Longboat Key Club Moorings. December 12-25. Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all from Longboat Key!!

 

We are well settled into this fabulous resort marina. 

Here is the view from the galley one morning...a visitor!

And a great pink sunset

We have enjoyed our walks on the beach as well as an occasional dip in the pool during this above average temperature spell.

And dinghy rides too.  Here we are in Sarasota for dinner and to listen to a band at Marina Jack across Sarasota Bay from Longboat Key. 

Hmm, this photo taken as we leave Sarasota reminds me of "dinghy racing" years ago on Lake Michigan with Craig S, Ken D and others....well, maybe a few more city lights.

We also went all the way around Lido Key one day.

And all the way to Turtle Beach on Siesta Key, a 25 mile round trip on yet another calm day.

Siesta Beach.

Here is a view from Siesta with Lido and Longboat Keys off in the distance.

We also had a great visit with Julie's cousin Jill and her husband Tom.  Had lunch at the iconic Columbia Restaurant (always busy) on St Armands Circle.  Enjoyed a lot of laughs and a great dinner at Portofino Restaurant right at the end of our dock that evening too.  Thanks so much for taking time out to drive up from Punta Gorda to visit us Jill and Tom!  Enjoy your new Florida home! Hope to see you again before we leave for the Bahamas.

On our daily walks we normally get into Publix to pick up a few things.  One day, we were walking along in front of the store and an older gentleman walking with a cane received a cell phone call.  He stopped, handed the cane to his wife and answered quite loudly.  "Hello?"  And a pause, then   "Why don't you go ___ yourself!" was what we heard.  Guess it was an unwanted sales pitch.  Or that curmudgeon stage...

We used the local bus service to go to my orthopedic doctor appointment for my right elbow medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow) evaluation.  This is the first bus we have ridden in many, many years. Julie always wanted to take the bus in Grand Rapids but never did as the car was much easier. And it was a pretty good deal with the round trip for both of us totaling only $5.  Here is our view as we wait for the 7:30 AM bus.

And the downtown transfer station is next to Whole Foods.

And Doc says I will be fine.  "Just don't use the arm for 6-12 months and I give it a 95% probability of healing itself". Seriously, he said every time I feel that burning pain I must stop the activity as it is only re-tearing the tendon.  And just leaning on a table or countertop, pushing canvas snaps, scrubbing the boat, etc all create pain.  So, I guess my left arm use, local boat detailing companies and Julie will be bailing me out for quite a while. And I will continue my stretching and heat application routines....as outlined in my new owners manual...

Friday night we had dinner with Larry and Karen (Dream) who we met in 2015 in Sarasota.  They now have a boat in Longboat and graciously drove us to dinner at the Chart House.  Thanks so much for looking us up and the wonderful hospitality aboard Dream.

Our Christmas Eve was a bit different too.  We called Mom and she was cooking for her complexes pot luck at noon.  I can taste the "cheesy potatoes" she was describing as this was a classic home meal component.  She said it was snowing there which was nice to hear...but we really don't miss the things that go along with it.  Memories are good.
In the afternoon we took the bus to Sarasota and attended Christmas Eve Mass at St Martha's. 

I have to say it was a bit underwhelming with very little music and an hour service.  Not quite what we expected but as usual a packed house.  But we do miss all the music and children from Christmas Eve Masses at parishes back in Michigan.  One great memory is the years when the late Fr. Nash had all children bring a bell to Mass and ring them at various points in the celebration.  It was a pretty wild scene but oh so memorable. We do miss spending Christmas time with our children 
but they are thankfully making their own Christmas traditions in various parts of our great USA.

We then hopped back on the bus and headed back to St Armands Circle.  A beautiful nativity scene near the Circle.

Then for a sunset walk along Lido beach.

And a look at the tallest Christmas tree on Florida's west coast.  Very impressive.

We then went to our reservation at Blu Kouzina, a Greek restaurant.  We shared a three bean salad....and it was not your normal Karen R three bean salad.  It was with chick peas, garbanzo beans, some other (can't remember) bean, garlic, dill, olive oil, red onions and fresh squeezed lemon over the top and it was delicious.  Oh, your salad is too Karen!  Julie had an eggplant dish and I had the traditional souvlaki skewer.  Both delicious and fresh.  We will be back!

On Christmas we had a relaxing day listening to Christmas music on the Message and Julie baked cookies!

We also took a nice long walk.  Here are a few photos from our walk. The first is a Longboat Key "snowman" we found along the way.

    Our path back from the beach to the marina.

To top off our day, we talked to all of our kids.  It was great to hear from all of them and to hear about their Christmas celebrations.
Looking forward to a road trip north to the Villages to visit Carol and Bill C for a couple days.  Not sure any of these cookies will survive though... sorry Bill and Carol!
Next week we will welcome visitors Paula and Rich for a few days aboard Sum Escape in Longboat.  More later....