April 27, 2011

Last sunset at North Redington Beach

A day of last things - walk on the beach, search for sea shells, coffee on the deck, reading on the beach, sunset. The wind was blowing today and the waves were really high and strong. Tried to swim but the current was too strong to be swimming by myself. Have to leave it till next year. After a couple of hours on the beach had to move to the deck of the condo as it felt like I was being sand blasted. It has been a wonderful time on the beach.

April 22 - 26, 2011

Balcony of condo on North Redington Beach.
Our chairs and umbrella in the background

Another sunny and warm day. Donnie and Karen arrived for a visit and lunch with us and Pete and Beth. After getting caught up on all the news, they took off to drop Karen at Orlando airport and Donnie and Bernie headed to Daytona for a week of golf with the guys. Jen has been left "unsupervised " at the beach. I passed the time by walking every day, a bit of shopping, relaxing on the beach, dinner with the Duvars, Jeannie, Mark, Murray and Heather, a sunset cruise out of pass a Grill with Milners, Duvars and Chapmans, more relaxing on the beach, reading. Having a wonderful vacation. One more full day on the beach and then we head north.

April 16 - 21, 2011

Bernie on beach at North Redington Beach

Saturday in St. Pete's area is market day and you have to experience it once during a stay. Acres of buildings with everything you can think of from food to jewellery. You meet at the beer and music tent at noon time so everybody can show off their "great" buys (and to have a good beer and sing some tunes). It was Marlene's and Joe's last night so we took the trolley to Crabbie Bill's at Indian Rocks Beach and had our fill of deep fried fish and crab legs and lots of laughs. Of course we all bought the group picture to remember the good times.
Sunday - Aaron's 3rd birthday. What a treat for all of us when he popped into our lives 3 years ago. Weather is still beautiful, water warm, sand soft and Jeannie and Mark cooked a big spagetti supper for us tonight. Treat not to cook.
Monday - Sun and more sun. Bernie and I played golf with Eugene and Ginny today at the Mainland course and what a great game - shot 86.(the course is a lot shorter than ours). After lunch at the Fireside and afternoon on the beach we went to the hockey game with Pete and Beth - Tampa vs Pittsburg. Arrived early enough to park ourselves at an outside corner table at Gilligans to have supper and watch the world go by - Tampa fans, Pittsburg fans, scalpers, traffic, etc. Great seats in second level and what a PR job done by Tampa - music, videos, cheerleaders, etc, etc. The game won by Pittsburg.
Tuesday - After our morning walk we drove to Clearwater Beach to visit a couple we met on the Danube Cruise. Sandy and Mike Maslowski are from Chicago and it was great to see them. She is on new medication and it has enabled her to get out of her wheel chair and walk again. They have a beautiful condo on the beach and are able to see both sunrises and sunsets from their balcony. Had a delicious lunch at the Beachcomber (been there since 1958). Beach time and then skyped the kids and heard all about Aaron's birthday and the dragons. Highlight of the day! And then out to eat again - this time with Dianne and Ivan at Da Sesto, an Italian on the corner of 66th and Park. Been there before and would go back again - out of this world pizza.
Wednesday - Bernie leaves tomorrow for Daytona so it was laundry day. Enough work so we hit the beach and ended off the day with Beth and Pete for a barbecue at our abode.
Thursday - Email from Jeff and Angie with news that the girls adoption is final. Fantastic !! They are off to Crystal Palace to celebrate. Donnie and Karen arrived at noon time for a visit and lunch and then the boys were off to play. They will have a great time in Daytona. I'm on my own and as some friends were saying "Unsupervised on the beach". Relax even more especially while Greg is home working on the cottage bathroom. :-)

April 13 - Apr 15, 2011

Oh my, time goes by so quickly and if I don't write it down the days all blend together. Bernie has played golf with Dick, Eugene and Eugene's son Alan. We went to dinner with the Chapman's to Rosie's on 49th and it was an experience. A little family run restaurant with dancing waitresses, a Newfie singer and great seafood ie: clams, grouper, fish and chips, etc. I think 80% of the customers were Canadians. Everyday is walk the beach, swim, cool drink, relax and more relaxation.

April 09 - 12, 2011

Saturday morning up and on the road thru central Florida to North Redington Beach. Came across the Skyline Bridge and it was such a gorgeous day with the sun shining and many, many boats on the water. Checked into Far Horizons and it felt a little bit like being home. Hit the grocery store for that peanut butter and other favourites to have in the fridge. So nice to unpack a suitcase, eat out of a real fridge and cook some meals. The past few days have been sunny and in the mid 80's. Morning walk on the beach, swim, read, snooze. Can't get any better.
Have connected with a few people in the area, Beth and Pete, Jo and Marlene. Supper at each other's units, social time on the beach, dinner at Wahoo's and lunch at the Green Sage Cafe have made the time go quickly. Lots of stingrays in the water this year so the "stingray shuffle" is a must when entering the water. A few dolphins have passed by, lots of seagulls and the pelicans doing their dives. It is a great place to people watch as you see all sorts and shapes. Spent some time on the beach with Jeannie, Melanie and Maryanne yesterday. Got caught up on the news at home.

On the home front it has been busy - skyped Jeff and the kids, Katja started a new job, Anita finished her course, baby brother Alan's birthday, Greg has the bathroom at the cottage all torn a part, Paul"s 60th birthday, Leslie is selling like crazy at the store and will soon be retired, Dennis is in Ireland and there is still snow at home.


Sunset at Redington Beach

April 08, 2011

Beautiful hot, sunny day at Palm Beach. Breakfast, lazy hour on the beach and a swim in the Atlantic and then off to the Barrett-Jackson auction. Met Jane and Gary Stack and we spent the afternoon auction watching, touring the tents, people watching and drooling over some of the cars. Bernie said "If we ever come again, we are coming to buy". Just sitting and watching just didn't cut it. This evening we went for a drive with the Stack's to see again all the gorgeous homes in Palm Beach and ended the night with the most delicious meal at the Palm Beach Steakhouse. Excellent meal, service and musical entertainment. Paul M will be soooo jealous. I had the most wonderful peppered steak.

April 07, 2011

Lazy time after breakfast on the deck. Then off to the Barrett-Jackson auction at the West Palm fairgrounds. Huge tents with cars and more cars - old and not so old. Interesting to watch the auction and just people watch. Even saw two guys from Amherst - Pete Estabrooks and Joe VanVulpen. They ended up staying at the same motel and the boys went for dinner. For Jen it was dinner from Publix and the Masters for entertainment.