Home...

Well, we have been home Saturday evening after 3 very long  days on the road. We passed through some rough weather in Alabama with tornado warnings and some very heavy rain. Luckily we missed the brunt of the weather at our hotel as the system went around the community we were in. Next we hit wind and cold all the way to Wisconsin Dells where we were met in the following morning with a blizzard. After finally driving out of Wisconsin to Minneapolis we had clear sailing home. We had hoped to arrive to sunny skies and warm temperatures, but nature had another idea. We did find however, our wonderful neighbors, Joel and Lidia who quickly came to help us unload the car and carry in the heavy bags. We were ever so thankful for the help.

Winter seems to have returned this week with snow, rain and sleet and I would say its a bit chilly too. With all that said and done it is good to be back home to see family and friends. I have already come down with a Manitoba cold and another case of laryngitis. Lets hope this case passes quickly.

Spring must be on its way as I saw ta very chubby robin pulling worms from the front lawn. The rabbits are slowly changing to brown and the squirrels are running the fence. Sure signs warm weather must be around the corner.

Have a great summer everyone!!
Carol

Heading Home Soon....

Our time herein Florida is coming to end with only a couple of weeks left to go. We have started to pack up and sort things out as to what we are taking home and what we are leaving behind.  It is a bit of a different packup this year since next year we will be in a different condo unit and need to move all our accumulated southern belongings. It will be a different view but we will still be with the same wonderful people.

The farewell parties, BBQ’S, and suppers have begun with everyone packing in as much fun as they can before the trek back north. Many stay until the end of April but most of the Canadians head home the end of March.  Easter is thrown into the mix at the end of March and in true form an Easter BBQ on the Sunday to celebrate the day is planned.  Swimming, Bocce and BBQ will round out a full day which sounds just perfect to me.

This month was bingo, International Food Night with the snowbird farewell and the ladies Chic and Shore Brunch.  All were great events with laughter and comradery as we shared some great food and entertainment.  I was the lucky winner of the 50/50 draw at the brunch taking in a whopping $145.00. Bonus!!!

 Book club has one more meeting to wind up the year and next year’s books have been chosen and arranged. We have had some amazing discussions and much laughter and even a few disagreements about characters and plots, writing style and content creating a strong bond among the members.  Sometimes the books we like the least promote some of the best discussions encouraging us to keep reading a book even if we do not think we will like it.

I have been trying to get lots of pool time in during the day to get all that vitamin D I seem to crave!  I wonder if I was a mermaid in my previous life as I could float in that pool all day long and then bask in the sun. Well, maybe that would be a sea lion or a turtle instead but I do love the water! Shopping has not been a big on the list this year due to the dollar but I have managed to pick up a few bargains.

The sun is shining, Roger has gone golfing and I am off to swim. Take care and see you all soon!

 

Winner!!!

book club

 

bocce

Moving on through February…..

Moving on through February…..

It’s the third week of February and as I look outside and see the water and the sunshine I am thankful for the time here. Although the weather has not been as hot and we have had more rain this year I have still managed to get a tan and spend most of my days outdoors.  I love days like today where the sky is   blue, the waters are calm and the surface of the water reflects the world.  I seem to have become an early riser and watching the sky lighten each morning, the boats leave the marina, and birds hang out to fish provides a peaceful beginning to the day. The days and weeks seem a flurry of activity but that short time each morning reminds me that underneath the chaos is a calm and peaceful place.

February brought a Super Bowl party, an Afternoon Tea, music by the pool, a couple of dinner parties, a brunch, and a visit from my dear friend Brenda Riddell.  Super Bowl was a lively event at the clubhouse with great food and refreshments and of course the big game. Roger won $50.00 on a $2.00 ticket which was certainly made his night.  There was lot of cheering and booing by the clubhouse crowd as the game played out leaving some fans happy and some disappointed.  It was a pretty fun night though and at least everyone left the clubhouse still friends.

This year an Afternoon Tea was planned and I was asked to help head up the event.  I reluctantly took on the task but was reassured it was only for a small number of women, maybe 20-25 at most.  Naively I agreed thinking it would be a quick and easy event to plan. I quickly discovered this was not to be once we were past the initial planning stage.  Number grew from 20 to 54 and all of a sudden a small tea blossomed into a major afternoon of entertainment, tea, food and fun. I must admit though it turned out very well and people raved about the event for days.  This made the work all worthwhile. We provided finger sandwiches, dainties, scones with clotted cream and lemon curd or jam, and various types of tea. There was a guitar player playing music in the back ground, door prizes, china cups and floral table centers.   Brenda arrived the day before the tea so was put to work right away and she proved to be a great asset to our team.

