Tuesday - April 8

 LUKE is 12

 Happy Birthday!

This young man is very busy these days - besides being a top-notch 6th grader, he is a real outdoorsman in North Carolina.   He's active in his adventure club where he's white water rafting, canoeing, rock climbing, camping, hiking, etc. with friends OR now enjoying golf and gets to play on his birthday this afternoon!!!  💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙   

We haven't seen our NC kiddos since Thanksgiving, so REALLY looking forward to next week when we arrive in NC.

We had some rain during the night and on and off this morning.  Bob and Linda drove down from Lakeland arriving around 11.    We visited in Flo and then left for Blossom and Brie and lunch on the farm.   They had another large crowd for a Tuesday and so many snowbirds have gone home.    Mark drove us to Anthony's and Wilford and Lee for some retail therapy.    We took them to their hotel and we came back to Flo for a bit.

Then 1/2 hour later, Mark and I both drove to the hotel.   We all went downtown to the Luminary Hotel and the Beacon Social Drinkery for drinks and appetizers - nice, but boy, after all the heat, it was much cooler today especially on the 12th floor rooftop.

Mark, Pat, Bob, Linda

Stopped at Dollar Tree to buy a deck of cards and onto their hotel to play euchre with the guys winning 2 of 3 games.   Tomorrow is another big day,

Had a good chat with Luke and family on our way home.

  

Drew and Tessa

celebrating 4 years of their 1st date (2021-2025)

just like Grandpa and me  (1965-1969)

Monday - April 7

 We were off at 7:50 for our dentist appointments (1 hour away), but able to pick up a few things at Target and Dollar Tree beforehand.   I had a complete set of x-rays taken of my teeth (18).   It has been 6 years since I had this and definitely do it different now.    I have Danielle for my hygienist and Mark has Laura.   Mark will need a crown replaced and cavity taken care of when we return in October.

Drove across the street to Biscotti for pastries and coffee.    Then ran some more errands and on home.

We left again at 1:30 for my eye check-up with Dr. Nicole Alessi.   This was my 1st visit with Collins Vision so now all my doctors are in Fort Myers.    All good with the eyes and enjoyed very pretty young Dr. who said as she was walking out the door "Welcome to our family":!   How nice was that!

Mark though an ice cream fix was in order, so off to Love Boat on Six Mile Cypress - soooo many choices but we enjoyed our chocolate chunk (Mark) and heath bar crunch (me)

Another hot day but this should be the last with some rain coming tomorrow.    Did some laundry after we got home.   

Walked tonight....park continues to empty out.

I watched 2 episodes of "Call the Midwife" and the start of the 14th season.    These shows continue to amaze me with their wonderful heartbreaking but also happy stories.

Sunday - April 6

 We went to 11:30 Mass with Father Robert at St. Francis.    Then to the mall to walk and ended up eating in the food court (Chinese) - 1st time we've done that.   Lots of people at the mall on this hot Sunday and good to see as so many malls are struggling.

One of the interesting shops was a tattoo parlor (or fine body art) - a young lady was sitting in the chair having her arms all decorated - and many more customers waiting for their time to get tattoos/body art!!!!    Whooaaaa...not my thing but sure popular and don't get it at all!     Arghhhh

On home and a short time later, we walked to Jim and Lydia's to play euchre (Mark and Lydia won both games) and then SkyJo with Mark and I tying for the win.   Fun time and good for Lydia to have a diversion as she's staying close to home with her new hip recovery.   

On home.   We said good bye to next door neighbors, Gary and Brenda as they are heading home tomorrow (near Kansas City).

10 siblings on zoom tonight - our niece Jennifer is in the hospital with a touch of pneumonia and sore on her leg (hopefully out tomorrow);   Beth is back from Japan with her daughter Megan and she and Tom are leaving next Sunday for 2 weeks in Europe (mainly Germany); Joe and Joan are going on a scuba diving (Joe) trip to Cozumel; Karen is having internet issues and been on jury duty this past week; Lydia gave update on her new hip, etc.....   

Have a great week!

Saturday - April 5

 They say this is our last  day in the 90's - tomorrow only 89!    Ha!    At any rate it was HOT and WINDY.  Anna and Rosa arrived at 9:10 to clean Flo and we took off for Venice.    We usually don't come to my favorite Florida town on the weekends....it was very busy with parking an issue, stores crowded, etc.    But, we did find a parking lot with plenty of spots and got some extra steps, browsed a few shops and bought 2 shirts for Mark.   

Then we were off to meet Lee and Tamara who drove down from Bradenton.   So good to see them and catch up at the Blu Island Bistro.    First time here (a favorite of Allie and Owen).   It's connected to the Island Sun Motel and serves breakfast and lunch.    We sat outside (very breezy but pleasant).    We all enjoyed our lunch (Lee had a patty melt; Tamara, the burger special; Mark, a grouper reuben and a cuban for me)!    All excellent and we agreed, a definite place to return to.    Lots to catch up on and almost 2 hours later, we said our good byes.   Hope to meet again this fall.

