Saturday-Monday, March 21-23

 Saturday - we left CT at 7:50 heading to Lakeland to visit my brothers and wives.    Stopped in Arcadia for coffee/breakfast, but the Rose Cafe did not open till 9 (??? on a Saturday) and it was 8:45, so we went to the Farmhouse Coffee Co. downtown.    Arrived at Bob and Linda's shortly before 11.   Settled in with our stuff for the next 2 days.    Visited, had a light lunch and then went over to Ron and Vicki's.

We girls played rummikub (Vicki won) and the guys visited and napped,    Mark and I went to 4:00 Mass at St. Joseph downtown and later we all enjoyed pork BBQ sandwiches, cole slaw, potato salad, baked beans and key lime pie.    Said our good byes after getting dessert order from Ron and Vicki for tomorrow's visit to Hellas' in Tarpon Springs.

Linda and I played spite and malice (a game from waaay back when) that I hadn't played in years - she won.    Nighty night!  

Sunday - We 4 were off to Tarpon Springs around 8:45 with Bob driving.    This has been a several year tradition for the 4 of us to shop (girls) and enjoy a wonderful Greek lunch at Hellas' (Greek salad, gyros and flaming cheese - Saganaki.).  

OPA!

  A very fun day to be out and about with perfect weather, good shopping and eating + started off with a latte from the French bakery.    We also got desserts to go (their selection is magnificent!!!) for the 6 of us.   The guys took the desserts to the car and Linda and I did a little more shopping, but by 2:00 we were back on the road to Lakeland.    

Their friends Dan and Sue came over for drinks and visiting - always fun to see them. 

Bob, Linda, Dan, Sue, Pat, Mark

Bob, Linda, Pat, Mark

  Later Mark and I walked to Ron and Vicki's with their desserts and more visiting.    Said our good byes but we'll see them April 15th when we are heading north with Flo.    Vicki is recovering from a broken wrist!   😞

Ron and Vicki

Linda and I played Sky Jo and also watched the very exciting thriller March Madness game between our Iowa Hawkeyes and the Florida Gators which we won 73-72.    Oh my....while this was going on I got a text message from one of my boat sisters, Donna, that another sister, Teri had fallen and broken her hip.    Oh no.....poor Teri.   

Bob is the ultimate "puzzle putter together".   He always has one going and he was almost finished with another.   I helped with a few pieces but here's his finished project - such a neat scene he got here in Fort Myers.

Zoom in to see this neat tiki-on-the-water scene

 Between thinking about Teri and the excitement of the basketball game, it took me a whille to fall asleep!  😒

Monday - we had breakfast with Bob and Linda and then good bye.    We'll see them back home in IL in May.   Such a fun weekend.    Stopped in Wauchula at the Java Cafe for coffee and got home around 10:45, changed clothes and 45 minutes later, headed to Cristof's for a very nice lunch with Father Steve from St. Francis Xavier and other parishioners with the Cornerstone Society.    It was so pleasant sitting on the porch (25) seeing familiar faces and meeting new folks.    Food was delicious as always.   

Teri had successful hip replacement this morning in Kettering, OH. 

Stopped at Wal Mart and on home.    Our neighbors Barb and Joe came to say good bye - they are off to IL tomorrow.    The season is winding down and we sure saw a lot of RV's heading north as we were on the road today.

Looks like the tiki roof tops are fixed since we've been gone after the awful storm one week ago tonight.

We met our boating friends Michael and Chris (boat sister) at Firestone Grill for delicious dinner.    They are from OH and had been in Tampa for their nephew's wedding this weekend and now enjoying a few days in Fort Myers.    So fun to be together as we talked about Teri, her surgery and recovery coming up and many other things! 😄

Mark, Pat, Chris, Michael