Warm and sunny days mid and upper 70s and lately mid 80s- ahhhh warmth - Still!!
Note: Add your email above to receive email of postings. Must be in "Desktop Version" to see Email sign up line. If using mobile. there is a link beneath the Home button at end of the post. Be sure to verify confirming email - check spam if you don't get one
Thought it time to do an update on the blog.
We have been really enjoying the Florida weather. There were some cool days here when we were moaning that we have to wear our wind breakers to begin the day. But my son Ryan put our "plight" in wonderful perspective by texting me this very funny graphic of the temperatures across the rest of the country.Take note of the editorial caption.
So feel free to hold back your sympathy for our needing to "bundle up" some here in paradise.
One thing that attracted us to the Sarasota area for our winter stay is the large amount of music and theater offerings. Many are really reasonable. The first one we attended was held at the Lutheran church in town in their very nice activity building seen below. It featured a local couple with the husband playing guitar and the wife singing contemporary to operatic songs. They each have individual careers but do several performances together - they were very good and - it was FREE!!
We have tickets to see Sara McLaughlin later this month and will be attending some other very nice low cost productions - a great addition to a fine boat locale.
The first of February we drove to Orlando to meet friends Dan and Cindy and Cindy's Dad Everett for lunch. They have a place in Amelia Island and it was about half way for both of us. We ate at the same Cheesecake Factory the I went to with granddaughter Sydney and her mom Jenn several years ago. It is a big maul (or mall if you prefer). We were fascinated with the scale of this place as you can see below.
And it had all the stores that are needed for shopping for all the granddaughters as you can see.
Back at the marina it was time to do some work on the boat. We had a diver come and change our props to deal with the new prop installed in Pensacola not being the right pitch.
One amazing thing is how fast stuff grows on unprotected surfaces. This prop was clean in November.
It was fun going out for a test run. It made the idea of getting on the move again feel OK.
Since our visit last year to Sarasota, we had planned to try Owen's Fish Camp restaurant. We went with Looper friends Sue and Joe who were staying in Longboat Key for the month of January.
The restaurant is right in downtown and has been build around over the years.
But it retains its old time charm and eclectic past.
Complete with Owen sitting out front still
A nice time with Joe and Sue (in the middle of the photo)
The gumbo and Faye's New England calm chowder were good. But I am sorry to report that the dinners were poor. I had fried seafood basket and it everything was soggy - tough to do with fried food.
If you remember the last post, it concluded with our visit to friends Jim and Justine. We made a plan to get together for the SuperBowl here at Longboat Key. We were thrilled to have the Pats made it to the big game. Jim is happy to once again see Admiral Faye
They came on Saturday and we enjoyed seeing the sights - including this very interesting cloud formation.
And of course Rocky the Wonder Dog came to visit as well. You don't need to "Wonder" what he is thinking since Admiral Faye had bought plenty of snacks for the weekend for everyone including him.
See what I mean?
We went to the local the Blue Dolphin for breakfast that was right up the road - it was great. A man with a Pats hat was kind to his fellow fans and took our photo - with Jim and Justine on the left.
We stopped for a stroll along the beach - it was nice day.
The Admirals getting ready for the big game.
And Rocky taking a pre-game siesta
And the excitement is building as we await the kickoff
And I am happy to report that Pats won the SuperBowl in an amazing defensive game by both teams - but Brady was once again able to prevail - for the sixth time!! Sorry to blog readers who are really sick of hearing that.
In keeping with seeing friends we have made on the Loop, Kris and Rick arrived this past Thursday for three days. We have not seen them since Gore Bay in Canada this past August. They have had a number of issues that have delayed them. The delay has made it so they have had to travel in cold and challenging conditions. Their boat name is Eagle One. I suggested that a temporary name change that they should consider is "Eagle One Thing After Another." They quickly agreed that they have sure felt like that along the way.
The day was wonderful and it was the first day since last summer that Kris and Rick had really felt the warm weather while on the boat. It was a wonderful day to relax in the pool and catch up on our time apart. Kris and Rick are on the outside in the photo below.
On Thursday night we tried the Amish restaurant Der Dutchman.
It features a large buffet that we got our share of the many offerings.
On Friday we decided that we needed to exercise to burn a few of those calories enjoyed the night before. We played pickleball and had great fun - Kris and I need to have a rematch to avenge our two out of three loss.
So what to do after such good exercise? Well the pool sounded good so we could get ready to indulge again at another buffet. The marina resort put on a seafood buffet Friday night -
Complete with all the Maine Lobster you can eat. They even sliced them in order to make it easy for the non-Mainers to easily get their fill - and us Mainers as well - which I did!!
Our table was full of folks from the marina - which made it fun that included Rick and Kris, on the right, and ourselves.
Fellow boaters are (l to R) Jim and Jackie and Ray and Mary Beth.
So for now I will say ....
Good Night and May God Bless
