February 17, 2006

Summer weather here once again. Beaching tomorrow at Lover's Cay near Ft. Myers. Fun luncheon yesterday at Sneaky Petes for the Pelican Pete Pedlars bike club. 72 people attended. I will have a photo of the group soon. My sis and bro-in-law, me and my partner went to the Bay House Restaurant the other night for early bird specials. What a lovely view they have. I have attached a picture. Also there is a picture of Sebastian and me sitting beside Bearfoot. I have a young nephew in Hartford, NY who requested a photo of Bashey and me so it was taken. Company is coming. Yippee!

Recent photos

February 15, 2006

Guess who the manatee is?????
Happy Valentine's Day, one day late. Bike yesterday in the very unusually cold temps for this part of FL in February. But by mid-day it was up in the low 60's. I received some delicious hand made chocolate and a lovely card. Bought myself some red tulips that I am enjoying right now. They are in a vase in front of one of my windows. I really like them. I have been watching the Olympic Games each night and then taping the late night show so I can watch it the next morning. What beautiful scenery! I enjoy watching all the young athletes from around the world too. Many surprises as always. The skating and skiing are my favorite events. Tomorrow our biker group is dressing in red and biking to a local restaurant for a Valentine luncheon. The spouses will be meeting us there. Last time I heard there were 72 of us. My sis and I attended a fashion show luncheon yesterday. It was a nice lunch with many other women in the park. Got us all fired up to go buy some new duds. I liked the models they used. They were all women who were built pretty much like us not skinny. I sat in the sunshine today with Ralph at a beach restaurant where we had a burger for lunch. It has been cool for so long, the warm sunshine was most welcome. Both my sis and I are preparing for children and grandchildren to visit next week. Should be fun!

Clam Pass Beach and the Eagles at the reserve

Fun at Lake San Marino and Bashey

Homosassa Springs State Park Refuge

February 8, 2006

Here I am again. I went north to Homosassa Springs FL for two days and then south to Brooksville, FL which is 40 miles north of Tampa to a Family Motor Coach Rally. The weather was superb the first two days but when we moved south, it turned very cold and windy. Then the rains came - thunder and lightning constantly for 2 days bringing a total of 7" of rain to the area. There was lots of flooding in and around Brooksville/Tampa. We were parked on a runway of the Hernando Co. Airport and felt lucky to be out of the mire although the wind was fierce. I didn't bring the proper clothing. I guess since it is FL and Feb., I thought it would be warmer but did I ever have a realty check. I put on everything I had with me and borrowed warm socks. The assoc. provided shuttle service to the vendors and entertainment but since it was a wagon pulled by a pickup truck, it was colder than walking the half mile to the big tents. One night it was raining so hard that we didn't even leave the coach. It can be claustrophobic when one is confined to a motor coach for over 24 hours. Now the rain on the roof can be very romantic and causes cuddling but when it is pounding and mixed with hail, reading is about all one can do. Watching tv is a hearing challenge - it is essential to have a good book or two. We are both avid readers so we came prepared.

Back to Homosassa Springs State park - it is a place of refuge and healing for animals of all types. We saw many manatees as well as numerous other animals, fish and birds. The flamingos are fascinating and came as a visual, colorful feast for my eyes. The bald eages were sad because they were in confinement but at least they were safe. We took numerous pictures and made a video tape. I will post a page or two of some of the photos just for fun.

Stopped in Tampa on the return trip to visit with some good friends and then back to Naples on Monday this week. Biking came early on Tues. morning. Our group is larger than ever. We now have 4 groups of 20 each. We rode almost 19 miles on monday. We stop at points of interest such as the beach, a great gourmet food store and a fast food place. It is great fun. As I looked in my rear view mirror I watched the long line of riders, all seniors, in their safety glow green shirts. I wish someone would take a video of our long line. We have a valentine ride with luncheon for non-riding partners/spouses coming up. So far almost 80 people have signed up.

We are also taking ballroom dance lessons on monday evenings. Some of the dances are theme dances to prepare us for the upcoming dances to be held here at the resort. There will be a valentine dance and a western theme dance soon along with a street dance. No moss grows on anyone around here.

