Sunset over Lake Eufaula

We have been enjoying some really beautiful days here at Lake Eufaula.  Some mornings have begun with a light frost, but by noon, we are in t-shirts and shorts.  My folks decided to paint all the white parts of their house, so that is what we have been up to for the past couple of days.

We assigned Ron the really hard part - working on the roof.  I worked on Mom's flower beds most of the time Ron and Dick were painting, but managed to help on the trim and soffits where I didn't have to worry about falling and killing myself.

I had pulled the worst of the weeds that grew all summer when we first got to Georgia in October, but they had sneaked back in when my back was turned.

While the weeds don't look too thick from the top, this is what their roots look like!

We have been enjoying the spectacular sunsets every evening.

Back to Georgia - January 2012

Maybe this wasn't the best place to take my folks just before taking them to their house in Georgia.

Both of them deciding what to buy.

What the heck?  Why not some of everything?  We filled the cooler in the back of the car, plus one tote.

Back in Georgia to warm temperatures, calm seas, and fishermen on the lake.

There weren't enough clouds for a really spectacular sunset, but it was pretty anyway.

Boating to Stump Pass

We found a great place to dock the boat on the back side of Manasota Key in Stump Pass.

We walked across the island to the Gulf side where we walked on the beach and looked for shark's teeth.

This poor little guy looked like he got hit by a boat propeller or something, but he looked like was healing.

Lots of people out on all the sand bars, on their skidoos, in their boats, and fishing.

Mom started out all bundled up, but soon shed the outer layers.

to soak up some sun.

We watched an Osprey eating a fish on a limb over his nest.

Dick had some bait shrimp that he wanted to use up, so we stopped in the bay to fish.

After trying their luck in the bay, Ron and Dick decided to try another spot for fishing.

So we went back via a shortcut behind all the little islands.

We stopped at the bridge to Manasota Key.

Oh, My, what kind of fish is that??

They caught all kinds of small fish, so an opportunistic Cormorant soon found us.  We never knew before that Cormorants had green eyes!

Great day on the water!

Motorcycle Ride to Pine Island

We have found a really nice group to ride with in SW Florida. It is really our kind of group - no meetings, no dues, no obligations - just an email invitation when they plan a ride.  

We gathered at 10 a.m. at a park where a lot of the riders stay in the winter.

After a nice ride through the countryside where we avoided most of the major roads, we came to Pine Island.  The quaint village of Matlacha is the first thing we saw on the island.

We continued south down the island until we came to Woody's, a restaurant on the water, where we were able to sit on the outdoor patio and eat lunch.  

Bob

Rich and Brenda

Brenda with her bike

Briggitte and Bert

Earl and Diane

Joe

Maras and Elaine

Roland and Collette

Ron and Rosie

My Folks Arrive in Florida

Out of cold snowy Alaska into Florida - time to stock up on Vitamin D, K, whatever you get from sun!

The pool was a bit cool but we all went swimming anyway, because the air temperature was really nice.

When Ron swims you know the pool isn't too cold.

Dick had to think about it for awhile, but ended up swimming a bunch of laps.  It really was perfect for lap swimming!

Englewood Farmers' Market

Another cold snap! Instead of sitting around reading we decided to bundle up and go to the Saturday Farmers' Market.  It is held twice a month at the Methodist Church a mile or so from our house.  There is a Thursday market that is closer, but we like this one better.

It is kind of hard to decide what to wear when we start out at 49 degrees, knowing the temperature will surely get better as the sun warms up the day.  We saw people in full winter gear and others in shorts.

We stocked up on tomatoes, oranges, avocados, and onions in anticipation of cooking a bit more this next week when we have company.

I am always tempted by the beautiful orchids, but resisted today.

We never did find the craft section in the massive church where they were holding a pancake breakfast and craft show.  We did get our exercise wandering around looking though.