AUGUST 2013 - UPDATE

WEEK OF AUGUST 5 - 9, 2013

I am so happy to finally be able to get into my BLOGSPOT account again.

This week was an exciting one for me and my two Grand Girls.

We volunteered at PEACE OF CHRIST parish,

as Craft and Snack support, and teen helpers, during their Summer Session.

Summer Session is part of their Religious Education

Program and ran from 9 AM to 3 PM,

Monday through Friday.

Two of the most popular crafts are shown below:

The EYE of GOD craft used lots of donated yarn scraps from

parishioners of Peace of Christ Parish.  Even the smallest balls of yarn came in

handy as loops for the Christmas ornaments we made on Tuesday,

and later on Thursday, for the center of the EYE of GOD. 

We used popsicle sticks for their project but my demo

sample was made on two twigs from my backyard.

We especially liked VARIGATED yarn because

the colors changed as the piece grew and

we did not have to continually tie on new colors.

So, keep your local Church in mind when you have leftover

yarn that seems insignificant in length.  It comes in handy

when they work with Youth, and include Crafts

as part of their program.

  

Another highlight of the week for me was the fact that we attended daily Mass

the three days it was held in St. Ambrose Church.

Father Tim Brown (the son of one of my high school classmates)

began by vesting so the children could learn what

his vestments were and their significance.

The children had learned the three songs used

during the Celebration and one of our

teen staff was the Cantor.

We are already looking forward to volunteering again next Summer.

It is so wonderful to have this golden opportunity to introduce my

Grand Girls to the joys of Volunteering, as I was at their ages,

and to know it will be a Gift that lives on in their lives,

as long as they chose to use it.

MAY 12, 2013 - GREENSBORO, NC

SUNDAY

MAY 12, 2013

 

What an amazing experience it is,

while traveling,

to seek out a parish to visit

for Sunday Liturgy.

We use:  www.masstimes.com

It helped us locate St. Mary's in Greensboro, NC,

just a few miles from our Greensboro Campground,

where we attended 11 AM Mass today.

 

 

 

 

 

St. Mary's was a very welcoming community.

Father Charlie, a Vincentian priest,

was our Celebrant.

 

 

At the conclusion of Mass,

Father Charlie shared the important bulletin announcements,

and then took the time to

ask all Visitors to stand and

introduce themselves, and tell the town they were from.

 

Next, he asked for all Birthday people to stand,

and the Choir Director led us in singing

Happy Birthday.

 

The next round was for those

with Wedding Anniversaries,

to which we sang Congratulations.

 

Father Charlie made a special point

of Congratulating a young man

who had just received his

PhD in Industrial Systems Engineering.

You could see the Communities joy

over his great accomplishment.

 

Last but not least, Father Charlie

asked all Mothers to stand,

and several Ushers came forward and

gave the Mothers a Yellow Rose,

after Father Charlie said a blessing for us.

 

 

They had no way of knowing how special that color

was to me.  When my daughter, Kathy was born,

I received a Yellow Rose from an Aunt

in our family who had given birth

to her Son on that same day,

several years before.

It just happened that we were spending

Mother's Day this year, with Kathy,

and that was how we were in the area.  

 

 

After Mass many of the parishioners gathered

on the lawn to take pictures,

and were thrilled to have me take a few

pictures to remember our visit with.

 

Three of the ladies posed in Church for me,

and we exchanged e-mail addresses,

so I could send the pictures to them.

They have given me permission to post

these wonderful photos.

 

We know we will see them again,

in future visits with Kathy.

 

 

 

When I inquired about the special fabric in their

dresses, the ladies told me it was from

Nigeria.  I could not help but think of

Father Jerry Aman, SJ who has

ministered in Nigeria for years.

 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAY 5, 2013 - SNOWBIRDS are migrating North via Interstate 95

MAY 2 - 4, 2013

 

On May 2nd, we progressed 294 miles from Florida to South Carolina.

The weather was not very cooperative.  We had torrential rains most of the way.

I was so thankful when we reached our destination, that I didn't even

want to venture out to dinner.  We had a nice meal in our RV instead.