I am finally beginning to organize my coach basement. There is a yard sale this weekend at each rv site and I want to take this opportunity to rid myself of some of my junk. I hope you are all enjoying a mild winter and will soon be seeing the change in light that occurs each Feb. up north. The winter will soon be over. We have actually had a cool, windy but dry winter for the most part. I finally spent a few hours sprawled on the beach the other day but that was the first time since arriving here Dec. 3rd.

Watch for the photo postings-
Blessings to all

February 8, 2006

My loyal readers, please bear with me. I have been away and since returning, have been overwhelmed with laundry, mail etc. Tonite I hope to post here and also download some GREAT
photos I took while I was traveling. More later-----

January 23, 2006

Yours truly at Cambier Park for the sunday band concert and the concert. Jazz - Great! What incredible weather we are having. Biked today for 16 miles through some of the lovliest neighborhoods I have visited. We are a growing bike club and were 50 today divided into three groups. We rode in the middle group because we like the leader and the pace is brisk but manageable. We may move back up to the fast group when my friend is better conditioned. We stopped at Calistoga's today for some great coffee and pastries. It is rather like Panera Bread for those of you who are familiar with that sort of coffee/bread shop. My sister and I went to Bonita for haircuts today. When I got home, the sunset was beautiful so I grabbed the camera and Bashey to head for the Lake here for a super shot. Well, we got there just as the color disappeared so will try again. Sunsets here are time for celebration and people all around the area go to the Gulf to watch the sun set. Happens every single day without fail. (the celebration is what I mean). Some bring a drink and toast the setting sun while others just stand in awe. Reminds me of being in the Carribean Islands where we always celebrated the sunset sometime more enthusiastically than others. We always watched for the green flash but few ever see it. I saw it twice but I also had drank a few rum punches.

Bashey and his little minnie poodle cousin, Rose are going to Doggie Beach near Lover's Key this week then we will bathe them after. Here are some photos for your enjoyment --

January 20, 2006

I got up this morning while it was still 48 degrees outside to ride with the bike group. See the photo - Rode with the speedy group and we rode into the wind which was strong and gusty in our faces. The first five miles were difficult, then we turned towards the west, went to the beach before turning around for the return trip. The trip back home was very difficult since we again rode the "tour de wind". In any event, we did 17 miles - tough though. The slower group only went 11 miles and hung out at the Burger King for a long while. By the time we were half way through our ride, the temps had risen to mid-70's. Overall, it was a pleasant trip - just had to push the limits a bit.

I bought a lovely bunch of tulips at the market the other day. They are purple and just add so much to Bearfoot's ambiance. I have a need for fresh flowers around me no matter where I am.
Tomorrow night, my friend and I have been invited to some biker friends house for dinner then off to a concert by the Marlin Brothers. There are some great groups performing at the Philharmonic but we haven't been yet. The choices of entertainment here in the area are vast and varied. Time and boundless energy is all that is required - of course, money too for many of the performances.

I am headed for my nest early tonight. Until another day -

January 17, 2006

I cannot believe the date. What has happened to January? Time is blowing by me like the strong winds that have been blowing around here of late. I had my botoxin injections today for my BEB (Benign Essentiall Blepharospasm). My VA doc has a colleague here in Naples but the guy couldn't see me until the end of Jan. according to this front guards (receptionist) and since I couldn't get a message through to him that I had a connection, I was given the name of another doc nearby. I like this doctor and hope that the places he put the botox was the best for my type of spasm since I have had some drastic effects from misplaced shots before. I won't know for about 5 days or so. I don't have anywhere to drive to for awhile so if my body reacts in a negative manner, I will have time to heal before time to drive again. It has been difficult to use my eyes for the last 3 weeks so it was time.

My sis and her hubby arrived here the other day. It is very nice having them parked next to Bearfoot instead of some of the others that have gone in and out of here in the last two months. I am biking as much as possible given the wind. Taking ballroom dancing lessons here in the park on monday nights. Finding that very tough since I am not necessarily cooridinated. It is wonderful to see friends from last winter back again. I miss my family and hope some of them will be coming to visit sometime this winter or in the spring. Bashey and I are very comfortable in our new Bearfoot coach. We have a seal on the refrigerator that is leaking so it keeps frosting up and needs to be defrosted often. That and a dead fan motor in the bathroom seem to be the only things needing repair. I have to take it back up to Tampa to get it fixed in March. Hope to be headed slowly back north by then.

