Chia One Week and Counting

Christmas in Southwest Florida is noticeably different from the Christmas seasons from our past.  No snow, no cold, no family, lots of nos.  So we have to find something new, start some new traditions, make some memories.  We just have to look around and use our imaginations or the newspaper ads to figure something out.

Horses getting ready for group rides, girl is adjusting "poop" bag on rearend.  Really.

On Sunday nite, December 22nd, we took a sleigh ride (on wheels) thru the streets near the Edison and Ford Estates which are very nicely lit this time of year.  Unfortunately, the horse ride led us to believe we would be riding thru the estates.  We clopped on some side streets, saw a few Christmas lights and tried not to fall out the wagon.  One memory down and crossed off the list for next year.

Nervous Nellies - Awesome glasses.

Christmas Day found us on our way over to Nervous Nellies at Fort Myers Beach.  We picked up Mary and Pat and headed over but the ride took much longer than we had thought and we got there just as they were ready to give up our table.   But it was worth the traffic and long wait on the bridge over.  The food was great, the weather was perfect and the music just added a tropical feeling to our Christmas.  Memory No 2.  Done.

Mary and I wondered down the street, Mary did some Christmas shopping for next year, not sure who she wanted the shirt for, I thought she mentioned a couple family members. 

There were lots of dogs, Pat got a HUGE rack of ribs, and we just had a very nice time.  Spending time on Fort Myers Beach on Christmas Day makes you realize that lots of people like to spend their time in sand and not snow.  The place was packed.

And now for the highly anticipated Chia Pet report - take a look.  See what a pack of seeds and some water can do.  Now if only we could spread a little on the top of Gary's head and add water every day.  Its worth a try.   Margaret

Back by Popular Demand

Ok, I've been a little busy.  Christmas, dogs, work, blah blah blah.  And the blog has been rattling around in my head and just when I wanted to work on it,  Judge Judy would come on and she starts yelling at someone and I just forget about everything.  I love that woman.  But she's not on today, I am all done with Christmas shopping, cards, etc., done working for two weeks, thank you very much, so here we are.  Together again.  I have some updates and I invite you to follow along. 

140 SE 31st Street - All done

Gary is done with the house officially and he has been busy listing it on the MLS and putting up signs.  While we have had a few calls, this is not the ideal time of year to sell a house.  Christmas interferes with that kind of purchase. And we refuse to put it on layaway. But it still keeps him busy everyday with watering plants, making sure it is secure, visiting with the neighbors.  So we are hoping that once the holidays are done, we will get some serious buyers to come around.  Or maybe you know someone.  Or you.  Come live here. 

Guest bath - first day of ownership - notice the robin blue wall.

Guest bath - completed.  We went with white walls.  duh.

Garage - first day of ownership

Garage - completed

And Ted came for a week at Thanksgiving and of course he brought the Minnesota weather with him.  Always does.  But luckily he loves to golf as much as I do so we did a lot of that, made it to Sanibel, Naples and the surrounding area.  It was fun just to hang out together. 

Ted posing for his Xmas cards.  Why bother with a glass?

Pure Naples Boat Ride - showing Ted the good life.

Stop at Tin City, Naples

Can't miss the Vikes - we won!!!

We had a Christmas party last weekend with our New Residents Club, we exchanged cookies, ate lots, drank martinis darling and had a White Elephant exchange.  Everyone wanted the Margaritaville glasses and mix including me but I ended up with a Chia pet so we will be following our Scooby Doo Chia now.  Can you say Chia, Cha Cha, Chia.  Its catchy.

Bald Scooby Doo at the pool. 

Met a rockin Santa and reindeer on FM Beach.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year All.  I have a New Year's resolution and it has something to do with a blog. Or a chia pet.  We'll see.   Margaret

November in Florida

Sitting here early Sunday morning and it is definitely not summer in Florida anymore.  Hurricane season has officially ended and we were very  lucky this year to dodge them all.  We have a breeze and I have on a jacket.  It took me a while to find one but I sure needed it this morning.  Still in the  80s during the day but the evenings are cooler and the humidity is gone.

Since no one came down to see us or I haven't traveled further than North Fort Myers in the last few weeks I guess its time for a house update.  Poor Gary is feeling neglected.  So its all about him and the other house. 

He has been working on the master bedroom and master bath the last few weeks and it has been a bigger job than we thought.  Walls had to be moved, tile laid, ceilings and walls painted, new baseboards, doors, toilets, showers, etc. And that's just the first day.

Master Bed and bath first day of ownership.

Corner of master bedroom now.

The list just goes on and on.  It is looking a little better now and since we are so close to the end, we have posted the house on several Craigslist locations to sell.  Know anyone?  Please send them our way.  We are ready to be done!  At least Gary is.  Gary is almost at the finish line.  And I am there just cheering him on and taking pictures.  Margaret

Master bath first day of ownership.

Shower is done.

Master bath now.

 



Minnesota Female Invasion

The long awaited girls weekend started October 10th and I will let the pictures do the talking.  It was a weekend of fun, laughter, more fun and lots of laughter. 

The girls were tired after a long day of traveling so they hit the poolside lounge for a little nap time.  Then we were off to Rum Runners to start Doris' birthday celebration.

