TRAVELING DAY

no pictures today as i didn't take any...hows that for an excuse!!!!!!!! we left old town about 9:30 in the rain and t/storms...we drove in it for about 2 hrs then it was just cloudy and cooooooool...

we decided to hold up in penscola, fl for 3??4?? days before heading west...not much to report as today was a travel and we even had to change time zones so now we are in central time...it will throw us off a wee bit but i'm sure we can handle it...just think that stuff on tv at 8 will be on at 7..so next sunday when the super bowl in on we will watch it an hour earlier...good for the time we go to bed...

tomorrow we plan on going to the navy/air force museum we have been acopuple of times before but it is a nice museum even the price is right FREE...we may even check out a bike trail not sure about doing it or not as the temps aren't as warm as southern florida...suppose to go into the low 30"s tonight just like the first week in dade city..may take the hose off just in case of freezing...even have the furnace on...

so all's still going according to schedule what ever that is but we are on it....

MITCHELL

isn't this just a beautiful picture of mitch...it was done for us by a habitat friend...jean asked me one day if she could paint mitch...of course i said..she likes to paint animals and she showed me some of the ones she had done for others...she took a picture of him on friday the weekend we were to leave and by sunday she had it doine...it is now framed as you can see and as soon as we get a hook we will find a place to hang him...we sure are grateful for the painting as it will be a reminder for years to come...she is a specail person as mitch is a special dog..

god bless

NATURE COAST TRAIL 1/28/10

yesterday we took off on a bike ride on the nature coast trail..at one place it splits into three different directions so we took one..ended up doing 18 miles and today we plan on doing another section of it....as you can see by the pictures how nice it is...NO hills just nice with a little bit of rise and some small curves on the trail..met several others who were also enjoyig the trail...we have done part of this trail several years ago and wanted to do more of it...it is in old town which for most of us makes us think of maine

in a way it is nice to kick back and not have to worry about getting up to go to work --that will change soon...this part of florida is horse and cos country..we have gone by many large farms with some beautiful fences and reminds us of kentucky...one would never think of florda as cow country but it is...

tonigt out to dinner for fish as we've been told there is a great seafood restaurant that is reasonable...so why not it is friday and we like fish....rain in the forecast for tomorrow and possible a tornado so we will need to be on the outlook...

DISNEY

ok we finally made it to disney!!!!arrived there about 3pm on monday and decided to take a dry run to see how the bus system worked and where to go to get our tickets and what evder else we needed to know...no problem finding the right bus to take to epcot and went to guest relations where we were told to pick up our tickets..then on to the monorail for another dry run and after which we took to boat ride back to fort wilderness camoground...not a problem...but then on tuesday when we wanted to go to the park first thing we messed up with the bus system..then we finally got to the right place only to have the system break down..so it took us about 1 1/2 hr to get to the park..then off to get our tickets where we were told the day before only to be told we needed to go to anther place to pick them up,,,finally we did that and had tickets in hand...we got inside the park about 2 hr later than we thought we would..so off we go to see the sights and ride the rides..started off with the space ride not a problem...had map in hand and planned our day...saw lots rode lots of rides and even got a couple of fast passes--for those of you who have never gotten a fast pass you get a ticket that tells you when to come back to stand in line for the ride but it puts you in another loine which goes much faster that the other lines....we wure were glad we didn't go on a busy day cause there were lots of others there and if it were spring break or a vacation time the lines sure would have been much longer and many more people around...we hade fun but right now would we rush back...i don't think so...the park was very clean and most were helpful if we asked any questions...i guess amusement parks just aren't things for us...but we can cross off disney from our bucter lists....i'm not crazy about rides but the ones we took were not problem for me...as they didn't go off the ground very high nor very fast....

we had planned on going back in the evening but after it took us so long to get there we decided to stay till about 6 then just go back to the campground to walk mitch and stay there...so that is what we did as it took us over an hour to get back..then we would have had to turn around right away to et there in time for the fire works and who knows we might have missed them due to the bus system...all in all it was a good day even with a few snaffus...that's life

so now we are in old town, fl and for the next couple of days we planned on bike riding...

