, starting with our hunt for paint, to painting Hillary's wicker, to calling it a long, long day from Jerry and Char's party.
Tuesday, we went back to the Lee's for a little work around.
Wednesday was the big Thanksgiving Dinner, hosted by Terry and Floyd. And, Fiona played after the dinner.
We were fortunate enough to go down to Finnegan's Wake, last year, to hear Fiona sing, and further fortunate that Fiona and Walt stayed in this part last year, so they were our neighbors. Fiona's performance includes her audience which provides for lots of interaction and fun for everyone. When the audience is not included, she sings so beautifully, everything from Danny Boy, to God Bless America. She performed until 10:00. I will have to admit, I came back to the camper and watched Survivor between 8 and 9! :)
Thursday we went back to the Lee's and, again, not long after the girls got home, Jim was ready to leave. Hillary and the girls left just before we did to get Lily to her gymnastics class.
While working at the Lee House, Jim looked up at the sky and said "oh, my, gosh." Clouds as blue/black as could be were rolling in. We made an immediate decision that Jim needed to drive back up to the camper to bring the slide in, hoping to avoid yet another major leak problem.
Jim said traffic on US1 was horrible. The wind was whipping over the water and the little bridges. One car had a large palm frond blow onto it and the driver had to pull over to the side of the road.
Fortunately, although pouring down rain when Jim got back to camp, there were no leaks yet. Jim thinking it had something to do with the direction the driving rain was coming. Pulling in the slide, he came back down to the Lee's.
On Thursday Morning, while Jim and I were having coffee and reading the paper outside the camper, Terry came by and enjoyed a cup of coffee with us. She said she still had a little turkey, dressing, gravy left from the night before and invited us down for dinner.
As we had the big, big storm earlier in the day, and rain showers all afternoon, Jim and I thought maybe Floyd and Terry could not accommodate us in their camper. Jim walked up to ask Floyd if we needed to take a 'true rain check.' Floyd assured Jim that all was good and he expected us at 6:00.
We were very glad it did work out. I think the meal, the day after, was even better than the meal the night before. To add to the turkey leftovers, Terry had prepared fried sweet potatoes. They were delicious. She says she bakes the potatoes, skins them, slices them lengthwise and fries them in butter and brown sugar. She was pretty funny about this saying that "I take a perfectly good, healthy sweet potato and turn it into something it is not supposed to be."
Jerry and Char were also there for dinner and after we ate, the four of them, Floyd, Terry, Jerry and Char laughed and told me that I would have to play marbles with them. So, I did and had fun. The girls, Terry, Char and myself, played Jim, Jerry and Floyd. The boys won the first game, the girls won the second game and the boys won the third game. I have to think the girls would have won all games if they had not had me for a partner.
We get to keep the little girls tonight while Walt and Hillary go out for a rare night out. They are going out to eat and Jim and I are going to play with Gabby and Lily.
Jim mentioned this morning that he was going to do a little prep work on the camper in anticipation of our trip home next week.
I was back and forth to the laundry room and once, on my return, Jim cranked up the camper. It was kind of exciting to hear her run as she hasn't been started since about two weeks after our arrival. I'll have to admit, I was a little worried about the camper starting after sitting here for two months.
Some checkpoints were addressed and many more to come between now and Tuesday Morning.
Now, for some pictures:
Char, Lorraine and Terry at the KOA.
Linda, camp manager and newly appointed President of Lazy Lakes and Oscar. Oscar is blind. He does play Texas Hold 'em with some of the campers and Linda helps him with his bingo cards at the KOA on the Monday Night Bingo Games. Linda went to Ft. Lauderdale on Tuesday, had all of her teeth pulled and came back with a whole new mouth full of teeth on Thursday. Linda called it "Teeth in a Day." I talked with her this morning (Friday, March 11) and she was out and about, in fact at the office and said she was doing just fine!
Ann Marie and Bill from Delaware (they have only been at Lazy Lakes for a couple of weeks) and the most kind Frisby to Bill's left.
Mike (of Mike and Joan - they left on Wednesday, March 9) Carolyn standing and I do not know the lady sitting next to Mike - KOA
Charlie (our lead in the Lazy Lakes Trailer Trash Band) and wife, JoAnn. They are from Canada.
Jerry (banjo picker) and Dale.
Mike with his back to camera, Charlie, JoAnn, Joan (Mike's wife) and Walter.
Chuck (our neighbor here in camp) and myself. I had joked with Chuck that I could never get a close up picture and he played along. A good sport.
I stepped outside the tent area of KOA, looked up and just thought this was so pretty.
The gathering under the tent at the KOA. The long table on the left is the Lazy Lake Campers. Other tables were being set up for Bingo.
Hot dog cookout at Jerry and Char's. That's me talking to Joan and JoAnn is standing behind Joan along with Ann Marie. After the dinner, Joan was sitting between JoAnn and I. We were all having a conversation. Joan got up for a minute to go speak to Mike. When she started to walk away from Mike he asked where she was going. She told JoAnn and I that she said "I've got people." For some reason this struck me as so funny. When I left the gathering a little later, I just mentioned that I had to go home because I didn't have people.
Beginning of entertainment. At this point there is only Charlie, Jerry and Carolyn on the washboard joined by Greg, a son of one of the campers here. Greg rents a house up the keys and comes down to visit with his dad, Ray, who is a work camper here. Ray and Carol, his wife, have been coming here for years. Carol has spent most of the winter back in Michigan with her mother and will not be returning here until the end of March. So, I will have missed seeing Carol the entire time we have been here.
JoAnn (party in her and husband's honor), Lorraine, Joan, Chuck and Bill, after dinner, and at the beginning of Charlie's entertainment. Pretty soon, this place was packed!
JoAnn playing her kazoo!
Sandy came down with her harmonica and Terry gave Jim a harmonica to play.
T.J. has arrived with his harmonica. T.J. is a double talent. He plays the harmonica and spoons, very, very well. And, of course, Charlie on the guitar and Jerry's arm at the banjo.
JoAnn was so very happy to be presented with her Lazy Lakes Trailer Trash T-Shirt. She went straight home, put it on and returned to play more on the Kazoo.
Sandy and Chuck enjoying the music.
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