Leading a madcap life....

and I wouldn't have it any other way! This has been one of those wild, crazy weeks that when I am in the midst of it, I am thinking...wait! It is all going too fast.  And, looking back at it, I have to be amazed by the fun!

 The little guys had their first two swim lessons this week with much wailing and crying but, if you ask them if they want to go back, OH YES!  And, they had their first day of school at their new school.  Kristen and Chris were fortunate to be able to secure positions for the boys at a Montessori school near their house.  We will still have Leighton on Wed. til she turns one and joins her brothers.  And we will be the primary transporters for them all.  The boys love school so far but it is still in Summer Session.   Sign class at Safety Harbor library  is coming to an end for us as school starts soon for Kristen.

 Kristen and I took Leighton out to lunch the day we dropped the boys off at school for their first day.  She is such a good little girly girl.  We ended up having breakfast at Lucky Dill and picked up some of the day old dollar bread...oooh me oooh my! So good.

 I cropped Wed. at Posh with Jacque (poor Cynthia had a fever and Di still has her grands) but Baby D showed up and we all got to catch up.  Plans are a foot for Dee Wisharts' Cheeky Chics crop in Nov.  We are bringing a bunch of the "Ladies Who Do Lunch" bunch.  I can't make the Sept. one as it is over E's b'day. 

 Thurs. I did a make up class with two lovely gals, Carole and Kim, and what fun.  I had to leave a bit early as I was recently asked to be on the Tarpon Springs Library Board of Directors by one of my students who was the president and this was the first meeting I attended.  I have been wanting to be more involved in our community and, as much as I am at our library, this is a good fit for me.

Friday, Rob took the Jolly Trolley up from Clearwater Beach to help us with some tv/stereo/computer/laptop/phone issues (mostly pilot error ones btw).  Kristen asked if we could watch Leighton so she could do some prep work for the upcoming school year so we took them both out to lunch to a new place in town we had been wanting to try, Tarpon Tavern.  The building use to be where I took yoga classes at Temple Goddess but the owner moved that business a couple of doors down.  The new owner of the building has done a wonderful job.  There is now a patio with fountains, gorgeous flooring and good food.

 We were remarking how similar Rob's head and Leighton's were, besides the hair.issues.

 I feed Leighton before we left and she was a delight.  It is amazing what a couple of cheerios can do for a little gal.

 I had the seafood flatbread which I highly recommend

 E had the pulled pork flat bread but what I loved about his order were the rosemary garlic w/parm fries...oh be still my heart.

 Leighton and her Papa.

 Leighton and her Nana

 

Busy busy busy...so what's new huh?

Well, we finally are unpacked from the 2 wks at the beach and everything is put away.  It has been a busy week for us with some good changes coming for this next fall.  The Grands will be attending a new school three days a week with Leighton attending when she turns 1 this Nov.  The Grands all start their swim lessons this coming Monday, Tues and Thurs. evenings for the next few weeks and this Nana will be able to relax a bit...sure I will...lol.

Cropped with the "Women Who Do Lunch" bunch on Wed. at Posh Scraps and some big things coming soon at the store so those of you who subscribe to their emails or face book page, keep your eyes peeled.   It was good to see Jacque, Di, Cynthia, Sonja and Katherine as always. 

Yesterday was sign class with the Grands and Kristen at the Safety Harbor library...one more session next week before Kristen has to return to school.  We had lunch once again at the Whistle Stop Cafe...nice kid friendly place with good food.

Today I am running errands and finishing up the packing for my all day class tomorrow at Posh.  Sunday we are meeting Kim and Mitch for lunch along with Rob (maybe) and Kristen (if she can get the kids down for their nap after church in time.  We'll meet up at Pete and Shorty's and then Kim and Mitch will be heading back across the state.

Having a bit of trouble with my right knee (residual from a snow skiing accident some 30 years ago) so am braced to walk now.  Giving it a rest this morning.  It is funny how old injuries one would think had healed rear their ugly heads again as one ages.

Did weigh in at WW last Tues and, while my scale here said I was down 1lb., the WW scale said I had gained .4lb (be sure to note the period before the lb...lol) and I am pretty happy with that.  All those lovely beach walks sure paid off.

Hope your have a great week!and a great weekend.

What a week...

 

Fourteen days of early morning walks on the beach, eleven meals cooked on the grill, 20 plus dips in the pool both solo and with the Grands, too many meals with family to count and about the same with our wonderful friends (who also happen to be 'family'), two birthdays in two days and a gazillion sunsets beyond description...welcome to our life these past two weeks. 

We bought back the week we gifted to our son (due to a job layoff the fees are beyond him right now) and we may already have it rented for next year.  This year, we 'gifted' it to a fellow teacher at the school where my daughter teaches,  When the kids went invetro to get our precious twins, this woman stepped up to the plate, learned how to administer K's mid day shots into her stomach, helped her move her room while K was pregnant with Leighton and who defined amazing.  For a variety of reasons, she and her husband never had time for a honeymoon so we are all hoping this will be our way of saying thank you. 