I will post some more photos as soon as I download them on the computer. I also have a large file of slides taken of all my paintings that are in storage in VA. I plan to have them put on a cd and will download those too so I can display them on my other blog site. I just finished a watercolour of an eagle in flight for my grandson in Albany but not sure it is complete yet.

Gotta run feed the white beast - (can't blame him since he only eats once a day)

Blessings and fair weather,

January 11, 2006

Hi Everyone! Sorry I have been out of touch for a bit. Tried to reveiw why I hadn't written and can't really come up with anything except that I am busy. There is always plenty to do around a motorcoach. Then you add a pet, laundry, keeping body fit and friends - suddenly you are as busy as the rest of the world seems to be with little time to write or muse. The weather doesn't need mentioning since it is nearly always perfect this time of year. That is pretty much a given. I have been biking quite a bit since I reintroduced my friend to the sport. He needed to be brought back to an endurance level where he could bike for 15 miles or so on a given day. We did join the club yesterday. Biked with a large group of 20 yesterday. There was another faster group of about 15 or so. The Pelican Pete Pedlars bike club swells to an enormous pod at this time of year. We will be appox. 70 within a couple of weeks. We just ordered t-shirts and license plates that will show our first names. Yesterday we had our first organizational meeting of this year and planned some group rides and other activities. This weekend there is a bike-a-thon in Cape Coral and several members are participating. The mileage is a choice of 25, 62 or 100. Our members that are attending are going for the 62 miles. I don't think I am ready for that yet. Tuesday we biked to Bearfoot Beach in Bonita Springs on the road to Ft. Myers. Bearfoot Beach is an island preserve. It is where I took the photos of the Osprey. It is home to tortoise, the Osprey and many other species. The rangers there offer free canoe trips on the estuarys as well as nature walks and night canoe trips to catch the nocturnal critters. We plan to join at least one of these offerings. My friend, Ralph, returned from the north with a cold which took me 3 days to catch. So we have been nursing our respective congestion. Seems to bother more at night than during the day. My sis and bro-in-law are due in here on the 14th. They are on their way as I write. I am eager to have them parked next door. Photo is of Ralph and I yesterday at Bearfoot Beach. Later-

Photos of the beach

Since I wasn't able to post the promised pics,here they are in a separate post: I expect you all know you can enlarge these pics by double-clicking on the photo.

January 2, 2006

Two Grandma's on Christmas.
It always seems strange to write the new year and it takes a few days to get used to writing it. '05 has been a year of change creating - happiness and fulfillment for some and pain and sadness for others. Many have been lost but on the other hand, people have learned to open their hearts to those less fortunate. We remain a country divided with so many of our young people in foreign nations for a cause that many are not certain of. We will remember this year past and the one before it through the maimed and disfigured young people who have returned to rehab and to try to find a life for themselves after war. I studied geology in college where I learned that major changes and events in the history of the Earth are recorded visually in the geology of the rocks and trees. It seems that our events will be forever recorded visually in the loss of limbs and emotional scars that will identify the year's events.

At the end of the year, I like to review my life month by month. I am always amazed by how much living there was in that 365 day period. I visited St. John's church on sunday and the priest suggested that this was our chance to start anew, to live each day as a new day with a clean slate so to speak. He said we had 365 chances to start over with right living. I associate that with being baptized, to be washed clean, to be reborn. I decided to keep a daily journal of the good things I was able to do for someone each day. If I only manage to do one good deed a day that still gives me 365 chances. Just a kind word or deed, a phone call, a note or email, even a smile makes a tremendous difference. As I bike around Naples and Bonita Beach, I speak to everyone I meet. Most look up and smile or return my greeting. A few ignore me. But I like to think that maybe a cheerful greeting and a smile from a stranger on a bike may make a difference.

On my ride today, I took some photos of the river near Bonita Beach on the Gulf. I often see Osprey in that spot. There is a preserve nearby called Bearfoot Beach. There were lots of people out riding bikes, jogging or walking today. The beaches were very busy since it was still a holiday. I stopped to buy a bottle of water from a vendor on the beach. The parking lot was full and I think probably that was the case all up and down the beaches in the Naples/Ft. Myers area. The way to go is by bike since there isn't a fee or a parking problem. I have tried to ride everyday this week since the weather has been perfect. It is like homecoming around here as all the folks we met last year are rolling in.

