END OF MARCH ~ STORMY WEATHER

We were very fortunate that the first tornadic storm went across Florida **north of us.
The second cell went **south of us!  We did get rain, wind and more rain but no tornados close by.  We felt blessed as we watched the meteorologists, on TV, get very excited all day.  They probably were happy they had weather to report. They kept comparing it to the 'great' tornadoes in the Mid West.  Guess we don't look at them as being 'great' but we didn't go to school for meteorology.  Reporting weather in Florida probably becomes mundane.
(Example of the evening weather recently.)
"The weather today is sunny and warm.  The temps will be in the 80's, during the day.  We will cool down toward evening into the 70's."
The storm had the meteorologists jumping around, using all their equipment and knowledge to explain what was happening all day.  Making them happy about the weather is not something I want to see often!

A branch fell down, near my car-no damage.
Today maintenance went around the park with a chain saw-cleaning up all the fallen branches.
Our maintenance crew are the BEST guys around!

SPOOK HILL

                 SPOOK HILL IN LAKE WALES
We met friends in Lake Wales at Manny's Chophouse. Good food/good company.  After our meal we ventured over to Spook Hill.  We've seen the signs but never went to explore.  Not a lot to see/interesting though. 

The sign explains Spook Hill ~ really not so spooky, just interesting. 

This is the line we drove up to/put the car in neutral and rolled back down--then up the hill we just came from. 

Actually, it is an optical illusion.
Really has nothing to do with Native Americans or alligators.
Stories can make tourist attractions! 

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

                 STRAWBERRY FEST 
              PLANT CITY, FLORIDA
After getting lost for about 1/2 hour we finally arrived at the gates.  The signs we followed pointed straight/the guy at the gas station said to turn left/my navigator said follow the signs/we turned around after several miles and turned where the gas station guy said to turn!  Oh well, the friends we were meeting were patiently waiting, watching all the senior citizens going through the gates.   
Our first stop was to get a strawberry shortcake ~ very yummy, topped with whipped cream and a strawberry! 
Strawberry Fest turned out to be a smaller version of Wisconsin's State Fair, with pictures of strawberries put up here and there.  We watched Jay Taylor, country singer and then went to the Tanya Tucker Concert.  She put on a wonderful show and her daughters got into the act/each singing a couple of songs.  The eleven year old (yes, Tanya Tucker has an eleven year old!) sang with gusto and she will one day be a great country singer!  
Her older daughter sang with her own style. 

Jay Taylor ~ upcoming country star!

Tanya Tucker in concert 

On the big screen...

We were in row sixteen/second section.

Barb and Fred watching the
Native American dancing.

Joe remembered his hat/Fred didn't.
The kindergarten teacher in me made Fred a newspaper hat, to keep the sun off his head!

Native American Dancer 

SIDEWALK CHALK ART

                HAINES CITY, FLORIDA
A great place to view chalk artists!  Many artists/all levels of abilities/a variety of subjects/
all having fun and doing their best. Several artists had pictures to look at and some had books of pictures on display of their previous works, all over the world.
A parking space was each artist's canvas.   
We didn't stay for the awards and prizes ~ they all should've received something for showing up!               ENJOY ~ WE DID

MARDI GRAS PARADE ~ LAKE WALES, FL

                Mardi Gras ** Lake Wales
We totally did not expect the parade to be as much fun as it was.  A small town that put on a great parade.  The floats were "ginormous" and the people threw tons of beads!  Caps were also thrown and we caught many ~ which we passed out to children along the route that didn't get any.  

  Stand and be proud ~
GOD BLESS AMERICA

Chet ~ "King Zues" 
(Chet is a neighbor from up north. He informed us about the parade in Lake Wales.  He was the King, on the float he worked on, behind the open-mouthed lady.  Wonder what she saw?!)

The pirates, on KAOS, were great!
Black and gold beads from them.
Their float was huge!

FLOUNDERING NATION
  This was the largest float, the last float, the loudest float, the one throwing the most beads and a great end to a great parade. 

After singing and line dancing, these "cowgirls" also threw beads into the crowd. 

King Zues with his court.

Coming or going these ladies,
'dancing with their friends'
were hysterical!

BEAT MY COUNT~~~~

Twenty-four strands of beads, at the first Mardi Gras Parade I viewed.  (Really ~ viewed and yelled at and waved my hands/arms at.)  If you want beads to be thrown you must "look" like you want them!  

This parade yielded two dozen strands that I took home, and one dozen that I gave away to kids around me.  Hats were also thrown and we caught nine, from various companies.  We also gave those away to children that couldn't reach them.  A fun parade!

SUNRISE ~ SUNSET

AMAZING...