Gasparilla State Park in Boca Grande

John and I had planned on returning to the beach we had visited in Boca Grande while we were down here visiting the children last June, so my next adventure was to do just that.

This morning, I once again took a deep breath, squared my shoulders and set forth with "Lola's" directions. Oh, I haven't mentioned Lola have I? She's the voice on my GPS, so named because whatever Lola says, we do and so far, she hasn't gotten us lost. So, having programmed Lola to get me to the beach in Boca Grande, I set out for my adventure du jour. I left around 8:15 and was surprised that the traffic was not as bad as I anticipated. It took about an hour to get there and when I arrived, I found I was the only soul on the beach as far as I could see in any direction.

and since there was no one there to snap a picture of me, I just got one of my shadow! Traveling alone has its disadvantages.

The weather had recently been stormy and the surf was just beginning to settle down so I was finding some incredible shells and other less savory finds......

This stone crab had just recently passed away as he was still intact and quite colorful among the shells. I actually poked him just to make sure he wasn't still alive.
This poor shore bird looked like the unfortunate victim of a shark attack as the only thing left of him was his head. Needless to say, I did not venture into the water!

I walked up and down the long length of the beach for about 3 hours, searching for large shells that were still intact and found quite a few. It was interesting to note that similar shells were to be found in certain places and not others.

Other than the great variety of shells, I'm afraid I find Florida beaches to be a bit boring. There's not much to see other than a huge expanse of water that slowly drops below the horizon.
I guess I just miss my rocky coastline in Maine.



I did find a few interesting things though. This lighthouse was at one end of the beach....

and this pier to nowhere seems to have been what was left after a hurricane blew through.


Again, since I had no one to take my picture, I just got creative and realized I had a setting on my camera that was "self portrait"


The clouds above also made for an interesting photo.


And, last but not least, when I got back, I unloaded my bounty from the shore.....

I think I might just make a little "faux" beach when I get back home!

Life was sunny today.

Hugs, Giddy

Walk in Lettuce Lake Park

Yesterday, my son Brian, DIL Amy and kids took me on an outing to Lettuce Lake Park in Tampa. The weather was beautiful (for a change) and we had a lovely time walking along the board walk, looking for wildlife. It was pretty early in the morning and still a bit cool, so we didn't spy any big 'gators, but managed to see one little one.

Ashton and Kaiya had fun atop the tower over looking the lake......

and running along the boardwalk that took us through the park.


We found these three turtles sunning themselves on a log.....

while Brian caught this little lizard who hopped back and forth from Brian to Amy, delighting the kids to no end!


A fun time was had by all and we headed off to a Chinese Buffet for lunch.

I'm finding this is a time of "firsts" in my life without John. We did everything together and enjoyed our life immensely, whether it was something as mundane as grocery shopping or exciting as our annual trek up Champlain Mountain in Acadia National Park.

I ventured out on my own a couple of days ago with a road trip to Historic Spanish Point in Osprey, Florida. I hadn't driven much in the past 7 or 8 years and Heaven knows, the traffic in Maine is not nearly what one finds down here, so it was quite the adventure for me. But, I must find ways to fill the days and I can only go to the YMCA or read so much. Therefore, I gave myself a pep talk, took a deep breath and headed out onto the freeway!

Spanish Point was interesting from an archeological point of view, but I was hoping for more of a botanical garden type visit. The few colorful flowers I found were interesting, but no signs gave me a clue as to what they were. I plan on visiting the Marie Selby Botanical Garden in Sarasota soon.

This "hammock" tree had a very interesting stump.

And this little green gecko was kind enough to sit still for a close up!

According to the literature, all building materials and supplies had to be brought in by boat in those days and the Point turned in to quite the spot for northern tourists looking for a respite from the cold winter days.


My next first was going to a restaurant for a meal by myself. It was quite the strange feeling, not having John sitting across from me asking "what are you going to have". I sat alone at the table, observing my fellow diners and feeling envy that they had someone with whom to share the experience and realizing that this was only one of a long line of many "firsts" upcoming in my life.

Again, another deep breath. Carrying on alone right now is the most difficult.

Life is Good, but sometimes quite unfair.

Hugs, Giddy

Trip to Myakka State Park

Yesterday, my son, Brian, his wife Amy, my grandson, Ashton and granddaughter, Kaiya took me out to visit Myakka State Park.

We had a lovely time beginning with a picnic surrounded by a murder of crows who sat waiting expectantly for bits of sandwich to drop from the table. Needless to say, Ashton and Kaiya were quite accommodating, despite being warned not to feed the wildlife.

While on the nature walk, we spied lots of birds and other wildlife, but we were surprised to see this wild hog rooting around a bog.

Seven year old Ashton was very interested in the holes in the trees made by Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers.......

....and the different algae and lichen we found.

Some of the fungi looked familiar. I recall seeing lots of these in Maine.


Five year old Kaiya liked running along the path and sitting in trees while having her picture taken.

Ashton managed to get into this shot, as well.

And what's a nature walk in Florida without seeing a few alligators? We were not disappointed.

These fellas were HUGE! I couldn't believe there were people kayaking in the vicinity.

All in all, we had quite a lovely day with lots of exciting things to see and talk about.

Thank you, Brian and Amy for including me in your Saturday adventure.

Life is Good.

