Pinecraft-Sarasota

Bocce Ball

It has been two years since Marvin was in Pinecraft as a Snowbird. And tonight I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him. I actually had to ask him if he is Marvin? He battled cancer and is now in remission and has returned to Pinecraft. He took up his former role as a Bocce Ball score keeper.

The team tonight.

Going Home after the Holidays

Christmas Vacation has ended and it is time to get back on the job and children return to school, so

almost 700 passengers left today on 14 buses. Six of these buses were from CrossRoad, which is in northern Indiana. Out of the eight Pioneer buses that left only a handful of people were from Ohio and the rest are all Indiana.

This is Pinecraft' normal Christmas Vacation. I think most of Indiana' people are factory workers and get a two week vacation over the Christmas holidays and school closes. So they as families take off for Sarasota, whereas Ohio has much more small family shops and don't have a two week vacation at Christmas time.

Five CrossRoad buses left at 11 am and the sixth one loaded and left at 4 pm.

Waving "Good Bye".

These last two pictures are six Pioneer buses loading at the Tourist Church's parking lot. Two more Pioneer buses loaded at the Pinecraft Park's entrance. The passengers were all going to Topeka, which made it easier to load up and head out.

So the remaining Pinecraft people have most of a week to relax and lay low, that is until the end of next week. The Haiti Benefit Auction will then bring bus loads of older people from various Plain communities. The auction is scheduled to start Friday afternoon, January 12th and run through Saturday, January 13th.

The Beginning and the End

The Beginning

Waiting for the Pioneer bus to come in.

The End

The bus Came, unloaded and left again.

It was The Budget Day.

Sam sold Budgets and is now cleaning up.

Double Vision

For a second I thought I am having double vision.

But there are a few minor difference.

Going North into the Cold

Two Pioneer bus loads left today for the cold north.

But it is time to go home so home they go.

It is cold here too, too cold be outside.

The predictions are for a cold winter up north.

The Oak trees had a bumper crop of acorns,

which used to be a sure sign of a long cold winter.

Also somebody said today that two full moons in January,

No full moon in February,

And two full moons in March is also

an old Indian sign of a cold winter.

On the Ball

Basketball

Resting between basketball

Rescuing the ball

Pinecraft Park Activities

The younger boys playing Corn Hole.

Five teenage boys playing Bocce Ball with three older men.

Volleyball games

Sitting on the sideline at the basketball court.

Taking down his hammock.

Benefit Dinner

Tonight was a fund raiser for the expense of the upcoming Haiti Benefit Auction. Being this is still Christmas Vacation, the turnout was very good. At least there were a lot of people taking out food.

Visiting

A take out of seven boxes on the back of the bike.

And the sun set.

Alfred

Alfred who is within biking distance of Pinecraft had an audience this afternoon of mostly young boys and a few girls. He loves to play his instruments and do a little bit of preaching or teaching in with his songs.

A Slice of Today

The eleven o'clock Scat bus run to Siesta Beach from the Amish church on Hines Street in Pinecraft. The people were packed in like sardines, with Sam being the last one on.