Destination Publix - #2

After stopping to take a picture of that beautiful little lake, we took a few more steps only to be reminded that nature isn't all pervasive....

There was some kind of construction project going on here, but we weren't quite sure what it was.  It always intrigues us, how there is no soil here, just sand - no matter how deep they dig.  Kinda explains the reason for sink-holes in the highways after a lot of rain.  Anyway, we passed the digging site and carried on up the road on our gravy mission.  The next thing we espied was some fruit trees growing wild and loaded with fruit.....

On closer inspection, this is what we found....I'm not sure it they are tangerines, or clementines - any guesses?   There were lots of them on several trees blowing in the breeze.  The darn thing moved in the breeze just as I shot a photo - so it is a tad blurry.

A little further on, and we found this building.  Poppa says it is a processing plant of some kind - he wasn't sure if it was water or something less appealing - but it was tidy and clean and well tended.

Not to be dauntd by the increasing heat, and the steady, strong wind, we carried on and soon we could see that we were indeed getting closer to our destination - there's that big building - still off in the distance, but not so far as when we set out..

Destination Publix - #1

Yesterday was another lovely day in Florida!  Since Poppa was still a little sore from golfing after a long hiatus since last year, we decided we would walk up to the Publix to get a jar of gravy.  So, we headed out............here is Poppa waiting for me just across the street in front of the villa.....

.....when I was finished taking a picture, we headed out the gates toward the road.  It was lovely and warm, but quite windy - as you can see by these huge palm trees that grow at the entrance to our community.

Poppa figured it was about a 3/4 hour walk up to the Publix store, so we were taking our time and we strolled up the road.  The Publix is up the road and around the corner, past that big, cream-coloured building you can see in the distance.  As you can see, they are still working on the road.  Last year when we walked to the Publix we had to walk in the ditches - this year there is a sidewalk all the way - much nicer for walking.

After a while we couldn't see the big building any more, but we did walk past this pretty little lake.

Socks & Golf

A couple of days ago it got warm enough for Poppa to decide to go to a driving range and hit a bucket of balls.  Yes, it was a lovely day - no jackets required and sunny!  Finally a day that felt like we were in Florida.  You can see in this picture that the freezing temperatures played havoc with the nice green grass down here........but Poppa had a good time anyway!

Yesterday it was even nicer!  Mind you, when I got up in the morning it was decidedly chilly in the villa.  I peeked at the thermostat and it was blank.  Oh-oh!  Obviously something was wrong with the new heat exchanger that was just installed in October of 2009.  We put in a call to the property management people and they said they would have someone here to look at it.  Since it was warmer outside than in, we decided to take our books out by the pool and relax in the sunshine.  We were out there for most of the afternoon.  At one point, I actually got too hot and came inside to get cooled down a little!  The service man for the heat exchanger appeared mid-afternoon and replaced a sensor in the unit.  He said it must have been a faulty sensor and everything has been fine since.  Squeegie is such a camera ham!

Today was the warmest yet.. the temperature got up to 24C - WhooHoo.  The down-side of that is the fact that it was overcast....but it was lovely and warm!  We really didn't care about the clouds. 

I also had enough time yesterday to finish Auntie Colleen's second pair of socks.

Then I started the last pair of socks requested prior to the yarn grab.  The last time I was at Munchie's place, Mommee and I went on a little shopping trip.  While we were at the Mary Maxim store, she picked out this Paton's Stretch Sock Yarn for her next pair.  So I started them this morning.  Here is what they looked like at about 2pm this afternoon.

The colours don't show up very well in this pic, but I think she will be pleased with the outcome.  She likes that stretch yarn, and the colourway is knitting up much prettier than I expected.  As of now, the heel has been turned and I have started up the foot.  Weather permitting I should finish the first one tomorrow.  Oh wow!

This next picture is Mommee and Munchie.  Munchie has been practising his zipper skills lately.  While zipping and un-zipping his travel bag ( the one he takes to his day-care place), he discovered some socks.  After checking out his little feet and discovering that he already had some socks on, he decided that this pair must be mittens then.

He went to show Mommee what a good boy he was and she was so proud that she snapped this shot of the two of them.  Aren't they cute?

