Thursday, February 14, 2019

PANERA BREAD, VALENTINE'S DAY, AND A FASHION SHOW!

THURSDAY, February 14, 2019
Travelers Rest Resort
Dade City, Florida
58F, sunny

Happy Valentine’s Day!! As a special treat my Valentine TK drove me to the Panera Bread in Zephyrhills this morning so I could write and post with photos with no frustration.

Today is supposed to warm up considerably, but this morning at 10:30 a.m., it is 58F, which is far better than the 32F in Erie!

Some observations: Apparently speculators are buying farm land around the Dade City, TRR area. It is rumored that another campground will be built next to TRR. Land is available because orange groves are being chopped down, mostly because the trees are suffering from greening.

From the Internet website https://www.floridacitrus.org/newsroom/citrus-411/citrus-greening/what-is-citrus-greening/, Citrus greening (also known as Huanglongbing or HLB) is a disease spread by an insect called the Asian citrus psyllid. The psyllid feeds on the stems and leaves of the trees, infecting the trees with the bacteria that causes citrus greening. Greening impairs the tree’s ability to take in nourishment, ultimately resulting in fewer and smaller fruit over time. Once a tree is infected, there is no cure. 

This is a sad situation—the farmers are selling their land, and few are chopping the groves down and replanting. We have seen areas where more building is going on—the Dade City area is mostly rural, but that has been changing since we have been visiting the last couple years. Besides orange groves, the area is known for cattle farming (mostly beef) and horses.

In the afternoon Mary Lou and I went to a fashion show in the TRR community building. The theme was "Calendar Girls," and I was truly impressed by the planning. Each month was represented by a model, and a holiday or two for each month. Appropriate music accompanied each model. 


Miss Fourth of July

Miss Thanksgiving

The finale--from right to left: Miss St. Patrick's Day, Miss May, Miss June, Miss Father's Day, and Miss Mother's Day
Each outfit came from a thrift shop, friends, their closet, or on sale. 
Most cost between $2 and $30.  I loved the concept.  

TK and Scorchy grilled steaks for dinner and Mary Lou made a salad, baked potatoes, and shrimp cocktail. A fine dinner for Valentine's Day!

Sandhill cranes visit our backyard. They have been quiet this year--usually they wake us up early in the morning!


Here is an outline of the next few days in case Internet access is unavailable.

Friday: TK and I will drive to Mt. Dora for the largest outdoor antique show—Renninger’s Antique Extravaganza—1000 booths! And, my favorite—arepas! https://renningers.net/index.php
AREPAS--From Wikipedia: The arepa is a pre-Columbian dish from the area that is now Colombia and Venezuela.  Instruments used to make flour for the arepas, and the clay slabs on which they were cooked, were often found at archaeological sites in the area of both countries.
The arepa is a flat, round, unleavened patty of soaked, ground kernels of maize, or—more frequently nowadays—maize meal or maize flour that can be grilled, baked, fried, boiled or steamed. The characteristics vary by color, flavor, size, and the food with which it may be stuffed, depending on the region.  My favorite and what they make at the antique show is filled with cheese.

 

Saturday: unplanned-but breakfast at Florida Cracker Kitchen, “A place to come feed your soul and belly at the same time and a lifestyle that brings you to your roots. The Florida Cracker Kitchen located in Brooksville Florida is a Figment of the Blair and Ethan Hensley’s Imagination that has become a reality bringing you to our kitchen table. Come see who we are and please come join us for a meal or two and enjoy our lifestyle.”  http://www.floridacrackerkitchen.com/  I have been “hankering” return there for several years, but we haven’t had the time.  This year we do!

 

Sunday: TK’s brother and sister in law are driving up from the Naples area so the three siblings can be together for the first time in two years. The traditional Trivial Pursuit game may ensue.

 

Monday: Webster Antiques and Flea Market—this is TK’s favorite—old and new, 35 acres of exercise! https://websterwestsidefleamarket.com/


We may start home on Tuesday or Wednesday.


No comments:

Post a Comment