Cypress Falls at the Woodlands

Yesterday the four of us checked out house lots at Cypress Falls at the Woodlands.  One of our highlights:  Hannah spotting a young alligator sunning itself by a pool of water!

spot the alligator (seen outside of sales center lanai)

our tour mobile

back view of lot 4

each home gets three palm trees planted in the back yard

mailbox twin waiting for a buyer

looking north

looking south

looking west

looking east

end of Arugula Drive becoming Myrrh Place

resistance pool...what a great concept!

some of the clubhouse workout machines

Busy Few Days (Again!)

Wow, I do not know where to start.  Russ, Paul, Hannah, and I played a new domino game (for Russ and me); the game is "Mexican Train."  It is popular in the communities down here in Florida.  Hannah played with skill and finesse...but unfortunately she had one bad hand.  I was doing okay until the last two hands (out of thirteen).  Poor Russ didn't win a hand until near the end.  Paul won the game.  Yay, Paul!

The Master at Work...

Stuck with More Bad Tiles

The moment Russ actually won a hand!

Yesterday, we went to DelWebb's age 55 and older Ave Maria community.  Russ and I had already visited there, but we wanted to show Paul and Hannah the model houses, one of which Russ and I would like to purchase in another community.  (Ave Maria is too far off the beaten path, and the fees are more expensive than other places.)  Paul and Hannah liked the model we like.  YAY!  We also went through model houses of the upper price range.  Eghad.  They were amazing but huge for two retired people!

model home

view from entryway foyer

eating nook looking through kitchen into great room (i.e., living room)

lanai is behind where I took this photo

YES!!!  A kitchen island!!!

When we got back to the condo, we packed lunches and headed to the beach.  It was so warm there, despite temperatures only in the 60s.

Lunch!

It was fun watching the waves come in.

This is the way to spend a January day!

Birds are everywhere down here.

Yes, that is a huge wave in the background about to crash!

Into the Heart of Naples

Today the highest outside temperature was 72 degrees.  Although warm compared to the Northeast, it was too overcast (with sprinkles) to enjoy the beach.   Also, a big factor in abandoning our beach plans was the riptide warning at all the gulf-coast beaches.  Oh, well...at least it wasn't a hot day with shark warnings!

The decision was made to drive south of Vanderbilt Beach Road...heading into the real heart of the city of Naples.  Whoa.  The wealth down there is almost indescribable.  I have never ever seen such huge, ornate homes.  In fact, homes on and near the gulf coast looked as fancy as some of the mansions in Newport, RI.  Interspersed here and there were old developments from the 1960s; however, most of them have been replaced with mini-mansions squeezed into the lots.  Most mansions directly on the gulf coast were difficult to see driving by due to the manicured shrubs, trees, and gates in the way.  When we take a boat tour, I will get photos of them.

Amidst these mansion properties are numerous small beach alleys where one can park (if one has a City of Naples beach sticker; we opted instead for the state beach pass).  Russ stopped the car in one alley so Hannah and I could run down to the beach to take pictures of the gulf.  Fishermen and a few walkers were the only humans on this long stretch of beach.

Loved the birds all sitting on the posts!

Looking towards the famous Naples Pier

The birds are amazing down here; I was within feet of this one taking his picture.

The next two photos are of a relatively new ritzy condo and shopping area near 5th Avenue.  The place was void of people.

We relaxed back at our condo for the rest of the day.  I end today's blog with a picture of Paul in the oversized chair in the living room.  None of us will sit in it because it is so low and uncomfortable; Paul looks like a little kid sitting in it!

Paul & Hannah Are Here!

Lots to share tonight.  Yesterday after a wonderful church service at a Presbyterian church in Bonita Springs (great music), I got a lot of work done on my "Lighthouse Star!" guild round-robin quilt.  I worked mainly on attaching sashing.  I am at a standstill due to two blocks that have not yet arrived here in Florida (mailed from Massachusetts last week).  Since my brother-in-law Paul and sister-in-law Hannah were arriving late afternoon, I had to vacate their bedroom (which had been "sewing central") and move all my quilting items into the kitchen and dining room.  It worked out quite well, actually!

