Jan
3
2012
(2010 files)
We’re back to a reality check; a hard freeze tonight, even in Florida! Growers here are preparing for the worst. It was far easier suffering through the hot temps, then realizing the familiar discomfort of cold! We’re in a three-day cold spell sent down from yous guys in Wisconsin, don’t ya know eh?! Today we hit 50, but sunny. I’ve been watching the wintry weather in the northeast and Midwest; Midwest faring better, so it seems.
Tonight, 28-degrees; FROST WARNINGS; brought in tomatoes and we’ll cover the flowers! Warming trend on the way for Thursday and 77 by the weekend, but we’ll be heading for Two Rivers, WI and Kelly Lake foe 5 days that evening; returning Tuesday. Suppose to be sunny and in the 40s when we arrive in Wisconsin. Roger
Jan
2
2012
Years ago I embraced winter like many of you; skiing, skating, snowmobiling and enjoying the “Kelly Lake Sportsman’s Club Ice Fishing Derby”. As years went by, I found myself tolerating winter; lacking the mobility to partake in the winter sports and outings, but was able to take in the festivities at the Derby.
Now, I’ve resigned myself to the fact I had my day in the sun, and am kicking back in the afternoon shade with photographs and memories to share with the grandkids; presently enjoying the retreat to Florida and warm weather!
From the archives, I selected for review in this new year last year’s fun on the ice; making the best and embracing winter! Click on >>> > http://www.kellylake.net/archives/5321/ .
By the way, since our arrival October 10th here in Florida, the temps have been above normal; almost perfect weather through December. Today, however, a cold front sent down from Wisconsin(!) will drop the thermometer to as low as 32 tomorrow night—Shirley will have to bring her tomato plants in)! High for Wednesday will be 56 before the brief cold spell passes, and temps returning to the mid-70s for the weekend (we’ll be up at Kelly Lake and the Two Rivers area then).
Hope your New Years is starting off well and good! Roger
Jan
1
2012
Happy New Year, especially to all our friends and family at Kelly Lake! Shirley and I are doing well down here in Bradenton, FL; weather 80-ish and sunny. New Year’s Eve day we spent on the beach (as we did most of the week, taking advantage of the heat wave) and ended up swimming here in the pool with a number of the park’s residents. We stayed home, had a ham dinner and, yes, were in bed well before the new year! New Year’s Day will be pretty-much like yesterday!
For the next several days, I’ve chosen a post or two from each month to share. Being we’ll be flying north Thursday for my mother’s (Eva) 100th birthday, I chosen this from the archives: Click here >>> http://www.kellylake.net/wp-admin/post.php?post=5282&action=edit . MOM WILL BE FLYING BACK WITH US ON THE 10TH TO FLORIDA AND PLANS TO STAY WITH US A MONTH OR SO! She had a place in Clearwater, and wants to revisit those old memories of 25 years wintering here.
!Again, Happy New Year as we look back through the archives of 2011! Roger
Me, Shirley, Mother, daughter Laura and Mom at her 99th birthday in Two Rivers at the Lighthouse Inn. Click on pics to enlarge.
Mr. VanLannon (owner) serenades Mom with a Happy Birthday on the violin. At right are two of her sisters, Aunts Marie and Mag. There were 16 kids in Mom’s family!
Dec
31
2011
Christmas has passed and I’m late posting this, but better late than never! The park we live in, Pescara Lake Community, has pot luck every third Thursday of the month at our clubhouse. December’s pot luck’s theme was, of course, “Christmas”. Residence and newly made friends, Leroy and Linda, volunteered to host the dinner. Like many pot luck dinners, when 100 attendants show up with a dish (food, that is), there’s plenty of variety cuisines to partake of; all favorite recipes to share and showoff; all tantalizing and tasteful.
With Christmas nigh, the clubhouse was holiday decorated. Other members help out setting and cleaning up. Bill and Yvonne Gray were good sports and offered to help host the affair, dressed “Claus” fashion. Bill was dressed like, as I called him, the “Hippy-dippy Santa Claus”! Shirley was quick with the camera, snapping shots of the attendees.
Here’s an idea of what goes on during Christmas holiday in a 55+ community mobile park. Yes, I’m 55+ now (no need to remind me) and enjoy these years! You’re only as old as you feel! We have fun!
(Click on pics to enlarge)
Roseann Vojacek.
Santa, Bill Gray with Leroy Barth.
Santa and me.
Yvonne Gray (Santa’s wife).
Santa and Shirley.
Santa under holiday stress!
Cindy, Arden, Wendell, Jim, Jack and me.
Joe and Roseann Vojacek.
Bill, Leroy and Wendel.
Chris and Debbie.
Bill and Yvonne.
Our neighbor, Clem.
Antonia and Linda.
Dec
27
2011
(Note: I had to throw this joke in from Don Moss; a real dandy—the joke, I mean! Roger)
After Quasimodo’s death, the bishop of the Cathedral of Notre Dame sent word through the streets of Paris that a new bell ringer was needed.
The bishop decided that he would conduct the interviews personally and went up into the belfry to begin the screening process.
After observing several applicants demonstrate their skills, he had decided to call it a day.
Just then, an armless man approached him and announced that he was there to apply for the bell ringer’s job. The bishop was incredulous.
“You have no arms!”
“No matter,” said the man, “Observe!”
And he began striking the bells with his face, producing a beautiful melody on the carillon.
The bishop listened in astonishment; convinced he had finally found a replacement for Quasimodo.
But suddenly, as he rushed forward to strike the bell, the armless man tripped and plunged headlong out of the belfry window to his death in the street below.
The stunned bishop rushed down two hundred and ninety five church steps. When he reached the street, a crowd had gathered around the fallen figure, drawn by the beautiful music they had heard only moments before.
As they silently parted to let the bishop through, one of them asked,
“Bishop, who was this man?”
“I don’t know his name,” the bishop sadly replied,
( scroll down )
” ………………. BUT HIS FACE RINGS A BELL!”
WAIT ! WAIT ! There’s moral.
The following day, despite the sadness that weighed heavily on his heart due to the unfortunate death of the armless campanologist, the bishop continued his interviews for the bell ringer of Notre Dame.
The first man to approach him said, “Your Excellency, I am the brother of the poor armless wretch that fell to his death from this very belfry yesterday. I pray that you honour his life by allowing me to replace him in this duty.”
The bishop agreed to give the man an audition, and, as the armless man’s brother stooped to pick up a mallet to strike the first bell, he groaned, clutched at his chest, twirled around, and died on the spot.
Two monks, hearing the bishop’s cries of grief at this second tragedy, rushed up the stairs to his side.
“What has happened? Who is this man?” the first monk asked breathlessly.
“I don’t know his name,” sighed the distraught bishop, “but..”
(. . . Wait for it …)
(.. . . It’s worth it.. ..)
“HE’S A DEAD RINGER FOR HIS BROTHER!”
