Life is good

Last night Bob and I went for an evening dip in the pool.  The water and air temperature was beautiful, the stars were shining and the night life sang to us along with the piped in music from Pandora.com.   We had the light on in the pool and it was a very relaxing beautiful time.

During the day we see 4-5 anole lizards ( 4-6 inches long and very cute) on the side screens of the lanai.  Last night we were treated to little frogs (about 4 ” long) on the roof of the lanai.  Different time of day, different creatures.  Also yesterday we saw a little dear running along the side of our road.

Today I went for an hour massage and pedicure and while I was doing that Bob went to the YMCA swimming and to take the truck in for an oil change.

Today is not so warm so I think we might take a boat trip around the lake and the two islands and maybe see a beautiful sunset and a few photos!

I have to say we are really relaxing here.  While we both do things in the yard and in the house it is not the same level of activity you have in your own home.

The weekend in Naples

I had a really weird experience Friday night. I was sitting outside looking across the lake around 9 p.m. and  these large white blinking lights came on in the sky. I thought at first it was lightening but there was no thunder and the pattern seemed to be repeating. It lasted for at least half an hour and was really beautiful but strange because there is nothing out that direction.   I will continue to watch to see if it repeats.  Right now it is UFL   Unitendified flying light!

The weekend was not as hot  and humid so we spent a lot of time in the pool.  Bob power washed the lanai and it looks great. We also treated the fire ant hills we have found.  We thought we were going to have a house showing on Sun. so I did some cleaning.   Turns out the prospective buyer will come from Miami next weekend.

Since I have been here I have read 4 books, at least 2000 pages, and I have not done that in decades.  We are definitely relaxing.

The dark side of FL

There are a few things we learned the hard way our first week in Naples.

For several days Bob had been working outside in the heat and humidity and he sweats like crazy. His t shirt would be soaked in 10 minutes. I kept reminding him to drink water but he didn’t drink enough and Sunday he felt miserable, light headed, no energy and we think it was heat stroke and dehydration. He learned his lesson. Monday he felt better and by Tuesday was fine.

We both know to watch for fire ants but our eye wasn’t good enough and we both stepped in fireant hills and got bit. Bob once and Fay about 8 bites and let me tell you they are nasty bites. Way worse then mosquito bites. We learned our lesson and no more sandles when walking in the grass. I found fire ant killer and will be using that. The hills are really hard to see.

Home Sweet Home

Here is a photo of our temporary home.  Pretty nice.

We are all settled  in.  Every day we are in the pool once or twice.  This is a great way for Fay to get her water aerobics done.  I have been doing lots of little things to make the house show well and Bob has been using the riding lawnmower, weed whacking and edging and cleaning out the garage.   Just the right balance of doing something and then enjoying the pool and lake.  Several nights I just sat outside and listened to the outdoor sounds. 

We see every day beautiful cloud formations and the sunset is gorgeous.  Will get a photo of it one of these days.  The two families of neighbors we have met are fantastic.

You have not seen Tanya for awhile so I wanted to show you this photo of her in one of her two sleeping spots.   This chair is in the living room.  It is one of those chairs you fold up and put in a bag.   We didn’t know how much furniture we would have so we brought down these chairs.  Draped with a couple throws it looks ok.  We do have a nice couch, coffetable and endtables so it is very comfortable.

We did not make it to the fireworks on July 4.   It was such a beautiful evening here with a spectacular sunset so we stayed home.

Happy July 4

This is what Bob and I hope to see this 4th of July.  We were here with Kris and Greg to see fireworks for New Years Eve.  It is a big family event.  We are hoping the weather cooperates.

Enjoying life

The Butterfly Garden

This is a picture of the butterfly garden. There is one small tree that has flowers that look like 4 inch pink puff balls you can see it in the middle.  That is my favorite.  Also a little bench where we sit and having morning coffee. Lots of butterflies all over.

Bob on ATV.   Sorry the photo is a little blurry.  It was so humid that when I took the camera out to take the photo the lense fogged up and I didn’t realize it.   Guess I have to let the camera “adjust” to FL humidity and heat!

