Wednesday - April 8

 LUKE is a TEENAGER

Happy 13

His other Grandma (Nana) and I chose the same birthday card.    We also gave Maeve the same Easter card!!!    Great minds think alike  😆

We remember so well April 8, 2013 when we (and Annette's parents) were in Wellington, FL for Luke's birth (our 6th grandson).    And now here we are - 13 years later!   How can that be???     He's such a neat kiddo and enjoys school and in advanced math, and currently a tutor for 3rd graders, loves his adventure core group (rappelling, rock climbing, hiking, etc), playing golf, mowing lawns, etc.....

 We had a good day and thought the rain was coming, but just sunny and breezy.    We went to Starbucks (they have a delicious chocolate pistachio bread) this morning and then WalMart (Rx and some groceries).   On home for 45 minutes and then off to my yearly eye exam with Dr. Alessi.    All good with the eyes and come back in a year.    The refresh tears made all the difference after the eyelid surgery.

Since we didn't have lunch, we both were thinking the same thing - ice cream!!!!   So since we were close to Sun Harvest, we enjoyed their yummy twist (orange/chocolate for Mark and orange/vanilla for me) plus I did some shopping (love this fun store).   On home.    We got the bikes loaded up on back of Flo.   Little by little we're preparing for our departure 1 week from today.   

Had a good chat with the birthday boy - he got a cell phone...now we can talk and text!  

And more big news - Luke got his boating certificate which makes him official to drive a boat.

Taking the family for a ride tonight - where are they?    I see Maeve's arm!  😆

Tonight we had salad, tempura shrimp and Bob Evans mashed potatoes (they make a 2-pak small serving which is perfect to share) !

We went for a short walk - the sky was looking ominous and we hurried back but only got a few sprinkles.    It did rain earlier around 4, but didn't last long.  

Luke, Maeve and Blair are all on spring break this week!   

Tuesday - April 7

 Our next-door neighbors, Gary and Brenda left for their home in Missouri around 10:15 as it was starting to sprinkle.    Today was supposed to be WET all day long, but that wasn't the case till lunchtime when we met our former neighbors Rog and Martin (they had been on Gary and Brenda's lot) for lunch at Bonita Fish Co.    WOW.....another deluge as it poured almost the entire time we were having lunch.    We were on the water, but nice and cozy and dry as it poured buckets!!!    Always a fun visit with Rog and Martin and a lot to catch up on - we all had the special - blackened shrimp tacos full of good stuff.    Bye bye till fall....

Rog, Martin, Pat, Mark

We had to dodge some very large puddles and mini lakes in the parking lot and then some streets were flooded, ditches full, etc.    Could get more rain tonight and thru Thursday.    We do need it!

On home and a quiet afternoon - more puzzles for me (I'm addicted).    After Lake Chamberlain appeared from Easter Sunday's rainstorm, it had pretty much disappeared, but came back big time today!!!

Anne and I beat the computer 3 of 4 games!

Monday - April 6

We sure had the rain last night and more coming the next several days which should help with the Florida drought.

I did some laundry and then left for a shopping spree with Lydia for home decor in her new home.    Jim brought her to Wilford and Lee (he ran errands) and she found several pretties to decorate with.  There are sooo many choices when it comes to pictures and other wall art.   But she found some very nice things and hope they will all work out and Jim approves!  😂

Lydia with a few of her new items at Wilford and Lee

Next stop was Curious Cargo (I shopped here many years ago) and oh my, so much stuff again....but Lydia found 3 more items and then off to lunch.

We ate at Bahama Breeze - enjoyed some yummy beverages and our lunches.    Jim met us there afterwards and we said our good byes till Saturday when we'll be together one more time before we leave.   Today was a big success!

Lydia and her Bahamarita - pretty and delicious

Shopping sisters

We sure can tell the season is winding down and many snowbirds have left.    Traffic is a "tad" less, restaurants and parking lots have lots of space.

On home for me.    Mark had defrosted the freezer (thank you)!   It is really warm today and humid.    

We walked late afternoon and said good bye to Mark and Brenda who fly home to OH tomorrow.   

Anne and I played against the computer (euchre) - we won 2 and lost 2.   

Pretty cotton candy sky tonight at Lake James (thanks Brooke)!

Easter - 2026

 HE is RISEN!    ALLELUIA!

We woke up to a beautiful Easter morning with clear blue sunny skies, a gentle breeze and the birds chirping,

The 9:30 Mass at St. Francis was packed and Father Steve suggested we do the "St. Francis shuffle" with everyone moving towards the center of the pew to make room for those standing.   The altar was beautiful with all the white lilies.    They even gave out Easter treats to all the children after Mass and there were a LOT of little ones!    I remember so well many years ago having a new outfit and Easter bonnet (hat).  It was neat seeing some of the smaller children all dolled up for this special day.

Then to Cooper's Hawk for brunch with Jim and Lydia.    It was so fun to catch up with them and hear about their new home at Shell Point.    They are enjoying all the many activities, coffee shops, restaurants and sooo many awesome amenities.    Brunch was excellent and just a really fun visit.

Lydia, Jim, Pat, Mark

On home - both of us were stuffed whch meant naptime!  😊

My brother Bob is the Master of Puzzles and he told me about doing them online.    So yesterday I started that (mind boggling how many to choose from and you can choose the number of pieces.)   I love this new hobby.....did these 3 last night!  (100 pieces)

Most of the day was very nice but weather was threatening late afternoon and at 5:45, the heavens opened up BIG time......Very heavy rain, large BOOMS of thunder and lightning!

My parents always said "When it rains on Easter Sunday, that means 7 straight Sundays of rain"!    Well, we sure need it, and every day thru Thursday, we have a good chance - possibly 2-6" in some parts of SWFL.

Easter fun here at CT

We have Lake Chamberlain in our backyard and as of 7:45 (since it began 2 hours ago and still coming down), we've had 2".

We missed Doris and Tom tonight on zoom.    Not a lot of news...Joan is having her ankle surgery on Friday at Cleveland Clinic, so prayers for her.    Tom H's brother Terry had a stroke last night and will be having a heart procedure tomorrow at Decatur hospital - more prayers.   

Saturday - April 4

 A very pretty day - we walked, did some laundry and put 4 bins of clothes that I had sorted thru up on high shelves in the she shed.    We said good bye to our neighbors across the street, Kathy and John who are headed home to Bardstown, Kentucky.    Now that they're gone, we've got our beautiful view back of Sunrise Lake and the fountain.

And then we were off to North Fort Myers to meet long-time friends, Dawn and Kevin.    We met several years ago as we both owned identical PDQ sail catamarans - they were docked at DuSable Marina in downtown Chicago and we would get together occasionally.   We remember watching the Blue Angels from their boat when they performed in Chicago in 2016 (Ryan's last year).     

They moved to Punta Gorda full time a few years ago and we've been getting together once each winter.   This year, Kevin who belongs to the American Legion in Port Charlotte asked if we wanted to meet at the North Fort Myers Legion.    Sure.....well, it was a good choice (after all the many restaurants we've been to this year), we all enjoyed our lunch and visit.  The real shocker was finding out that they sold their home last August and moved to a condo - same complex (1 building away) from our friend Roger.    Small.....world!

Kevin, Dawn, Pat, Mark

Said our good byes and stopped at Publix for a few things.   On home and we both took a nap!

Tonight was the final four NCAA basketball game in Indianapolis - 1st game was Illinois vs UConn - good game, but IL just couldn't get the breaks and lost 71-62.    

Wishing you all a very blessed and happy

EASTER