February 28

Busy, fun day in Venice and then Punta Gorda. There was a large flea market/craft sale going on here at the Florida Pines Mobile Home/RV Park. We checked it out and had some yummy pastries and then homemade soup (we were told the ham & bean soup was THEE best) and it was very good! We also got some turkey chowder (supposed to be only in the 60's tomorrow so soup sounds like a good idea)?

And then late morning, we were off to Punta Gorda for the State Farm Retiree Luncheon - great time with 94 in attendance. Afterwards, 5 couples who are long-time boating friends met on the rooftop of the new Wyvern Hotel in downtown Punta Gorda for drinks and chatter. What a beautiful place and LuLu's was awesome with the view all around the city, the ambiance with the pool, bar, cozy seating, and perfect sunny Saturday.

The Girls: Pat, Jeanne, Paula, Carol and Marcia

The guys: Roger, Cy, Glen, Fred and Mark
The Birthday Girl - Marcia
Cy and Roger studying LuLu's menu

Carol and Marcia enjoying the beautiful day

View from top of LuLu's

Six of us enjoyed dinner and celebrating Marcia's birthday at "The Captain's Table"! Great ending to a wonderful day with these special friends!

February 27

A fun day in Venice....my brother Bob, Linda and niece Jennifer (visiting from Chicago) drove down from Lakeland . While the guys walked to the marinas and checked out boats, we gals shopped along Venice Avenue - great fun, especially with Jennifer (Bride-to-Be) getting some new fashions and shoes!!!Jennifer (Miss Jenny) and Aunt Pat in identical dresses Linda, Jennifer and Bob on the Venice Pier by Sharkey's where we had a great lunch and then walked the beach!

Miss Jenny

February 26

Sunny Thursday greetings.....we are in Venice and how I love this charming town. After settling Daisy at the Florida Pines Mobile Home Court (with 38 RV spaces), we drove downtown for yummy lunch at T. J. Carney's Irish Pub (a favorite from last year).

While Mark got a haircut, I checked out a few shops.

Back to Daisy and off for a long bike ride - beautiful 75-degree day!

February 25

It's Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. We went to 11:00 Mass at Sacred Heart. Washed Daisy in the afternoon, rode bikes and just enjoyed a "down" day on Daisy with good books! We've so enjoyed our time in Punta Gorda - good friends to visit and lots of great eating (oink oink!!!!!) Tomorrow we are off to Venice!

February 24

A fun Tuesday on the water with friends, Glen & Paula, Paul and Kathy sailing on the Gulf Paula, Pat, Kathy
Fort Myers Beach
Mark enjoying the beautiful day onboard "Freestyle"

Could this be our next boat???? The name is already there....

After a big day of sunshine, balmy breezes and fun with friends, we met Carol and Roger at

The River City Grill in Punta Gorda for delicious dinner.

Kathy, Carol, Paula, Pat

Paul, Roger, Glen, Mark

Afterwards, we all went to Roger and Carol's condo for wonderful key lime pie, coffee and more chatter!

February 23

Mark and I had a leisurely day on Daisy and here in the RV Park. Did a load of laundry and I went to Publix and Anthony's to browse around. We enjoyed the pool and hot tub in the afternoon and then a nice long bike ride. Another beautiful day in sunny Florida!

February 22

It's Sunday and we went to Sacred Heart Church for 9:00 Mass (this is newly built as former church was severely damaged from Hurricane Charley). Spent a delightful afternoon on the water with Bob and Nancy (boating friends and dockmates on E-12 at Reefpoint Marina in Racine) who moved to Punta Gorda 8 years ago.We cruised to North Captiva (only accessible by boat or air) and had lunch at Barnacle Phil's
An old fish house
Bob, Mark, Nancy and Pat enjoying delicious lunch in the sunshine!
Nancy and Bob enjoying some wine as we bobbed on the water watching the sunset.

Beautiful red sky with wispy clouds...."Red Sky at Night - Sailors Delight"!

Thanks for a great day, Bob and Nancy!!!

