ONLY ON MONDAYS

We spend about half of the year in Sumter County, located in central Florida, in a small town called Webster, FL. Webster is located approximately 60 miles northeast of Tampa and roughly 50 miles due west of Orlando and 30 miles west of Clermont. According to the 2010 Census Webster has a population of about 800 residents except on Monday when thousands of shoppers converge at the Webster Flea Market.

Our backyard in Webster, FL

Another beautiful sunset at Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort
Webster, FL

We didn't particularly seek out the town of Webster as much as we found a place we genuinely felt at home.  Peace?  Oh yes, there is peace... except when our neighbors get hungry.

Certified Black Angus Cattle 

Our neighbors on both sides of us are registered and certified Black Angus cattle.  Turns out they have been good neighbors too.

Sumter County Farmers Market
Established in 1937

New produce probably picked early that morning
Sumter County Farmers Market - Webster, FL

Vendors can choose from about 20 different pavilions at the Flea Market

Two things never change in Sumter County, Florida.  The Webster Flea Market has been in business, rain or shine, for almost 8 decades.

Private dealers can set up shot on the Westside of the Flea Market
Webster, FL

Second,  the Sumter County Cattle and Horse Auction is held every Tuesday.  Webster is known for the flea market, but the cattle and horse business is a very important part of Sumter County, where boots, spurs and cowboys have been conducting business since the beginning of Webster.

Weekly cattle and horse auction in Webster, FL

Livestock stalls at cattle auction in Webster, FL

The Webster Flea Market is on the corner of County Road 478 and NW 3rd Street and is the largest and oldest running flea market in the State of Florida, located on 40 acres in an 80 acre compound.  The covered pavilions make it possible for the 4,000 dealers to prepare for the estimated 100,000 shoppers that appear every Monday from 6 am - 2 pm.  Webster turns into a bustling town with hundreds of day visitors.  The only police force will be on horseback.

Some of the 4,000 vendors are local but many come from all over and may have gotten up early enough to get here as far away as Miami, Fort Lauderdale or north Florida.  During the snowbird season the vendors are from out West and as far north as Canada.  Most of the regular shoppers get some great walking exercise.

Just about anything for any collector!

You need a sense of humor to enjoy your shopping at Webster!

Many vendors don't use tables - they spread everything on the ground!

Someone with a microphone announces "The West Side is the best side",  and another announcer gives a license plate number for someone blocking the entrance to the parking lot.

Through the years I've learned never to be surprised at some of the unique merchandise for sale.

Yes, this coffin was for sale.  Handcrafted and ready to use.

You can find just about anything at the Webster Flea Market!

An antique mall on the grounds has more than 80 stalls, along with a beer garden and concession area.  This is the place to enjoy bargains or add to your personal collection.  We feel blessed to be able to buy fresh produce from the local farmers as well as fresh seafood from the Gulf.  It makes good sense to buy local and enjoy seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Local farmers offer a variety of fruits and vegetables

The most important thing is that you are buying fresh from the farmer!

Fresh citrus is everywhere during season

How about some carrots for your horses?

While you are at the Flea Market take advantage of some of the reasonably priced food vendors.

Not hard to locate this food vendor - a large cow is on top of the building!

 A variety of foods, snacks and beverages are throughout the market area.  You may find American snack bars, breakfast, homemade doughnuts, sausage sandwiches, Bar-B-Q, pizza, Mexican vendors, Asian vendors, roasted corn and baked potatoes, etc....it's all there and reasonably priced.

You won't be disappointed if you visit Webster and eat at the Farmers Market Restaurant, next to the Sumter County Farmers Market, where delicious country food is served buffet-style and opens daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, all with a southern flair!

THANKFULNESS x 2

After we returned to our winter domicile in Webster, FL at the Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort, we were immediately so busy that there was no time to relax.  We weren't supposed to be too busy to continue our blog, so we've got to make some adjustments.

One of the activities I enjoy when we return to Florida Grande is teaching a couple of painting classes.  Last year I learned silk scarf painting techniques from a friend, Janet Roelle, from Michigan.  We held our first class on November 13, and it was so interesting we've scheduled another class.  Silk scarf painting is fun because you produce an original that no one else will ever duplicate. 

Silk Scarf Class - Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort

Silk Scarf Class - Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort

 There are a couple of reasons I have continued to teach the painting class for almost 5 years.  One reason is that it is ALWAYS fun, and two, I really enjoy the talented people who come to the class.   It's so enjoyable I would do it for free!  Our once a month class is fun, and filled with lots of laughter.  We usually have around fifteen people because we only have 15 easels.  But sometimes we have a "project" that doesn't require an easel and we have a room filled to the brim.  Our classes are called "Attitude Adjustment", and by the end of our class, we guarantee an attitude transformation.  While the class paints, I tell lots of jokes, we play games, have contests, show hilarious slides on our television screen, and we enjoy all kinds of snacks, and if we have time, I teach.

