Friends

As you can see we continue to enjoy sun, water and St Pete.....it is really gonna be hard to leave this place!

Our friends Gary and Elaine Grove from Knoxville joined us for several days of relaxation.. and to celebrate their anniversary. We brought in the new year on the 17th floor with beautiful views of the city and the fireworks as Jim and Armond spoiled us with good food and company.

We checked out the sponges at Tarpon Springs and ate our fair share of seafood on the water. The Dali Museum was a highlight of the week...what a gifted artist and weird person he must have been! The street fair in Gulfport was reminiscent of the 50's ....with music, art, jewelry and great t-shirts; our favorites...."Keep Gulfport Weird" and "Sail Naked...Show Off Your Dinghy". Jerry's brother's ...brother-in-law ...Warren joined us and treated us to a wonderful dinner at Maddy's....great food (we forgot pictures of Warren -Go Gators)!

Sunday Jay and Nancy Watlington joined us for a cruise...we visited Egmont Key again...anchored out ...dingyed ashore and collected many shells.

Up and at it this morning at 5:30 to get Gary and Elaine to the airport....although I must admit I slept in...after they left. Today was another tough day visiting with Jay and Nancy and our friends Bob and Mary Hunt at their Gulf front condo in Indian Rocks Beach for a great meal.

What fun we have had....great friends, great fun and great weather. We will miss you....Lots of Love.....

Jason & Family

As you can see the fun continues in St Pete! The day after Christmas my son Jason, his wife Melody and my grandchildren Turner 11 and Kinsey 8 joined us here for some warmer holiday fun! We stuffed two weeks of adventures into 4 days. The weather was beautiful!

We sampled the Shrimp Factory, Oyster Bar and of course Jim and Jorge's famous appetizers on the boat trip to Egmont Key for a day filled with shell finds of all shapes! Clearwater Beach was a hit after shopping for swim suits...who would have dreamed it would have been warm enough to swim....and it wasn't ...but that didn't stop us!

One of the highlights for the boys was a football game in Tampa...The Buccaneers! And of course us girls loved the shopping! Kinsey built a dog....she named him "Tampa" at the Build a Bear Store ..and we found two adorable Webkinz for her collection.

At night we were exhausted...but found enough energy for movies and ice cream!

We may have found a new way to celebrate the season......St Pete....we love you.

Merry Christmas

Well .....here we are in St Pete for Christmas! It is amazing how very busy we stay...no time for crocheting a hat or completing a book. The season has been wonderful here, the parks overlooking the marina and town are decked out with a wonderful tree, millions of lights,

and even a nativity scene. Even the boats in the marina are well lit for the celebration of the season.

We added a small tree and a few lights....even two or three presents surround the tree.

Sunday we visited a church in the square. The stained glass windows, large wreaths, fresh poinsettias and all of my favorite Christmas hymns reminded me of the true meaning of the holiday. It has been many years since I have slowed down enough to en;joy the simpler pleasures of this time of year.

Jerry and I have really had quality time together..and my brother Jim and his friend Jeorge live here....we have so enjoyed their company.

My son, daughter in law Melody and my grandchildren Turner 11 and Kinsey 8 will join us the day after Christmas.

We just wish all of you lots of happiness and love with your family and friends thurout the holiday....and We miss you.

Dingy Envy

Since we have returned from Knoxville we have stayed busy working on the boat and getting ready for Christmas. Our 10' dingy, now secure to the swim platform, will provide us access to shore when we are at anchor. It has been an ongoing project but pretty small compared with these ...

Just a few pictures of other boats we see daily in the harbor. The large yacht is "Tatoosh" owned by Paul Allen (co-founder of Microsoft). It is 301' with a crew of 30. Of course this is his smaller yacht, his larger boat is over 400'. Tatoosh has a 40' Hinkley tender, 40' sailboat, 4 other watercraft, and a helicopter. The Coast Guard boat patrols the harbor with machine guns fore and aft. The sailing thip HMS Bounty from "Mutiny on the Bounty" is on the pier down from us.

How big is your dingy??

We Luv St Pete!

This is only a small sample of of what we have been doing since our last post. Egmont Key, Gulfport, Anna Maria Island, Coffee Pot Bayou, Pass-a-Grille, St Pete Boat Show, marine salvage yard, mullet fisherman, Skyway Bridge, sand castles, porpoises, Greater Tuna, market, Christmas parade...

Everyday seems filled with things to do, places to go, and new people. Thanks to Jim and Jorge for all you have done for us. Boat projects and daily boat chores are unending although no major problems so far. Wednesday we leave for Knoxville for a week for an early Christmas with our families. After Christmas Jason and his family will visit, Gary and Elaine for New Years, then we will contine south.

Here's to Deacon

Today is also a sad day. My dog Deacon would have been 12 years old today. Two weeks ago I had to have him put down. He has been in "assisted living" for the past several months. Even sadder is Dottie, the lady who was keeping him for me, lost her husband 2 week prior to losing Deacon. Here's to Deacon...