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Still loving Florida with such great weather.  We started off April preparing for the worst, as we clean and lubricate the hurricane shutters should we need them.  Hopefully we’ll pass this year without a hurricane, just like last year.  We stopped a while in our preparations to welcome George and Polly for a visit.  From the 11th thru the 16th we caught up, ate, relaxed and visited some of the areas many features.  Saturday we toured the Botanical Gardens in Port St Lucie.  Sunday we visited Summer Crush Winery and enjoyed a “Mustang” car show and good Beach music, along with friends Rowdy and Chris.  Luckily the winery had plastic curtains for the late afternoon thunderstorms; they were heavy this day.   The weather cleared Monday so George, Polly and I jumped on Apolonia for a couple hour boat ride down the ICW.  Carey wasn’t able to go on the boat ride as she is still in rehab for the new knee operation.  She’ll be ready in a week or two. CLICK on first picture to see larger version of file.

Easter Sunday was to be a quiet dinner with family.  Carey and I drove to Jan and Tom’s home in Vero for what was to be a fantastic meal while enjoying good company — and we did enjoy both fantastic food and good company.  The only hick-up to the day, and it was a minor one, was that I tripped on the steps going back into the house after going out for a bottle of wine.  The fall caused a serious cut to my forehead.  Luckily the urgent care facility was empty and they had me in, cleaned up, sewn up with 9 stitches, and out the door in just over 30 minutes.  We headed back to Jan and Tom’s and continued the day.  Now, I just have to recoup from the cut and accompanying bruising.

Well, at least part of this year will be taken up by doctors!  Carey had her left knee replaced on 22 March 2019.  She is home now in rehab.  The home nurse says she is doing well, but Carey remembers the other knee and how quickly it healed.  This one is going a bit slower, but I’m sure all will be well and she’ll be jumping on the boat very soon.

Good friends George and Polly came for a visit from Sebring, FL.  on Wednesday March 6, and stayed until Monday, the 11th.  A great time to catch up with good friends and see some more of the area.  Wednesday night was catch up time as Carey prepared a seasoned brisket for dinner.  Thursday we toured the Seal Museum on Hutchison Island and enjoyed lunch at “On the Edge” in the Ft Pierce Inlet.  Dinner was pizza at Romas!  Friday night Carey and Polly fixed a fantastic 5* Swordfish Dinner after a nice tour on Paget up the North Fork of the St Lucie River.  Saturday was a lazy and relaxing day with some sightseeing around the area including Jupiter Inlet and the lighthouse there.  Lunch was at the Square Grouper.  Sunday involved watching the early news shows, church, and some swimming time in the pool, followed by Sheppard’s Pie, or rather Cottage Pie, as the meat was beef not lamb.  Monday morning George and Polly had to drive on back home to Sebring, but we’ll remember this visit as very special.  We’re already planning another one.  (Click on first picture to view large images).

 

Loving this warm winter weather, and March starts at a nice pace for another warm month!  We celebrated the 1st of March with a boat trip to Vero Beach and the River Café with Mike, Charlie and Sue, three of our Trivia mates at Conchy Joe’s.  Had a warm and smooth trip to River Café, a great lunch, and lovely trip home to Fort Pierce Marina.  We ate and drank on the back of the boat until well after dark, enjoying every minute.  Let’s hope for more warm weather.

This is our February story.  We are starting out with a bit of chilly weather, although still in the 60s during the day.  Jack and Ann returned for a second visit.  So happy to see them.  They arrived on Super Bowl Sunday, February 3rd.  We had a party inviting some of our friends to meet Jack and Ann and watch the game.  Had great food, drink, and really enjoyed the camaraderie.  On Monday Carey and I took Jack and Ann out on Apolonia for a boat trip to Vero Beach and lunch at Riverside Café.  A fantastic day with warming temperatures.  They had to head home on Thursday, Feb 7 after helping us tour the area again and eat at some of the best Florida restaurants.  Ann and Carey even got a chance to jump in the pool … after we ran the pool heater for a bit.

The weather continued to warm up and we took the opportunity for another day on the water on Valentine’s Day.  Rowdy, Chris, and Mike joined us and we headed 25 miles north to Sebastian, FL to Captain Hiram’s Resort.  We had heard it was a great place and that is true.  Beautiful trip up in 75 degree weather, plenty of sunshine and no wind to mess with the water.  Up and back with plenty of time for lunch took us about 5 hours and we ended the day watching the sunset at Ft Pierce Marina after we tied up the boat.  We stayed a while at the Marina enjoying cocktails on Apolonia. Click on the first picture to see larger size image.

February continued its warm up and we decided to do some more boating.  On February 18 we headed out on Paget to explore the North Fork of the St Lucie River.  Rowdy, Chris and Mike joined us and we enjoyed a pretty trip on the North Fork of the St Lucie River in our picnic boat Paget.  What fun.  At the end of the run we motored to The Deck Restaurant near the Roosevelt Bridge and picked a slip so we could eat an early dinner.  Afterwards we motored back to the Ballantrae Yacht Club and moored the boat just after sunset.  We’ll do more of this.

On February 20 we received a call from Bill and Donna Bukevicz and Steve and Mary Ann Andrews.  They were in Jupiter vacationing for a week, doing what they enjoy most, fishing.  We invited them to our place for cocktails and then later we went to Sailor’s Return, a restaurant on the St Lucie River in Stuart.  Having boated with them a lot in Virginia we enjoyed catching up on their recent activities.  They are off again for another day of fishing. We hope to see them again in the near future.

 

We experienced some cool weather the end of December and first part of January.  We also got the work complete on Apolonia.  Now both boats are up and running.  Paget is for sale.

To check Apolonia out I held a men’s only boat day with friends Rowdy, Charlie and Mike.  We powered to Vero and had a great lunch at River Side Cafe.  Nice trip home.  Later in the month Carey and I joined Rowdy and Chris to see a tribute band for Fleetwood Mac at Summer Crush Winery.  Loads of fun.

We are really settling in in Florida and enjoying it.  More to follow.

 

The trip to Virginia for Thanksgiving was great.  We’re back and getting ready for Christmas.  We moved Apolonia (new 37′ Maxum) to Sailfish and started work on the rest of the engine maintenance and we decided to replace the upholstery in the cockpit and driving area.  We’re getting ready for some cruising on the new boat.  Paget, the runabout is on the market and we’re hopeful to sell her soon.  Showing her tomorrow!!!  Last week we had a great time with Rowdy and Chris at Village Green beer festival.   We enjoyed good food and beer and watched a couple work on the stack block game.  Fun!

The only negative so far this month is that our guest toilet developed a leak … water went under the tiles in the bathroom and office, requiring some major work to fix and then repair damage that was not initially visible.  Ouch.  Repairs almost complete now though so we’ll be ready for Lauren and family on the 26th, just after Christmas.  And if plans go the way we’ve laid it out Apolonia will be ready on the 26th for some family fun.

Jack and Ann Southard came for a few days prior to Christmas as they needed to see Ann’s brother Jimmy who had gone into the hospital here for a few days.  We are sorry about the reason for the visit but really enjoyed seeing them.  It had been too long.

They went home the weekend prior Christmas and Carey and I prepared for Lauren, Cynthia, Oliver, and Benji for their Christmas visit started the 26th.  We were ready with a host of activities but we really knew that the Oliver and Benji would just want to enjoy the pool, and they did all day, every day!  And Carey and I are getting ready to use our other names, Cammy and Papa.  We drove Lauren and family to the airport on the 28th and now we’re slowing down after all the activities.

A pretty good month!