Sunday

 It was beautiful here today.  We did our church services this morning.  After I showered, we went to Largo Nature Park to walk.  We didn't bring cameras - we just walked!!  Well, we did have our phones!!  

Fun walk!!

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Saturday

 We .left here around 10:00 to go to Ellenton to meet Suzy, Greg, and Pat at Woody's Pub.  We had slow going on 275...bumper to bumper traffic, barely moving.  We still got there in time to get one of the tiki huts out on the water.  Dave stopped at the restroom while I saved the table.  Just as Dave got out to our table, I saw Suzy and Pat walking into the bar area.  We got to hug and visit for quite a while before we ordered.  We were probably there for 2+ hours before we felt obliged to give up our table!!  

Our trip home took much longer than we expected.  As we left Ellenton to get on 75, we saw traffic slow down...to a crawl.  It was barely moving until well after we crossed the Sunshine Skyway bridge...not much fun!  I felt like everyone in the state was on the highways today - it was such a nice day!

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Friday

 We both woke up feeling very good today!!  Yay!  After lunch we took our walk at Boca Ciega Millenium Park.  It was a beautiful walk on a boardwalk.  We didn't see any birds to speak of, but we saw an alligator and many, many little crabs!  The little crabs were just scurrying around - first glance you didn't see anything, but then it would look like a leaf blowing on the ground.  In the camera lens it was a little crab.  I didn't get my pictures uploaded and edited, so I've nothing to show.  That was fun because we don't usually see these little critters!

This afternoon late, we walked first and second streets delivering newsletters, so we got in even more steps!  This evening I watched my great niece, Allison, in her college concert.  I found her right away!  The concert was great, but I kept worrying about those young people standing for so long in one spot.  I remember getting a bit faint-feeling in high school concerts and that one was even longer!

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Thursday

 We both slept well last night...the Tylenol really helped!!  I'll be taking some more Tylenol tonight.  I feel pretty good tonight, just a few achy muscles.  Hope it's all gone tomorrow.

We walked around the park this afternoon late.  Other than that, didn't do much...just baked 4 dozen cookies, read, did some crossword puzzles, and took a nap.

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Wednesday

 This was shot #2 day for us.  We went to Port Charlotte to get our second shot, had our celebratory chocolate milk shake, then drove home.  We listened to a good portion of the book Pop Goes the Weasel while we were in the car.  Another good Alex Cross book.  We've probably got half of the book yet to listen to.  

This evening we're both a little achy, but not too bad.  I'm going to take a couple of Tylenol before I go to bed.  That should take care of it.  Glad to have the second shot in the books!!

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Tuesday

 I did something I've wanted to do ever since I lost my weight two years ago!  I walked to the top of the pedestrian bridge off of the Courtney Campbell Causeway.  It was about .8 of a mile to the top!  It was a gorgeous day with a nice breeze so I didn't get too hot, even though the sun was shining brightly!  

Dave was under the bridge fishing.  He didn't catch anything, but he still had fun.  The guys next to him fishing caught a small hammerhead shark!!  We'll do that again!

Tomorrow we head south to Port Charlotte to get our second shots.  I'm listening to the Iowa State basketball game.  We've lead the whole game, but now with under 5 minutes left, Baylor is only 1 point down...and they're #2 in the nation!  

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Monday

 The water was supposed to be shut off here at The Ranch today to repair a water line.  We got up and got our showers taken before 8:00 AM!  That's unheard of for me!  Guess what?  As far as we know, the water never did go off!!  Grrr...

We took our walk today at The Narrows.  Dave wanted to go see the turtles at the turtle pond.  Boy, did we see turtles!!  This is only a small portion of the turtles we saw today!

When we got back, we both got to visit with Bob for a while.  Then it was suppertime!  

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Sunday

 This morning we went to church...online of course.  Then we had a bite of lunch.  After lunch we went to John Taylor Park.  Dave brought his fishing poles, but there was so much "salad" in the water (weeds, etc.) that it was hard to reel your line in after you had cast it out.  We'll try another park on another day.  I walked around the lake and took some pictures.  When I got to the other side, I sat by the water and watched an alligator roaming the lake!  I also finished a book while Dave fished.  

Late this afternoon, we also walked around the Ranch so I got plenty of steps in today!  Now we're watching American Idol!  Wonderful singers this year!

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Saturday

 When I got up this morning, I asked Dave why he wasn't watching church...he politely told me it was only Saturday!  I was confused I guess.  I could have sworn it was Sunday!!  It was kind of chilly today, but tomorrow is supposed to be nice again!!  For our walk today, we went to Largo Nature Park.  Still no alligator today, but since it was cool, I didn't expect to see one.  

