A new restaurant in town.........

Wednesday evening we met up with our good friends Nick and Tonyia for dinner.

We generally get together a little more frequently, but with our extended NY stay, and they being so busy, that just has not happened.   These two really need an extended "break".   This is a very  busy time of year for them, with their trucking business and yet they still manage to accomplish so much. So before dinner - let me share their most recent project.    While we were in NY they actually transformed their yard into a tropical paradise, including the sandy beach area behind the Tiki Bar.  Can't wait to see the completed Tiki Bar!

Anyway - we met up with them Wednesday at the Happy Chef.  This is one of the newest restaurants here in Lake Placid, and pretty much the only one that stays open past 2:00 pm in the afternoon.   The owner/chef was previously  master chef at some very high end restaurants so expectations were high.   Choice of soup or salad with dinner and three of us ordered the French Onion, and Tonyia the other, which was a Mexican type soup.   It was only a little after 5:00, with only one other table in the restaurant, and there was only enough French Onion for two!!  

 Rich, Nick and Tonyia all ordered pasta.  Rich - spaghetti and meatballs which he said was very good. Nick and Tonyia both had the special: Lasagna made with penne pasta.  Tonyia was not impressed, but Nick thought it was pretty good.  I guess I should not have ordered a Mexican dish in an Italian Restaurant, but I ordered their other special, the  Chicken Enchiladas.  They were dreadful; and COLD!  Clearly taken from the freezer and heated.  Came with black beans straight from the can and WHITE rice!!  Terrible!   Not real impressed with food or service.  Probably will not return.  

BUT - we really did enjoy the company of our good friends.

Back home - and we stayed up until after 11:00 pm, watching the CNN Republican Presidential debate! 

   

Fun-Filled Day with Nathan and Krystal

Two of our very favorite people to spend time with...........and yet it is so seldom that we find, or take, the time to visit.  They've been to our home a couple of times, and we've met up in Sebring for lunch or dinner,  but this was our very first time to make the trip to Myakka City!

It was about a year and a half ago that these two started a "new" chapter in life. They purchased a new home and lots of acreage, to foster a "few"  of the rescue horses from a nearby sanctuary, where Krystal often volunteered.  Today they have SEVEN horses. Chevy, Savannah, Gypsy, Hanovi and the three ponies: Mia, Sophie and Bella.  Krystal is absolutely amazing with those horses....and they love her!

Our first view of the homestead:

We knew we were in the right place.  Recognized that 5th wheel parked in the yard...AND that Gypsy Trails sign on the fence.  As Rich opened the gate we could see the two of them on the porch, the horses grazing, and later we got a great view of the back pasture.

Krystal is also a very clever and creative lady. Their cottage style home is so bright, cheerful and inviting.  My favorite  was the kitchen area with the pastel table and chairs and her craft room.  And of course Miss Ava!  Miss that little girl.  But she'll be coming for a week or so in December to stay with us while Mom and Dad go on their 25th Anniversary Cruise!

Some of our favorite photos of the horses.

And we spent a couple of hours outside with Nathan and Krystal and some hands on time with Hanovi, who danced and weaved his way between the barrels, playfully flipped them, jumped the logs and ran gracefully alongside Krystal.  And he didn't hesitate to take his treat (carrots) very carefully from my hand.

And after playing outside, Nathan served a great dinner!  He prepared a homemade pizza, cooked to perfection on the grill.  Followed by key lime or fudge brownie cheesecake.  Delicious.   Here it is from Prep........to Plate.

The day went by so quickly.  Before we knew it, it was nearly 7:00 pm and time to head back to Lake Placid.  Thanks Nathan and Krystal for a fun-filled day.

Dinner with Friends

The last time we saw Buddy and Diane was New Year's Day, 2014! They were with family for our 2015 New Year's Day gathering, and then, like us,  gone north for most of the summer.

Today we had a very enjoyable time catching up.  Met them at the Habachi Grill in Sebring; a favorite for all of us.  Dinner was very good, as usual, and the company, conversation and laughter was excellent.

Made a promise to get together at least ONCE/MONTH this winter, now that they are settled in over in Wauchula.

More visitors!!

Really, really hate this hot, humid weather!!  So much work to be done outside after being gone for so long, but it's just too hot to spend too much time making things look nice.

But despite the weather, we have had a few more visitors; so to speak.  A knock on the front door from PIKE (Electric)  last week, was to inform us of a power outage on Monday while the light pole in our front yard is replaced.  No, unfortunately, we are not in one of those neighborhoods where all the cable is buried underground.   So, for more than five hours, those guys worked in the hot hot sun, and got drenched in the rain.................  The old pole was rotting, so the new one, along with the new transformer is welcome.  But, not quite sure why they did not yet remove the old pole...........and the street light is not working!!

And on Tuesday - that clothes dryer that died before we left in June was finally replaced.

 Delivery successful from Lowes.........and my new Hot Point is a match to the washer we replaced last year.    Now .........gotta catch up on laundry!