Planned leftovers are such a blessing on days like that.

Another blessing of the day was gas priced at $3.18 a gallon in South Carolina.

 

MAY 3rd

 

One of the joys of a dry travel day is being able to get out

and walk at the rest areas.  I was able to take these lovely

photos of the Scarlet Red Poppies beds planted along

 Interstate 95, from a rest area in North Carolina. 

Later we had blue flowers, some of which

I am sure were Bachelor Buttons.

Gas in North Carolina was $3.23 per gallon.

We traveled 263 miles today. 

 

 

One of many beds of Poppies along Interstate 95 in North Carolina.

 

Scarlet Red Poppies along Interstate 95 in North Carolina.

Bachelor Buttons along Interstate 95 in North Carolina.

 

 MAY 4th

 

 

A field of Buttercups and Cows near

 Smithfield, Virginia.

 

We traveled 186 miles on Saturday, May 4th

which makes for a total of 743 from Florida to

our first family visit.

 

MAY 5th

 

We had a lovely day with my sister and her husband,

enjoying Smithfield, Virginia.

In the afternoon we attended a performance

of OLIVER at the Smithfield Little Theatre,

with an outstanding Cast of so many

talented young people.

We drove into Norfolk for dinner

at Bonefish Restaurant.

 

 

Sculpture outside Smithfield Little Theatre

 

 

Rita and Linda

BARBERVILLE Pioneer Settlement SPRING FROLIC '13 - Barberville, FL

SATURDAY

APRIL 27, 2013

 

Thanks to our friends, Ken and Vivian,

for taking us to enjoy this wonderful day of Music

and Arts and Crafts in the Pioneer Settlement.

In addition to the six stages scattered

throughout the Settlement,

there were two JAM tents and two Workshop

locations.

 

 

 

Interesting Recycle Art

 

 

 

Hand crafted Drum

 

Russ and Rita by Model A's

which reminded Rita of the auto

her Dad had during her childhood.

 

Corvette

I am proud as a Peacock to

have gotten this beautiful image.

It was worth the time and effort to

catch him just right, as he strutted around the

large enclosure in the Settlement.

 

There was an opportunity for the guests to

participate in Square Dancing and Contra Dancing.

I think Russ' cowboy hat was what led one of the

Helper Dancers to spot him, and pull him into a square.

It was his first square dancing since 2007.

It sure gives us something to think about in the future.

 

 

 

We will be on the Road Again, later this week.

See you all soon.

In the meantime, please keep us in your prayers,

for safe travels.

 

 

 

 

APRIL 3, 2013 JOURNEY TO AUTHORING MY OWN BOOK

WEDNESDAY

APRIL 3, 2012

 

The joy of our 30th Wedding Anniversary USA Tour,

this past summer,

lives on in the two volumes of the photos

I took in the 142 days we were away from home.

 

I am thankful for having purchased my camera,

a CANON Power Shot SX40HS,

six months before we departed.

That gave me plenty of time to

get comfortable with the camera, and to know

the importance of having spare

 SX cards and batteries

fully charged, with me at all times.

 

I mention the importance of having spare SX cards,

and batteries with you,

because there were days when

we forgot to check that I had put the SX card back

into the camera, and I was too far away from our RV

to save the day.  One day, we backtracked so Russ

could pick up his Camcorder which we had taken

into the RV to download overnight. 

 

At the end of each travel day, I used my camera review feature

 to delete poor images, before I downloaded my pictures

 to my laptop.  I did keep the good pictures

 on my SX card, as a precaution.

  Once I had the images in my laptop, I deleted even more

images because of quality issues.

I stored the photos by date taken, and named that date i.e.:

2012 7-3 Mount Rushmore.

 

As our tour came to an end, be began to create

CD's for each month of travel, to share with our

friends and family.  

We soon realized it is not easy for others to sit

through our "viewings" given their busy schedules.

So, we made a set for each of our children,

and hope they will take time to view them when

they have a quiet day.

 

I began to long for something that did not require

my laptop or CD's, to show folks pictures of our trip.