Our Rogue has a tire that has been leaking air, so on our way home from the park, we stopped at Goodyear.  They said they could get it in next, so we left it and walked home.  Then after a nap, they called and Dave went to pick it up.  He told Dave there was something  in the tire but they fixed it.  Only cost us $22 so it wasn't too bad!

The rest of the day was spent watching Indian Hills play basketball and watching the gamecast of the ISU game.

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Friday

 We walked early this morning because the weather was supposed to turn later today...and it did!  It was 71 when we walked and about an hour or so later, it was 65.  Now it's 58!!   Tomorrow is another chilly one, but it's supposed to be in the upper 70s for 14 days after that...now that's why we come to Florida!  Can't wait!

Since it was rainy and cold I didn't do much.  Dave worked culling out his tools.  We talked to Roberta today - she sounded better than she's sounded for at least a year.  That's good news.

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Wednesday

 Today was a damp day around here.  It rained off and on most of the morning.  After lunch we ran some errands.  I needed a couple of things from Old Time Pottery, so while we were there we walked every aisle to get some of our walk in.  Then Dave needed a couple of screws so we stopped at Sunshine Hardware...again I walked around the store to get some more steps in.  Then we went to Eyeglass World to get new nose pads put on my glasses.  I'm so happy to get that done!  I was getting big dents on the side of my nose!!

When we got home, I read for a while and then took a short nap.  We walked the park for the rest of our steps and even sat and visited with my brother a bit!

Here's a picture of one of our hibiscus with water drops -

- it's pretty cool!

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Tuesday

 We had more thunder and lightning last night...and rain!  I cool front came through so today was on the cool side.  I sat out and talked to Bob and Dave this morning without a jacket, but I was a little cool.  I put on a long-sleeved shirt with my shorts this afternoon.  I had a dental appointment to get my new bridge put in.  It looks really nice!  We walked after I got home and I had to put on a sweatshirt by that time!

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Monday

 This morning, Dave and I went to Largo Nature Park to walk.  Again, no alligators...but a bunch of birds and people.  My mask was up and down numerous times!  I was drenched in sweat by the time we were done walking.

Dave cleaned out the dryer vents at our place.  Glad he did that - I worry about fires with dryer lint.  

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Happy Valentine's Day!!

 When I got up this morning, I checked my phone...there was a tornado warning near here.  My brother texted to see if we were going to take cover...but I slept through it all and so did Dave.  I heard the rain and the thunder, but I just went back to sleep.  We had 2 inches of rain!

We walked this morning in between rains.  Then this afternoon we drove to Sudi and Howard's to deliver a package of bacon.  It was not comfortable sitting outside because of the wind and humidity so we didn't meet them at a park to visit.  Next time we'll do that.

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Saturday

 Boy did it rain this morning!!!  Mid-morning it quit,  so we  went to walk at Eagle Lake Park.  We didn't take our cameras, but we saw a Green Heron and two Black-Crowned Night Herons.  This is the Green Heron:

I like it when we see them - they are really pretty!

The rest of the day was a bit boring.  I read while Dave napped, then I napped while he worked in the lanai on his fishing stuff.  Maybe he'll get to fish one of these days soon.  I also watched the Cyclone-Kansas game.  Our basketball team is terrible.

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Friday

 The next seven days have a chance of rain,  so we decided to have another adventure today.  We went to Fort DeSoto, one of my favorite places!  It was beautiful today - partly cloudy and still 77 or so.  The water was beautiful and we even saw several dolphins.  Great adventure!!

We got home in time for Dave to take a nap.  Then we went over to visit with Bob & Ann, John & Gayle.  We came in just in time to fix supper.  

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Wednesday

 We went on an adventure today!  We went to Myakka River State Park.  We love going there.  We went out to the place they call The Weir away from the parking areas where the birds and alligators tend to congregate.  We saw hundreds of birds there...roseate spoonbills, teal winged ducks, limpkins, stilts, vultures, herons, egrets...and then we saw alligators too!  It was pretty hot there...85 and high humidity today.  I think this was the first hot day we've had all winter so far.  We had taken our lunch, so we set up our chairs away from everyone in the shade and enjoyed our peanut butter and pickle sandwiches while cooling down.

Great day!!  I need to get pictures uploaded and gone through though.

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Tuesday

 Beautiful day here today!!  We took our walk today at Largo Nature Park but not until about 3:00.  We saw some birds, but no alligators.  Darn!