Brenda was here for 10 days although it seemed much shorter than that.  We managed to fit in pool time, a fish supper out, a taco dinner party at friends, a brunch at other friends, and a turkey dinner with friends at the condo. Roger took us on an `` interesting drive`` in the rain to see some country side, and we even managed to fit in a bit of shopping. There was also book club, beading night and evening music by the pool. Somehow, amid the week’s activity we managed to put away a few bottles of wine as well. We seemed to wear ourselves out most days and we were into bed some nights by 9:30pm. Hope this doesn’t means we are getting old.

We are looking forward to enjoying the last few weeks here before packing up and heading home.  The social calendar is full, but I most want to laze in the sun by the pool and walk in the sand by the ocean taking in the salty fresh air. .  A few moments ago as I was writing this blog a couple of big dolphins swam by the window. Smooth and majestic they glided through the water before circling to gather their fish for breakfast.  A beautiful sight to start the day!

Take care all!

windy day at the ocean!!!

 

a wee drink after the tea!!!

Settingp the tables for the tea! Luckily one of the women here used to be  was a florist

music at the pool....lovely evening

roseate spoonbill just walking by ...



Jenny presents Roger with winnings!!!



superbowl fun



 

Let the good times roll……in New Orleans

Let the good times roll……in New Orleans

Oh, the sights and sounds of New Orleans was something to behold.  New Orleans portrays a unique slant on life revealing a city and people with a rich spirit that rises above both adversity and diversity. No matter your ethnicity, sexual orientation, age or disability there is a place for you in New Orleans. Walking through the French Quarter opens your eyes to an old world that is slowly evolving to embrace the new age, but struggling to maintain its charm.   It has a wonderful cultural history and the best jazz I have ever heard.  From the food to the clubs and bars, the trip was an adventure of art, music, and cuisine.

We were fortunate to arrive on the Friday that they start to celebrate the coming of Mardi Gras. Our first night on Bourbon Street did not disappoint.  Marching bands and a parade brought cheers from the crowds lining the street. Beads were thrown from the balconies and costumed individuals passed out beads as they danced along beside the parade and beyond. .  Police presence is everywhere and although it seemed a bit wild there was an organized chaos to everything.  Drinking is allowed in the streets and walk up bars are everywhere for “walking drinks”.  Music blares from the bars and the smells of Cajun cooking is all around.  We found a small club that had really great jazz and spent a good hour or so taking in the sound of “Maddie and her Friends” . She could really sing and her whole body sang with her as she felt the music. All were great musicians, especially the trumpet player.  We ended up at pat O’Brien’s duelling piano bar, a well-known French quarter haunt. A fantastic evening of music and speaking with other travelers and locals topped off our night. You know you are getting old when a couple of thirty year old guys sitting beside us tell us not to drink too much and be careful getting home.  Yup, the tables have turned.

The cuisine makes a statement with its fried and spicy flair creating a mouth-watering event just by smelling the food.  Although I am not usually a fan of fried food, the way in which it is prepared leaves you wanting more. No heavy coatings or greasy drippings left on the plate or fingers, just a rich fresh flavour enhanced by the burst of Creole spice.  Gumbo, fried shrimp, creole red fish with a many varieties of po’-boys are general fare. They also make a mean Cajun mac and cheese… hot and delicious. Both the gumbo and mac and cheese had some kind of seafood in it, not sure what it was….and I didn’t ask. Sometimes it bests just to eat it. I have to say I passed when it came to sucking on the claws in my soup.  Ha, maybe next time!!!!!!

My favorite part of the trip was walking down Royal Street during the afternoons and listening to the street music. Musicians set up on every corner and played for tips. Many of these bands played in the clubs and bars at night and supplemented their income with busking. Standing on the corner listening to great music was a fantastic way to spend an afternoon.

