Florida here we come.

Florida here we come.  

When we stopped at the welcome center, no orange juice.

Have to stop at the center to see if there is any new literature on the places

we want to visit.  Sad to say a lot of things are not on paper anymore. Not all of us

seniors have all the latest technology.  Okay I have a flip phone that is bare bones, and I mean

bare bones.  No internet features.  I really do use it for phone calls and sometimes text messages. 

Do use a fitbit, but again no bells and whistles.

Anyway, the visitor center did not have the "free" glass of grapefruit or orange juice this 

year.  Not in the budget.  

Our first official stop will be at Carl's place.  It always takes us two days to drive down, this time was no different. So, looking to see and visit with Carl and Marion, his companion. They are such

a cute couple.  

Osprey, just hanging around.  I like to give Ron some time to talk to his Dad. They always

have some Dad, son things to talk about.  I love walking around the area.  He lives on a golf course and has a pond in is back yard.  Here is one of the local residences.

He was quite an impressive size.  Carl said that there is a female, that is smaller in size 

that comes around too.  The pound always has some great birds that come to visit.

Carolina Wren

Great Blue Heron

Catbird

Banana plant

Anhinga

Wood Stork

I made a quilt for Carl.  On one of Ron's and my back road trips in Wisconsin, we found a quilt shop

that had the Farmall panel in the window.  Ron suggested I purchase it and make a quilt for his Dad.

The panel goes to the red boarder.  That would not be big enough, so purchased additional fabric to create more boarders on it.  All related to the tractor.  (Ron had said when they were young, that was the tractor that Dad used on their farm.)   

Quilting by Betsy, Betsy Stoughton was the quilter that quilted it.  See the neat tractor

pattern she used for the quilting.  I was impressed.  I think Carl was pleased with his gift.

I said it was to be used!  It does get chilly in Florida now and then.  He had gotten a new lounge chair that I thought it could be used with.

When Marion saw it, she kept trying to convince Carl to hang it.  Don't know who won.

It was fun spending a couple days with them.  Each day there is a 5:00 drink and appetizer hour before dinner.  We had some great lunches and dinners out.  Way too much food, but oh so good.

Then it was time to say good-bye.  Places to go, people to see. stops to make.

Next stop was Sanabel Island to meet Linda and Bob for lunch.  We got to the island on time, but traffic is so busy, that we were late to their house.  

I had so much to tell Ron about the island as we drove to their house.  They were ready for us.

They have a pontoon boat, and we were ready to go.  Linda had made lunch to take with us.  Bob was at the helm. What a great time.  They showed us houses, sail through channels, I got to see birds, we celebrated my birthday.  What pictures did I take? Birds!!!

Linda did get a picture of us though. I feel so silly about this. We did have such a wonderful time, and got the chance to do a bunch of catching us.  I have always said a little time together is better then no time at all.  

Ospray

White and Brown pelicans and a few terns.

Snowy Egret

Brown Pelican posing!

The bridge to Sanibal.  The traffic on the island is bumper to bumper.

Shelling is awesome.  I did find several Starfish this time. I always 

bring home a lot of shells.  I have ideas for them.  Unfortunately, I add to the collection

and just store them for now.  It is so relaxing to walk along the shore and look 

for the shells and watch the people and birds.  We were there on a Thursday.

I wanted Ron to see Ding Darling Sanctuary, but would have to wait until Saturday to do that.

Friday the road through the sanctuary is closed.  We plan on being back on Saturday.

We will stay in Punta Gorda for the night.