Oh, Brothers-- HERE Art Thou??

Jim took his brother Dale to the airport on Monday a.m.

On Thursday evening, we welcomed brother Joseph...

Okay, Sam, pick your weapon!
Jammin' with his Uncle Joe.
What could the brothers be googling for now??

Oh, surprise--surprise---some kind of bug,

wouldn't you know.
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A Sunday delight...

Tiki was in town from Phoenix

to go through her late uncle's studio.

He had painted & owned some wonderful works.

A bittersweet time recalling all the lessons

she had learned from this talented man.

He even painted bedrooms!

But Tiki's favorite pastel will soon...

hang in her home.

And we had the joy of hosting her in ours.

Circuses!!

A fun Friday with Karen & Wayne in Sarasota.

Once the winter home for the Ringling Bros Circus...

Wayne's mother lives in a former Ringling "company" house.

Originally owned by the Gorilla trainer....

it comes with an attached cage!!

Now a kitchen nook...these three weren't monkeying around.

Off for a tour of the Ringling mansion built in 1926.
Quite a stunning home...

even a 6 foot tub from one piece of marble.
I can only imagine the parties held before the crash of 1929...

************************

FAMILY CIRCUS!!

We arrive home after midnight Friday--but Sam is still up.
What about Uncle Dale---nah...
he is trying to adjust from his 2 weeks in Tanzania.
On Saturday Dale joins his brother at work....
Pretty hard duty riding around in the cart all day.

After so much hard work...time for a nap

in front of the baseball game.

We think Sam only comes home from college

to see his favorite "girl!"

She sure loves him!!! Or is it his snacking??

Sanibel Island Adventures

Casa Ybel Resort Sanibel Island, Florida

Larry and Nancy invited us to share their condoshare

for a week on the west coast of Florida.

We swam....and sunned and tanned...
We walked the beach each morning gathering hundreds of shells.

The view from our back deck...

A Saturday drive with our sons to Captiva Island.

Via the Ding Darling Nature Reserve...Jim knows his birds!!

Dinner at the Bubble Room in Captiva...delicious.

Full of pictures and memorabilia in every room.

Instead of dessert, we opted for some smooching.

Except for the boys...

Back at the condo, we celebrate Brett's birthday.

Happy number 20 !!!

Sunday lunch in Fort Meyers. We were joined by...

Brett's friend Phil, his mother Trinka,

sister Taylor and brother Tanner.

Nancy didn't like my photography!!!

We say good-bye to our boys--back to Daytona & College Park...

We miss them, but find ways to amuse ourselves...

like eating steak as we watch a sunset.

C'mon, Larry...don't you want to help with the puzzle???

Nancy loses sleep over the millions of blue pieces!!

Breakfast at the Island Cow before we leave for...

Airboats & Alligators on beautiful Lake Trafford--

Immokalee & the headwaters of the

EVERGLADES!!!

Clouds reflect on the waters...and what's that ahead???

YIKES!!

Nancy & I are safe with Captain Fred at the controls!!

Watch out, Jim...you've got a friend.

Ah...herons and egrets and wildflowers in abundance...

This is truly a swamp...

She's ready to take flight as we pass by...

And so are they...What a ride!!

Our last afternoon here and Nancy has to call in help!!

It is FINISHED!!

Then we're off to Punta Gorda---

which Jim tells us is translated:Fat Point.

A final Florida dining experience with Cates at Captain's Table.

THANK YOU, NANCY & LARRY for blessing us with this vacation!!