Home Again...Jiggity, Jig....

Home again and feeling so great! The first day of Spring was delightful yesterday. DH took Elaine (of Elaine's Quilt fame) and me on a day-trip to Sanibel Island and Captiva. We were first treated to a big breakfast. Then off to the sunny islands...over several bridges in the beautiful sunlight to see the sparkling Gulf waters (ocean inlets) and sandy beaches. The sail boats and big cabin cruisers were kicking up foam and surf that trailed behind them like streamers of fairie mist and foam. It was just beautiful. We saw pelicans, gulls, egrets and herons. The egrets and herons were in the dunes and wild sections of flowers and reeds at small canals across the way from the beaches.

Beaches on Naples, Ft. Myers, Sanibel and Captiva are all different. Naples, where we live has thick and deep sand with a smattering of shells. Ft. Myers has much of the same, although the sands start to lighten up. Sanibel and Captiva have white sands and more shells respectively! The waters change colors too. Captiva has the prettiest colored water, I think...it's very clear, light opal blue/green. DH says that's because it's much more shallow close to the shore. You can easily fill a bucket of shells on a Captiva beach!

The towns on Islands are seaside lovely. Multi-colored pastels give everything a kind of overall haze of "icing" to my eyes. There are people with seaside outfits, bikers in different colored bikes, kites flying, people walking and sitting in outside cafes, shellseekers on the beaches in funny hats and under umbrellas. We drove past so many mansions...gorgeous and with names like, "Moon Haven," and "Mermaid's End." The newest and by far most imposing of the mansions in Captiva was posted as a Roosevelt home, all white pillared, it sat just across the street from the ocean...within less than a football field's length door-to-door.

DH stopped at a funny old bike shop to let me ride a reconditioned three-wheeler bike with a darling old wicker basket on back. It was pained a pale blue and orange that looked shabby sheek and beach blasted. Elaine and I, of course, fell in love.
I rode it all around for 20 mins. and helped Elaine ride it back and forth with her oxygen tank tucked away in the basket!! LOL We had such a good time. DH made the man a low-ball offer...then declared he'd buy me one to share with E. in the very near future. Just not one like that one with a wobbly front and right wheel!!!

On the way DH had gently talked with Elaine telling her stories about the beaches, birds and houses. I sat back as quietly as I could be...well, as quietly as I Could Be!! She just loves Anthony. I have to say he gets lots of points for his kindness to her. He's even insisting that she take his recliner so she can find a comfortable way to sleep as she's now not able to sleep on her sides or flat in her bed.

We stopped as we left the islands at the Dairy Queen to get soft serve ice creams in the old fashioned cones: a large vanilla for DH, a chocolate for Elaine, and a chocolate dipped for me. We were warm, sunny and happy as could be.

I've returned home after a rocky 4 months to my own stitching haven: my stitching, magnifying light, fancy scissors and tools, wonderful chair and all the amenities. I love being home and the great peace and comfort of it all.

Sadly, midst the need for family crisis sharing, I feel I've let down my RR friends because of the lack of mag. lighting, my own transportation and personal time. It's made me feel horrible inside and very unworthy. I feel it will take me alot of time to make it up to them. While my family counts me as a good mother and a loving supporter of them all....I've become a loser as a stitching friend and I am heartbroken about that. It's my goal to change that in the coming months.

I love and appreciate you each and every one. I'll be coming around to visit all of you soon!!

Love and hugs,
Deb