We arrived at The Villages on Easter Sunday about 2:00 PM and were able to get into the house we rented at 525 Adeline Way in the Village of Hadley. It's the first time we rented a Courtyard Villa and I just love it, especially this one. The furniture is so nice and so comfortable and there is a lanai with a birdcage so there is lots of room to sit outside and the furniture there is cushioned and comfortable too. We went to Lake Sumter Landing because I thought that was where we had to go to get our IDs but everything was closed for Easter. So we went to Winn Dixie, which took over from Sweetbay in 2014 according to
this article. The Sweetbay stores were purchased by the parent company of Winn Dixie the year before.
Upon checking everything out in the house we discovered that there wasn't a drip coffee pot. We found a camping type of percolator, the same as the one we used to boil water during the wind storm last year (see that here) and they have a keurig but we didn't have any pods. The next day a trip to Walmart was for us.
On
Monday we went back to Sumter Landing on the way to Walmart thinking we would get our pass when we found out that we needed to go to the Rohan Rec center for that now - a lot of changes in 6 years since we were last here. Larry got an email telling him that's what we should do but he trusted me instead, big mistake. So we went to Walmart and got a coffee pot, $10 and a bread baking pan $.88 and some more food and dropped them off at the house and went to Rohan which is Southwest of us. We picked up our passes, got lots of info about The Villages and got guest passes for Audrey and Steve who were coming on Thursday. We stopped at Publix on 466A too, why not!
On
Tuesday we drove to Brownwood and took the tour of the new area. I was in charge of counting the rec centers we passed during the 1 1/2 hour tour, there were 17. After that we drove around and looked at We also stopped at Publix again.
Wednesday we went to Fenney to walk on the boardwalk nature trail and then we looked at new Open Houses. I thought I would like the new Vineyard homes which are Designer homes with the courtyard walls but in looking at the models, none of them have an island I like. Maybe you have to have it custom built. I'm so picky now because I love my island at home. I went to Publix by myself today.
Thursday was our athletic day. Larry went to the driving range and I did yoga at the house. In the afternoon we played tennis or actually we hit tennis balls back and forth for 45 minutes. Guess what, no Publix today or any store for food shopping! Audrey and Steve arrived at night.
On
Friday we took them to Sumter Landing and did the trolley tour and then went to The Lighthouse for lunch. Steve had a tuna melt, I had fish tacos (what else!) and Audrey and Larry got a scallop salad. We were going to go to the town square but got lazy and had cocktails and snacks and then played Euchre.
Saturday we started the day by going to Publix while Audrey and Steve met with AAA for a new battery for Audrey's car. Then we went to the Eisenhower Rec Center which was very impressive. Most of the memorabilia was donated by residents. We were going to show them the Fenney area but it was getting close to 1:00 which was lacrosse time for the Bonnetts. We had dinner at Havana CC and took a ride up to Lake Sumter town square to show them the nightly entertainment.
Sunday we drove to Fenney to show them the new area and all the construction. We looked at some houses and saw a nice Veranda (Hudson/Iris) on the water - VNH 9F08 (3B/2B) I'll check to see if it's sold while we're here.
Monday we finally got out and took a walk all around our neighborhood and if we would have walked down the little cul de sac it probably would have been >= 2 miles instead of the 1.87.
Some house issues:
The ice machine jammed up so had to stick my hand in and maneuver out the chunk of ice that got stuck. When I put my hand in from the outside I thought it must feel like when you deliver a baby and have to help pull it out. Need to use it every day.
Our garage door is mysteriously opening up by itself. Don't know if someone else has their setting the same as ours so I walked all around the block and found one house around the corner that I could open but when I stood by their house it didn't open our garage door too, so not sure what is causing it. We've been locking the door when we're not here and at night.
Tuesday we had tickets to see Greatest American Broadway Review at the Savannah Center presented by Central Florida Lyric Opera. It was beyond expectations. There were 10 singers and 3 musicians.
The following is the blurb about it.
