Wendy Comes to Visit...Day 5

Today is a special day...Dan comes to visit, too! but not till later.

We ate breakfast at home, then shopped at the farmer's market.  After bringing the groceries home, we took Titan for a walk from the bank to the parking garage and back, about 3 miles.  We hung out on the deck after lunch, then at 4:00 we jumped in the car and drove north to the Tampa airport to pick up Dan.  He was scheduled to arrive at 7:15 but ran a little late.  We got there early, parked on the roof and had time to watch the planes land and depart.  We even saw Dan's plane land!

On the way home, we stopped at Cracker Barrel for dinner and arrived home around 10:30.

No post is complete with a photo...

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;o)

Wendy Comes to Visit...Day 4

We walked with Titan from the hospital to the parking garage today.  Once we reached the garage, Wendy and I took him up and down the five flights of stairs twice, plus Wendy ran him up and down the ramp at the top of the garage.  Anything to expend a little more of his energy.

Two happy campers

Two chicks and a pup

After lunch at home, Bill dropped Wendy and me at Charlotte Harbor Beach Park while he went to the gym.  We stayed for a couple of hours, didn't want Wendy to be scorched!

We walked over the Punta Gorda bridge, turning back before we reached the opposite side so we could be at the top for the sunset.

sailboats reflecting the sunset

Like all good digital era peeps, we took a selfie...

 

But we didn't stop there...

Then it was all about the view and the experience of watching the end of a beautiful day...

 
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;o)

Wendy Comes to Visit...Day 3 AND a Birthday

Day 3 was a full day with not many no pictures ;o(  It was a little cooler today.  After our walk with Titan and lunch at home, we did a little shopping at W-M before going to the Peace River Wildlife Center.  We watched them feed the pelicans and listened to Mac's informative talk about them.  From there we went to The Good Ole Day's Coffee Shop at Fisherman's Village.

(internet photo)

We bought beverages and sat on the swing near the marina.  We wandered through the shops before heading home for a shrimp/chicken spinach salad.

On another note...today is Greg's 38th birthday.  As every mom wonders, where did the time go?  He is now ten years older than I was when he was born!  He lives in MA, about 2 1/2 hours south of us.  Greg is a man of few words, with a great, dry sense of humor and he often makes me laugh.  He is a loving husband and father to my only grandchild, 5 year old  Ella. 

His interests are many and varied but include gardening, bird watching, fishing and playing board games.  As I write this, I notice a theme...nature, outdoorsy kinds of things.  I think growing up in the small Maine town of Shapleigh may have helped mold that interest.  With ten acres and not a lot of other kids in the neighborhood, nature was always there to inspire and entertain; then again, I could be totally wrong about that.

I am very proud of the man he has grown to be...responsible, caring, loving, intelligent, funny, honest...all things a mom hopes her child will become.  I'm sure there are other words I could use but these are the first ones that come to mind.  Wishing him a very happy birthday, filled with everything that makes him smile, along with a year filled with family and friends, laughter and most of all, love.  

Happy 38th Birthday, I love you!

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;o)

Wendy Comes to Visit...Day 2

We split up for our walk this morning.  Bill and Titan walked along the street, Wendy and I walked along the Harborwalk, meeting up at the hospital.  Since Titan doesn't feel comfortable around other dogs and there are lots of them along the harbor, this system seems to work the best and allows Wendy to enjoy the walk along the water. 

We walked together back to the car.

After lunch at home, Bill went to the gym while we got ourselves a pedicure and shopped at the Beall's Outlet, kind of like Marshalls.  We stopped for ice cream at the only ice cream shop in Punta Gorda, other than Fisherman's Village...Working Cow ice cream.  

Once home, we sat on the deck and talked to Greg & Ella with FaceTime.  

We ate dinner at the Celtic Ray, the one and only Irish Pub in Punta Gorda.  It has the absolutely best fish and chips, along with a great staff and live entertainment.

 

Wendy and I each had a Magner's Pear Cider, which they now have on draft.

The three of us each ordered a small fish and chips, although we agreed that two could share the large order.

For dessert we shared the Dublin Tart, which was exceptional!

It's kind of like a mousse or chocolate cream pie but lots better.

This pub was severely damaged in Hurricane Charley and it took several years to complete the repairs and renovation.  The last section to open was the upstairs bar and extra seating.

Wendy said this sign made her want to go back to Ireland.

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;o)

Wendy Comes to Visit...Day 1

Wendy arrived today!  We picked her up at the Tampa airport.  The drive takes about 2 hours and the best part, aside from seeing her, is the awesome rest area at the end of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

 

There is a long fishing pier on each end of the bridge, too.

Wendy arrived on Concourse C 

These passengers are departing.

and had to ride the tram to the main terminal.

Arriving passengers leave the tram and enter the terminal through these doors.

It's kind of like "Let's Make a Deal"...which door will she come through?

While we waited, we checked out the children's art display and had a snack.

We stopped at Panera Bread on the way home for a late lunch and got home around 4:30.  After taking Titan for a walk, Bill sat on the deck enjoying a cigar while Wendy and I sat on the dock, each enjoying a Magner's.  

Stay tuned, there's lots more to come!

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;o)

Bicycle

I haven't been able to figure out what this program is all about but these bikes are popping up all over downtown.

 

There are at least two others that I haven't had an opportunity to photograph.

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;o)

Manatee Girls

 

I would totally do this!

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;o)