We went for a short ride on the ATV which was really fun.  I have never been on one.  Just stayed on the road, with all the creatures around here no off road trips, at least not yet.  Plus it had just poured the night before so trails are probably very muddy, if even passable.  Bob also enjoyed mowing with the riding lawn mower and yesterday we took the big pickup into get gas.  Right now he is out in the little boat with a neighbor going to one of the little islands on the lake to look for some kind of water/environment monitoring device.

A realtor came in yesterday afternoon.  I told her we wanted the house sold in 60 days so cross your fingers.  I know she thought I was nuts but most of you reading this blog know about the kind of luck Bob and I have with influencing the universe to make good things happen.   Selling the house would be such a good thing.

Life in Naples

We are getting settled in. Jeremy and his wife Meghan were here this weekend and we moved around furniture and started to stage the house.  Once we moved the 12 ft by 4 ft by 3 ft crate that stores Greg’s alligator out of the living room and into the master bedroom (we are making it look like a bed) the energy in the house improved greatly.  A huge improvement in 24 hours. We don’t know details yet on when the house goes on the market, open houses, showings, etc.

It is in the 90’s and humid and rains a little every day so we have made good use of the pool and grilled out last night. It cooled down a little so we used the hot tub last night which was great.   Tanya has her two sleeping spots picked out but does not like the patio at all.

When we look out over the lake we see birds, cranes, hawks and of course alligators.   One about 6 ft long lounges by the dock and a couple others lurk about 30 feet from shore so no swimming in the lake.  It is very quiet and peaceful.

The house has high speed internet and music speakers in every room and outside so I am LOVING playing my Pandora Internet radio.

We are looking forward to fireworks on the beach for July 4 if it is not to hot.

Where has Fay been?

I’m back.  Stay tuned for more blog posts next week.

Life has been pretty hectic since mid May and will continue on for a little while longer.  Bob’s sister is back in MN and recovering well.  My new thyroid medicine seems to be working better so I have my energy back.

We start our next new adventure on Friday when we drive to Naples FL for awhile to house sit.  Kitty comes also.  We are looking forward to spending lots of time in the pool and at the ocean.

Bob is done with work at ING, at least for now, and he is really looking forward to a change of pace.  The last room on the lower level that we needed to finish has a ceiling and has been painted.  Remaining work will be as Bob has time.

My friend Chris came to visit for several days earlier this week and we had fun showing her Greenville and Travelers Rest.  More on that later.

It feels good to be back doing the blog again.   I missed it but just didn’t have the energy to write.  I have lots of photos and stories from our adventures  the last month to share with you.

I was fascinated with the magnolia trees when they bloomed.   There are still a few blooming.  The trees can be huge 60 feet or more and these flowers were about 8 inches across.   I thought I wanted one in my yard but realized they are VERY messy so I think I will admire them from a distance.

Thursday walking tour of Historic Seneca

On Thursday I will be going on a Greenville Newcomers tour to Seneca where we will meet with  Seneca Women’s Club in the historic Ballenger House
(circa 1925) and taking a walking tour of this historic town followed by lunch, of course!

Seneca is located in Oconee County, which forms the northwestern tip of South Carolina and borders both Georgia and North Carolina. Originally called “Seneca City,” it was founded in 1873 at the point where two railroad
lines connecting Atlanta and Charlotte crossed. (Earlier, a Native American village named Esseneca was settled by the Cherokee near
present-day Clemson University.)

Seneca recently adopted the motto “City of Smiles, City with Style.”

Newcomers Board Luncheon

I went to the Greenville Newcomers luncheon yesterday at the Thornblade Golf Club in Greer.   What a beautiful location.  There were about 100 women there for the luncheon and the installation of the new board members.  I had a very good time.

I am one of the standing board members on the Computer committee (a committee of one, me) to maintain the website and keep the membership data base upto date.  Haven’t used Microsoft Access in years so will need to refresh my skills on that.