Outside our clubhouse there is a covered patio with about 16 or so picnic tables. They were looking pretty shabby and one of the men here in the park suggested that people adopt a table and paint it. Neither Liz nor I were there when this great plan was hatched but very quickly Dave and Liz’s brother, Daniel, claimed one for us to paint. Daniel and Dave painted the table a week ago and this week Liz and I decorated it with letters and large sunflowers.+
Today we had to make a trip to Tampa airport and we combined it with a lunch date with Ross and Victoria Bruce. Ross and I worked together at Southdale North Woodside School in the 90’s. They are young retirees and we enjoyed their enthusiasm as they begin their life as snowbirds. We met them at the Olive Garden on Ulmerton Road in Largo where we enjoyed a great meal and lively discussion. Hopefully they will visit us in Venice next month.
The weather since the last week of February has been more like May than the usual March. We have had days of very warm temperatures so the beach has beckoned often. Since the beach is surprisingly different each day, there is always something to catch our attention. I must point out that we share the space with lots of critters and many people.
Every year or so there is a public arts project where shapes are decorated and displayed around town. I am not sure when the current one began but there are 30 fiberglass seahorses and 22 fiberglass mermaids that we have been seeing and photographing. These one-of-a-kind sculptures have been painted and adorned by talented artists in the region. It gives us a mission and they are all so unique and colourful.
Nokomis Avenue
Venice Civic Center
Art Society
Venice Library
Nokomis Avenue
Venice Hospital
Nearly two weeks ago we returned to Venice after 692 days of absence. Our flights were great although a 3 am start was grueling. After de-icing in both Halifax and Toronto we were an hour late arriving but once here we were happy! We have spent the week replenishing our fridge, freezer and pantry as well as cleaning and purging. There is still some work to be done but our old bodies are not what they used to be so we are taking our time. Next week we will tackle the yard and patio areas. The weather during week one was actually quite cool reminding us that it is winter here too!
One of the best surprises after so long was that our car (Dad’s last car he bought in 2002), just needed a new battery to get it up and running again. It is a gem of a car and we hope it keeps serving us well.
We have eaten out two Fridays – once to Abby’s on Miami and once to Burgundy Cafe. The latter serves a to-die-for lobster roll.
We did make a special trip to the beach at Sharky’s to check out the pier and the beach front.
I am comfortable here now and we will continue to wear our masks when we are in stores etc. but it is really nice to have more freedom. Sitting on our front patio is awesome – no masks and no worries there. By the looks of this pic I need to get some sun on that face!
We have had a busy month – getting into the regular groove – and enjoying the weather. Dave golfs four days a week, Tuesday is movie night, we play bingo on Wednesday evening and the gang goes out to supper on Friday night. There are some events at the clubhouse too. The annual Welcome Back dinner was held just after Liz and Earl arrived. Molly and George joined us for it.
The beach is always an interesting place. There were lots of cool days in January so we didn’t spend as much time there as we usually do. However, February has been above normal temps so we have made treks to the beach and we when we get there the birds, boats, planes and dogs always keep us happy.
There always lots of pelicans but on Valentines they were diving so close to the shoreline that it was scary. I was waiting for one to impale himself in the sand.
We go to the beach which is next to the dog beach – this dog was intrigued by the pelican which was so close to the shoreline.
Venice Municipal Airport is next to the beach. Some days the flight path is right over our heads.
This year it was time to paint the clubhouse again. Dave and Dennis were reliving their navy years when they spent February in Puerto Rico the ship! 
One of the things that I indulge in is online shopping. This big Amazon order was like a fun Christmas morning.
Liz and I at the Midwest Dinner
We spent time at the beach on Valentine’s Day. Dave didn’t disappoint – flowers and chocolates awaited me when I got up.
The gang went to N’tinos for pizza followed by a great game of dominoes – the girls won handily.
Well it is 2020 and I am finally getting to a post. We arrived here on December 11 at 2 in the morning after a long and frustrating flying day. Our original flight plan was Halifax to Newark and then Newark to Sarasota. That came to a quick halt while we waited in Halifax and discovered we were leaving an hour late. Since we had only 45 minutes to make the connection in Newark I had to change our plan. I managed to get a connection from Newark to Tampa and we got on our flight and hoped for the best. It soon became apparent that we would not be making that connection either so when we finally landed in Newark we headed to customer service. The great gal on their desk confirmed that we missed the Tampa flight but not before she actually called the gate and checked. So she looked at me and said what about going somewhere else – and suggested Fort Myers. After giving us supper vouchers and new boarding passes, we made the third car rental change of the day and waited our flight. The website said that there were no car rentals after 11:30 so we knew we might be in for an interesting trip from Fort Myers to Venice. The flight was only about a third full so we all got a row to ourselves and were able to get a little comfortable for the night flight. When we landed and got to the carousel, we were beyond shocked that our suitcases were there waiting for us. Then to our amazement we discovered that the car rental office was open. and when all was said and done we had an upgraded car – Equinox – that was only $69 and was able to be returned at the end of our street at the Venice Municipal Airport.
Now that was the good news – on Thursday (Dec. 12) I got sick with acute bronchitis and was laid low for 2 solid weeks. So now that the season is over I am finally feeling mostly normal. We did get a great Christmas Dinner at the Thornhams on Boxing day but sadly no pictures. I am praying that 2020 will treat us well.
Today we made it a point to go to the beach. The temps were 27C and windy. We decided to check out the new pier at Sharky’s. It was damaged during Hurricane Irma in 2017. This summer they re-decked and re-railed it. They used a composite board that looks like real wood.
It is a wonderful spot and we were so happy to both feel well enough to make the effort. After all this is our neighbourhood bar, LOL!
Happy New Year to you all. If you haven’t “followed” us you can and it will notify you when I post.
We are 5 days away from departure to Venice. As usual, we are rushing through the week seeing people for the last time, eating the food from the freezer, and packing up for the adventure. So by this time next week we will be in our little beach house enjoying the warmer weather. Hopefully I will have some great pictures to post here over the next 6 months.
Time is running out for us but we always make time for a beach picnic/ BBQ. Liz and Earl’s son Scott and the 2 grand kids – Emerson and Ava were here for Easter so that made it more fun than usual.
Gerrie, Liz, Ava, Karen, Molly and Carol
Daniel, Earl, Danny, Dennis, Dave and George
Dennis, Dave and Karen help with the cooking
Daniel with his new toy
The Corkery’s arrive in the Pope Mobile!
After supper we were on hand for a great sunset. I even managed to get some shots below the Venice Pier.
Our go-to beach (2 minutes away) is just south of Sharkys – it is called Brohard Beach – which is directly across from the entrance to Lake Venice Golf Course. Yesterday while there we discovered that there was a setup for a beach wedding ceremony. We had front row seats.
Adventure Logan 