Thursday - February 5

Heavy rain and strong winds overnight - pretty much a dreary, cool day till late afternoon when the sun came out.    Mark and Luke took a little trip to Publix and walked the aisles and picked up a few things.   After I fed Luke lunch, he went down for his nap and I had a fun afternoon with Kathy and Claire (1st time to be together since September)!    Sooo fun yakking away and enjoying a fantastic lunch at Bistro 41.    We also celebrated Kathy's birthday was which December 30th. 

 

 Pat, Kathy, Claire toasting to "friendship"

and

Happy Belated Birthday, Kathy

 

I came home and Luke was still sleeping - 3 1/2 hour nap!    Grandpa enjoyed a leisurely afternoon on Daisy while the little guy was snoozin'.

 

We went for a ride to Wa ke hatchee Park - fun playground and big area to run, walk, bike around the lake.    Luke had fun just walking and seeing the birds, ducks, etc.    And then we discovered the Dog Park - he loved all the dogs and fed Corrie.    He also met Emily and Stella (miniature greyhound).    What fun seeing his delight in all the little things - he bends down to check out this or that and then goes on his merry way.

 

 Grandpa and his little buddy

 All boy....climbing away

 Stops to pose for a new picture

Feeding "Corrie"

 

We stopped at The Sunshine Café for supper - this is a family restaurant that is busy all day long.    Of course, all 100% of the diners are seniors and they just oohed and aahed over our little guy!

 

We heard from Annette about the very sad funeral and celebration of Lily's life today.

 

 

 

  

Wednesday - February 4

Ten years ago today - February 4, 2005 we were blessed with the arrival of Liam Patrick (our 3rd grandson) and what a blessing he has been!!!   He's funny, silly, goofy, smart, an aspiring athlete (hockey and baseball) and musician - just an all around neat kid!    Love you, Piggie Boy!!!

 

Happy, chunky baby

and 10 years later...

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LIAM

 

Luke slept in till 9 this morning - after breakfast, he and Grandpa strolled around the park and I got a pedicure. 

Luke and Clifford hangin' out this morning

 

   We met Sue and Jerry for delicious lunch at Bahama Breeze - so fun to catch up with them!

 

Jerry, Sue, Pat, Luke, Mark

 

Back to Daisy and nap time for Luke....dreary day here before the rain comes!

 

After a 3-hour nap, we strolled some more and then off  to Target for a few things.  

Luke and Grandpa shared a warm chocolate chip cookie - big hit!

 

GOOD stuff!!!

 

We did face time with Liam tonight and watched him open his gifts!

Whoaaaa....big Blackhawk hockey bag from his Mom and Dad

Snowy day back home!

 

Nighty night folks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday - February 3

Hello from Fort Myers where we arrived at 2 this afternoon.    After settling Daisy into her new home at Siesta Bay for the next 2 months, we left for Culver's at the Gulf Coast Mall to meet Annette and Luke.   We had a late lunch and then Mark and Luke went back to Daisy in Annette's car and I took Annette to the airport to get a rental car.    She is flying back to IL tomorrow for Lily's funeral on Thursday.    Several of her college friends will be coming (they were in school with Lily's Mom).   I can only imagine how sad this funeral will be, but sure glad we can help out with Luke.   

 

Luke seemed like he was back "home" when he got on Daisy...just very happy go lucky and familiar with everything!    He's a "happy camper".

 

Luke at Culver's

Hanging out with Grandpa on Daisy's driveway

 

Good traveling today leaving the Keys.   Graham and Mary Catherine from Greensboro, NC were up and came to say good-bye with hugs.    Definitely plan to see them sometime when we're in NC AND they are home (nomads like us).    Mark had Daisy's propane tank filled and I stopped one more time at our coffee shop, hooked up in the K-Mart parking lot and we were on our way!

 

During our January in the Keys, we saw 4 other Lazy Daze RVs......

2 tan, 1 blue and a green (Daisy's sister)!  

 

Happy to be in Fort Myers - heavy traffic and all!   Ha......

 

 

Monday - February 2

 

Good morning everyone!

 

Our last day in the Keys and it's a beauty - 80, sunshine and breezy!

 

Exercised and met our neighbors (Skip and Diane) from Fort Walton Beach, FL.....

 

Walked around the marina and then rode bikes - more good eats at Key Fisheries - fish tacos and shrimp salad roll!

(1st time to eat there this year).   

 

Pretty flowers along our bike path

 

Picked up 2 slices of a key lime pie on a stick dipped in chocolate at Kandios for Daisy's freezer

 

The boys in their new Blackhawk hats

Sweetie Pie

 

So we said our goodbyes to friends in the RV park and marina as we watched our last

Marathon sunset for the year.   Mark is happy he got all but 4 things on his job list done and

none are real pressing   

 

Its been a very enjoyable month in Marathon, but we are ready to move onto Fort Myers.   Daisy and Toad are ready to roll and the plan is to leave around 8ish tomorrow morning.

Michael suggested we watch "The Equalizer" sometime, so did that tonight - action packed, but good movie with Denzil Washington!!!    Gee....3 movies for the nomads in 2 weeks time!    That ought to hold us awhile!

 

Bye bye for Marathon....

Sunday - February 1

Heard the heartbreaking news this morning that Lily had passed away.    Lily is the 5-year old little girl from LaSalle, IL (not far from where I grew up) who has been fighting neuroblastoma (cancer affecting nerve tissue outside the central nervous system) for over 2 years.    She was diagnosed on  her 3rd birthday, June 28, 2012 and it was Stage 4.  

I have been following her story on Facebook and also thru Annette (Lily's Mother, Maria was a bridesmaid in Annette and Philip's wedding) and been praying for her daily,    She is a precious little girl who has captured the hearts of soooo many across the country.   There were billboards with her picture and many benefits held to offset medical expenses.
 Lily had over 70,000 followers on Facebook who followed her story  .  

She is survived by a younger sister, Maya and her parents, Mike and Maria.

Heaven has a new little angel...

God bless you, Lily...

RIP

On a brighter note, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my brother, Ron who is 75 today!!!

We rode our bikes to Sunset Grille for one last hurrah sharing the

 Bananas Foster French Toast!  

Did one load of laundry and then we went to see American Sniper (big crowd but still a few seats left).    It was excellent and really portrayed what a great hero Chris Kyle was.    Heartbreaking!

Stopped at Publix for a few groceries and then Kandios for ice cream (English Toffee for me and Pralines and Pecans for Mark) - good stuff.

New neighbors came in to RV park while we were gone - from TN and FL.   Have not met either, but the FL folks have a large American flag and flag for state of FL on back of their RV raised high with a light shining.   How cool is that!!!

We talked to some other neighbors tonight and Al from Texas said he met Chris Kyle when Chris gave a speech just 2 months before he so tragically died.

Keeping tabs on the winter storm back home - lots of snow, strong winds and going to be so bitter cold this week!

How awful for all those people who "thought" they had tickets to the Super Bowl and planned and dreamed of the big game....only to arrive in Phoenix and no tickets - a big ole scam.   Of course, they had all their travel expenses, too, and had spent the $ for their tickets!!!   
Why are people so crooked!!!    Makes me crazy....