Adventure Logan

On Saturday we attended the 5th Annual Suncoast BBQ and Bluegrass Festival. Sixty-two teams competed for prizes and championship status with connections to the Food Network. The rigs they used for cooking were phenomenal and we certainly saw some interesting sights. Dave tasted pulled pork from one competitor but we both agreed that it wasn’t as tasty as his.

Some of the signage caught our attention

The competitors all had their previous trophies on display

The rigs were big and expensive – quite the hobby /business for sure!

Enjoying the Bluegrass performances

April is always beach time here in Venice.  We have been to the beach for lots of visits by ourselves but also with an assortment of company who have spent time here with us. I never get tired of the walkway leading to the beach – no colours can beat the green of the trees, the white of the sand and the blue of the Gulf.

Marilyn Munroe, Florence Sanford and Dave head to the beach

The dunes along by Sharkey’s are always fun to see.

Venice Pier

Steve Murphy and Joe Arseneau spent a week here golfing with Dave

Carol Hiltz, Mary Daniels and Carol at Sharkey’s

Stephen and Carol Hiltz

Today was my 64th birthday and Dave asked me what I wanted to do to celebrate. So I suggested a drive to the Mustang Flea Market in Seminole followed by time spent on Treasure Island Beach. So that is exactly what we did and I loved every moment. Before we moved to Venice, we spent 3 winters across from the beach at a place called Pieces of Eight and I truly loved it there. The beach has sand like powder which never gets hot (and I miss that for sure). It was a sunny although breezy day and we did walk along the beach and then visited with some people at Pieces of Eight. There was no cake or champagne today as I am saving that fun for Mary Daniels’ arrival in one month. At that time we will get my favourite Raspberry Elegance cake and drink champagne at the beach.

Spent an hour at the Mustang – got a few deals and had fun poking around at the stuff on display.

Along the boardwalk on Treasure Island

Treasure Island

Treasure Island

I love this cold powdery sand soooooooooooooooo much!

Treasure Island is a wonderful walking beach.

Love moments like this

Boardwalk leading to the small beach area across from Pieces of Eight

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day – drink lots of green beer for Dave!

It has been over 3 weeks since I last posted so I figured I had better find some pics to share. We continue to be well and warm – unlike so many of you still caught up in winter. Most Tuesday nights we go to the movies and then on Thursday we gather at the clubhouse to play dominoes. The Friday gang is now a large one – usually 14 or more – and we take turns choosing the restaurant and making the arrangements. It is a great way to try new places or revisit old favourites. Dave golfs 4 times a week and sometimes one more when it is a week when the park residents have their tournament. I haven’t shopped as much as usual but I am sure that will change as I get closer to coming home. There is no way those suitcases will be empty on that return flight. LOL

We have made lots of beach visits and are tanned. No pics of us yet – will have to do selfies the next time we are at the beach.

One evening last week Dave called for me to come outside with my camera. This little ( half meter+) corn snake was making its way across our front patio.

Mary Daniels loves the birds at the beach so I take lots of pictures of them – she takes even more. On a recent visit at Nokomis Beach there were many birds sitting among the sunbathers – when I got too close they took off. Hope you like them Mary!

The last time we were at the beach I took pics of boats – thought I would share them with you so that you can see how the boating set live. I am always amazed at the number of boats which are out of the water and all covered because it is winter!

We hadn’t been to the beach together for some time as golf, red hat and cloudiness conspired against us. This week, however, we managed to get there to enjoy very warm temperatures and the sound of the surf. For those of you who have had enough of winter these pictures will either annoy you or give you hope.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you.

It was a warmer day today so we were happy to see blue skies and sunshine. Dave arrived home with a dozen red roses (a first) so I was more than thrilled.

Charles and Carol Ann Gallant hosted their second annual ONE BILLION RISING FOR JUSTICE MOVEMENT  social at their condo.

Carol Ann and Charles

Marilyn and Danny

Molly and George

Liz and Earl

Mike and Judy

Carol and Dave

Betty, Ken and Peggy

Carol, Molly, Mike and Judy

Apparently Florida is the only American state with no snow today (Hawaii has snow on the mountains) but that didn’t make things any nicer. Some days have been lovely but there has been a run of cloudy days, then rainy nights and today for the Nova Scotia picnic it was quite cool. In Largo, where it was held, the picnic is on Lake Seminole and the wind whips across it every year. In a nutshell today was not pleasant. We did see lots of friends and were happy about that. Usually about 700-800 people attend but the weather cut that down by at least half.

Today started out with a great red hat lunch but went down hill after that! After I arrived home from lunch, I started putting all the items back into the newly renovated kitchen. Dave headed out on the front patio to cut up the large box that held the new sink. Within a few minutes he hollered for me and I flew out to door to be met by him clasping his finger and telling me he may have cut it off.  Because he had such a tight hold on it, he wasn’t sure how bad it was. We both went into over gear – I wrapped it tightly in a decorative tea towel and we headed for the emergency which is basically around the corner from our place.

Luckily he only had a deep cut across his left index finger which required 5 stitches and a tetanus shot. So $1002.19 (US) later we headed home.  It is amazing how you can feel lucky when you think about how much worse this could have been. He did finish cutting up the box but I was sure that he was more than careful when doing so.

For those of you who have followed this blog for several years, you know we usually do a major project each year. Well, this year was no different! Our final major project has been the kitchen. I am not sure how I have lived with pale pink kitchen counters and the matching floral wallpaper for the last 7 years. When I look at the other projects we have completed, I wonder how that kitchen was left for last.

 The transformation from ugly took several days. The counters were cleaned and then painted with a 5 step kit. Coat one was painting all countertops flat black with a roller, followed by three layers of metallic paint (silver, black, bronze) each applied with a large natural sea sponge. I daubed the entire surface with splashes of the silver first then the others. The last step was 3 layers of sealant. The finish is quite good – supposed to look like granite.The awful wallpaper got covered with a white tile board that is very easy to clean. It actually made the space look larger.

The finishing touch was a new sink. Of course, you know it all couldn’t go smoothly – so this is where the project hit some road blocks. Just as Dave lowered the new sink into its space we noticed a hairline crack on the front – so out it came and off he went to Lowes. It was the only one in stock and even the sample sink had a dent in it so we had to head to Sarasota to get one they had on hold for us. I went with Dave and we asked that we see the sink before buying and low and behold it too had a hairline crack in the exact spot the first one did. We ended up getting a different sink (more expensive) with a 10% discount.

Then the fun really began and by 8PM and several trips to Lowes for fittings we called it a day and called Larry the plumber to finish the job.

We are more than pleased with the results – and happy that all the major projects are completed (patio, bedroom, bathroom, living/dining) and now kitchen. I guess we can rest now and enjoy – or maybe it is almost time for the first project to get a tweak. LOL

Although we have been home for a week, I thought you might like to see the pics from our last port of call – Georgetown, Grand Cayman. It was a first time visit for both of us and also the first port where we had to go ashore on the tender.

When we arrived in port, there were 4 other large cruise ships already moored  – what a sight!

We opted to take a cab to the beach rather than go on an organized excursion. Seven mile beach is narrow but the water was marvelous so it was worth the effort.  Dave rented us 2 lounge chairs and we settled in for a swim and some sunbathing. Since there were no beach stops on the cruise so far, we needed to have at least one.

You know that the water is warm if I am up to my neck in it within minutes!

The sand was very soft and on the yellowish side in colour. I couldn’t resist this picture of my feet in their favourite substance!

When we got back to the town, we did some shopping and looking around.