Sunday - March 31

Gee......the last day of March and so many Snowbirds are heading north!     This winter just flew by!

We went to 9:30 Mass at St. Francis and then checked the last and final box off Marilyn's list of things she wanted to do while in Fort Myers.    That would be a trip to Bennett's for donuts and as always, we sooo enjoyed these delicious treats!     Marilyn has a list started for next year - 7 things so far!!!   😃

 Marilyn and her favorite - maple bacon

And how about my fancy latte - a real work of art!

Home from church/breakfast, changed clothes and played some cards on the patio with Mark and Marilyn, the winners.     Took Marilyn to the Punta Gorda airport around 1ish and then we picked up a few groceries and on home.     Did laundry and just enjoyed a quiet Sunday afternoon.

Ate the rib leftovers from yesterday's lunch and then rode bikes - beautiful evening at Cypress Trail.

Marilyn has arrived back in IL safe 'n sound!

Bye bye March.....definitely going out like a lamb down here!

Enjoy your week....

Saturday - March 30

Mostly clouds today.....we were off at 8:40 for the Babcock Ranch Eco Tour.     Tom and Beth met us there for our 9:30 tour with our guide and driver of our swamp bus, Terry.    There were 25 in our group and it was very interesting seeing lots of wildlife, alligators, cattle, wild hogs, turkeys, etc.   The tour lasted 1 hr. 45 minutes and then we enjoyed lunch outdoors at the Gator Shack.   

Our open-air swamp bus

 wild hogs

 wild turkeys

 cracker cows

more cracker cows

Terry with baby alligator we all got to pet 

swampy area

Said our good byes to Tom and Beth who are flying back to Illinois later tonight.    We came back to Flo.   Marilyn and I took a power nap (we are good at this - ha) and Mark worked on some outdoor projects.    Marilyn and I played rummikube on the patio.     We girls walked in the park and Mark rode his bike.    We played 3-handed euchre with me the winner!    Then....off to "Scoops on First" downtown for supper - banana splits!!

Boy, these are sooo good!

Back to Flo - we all read, then played 3-handed euchre with Marilyn winning both games!

More info on the Babcock Ranch (residential area) - there are approximately 200 homes now with that many more under construction.    They are expecting to have a "little" city of 50,000 at some point and building up all the infrastructure.    The area is now Babcock Ranch, Florida!     Will be interesting to go back this fall and see all the progress.

Jim and Lydia left on a 7-day cruise out of Miami this morning.     The Symphony of the Seas is only 1 year old (Royal Caribbean line) and has over 9,000 passengers/crew.

Thinking back to 3 years ago today - March 30, 2016 when Mark's Mother passed away....she is so loved and missed,

Friday - March 29

Clouds and sun today in the low 80's.    Mark exercised, Marilyn and I did yoga (her 1st time) and then said our goodbyes to Joanne, the Friday instructor..    Today was last session for the season. 

Marilyn and I came back to Flo, showered, picked up Lydia and we girls were off for some mani-pedi's, new earrings for Marilyn and then ate at First Watch (good breakfasts for all).

Enjoying some pampering....

Marilyn and I played rummikube in the afternoon with each of us winning a game.   Mark had a productive day working on the skirting below the she shed making it easily accessible for storage.

Marilyn, Mark and I went to the Boathouse with the plan to meet Tom, Beth and Dennis (after they played 18 rounds of golf) for dinner.    When we got there, it was a 2-hour wait, so.......we drove to Babcock Ranch where Dennis suggested we try the Friday Night Food Trucks in Founders Square.   It's a once-a-month Friday affair and wow....sooo many food trucks serving up whatever you could want!    Lots and lots of people strolling around and great food.    Mark and Marilyn also got some ice cream and then we all went to Dennis's beautiful home and sat and visited over wine.    Beth made some blueberry/almond pancakes!    GREAT evening!!!

Marilyn watching as Beth is whipping up some goodies in Dennis' gorgeous kitchen!