LAST CARE-A-VANNERS CAMP FIRE

the last day was for the most part uneventful...about 5tam friday morning it started to rain again and i mean rain-hard...we woke up and both of us said it sounds like we won't be working today so we went back to sleep only to wake about 6:30 or so and it wasn't raining so we thought we had better get up cause there will be work...so up we got and sure enough we worked...

got alot done ..lar continued to work on the chain link fence he had been doing for a coupbe of days and i went back to work on the 100's of hurricane clips but not till after i had put up some insulation on a wall...after which it was back to the clips and rechecking the clips and then again and again..they have to have the right amopunt of clips in each one or the inspector won't pass the house..there is NO way an hurricane in going to mess up these houses

the evening going away gathering was around the camp fire and a hot dog roast...the gals had a special award for one of the site bosses a special award...so don hickman composed us a song which is one of the pictures--one is of othe volunteer organizer of the affilate here in dade city..then of course lar presented the team leaders a gift form us--they did a great job....

so on monday we move on to disney for a day after that we are heading to lousianna where we are scheduled for another build..meeting tony and caroline..bt firdt we are meeting outside new orleans at a state park for a feew days before we have to report at the next build...

hope you are all enjoy the winter we are...

THURSDAY-ONE MORE DAY

today we thought we might get rained off but it held off till we got thru work and as a matter of fact it hasn't rained yet very hard...got alot of work done...iworked on nailing in hurricane clips and it muct have been hundreds..i evn went uo 3 rungs on a ladder...good for me as i don like ladders buyt i told myself i can do it and by the grace of god i did it....it is hot tedious work and by the time the day was over my arms knew i had pounded nails in all day...

lar worked on instuling fence around the house that was dedicated last saturday..each home owner gets a fence ;put around their property...

tomorrow is the lat day of work for us on this build..it will be sad in away to leave as we have made lots of new friends--but we still have to old--it has been a great group to worlk with and everyone gets al;ong like family..we are just a bunch of amish buikding a house or two...the pictures as you will see are the whole group or most of it that we have worked with this past 2 weeks...

MONDAY ON TUESDAY

because we were off yesterday that is why monday falls on tues this week..today was a very busy day..the men worked on putting the trusses up and some of us were the ground part of it...there was a good working bunch so they all got up and tomorrow the sheating will started up and who knows how far that will go...we a re now down to only three more days of work..

most interesting today we had a couple come for the day working on their disney tickets from near watertown and atlunch we got talking and she was into to training dogs etc so i asked if she knew shirley hubble yes she says...also one of the straw bosses worked at a plant where one of my brother-in-laws worked in michigan..so i says it is a small world...you just never know where you might just run into some one you know or knows someone you know etc...life is good and god bless yu all

MLK's BIRTHDAY

the work site celebrated martin luther king's birthday with a day off...so some of the group went golfing-to a really big flea market-shopping and lar and i went biking...we did 14 miles and my rear end knows it..we need to get into condition again...four more days of work here before we move on to lousianna...but first we go to disney land!!! we have recieved our c[vochers for a free day at disney..not sure if any of you know abou the program disney has going ...it is called give a day get a day...it is for volunteers...habitat is one of the organizations that qualifies for it...we have never been so it will be something different for us...the local habitat has recieved way over 300 calls about coming to work..we have worked with some f them already..the only thing is that most of them are onlu gooing to volunteer one day to get the ticket and not plan on returning..that's the sad part...some of our group will not put in for the tickets and if they don;\'t want them thay can donate the tickets to places like "make a wish" etc....

this has been a great group opf car-a-vanners to work with it is almost like we've known each other for years...there is even a couple from ithaca and some of you might even know him..adon kickman who used to be the principle in newfield and also teaches the 55 alive also drives for gad-a-bout for those who don't know it is transporation for the handicapped and seniors...

tonight we are s getting together for a breakfast /dinner...

