South Florida Winnie-Gators

 February 2005 Outing Report

By Lee Macdonald

Our February Outing was held at Robins Nest RV Resort, just west of Lake Okeechobee. 24 rigs attended including guests Harvey and Silvia Peacock of Sunrise and Andre and Andrea Meyers from Hollywood.  Most of the members were settled in by Thursday afternoon.  The weather was clear and breezy all weekend and although it got cool enough at night for furnaces to run the sun warmed things up nicely during the day.  We enjoyed happy hour al fresco Thursday followed by a chili feast with tortillas and all the trimmings adequately prepared by Lee & Sylvia and Barbara Drapeau.  Marlene English baked 2 yummy cakes for dessert.

The meeting room that we use here does not have any cooking facilities only a clean up sink which is a challenge to cooking meals for a group of 50. However, our cooks prepare great meals daily using electric utensils and banks of portable grills. They got a break Friday morning when we were treated to the campground’s breakfast buffet at the Main Club House.  Our Craft session followed after breakfast back at our meeting room.  We made trivets using old wine bottle corks arranged and cemented into stained wood framed bases. It was a great mixed group project. Thanks to Marcel Drapeau for the hours he spent, measuring, cutting, gluing and sanding wood to make the bases for us to use. Many of us had been saving our wine bottle corks for quite some time but thanks to Joan Krajack’s donation of 800 corks which she had been saving for years for another project there were lots of different cork patterns to choose from.
                                                                                                                 

Friday evening we enjoyed hot dogs steamed in beer, fresh corn on the cob and leftover chili for supper and then played Card Bingo.

Saturday morning a  tasty breakfast of scrambled eggs and ham were whipped up by George Shaughnessy, Ed Miles and WC Herndon accompanied by Helen Herndon’s World Famous Cheese Grits.

Afterwards, many of us went bargain hunting at the Flea Market held in the park Clubhouse. One of the seasonal park residents came by in his truck loaded with fresh produce for sale.  at ridiculously low prices. The rest of the day was spent finishing up crafts projects. 

Our meeting room sported a Valentine’s Day theme, Jan Miles showed her creativity and led a group making and hanging heart decorated window valences out of table cloths and napkins,  Our Happy Hour was very festive. Of course the Raffle Babes were decked out appropriately and did an outstanding job.  A dozen people won great prizes including a Home Stereo System donated by our sponsor Palm RV in Ft. Lauderdale.

The grills were fired up after happy hour and Teriyaki Chicken was grilled to perfection. Members supplied sides and dessert and the meal was enjoyed by all.  Dessert star was Fruit Trifle for which Alice Webb was given a big round of applause. She has agreed to furnish her recipes to us all.

We held our monthly meeting following breakfast on Sunday during which we conferred Honorary Membership to June Hobel whose husband George passed away December 12, 2004.  George was an active member of our group and we will miss him.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who could not be with us this time and to family and friends who have lost loved ones.