A goofy story......my friend Barb sent me a birthday card dated February 18th (2 days before my bday).   Envelope was addressed perfectly correct and I just got it the other day - SIX WEEKS later....where oh where has it been?

Enjoy your weekend....

Thursday - March 28

Cool morning and breezy, but deep blue skies....Jim and Lydia picked Marilyn up (she's sleeping on Flo and doing her showers and/dressing in the she shed).    They went to Buckingham Farms for breakfast and then toured the Burroughs House.    I exercised, we did facetime with Maeve and Annette and then rode bikes.

This afternoon, Mark and Lydia went to our HOA meeting.    Jim, Marilyn and I went for a walk in the park and then played several games of rummikube with Marilyn the big winner and her first time to play that game. 

Around 3, the 3rd Chamberlain brother, Tom, his wife Beth and their friend Dennis arrived.    We sat around Jim's gazebo and chatted away (Mark and Lydia had returned from their 2-hour meeting).   What a fun visit to all be together and catch up!

Dennis lives at Babcock Farms and owns several Monical's pizza stores in IL and IN.    How about that.....our family favorite.   Really nice guy and he's originally from Watseka, IL and serves on Tom's bank board.

Tonight we all went to Firestone Grill downtown and had great meals and conversation!!!    Very fun evening! 

These photos were taken from the Skyline Bar so not the best lighting...

 Jim, Marilyn, Mark, Tom

The brothers and sister...

Dennis, Beth and Tom

Lydia, Mark, Tom, Jim, Dennis, Beth, Pat, Marilyn

Belated Happy St. Patty's Day from Luke the Leprechaun

Wednesday - March 27

Sunny, warm and breezy today......did yoga, Mark exercised, we picked up some pastries at Java House and went to noon Mass.    Quiet afternoon.....

Jim and Lydia picked Marilyn up from the airport. 

Not such good weather today in Daytona Beach where it was chilly rainy and very windy.   But the kiddos had fun going to the outlet mall and of course, "thee" hot spot in downtown Daytona Beach - Angel Phelps Chocolates.

Fun shopping for Liam and Connor

Today is Lydia''s birthday....we all went to Izzy's for dinner and had a great time!

Jim, Lydia, Marilyn

The birthday girl with her key lime torte

Jim, Lydia, Marilyn, Mark, Pat

Maeve, our little Mermaid

Tuesday - March 26

We arrived back to Cypress Trail after a fun, quick getaway to Daytona Beach around 3 this afternoon.

Here's how our little trip went....

Monday - left home at 8 and along with 2 stops, we arrived in Daytona around 1:30.    Patrick and the boys went deep-sea fishing from 7-12 today.    Anne met us at the hotel and we changed into swimsuits and off to the pool.    Had lunch and the guys arrived back (tired but happy).  1.   They each caught a fish; and 2, no one got sick!!!    There were about 25 onboard.    So, a leisurely afternoon with the boys going back and forth from the beach to the pool.    Anne and I walked the beach and the clouds rolled in and it really cooled off.    WE all went back to our rooms and rested a bit till we met for dinner.

Liam and Connor love the beach

A new life raft but trying to blow it up......big job, so bought a small air pump! 

Waiting for our table at Bubba Gump... 

 

The gals

The guys

The kiddos

View from our room

Liam wanted to eat at Bubba Grump which we had to drive to......long wait, terrible service, but food was ok and just fun to be together.   We are all tired  after the sun/water.

The boys spent the night with us and heads hardly hit the pillow and we were all zonked out!

Tuesday - Slept in and then off to pick up Aunt Dee and have breakfast (Anne and Patrick joined us).    she was about 7 miles south and suggested we eat at The Cracked Egg Diner - excellent!!!     Good visit and then good bye.....hugs to the Campbells and off they went back to the beach for rest of the week.    We took Aunt Dee back to her condo and as always, so impressed with her energy and doing great at 90.     We took a different route home avoiding I-4 and Disney.     Stopped in Okeechobee at the Brown Cow for ice cream (Mark) and latte (me) and on home.

Anne, Liam, Connor, Patrick, Aunt Dee

Aunt Dee and Pat

Fun night of euchre!

