New Acquisition

Our neighborhood held a community garage sale Saturday with preview on Friday evening. Since we had gotten rid of most of our excess before leaving Arizona, we didn't participate in the selling but did do some buying. I bought this bike for $15 and am enjoying riding around the neighborhood and on the recreation trails. I also bought half a dozen books and for the life of me, I can't figure out why I did that since I could get them for free through the library. Duh!

Saturday afternoon I picked up my new sewing maching. Yes, that's right. After 30 years, I've decided I want to sew again. I want to make some window treatments so didn't need any fancy machine. This is just a basic with a dozen different stitches. I went to Joann's Fabrics to buy a spool of thread and a remnant on which to practice. I was shocked when the thread rang up at over $5! The last time I bought thread it was about 75¢.

This afternoon Arne and I moved all of the garage stuff from the living room back into the garage. How nice to have the living room back. Now I can call to have our new sofa and loveseat delivered. They've been holding it for 3 weeks. This is a picture of my desk unit from Scottsdale which will now be Arne's Art Corner.

Octoberfest and Halloween

Friday night we went over to Lake Sumter Landing for the Octoberfest. With hundreds of people in attendance, we managed to run into two couples from our neighborhood. But the biggest surprise was to find Del and Jacque Heiser, former Terravita residents. I had just emailed them that afternoon asking if they were back in The Villages after spending the summer in Pennsylvania. We had a very nice visit with them as we ate Weiner Schnitzel, veal cutlet on pretzel dough bun covered in sauerkraut.

Saturday night we went to the neighborhood Halloween party. We had a good time and even did a little dancing. I did the twist with our next-door neighbor, who was dressed in drag. He won the prize for funniest costume. Someone else dressed as a mountain of debt. We decided to go as Arizonans.





We've had lots of activity in front of our house. One neighbor is putting in a pool which was started almost two months ago! There has been a truck of some sort almost every day during that time AND they park at the end of our driveway, making it more difficult to turn out onto the street. The moving van came Friday AND Saturday. Haven't met these neighbors yet but they must have a lot of stuff!



The other neighbor across the street just put in a natural wall around their pool. They planted mature queen palms, Mexican palms, bird of paradise and bamboo. Arne thought he was back in Viet Nam.

New Group

This morning I joined the Villages Genealogical Society. I plan to gather information on the Kalkwarfs (Grandparents John and Louise in picture) and Jensens. I'm hoping Arne will join me and research the Swensens and Nothnagels.

This afternoon I played golf and played like a beginner. Could it be because I've been playing with so many people who are just starting to play?

Monday morning, I went to Pickleball 103. I'm now ready to join Beginner's Open Play.

We've Been Booed!

This morning I opened the front door to get the newspaper and there was a large bag in the way. Seems we were "booed" during the night. This is something which goes on in this neighborhood during the month of October. I had to go shopping this afternoon to get things to put in two boo bags. I will be trying to sneak them over to neighbors who haven't been booed. The idea is to not be seen delivering the bag.


Our bag contained an electric light pumpkin, Gummy Skulls, orange loofah and apple pie scented candle. Happy Halloween, Everyone!

This week's First...Volleyball Lessons

After church, I went to the high school gym where I played basketball for an hour. I met a lady who played in the AAU tournament in Gallup, NM in the mid-60's with a team from Cleveland. She knew of several of the players I had played against, especially the gals from Nashville Business College. They were hard to forget and won the National title many times.

After basketball, comes volleyball. Avis, the coach, gave me some lessons in setting, bumping and slamming. There's a lot to learn before the senior games the first week-end in December.

Yesterday, Arne and I went to a workshop called "Building Bridges with Islam." A local Imam who teaches and studies at Central Florida University was the main speaker. Being born in America, he could tell about Islam in a manner which we could understand. He pointed out that many of the things we associate with Muslims are actually cultural and not religious. He was asked to write an article for a local paper regarding the Ohio girl who fled to Florida, claiming her parents would kill her because she converted to Christianity. He said this is not Islam but cultural. Anyway, the paper wouldn't print the story because he wasn't controversial enough.

Another First...Polo

This week we had our garage floor painted, I went to Pickleball 102 and I played golf twice...in the rain. Wednesday afternoon, I played with the neighborhood mixed group on an executive course. Executive as in par 28. I shot 37. We got rained on for a few holes but it wasn't heavy rain. I joined the larger group at the 19th hole (RJ Gators at Lake Sumter) and met lots of neighbors. On Friday, I again played the executive course. On the third hole, we spotted lightning, grabbed our balls off the green and ran to our carts. Before we got the sides dropped on the cart, the heavens opened up and we were soaked! We sat it out for less than 15 minutes and then finished our round.

This afternoon Arne and I went to the Polo Field. There were two matches, 1 PM on one field and then 3 PM on the second field. It was quite cool as the high today was low 60's and the wind made it feel much cooler. We met Mike and Marti from New York, Buffalo area. They are snowbirds. She was a teacher, loves horses and knew something about polo. We knew nothing before today. They are members of the Polo Booster Club. She said the club has great parties and takes "field trips" to Miami for polo matches.

Polo has 6 Chukkers (periods). There are 3 Chukkers in the first half and 3 in the second. Horses are changed out during the breaks. In the second match, a player fell off his horse and there was a 15-minute delay as they checked him over and then brought in a sub. That team won. There were three brothers, ages 19, 18 and 14 plus the substitute. They were very good...all from Argentina.



Marti and I out on the field at half time, sipping champagne. They invite people out to stomp down divots made on the field by the horses and then give out complimentary champagne. We're talking to a young man whose nine-month-old son was enjoying the grass. They had moved his mom down to The Villages from Michigan.

Three Firsts

I experienced three firsts this week...Italian-American Festival, Executive Golf and pickleball.

On Thursday, Arne and I went to Lake Sumter Landing for the Italian festival which began with a parade at 4:45. Then there were food vendors and entertainment on the square. One lady dressed in the colors of the Italian flag, red and green, was having a grand time dancing by herself.





Friday morning, I played my first executive round of golf. I played with three ladies from the neighborhood who were beginners. They were intimidated to be playing with someone who "should be playing the championship courses." I tried to keep them calm and encourage them. I shot 33, par was 28. It was a very easy course with very few hazards. It's great practice of shots within 100 yards.

This morning, Arne and I went to Pickleball 101. It was late morning on one of the hottest days on record. Heat index was 103 degrees. We were soaked when we got home. The instructors proceeded to tell us how addictive this game is so we will see. I'm going to Pickleball 102 on Tuesday while Arne is going to stay with 101. Guess who will be the addict!