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!