Happy Day two!

December 27, 2005

Fresh oranges right from the source.
I hope you all enjoyed Christmas with your family and friends as I did. My family visit was a last minute idea and came about when my son called from Daytona where he and his family were visiting his inlaws. I explored several options for traveling across Florida but the best and least expensive way was to drive the 4 1/2 hrs. My next hurdle was to find a pet sitter for Bash. I found a couple in the yellow pages who were bonded. I called and immediately had a good feeling about them. They arrived at Bearfoot on their twin motorbikes dressed alike in yellow jackets. I liked them as did Sebastian. So early saturday morning I was on the road across FL. I enjoy driving and took Hwy 17 north to I 4 East. Going through the heartland of FL is a pleasant experience. Many orange groves and roadside stands selling strawberries as well as citrus fruit. Hundreds of cattle too. Actually, FL has more cattle than any other state in the US.
We had a great time driving around looking at the "tacky" lights in the area. It was a time of sharing and laughter with great food and drink. There were three grandmothers there (two grandma's and one great grandma), 2 children, my son, his wife and her parents. They have a large home on 3 acres on a cul de sac. Great place for the children to play and bike. We all attended a neighborhood party Saturday night and opened presents on Sunday morning. After a delicious brunch, my daughter-in-law made a fabulous roast beef dinner later in the day. Between stuffing ourselves, we went for long walks. I left monday morning and since it was still a holiday, the traffic was light. I was back at Bearfoot with Bash by 1 p.m. He was very happy to see me. I biked 18 miles this morning with the bike club. I needed to work off all that yummy food. Took down the Christmas decorations and defrosted the refrigerator today too.
We continue clear and sunny here. High 40's in the morning and 60 - 70 during the day. Looks like the temps will be back up in the 80's very soon though.

December 21, 2005

Now for the birth of Light! Yeah! It is not bad here in Florida but when living up in the northern states, darkness seems to come earlier and combined with the cold, it makes living more challenging. We can now look forward to seeing the changes in the length of the day in about a month. Important to increase the Light in your life with candles and those delightful decorative lights we string around the yard and the inside of our homes and places of worship.

It is cool here in Naples but after three days of cloudiness, we are seeing the sunshine again. Bashey and I have a flock of Morning Doves perched on the roof of the little house next to us. We enjoy the cooing sounds they make. I have been trying to find a suitable dog groomer for Bash especially since his day at Doggie Beach. He is a huge curly, fuzzy ball of fur and snarls. His fur just bulks up when he has been in the water. We did have a grand time though. He reminds me of a shy youngster on the beach with all the racing, playing dogs. He runs out for a short distance and then retreats back to my side where he peeks out at the splashing, barking frenzy. He chased leaves out in the water until he would begin to float, then he frantically retreats. Definitely not a swimmer.

I am officially a Florida resident now. Both vehicles are registered and insured in Florida. Got that all completed yesterday. Although my mail will still go through my forwarding service in VA. I think this is a good move tax wise but time will tell.

Biking was fun yesterday. Our group went to Bearfoot Beach in Bonita Springs and then stopped on Vanderbilt Beach Rd on the way back for a Christmas party at one of the members condo. Lots of warm friendship and sweet goodies. I spotted a man's bike along the way with a for sale sign on it so for $10 I bought a bike for my friend, Ralph. It does need some tlc but I think it will be a fine starter bike.

Hope you are enjoying a warm cuppa something - Have a happy day!

December 16, 2005

Yours truly catching snowflakes on Third Avenue down town.

I wanted to post a few photos of the park here in Naples. We have a palm tree right by our window.