Tomorrow Mark and Jim's sister, Marilyn arrives.....looking forward to some fun family times!

Sunday - March 24

BRADY is a TEENAGER

Happy 13th to this sweet all-American boy!
Seems like yesterday we were welcoming Brady to the family (our 4th grandson) - what a joy he's been!

Eggs and toast for breakfast, 11:00 Mass at St. Francis,  leftovers for lunch and a nice relaxing afternoon - back in the 80's today.

I've got a nasty cold that came on last night fast 'n furious!

Dennis and Jamie came over for happy hour this afternoon.    Dennis and Mark used to work together and they are just around the corner here in the park.    We had a great visit and then went with them to their neighbors and had some great pizza on the grill.

Jamie and Dennis

We had a good chat with Brady.    Tuesday-Friday he's on his class trip to Washington, DC.    We told him to be sure and check out the cherry blossoms!!!

Tomorrow were taking a little trip to Daytona Beach and visit Anne, Patrick, Liam and Connor - looking forward to chillin' around the pool, walking the beach and catching up!   We are spending the night and back to Cypress Trail on Tuesday afternoon.

Have a great week!

Saturday - March 23

A "Stunningly Special Saturday" on tap today.....lovin' this FL sunshine and warm temps (with cool mornings and evenings).     Slept in a bit and then had breakfast, exercised, did 2 loads of laundry and some cleaning in Flo and the she shed.    Spiffing things up for Mark's sister, Marilyn who is coming to visit next week!

We had lunch at Buckingham Farms with John and Beth (their first time) - great eating here again and walking around enjoying this wonderful day!    Got a few groceries at Publix and on home.

Mark, Pat, John and Beth 

 Gorgeous day at the Farm

Bye bye dear friends till fall.....

Fun Saturday night playing euchre!

Friday - March 22

Another glorious day starting off cool this morning and then warming up to 75 with those deep blue skies!

I did yoga and Mark exercised.   Met Claire at Bell Tower for lunch at Cru - excellent (roasted red pepper soup with crab, crab cake, asparagus and tomato salad)!   We had a good long visit and worked on some plans for our upcoming trip to Charleston with Kathy.    Duh....forgot to take a picture today, different restaurant, different day, but....here's Claire

Claire

Stopped at Dick's Sporting Goods and enjoyed a little shopping spree (birthday gift from Anne, Patrick, Liam and Connor) - got some new pants and tops for exercising/yoga!

On home and yakked with Mark about our day, walked over to visit with Jim and Lydia and then drove to the Mix Grill for a light supper (salad with shrimp for me) and lemon fish with linguine for Mark. 

Anne and family have arrived in Daytona Beach for spring break.....

"LET the FUN BEGIN"!

Thursday - March 21

After 2 days of rain and mist, etc. today was just spectacular with lots of sunshine, breezy and 74 degrees!    We picked Owen and Allie up at 8:45 and had breakfast at Buckingham Farms and walked around a bit.    Then off to check out the residential area of Babcock Ranch - wow!    Had never been to this area and it is ginormous with many many homes and many more under construction - anywhere from $200,000 - $1m.     There are some stores, medical complex, school, day care facility, etc.   Imagine so much more growth coming in the next year.

We drove towards downtown and had 11:00 tour at the Burroughs House - Judy our guide was excellent and only 3 other couples on the tour from IL, FL and OH.    This was my 2nd time and enjoyed again as did Allie, Owen and Mark for their 1st time.

On the porch at the Burroughs House waiting for our tour...

Lunch downtown at Cabos Cantina was delicious as always and Allie and Owen wanted to continue their tradition of the seafood enchiladas.....not disappointed!!!    Along with our margaritas, we all left happy.

Allie and Owen

Took Allie and Owen back to the hotel where their car was and said our good byes - not knowing when we'll be together again?    They are returning home (Peoria area) the end of May.

Took a little power nap and then some laundry.   We rode bikes and then settled in with good books!

