April 3rd and 4th Mon and Tues - Long Boat Key

Yesterday (Monday) :we started out the day by taking Eddie to shore for a potty break. By the way I haven't figured out why everything is underlined so please bare with it. We walked and talked and Eddie tinkled. The walk to Gulf Drive was very nice with all the palm trees and exotic landscaping etc. Oh, not to mention the 80 degree weather. We stopped and had a lovely breakfast at Isabelle's . Eddie entertained the dog lovers in the restaurant with his antics for the enticement of 3 or 4 pieces of bacon. After that we walked and found a really pretty market. They also had a really pretty bathroom. Bathrooms are points of interest to boaters.

When we got back to the boat we were tired and so........ we napped. Upon waking Gary decided to move the boat because he wasn't comfortable with where it was sitting. At dead low tide we'd left a mark in the sand below the boat. It was a delicate mark, but enough that if the wind shifted we could have a problem. In the process of moving the boat we started talking to Rick and Blanche on the "Spring Breeze" . They invited us to go to the restaurant that buts up to the anchorage called , Moore's Stone Crab Rest. Between 4 and 6 they have house drinks for 2 bucks and a killer Clamari. But first it's a dinghy ride over to the sandy shoal , on the other side of the channel. Gary walked and pulled the dinghy while I got a free ride. It was about 2 1/2 feet deep and it was such a gorgeous day...........just fantastic.

Anyway, we then met up with Rick and Blanche at the restaurant.
Rick has a heavy German accent and they are both very interesting. We spent the early evening enjoying their company. Rick told us that he was an instructor at the School of Industrial Trades, College of The North Atlantic, in NL, Canada, He taught Marine Cooking. Needless to say Blanche doesn't have to cook. We also talked of arthritis and aches and pains in general (of which I could share a couple of stories) . My Mom (Shirley) had heard that if you soak golden raisins in Gin for 9 days and then eat 9 a day (no more , no less) that it helps aleviate some of the pain. When my Mom and I went to buy some gin for this experiment the guy behind the counter got into a conversation about the medicinal use of Gin. His Grandfather has been using this concoction for years and swears by it. We're game.

Tonight is Brittanys last night sleeping at GrammaShirleys house. We talk to her on the phone and we'll see her tomorrow. Zacks family is coming out to visit and Brittany and Zack will have to wait a couple of months before they see each other again. In the meantime text messaging, phone conversations, and the internet will have to suffice.

We topped off Monday night with Gary making a delicious dinner utilizing some left overs from Grandma and Grampa's condo. Thank you very much.

TUESDAY:

Today is starting off very overcast and cooler than yesterday. We ate oatmeal with assorted additives ie. fruit , nuts and brown sugar. I was gonna add French vanilla yogurt but it was smelling a little rammy. While Gary took young Edward to shore I started the task of cleaning the deck. This includes moving the red cooler (that holds our foul weather gear), all the laundry bottles, the large electric cord (the one that attaches the generator to the boat and makes blogging possible at anchor) and the 2 gas tanks. I put everything up on the gunnel (side of the boat) , spray everything with the salt water hose, and then squigy all the water toward the scuppers (holes in the side of the boat that lets water escape). then I start the same process on the other side. Gary got back by then and we worked together to get everything in "ship" shape for our company and the 25 cent tour.

Brittany called about 11 AM and said they were on their way. Zack and his Mom, Dad and Brother picked Brittany up at Gramma's and were gonna be here in a few minutes. It was overcast all day. But nothing stopped us from having a great time swimming and chatting.

I called my Mom after they left and invited her to Moore's for one last FL hug. She is driving back to RI, May 6th. We'll be home in June. George and Alice are home as of today. We'll all be back in the fold soon.

Praise God

Today Gary asked me "what do you want to do?" I replied, "I want to go home". He asked,"do you want to skip the keys?" I replied," NOOOO, I want to go home after the keys"

This is tough, being away from home and everything "normal". But I wouldn't have it any other way.


Keep us in your prayers, your in ours
XXOO
Victoria's Perspective