December 16, 2005

Last day of school for VA kids until after New Years. I don't notice many kids in this neck of the woods. Seems like mostly whitehairs like me. Action is picking up though due to the Christmas rush. Our bike club is going strong - Pelican Pete Peddlers. We are having new shirts made to identify the members as we travel. We generally complete a 16 - 20 mile circuit which almost always takes in a half hour browsing for shells on one of our fabulous beaches. The beaches by the way appear to be unaffected by the storms in this area. Of course, who knows what the quality of the water in the Gulf is. Temp right now in the Ocean is 70. Temp outside in the air is 85. I have to tell you a story - The other day my friend and I were heading up to Bonita Springs which involves a right turn on Rt. 41. It is right on red here and there are 4 lanes. We swung out on the inside lane making a right turn. There was a car aways back but otherwise no traffic. Before we knew what had happened, the car that appeared to be way back pulled up alongside of us, rolled down the passenger side window and out popped a whitehaired grandmotherly looking woman who promptly shoved her middle digit of her right hand out the window at us. She looked so angry that it made me laugh but then I thought how sad. Not the end of the story. We stop at the next light, they pull up next to us and with a voice so loud and angry that it would have caused fear in the hearts of the 101st Airborne Div. of the USA, she shouted "Go Home". Well that brought about howls of laughter from my friend and I. Chances are we are as "home" here as she is and without the tourist business in FL, they would be paying a state income tax plus the loss of tremendous revenue. I ponder on what makes people that angry and especially this time of year when we are espoused to spread love and peace on earth good will towards men. Think we can hang that one on Pres. Bush?? Doubt it. People are angry at their relatives, their friends, their gov't, their cars, and also their computers so I don't think there is much help for them other than to smile when you are the receiver of their wrath. Is that "turning the other cheek" do you suppose? Does turning the other cheek mean one could possibly "moon" the angry motorist? Now I am fantasizing. I am being taken out to dinner tonight to celebrate an early Christmas since my friend is to be away for a few weeks up in the scary white north. Bash and I will struggle along here in the sunshine. Hope your day is special and without any "digital" waves coming your way. Blessings ----

December 10, 2005

Christmas must be drawing nearer as more and more lights and decorations go up around this park. It begins to look more like the Richmond tacky light tour all the time. A friend and I went down into Naples proper Thursday evening and as we walked and/0r danced along 3rd avenue amongst the people, the snow began to spurt out from the street lights. The fun was in watching the little children standing under the falling snow. Some of the parked cars actually had an accumulation on them. Of course there are also many lights there as well. It was all quite magical. We had gone over to the Naples Pier earlier in the evening to watch the sunset which is a nightly ritual in that area. People just seem to appear from everywhere just before the sunset, striding along with the purpose of seeing the sun set in a spectacular blaze. Today it is a bit cloudy and threatening but then the sun comes out brightly for a hour or so. A trip to the beach was planned but has been postponed. I have been biking quite a lot but want to mount a rack on the back for carrying things so went to two bike stores to compare prices. Hope you enjoy these photos of the area.

December 5, 2005

Hello from Naples, FL. Made it in here Saturday night after dark. Some you know I don't usually drive after dark but I had little choice. I was ready to leave Lazy Days in Tampa at 1:30 p.m. for the 160 mile trip south but when I went to plug my car lights into the back of the MH, the plug didn't fit. Turns out the service people put another manufacturers plug on my cord and the MH has a different manufacturer - They were not compatible! Back over to the service bay for us.
We never left until 2:45 p.m. I put the cruise control on 55 mph since I have this little digital read out which advises what my gas mileage is. When I boosted it up to 65, the gasoline consumption goes down to 5 and 6 miles per gal but at 55, it reads about 9 and 10. I have lots of power and I really like the braking that comes from the Allison Transmission. I realize that I need to pull everything out again here in Naples and give a bunch of stuff away. Funny thing about downsizing - it is an ongoing process. Moving once a year is tough on this old body but really good for clearing out the debris. Bashey and I like our space. He was not too happy today since I bathed him in the outdoor shower. There is lots of dirt, mud, sand and stuff from the hurricane (Wilma) that tore things up quite a bit here. A white dog in this type of environment is like a white mop. He now sports his Christmas scarf around his neck. I have some Christmas touches and will add a small tree today I hope. I also want a poinsetta plant. I have some lights to put up but my MH will be pale compared to the others here in the park. Some of them would qualify for Richmond, VA's tacky light tour that happens every here at this time downtown. Such a fun thing to do with good friends. I will miss that. And I missed the Madrigal Dinner at PHS with my daughter. Grandson Trav plays the trumpet in the pagent and granddaughter, Anna serves. There are always sacrifices along this road - these are the really tough ones. I miss my family a great deal and wish I could somehow just teleport to their homes right through the blizzard. Maybe Santa Claus and the reindeer led by the infamous Rudolph would give a lonely grandma a ride north. Wouldn't hurt to ask!