Special snacks at Attitude Adjustment Class

At the end of the class we have class pictures to prove we actually have accomplished a project for the evening.  Some of our projects have included:

Attitude Adjustment Class

Attitude Adjustment Class

Attitude Adjustment Class

Attitude Adjustment Class

Pictures After Class - Attitude Adjustment Class

Attitude Adjustment Class

After a week of getting back in the groove at Florida Grande it was time to leave for our Thanksgiving with our family.  First we traveled about 45 miles north to visit with our oldest daughter, Kristen, her husband, Harold, and our 4 delightful grandchildren.  They were vacationing for a week on Little Lake Weir, so we spent one night with them before driving north on to be with our youngest daughter, Lauren, and her husband Chris, in Suwanee, Georgia (near Atlanta).    We left our motorhome at FG, and what we missed most of all was our bed.  Thanksgiving was everything we had wished for with Chris and Lauren, and we are pleased to announce that Chris was chosen by his employer, the Atlanta Falcons, as Employee Of The Year.  (This is the first time an individual has won the award twice.)  We are proud of Chris and glad that his hard work throughout the year was recognized by his peers.

Chris and Lauren Millman

The day after Thanksgiving we went to Dahlonega, in the mountains of north Georgia.  We never get tired of the beauty of the mountains and a lot of the colors of Fall were still there for us to enjoy.  We also saw many cars with Christmas trees on their roofs.  Christmas is going to be here before you know it.     

North Georgia Mountains near Dahlonega, GA

Wolf Mountain Vineyards - Dahlonega, GA

We returned to Webster on Saturday in one day, something you don't have to do if you are traveling in your motorhome, but we were ready to get back to our bed as well as our quiet and peaceful lifestyle in Webster.   We love to visit with our family so much and we look forward to their visit as soon as we have completed our suite (which is being done as we finish this blog).

RV and MH enjoying mountain air.

Sometimes when you see something funny you just have to take the picture...NOW.  I usually go to the Webster Flea Market on Mondays, and sometimes we find a few unusual pictures (Kodak moments); however, this may be the first time I've ever seen something like this for sale.  A work of art...solid cherry.  I think it was a good price, too.  Seriously?!

I heard him tell the guy it could also be a gun case - really.

I think I've found that perfect little car for us.  Not sure if it's for sale or not, but we see it every time we travel to Clermont.  How creative can you get?  

What a great little motorhome!

As we get ready for the holidays it is amazing how many activities there are.  We all need to pause to remember the reason for the season.  Sometimes I think random acts of kindness would be better than all the consumption and commercialized gift giving.     

WINTER HEADQUARTERS

We're "settled in" at our Florida "winter" headquarters.  We almost sound like circus performers from Ringling Bros.' Barnum and Bailey Circus who used to spend their winters in Sarasota from 1927 to 1959.  I always thought that was kind of exciting to have a special place to call your "winter home".  Since we are originally from Jacksonville, FL, moving to a warmer climate never existed for us.  In Jacksonville we have four seasons that are usually mostly comfortable.  When I was younger I remember seeing the circus people as they would travel to that part of the state.   Wow - how cool was it to see all those circus tents, travel trailers.....and animals!

Unloading at "Winter Headquarters"

The Sandhill Crane looks at us like we're intruding

Animals, Tents, Trailers, etc.

We will be spending the next few months at the Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort in Webster, FL, where we purchased a deeded RV lot almost 5 years ago.  An option, when we purchased the lot, was that we could build a small Key West-type suite on our lot which would give us a room to park a golf cart, a full bathroom, and a front area which would be used to entertain guests or use for visiting guests.

Highway 478 - Goes past Florida Grande 

Entrance to Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort

Entering Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort

FGMCR - Webster, FL

An Example of a Grande Suite - FGMCR

 Webster, a small rural town centrally located in Florida, is best known for what happens only on Mondays - for over 60 years.  The oldest and most famous flea market in Florida (over 1,500 vendors on over 50 acres), is open one day a week, where you can find  just about anything imaginable.  Weekly, we try to go to the produce pavillion where many local farmers sell their produce.

One vendor's idea of "Presentation"

Webster Flea Market - Lots of family pets

Local Farmer selling a truckload of Carrots

Another Webster RV Park's transportation to the Flea Market

End of another busy day at the Flea Market in Webster

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, 7 months was a long time for us to be away.  We have several projects planned this season and one of them will be to finally complete the interior of our suite.  We will wait until after Thanksgiving to start the transformation.  In the meantime I have to say goodbye to my art studio and move all my art supplies to another location.

Where am I going to put all my STUFF?

Another peaceful day at FGMCR

Many of our RV friends have already arrived or are on the way back to Florida Grande around this time of the year, and it's fun to hear about where they have traveled or what they have been doing since we saw them last.  Many who follow our blog know just about everything we've done.  Some of them say they don't have to travel so long as they read our blog.  

Our back yard at FGMCR