Bubba's was waiting for us and so we had to be sure to get their drink specialty which Anne stole when Doris was not looking.  Anne, its not even your birthday. 

Friday morning we drove down to Naples for a boat ride to pick out a new home for the Schoenberg family, we have it narrowed down to 4 or 5, they just have to come up with about $20 million for a down payment, then they're in.  They said something about a raffle. 

We had a wonderful birthday lunch at Tin City right on the water.  Doris, the birthday girl, is somewhere at the table.

Saturday morning we made the trip to Sanibel Island for shelling and beach time and no trip would be complete to SW Florida without a stop at Bonita Bill's.  The stop turned into four hours but no one was complaining.  We had the best time dancing and celebrating a birthday, of course, even the dogs came out in their best eyewear. 

Saturday nite Cape Coral held its first bike nite of the season and so we spent some time looking at the bikes and Jen tried to tempt Jesus with her evil juice (beer).  No luck there.  Jesus only likes wine.  Duh!

Sunday was a Fort Myers Beach day and we the whole day there.

We took a side trip to Pirate Fest on the island, took another boat ride, watched the pirates battle it out and watched a beautiful sunset before heading to Nervous Nellies for dinner under the stars with a two piece band playing right next to us. 

Monday we made a quick stop at the Edison Estates and of course, we had to go have our last meal at the perfect farewell place in the area, The Waffle House.  They did not disappoint.

We packed in a lot of adventures during the girls' stay here, I tried to show them the best of Florida and Florida provided the best weather for their visit.  Sunny and hot and not a drop of rain.



This picture kind of sums up the whole weekend.  Not only is it good looking, it don't taste too bad neither.  Oh yeah, Gary ducked out the whole time and spent the weekend on an airbed at the other house with two girls, Mojo and DeDe.  I think they're all glad to be home.   Margaret

 

PS - Now who's next????

 

 

Hershey, PA - The Sweetest Place on Earth

Last Thursday I left for a long girls weekend in Hershey, PA.  Most people don't think of this as a vacation destination but since I started working for Hershey's, I have heard from many people that I must go there so I decided ok, let's do this thing. I convinced some old neighbors from MN that they must go there too. 

Outside our cottage Mt. Gretna, PA

We stayed in a cottage that I found online.  The cottage was in Mount Gretna which was about 25 miles from the Harrisburg airport, about 10 miles from Hershey and about 20 miles from the Amish.  The countryside in PA is beautiful, rolling hills, there are lots of small sleepy towns along the roads, filled with old homes which are manicured and full of fall blooms.

Bird-in-Hand, PA

Friday morning we headed to Hershey.  Our day started with a trolley ride which takes you throughout the city and we really learned a lot about Mr. Hershey and what he did for the community.   At Chocolate World, we went thru a virtual factory tour, saw a 4D mystery movie, made our own candy bars and even had a taste testing.  Chocolate World is really well done, the events are well timed so you have plenty of time to spend lots of money is the ginourmous gift shop.  There is chocolate everywhere, items to go with chocolate and lots of stuff you never thought had anything to do with chocolate.

Arrival at Chocolate World

Made our own candy bars

Inside Hotel Hershey we ran into a candy bar

Beautiful day in Hershey PA

Saturday morning we headed for Amish country.  Lancaster, PA has the second largest population of Amish in the nation.  We started out touring an old Amish homestead which has been turned into a tourist attraction.  I fell in love with Bella the baby goat.

Begging Bella to come home with me

We walked the grounds and then took another bus tour which showed us all kinds of Amish homes which are sprinkled thru out the countryside.  The bus stopped for soft pretzels.  I believe it was the best pretzel I have ever had in my life.  We saw lots of horses and buggies right alongside cars and trucks, Target and other stores have hitching posts outside for them.  It is really an area where old meets new and everyone seems to get along just fine. 

I'm pretty happy with my bonnet selection

We had an authentic Amish dinner, did more shopping in Bird-in-Hand and topped off the day in Intercourse.  I never saw so many things with the word "Intercourse" on it.  These Amish thought of everything.

We had a great time, beautiful weather, lots of laughs and  girl time.  It truly was the Sweetest Place on Earth.  Margaret

Let's Get it Started

The kitchen is now done.  Gary got all the cabinets in place, the appliances are working and ready to go, the kitchen island is nailed to the floor, the countertops are ready to be filled.  It has been a big project but kitchens always are.  So now we are moving on to the bedrooms.  Or a bathroom or two.  Not sure but we did pick up two bathroom vanities last week so we are pretty excited about getting those in, just not sure what order we're going in. 

With all the rain we have been having here in SW Florida, we had to plan an early afternoon pool party for the birthday boy.  We gathered some neighbors, did a lot of swimming, played games, ate lots of chips and cheese and burgers, don't forget the cake and ice cream, and were able to have all this fun before the skies opened up at 6 pm.  Just in time for everyone to go home. 

We are used to celebrating Gary's birthday on Labor Day Weekend and this year it falls right on the holiday.  I asked Gary where he wanted to go for his birthday and we all know the answer to that.  Hooters.  You would think that is the only restaurant in the state.  He loves those chicken wings.

    
Back to reality tomorrow with the rest of the country.  Its been a long hot weekend, we've been busy with working, golf, partying, and of course Hooters.  Its been a great birthday weekend.  Margaret