Completed Sashing Rows in Dining Room

Cutting and Ironing Stations in Kitchen

Sewing Machine on Wooden TV Trays in Kitchen

Paul and Hannah arrived late afternoon.  It was SO great to finally have them here!!!  We had a fantastic pasta dinner (Chef Russ).  After rearranging the living room furniture, we watched a bit of football and then called it a night.

This morning, Paul and Russ left early to play bocci with other men in the community.  Hannah and I took a walk around the development and then went to one of the pools.  Hannah spent the time reading; I read and later used the whirlpool and pool.

View from behind Pool

Back Pool of Condo Development

Happy Bocci Players after Brunch at Perkins

This afternoon, we all went to Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park.  The water was a bit colder than it was last week; I did not stay in more than ten minutes.  However, for the short time I was in the water, the waves were great!

There was a woman next to us sitting on a towel GRADING PAPERS!!!  (Today is Martin Luther King Day; therefore, no school.)  I was reminded how thankful I am to be out of teaching.  Anyway, I was amused by all the bird activity going on around her and her husband.  She had given a few pieces of bread to some birds; the next half hour birds walked around her towel waiting for more...but they were greatly disappointed.  One seagull was a bully.  He made it clear to the others that it was his territory.  My favorite birds were definitely the sandpipers...boy, can those little fellows run!

Friendly Birds at Our Neighbor's Beach Area

Tonight we had another fantastic meal.  Paul grilled steak that was so delicious!  Hannah cooked green beans, I cooked the garlic shells, and Russ assisted Paul.

Grill Masters Talking to Their Brother Steve in New York

All-in-all, today was a terrific day.
BONUS FEATURE today:  Click HERE for a short video of Paul and Russ walking the beach.  (Turn your volume up in order to appreciate the waves.)

Out and About

The last two days were rather normal.  I am truly feeling like this place is home!  The highlight of the past two days (besides spending time laughing and smiling with Russ!) was attending the monthly quilt meeting of the Naples Quilt Guild.  The speaker Thursday night was outstanding:  Anita Grossman Solomon.  Anita was on the television program SIMPLY QUILTS twice.  She has come up with paper-piecing methods that blew my mind.  Unfortunately, her two workshops this weekend were filled up; however, I plan to purchase her "Traditional Blocks Made Easy" online class at Craftsy which she said will teach me the same things as in the workshops.  (She gave us a half-price coupon code for the class...yay!)

Quilters Arriving at the Meeting...Comfy Chairs!!!

"Self-Mitered Log Cabin" by Anita Grossman Solomon

Close-Up of "Self-Mitered Log Cabin"

End of Anita's Talk

A "Show and Tell" Part of the Meeting

Yesterday we checked out the golf course (Bonita Fairways) where the condo community men play every Wednesday afternoon starting next week.  We did not play (sob); instead, we went to Wal-Mart and bought a portable Weber gas grill.  Last night we had a yummy supper highlighted by grilled chicken thighs.  Russ is the king of grilling!

No beach pictures since it has been cold in the high 50s and 60s here the past few days.  Tonight is the condo community cookout.

A Day of Piecing a Quilt Block

BRRR!!!  It is so cold today in Florida (55 degrees) that water aerobics was canceled.  (It was canceled yesterday morning, too.)  The policy at this condo community is that if the temperature does not hit 65 degrees fifteen minutes before the class, then the class is canceled for the day.  Oh, well.  At least on Monday I was able to go!

Yesterday was a day of piecing together a quilt block for my quilt guild's round-robin project.  It took me about seven hours!!!  It is paper-pieced but in eight wedges which were next to impossible to match points.  Plus, I reduced the size of the pattern so that the star appears to "float" in the block.  Here is the finished block:

I also was able to spend another hour cutting out all the sashing and cornerstones for the sashing.  Nothing can be sewn together until I receive in the mail my last two blocks from the robin.  Here is a look of what I have so far (please excuse the darkness...it was the end of the day):

The lighthouse blocks are appliquéd and all have the same night sky fabric.  The blocks are NOT in their final locations; I only wanted to see them on the floor laid out.