Mark, Pat, Tamara, Lee

Came back home and chatted with Jim who was walking in the park.   Stopped for a bag of ice and settled in our newly cleaned Flo - she's sparkling and smells so good!

We had a good chat with Liam while we were in Venice - he's "in training" for an olympic event (31 miles total) of swimming, running and biking!   WOW.....WTG....we wish him all the best for this event on June 1st in Cedar Rapids.

And another nice surprise when Connor called early this evening.    He's doing well with classes and golf.   The weather in IL is another story - rain almost every day and cold - not fun on the golf course.   He's coming down the home stretch of his freshman year at DACC.   What a treat to hear from both Campbell boys!!!

We walked at 7 - whew....still pretty darn hot!   Cooler weather coming next week.

Friday - April 4

This very warm weather is more typical of June than April so say the weather folks!   Another mid 90s day for SWFL.

We played euchre one last time for this season with Estelle from Columbus, OH.   3-handed is always fun - Mark won 2 games and 1 for me - but last game was very close.

Euchre buddy - Estelle

Cajun Gringos was the food truck tonight - we walked up to the clubhouse parking lot and shared a blackened fish bowl (full of fish, black beans and rice, onions, tomatoes and a few jalapenos (for Mark).  It was sooo good and perfect amount for two.

Very good Friday night supper!

My 3 pots of impatiens were doing so well, but all of a sudden, they started looking really sick!   WHAT?   Gave them a boost of plant food, but sadly they did not survive.   The past few years, I took them back to NC and gave to Annette and Brooke.   I sure would like to know what happened?

Enjoy your weekend and stay safe from all the awful storms/flooding!

6 months from today is Drew and Tessa's wedding!  💑

Thursday - April 3

 We hit 95 today!    I walked to the library to play rummikub with Anita....we each won 2 games and then she won the tie breaker.   Sad that this is my last time to play this fun game here at CT till next season.

Mark picked me up at 11:45 and we were off to Salty Papa's Shrimp House and met Rog and Martin, our former neighbors here at CT.    So good to catch up over our awesome lunches - their shrimp (prepared any ole way you like it) is thee best and freshest!    Mark and I shared  1# of fried shrimp (20) with 2 sides.   Rog had oysters and Martin, the jambalaya.

Said our good byes till fall - we sure miss them as neighbors!    They will experience their 1st Florida summer in their condo as last year they went back to MO for one final summer on the water before their closing.

Rog and Martin

After lunch Mark had the great idea that we walk at the Edison Mall (we'll get some steps and be COOL).   So that's where we headed and oh my, just delightful in the coolness.   Have not been here in a few years - forgot how big it is and very few empty stores which is a good thing unlike other malls.    We did 2 rounds around the entire mall and came on home after getting Ruby fueled up.

I made a batch of egg salad and we enjoyed the AC.  Walked in the evening and met Eva and Fred from MA who arrived today for the month of April.   Nice chatting with them!

Wednesday - April 2

 Hot 'n humid Wednesday.    We walked (drippy, drippy)!    Took showers and off to Blossom and Brie in North Fort Myers to meet our Racine boating friends from 15+ years ago for lunch.   Ken and Cathy still spend the summers at Reefpoint Marina on their boat.

Carol and Bob, Cathy and Ken came from Venice for an afternoon in the country.   This is such a unique place.   We all enjoyed our lunch and then walked around to see the animals, but really HOT!

Normally Barbara and Mark from New Bern, NC would've been with us; their timeshare on Anna Maria Island was badly damaged by the hurricanes last fall (Milton and Helene), so they did not come to FL this winter.    Hopefully we can all be together next year!

Connie, Steve, Mark and I love Sweet Bean Cafe towards the beach here in Fort Myers.    Jennifer usually waited on us but we heard that she no longer works there but now at Blossom and Brie.   And that's how we found this place.    The 2 previous times I've been here, Jennifer was not working.  But today.....there she was and so nice to see her and have a brief chat!

Jennifer and Pat

Mark, Pat, Ken, Cathy, Carol, Bob

A bit cooler tonight for our walk - visited with Kevin and Melissa from IL.    She's been counting the empty lots and each day more and more are on the move.    She said there are 180 empty lots.

Tuesday - April 1

 We're in the 90's all week!    Whew!   Mark and I went to 9:00 Mass at St. Therese in North Fort Myers - something different and a return from when we were here in 2016 and had Daisy.

Father Jan Antonik (Polish) was standing in the back of church with a collection basket.   As folks were coming into church, they got out their wallets prepared for a donation, only to have Father smile and say "April Fools"!   Ha.....

Stopped at Wal Mart for a few things and then downtown to Peter's for coffee and shared a piece of blueberry coffee cake.   On home for a bit and then off to Buckingham Farms and met Vinnie and Laurie from Cape Coral.    We met them in 2016 (they bought their PDQ catamaran from John and Beth) and we always enjoy our time together.   Another awesome lunch and visit!

Laurie and Vinnie

Laurie and Pat

Today would've been my Mom's 106th birthday.....I was thinking how excited she would've been about a grandson and great grandson getting married this year!!!

We waited till 7 to walk - temp was 88 and when we returned, it was down to 85...and plenty of humidity!