Ma is a great sport. She is game for just about any adventure. May we all have some part of the get up and go that this woman has.
This is her third year of coming down in March and spending three weeks with us. On the evening we took this picture we we out for a stroll in a nearby park to catch the sunset. Ma is happy to walk but wants the trail paved, the temp. to not be too hot and the humidity to be low. Well, don't we all like the temps comfortable and that definitely means the humidity has to be low.
While out on this path we came upon our first Florida softshell turtle.
And what's a trip to Venice for if not to spend some time searching for fossilized shark teeth.
My lovely backdoor neighbor, Miss Betty, gives me her daily newspapers to read after she is finished with them. I read that Fox Lea Farm here in Venice was hosting a national horse jumping event.
Ma, Allan, and I went over one night and checked it out. It was a very fascinating event. This was one of those things that I had seen on TV several times many years ago. I liked it even better in person. The horses and riders were from all over the US. I'm pretty sure if they do it here again next year we will plan on going back. However, Allan and I got chilled after the sun set and another time we will bring more layers. Ma did dress in layers and kept reassuring us that she was quite comfortable.
This was the second batch of beets that we had while she was here. She loves March vegetables fresh from my garden and is willing to work to get them.
Sometimes the uninformed ask why my mother comes down in March. Why not January or February when it it colder and snowier in Maine. Well this is the reason folks. She loves most sports but she really loves, loves, loves the Red Sox.
This year we got tickets to an Orioles vs Red Sox game at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota.
Allan, Ma and I had a delightful although hot afternoon of spring baseball. The passing clouds and breeze saved the day.
We returned to the Selby Botanical Gardens and enjoyed the orchids again but some of them had gone by and had been removed.
However, there is always something else to admire.
We caught up with a tour and listened for a bit. Turns out we didn't know much about vanilla. Vanilla comes from the vanilla orchid and vanilla is the second most expensive spice after saffron.
When you bring along your own photographer you get included in way too many photos.
Ma just couldn't resist hugging the "Hugging Tree" in the children's rainforest exhibit.
It is quite amazing how they are able to manipulate the water and soil to create a desert environment next to a tropical rainforest.
These amazing gardens are located on the shore of Sarasota Bay.
On our way back to Venice we stopped at the Casey Key Fish House for lunch. We got a chuckle when we spotted Bangor on their sign.
Aunt Cassie called Ma while we were here and they chatted through the wait time while we enjoyed the view.
Miss Betty is as much a Rays fan as Ma is a Red Sox fan. We planned to take them both to a game at the Rays Spring Training Site in Port Charlotte on Ma's 85th birthday. The Rays play their spring training games at the Stone Crabs' Park which is home to a minor league.
Much to our delight Bekah was able to come down that weekend. Allan gave her his ticket so we had a ladies afternoon at the ball park.
It was another beautiful day for baseball. Bekah and Ma were seated up under the overhang with a birds eye view of home plate. Miss Betty and I enjoyed our perch near the Sox dugout and just to the left of home plate. It was very hot and great fun.
One Saturday, Ma and I attended "Quilting By the Gulf XVI: A Festival of Quilts." This is a juried quilt show. This is the second time we have attended. The quilts represent a great variety of types and designs. I am particularly taken by quilts made from tropical colors and designs.
The panels above are close-ups from parts of this quilt. It is extraordinary. I'm becoming quite a fan of machine quilting.
This was just a one panel wall hanging. Again I like the texturing of the machine stitching.
I'm not much of an orange fan but was fascinated by the smaller cut out fish.
This is representative of several wall hangings that were in a section called "in a row" quilts.
I really liked the texture and tidbits in this wall hanging quilt and again the stitching enhances it for me.
On March 22, we took Ma to the airport and took this picture as we entered the airport. Now calm down, we were not celebrating her departure. Our friend Susan Smith was in Bangor waiting for Ma's plane to arrive so that she could hop on for the return trip. We took this and sent it along to her so that she could be reassured that the plane would soon be on its way up to her.
Susan was only here for a couple of days. We caught this beautiful sunset looking out at the Venice Pier.
Every ray of sunshine that she could get was welcomed. Even early morning sun in the back yard.
It was good that she got the sunshine when possible because the day she went on a boat ride on the Myakka River with Bill and Chris Fowler it was quite overcast.
Earlier this winter we completed a boat safety course and were wondering if we might buy a boat. We also heard about this boat club. Rick and Dawn joined us in attending the open house for information and a free boat ride. It was an informative visit and nice ride in the bay. This is a nice option for those who would boat way more than we probably ever would. Power boating doesn't seem in the cards for us now except for maybe an occasional daily rental.
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