Our trip included a tour of the city with a very humorous tour guide, a cemetery walk, the city park with a sculpture garden, a walk through the French Market, Jackson Square, and St Louis cathedral and a view of the Mississippi River.  All the New Orleans highlights visited and stroked off our list. The last evening we ventured out to Frenchmen Street where all the locals go to listen to Jazz.  The two block section of street that contains the clubs and restaurants is not all glitzy and lit up like Bourbon Street but still has a great vibe and is purported to have the bests jazz and music. I would definitely spend more time there if I were to go to New Orleans again.

All in all it was a fun 5 days with lots of new experiences and a load of memories to keep me going until I make it back there again.  As they say in New Orleans …… "Laissez les bon temps rouller".

 

 

 

January and time is a passing.....

It is already the 10^th of January and all the rest of the snowbirds have arrived. Many arrived in time for the New Year’s Dance and Party which was a really wonderful time. The band Pappa Chubby, which is well known around here, played music that kept the crowd dancing all night. The busy shakin’ dance floor was packed with happy revelers as we grooved to the oldies.   Champagne, old Lang Syne and hugs and kisses rang in 2016.

January 1st was quiet for us as we had decided we wanted to have a low key day. Most of the day was spent at the pool swimming, reading, visiting and resting.  A small group of us had planned a BBq poolside with hotdogs, chips and veggies. No fuss!! We all enjoyed the relaxed light supper and lazy evening of chatting and laughing as we remembered past events and planned some new ones. A perfect way to start the New Year!

Activities are in full swing now and the bulletin board has been full with things to do. Book club started on the 4^th with our first book, East of Eden by John Steinbeck. A true classic and a great read. I had forgotten what a great book it was. As usual we had a rousing discussion as we discussed the characters with all their attributes and faults, the likes and dislikes of the book, its significance to our lives today and much more.

We have decided not to do bowling this year as Roger’s poor back did not like it very well and I thought I would like to try some other things. I will sub a time or two but I do not want to commit to every week.  We tried Tango lessens that were fun but not something that Roger or I wish to pursue long term. We can stroke it off the bucket list and move onto other things. I think we are more foxtrot and waltz kind of people. LOL .  There are many activities and events to keep us busy. Why-not-Wednesdays, bingo, Cards, bocce and golfing for Roger, jewelry making for me, aquasices, and the list goes on.  We have no reason to be bored here and in fact I am finding I could use a bit more down time. Getting older I guess!

At the end of this week I am leaving on a girl’s weekend away in New Orleans. We are staying in a friend’s timeshare in the French quarter so we will be close to everything. Free lodging has made this trip much more affordable especially with the low Canadian dollar.   Our itinerary is quite full while we are there as we want to pack in as much as possible.  Good walking shoes are a required item as most of our touring through the French Quarter is on foot. Trolleys run to other districts and if need be we will take cabs.  Voodoo, ghost and cemetery tours are on the list as well as a lot of jazz clubs,markets and eateries.  I will be sure to let you know how it all goes.

 Roger is off with his plenair painting group at White City Park, I am doing wash and catching up on things I have put off doing.  Its grocery shopping this afternoon, bingo at the clubhouse this evening and there you have it, another day gone by. 

Take care all and stay well. 

 

Music evening by the pool

 

Party before Christmas with Friends

New lights by the pool

New years Eve

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tis the Season.....

'Tis the Season....

The first month has flown by and here it is Christmas. It is strange to be in the sunshine and think it is Christmas, although there are pine tree lots where people are loading up a tree for decorating and Santa has been spotted at the mall. Christmas carols are playing everywhere and decorated palms line the streets offering up a magical glow of waving stars at night. There are no crisp nights though, where the air feels fresh and clean as the snow falls, something only a northerner can understand. I do not miss the cold temperatures, ice and bitter winds so in Florida I will stay for now.  

It’s been a month filled with gatherings, parties and days of leisure by the pool. A pretty good life we live down here in sunny Florida. It goes without saying that we miss our friends and family up north, but it is easy to succumb to the lure of the sun.   

The party at the club house was very lively this year . A more relaxed event than usual with a cocktail party and yummy catered appetizers made for a really pleasant time. There was lots of mingling and sharing of stories and laughter rang out loud and clear. It was a lot of charades for me as I still did not have my voice back from laryngitis but a good time none the less.  

Mark and Penny, a fun loving couple from North Dakota had a big open house Christmas event that also brought much joviality to the season. We were able to meet so many new delightful people and renew some old acquaintances from years past.   Of course the food was above and beyond including Mark’s BBQ style sloppy Joes. The clock ticked away quickly and a late night pursued drawing us into the wee early morning hours. Thankfully it was a short walk home, just 2 buildings down.

