Dad and Mom walked the main street in Key West yesterday. They've been as far South in the USA as one can get. Last night they were staying in Key Largo. Lorenzo and Lois have their car with them in Florida and Mom and Dad rode down with them.
I commented it was 50 degrees here, so Becky and I wouldn't be skiing today. Dad said it was 80-85 degrees in Key West.
Katie is anxiously awaiting their return to PA next week. She says she misses them. Me too!
Barb
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Ft. Meyers
We are enjoying the warm weather and our friends Lois and Lorenzo. We seem to find many things to do. Last sat. we attended a picnic given by a fellow looper that lives here in an orange grove. There were about 50 loopers, including the Stobbs and the Meyers and 50 friend and neighbors at the gig. It was a great event. We have an opportunity to go to the Keys and will leave this morning and be gone for a few days. Lorenzo has his car. Will take pictures and update the blog when we get back.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Family Visit: Feb 1-7
Becky, our daughter, and her family came to visit us at Betty's house in Lakeland, FL. Bobby, who is 7 years old, took his first airplane flight to get here. The first day, they went to The Magic Kingdom and watched the Steelers win the SuperBowl that night. Yeah! They went to Kennedy Space Center. They met and spoke with Astronaut John Fabian. That's the Space ShuttleDiscovery on the launch pad. They took a cold day and spent it at WonderWorks. And the last day here they went to an old attraction, Gatorland. Bobby even got to "wrestle" an alligator. The white alligators were new in the last 3 days to Gatorland. Not albino, though. Its a condition called lucism and they have blue eyes. They had a great time at the Vandelinders home and even saw and caught a gecko on the sidewalk. Bobby picked lemons and made fresh squeezed lemonade. Aunt Betty and Uncle Harry had fun teaching us all how to play "Dirty Marbles".
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Fort Myers, FL
Mom called this afternoon to say they'd been at Venice FL last night and were headed to Fort Myers today. They were encountering rough weather (waves and wind) and it was going to take them longer than expected to get to Ft. Myers.
Barb
Barb
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Talked to Dad tonight. The boat is fixed. Seems to be running well. The diver even cleaned the bottom while he was there installing the fixed prop.
Dad said they will be leaving possibly Tuesday for St. Petersburg, then to Fort Myers, through the Okeechobee to Fort Pierce.
They've had a great time seeing Dad's sister and brother-in-law several times while they were in Clearwater. Aunt Betty and Uncle Harry picked them up after Christmas and Mom and Dad spent about a week at their home in Lakeland. When they were ready to return to the boat, Aunt Betty and Uncle Harry gave them one of their cars to use while they were in the area. How great is that! Aunt Betty and Uncle Harry, you are awesome! Mom and Dad made several trips to spend a few days with them as the boat wasn't going anywhere due to the bent prop.
Becky and her family visited during the first week of February, staying at Aunt Betty and Uncle Harry's as well. Got to see Mom and Dad as well as go to Cape Canaveral, Disney World, etc w/ Bobby.
It's been great to know Mom and Dad have been relaxing for a while. They were really pushing to get places for a month or two. Hopefully they will post some pictures soon (hint! hint!). Or that Becky will of their trip to FL.
Safe travels, Mom and Dad!
Love,
Barb
Dad said they will be leaving possibly Tuesday for St. Petersburg, then to Fort Myers, through the Okeechobee to Fort Pierce.
They've had a great time seeing Dad's sister and brother-in-law several times while they were in Clearwater. Aunt Betty and Uncle Harry picked them up after Christmas and Mom and Dad spent about a week at their home in Lakeland. When they were ready to return to the boat, Aunt Betty and Uncle Harry gave them one of their cars to use while they were in the area. How great is that! Aunt Betty and Uncle Harry, you are awesome! Mom and Dad made several trips to spend a few days with them as the boat wasn't going anywhere due to the bent prop.
Becky and her family visited during the first week of February, staying at Aunt Betty and Uncle Harry's as well. Got to see Mom and Dad as well as go to Cape Canaveral, Disney World, etc w/ Bobby.
It's been great to know Mom and Dad have been relaxing for a while. They were really pushing to get places for a month or two. Hopefully they will post some pictures soon (hint! hint!). Or that Becky will of their trip to FL.
Safe travels, Mom and Dad!
