Visiting the Great Aunts

I never dreamed that I'd ever live near the warm sunny place we used to visit Aunt Rose and Aunt Margaret when I was little, but I'm just over 100 miles south!  So when Mom comes to visit, we always take a trip to Palmetto.

Mom really soaked up the sun at the pool- she's as brown as Maverick!

Aunt Toad!  Why do we call her that when Rose is such a prettier name?

Aunt Mag!  Such wise ladies!

My three words

I got an email from Allegheny saying that my former boss at Creek Connections is retiring and they are putting together a montage of photos for his surprise party. The request was for a "three words" piece, which was a new concept for me. It is a series of 3 photos (or a video) where the person holds up a sign with one word on it, 3 different times. It's a very simple way to share a message- check it out here on Good Morning America: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Your3Words/t/index.

I wracked my brain long and hard to keep my words to just three. I just had a kids program at the beach last week so i staged some photos with blank signs so i could think of my words later. And as I thought about my 10-year college reunion this summer, I came up with this:










They asked us to wear our Creek Connections T-shirts, but it was so cold that day, I only made it in short sleeves for the first picture. Amazing I still had it in the back of the drawer!

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Tipsy Turvy Planters

I've seen these on tv infomercials, but now I have my very own Topsy Turvy Tomato and Strawberry planters, courtesy of Mom!



I didn't take these photos until the day after I planted them and the tomato plant already is growing upward. Should be interesting, stay tuned!

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Mom's here!

It's not just me who is glad to have her visiting- these dogs have been spoiled beyond believe since Grandma K came to town. Bumble is glad to have the extra attention, too.




Henrik spoiled not just the dogs, but us, too, with a trip to Cape Romano.

Where we saw White Pelicans!

They migrate diagonally across the US to winter here and are not that common to see. Huge compared to our Brown Pelicans!

Of course we saw crazy dome home or bubble house- not looking in its best condition.

But we posed anyhow :)

Then Henrik checked the crab pots.

We caught tons!

Dinner!

Big ones!

And colossal ones!

Somebody's gotta be the captain while he's doing all that work :)

Raw claws...

Cooked claws...

Henrik cracking the claws for us (complete with sunglass tan lines!)  Very scientific tools- see the hammer?



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Swamp Buggy Races

Henrik and I went to the Swamp Buggy Races- what an experience that was! I thought I was in Waterford because everyone was wearing camo, flannel, and cowboy boots. Not sure where these people hang out the rest of the year?



Apparently, these guys (and girls!) build these huge contraptions and then race them around a watery track at high speeds. It was super loud and everyone was drunk!



My favorite were the Jeeps because you could actually see the driver get water up to the steering wheel. Notice the huge engine snorkel on the top!



When they get stuck, a big tractor pulls them out. I can totally see Dad and Don doing the towing!!




And at the end, they dunk the Swamp Buggy Queen in the water, gown and all!



I still the super old and rich people allow such a thing in fancy-pants Naples.


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Cousin Reunion

Kimmie, Kelly, Aunt Barb and I had a nice visit in Naples. I prepared a very veggie lunch, took everyone sightseeing on Marco Island, and toured the Learning Center where I work. It's been years since we've all been together! And Henrik dropped by for lunch, too. Thanks for coming!


















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