Christmas Eve was a small gathering at our condo for cocktails and appetizers. There were about 14 of us that laughed and danced the evening away. Not a traditional quiet reflective Christmas Eve, but rather a lively happy time.  Another late night that was well worth it!  Christmas morning included as brunch with friends followed by a swim at the pool.  A quick cleanup and then we darted off to a late afternoon Christmas dinner with a few friends at their condo.  The evening was topped off by a late night swim under the full moon and waving palm trees. A perfect end to a beautiful day.

Believe it or not, Saturday we were invited to a wine tasting. Another wonderful evening passed with a splendid group of people, sipping wine and reminiscing of our youth. Yes , we must be getting old when we start discussing “the good old days”. 

New Years is just around the corner and the rest of the snowbirds will arrive be arriving this week. The New Year’s Eve dance at the club house should be a blast as a great live band has been booked to play. It will be a good time to kick off our shoes and dance the night away.

We wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season with many blessings for the New Year!

Christmas party
 

Christmas Day

We made it.....

The trip down to Florida was great as we stayed ahead of the bad weather. Our stop in Kentucky to see our friend Laura was fun with lots of laughs and lively discussions. There south is known for its pleasantries and Laura certainly lived up to ideals of gold old fashioned southern hospitality. Saturday morning before we toured Louisville we dined at a lovely tucked away French restaurant. a full menu of French fare was not to disappoint as the breakfast crepes were to die for. We resisted the temptation to purchase the home made mouth-watering chocolates. The beautiful display of chocolate Christmas scenes was really something to see. We toured an art gallery in an old hotel, drove through the old streets of Louisville to see the historic brick mansions and buildings that are landmarks in the city. Of course we spent some time at Churchill downs and watched a couple of races.  The rain poured down by late afternoon so we headed back to Laura's for wine and baked Brie before a delicious supper of BBQ lamb chops. So delicious!!! 



smoke rings art at the gallery
 





 

We arrived early afternoon on November 23rd and immediately felt at home, back in Harbour Isle. It did not take long to settle into routine with activities especially morning aquacises and afternoon pool time. There was lots of hugs of welcome back and good to see you which truly made us feel welcomed backed into this wonderful community. Everyday more snowbirds arrive and I am sure this will continue right up to New Years.

This year we were invited to  celebrate American Thanksgiving with our friends Deb and Mike and their family. A totally untraditional meal of Chicken Paprikash, which was so yummy. This is Mikes grandmother's traditional Hungarian recipe. Everyone loved it as usual and it was served over my favorite cavetelli pasta. We spent most of the afternoon at the pool together with the Paprikash cooking in the crockpot. At 4:30 I helped Deb prepare the last of the meal while munching on huge fresh shrimp accompanied by Mikes famous homemade cocktail sauce.  Deb's  4yr old grandson Joey fell asleep at the table with his fork in his hand and nearly fell off his chair, so off to bed he went. It was a great day and we feel lucky to have such great friends here.

Unfortunately, I have had tonsillitis and laryngitis since I arrived. The antibiotics seem to be working but not as fast as I would like. Apparently this laryngitis that is going around can last up to 2 weeks so I guess I have a little longer to croak out my words. The fresh air and sunshine are enjoyed anyway so I can easily spend days lazing by the pool.  Roger seems well so far so I hope he does not catch it.

This weekend is the Harbour Isle Christmas Party and a wonderful catered cocktail event has been planned. The club house will be abuzz as party goers mingle and partake in the festive fare.

It has been a rainy weekend unfortunately, but they are promising sun for Monday.  Next weekend is the lighted boat parade and the golden pond light show. This week is also a light display at Heathcote gardens that I hear is really beautiful set among all the trees , bushes and flowers. We did not get there last year so I hope to this year. The harbour front has a light and music show that has palm trees wrapped in flashing lights set to Christmas music. This plays out every night until just after New Year . The dazzling music and flashing lights is a great backdrop for all the kids that come out after supper to dance under the palms.
I have not taken many pictures yet but I will be sure to post some soon.

Take care all and enjoy that great weather I hear you are having.
Carol
ps. I now have new antibiotics and a had a cortisone shot , so lets hope they work.!!!