Busy working to Improve...

Below are two images of how the kitchen looked last week.  We replaced the "new" refrigerator with an older double-door model that is quieter and has a working ice maker.  This has been very important when making ice tea or lemonade.   We are so very happy to have the "new" countertops installed so quickly and the refrigerator replaced within a day.

 

 

Old Kitchen with smaller refrigerator



View from back of kitchen

Old pass-thru



 

New Pass-Thru





Vero Beach ~ March 29th - April 9th

We left with our bicycles attached at the trailer hitch with a Bell apparatus that I picked up on sale at Walmart for $30!! The VW Sportwagon was loaded beyond belief.  I did over inflate the tires to accept this load and it helped.  We had a complete sound system with a Yamaha receiver, 5 disc player, two Kliptch speakers and a huge subwoofer.  Mix in a 7' Ikea cabinet with 6 shelves, several large power tools, some kitchenware, a 24" flat screen, food from our DE refrigerator, clothes for a month, laptop, and us.

We drove straight through and made the bed when we arrived at 12:45 AM.  Times were exciting the next day.  We shopped at Lowes across the street and found a large gas grill on sale because the previous owner thought it was prudent to wax the covers (stainless) over the burners.  Of course when he lit it those covers ignited and caused quite a fuss.  It was returned and for some reason it did not have wheels.  It was totally as is, but at a savings of well over $150.  Before we went to bed that night we talked about this and the next morning at 6 am we drove over to Lowes to make a deal.  I had to find the manager at 6:30 in the morning and he was happy to let us load the wheel-less grill on a flat cart and push it to our home across the street.  This image is of Sue bringing it back to Lowes.  Oh yes, I chose this early since there would be less traffic on I-60 than later in the day.  Too bad Sue could capture at least one image of me pushing this grill strapped to the card across I-60.

Arrived with grill intact

One of the high priority projects we wanted to pursue was the replacement of the countertop in the kitchen area.  We visited a couple of vendors but none seemed too reasonable or would be speedy to have this done before we needed to leave for Delaware.  Then we stopped at FTC and met Ronan and he promised to come over and measure our kitchen the same day!  He did and we met the next day to select our granite.  We had three projects in mind: the kitchen top, filling the pass-through area and doing the tile on our porch area.  After haggling for a while we agreed on a price and he said that the work will be done in a week.  As we drove away, I said that it would be nice to have all of this in a week, but we didn't expect this service.  On Monday morning Chris called Sue to explain he would like to come out to the villa and make templates.  On Tuesday Chris called to ask if we had time for the installation!!
Actually, everything was completed on Tuesday afternoon.

Adding the one piece slab

Chris calling his boss to say they were finished

Enjoying dinner on Tuesday night

Time to Throw the Switch!

We waited more than two months after the solar panels (14 - 320 watt panels) were installed (January 15th), to have them wired to our main box and have the DC electricity converted to AC.  The inspection took place quickly after all was installed and our new meter placed into operation.  This meter will run forward, but we prefer to see it run in reverse!  All of this took place after two trees were cut down entirely and a new roof installed where the panels fit.

junction box from panels

reverse running meter

hopefully saving $$$$ on electric bill



Sue throwing the switch on March 15th

Back to Chilly Delaware!

What's this white stuff Mommy?


We had to leave warm, beautiful, exciting Vero Beach since our rental contract expired on Monday 29 February and we had no home to stay in.  We left Vero at 8:30 AM and parked the car in our driveway in Delaware at slightly after midnight the same day.  Total distance 1033 miles; time: 13 hours - 30 minutes; average speed of 76.5 mph at a rate of 42.9 mpg. Yes we stopped for one fill-up, one rest stop, and one dinner for a total of 2 hours.

Enough folks that have been following us have asked more about the villa we are buying in Vero Beach.  Here is more info about us and the home.

 
 
 
 

A Chick Fil A will be will be a short walk from our villa's back door. It should be finished on 31 March.  

A look into the garage where the workbench will be on the left side.  Many of the previous owners articles are still left in the garage for storage.  The settlement will take place on 16 March without us being present.

Sue and the owner, Julia talking about this comfortable location in Vero Beach.  She has lived here for 10 years and now plans to live with her daughter in Tampa.

The kitchen is illuminated by a 10'x 5' skylight and should save electrical $$$ during the daytime.  We found the black microwave at a local estate sale.

Sue and Daisy sitting on the Natuzzi electrical recliner waiting for our king size mattress to arrive.  We have loaded most of the furniture and queen size bed into the guest bedroom so the owner would have room in the master bedroom.  One of our favorite things to do while living in our rental home was to shop at the consignment stores in and around Vero.  One of these stores that always has gorgeous items is Kaleidoscope off of Dixie Highway.  Don always says that it makes him feel good to see such beautiful items at really affordable prices. Ck them out at: https://www.facebook.com/KaleidoscopeConsignments/


View from the front porch area.

This is how we were able to move furniture into the villa and not have the expense of transportation costing us too much.

Home Depot rents this truck for $19.95 per 75 minutes.  

The large (20x15) side porch or as folks in Florida call it a Lanai.  We hope to have it tiled and place a grill and furniture so we can enjoy the warmer weather.

Entrance to our gated community: Sixty Oaks.

 

 

Two able bodied Best Buy Employees helping to load our new TV into the Passat.  They wouldn't let us take it out of the store ourselves.

Come visit when you are in Florida...1906 Sixty Oaks Lane. We are easy to find, right off of SR60 and about five miles from Interstate #95.

Dessert Party at Aime & Nancy's Home

The dessert party began at Nancy and Aime's home.  We found three different cakes, ice cream, lots of fruit and of course the super fellowship of retired cruisers living on dirt/ground. 
We saw folks tonight that we haven't seen since 2011 in Georgetown, Exumas.  This was a super time for all who attended.


Waiting for the desserts to be served!

Our Hosts: Nancy & Aime

Never a dull moment with Karen & Ron attending!

Preparing to Leave Vero...

The January, February, and March Birthday Party began at 5:30 at Ron & Karen's home.  A pot luck dinner included so many varieties of food and desserts!  Of course Sue's Feb 11 birthday was one of those celebrated and she took this image too. 

 

Carl and Aime turning over 70



A young Jim Dalton @ 64

 

Many Visits with Friends



Terry & Ron visiting for dinner at our rental location

Your turn to get dinner!

 It was a warm day as we strolled around the Vero Municipal Marina and saw some boats we recognized.  Terry and Ron Brown arrived two weeks ago aboard "Golden Echo" from our winter port: Delaware City.  It was fun touring around and taking them to church with us.  They are still here and contemplate leaving next week when we expect to leave. 






Sandy and Dave Netting stopped on Feb 24 to visit us at our rental location.  It became interesting when their English Lab Sadie walked through the door and our little dynamite Daisy became excited.  Sue and I showed them around town and to the many consignment shops that displayed their furniture and clothing near the "miracle mile" area nearby.

Lunch at Waldo's with the Logans and Nettings



Sandy and Dave Netting visiting