Snapfish has printed my photos in the past,

and I saw several books they had created for a friend,

so we decided to use their service to

publish my books.

I learned they had a 90 page limit

for their 11"x 14" Flat-cover book,

and soon realized I would need to create two books.

It worked nicely that the first 71 days were before

our Fantasy RV Tour, and the final 71 days

included their Tour and our return trip home.

 

At the beginning of January, 2013,

I prepared a list of the things I wanted to include in my book.

I started a folder on my Computer that I pulled

images to, from the dated folders.

 

This week I held in my hands the fruit of my labor to document

our 30th Wedding Anniversary - USA Tour, this past summer.

 

Rita holding: 

 

 2012 - #2 OUR 30TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY USA TOUR

 

which covers our Fantasy RV Tour of the Western

National Parks, August 28th through September 29th,

 as well as our journey home from Grand Canyon Village

 to Palmyra, New York.

It is a 90 page Flat-cover, hard-back book,

 jam packed with magnificent photos of the many

National Parks we visited.

 

Our five week journey home across

the Southern half of the USA,

included such  fascinating places as:

Albuquerque, Taos, Santa Fe, and

Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico,

and San Antonio, Texas.

We dropped the RV at our winter home

in Summerfield, Florida,

and visited

family at three stops

on the final leg of our journey North.

 

 

 

 

Russ holding:

 

2012 - #1 OUR 30TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY USA TOUR

 

which covers from June 18th through August 27th,

(the Northern and West Coast)

 portion of our tour.

It includes all of the Lighthouses,

and most of the Churches and two Missions

I have covered in two additional,

topic specific volumes.

 

If you are interested in viewing any of these books,

drop me a note with your e-mail address,

and I will send you the link to Snapfish.

 

My special e-mail address for this request is:

grandmarita15@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2013 - Happy Easter

HAPPY EASTER

HE IS RISEN

 

 

 

This joyful scene greeted us this morning at

St. Mark the Evangelist Church

in Summerfield, Florida.

 

 

 

It was like being in the Garden of Paradise.

 

 

We pray you and yours have a Joyful Easter Season,

and safe travels, if you are away from home.

 

 

 

MARCH 26, 2013 - UPDATE including YALAHA BAKERY

MARCH 26, 2013

Where has the time gone?

It's hard to believe we have been standing still for almost two months.

Life has been eventful for us as many of you know. 

My exciting news today is that I have finally

sent Volume One and Volume Two of:

OUR 30TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY USA TOUR

for publication.  The two books will be in an 11x14 inch

hard cover, Flat-book format.  I can hardly wait for them to arrive.

Some of the fun times have been
spent at outdoor musical events such as
the Saturday Concerts at the Yalaha Bakery
on their Patio.

The lovely Patio area of Yalaha Bakery
where Saturday Concerts are
held from 11 AM to 2 PM, through April 13th.
A vendor sells: Beverages including German beers,
German sausage, German Potato Salad and
Sauerkraut combos, outside, and
inside you can partake of pastries and buy other
lunch choices in the Deli area.
If you go, be sure to take a number
to place your order inside.  Lines can be lengthy.

Patchouli performed several times this year,
and will be there Easter Sunday from 12 Noon to 3 PM.
See more at: www.patchouli.net

Jose & Luis
Classical Guitarists
will appear again on April 6th

For more information go to:
www.yalahabakery.com

We have been blessed with several Bands here at our
Southern Oaks RV Resort, on Saturday evenings,
as well as an average of two to three Pot Lucks each month.
I did a Pampered Chef party in February,
and earned some great new products for
myself and as gifts for several folks.

This week our membership to Silver Springs was
about to expire, so we made a point of going
there on March 29th for a glass bottom boat ride
and a stroll along the paths.  Many of the Spring
flowers were ones that we will not see blooming
back home until June or July.

Wisteria

Bottle Brush shrub

Male Green Anole, his chirping inflates
his throat like a balloon.
He is from the Iguana family.

One of my adventures this month was
replacing my glasses that I accidentally
stepped on during the night.  That necessitated
a couple of trips to Ocala.
Lenscrafters to the rescue!
They fixed me up with bi-focals the same
day, and ordered tri-focal lenses for me
to have a week later.  Great service,
and immediate attention when we
visited on a week day.

