Florida wins!

In the battle between Florida and upstate New York on where one would rather spend the winter, Florida wins hands down!

Bill had originally planned to fly home to visit his shoulder doctor, attend an SU game, do taxes and have his teeth cleaned. The sudden passing of Uncle Ken Lefort extended this journey to three weeks, from 2/1 to 2/23. While home, Bill spent some quality time at his parents' home in Strykersville, Gregs' home in Buffalo, and Dave & Pam Hachey's home in Chittenango. He also froze after becoming acclimated to beautiful Florida weather. The Chittenango community was saddened with the passing of John Wozny, a charter member of the Knights of Columbus. Bill was also able to attend the funeral. Highlights of the trip included SU beating Georgetown in the Carrier Dome before over 31,000 screaming fans, a Lefort family reunion at the Golden Eagle Restaurant in Brockport (Bill, Greg, Jon, Brad & Kristina), the Knights of Columbus Spaghetti Supper, pitch at Dave & Pam Hacheys' house with Nick and Ellen, and a meal out in Buffalo at the Thai Restaurant on Hertel Avenue with Dave, Pam and Greg.

Meanwhile, back in Florida, Jane kept busy with Abbie & Bailey, swimming at the pool, going for long walks, sun bathing, going to flea markets, bike riding, sewing and reading. Jane volunteered at St. Patrick's (the Catholic Church in Zephyrhills) to help make crafts for their November bazaar. She also helped out in the kitchen at Forest Lakes RV Park Dinner Dance. Jane attended the Great Florida State Fair located in Tampa. The Florida fair is about one fourth the size of the NYS Fair. Their fair consists mainly of a midway and food.

This picture is for Uncle Pete and Aunt Lila

She saw some entertaining acts while she was there which included an Irish Festival in one of the buildings.

St. Patrick

Jane missed Bill during their three week separation except at 4:30 PM during happy hour across the street.

Our couple was reunited by Jetblue at Tampa International Airport on Feb. 23. Absence does make the heart grow fonder!

On Sunday Bill & Jane ate at Los Vallos, a Mexican restaurant in Wesley Chapel. It was a real Mexican restaurant with real Mexican staff and cooks, and the food was awesome (and spicy).

On Monday Bill & Jane partnered up with Dick & Judy to visit the John and Mable Ringling Estate in Sarasota. John Ringling was the last of the five Ringling Brothers of circus fame.

John and Mable Ringling

The estate actually consists of five different entities: the Ringling Museum of Art, the Ringling Mansion (known as "Ca d Zan" or "House of John"), the Asolo Theatre, the Circus Museum and Mable's Rose Garden. Our travelers were unprepared for the sights which awaited them. John Ringling was the business manager of Ringling Bros. and made frequent trips to Europe scouting for new circus acts and also seeking art works on which to spend his considerable accumulated wealth. In the early 1920's John and Mable Ringling chose an undeveloped area in central Florida called Sarasota to build their winter home which at the time was inhabitated by fewer than 1000 residents.

The Ringling Museum of Art was built to house and display the incredible collection of artworks. It would take weeks just to view and become familiar with the masterpiece artworks, let alone the entire collection. Everything is here, from Greek & Roman sculpture to Renaissance works to modern art.

An original Rembrandt

Throne made for a royal wedding

The Ca d Zan is called a mansion, but is actually more like a palace.

Mable Ringling oversaw the construction and furnishing of this mammoth winter home, built from 1924 to 1926, and it is the definition of opulance. Gold plated doors, beautiful chandeliers, marble floors, massive vaulted rooms, priceless silver flatware and the very finest in furniture made this the epicenter of cultural life in the South.

Chandelier from original Waldorf Astoria which is now the site of the Empire State Bldg.

The "backyard" consists of a terraced marble patio leading to a massive dock on the Gulf of Mexico where the Ringling yacht would tie up.

Jane and Judy waiting for the yacht to arrive

Back doors of the Mansion

The Asolo Theatre is a beautiful architectural marvel built in likeness to a 17th century European theatre. It is semi-oval in shape, four stories high and situated around a large stage with luxurious boxes for viewing the stage.

The Circus Museum is actually two buildings. One houses the collection of actual circus equipment, posters and momentos salvaged from the golden era of the Ringling Bros. Greatest Show on Earth.

Original posters outside the main entrance to the circus

Kalliope

First vehicle to shoot a human canonball

Original car for the clown Lou Jacobs (6' tall) who could fold himself into it.

Cart to transport the lions.

The other is the largest miniature circus anywhere in the world created by Howard Tibbals who has worked on this project for over 50 years - and continues to do so today.

Entrance to the circus (see miniature posters)

Miniature lions in the ring

Miniature circus tents

Miniature midway

The final leg on the day is the Mable Rose Garden, created by Mable Ringling. Row after row of beautiful rose bushes grace this area, and although not in bloom right now, one could spend an entire day just viewing this area.

Banyon trees

Mable Ringling died in 1929, three years after opening Ca d Zan. John Ringling, broken hearted by her death and broken financially by the stock market crash, died in 1936. He willed the entire estate to Florida State University to avoid paying his creditors.

The Southern Oak

A beautiful sight in this part of Florida is the southern oak. Right now the tree is losing its leaves as new ones grow in immediately. The massive oak is usually graced by Spanish moss, which is actually an organism unto itself and not a part of the tree. The people here think a lot of the southern oak, so much so that you need a permit to trim the tree and cutting one down would bring a fate worse than death. Many oaks are in our park, and the planners built roads around the trees rather than cut them down.