Our birthday girls were Denise, our dear friend, Jadee's mom, whom we adore (both of them) AND our wonderful room mate this past week, our dear friend, Linda Adams, who has joined me in the Medicare Era.  We fested them at our annual "bring all your left overs and bbq " on Thurs night and then for our traditional visit to the Fish House (see pics of the food)on Friday.  Happy B'day ladies.

Every year we go to Estero Island Beach Club is different:  some of our friends own every other year, some rent but wish to own and some of the every others want to be every year folks like us.  Every year is unique and every year is so special.  These moments we spend together keep us glued until we once again toast the working people daily and the sunsets every evening.  It does not get any better than this

Morning Walk on Estero Island (day six)

 Walking along the beach this morning reminded me that it is turtle season.  I read in the paper the other day how Tropical Storm Debby has decimated so many of the nests.  I was privileged a few years ago while down here to see a turtle nest being opened.  The Turtle Patrol here monitors  the nests and one needed to be evacuated.  The number of unhatched eggs was meticulously recorded, the number deformed or dented as well.  And then, just as the woman was ready to close up the nest, there was the tiniest of movements and a baby turtle 'swam' his way to the top.  The woman carefully picked the baby up and let the two or three of us who had stopped our journey to watch feel the baby's feet as it pushed against our fingers.  That little one was strong.  The lady told us that the baby turtle would be returned after dark to the exact spot of the next and 'assisted' into the surf, wished well and sent on its way.

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 I walked about 5 miles total today and would have done more but...as I went to roam through this

I was instantly covered with blood sucking mosquitoes. 

On my cut back to the beach, I discovered a sweet little lane paralleling the beach road but back a block and secluded.  This is the Florida I remember from visits to my folks when they lived on Sanibel Island...little cottages dating from the 20's-60s and many are still there and lived in.

Today, I headed to the cemetery to decorate my parents and my auntie and uncles resting places.  I briefly stopped to visit with friends from another time in my life.  I have missed these two gal pals. I put 3 silk roses next to my parents nitches (my mother loved roses) and a silly pink flamingo that I knew would put a smile on my mom's face . She played more than one prank on me with flamingos.  I put a pretty wreath on my aunt Marion and uncle Harlan's.  There vase is missing and, if my sister does not have it, I need to call the cemetery about this.

We have our favorite neighbors from the old neighborhood here coming for dinner.  The four of us, Ed and Deb, E and me, survived more than one hurricane together, signaling across the street to make sure the other couple was aok.  We'd make the coffee on our grill in the mornings (we lost all power each time for at least 5 days), cook dinners together and celebrate the return of power each time.
"Good people like Ed and Deb don't come along every day.  I did my longest bike ride ever (and probably one of Deb's shortest...lol) when she and I biked the 17 mile route on Gaspirilla Island...with a couple of beach bar stops for refreshments, of course.  And we were stared down by one a huge iguana!  Oh, and then there was the Christmas decoration competition...each year we would do more and more hoping one year to catch up to Ed and Deb.  I miss this.

Busy week coming up starting tomorrow...Susie and Justin arrive tomorrow evening; Sat.  Jadee, her mom, her two girls, Cheryl and John, Kelly and Jill and their little guy all arrive here.  Sunday, Kristen and Chris arrive with my oh so darling Grands, Justin and Susie have to depart.  Monday, our lovely Linda arrives and our Week 29 is complete...with five friend filled days to go.  We are missing Kim and Mitch and thank them so much for offering their larger unit to Chris and Kristen for the week.  Soon, Ms Kim...soon.

Watch for our traditional "Toast to the Working People" ...one of the oldest traditions of Week 29...let the fun begin.

Day Five in Paradise South

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 My morning walk today took me down Estero Blvd and over the bridge, down a road almost to Parrot Key restaurant.  Now, for those of you who don't know me well, crossing this bridge which is high, spanning the Back Bay was an extreme act of bravery on my part.  I have a height problem that developed out of the blue about ten years ago.  My dear friend, Janet Miller, has seen my problem first hand when she and I took a walk that led us over a bridge last Fall.  She has no fear of heights and is, therefore, my hero.  I not only swallowed my fear and walked across the bridge but I also managed to stop the shakes enough to get these pics.

The photo above is of one of our old favorite local hangouts, Bonita Bills.  We've never not had fun there and it is the 'home' to lots of the boat people and other assorted locals.

I had a wonderful day today surprising old acquaintances and friends.  Regina, owner of Owl and Pussycat Stamp Art Store in Ft. Myers, is one of the most talented artists I know.  Today and every Wed. is demo day.  I love learning from her and today was no exception.  I left the store with lots of new goodies and tons of inspiration.

My next stop was down the road a bit to Scrapbooks Etc. in Bonita Springs.  I first met the owners, Janet and her daughter, Colleen, when I moved to Ft. Myers in 2001.  Her then tiny store was located next to a video store and I felt so at home at her store.  They have moved the store and have a lovely one on Bonita Beach Road.  No visit to our time share is complete w/o a visit to the store and a good visit with Janet and Colleen.

Hope your day is a good one.