Apr 4, 2013 - Delinquent Author

Well, I certainly have been delinquent in updating the blog. However, life here has settled into a very pleasant routine--with not too much to distinguish one day from the next. March certainly did not not exhibit the kind of weather that is common for FL. We had quite a few cool spells--some downright cold with overnight temperatures in the 40s. We went over to Venice again this year to try to dig up shark teeth on the beach, but the day was cloudy, cool, and very windy. We were not able to get out into the water far enough to catch enough...

Mar 4, 2013 - Cold Weather and Creativity

Wow, it's been chilly lately! The last few days have been downright cold at night--enough so that I covered our lovely potted flowers last night--and the days have been in the 60s and low 70s. Waaaaaaaaaaa Waaaaaaaaaaaaa I know it's in the 20s and 30s at home, so I won't whine too much. It's going to be a bit warmer tomorrow and by next week, we'll be back on the FL track again--70s and 80s. We completed a great project today by creating a display incorporating the large replica bass that we bought with grasses and stones and a few replica...

Feb 28, 2013 - 10-Day Update

The good weather and good times continue here in (mostly) sunny FL. Although the days go by very quickly, and we seem to be busy all the time--it's really difficult to say exactly what new and exciting things we've been doing. The guys have been fishing nearly every day, except that Tom came down with an awful cold with chest congestion, which put a damper on his fishing. A few days ago, Tom and Robin went into Okeechobee to a clinic staffed by doctors to get some help. After two shots and several prescriptions, Tom felt much better and was...

Feb 27, 2013 - Silver Palms RV

Tonight we are at Silver Palms RV Park at the north end of Lake Okeechobee. It is directly across the road from the KOA park that we have stayed at in the past. This park is under new ownership and is a combination of owner sites and rental sites. All of the owner sites have interlock driveways and patios, while the rental sites have a 10 foot by 20 foot interlock patio and the rest is grass. The sites are about 40 feet wide, which is very spacious in the RV park industry. I've got some pictures to add, when I get to a place with better...

Feb 17, 2013 - Miscellaneous Days

The last few days have included driving and continuous rain on Thursday, with scattered showers on Friday. The rain was greatly needed, so I guess we can give up a few sunny days for the good of the cause. The storm brought cold weather behind it—-with low temps overnight in the high 30s. Tonight is supposed to be even colder. We protected our newly planted flowers and flowering bushes with blankets, The last few days have included driving and continuous rain on Thursday, with scattered showers on Friday. The rain was greatly needed, so I...

Feb 9, 2013 - New Arrivals, New Flowers, and Sour Oranges

As we watched The Weather Channel report on Storm Nemo approaching CT, we were enjoying beautiful weather here in FL. We called home to make sure that everyone was ready, but it is hard for us to really relate as we sit in our shorts with paddle fans on to make us more comfortable. Fortunately, although the storm dumped three feet of snow on our area, no one was injured and our properties were spared. Ughhh! Just confirms to us the reason we leave the cold north for the hard winter months. We've been busy, as usual. We planted some...

Jan 27, 2013 - Our Trip Through the Lakeport Lock

Yesterday was a beautiful day, and I decided to fish with Mike, and he decided that we would have a different sort of “adventure.” Instead of launching in the usual area--Harney Pond—we launched right down the road from our community (at Chappy’s) and slowly fished down the rim canal to the Lakeport Lock (S131). It was an interesting experience going from the lower level of the rim canal, into the lock which brought us up about two feet, then out into the edge of Lake Okeechobee, which is higher than the rim canal. My yoga teacher’s friend...

Jan 24, 2013 - Improvements

Lots of improvement going on around here. Our colds, although not completely gone, have improved. The lasting effect seems to be a sinus drip which causes a cough. I don't feel that my energy has come back up to its usual level, but we're sure better than we were a week or so ago. Many people here seem to have the same symptoms, and all say that it is lasting longer than any "cold" they've had in the past. The weather has improved, also. The last week has been lovely, but the nights have been quite cool with the weather warming up into the...

Jan 23, 2013 - Year 2012

2012 Now Gone Forever Catching our breath before the holiday season really takes off!!! Most presents for family and friends are bought and the parcels to Canada sent weeks ago. No tree up as yet although there’s a rosemary bush waiting for a bit of Christmas décor. Today we finished the last huge grocery order keeping in mind the various “do’s” over the next week here, in the Bradenton & Palmetto area. Happily we are in the midst of our Southern “families”, the Castalonas and the Corcoran Clan - well, maybe not clan! With both couples we...

Jan 17, 2013 - An End to Hot Days (for a while)

Today brought a change in weather. We've had 80-degree weather for about two weeks, and this afternoon brought winds, clouds and cooler breezes. We've closed the windows, turned off the paddle pans, and have the light sweaters at the ready. The overnight temperatures are supposed to be about 50 degrees. Imagine that! Joan, Abby (Orlando, FL), and Chris (from San Francisco) came for a visit on Tuesday, and what a wonderful day we had. No great tours, etc., but it was nice to sit and catch up. We did tour our park and I took them for a ride...

Jan 11, 2013 - Beautiful Days--Good for Healing

We have had a string of beautiful days in the 80s and even into the low 90s, with more to come. We hear that a "cooling" spell will follow. We'll take all that we can get. Last Sunday, I started feeling slightly "off" --more than usual :) and the illness progress leaving me more sick than I've been in years. I don't think that I have the flu; I think it may be a sinus infection. Since I've had my share of these, I know how to treat them, but it hasn't been pleasant. However, being sick in the cold north would be worse. I'm sure that after...

Jan 8, 2013 - Busy New Homeowners

We've had a busy couple of days. Even though our house was purchased completely furnished, there are some things that we'd like to do to make it ours and some things we'd like to change. Mike spent a full day power washing the house and driveway. What a nice difference. The driveway is sparkling white now. The power washer is even useful as a trimmer--really works to zip away some of the low-growing plants which were growing over the edges of the driveway. Mike also trimmed some of the bushes so that he could back the boat and trailer up...