DADE CITY, FLORIDA TO BLACK SHEAR, GEORGIA

Wednesday, February 18 to Sunday, February 22, 2009
Travelers Rest Resort
Dade City, Florida

Weather--mostly high 60s/mostly sunny

We traveled to the Dade City, Florida area to visit Tim’s sister and brother-in-law. They have a 34 ft. Airstream and a cabana with full bath at Travelers Rest Resort, an RV park. (http://www.travelersrestresort.com/) On Thursday we took a little day trip to Homosassa, Florida, to buy stone crab and fresh shrimp straight from the fishermen. This area of Florida was recently affected by frost and some orange trees and other plants were damaged. A restaurant/bar operated by the same fishermen, The Freezer, was very interesting—it is actually a huge freezer-now entirely open air. It reminded me of the Cape Pond Ice Company in Gloucester, Massachusetts of The Perfect Storm and Andrea Gail fame—a huge ice making facility that provides ice for sword fishing vessels and others.

By the way, stone crabs are good, but the shell is as hard as a stone!!??!

On Friday we all went to Renniger’s Antique Extravaganza in Mt. Dora, Florida—advertised as 1000 dealers on 117 acres. The show is worthwhile. I bought two older red-checkered tablecloths—my favorite for our summer parties. I cannot imagine one item that I did not see at this show, from art pottery to art glass to copper to American primitives, record albums, furniture, fifties décor, garden furniture, you name it! Next year we will bring a truck! Imagine our car with all the luggage, all the souvenirs, golf clubs, packed to the roof! No room for antiques!

Tim golfed on Saturday with Scorchy while Mary Lou and I drove to the Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, Florida—this is a very nice outdoor mall with shops I do like.

Sunday, February 22 to Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Visiting Cousins
Blackshear, Georgia

We traveled to Blackshear, Georgia, to visit first cousins, some who still reside in Toledo, Ohio, and some who have made their home here. One of my dear cousins, their sister, had passed away on Saturday evening, so it was good that we were able to be here at this time.

The weather was quite fair, cool in the evening and sunny/fair during the day. At night the view of the stars was phenomenal because Blackshear (pop. 3300) is rural. Tim did golf on Monday. This is a nice area about 120 miles from Savannah.

When I talked to my brother in Waterford, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night, he told me they had experienced 249 inches of snow so far this winter!! He certainly has not begun his gathering of sap to make his maple syrup yet! Maple Syrup weekend is March 14 and 15, so he will be busy soon! I also talked to friend M, who told us not to hurry home because it still was not good weather in Erie!

Culinary Delights:
TK: stone crab
MJK: Cousin Phyllis’ slow cooked ribs, Southern style, and seven layer Italian cream cake