I'm BAAACK...

Sorry to be gone for so long.  I am having problems with Blogger.  I hope this will be posted, but can't say for sure.

I've been trying to get my pictures of my little vacation posted.  Friend Jackie and I went to Florida for a couple of days!! It was soooooo warm! It was so delightful!  Here we are with Jackie's friend, Linda in Fort Myers Beach.  Linda and her husband, Jim, graciously took us out on a boat for a 'tour' around the island, then we walked around the beach area and back across  bridge (which I walked across!).

 

 

We also had lunch at a restaurant called  Snook Bight Marina. 

The food was yummy, but our waiter was a space cadet.  He put in the wrong order so we ended up with an extra Burger and fries!  Took them 'home' for supper.

All in all, it was a great day! And the weather could not have been any more pleasant.  Here are some more photos from the day..

Walking across the bridge!!!

 

A friend on the pier.

The bridge from the boat..

Dolphins were frolicking here, just not when I took the picture..

 

We had arrived in Florida on Saturday to visit with our 'quilting' buddy, Kathy and her husband Ross.  They were renting a place in Punta Gorda.  Kathy had e-mailed the Door County quilters to come down for a visit.  So, one -30 degree day, Jackie and I decided that we would do it!!

This is the lovely place where they rented.  Its call Burnt Store Marina. It is a huge area with all sorts of homes and condos. 

 

 

Unfortunately, Kathy's mother passed away the morning we arrived.  She was in her 90's and in a nursing home, so it was not unexpected.   But, they had to fly back to Iowa on Monday morning.   They graciously let us stay at the house while they went back. Jackie and I rented a car for Monday thru 5am Wednesday (the time we needed to be at the airport!).

 

So we tooled around Punta on Monday afternoon and had lunch at Laishley's Crab House, on the beach.  Below, is my sad attempt at 'selfies'...

I am wearing new earrings that I got at the gift shop downstairs.  Made of beach glass..lovely!

We also went to another area called Fisherman's pier, I think.  Lots of shops. Then we saw the sign for Peace River Nature Preserve, so we thought, 'what the heck?" It is an area where the Peace river enters the Gulf.  Unfortunately, EVERYBODY decided to go that day and there was absolutely nowhere to park. So we drove through the parking lot and saw the white sand beach and lots of boats. 

We did manage to see quite a few manatees when we visited the marina at Burnt Store.  They were 'hanging out' close to shore where the waters were warm.

We also saw an alligator sunning himself in someone's back yard canal, but I didn't get the picture, Jackie did.
Then, on Wednesday, we flew back to Iowa.  BRRR.  So, I got this beautiful spring arrangement from Costco as a reminder of what is ahead...I hope.

  Stay warm!!