We arrived at Barb’s place around 3 p.m. on Day 23 after our visit with Joe’s sister Marcy. Joe knows Barb from work at the State of Iowa. They worked together for 23 years, although he’s known her longer than that. Barb was the State’s selection expert and its chief influence in developing workforce planning strategies. She also worked with Joe on the State’s Affirmative Action program. For a time she was Joe’s supervisor. Joe had a great deal of respect for her abilities and her work. The graciousness that she showed as an employee for the State was also shown during our visit with her.Our first afternoon with Barb, we toured Celebration. This is a planned community with 7 villages, manicured lawns and tree lined streets. It is very clean, neat and, as the brochure says, “a showcase.” It is a very very pretty town. There are about 8,000 residents, many of whom are seasonal. There is a lot of walking traffic, every street is 25 mph and not a single horn honking. Sandy felt that this community came right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Close enough, it was originally built by Disney for it’s employees. Disney is now out of it and they have their own association. There are lakes, community centers, pools, walking paths, shopping areas and a theater. Each village has it’s own architectural style. Celebration has everything you could want and we can see why Barb and her husband Veryl chose this place for their retirement home.
Barb was working at her computer when we arrived. She now does her first love full time: she is writing her first novel, and already has plans for many more. We’re anxious to read them! We took her picture by her three favorite authors (Linda Howard, Nora Roberts and Janet Evanovich) who hang near her computer as inspiration. Barb’s condo is beautiful, with north and south windows that bring much sun into her home. We sort of claimed the breakfast nook – it was a great place to sit and update blogs and check emails.
Our first night with Barb, she fixed us Beef Stroganoff. She was organized enough to put us both to work chopping, slicing and stirring. The end result was delicious! We went through a bottle of wine too! This is what we like best about our trip: good friends, good food and good conversation!
We went to lunch with Sandy’s cousin Kathy on our second day (Day 24 – another blog), and then went with Barb for pie at the Market Café when we returned. Talk about a piece of heaven! Then later that evening we went to one of Celebration’s fine restaurants: Columbia, a Spanish restaurant, for dinner. We sat outside, and had one of the finest meals of our trip (and we’ve had a LOT of fine meals on this trip!): Sandy had the Shrimp Criollo (large shrimp sautéed in olive oil with garlic, green peppers, tomatoes, platanos, potatoes and splashed with Vermouth and paprika). To die for. Joe had the Chicken Salteado which was chicken with yellow rice, platanos, peppers and sausage in a really thick sauce. Joe was a happy camper also. BUT as good as the food was: you should have been there for the Sangria de Cava – a white Sangria made with simple syrup, a small bottle of champagne, an orange liqueur, a brandy and oranges and limes. We ordered a pitcher, but we wished it was two! It was the most refreshing and delicious drink I have ever tasted.
We had such a good time visiting with Barb, it was hard to say good bye the next morning.
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