FORGOT

i forgot to mention what one of the pictures was all about... it was time to empty our black water tank...so it was a chaore for tom and larry...as it had to go up-hill was a ways...so it is salways a big jke when they are doing it...the hose even broke on tim ..so that made it even more funny.....

FIRST WEEK HAS ENDED

this has been a very good week and we have seen lots done...the house is one that 6 of us spent a day at doing destruction of..meaning that the house has been donation to habitat to come and get stuff out of it for the resale store...we took over head vans-light fixtures-sinks-paneling-anythng taht was attached then it goes to the warehouse for sale later...again an exhausting day..

on firday habitat had been given what was left inside a a middle school as it is coming down and a new one is being put in it's place...so about 20 of us volunteered for the job...we moved desks-chairs-book cases-30 or more file cabinets-and other stufff that you find in a school...some took down the blinds-sinks-you name it and it was attached to something it came down...then of course it had to be put on a trailer and moved to the warehouse for them to sell...again it was a very busy day and the women were told waht hard workers we were....

then the group of us went out to dinner at a place called beef-o-brady's so a good time was had by all and a good week..

this morning saturday started off with a dedication of a house that lar worked on the front steps all week and thye look great makes the house...then after 6 of us went on a bike ride..we did about 12miles so the biking starts..we hope to do some more tomorrow depending on the weather as rain is in the forecast...

so footbsll later and dinner with christine and tom..

tomorrow off to church with irma ..a black service..we went with her last year and it was vdery rewarding..i think she just waits till she can talk some of us to go wit her not sure how many will join us but several have said they will go...

temps today in the high 70's and just hink a couple of days ago it was half that...

life is good...

WEDNESDAY

day three has come to an end and i am exhausted again today...but i will come alive for th bon-fire at 4...today christine and i built a wall and put it in after we did some more plumbing of the walls...part of the wall had already been done by a church that is sending the pre-fab so we had to remodel it and it was perfect...later on after lunch we were assigned a more difficult piece and with the help of earl we have that almost done and tomorrow it will go in place...

lar continues to work on the front/dise porches of the house to be dedicated on sat..he says it is almost done..

we had to walk to lunch today..about 4 blocks away to a church...we had the most delicious lima beans and pork...even had sweet potato for dessert..mmm goood--i even shared my with lar..

tonight after the bon-fire a couple of the couples are coming to our rig for soup...after a big lunch we decided not to eat lots hahahahaha for some...

the build is going good and we see progress each and every day...and that is our most important product...(wonder who said that)--this afternoon irma came by--she is a local gal who got a houe a few years ago and still comes to volunteer but this fal she had a hip repleacment and developed a blood clot so she has been "jailed" to house but finally she has been alowed to get out...great seeing her ...she even has a bunch of us going to church with her on sunday...we went last year --great singing and good service..suppose to rain on sunday so we have a plan...

by coffee time i took off a layer and at lunch i shed another layer so by afternoon i was working in short sleeves..could have almost put on a pair of shorts...so i guess we are finally in FLORIDA....

EXHAUSTED

can you believe that we are exhausted...we have been very busy building..lar has been working on a side porch and the job needs to get done as the house is being dedicated on saturday...so he and a couple of other guys are on a time schedule...for me i've working with christine and we have been helping put up the walls...the walls have all been pre-fab...there is a church that wants to help in Te area so they have been given the measurements of te walls and have been building them in their parking lot and then trucking them here...some of the walls work fine then there are the others that need some redoing...i have been busy helping with that job..today we went to a store house to bring the inside walls to the site for tomorrow...so my muscles are getting some weight lifting..

sun has been out today..not warm this morning but at least we see some sun...by lunch time we can shed a layer of clothes but not working in short sleeves yet...this weekend we are hearing chances of rain but warmer so time will tell....

not sure how the oranges on the trees are doing but the news sure does talk about them...we are also hearing that the freeze not only is taking a toll on the m but also the trees and it may be a couple of years before the groves recover..so plan on paying more for orange juice from florida....

the evening plans are for a camp fire but only till the sun goes down as it then gets cold...