Earlier in the afternoon, I hosted a zoom meeting with several of the ladies from the class of '66.  I think there were 10 of us on at one time.  We visited for about an hour and a half before we ran out of things to say!!  Haha - like that would ever happen!

This evening we've had all kinds of excitement in the park...several fire trucks and emergency vehicles on 3rd street at the north end.  Initial reports were that there was a nature gas smell.  They're all out of the park now and no one told us to evacuate, so I'm assuming there was no leak.

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Monday

 Today we both got up too early - around 7:00...but we were still tired.  We both had weird dreams.  I think it was that strange halftime show from the Super Bowl that did it to me.  I dreamed I was teaching people to dance - 4 steps this way, 4 steps that way - and I kept counting 1-2-3-4 for a long time!!  They never did get it!!

We walked at Sawgrass Lake Park today.  Saw a small alligator - probably about 5 feet, a couple of yellow crowned night herons, and many, many turtles and fish.  It was a good walk, though.  I read for a while then took a nap.

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Sunday

 Dave and I did our 3 church services this morning and then took our walk.  This afternoon, we went over to John and Gayle's for a small Super Bowl party...9 people all properly distanced.  Good food and good friends.  We all came home to watch the game in the safety of our own homes.  Unfortunately I want Kansas City to win, but if Tampa wins that's okay because we live in the Tampa Bay area.  So I guess it's one of those win-win situations.  I just wanted it to be a good close game, but KC just can't get it going.  I think KC's offensive line sucks tonight...therefore Patrick has to scramble almost every down.  

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saturday

 We finally had a really nice day here!  I was able to open the windows all day long!  Our Pest Bear guy came this morning.  As he was spraying around the windows, he didn't realize a couple of windows were open.  I was sitting at the table doing a crossword puzzle and I got sprayed!!  So I won't be having any bugs!!

Dave and I walked this afternoon after he got the living room finished.  We cleaned the room and then moved  the furniture around.  We like it  this way, but it's not conducive for having company.  Good thing that's not going to happen for a while!

We video-chatted with the little ones this evening.  Kaitlyn said, "I'm running, Grandma Peg!" as she ran around the living room.  She and Aidan were fighting to get closer to the phone.  They were wound up.

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Friday

 Dave worked on "the wall" this morning and then Bob came over with his nail gun to help him put things back together.  Tonight it's finished except for putting the  quarter-round down at the bottom of the wall.  Then we'll get our living room back.

I went next door to attend a zoom meeting of my P.E.O. chapter in Ottumwa.  It was nice to see some old friends!!  

We didn't walk until about 5:00 tonight.  Dave was just too busy.  It was pretty nice here today, but very windy again.  

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Thursday

 Dave started working on repairing one of our walls that had gotten wet several years ago.  The damage isn't noticeable as long as the couch is on that wall.  But we know it's there.  So now my living room is in a state of chaos!  It doesn't look too bad this evening, but it's all out of whack for me...things are not where they are supposed to be and I don't like that.  

We did go to Largo Nature Park to do our walk this afternoon.  It turned out to be a lovely day.  We didn't see an alligator today, but we saw two roseate spoonbills so that made our day.  

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Wednesday

 I woke up around 6:30 this morning...ugh!  I like sleeping in!!  I just can't do it any more.  What's with that???

It was cold again today...54 degrees with a brisk wind.  Not fun!  We did get a walk in, though.  We didn't go walk until about 4:00 when it was 54.  At least we didn't freeze today!  Tomorrow is supposed to be in the 60s again and then we'll have a few days of 70s - yay!  I can hardly wait!

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Tuesday

 The groundhog saw his shadow, darn it!  Six more weeks of winter ahead!  The alligator saw his shadow, so we have 12 more months of Florida!!  I like that better.

Dave and I walked a little today, but it was just too cold!  When the sun was on you, it wasn't too bad, but out of the sun it was so cold!  

Pinellas County Publixes are going  to start giving vaccines Thursday.  I'm glad...the Publix we went to in Port Charlotte was so organized.  I hope the rest of our friends get their appointments now.

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Monday

 It is cold here today.  We walked around noon.  We put up our hoods on our sweatshirts even.  Brrr!!

Yesterday we became a great-great aunt and uncle again.  Kaylee and Clayton had another little boy - not so little, actually...he weighed 9 pounds 5 oz.  His name is August Marvin Vette and will be called Augie!  He looks a lot like his big brother in the picture we got.  He is doing much better today - they first thought he had pneumonia, but they're now thinking it's an infection.  God bless him!!

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