Day 24

Monday was a cool, cloudy day but at least we had no rain. We were all up early for coffee and each just ate what they wanted for breakfast. Loy went out early for a long walk on the beach. Jack and Al also took walks. Everyone had a restful day reading, napping, and just doing whatever.
Jack cooked dinner making cheese tortoleni with Alfredo sauce and served with sauteed chicken breast strips. Also served salad with roasted asparagus with lemon vinegarette. Enjoyed with white wine. Jack also made a great key lime pie...has a great recipe with fresh lime juice and lime zest.  Had pie and coffee after dinner.  Al is thrilled to have someone else doing cooking and cleanup. Loy did cleanup. Too bad that it was too cool to dine on porch.

Day 23

Sunday, Feb 21, Jack and Loy flew down for the week. Their flight arrived at 1:35 at the Punta Gorda Airport so we left about 11:30 to make sure we were on time. The drive should be about 1.5 hours but allowed 2 hours. Flight was on time but had to wait for the luggage. The day was sunny but on cool side. Thought we would stop for lunch in Punta Gorda but found no place there. Next idea was to stop at Ft Myers beach but traffic backed up so we turned around and went to Publix to shop for provisions. Loy also ordered some of the Cuban coffee she likes and we'll pick next week. Since it was so late when we finished shopping, we headed to the house and had some snacks.
We decided to have a casual dinner at Lazy Flamingo and also let Jack and Loy experience some of the local flavor since this a neighborhood place. Larry, who was at the counter taking care of the orders, was a character boarding on being rude...did not care if ate there or not. Luckily, we walked in and sat at the last table available without any wait. Started with beer and oysters and conch fritters. Jack and Al both ordered the 1/2 Caesar salad and 1//2 Blackened Shrimp. Loy had the fried oyster basket and I had grouper basket.
All enjoyed the dinner ...fun place.

Day 22

Too cool to go to beach. After lunch,we drove to DDNWR and saw roseate spoonbills. We walked out on the dike and saw a woodstork on his knees with his legs laying forward...a strange position. Also saw a yellow crowned night heron and brown pelicans. Lot of birds in area beyond observation deck. Saw Don and Lillian Stokes on drive...she has a new Cannon camera.
Dinner tonight at Doc Ford's. We shared oyster on the half shell. Al had Texas Babyback Ribs with fries and slaw. I had Calamari salad with cukes, tomatoes, and fried wontons. Called ahead so we did not have a long wait and they were not very busy.

Day 21

Friday, Feb 19
Not sure of what we did today. DDNWR is closed on Fridays.

Day 4, Tues, Feb 2

Another rainy day....had a lot of rain all morn. Spent most of day on the porch watching it rain, reading, surfing the web. Early coffee and pastries. Lunch of turkey sandwiches and chips. Afternoon of napping and reading. Early dinner at Timbers...left about 5 and beat the dinner traffic.. no wait for a table. Al dined on yellowfin snapper with veggies and baked potato and I had shrimp platter - garlic shrimp, crunchy shrimp, and baked stuffed shrimp with sweet potato...yum! Early to bed again. Hope we have sunshine tomorrow.

Day 3, Monday Feb 1

Another cool and wet day! Rained early. Al did a short walk to get a paper. Coffee and pastries on the porch but almost too cool outside. Blogged some and then had lunch of clam chowder and chicken sanwich. We went shopping at Lime Tree...Al ordered new shoes and I bought a pair at Footloose. Quick stop at Jerry's for missed grocery items. Also checked out new location of 3 Crafty Ladies but not many stamping items. After resting and drinks,we made dinner of chicken puttanesca with spaghetti and salad. Al is becoming the cook and cleanup staff as he had to do the chopping,etc. I think he misses being waited on as usual. Have not been on the beach as yet...too cool!