The past weeks have been exciting, interesting and fattening all at once.

The front entrance to our campground. Photo thanks to Barb Ellis.

Just before Christmas we went to see the Fish River Christmas Boat parade. Over 20 boats (a record number we were told) took part and it was a cold but otherwise pleasant night. We went with Terry and Barb then went out for pizza at the Yellow Mushroom, a place I have been wanting to try.

A tremendous amount of imagination goes into many boats.

Christmas Eve we attended the Episcopal church in Foley. St. Paul's was decorated like no other church we had seen before. There were evergreen boughs all over. The pine smell was delightful. Along the walls at each window large candles in hurricane chimneys were lit. The altar area was a red sea of poinsettias. We went early to make sure we got a seat and to listen and sing Christmas carols. Strangely enough half the songs were unknown to us. But the sermon was interesting. Its' theme was “what had brought us here tonight?” That sounds simple enough but the priest had some very thought provoking points. It was one sermon I would like to hear again. Meanwhile back at the ranch, there was a Christmas party of sorts on at the clubhouse but we decided to skip that and spend the rest of the evening in our home on wheels eating some snacks Carolyn had prepared.

Christmas day started with breakfast with our Canadian friends, Terry and Barb. Barb had prepared a delicious sausage and egg dish and Carolyn brought our Christmas morning traditional cheese pie.

Christmas morning with Barb and Terry

Around noon we went to the clubhouse to set up and decorate our table for Christmas dinner. We had 13 at our table. Normally the tables are set up for 10 but our table was so popular we ended up with 13. The way it works here at the Plantation, the park provides the meat and gravy and the table participants bring everything else. It took a little arranging  but it all worked out quite well and again we ate too much.

The next day we were eating again as the park had a pot luck dinner to use up all the leftovers. There was new stuff too.

New Years Day was fairly quiet except for one thing. At noon we jumped in the pool. This was a little unusual since the pool is not heated and is not normally open in the winter. A large crowd gathered to watch the 30 or so of us who can now officially be called dipsticks. We even have a certificate to prove it. Water temp was 65F and air was 69F. I don't know why but the air temp felt a lot better than the water. After the dip we were served a lunch of hot chile and drinks.

Carolyn showing off (last one out)

Joan lives in the park and organized this event.

Smiling before our dip.

Terry was late jumping in. (looks happy doesn't he) There's me in the background.

Most weeks during the winter there are 3 meals provided by the park. The Tuesday meal (at $5) is usually a simple dish while the Thursday dinner ($6) is a little more elaborate. Saturday morning breakfast ($3.50) is a straightforward bacon or sausage, eggs and coffee, sometimes pancakes or french toast replace the eggs. Sunday there is also coffee and bagels. I'm sure these meals are one of the reasons this park is so successful. This past week we skipped Tuesday’s meal (it was too close to Christmas) and Thursday's was moved to Friday. To keep costs down, Larry (our cook) asks for help preparing and serving the meal. We quite often help out and we jumped in on Friday. I got to cut up cucumbers and green peppers for the salad then we put the food (this time it was chicken steaks, linguine with broccoli and beans in tomato sauce) on the plates. The advantage to helping is you get to meet more people and you prepare your own plate. Yep, more eating.

Carolyn has been busy with knitting baby hats. These are donated to hospitals for newborn infants. She has also learned how to make fancy pillow cases. We now have a new rug in front of the kitchen sink in the trailer. Carolyn's talents go on and on.

Last Wednesday, Carolyn went on a day trip to New Orleans. Two bus loads pulled out of the campground at 7 in the morning. I was signed up to go but the original date was changed and I had already signed up for a cooking class on the new date. Carolyn was with several friends but still managed to accomplish the one thing she wanted to do, that was to purchase a Mufalata sandwich. In fact she got two of them. The sandwich was developed in the early years of New Orleans for workers who wanted a hearty portable lunch. It's made from a special loaf of Italian bread with slices of meat and cheese with an oil, chopped olive and a vegetable sort of salad. We had them last year in New Orleans and they are good. A quarter of a sandwich is a good meal.

In my cooking class Barb Phillips showed a select group her secrets to making chicken roll-ups, jezebel sauce, fresh garden salad (with pineapple, strawberries and pecans). Lunch finished with a custard pie. I've already put my name down for the next class in a couple of weeks.

I've also started caning another chair. This one will need the back done too, so I can learn the snowflake pattern. More on that later. 

Cook's corner- first class.

Barb showing her method for peeling a pineapple.

The class just before lunch.

I've been playing around with this blog entry too long now. There are many other activities I could include. All the best to all of you for the New Year.