"'Everybody loves Broadway' - Join Maestro Bill Doherty, Grant Norman, Kathleen Kane, Mark Stephen Schmidt, Sam Reynolds, Heather Ard Beirne, Victoria Sexton, Scotty Thomas Roberts, Ashley Lowe, Angie Rose, and Jerod Eggleston as they perform some of the greatest and most popular Broadway musical songs of all time. Songs from Phantom of The Opera,Beauty and the Beast, Les Misérables, Chicago, The Lion King,Cats, Chorus Line, Wicked, Mamma Mia, Man of La Mancha,South Pacific and so, so many more."
Before buying the tickets I researched the best place to sit, not that there were that many choices when I bought them but got the general impression that the balcony was best because there wouldn't be heads in the way but that the rows were close together. So I got the closest to the front aisle seats that were available which turned out to be 4 rows from the top (9th from the start.) After being there, I decided there really aren't any bad seats but that the balcony is better because all the seats on the floor are one level. The stage is raised but that would hurt my neck. The performance was 90 minutes with a 15 minute intermission and was only $25. Entertainment is a bargain here. While there we got tickets for a Red Skelton tribute and this morning (4/12) I bought tickets for Chorus Line. I didn't see these seats available when I looked last time but maybe I was only looking in the balcony (which are half the price.) Today I got 4th row orchestra aisle seats. Hope they're good.
Wednesday we took an early (9:00 am) walk to Colony Rec Center - 1 mile each way. We had to stay out of the way of golf carts which were whizzing along since we walked on the golf cart path. Then I finally got to ride on the golf cart when we took a ride to the Walmart that is south of us and is only a grocery store. While I'm writing this on Friday morning, I can't remember what else we did on Wednesday but I know at night we continued watching Taken. We started watching Season 1 on Netflix and now can watch Season 2 On Demand up until the current episode.
Thursday we drove into Sumter Landing to vary our walking path and then walked around to check out the stores. We went into a few but couldn't find a thing to buy. We played golf, with a tee time of 4:28. I was only going to play 9 and Larry did the same because his back was bothering him. I had some really good shots. It really surprised me because when we hit golf balls when we were at Hutchinson, I could barely hold my club because of my trigger fingers, but they didn't bother me at all this time.
Friday morning I did yoga and took a 2 mile walk with Larry so I feel like I can goof off for the rest of the day. It's hot and sunny today, so I think I'll go to the pool now! Up to date for April 4/13 1:12 pm.
Well, I never did go to the pool on Friday and all of a sudden it's Monday morning so let's see if I can remember what we did. Although I have to admit we haven't done anything too exciting.
Saturday we took a walk and mailed Kris's birthday card - Activity #1. We picked up the mail and there was a safety recall from Yamaha for owners. They have a Yamaha golf cart so I looked up the recall info and checked the info I could find on the cart, and determined that this cart isn't part of the recall and we'll forward the recall letter to them.
We went to church at 4:00 Activity #2. Amazing how many people go to church here. The church must hold at least 1000 people. I just looked it up and it does hold 1000 in pews and 600 chairs.
https://villages-news.com/1600-parishioners-opening-st-vincent-de-paul-catholic/ The two times we've gone so far we sat in the chairs on the side where the choir sits for the 10 AM mass (didn't go at 10 either time.) The singers and musicians are behind us. The first time we went the fan was blowing right on me. The next time I took a warmer sweater and we sat in the same area but next to the wall where the fan blew over us rather than at us. Both times we saw people going into the overflow area. Next time we go I want to see what it's like because there's a sign on a door where they go that says Utilities.
Sunday was supposed to be a rainy day and there was a downpour in the afternoon and then a front must have come in because the temperature dropped. We took a walk in the morning while it was still nice and warm, although windy. I did yoga out on the lanai while it was still warm too and then when I was sitting out there it poured and got cold so I baked oatmeal cookies using a Betty Crocker packaged mix. Since it was so cold I bypassed my favorite vodka and tonic for Happy Hour and had warming red wine.
Now, at 9:45 on
Monday it's only 53 degrees. It's a good tennis day, it's nice and sunny but it needs to get warmer. We have a tee time at executive course Sarasota for 4:29 today and if we're lucky (or if I'm lucky) it will be 70. Now I'll do some yoga.