Wednesday - March 20

Misty rain in the morning, windy and in the 60's - all leftovers from yesterday's inch of rain!    A nice gentle soaking rain and all the plants in the park look a bit perkier - can't beat good ole rain!!!

I did yoga this morning and there were only 6 including our instructor Sue.    Of the 6 of us, 4 were Sue's!!!     Mark exercised and did some organizing of his tools in the she shed.

Strange weather day......just when we thought the sun was coming out, it started raining, and off and on....Allie and Owen arrived at 1:30.    They drove down from North Port and always fun to be together.    We've had today/tomorrow planned for some time, so bring on the fun....funny that they were here in Fort Myers (Cypress Trail) just 1 year ago (March 19-20)!

We 4 walked around the park and spent some time in the meditation garden and noticed the plants are now identified - some very unusual ones for sure.    Allie got to meet Lydia and Jim as Mark and Owen went a different direction.

They left at 3:30 to check into their hotel, we picked them up at 4:15 and we were off to the Gatlin dinner show at Parrot Key.    Such a fun evening with friends John and Beth and their friends, Bob, Yvette, Dot and Dennis (all from Maine).    As always Andrea and Darryl put on a fantastic show!

Dennis, Dot, Yvette, Beth, John, Mark, Pat, Allie, Owen and Bob

 

Tuesday - March 19

H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y,   DAVIS

Davis is smart, quiet, funny and along with excelling in the classroom, he's a top-notch golfer, too!
HAPPY 17

The rain started around midnight and came down all day long.    We met Sue and Jerry at a new place - Skinny Dogz Brunchery (also have Fat Katz) and it was a winner.   A large varied, unique menu for breakfast and lunch.    Good time and a Plan B as the original plan was for the 4 of us to drive to Brandon (2+ hrs.) to meet Patty and Doug who were driving from The Villages for lunch.   But the nasty wet weather in the forecast and then with a few other glitches, it wasn't meant to be, so.....glad we could see Sue and Jerry one more time before they leave for IL next month.

Sue and Jerry

Mark brought me home and went downtown to get a haircut.   

We hunkered down this afternoon and went for a short walk while the rain stopped for a few hours.  Windy and chilly, so....rain started up again around 4.   Enjoyed our good books and glad we didn't have to be outdoors today as landscapers worked on lot 2 doors down planting some new bushes getting very wet!

Played euchre in the clubhouse as the rain continued to fall.    Called the birthday boy and
had a good chat!    

Monday - March 18

A nice lazy day for we nomads......exercised, ate some pancakes and went to noon Mass at St. Francis.    Back to Flo and Mark grilled burgers and we had a little picnic with baked beans, macaroni salad along with all the fxins' on the burgers (lettuce and tomatoes from Buckingham Farms, etc.)

Rode bikes in the afternoon, defrosted the freezer, read, napped, visited with Jim and pretty much just chilled!

Went for a walk around 6 but it started sprinkling so we cut it short - had BLTs for supper and tried walking again just as the sprinkles started once more    Once this rain starts, it will be going on for 24 hours with at least an inch expected!     High of 64 coming tomorrow!

St. Patrick's Day - 2019

Hope you've had a great St. Patrick's Day....

We started the day with 9:30 Mass at St. Francis then a quick stop at the Flea Market to pick up a knife (great for slicing tomatoes, but just about anything else, too).   I have one on Catrina, too, and cannot imagine what happened to the one on Flo.....how does one misplace/lose a knife?    Anyway, we bought 2.....and since we were walking right past these ginormous donuts....shared this yummy treat

Sinfully good and nice 'n warm....

and then on home to change clothes and back in the car for drive to Labelle (26 miles)     

Met Charlotte and Doug at The Log Cabin - GREAT BBQ place that is #1 on Trip Advisor.    It was packed and obviously why it's #1.....great food and Mark really enjoyed his corned beef and cabbage.   

Doug, Charlotte, Pat, Mark

 After stuffing ourselves and non-stop chatter, we transferred the dehumidifier from our car to their car.    John had given it to us for use in the she shed, but with the AC and ceiling fan, Doug and Charlotte needed it more on their boat which they will store till December.    Said our good byes not knowing when we'll see them again.    Later this week, they'll head for home (Annapolis) and their new grandson.