Walking, Knitting & Driving

Yesterday was finally mild enough to go for a walk!  We lazed around most of the morning - just because we could.  Poppa fixed one of the cupboard doors which had some kind of problem with its hinge.  Then after a quick lunch we went for a nice long walk around the neighbourhood.  They are working on the road in front of our community and Poppa likes to see things like that up close.  I ended up taking my jacket off - yes - it was that nice out!   When we got back to the villa we were both quite warm from the walking - so we sat outside and read our books for a while until we got cooled down - what a treat!  Today is supposed to be even warmer, so we're hoping the pool will start to get warm again.  It had been cold for so long that it got quite chilly.  The heater just couldn't catch up to the cold. 

I have one sock finished and the second one started from the previous yarn grab.....this is Auntie Colleen's second choice from that one.

Munchie is getting to be a very good driver.  He was doing such a good job with his safari Jeep and teaching Spidey to drive, that Gramma got him an electric car for Christmas.  It is a new experience for him, since Daddee can make this car go without Munchie doing a thing!  Or, with a little more practice, Munchie will be able to drive it himself - imagine the excitement of that to a small boy!  I understand that he now drives up and down the hall at Munchie's place - somewhat restricted, but serves the purpose.

One More Thing.........

Here is one of the most recent pictures I received from Mommee, of our little Munchkin.  Apparently, he was giving Spidey driving lessons - gave up - pushed Spidey to the back seat and took off, driving himself so he would get there in time for supper!

Yarn Choices!

Final Newsflash!  Kev-Inn has opted for No. 11.  All the wonderful yarn is spoken for....now I have to get it all knitted up!  Thank you so much for participating in the yarn grab.....it was fun for me!  Keep your eyes on the blog for pics, and check your mail for small parcels when I post that yours are done!

Newsflash #5!  No. 6 has been dedicated to Gramma.  Only one colour left - No. 11 is up for grabs.

Newsflash #4!  Nos. 5 & 7 have been snatched up by Mommee - just in time.  Two colours still available.... Nos. 6 & 11.

Newsflash #3!  Nos. 1 & 13 have been snatched up by Granny Maureen!  Still available - Nos. 5, 6, 7 & 11.

Newsflash #2!  Nos. 4, 10 & 12 have been chosen by Auntie Colleen and Uncle Shaun!  Still available - Nos. 1, 5, 6, 7, 11 & 13.

Newsflash!  Nos. 2, 3, 8 & 9 have been chosen by Auntie Muffy and Buddy Tim!

Here you go:

I hope you all find a colour you like!  Watch this post and I will let you know who chose what as soon as I know!

It's All About the Knitting!

With the weather being somewhat chillier (okay - a lot chillier!) than usual, Poppa sometimes finds himself at a loose end regarding what to do!  He decided to do his usual thing - take apart the vacuum cleaner and clean all the parts and filters, then put it back together.  Of course, Squeegie decided that he should help - so the two of them set to it.

He worked on it for quite a while and discovered that a belt was off the "picker-upper" brush (you know the one that whirls around to disturb all the dust/dirt and pick it up and throw it into the vacuum).  So he fixed that and then cleaned a gazillion parts.  While we wait for him to do that...here is the second pair of socks that I finished for Auntie Colleen.

Then I started a pair for Kev-Inn - and they are finished too.  They look like this......

Kinda bizaar aren't they?  Hee!  I never know how the patterns on these variegated yarns are going to turn out until I get knitting.......some I like more than others............I hope Kev-Inn doesn't mind these kinda unusual looking foot coverings!

Here is Squeegie inspecting some of the vacuum parts to see if Poppa did a good enough job.

Once they got it put back together, Poppa vacuumed through the villa and declared that it was working very well.  Then he moved on to the electric kettle and cleaned it all up - it boils much more quickly now!

I really hope the weather warms up soon - so he can get out and do some golfing...there really aren't enough things in the villa for him to keep fixing and cleaning!

Now, I will post this episode, and immediately following I will post the pics of the available yarn for anyone who wants socks - YARN ALERT - choose the number beside the colours you like and advise me via e-mail..........I'm trying to guess which ones everybody will choose - Hee!  Have fun!