We took a walk instead of playing tennis and at 4:00 we started over to Sarasota golf course but ran into a few snags along the way. First, I had to go back into the house because I didn't have my phone. Then as we were driving the golf cart down the street I remembered that I forgot my resident card so we had to turn around and go back to the house. We got over to the golf course only to find that what I thought was Saratoga was really Escambia/Okeechobee. So we turned around and went to the correct Saratoga starter shack and had were able to tee off as soon as we signed in. We played with Harvey who had just come to the Villages that week. It was so windy and cold. I wore a heavy fleece jacket for all 9 holes. I got a birdie on the last hole.
Tuesday we played golf again, this time at Velusia, which had the most beautiful views. We played around 4:30 with Al and Randy who were from Michigan and also here just for April. Their wives were at the pool. Today I didn't need a jacket at all and even wore capris and would have been happy with shorts. It was a beautiful night.
Wednesday we went to a breakfast at Bonifay that was hosted by Nitin Khirbat. He was the realtor we met when we were here 6 years ago and continue to receive emails and Christmas cards from him. Most of the people there were people who bought from him and live at The Villages and there were lots of people there.
Now as I'm writing this it's
Tuesday, April 24th and I barely remember what we did since Wednesday but I'll try to catch the highlights (if I have pictures or Larry remembers).
Thursday night we went to see a traveling production of Chorus Line at The Sharon Performing Arts Center that was excellent. So glad I sprang for the $90 tickets. We had seats in the 4th row orchestra on the aisle. There weren't any balcony seats for $45 left and when I looked at the orchestra seats for both performances (Wednesday and Thursday) there were very few seats but those same seats were available for both performances as well as the 2 seats next to them on Thursday. I wondered if there was something wrong with them because it seemed so weird that they were the only ones still not sold, but they were great.
Friday is a blur. I think that's the day I said we should pretend we were at home and not feel compelled to do something.
Saturday was our 11th anniversary. Larry went to hit golf balls at the driving range while I went to the store to buy a birthday card for Laura and to check out the clothing store. I first went into the clothing store - all ladies - and decided I better get the card first because I may never come out of the store. I did pretty good at finding 2 cards rather quickly and then went back to the store. While I was in the dressing room Larry called to say he was on his way over. I didn't find anything there that I wanted. Our big reason for going to the store was that we needed a new bottle of Vodka. But first I saw that there was a Bealls (like TJ Maxx) at the other end of the strip mall so we went there first and I got a pair of light weight white golf shorts. We went to dinner at Bonifay CC and each got chicken stir fry with enough leftovers for dinner the next night.
Sunday it was supposed to rain but we were able to squeeze in a drive over to Mt Dora and a walk around a park along the water. Now that's off my bucket list. Not sure that it was ever on it but everyone says you have to go to Mt Dora so we did.
Monday it really poured so we booked a 27 day TA/British Isles cruise for April-May 2019. Margie and John are going and Margie gave me her travel agent info, Nancy Bogert, she was great and she is my TA of choice going forward. Responsive and great prices too.
Tuesday morning we went over to a park that was in the paper the other day that we thought would have a long walking trail. There was a short walking boardwalk so we walked it twice and then over to the dog park and then back home to wait for Britt and AJ.
Wednesday we booked another cruise. This was using the Marriott "deal" we got for a free cruise. It's costing us $3796 for the "free cruise" but it will give us a 2 week get out of winter vacation in February 2019. We also have $500 of CruiseNext credits and will have $400 from the NCL credit cards to apply so it brings the price down to $2896. We have the drink package and WIFI as well as $100 OBC.
After all that was done we went to Spanish Springs and took the 2 hour trolley tour which was all about the history of The Villages. We walked around the town before and after and stopped to eat at Amerikanas which seemed like the most popular restaurant in town. We even stopped to listen to music in the Town Square. That night I did a booking for a hotel where we can leave our car and get a shuttle to the cruise with booking.com at the Hampton Inn in Ridgefield Park, NJ
THE END - Just checked this post that was in draft and realized I would never remember what I did so . . .
https://www.stjude.org/, The Michael J. Fox Foundation
https://www.michaeljfox.org/ or a charity of your choice
.