  

JANUARY 24 - 26 YEEHAW JUNCTION FESTIVAL PICTURES

THURSDAY - SATURDAY

JANUARY 24 - 26, 2013

 

Keith and Darlene Bass are to be congratulated

for the marvelous 19th Annual Bluegrass Festival they have

given us this week.  We were too engrossed in being here

to post before this time which is after the fact.

This is just the beginning of the Florida Bluegrass

Festival circuit for us.  They are also offering other

Festivals which you can learn about

by going to their website:

www.KDBass.com

 

 

All the festivities took place under the most magnificent Tent

we have ever been under - anywhere,

and we have been to Bluegrass Festivals from Maine to Florida,

Wyoming, and Kentucky.

 

 

 

We had the joy of seeing one of our absolute

favorite groups, NOTHIN FANCY  from Virginia,

 twice on Thursday and twice on Friday.

 

NOTHIN FANCY

 

 

Justin Tomlin, Tony Shorter  & Mike Andes

of NOTHIN FANCY

 

NOTHIN FANCY welcomes visits to their website:

www.nothinfancybluegrass.com

 

which is updated daily with information

 about their engagements and new releases.

 

They have a marvelous Festival which we have

attended several years in

Buena Vista, Virginia,

in mid-September.

We highly recommend this Festival.

 

We had the pleasure of hearing six

wonderful groups

that were new to us:

 

Cody Shuler and Pine Mountain Railroad from Tennessee

 

Hagar's Mountain Boys from North Carolina

 

Father and Son

part of Hagar's Mountain Boys

 

 

 

Hagar's Mountain Boys

from North Carolina

 

Cumberland Gap Connection from Kentucky and Tennessee

 

Still-House from Virginia

 

The Roys from Tennessee

included a Brother and Sister

 

Sister and Brother

of The Roys

 

 

The Roys was a lively group.

 

 

Jerry Butler and the Blu J's from Tennessee

were the first act on Thursday

and got us off to a great start.

 

Familiar faces in the Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road

from North Carolina,

reminded us of their wonderful indoor festival

we attended in November 2011,

in Greensboro, North Carolina.

 

 

Lorraine Jordan

 

Finally, Junior Sisk and Rambler's Choice

from Virginia was another

band we had heard in the past

at Sterling Belcher's

Triple Creek Bluegrass Festival in

Rocky Mount, Virginia,

as well as here at Yeehaw Junction.

 

 

Junior Sisk and Rambler's Choice from Virginia

 

In between bands, I took a walk around the grounds

or should I say the pasture. 

I was amazed at the friendly neighbors

who had moved over to make room for all of us.

I was reminded of the very first time we attended

this Festival in 2010,

when we arrived early and heard them "talking"

I swear they said YEEHAW to welcome us.

 

"Pretty Face"

neighbor posed for me.

 

 

You don't have to have a big rig

to come and enjoy this Festival.

 

 

During my walk around, 

I stopped to visit with Mary Rose Robinson,

and purchased her autobiography

which was just published in 2012,

entitled MY JOURNEY IN HIS STORY.

 

We met Mary and Mike the first year, 2005,

we had our Fifth Wheel,

while at Jenny Brook Festival in Weston, Vermont.

What a joy to read of their

 Bluegrass Gospel Sing Ministry

adventures.

You must get yourself a copy

either at a Festival or by going online to:

www.bluegrassgospelsing.com  

 

If it were not so late, I would read

the last few Chapters before calling it a day.

It is captivating reading.  Mary has done a

remarkable job of  telling their

story of thirteen years in this

unique Ministry.

We look forward to their Sunday

morning Gospel Sings at the many

Festivals we attend each year.

 

 

We had three young folks called to the Stage

to perform with several of the groups.

I am sorry I did not get their names

 

but they were a refreshing addition to the line-ups.

 

 

 

 

 

Last but not least a photo

of Keith Bass with

The Florida Bluegrass Express

 

 

The Florida Bluegrass Express

host band of the Festival