Tuesday - March 17

 Happy St. Patty's Day

Our day started early with a trip to the Sanctuary for lab work and then breakfast at Bob Evans.    After the nasty storm last night we wanted to assess the damage to our lot and neighborhood, and though it was not that light out, we could see many palm fronds down in our street.    When we came back, we drove around the park....some streets had absolutely no damage and then others....including ours got hit hard with some major tiki damage, trees uprooted, broken items (glass) under tikis, furniture blown around and many fronds down.    

Not sure what actually came thru last night - some said straight line wind?   Micro burst?   Tornado?    Other reports of damage around Fort Myers included a private school that is closed today cause of all the damage, downtown, etc.   

Our work campers are the best and they were out and about picking up all the debris along with several resident volunteers.    It is chilly (50s), dreary and still very windy.    A good day to hunker down.

We went for a walk this afternoon (bundled up with heavier jackets and gloves!)    Chatted with some neighbors and Jim and Lydia who were back in the park.    Gosh, so much tiki damage (makes us glad we don't have one) with some of the tops totally gone and piles of wood on the ground.   Also damage to our neighbor's truck from a falling frond.

The St. Patrick's Day parade here at CT scheduled for this afternoon was canceled cause of the cold/wind,    They had a party in the clubhouse with food/music but not serving traditional St. Patty's fare.....Philly cheesesteak sandwiches or BBQ pulled pork?

  By 5:30, the wind had died down and sun came out for just a bit.

We had Kevin's orange chicken tonight (no corned beef and cabbage this year) - "Kevin" is the brand that Publix and Costco carries.   It was good, but we still prefer Trader Joe's.

So many people were on our street today checking out the damage either by golf cart or on foot.

Drew made it back home to Cedar Rapids - late!

Monday - March 16

We had a very fun day.....starting with Mass at St. Vincent de Paul and then off to run several errands including a coffee break at Coffee Rush.    We used up 3 gift cards we've had....Coffee Rush, Talbots and Bath and Body.  Mark stayed in the car while I did the shopping.

Then to Shell Point (Jim and Lydia's new retirement home).    We first met at The Vue along with Mark and Jim's sister, Theresa who is visiting from Chicago and her friend Kim who she's staying with on Fort Myers Beach.   We've heard about Kim many times over the years but had never met her.    What a shock and surprise to find out that the condo Kim is renting is in the same building as our friends, Mike and Claire..........small world especially when you think of all the condos on FMB.

After our delicious lunch, we went to Jim and Lydia's new apartment - it is beautiful and nicely furnished with their brand new furniture.   We went for a tour of their building (restaurant, coffee shop and so much more).    Then dessert and more visiting before time to leave and head home with all the traffic!    HA.....just a fact of life here in Fort Myers especially with all the spring breakers.

Kim, Theresa, Pat, Mark, Jim, Lydia

The siblings

The blizzard in the Midwest is wrecking havoc on sooo many travelers including our grandsons, Drew and Brady who've been trying to get home (Cedar Rapids and Notre Dame) all day.    Lots of canceled flights - so much snow and strong winds.

Well.................speaking of strong winds.   Around 7:40 tonight, a VERY STRONG gust of wind had Flo and us rockin' and rollin' - scary but fortunately, lasted just a few seconds.   However, we won't know the extent of damage till daylight, but we do know our awning flew and rolled up, 2 ladders leaning against the she shed and behind Flo ended up in the driveway, the flag pole was left hanging from she shed with just 1 screw and flag flew into the bushes.   Lots of palm fronds down.....till tomorrow.    YIKES

A cold front is coming thru and tomorrow will only be in the 60s

Good news.....Brady is back at Notre Dame and Drew is at O'Hare!!!

Sunday - March 15

 We went to 9:30 Mass at St. Francis with Father Robert.   On home for breakfast and then met Charlotte and Doug at Rum Bucket for lunch.    This was our last hurrah together as they'll be leaving March 30th for their Annapolis home.   We've sure enjoyed some fun times these past 4 months.

The weather was threatening and then...........thunder, lightning and very heavy rain!   Enjoyed our lunch and visit.    There was a brief respite from the rain and we said good bye in the parking lot till December when they'll be back!    We got home just before the heavens opened up again and whoaaa....came fast and furious!    After such a dry spell, we are getting some much needed moisture with more to come the next few days.

Doug, Charlotte, Pat, Mark

Also said good bye today to Chris and Diane (neighbors here) who are heading home to Connecticut.

Zoom tonight was with 7 siblings - Jim and Lydia are getting settled in their new home at Shell Point (Mark and I are going there tomorrow); blizzard warning coming for the northern IL folks (no school for Karen);  Tom and Beth's new home with walls going up in Plain City, OH, etc.   

Brady and Drew were home last week in NC - their flights were canceled to get back to Notre Dame and Cedar Rapids today cause of the blizzard coming!!!

Enjoy your week!

 

Saturday - March 14

 Woke up to damp, dreary, foggy skies.....very wet after all the rain (3/4").    We met Bob and Linda at Buckingham Farms for breakfast - "Stella's" coffee trailer was there, so I enjoyed my latte and then we all had a yummy breakfast.    Linda and I checked out the goodies inside and she bought a few things.    Then time to say good bye.....we always have so much fun when they come to Fort Myers and we keep busy with shopping, games + the Gatlin show  and of course, eating!  Mark and I will be traveling to Lakeland next weekend to visit Bob and Linda and also Ron and Vicki. 

On home and did some laundry and then we watched the movie "Song Sung Blue" starring Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman - it was sooo good and I thought how much Patrick would've enjoyed all this music from Neil Diamond including "Sweet Caroline", his signature song at his shows....

We walked late afternoon - very humid!

This was a very sad week hearing about the sudden and unexpected death of our friend Mike (hubby of my Monday Night Friend, Nadine).    We were neighbors many years ago and their Jeff and our Michael were good buddies back in the day     Mike died during heart surgery at Northwestern on Tuesday morning.   Prayers, love and hugs for Nadine and her boys and their families.

Our grand dog, "Karen" (Ryan and Erin's)

Friday - March 13

 Another fun day with Bob and Linda.   Mark and I left CT and stopped at Coffee Rush ( I got a latte) and we filled up Ruby.    Picked up Bob and Linda at the Hyatt and off to Victoria's in Bonita Springs for our annual shopping trip to this awesome, unique shopping spot.

For the first time in forever, shopping at Victoria, I did not buy anything...........shockeroo for me and Mark!   😕

Then to Seed-to-Table the wonderful HUGE grocery store where we had lunch, shopped and just in awe of this place.    Next stop was Harvest Citrus for some shopping and ice cream - their new flavor was blueberry/lemon 😛

Finally on home - Linda and I played RummiKub on the patio UNTIL the rain started and did not stop - we skedaddled in the she shed to wait it out - oh my.......lake behind us - haven't seen this much rain in a long time.   Mark and Bob were cozy and dry inside Flo.

Later Mark and I walked to Jamie and Dennis's to take them some blueberry muffins and welcome Jamie home after 4 days in the hospital with Influenza A.

Time to eat again😐so off to Connor's for delicious dinner (Bob and Linda's 1st time).   Had some very heavy rain on our way to Connor's but by the time we got there, dry as could be!!!

Great dinner and we ended the evening with Linda having a chocolate martini  and a raspberry/chocolate for me   Fun time!   

Bob, Linda, and chocolate martini

On the way back to their hotel, oh my, the heavens opened up again.....crazy weather!    We dropped them off at the Hyatt.....and now that we're home, have had very heavy rain!

Till tomorrow....