Holy Week

I thought I should tell you about everything that has happened so far during Holy Week. On Monday I called to list my house for sale since I am planning my retirement for March 2013. The houses around me have been on the market for a year, so I thought I better get started. I signed the papers in the afternoon and at 6:30 they showed my house. An offer was made along with an earnest deposit. I made a counter offer and by 9:00 they accepted. On Tuesday I signed the papers and started searching for a place in Sioux Falls where I want to retire. Wednesday I came across a loft on Craig's List here in Dell's. I called about it and was able to view it at 1:30. I asked Aaron to come with me and we were very impressed. By 3:00 I called and I made my security Deposit on the loft. Today I met with the owner and signed the lease. Now I want you to know that each of these decision were made after my prayers and the prayers of my prayer group. Holy Week will now have a whole new depth of meaning.

Sarasota

Yesterday we took a trip down to Sarasota to see the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. To get there you have to take the Sunshine Bridge. It is a 4 mile bridge and is the most beautiful bridge I have ever crossed. I thought the clown museum was going to be just that, but we ended up staying there all day. They did have a history of clowns and a video on how to put on a clown face plus a store that had all kinds of supplies from hats to noses to shoes. Really it was a museum about the Ringling Brothers Circus. It was amazing to see all the outfits that the entertainers and the animals wore. They had everything from the truck the used to shoot the clowns out of a cannon to a large scale replica of the whole circus with tents and trains and all. Also what I didn't realize is that the Ringlings had a massive art collection from all over the world. These were all original paintings that came from the 1400's through modern art. Some were so large they covered a wall then there were the smaller ones like the "Blue Madonna". Incredible! Well, today is our last full day here and then we head home. I understand it thawed a little yesterday so I am encouraged!

What a beautiful day! My sister Joyce and I started out with a long walk on the beach looking for sea shells and sand dollars. We sat in the sun and went swimming until about 1:00. Then we went up the beach to John's Bay where there are all kinds of shops on the wharf. I found a white Shirt with a Bird of Paradise flower on it. What is interesting is that the last time Audrey and I were here I looked at a similar shirt in the same store, but I didn't want to spend the money. The shirt has new meaning for me now. It was 78* today!

alligator hunting

ok! We are back from our canoe trip to go alligator hunting. I still have all my appendages and I really did have a great time. The alligators were about 8 ft. but they seemed pretty content just sunning themselves today. The swamp water was low so there were times we had to get out of the canoe to portage to deeper spots. I have one picture of about a dozen vultures at a bend in the water path we were on. I was wondering who they were waiting for. we ended our outing by stopping to eat at The Crab Shack. I had a snow crab cluster and everyone enjoyed watching me digging the crab meat out. I had a very good time and my friend Gary and his wife Donna were wonderful hosts. I took my pictures on a disposable camera so when I get them developed I will try to get them loaded on this site.

Florida break

My family has encouraged me to continue adding to my blog site. This has already been an exciting month with our family all getting together at the Arrow Wood resort in Alexandria Minnesota. We were there from the Tuesday after Christmas until Thursday. It was a wonderful timeand hopefully we can do it again next year.

Now on Saturday my sister Joyce and I have flown into Tampa and we are going to spend the week at our time share on Treasure Island. I found out that a childhood friend of mine is a Pastor at a Presbyterian Church here in St Petersburg so this morning we surprised him and showed up at the morning worship. I haven't seen him for over 40 years, yet he recognized me the minute I walked in the door. We had a wonderful time together today and plan to go alligator hunting tomorrow in a canoe. I hope he has good memories of our relationship!