February 21

This beautiful sunny Saturday started off by doing 2 loads of laundry and then a bike ride (it's impossible to try and work off all the calories we're consuming, but we're trying....). Our friends, Ron and Lois who winter here but are from Canada, invited us to their home for lunch and visit.Ron and Lois - thanks for the delicious chicken caesar salad (and other goodies) and fun visit!Allie, the Alligator (backyard neighbor to Ron and Lois) We enjoyed the sunset at "The Captain's Table" and had a drink, seafood chowder and appetizer by the water on a clear, calm evening
And also enjoyed this view from our table - boats and palm tree...

February 20

Today is my brother, Bob's birthday and mine! (He's six years older!)

Happy Birthday, Bob Happy Birthday to me!
Pat and Bob at Busch Gardens

I've had a wonderful birthday here in Punta Gorda starting with breakfast at "Bean on 41", then shopping at Fisherman's Village while Mark walked the docks and checked out the boats. We had a delicious lunch at "The Captain's Table" and enjoyed the warm sunshine! I so enjoyed all the phone calls, e-mails and cards!

Today my good friend, Kay celebrates along with two cousins, Dave and Michelle, and our former neighbor, Fred!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL.....

February 19

Happy Birthday wishes to Patrick (our son-in-law)!!!!

We left Fort Myers after 3 weeks of non-stop fun visiting friends, eating and shopping! Thanks to all for the great hospitality and memory-makin' times! Patrick

We are now settled at the Gulf View RV Resort in Punta Gorda for one week and looking forward to catching up with more friends in these parts! Finally got some much-needed rain this evening. Florida is very dry and on our way here today, saw a brush fire which because of the drought, is a very big concern.

February 18

It is a spectacular day and we are guests of Glen, Paula and Annie onboard "Freestyle" along with Paul and Kathy.

Captain Glen and First Mate Paula

Kathy, Paula, Annie and Pat

Mark, Glen and Paul

Beautiful parasailer
Sanibel bridge Large shrimp boatPaula and Annie (Happy Birthday, Paula 2/19)
Kathy enjoying the warm sunshine and balmy breezeAhhhh...feels so good for we Nomads to be back on the water!Kathy, Paul, Barb, Roger, Mark and I had a very good dinner at Big Hickory in Bonita Springs
And these dear friends surprsied me with a yummy chocolate cake for early birthday celebration! Fun day and evening and tomorrow we are off to Punta Gorda with slimmer wallets and stuffed tummies!!!!
Good bye Fort Myers, but we take many fond memories with very dear friends!

February 17

Tuesday morning, Barb and Roger picked us up and we were off to Punta Gorda to spend the day with long-time boating friends (Mid-Illini Power Squadron). There were 8 couples and some of us hadn't seen each other in several years. Our hostess, Carol and host, Roger.....thanks for the delicious lunch and warm hospitality!
Some of the gang outside the Punta Gorda Yacht Club (Roger, Pat, Marcia, Sandy, Carol, Carolyn, Barb, John and Vince)

Kathy, Paul, Mark, Ron and Roger

All the girls...Marcia, Carol, Pat, Barb, Kathy, Carolyn, Pat and Sandy

And all the guys - Roger, Cy, Ron, Roger, John, Vince, Paul and Mark.

The day ended with pizza at Vincenzo's with Barb and Roger!

February 16

Spent this pretty Monday with my good friends, Kathy and Claire. We shopped at the Promenade Shops in Bonita Springs and they treated me to a wonderful early birthday lunch at Molino's Claire, Pat and Kathy at Molino's (our waiter must've shook the camera a bit)???

Molino's in Bonita Springs - EXCELLENT!

Kathy and Claire as we're leaving The Promenade Shops.
Kathy and Paul at the entrance to their condo after great appetziers/drinks at The Gulf Shore Grill

February 15

Sunday morning started out foggy, but by 11:00, the sun was shining and another glorious day! Steve, Connie, Jerry and Sue picked us up and we spent the afternoon in Naples. FUN.... Steve, Connie, Sue and Jerry outside "The Dock" where we enjoyed a wonderful lunch including the "Bloody Mary" bar (Sue and me)
We girls shopped 5th Avenue - here's Connie and Sue admiring some of the pretties at "Wind in the Willows"! They came on Daisy for a glass of wine and then we said good-bye to these dear friends - we've so enjoyed their warm hospitality and all the fun these past few weeks!