Sanibel

Heaven: Sand on my toes, a million dollar view and a good book. Does it get better than this?
J doing the "Sanibel Stoop".

My sister said this made my legs look long.

Ah, to dream of having long legs like hers!

S and his Gulf find.

Water, sand and Lilly.

Our new family member. We named him Frasier.

If you need a place to escape, check out Casa Ybel Resort. Fabulous!
We will be back.

John and Mable Ringling Museum

The Ringling Family is from my neck of the woods. Trust me, their Northern home looked nothing like this. We have been to the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, but this Museum and House in Sarasota was - WOW!
The house, Ca' d'Zan, was a little gaudy for my taste, but I can appreciate the craftsmanship involved. Lily pads



Museum garden

The marble terrace which made me want to throw a really fancy black tie party.

I would pretend Jay Gatsby was my date.

Miniature Circus - the details are unbelievable.

And I'm glad he isn't my husband!

David in the Garden

Visiting Aunt Judy

My favorite part of my two weeks was spending the day with my Aunt.

Geez... guess who I look like?!
She took us to Homosassa Springs, and we got to see manatees being feed.

owls

I have never been so close to an eagle.

The animals here have been injured and are on the mend.

J caught this lizard in Aunt Judy's yard. We released him back into his own environment.

My cousin joined us for dinner. I was wonderful to sit and talk to my Aunt. I got to read my Grandmother's journal from the early twenties. And letters written from my Great -Grandmother, when she lived in a sanitarium out west, asking about her toddler son whom her sister-in-law raised. She never saw him again.
I saw some of the dresses that my Aunt sews and sells on Etsy. I wish I had a little girl to wear them.
Aunt Judy is coming our way this fall, I can't wait.

Tarpon Springs - OPA!

I had been to Tarpon Springs thirty years ago (that statement makes me feel old!) and I knew I had to take the kids there. First on the agenda -lunch.
and dessert! Oh the problems picking just one.

We picked out sponges and saw the big fish trophies.

And the owner is an adorable man who gave words of advice to my boys, saying "Take care of your mother, because she will take care of you her entire life." His own mother is 93, and he said he always worries that when he calls her, he will get bad news. I told him, given that I recently lost my own mother, I would give anything to be able to call my mom.

The boats filled with sponges.

The town is sort of a tourist trap, but the sponge docks are interesting, given that we don't have anything like it in Wisconsin. And, of course, the baklava makes it all worth while.

Florida, beginning with Disney

Welcome to Florida!
The Grand Floridian was fabulous! We loved it!
Beautiful, wonderful music in the lobby, helpful and friendly staff (or cast members, as they are referred).



Getting spit on by a pretend camel.
Must be a boy thing.

J HAD to have a turkey leg for lunch.

Cooling off. It was hot and humid!

On Safari. Also, while in the Animal Kingdom I got pooped on by a flying bird. I love nature!

Taken during the Dessert Buffet and great seating for the fireworks.

Mary Poppins was practically perfect in every way.

Using his muscles, J tries to pull the Sword from the Stone.

S and Daddy driving!

Trying to not make a mess... at least he tried!

One our way to Mickey's BBQ!

In full disclosure, I don't really "get" the draw of Disney. I know lots of people that love it , and go frequently. But once you've been there, well... you've been there, done that. I talked to a man, from Texas, whose family were on their third trip to Disney World in thirteen months. What about the rest of the country? Niagara Falls, the Outer Banks, Mount Rushmore? It is very clean and organized, everyone is incredibly helpful, but I never want to go back.

Also, I was appalled by the amount of piercings and tattoos. And I must be really out of the loop, because when did bra straps become a fashion statement?

Florida or bust

My entire wardrobe of Lilly is packed and we are off to two weeks in Florida!

Disney, Clearwater, Sanibel, Everglades, the Keys, Miami, Palm Beach...

We'll see it, and eat it, all!

Dreaming of Vacation

We are taking a two week driving vacation to Florida this summer. I know it isn't the best time of the year, but with school, it is the only opportunity to spend that much time to see the state. We are driving the entire loop of the state, going to Orlando (this is only for the kids), then headed to the St. Petersburg area (Hi, Aunt Judy!)
onto Sanibel and the Casa Ybel Resort seen above, down to the Everglades and Keys and back up the east side of the state. Of course, I will be sporting and searching for Lily the entire time. Any suggestions on what we HAVE to see? Places to eat? Historic homes to tour?