Callie went outside today

I picked Callie up and she thought she was going to get her royal petting.  Then I started towards the door and I could read her mind, "No, No, I won't go"  She thought she was going in the car again so she struggled to get away.  When I stepped outside under the tree at my front door, she started smelling the air and looking around.   Then I let her down.  She smelled and walked her way all around the trailor until she came  back to the front door.  She meowed as if to say, "That's it."

I told her she could stay out for abit and I went inside leaving the door open.  She disappeared.  Later I went out and called for her.  She Meowed at me..  "I'm under the trailor, leave me alone for a bit will you."

So I went back inside.  Every so often I went out and raked a bit of lawn and called her, but she never responded again.  About the tenth time I went out and called she came out and looked at me disgusted.  I picked her up and brought her inside. So much for her first outing.

She did not see the other cats in the neighbourhood.  I have spotted about four so far.  I think she thinks she is home free and the cat of the walk here.  At the other place she had a gentleman caller and when we left we didn't give him the forwarding address.  Callie really didn't like him at all. She is not going to be pleased when she sees all these other cats in her territory, but they will keep her from travelling too far.

Another beautiful day and I am lazy.  I need to wash the kitchen cupboards and can't seem to work up the energy.

Cleaning

I have never cleaned so much in my whole life and I have barely touched the need.  The people before me smoked and I don't think they cleaned either.  Most of the stuff is from the 50's, a nice deep tub. Plumbing has been replaced, but  not the electrical.  Most of the windows are the old ones that came with the unit.

Don't worry folks when I get home I'll take a break from cleaning.  I'll send pictures another time wne it's a little more presentable.

If something seems to good to be true, then it probably is

The title says it all.  I have been duped and must reassess my latest journey through life.

The lady that has rented me this cute little place has been scamming me and I have to move quickly.
During the month of February
1) I have received a ltter from the park manager saying Dec rent was not paid
2) The hydro man showed up to turn off the Hydro.  I had to give him my play money for the week.
3) She sent the certificate to transfer the ownership, but whited out her name and put my name in.
4)A letter arrived for the previous owner marked "Urgent" from the Tax collector.
5) A check she sent me bounced and the bank said that account has been closed.
I have been tearing my eyebrow hair out and my digestive system has been a little liquid.

So,, Pat the the rescue and I took charge
1) I went to the bank representative and explained my situation
2) I went to the Tax collector and explained my situation
Both said, "Get out of Dodge. The Sherriff will be there to put a padlock on the door very soon."

 I found another cute little place just down the road about three steps, Different park.  And the kind manager has helped me get set up with very little discomfort and money.
I am in the process of moving and all should be done by Tuesday.  That's when cable and Internet will be hooked up.  The important stuff.

All is well here, My back is a little sore and hopefully I'll lose some weight over this, but life goes on in sunny Florida and it's about 85 degrees in the day time...<G>

Onward and forward to the next chapter in my life.

Amish Snowbirds

In Sarasota there is an Amish village.  I noticed the signs,  Yoder this and Yoder that,  and I have seen a few riding their bicycles in their garb.  I haven't seen any of their little horse drawn wagons, and I have seen them here in Bradenton at the flea market, so I suppect they are driving cars.

When I googled them, I found out that some winter here from Pennsylvania.  There is a Dutch restuarant nearby that I will try when my cousin gets here.  Although it is not reputed to be totally Amish they do provide Amish food.  Sounds good to me.

GPS

Some one stole my Gps the other night.  What's a girl in a foreign country to do without a GPS.  That night when I went to bed I looked at the car and saw the windows were up so I assumed I had locked it too,,, But I hadn't.  Someone has been watching and waiting for me to make a mistake and leave my doors unlocked and they were rewarded.

They only took the GPS and the window mount.  They left the power cord.  Hope they have one, because that sucker is old and won't hold it's charge for very long.  I thought about putting a sign on my car window saying, "Hey! you forgot the cord.", but I restrained myself.

So yesterday I went shopping for a new GPS and the one I found will show where all the quilt stores are.  I don't yet know how good it is in giving street directions, but at least the quilt stores will be listed...<G>

Finances: Being a Canadain in the US

There is a lot to learn about switching money from Canada to US.  If you're not in the know the services charges can add up pretty quick.  I went to an ATM at Bank America to get  money from my Omista Credit Union checking account.  I got $100. Bank America charged me $3 for the transaction and Omista charged me $7..  I have since learned that RaceTrack... Not a race track, but the gas station called Race Track....  Do not charge for withdrawals.  Omista still charged $7 but at least I save $3.

The Royal Bank of Canada has a branch down here.  They have set up a service for Canadians wintering in Florida.  So I opened a US checking account here. When I get home I will open a Canadian account in the Royal Bank and apparently you can transfer money with no charge.  This is real good to know.

To open the account here was not a big deal, and they said for security reasons they would send my checks, bank card and pin number in separate letters.  They all arrived the same day.  The checks were in a blue plastic bag with no label saying Royak Bank.. But on the envelope it says, "Do not discard,  Your order is Enclosed"  I had no idea what it was.  The package looked like one of those things you get that say ,"You may have won a Million Dollars"

You do have to watch was is going on around here.
That's it for today.

Florida This week

Today is a cloudy day.  Last night it rained and I could hear the raindrops on the roof of the trailor, very pretty sound,  very relaxing , put me right to sleep.

 I think all my quilt related activities are all in this week.  Went to a Dear Jane class yesterday.  It is so nice to meet people who like to hand sew the blocks the way I do,  Nice bunch of ladies and they are inspiring me to finsih this quilt I started in 2003.

Today is a rest day,  Tomorrow I teach a class at Monday crafts and go to a Guild meeting in the evening. Tuesday is a rest day. Wednesday is Feather Princesses guild meeting.  That's a "WOW" day... So many people and so much talent.  It's almost overload.  Thursday is Jo Morton class with Jolene and Friday I am taking a Hawaiin quilt class.

In the mist of all this quilting activing I am trying to change the deed or regristraion or whatever it is for this place to my name.  The owner is signing it over to me and I will have to make the lot payments from now on.  The comments from my friends both at home and here are worth repeating...for the laugh.

Ron, by buddy from home,  " Another place for you to fill up"
Diane Janes,  "Is that a Canadian dollar or an American one?
Leslie from here.  "If you sell it for $2 you'll make 100% profit"
Susan D,  "Nothing better than 100% profit"

The world is filled with commedians, ain't we lucky.