Love,
Barb
Thursday, January 29, 2009
January 2009
Super Bowl visitors
Hank and his boat
Frost on Betty's front yard01/18/09 to 01/28/09 The third week in January presented a variety of weather conditions. High winds (40-60 mph) blew in from the Gulf of Mexico early in the week. Then we went to Bob’s sister and bro-in-law in Lakeland for a few days and temperatures at night went down to freezing. Betty and her neighbors covered the tenderest of their outdoor plants to save them. No one has had to shovel snow, however–what a break for us.
This last week of January has been much warmer. On Monday we went to Tarpon Springs and our friend Hank Demler took us for a ride in his boat. We went out the Anclote River and into Clearwater Bay, between the mainland and the barrier islands. It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed the ride.
We’re seeing a variety of boats in our marina. Some are staying a month or so, as we are; others are here for a short time and are on their way in a day or two. Yesterday a 141 foot-long vessel came in; it is a charter, has a crew of 9 people, and will be here until the Super Bowl is over. The individual who rented it is reportedly the coach of a major league football team, although not one of the Super Bowl contenders. The dock master here says we’ll see a couple more big boats come in before game day. Super Bowl mania is rampant and the news media inundates us daily with information. All we have to say is: Go, Steelers!
This last week of January has been much warmer. On Monday we went to Tarpon Springs and our friend Hank Demler took us for a ride in his boat. We went out the Anclote River and into Clearwater Bay, between the mainland and the barrier islands. It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed the ride.
We’re seeing a variety of boats in our marina. Some are staying a month or so, as we are; others are here for a short time and are on their way in a day or two. Yesterday a 141 foot-long vessel came in; it is a charter, has a crew of 9 people, and will be here until the Super Bowl is over. The individual who rented it is reportedly the coach of a major league football team, although not one of the Super Bowl contenders. The dock master here says we’ll see a couple more big boats come in before game day. Super Bowl mania is rampant and the news media inundates us daily with information. All we have to say is: Go, Steelers!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Lakeland & Clearwater, FL
The original Hooters is here in Clearwater and business must be good.
This is a Customs and Border Patrol Vessel. Your tax dollars at work.
My sister Bety and Husband Harry and Lois
Betty and Harry's House in Lakeland01/03/09 to 01/11/09 We spent this week in Lakeland, FL, with Bob’s sister and bro-in-law, Betty and Harry. They live in a beautiful 55+ community of 1150 homes, occupied mostly by refugees from the cold, cold North. Citrus trees are abundant and we were able to pick grapefruit, oranges, and gigantic lemons sized more like big navel oranges. We met new people, played cards, board games, and Mexican train dominoes, and walked through the community almost every day. One day a shopping mall nearby had to serve as a substitute walking venue–a real hardship! On Friday, we headed to the Auburndale flea and farm market in search of strawberries, as the season is getting started here. When we returned to Clearwater Beach on Sunday, we drove Harry and Betty’s van, which they kindly loaned us for a few weeks. You Loopers will appreciate what a great convenience it is to have a vehicle to use at any time and how grateful we are.
01/12/09 to 01/17/09 Back at the boat, everything is fine. We located the Clearwater Library and the used book shop operated by the Friends of the Library, Bob located a Walgreens, where he got his flu shot, Lois found Country Quilts and Bears quilt shop, purchased batting for her quilt, and located Lucky Sew and Sew, where Marlene will do the machine quilting. Bob found a diver to inspect the bottom of the boat, the prop, and the shaft. He reported that the shaft seems to be OK, but the edges of the blades on the prop are rolled, causing the vibration we reported in our blog of 12/26/08. The diver will remove the prop, take it to be repaired, and bring it back and replace it. On the weather front, this week has been cold, night temperatures going down into the 40's here, an abrupt change from the previous two weeks. Oh, you folks in PA and NY feel soooo sorry for us, don’t you?
01/12/09 to 01/17/09 Back at the boat, everything is fine. We located the Clearwater Library and the used book shop operated by the Friends of the Library, Bob located a Walgreens, where he got his flu shot, Lois found Country Quilts and Bears quilt shop, purchased batting for her quilt, and located Lucky Sew and Sew, where Marlene will do the machine quilting. Bob found a diver to inspect the bottom of the boat, the prop, and the shaft. He reported that the shaft seems to be OK, but the edges of the blades on the prop are rolled, causing the vibration we reported in our blog of 12/26/08. The diver will remove the prop, take it to be repaired, and bring it back and replace it. On the weather front, this week has been cold, night temperatures going down into the 40's here, an abrupt change from the previous two weeks. Oh, you folks in PA and NY feel soooo sorry for us, don’t you?
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