Bye bye dear friends......safe travels!

This afternoon we had the annual St. Patrick Day parade here in the park with about 15 golf carts, bikes, etc., decorated....

 As the parade passes by...

I played rummikube with Jim and Lydia late this afternoon with Jim the big winner!  

This is what Annette's parents woke up to this morning in Princeton, IL - 5 1/2"

Such beauty... 

but it's March 17th???

and then........later this afternoon after sunshine and temps warmed up...

all that's left!

Here's to a safe, healthy, fun week ahead...

Friday - Saturday, March 15-16

Friday - Mark and I were off to meet Mike and Claire at the Tanger Outlet Mall.    We all went together to Sanibel and met our friend Paul at Gramma Dots for wonderful lunch.     You have to get there early with all the crowds so able to get a table and seated by 11:15 with restaurant full and many waiting!  We had a great visit (Paul's dear Margie passed away from cancer almost 4 years ago).   Sanibel was their "home away from home" for a very long time.    And we've been blessed to visit many times over the years.

Mike, Claire, Pat, Mark, Paul

Said our good byes to Paul at 2 .....time to move on to the next activity for both the Alexanders and us.    Lucky that traffic was not a problem.   Said our good byes to Mike and Claire and on back to Flo.

 Back for a short time and then left for downtown to meet Charlotte, Doug, Beth and John at Firestone Grill for drinks on the rooftop.    Always a fun experience, but tonight, very crowded and a nasty cigar smoker sitting at the bar in front of us!!!   UGH UGH UGH!!!    Tonight is the 3rd Friday which means the March Music Walk where bands and/or other groups/solos set up to entertain on the streets.     We walked to the Lodge for an excellent meal.    It was packed and very lucky we got there early and found a booth.

Doug, Mark, John, Beth, Pat, Charlotte

The Birthday Boy - John

enjoying warm peach cobbler in a mason jar!

Doug had the funnel cake fries with raspberry sauce and Mark had Amish bread pudding

The guys were very pleased with their dessert choices!

  And then lo and behold, in the booth beside us were Joe and Bonnie from near Ann Arbor, MI.    Mark met Joe and Bonnie in 2011 in Charleston when we had Catrina heading south for the winter.   (I was shopping).   So, they've spent many winters in Fort Myers on their RV and we've gotten together with them off and on.    What a nice surprise.   Later we walked around to hear the music and got to visit a little more.

Pat, Bonnie, Joe, Mark

Sat with Beth, John, Charlotte and Doug and listened to some tunes from Elvis/Johnny Cash     They only sang  a few familiar songs while we were there.    It was a happening place - people people everywhere!    We were surprised to see puddles and wet pavement when we got home as downtown didn't get anything.

It was a busy day and we are tired so no blog tonight - but again, another fun one with all these very dear friends.

The RV's are really pulling out and leaving for the season here at Cypress Trail.    Many others are saying "we're waiting till the weather shapes up and then we'll go home"!

Saturday - we went to 8:15 Mass at St. Francis and on home.    Worked on the blog and then off to meet Roger and Carol at The Boathouse (seems to be our 2nd home these days)!     Weather sure was iffy - very cloudy, some rain, then sun, then misty rain, etc.    Despite the weather, a big crowd again and always fun to catch up with these long-time boating friends who live in Bloomington and winter in Punta Gorda.    Drove to Buckingham Farms to show them around and back to Flo.   We visited on our patio and then walked in the park taking cover under Jim and Lydia's gazebo when the rain started (2x).    Went to the clubhouse and the meditation garden and back to Flo for dessert.

Hope to get together when we're back in Bloomington in May.    A very enjoyable Saturday afternoon!

Roger and Carol

While we were waiting for our lunch at The Boathouse today, Charlotte and Doug passed by in their PDQ enroute to LaBelle where they'll store for the winter.

Charlotte and Doug on Abbottsford III

Happy St. Patty's Day!