LASY YEARS HOUSES

here are some more pictures of the houses we worked on lasy year...and also mitch's favorite way to travel...SLEEPINH...he spends most of his time just sleeping away...but as soon as we opend up a snack he is awake and looking just in case it is something for him...oh he sometimes gets the crumbs....he really is a good traveler..he hasto get in the truck when we are packing or he is under foot.. so we put him in the truck and he can do his favorite thng sleep...oh for a dogs life ahhahahaha....meeting tonight and up with an alarm tomorrow...

SAT...

ice in florida...this pictures are to prove it...als one of the houses we worked on last year...

WE'RE HERE

arrived here in dade city around 3 yesterday afternoon and it sure looks different all the houses we worked on last year and were half done are now done and families are living in them...it is a nice sight to see cars parked in driveways..no kids outside playing as it is cold and wet..lar just came in and says we are getting sleet not sure if it is coating the roads or not yet..but i guess we will stay put..had thought about going to wal-mart but that can wait..

thursday when we camped lar noticed we had a flat tire on the rig so on friday morning we called AAA to come change the tire..we pay for the AAA so why not use it..a nice young man cam and got the tire changed in NO time so then soon we got back on the road...we were glad we didn't have a blow out on the road...also we were glad we got further south than atlanta especially after watching the local news and seeing all the slipping and sliding on the road and banging into each other....again the good lord sure has been watching over us...stirring us in the right direction as to when to get on the road or stay put....

all's well...

WE ARE GONE

for most of you know that we detained our departure for a day due to the weather way to cold and windy to be on the road..the wind was a big concern and we have extra days workedci into our schedule so we did not have to leave on monday..but instead we got on the road tues by 9am..made it al the way to winchester, va and stayed at a red roof inn...over the years we have found it just easier to stay the first night in a motel besided red roof inns let [pets stay for free..so mitch is happy not have to sleep alone in the truck or rig...

lar noticed last night that the furnace was NOT working the way it should..so he did a wee bit of troublde shpting last night --one of our propane tanks was empty so he thought maybe that waa the problem so today we found a campers world that fills tanks..and can you believe that the guys that could fill the tank were out to lunch aas we were their atlunch time...so we did a wee bit of shopping -bought a new outside rug-and decided to way for them to return from lunch..in the mean time lar decided to check the tires a couple of them needed some air--he got permisssion to use their air..finally we had the tank filled and got back on the road --it was about an hrs wait..so instead of finding a campground like we had thought we would we found another red roof in..

made it as far as charlotte, nc arrived around 6pm..so for us it was a long day but we also got out of th snow..in the charlotte the snow has disappeared but flurries are in the forecast...the new [propane did not help the furnace and lar is thinking of a number of things it might be but he needs time and daylight in order to look at it...hoipefully tomorrow some time or it just might wait till we get to dade city...we can just roll with it...life is good....alls well and we are safe and sound warm and or bellies are full so what more doesa person want...god bless

GOOD MORNING 2010

ok here we are off to a good start this 2010..lar yells at me this morning come look out the dining room window so of course i come and there was this HUGE tom turkey eating under the bird feeders...it is the biggest bird we've seen in a long time..my guess he was here to say look what i look like and i know you won't be back in time to hunt me nor my brothers this spring hahahahahaha...

hope you all had a good new years celebration no matter what you did even went to bed before the ball dropped in times square..we did our usuall thing our good friend roy and carol hosted their annual new year's eve gathering ..so the evening was full of alot of tales-food-laughter-and good cheer..it was the usuall bunch of friends...

today and the next couple of days we are trying to get the rig packed and ready to roll out of here on monday..lar and mitch are getting ready to take the first walk down the creek at the bottom of the hill for the first of the year hunt and the laast of the seasons..mitch is getting real excited ahhahaah..the water will be coooollllldddd if he has to retrieve anything....

we are wishing you all the very best this coming year--god has been good to us and we sure do appreciate it...god bless you all