Trip to Bok Tower

Ed and I went for a day bus trip to Bok Tower Gardens.  It was a 2 hour drive from Port St. Lucie to Lake Wales.

Our friends, Bobbie and Ron, also went.  In fact, it was Bobbie's idea to go. 

Bok Tower Gardens, a national historic landmark, was founded by Edward Bok in the 1920’s. 

Where did he get his money? 
Edward Bok founded Ladies Home Journal magazine.  

Why did he build in Lake Wales?
Bok chose the location because it’s the highest point in Florida and he enjoyed the views.    

He dedicated 50 acres of gardens with the bell tower as the focal point of the gardens. 

It was a shock for us when the alarm went off at 5:15 a.m.  (We get spoiled living this great life of retirement where you get up when you wake up.)  In the rush to get ready on time, Ed forgot his hat so this gave me an excuse to buy him a new one.

Paul Cahill (a new friend from Savanna Club), Ed and Ron.

Bobbie and I thought it was neat that the greens for the salads we had at the cafe were all grown on the property.

After lunch we had a tour by one of the botonists on staff.  She spent a lot of time in the garden of endangered plants.  That gal must have degrees of all kinds.....she comfortably discussed the DNA of various plants and lots of other details.

Here's a paw paw plant, which will become a tree.  I remembered the song about "...way down yonder in the paw paw patch."

The 205 foot tower was completed in 1929 and is known for its Mediterranean architecture.  


The tile mosaics are lovely and colorful.

 
I was amazed to learn that the animal carvings were sculpted in place.  

How would you like to carve a marble eagle at 205 feet?

 

This beautiful brass door depicts the story of creation.

The Singing Tower houses a carillon, which is played several times daily.  (I had to look up what a “carillon” is.  It is a stationary set of chromatically tuned bells in a tower, usually played from a keyboard.)

There is a moat around the base of the tower where two swans kept us highly entertained.

 
I thought the photos below were pretty, if I say so myself!

And so ends another adventure with the Angelils!

Marvelous Mardi Gras Party

The Women's Club here at Savanna Club, our 55+ community, had a Mardi Gras party with about 200 ladies in attendance.  As with every event here, this was well planned with flair in every detail.

I wanted to know exactly what "Mardi Gras" meant.  I found that it refers  the Carnival celebrations, beginning after Epiphany and ending on the day before Ash Wednesday.  Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent that leads up to Easter. 

What is Mardi Gras?  "Eating a calf."
"Mardi Gras" literally means "Fat Tuesday" and comes from the tradition of eating a slaughtered calf on the final day of Carnival.  These days, though, that has expanded to feasting on most any rich fatty food.

MaryMay Angelil with her two new best buds, 
Bonnie McDonnell and Bobbie Steinberg

Masks and more masks - all so pretty, colorful and creative.

 

Francoise and her hubby.  Francoise gave the welcome in French.

Many different countries were represented by various ladies.  They were presented to the audience and escorted down the middle of the room in the spotlight.  

 

Many of the gals' outfits started with something from a thrift shop.  Then, Suzanne, our talented costume designer, created a way to make each outfit unique and elegant in the front and back.

After all the countries were presented, the queen and her court sat for the entertainment.  

The queen designed and made her own costume.

I just love the Tappettes, who are all residents of Savanna Club.  They may be old in years but not in their step!

The Tappettes presented a lively dance from Brazil.

The Tappettes' costumes for the dance from Tunesia were really pretty.

The President, Sylvia, goes over final details.

Even the dessert cakes were done up in Mardi Gras colors.

I'd say the women of Savanna Club know how to have fun, wouldn't you?

Japanese Culture

Line for kerosene

 

The earthquake and tsunami in Japan last Friday are just beyond belief.  The damage and loss of life is incomprehensible.  Now the threat of the nuclear power meltdowns is horrifying.

I admire the self-control and politeness of the Japanese people.  Even though they wait in line for hours and hours for food, water and other necessities, they're all calm, respectful of each other and no one is fussing or yelling.  

It's totally astounding that there is no looting!!

Can you imagine this happening here?

What a contrast to the cultures/people in other countries where disasters have hit --- especially some areas here in the USA.

Oh, that we could learn from observing this amazing manner of behavior!

p.s.  One thing we can do is pray for the people of Japan as they recover.

Wheelies and Shopping

Tuesday was my first attempt at shopping.  I had a reward points coupon that was going to expire at Beall's Outlet and I simply couldn't let it go to waste!  Ed dropped me off with my traveling wheelchair -- it's the kind without the big wheels on the side for moving oneself.  

I was fine using my right leg to navigate at home but that poor leg was tired and sore before I even made it to the back of the store!  In the housewares department, the shelves are heavy so I could pull along with my hands but besides that, it was my poor leg that did the work.

I planned to call the Men's Club guy, Dick, as soon as I got home to see if I might get another chair.  Would you believe.....a golf cart was in front of us as we entered our community and as it pulled over to let us pass by, I realized that it was Dick!!!  What are the chances that would happen?  It was surely a Serendipity or a Divine Intervention, huh?   

He went right over to the storage area with us.  I was convinced that the chair with side wheels wouldn't go through the small doors in our house.  Luckily, I was wrong!  

Now, I can do some serious shopping and pop some wheelies, too!

On the Bright Side of a Broken Ankle

1.  Looking on the bright side -  the broken ankle gives pain in one area.  The Lymes disease I had last fall produced that same amount of pain in every limb and in every fiber of my being all at the same time.

2.  Another bright note is that an ankle isn't as difficult to deal with as if it were my hand or arm....then I'd need help to cut my food, brush my teeth, etc.

3.  One of the service projects of the Men's Club here at Savanna Club (our 55+ community) is loaning medical equipment.  They've loaned me a walker and a wheelchair.  They even had us come over to see the choices. 

4.  A walker is a lot more stable than crutches (I was Queen Clutz with crutches) and the wheelchair will allow me to go shopping or to the movies.  

5.  The cast is below my knee, unlike the splint that came well above the knee, which makes getting into a car and using the bathroom a whole lot easier.

 6.  The pain will let up in a day or so (I hope). 

Pain Appeared

Guess I spoke too soon....

I was so sure that the splint had shifted and was pushing on my leg and I couldn't wait till it came off.  I expected immediate relief.....that didn't happen!  The pain is exactly where the break shows up along that tall thin ankle bone.

Dr. Davidson, the orthopedist, didn't know why my ankle/leg didn't hurt the first few days.

After viewing the X-rays I had brought from the ER, the doc first started talking about putting in a pin, screw, etc.  He decided to take more X-rays right then.  Luckily, a cast will do the job.  Whew!

Yes, that's the doc's hand pushing the ankle to determine if pins and screws were needed. Ouch!

 

A closer view of the break, from the front of the foot.

So, he took me to the "casting room", but I didn't get picked to be in a movie :(.  I laid on my stomach and held my foot up for the cast application, which meant I didn't get to see the process.

Ed was supposed to be taking pics but when he and the doc discovered they're both from Montreal, he got distracted.  They sounded like two women chattering!

The casting process was fast but not painless. 

Just think, only 4-6 weeks to go!