Hugs, Grandma Giddy

Time will heal

Yesterday, five weeks had passed since I lost my beloved John. Time has not yet begun to heal the overwhelming sense of emptiness and heartache. Each day dawns with thoughts of him and the endless hours march by in agonizing slow motion. Some things have gotten better; I can now write about it without melting down into a teary mess, but the lump in my throat remains.

I was hoping that coming to Florida, as we had planned would help ease the pain, but it hasn't and I find myself second guessing and Monday morning quarterbacking; why did I not see how serious his condition had become? Why did he not heed my constant pleas to have a thorough physical? Why was I not more insistent that he do so? Why was he so damned stubborn?

The questions continue to plague me, unfortunately, to no avail. What is done is done and cannot be undone. Try as I might, I cannot awaken from this nightmare. Down here in Florida, I constantly see happy, elderly couples and I wonder why, oh why, could we not have had a few more years together?

I know that this too, shall pass in time, things will get better and in the meantime, I need to focus on the wonderful memories we shared for the 45 years we were together even though those memories bring tears and more heartache right now.

I'm trying. Life is still good, just sad for the time being.

Hugs, Giddy

Where to Begin?

Last Tuesday afternoon, my dear soul mate, lover, best friend and husband of 45 years passed away unexpectedly, literally in my arms.

I am lost without him and inconsolable. My two sons are here helping me cope, and together, we have cried, laughed and regaled in fond memories of my dear, sweet, John,

I'm sure that in time, my Muse will return to me with fond memories and allow me to once again fill this blog with thoughts and pictures of our beloved Maine, but until then, I will sign off for a time to heal and spend time with my boys.

To those of you who still have your loved ones near, please hug them and tell them you love them every single day. Our time in this world is so very tenuous and the moments precious. Hold them close.

Sleep well, my Johnny Angel, til we meet again. I have loved you so desperately all these years.

Speechless

I am always in awe of our winter sunsets, but tonight's truly left lacking for words! I looked up from the computer and saw the sun setting over Calf Island, grabbed my camera and stood on the deck clicking away.


the purples and pinks slowly morphed into golds and teals .......

and then burst forth into fire in the sky, raining the fire onto the cove's surface.

I stood on the deck, shivering in the cold, but too entranced to stop snapping photos. And, finally, the last of the golden rays dipped beneath the horizon, leaving a faint glow.

Words cannot describe the beauty nature provides us.

Life is Good

Hugs, Giddy

Sigh

It's snowing again. Not that I mind the snow; it's beautiful. However, I am beginning to get somewhat tired of shoveling and plowing. I was supposed to go to my knitting group, The Downeast Knitiots today but there was just too much work to be done clearing the snow that fell overnight. I have a new post on my other blog, The Downeast Knitiot, if anyone is interested in catching up with my projects and Sluggo, my Quality Control Cat.

Yesterday, before the snow began in earnest and the roads were still fairly clear, we headed over to the Town Office to pay the second half of our property tax and renew H's Conceal Carry gun permit. The office is located on the shores of a quaint Maine harbor and as I had the forethought to take my camera, I got some nice winter photos. Of course, I'm sure those of us living in the Great Frozen North will not be amused! "-)

This is a picture of the giant fisherman standing next to the only sardine factory remaining in the US, so the next time you open that can of sardines to put on top of a cracker, think of Giddy!

We drove by one of our favorite stops in the Schoodic portion of Acadia National Park....

however, it was much to cold to stop by for a picnic beside this towering spruce tree!


I seldom get the opportunity to photograph a sunrise as it comes up behind us, hidden by a hillside of spruces, but I did manage to get a shot of it sneaking up over the trees and illuminating a snow capped Cadillac Mountain across the bay.


And, so ends another post, written while we wait for the snow to end so we can head up the hill with the plow yet one more time!

Life truly is good!

Hugs, Giddy

Now, the work begins

The Holidays are finally over, the work of undecorating, packing things up, putting everything in its place and bringing order back to the house is here.

Spike and Sluggo have been a huge help with checking things over before we packed things up again until next year.

I've been doing a lot of knitting, having knitted everyone a sweater for Christmas. Unfortunately, I neglected to take pictures of them before I packed them up to send them to the kids and grand kids in Florida, so I'm hoping I'll get some pics soon. I understand the one I did for Ashton needs a bit of work as he couldn't get it over his head! I'll have to fix that when I get down there next month.

Jason was kind enough to send a picture of the blue Gansey sweater I knitted him......

and I did manage to snap a quick pic of the Yankee Knitter pattern I did for Brian.....

The boys both live in Florida, and from the looks of the temperatures down there this week, it looks like the Christmas gifts are coming in handy!

After doing the sweaters, I decided I needed something fairly mindless to knit, so I decided to use up some of my stash of various wools to knit a kitty bed.

I was planning on felting it, but as soon as I finished it, Spike hopped right in and has claimed it as his own.

It had been a while since I had baked bread when Pete, of Pete Bakes posted a great recipe for another no knead bread, this one had beer in the ingredient list and sounded really great, so I tried it.

It turned out beautifully, but I still prefer the basic "Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day" recipe, which takes even less time. Sorry, Pete!

Tonight's sunset started out a beautiful blue, pink and purple.........

and ended up a fiery red. A fitting end to a beautiful, albeit cold, Sunday!


Life is Good

Hugs, Giddy