How Quickly a Month Goes By!!

“Time keeps on slip’n slip’n slip’n into the fuuuturrrre”   Great lyrics…who wrote them?  Anyway, applies so well as we approach the end of this segment of the Loop.  We have less than five weeks before we leave the boat for a Spring/Summer back home.  More on that later.   Yesterday and today finds us anchored off Cayo Costa State Park.  We’ve been kind of weather hostages on the boat…yesterday it rained…today is sunny but it’s blowing 15-20 knots so we aren’t inclined to leave.  During the rain I thought I would get caught up with the blog…but no.  You can thank Eric for that as I’ve been reading the “The Game of Thrones” he got me for X’mas.  Ok, still have a lot of Game to read but lets try to get caught up on recent events. 

We were in Venice a month...like four weeks!!  No blog…but lots of good times to report:

Weeks One & Two - 1st We Work Then We Play!

After arriving we were welcomed by Aunt Jeanie, Sarah and Anna with dinners and good fellowship.  As has been our custom in previous visits we asked what could we do to help out.  In past years there was polite banter around extracting a "Things To Do List"...not this year...they were prepared!!  So we set to work.  The list included outside and inside painting projects, as well as, plumbing and electronic projects.  All completed and appreciated around.  No pictures of Chris & Sarah painting or of me on the ladder or under a sink…what’s the point.

This is the Venice North Jetty - inlet or pass from the Gulf

Both South and North Jetties are full of people every day!    

1920's Trumphy--second one we've seen on the trip!    

 

All wood = ton of work!!

In the middle of our work session we jetted out of Ft Myers to New York City for the Kelly Holden Wedding!!!  Been a while since I’ve been to the “Big Apple” even longer for Chris.  We arrived Friday to a reasonably nice sunny yet cold (for Snow Birds) day.  After checking in we walked over to Rockefeller Center to see where the magic happens on the Today program.  We toured the “Top of the Rock” and got our fill of walking.  WOW there are a lot of people here!  Also observed the average age is lower here than Florida.  

It's all mine!!

No Boone's Farm here!!

Later that evening we attended a party for the groom, Chris Cruz, and bride, Kelly, and met family and other Midland neighbors.  Great warm up for the main event!

The next day was spectacular!  The wedding at the Church of St. Monica was the prettiest I’ve seen (next to Jessie & Corey’s).  Bride was lovely, Groom handsome and Parents on both sides proud!! 

Mike Holden & sibs

Val & Mike Holden (center) Ginny & Bob Donald (right)

Sarah, Rick & Sue Ellison

Joanie & Chuck Mioke

Looking like we did on our wedding day!!

The best to the Bride & Groom!!!

 The reception was held at “The Loeb Boathouse – Central Park.”  What a grand venue it was.  Beautiful decorations, wonderful band and delicious food.  The Holden’s know how to throw a party.  Shame they only have one single child left…but can’t wait to see how they top this!

Hang'n with the 'hood!

Weeks Three & Four – Pigg’n out on Stacey!

Returning from New York gave us a better appreciation for the cooler weather in Florida.  It has been on again cold with strong North winds with a couple of days of sun and warmer temps before the next cold front passes.  But at least we're not freezing!!!!  “It’s better than Michigan” as become a popular phrase.  We had a stretch of three nice days…two of which I used to wash and organize the outside of the boat whilst the Admiral did likewise to the interior. 

The third nice day we drove down to the “Second Annual Isle of Capri Invitational Hogit Pigit Tournament”!!  Organized by Carol & Marge Schoenherr and dinner catered in from master fisherman and chef Jerry Schoenherr this two day tourney was fast paced, competitive, good humored and humbling.  Last year’s number 1 & 2 winners, Mike and Janet, returned to reclaim the coveted piggybank trophies.  In the end no one could match the genius play of Danny Schoenherr.  He was brilliant!  Janet just oinked out Chris for the number two spot.  All vowed to return next year to unseat the King Hog!!!

As the sun sets Hog'it Pig'it begins!!

Pigpen!!

L->R Uncle Jerry, Mike, Me, Janet

L->R Aunts Carol & Marge, Uncle Danny

2013 King Hog!

Chris got a Piggy Timer

Mike got a pig drain plug--what he always dreamed of!

Mike got a pig drain plug--what he always dreamed of!

Janet got the Holy Pork!

I got a pork spatula!

Danny traded for the plug...goes in the sink not your mouth!On second thought...    

Better than winning the Lotto!!!

Uncle Danny...bring home the bacon!!

Janet with her "Holy Pig"...Mike with his oinker nipple ring?    

Fun was had by all!!!

With our curly tails tucked between our legs we headed back to Ft. Myers airport to pick up our nice niece Stacey Burger!!  It was a joy to have Stacey on board for a week.  We all took “Eat, Drink and be Merry” to new heights!!  Unfortunately another cold front blew threw Venice so we used that often repeated MI phrase.  Fortunately the weather cleared for a couple of days and we got to go SAILING!!  It’s the first time we got to put the main sail up!!!  What a glorious day!!!    The week went by all to fast and we found ourselves again returning to Ft. Myers airport to send Stacey back to frozen MI!  You warmed our hearts Stacey…we miss you!

Chris & Stacey on the Pier at Sharky's

Cool Bird - sorry Cindy

Cheers!!

Out the Venice Pass for a sail!!!

All the people on the Jetty wishing they were us!

What's wrong with this picture!!

That's it!!!  Cheers!!!!!

That's what I'm talking about!

Bill is happy!

Check'n out the Venice Craft Fair.
At least it's warmer than Michigan!!

Chill'n on Fess Parker wine.

Yum-YUM!

Not as good as mine!!

The best meal ever!

Good Food, Good Wine, Good Fellowship

So Long to the Wine Swab!!

We miss you Stacey!!!

Our last week in Venice was busy getting last visits in with family and friends.  I’ve neglected to mention earlier we have been fortunate to catch up with our old co-ed volleyball team…Jim & Lisa Schmidt and Mike & Cathy Anderson.  Both own condos in Nokomis, which is five minutes North of Venice.  Although we put out the word we were ready to take on all co-ed VB challengers alas none came forward (guess you have to do better than a note in a wine bottle tossed into the ICW…maybe Twitter next time) so we had to settle for dinner and drink (not to mention ABC Wine Store).  It is great catching up with past (not old) friends! 

Cathy & Mike on Catmandu

Left side: Jim & Lisa Schmidt, Cathy Anderson
Right side:  Mike Anderson, Bill & Chris

Speaking of chance encounters with friends...we returned to the boat after a day out and noticed a powercat tied up ahead of Catmandu.  The dock master told us the owners know you and the boat from MI…really?  The boat (named ION) has a NC registration…I don’t know anyone with a cat from North Carolina???  About ten minutes later I see the owner walking up the dock…J.R. Watson!!  JR and his wife Barb had a boat just outside SSYC until they had ION built and moved south for the winter.  Currently they are exploring the west coast of FL.

ION

 Barb & JR

 Before saying goodbye to Venice we have to say a special thank you to Aunt Jeanie, Sarah and Anna.  You hold a special place in our hearts and we will miss you!  So looking forward to seeing you again!!

Morning of our departure.

They say "Red sky in morning... 

...Sailor take warning!!"

Actually turned out to be a nice day.