Friends, Family. and a Pirate

I can't believe we have been home for a month. Our friend Georgie was here for a week at the beginning of the month, our last post. Since then we have been super busy doing things in the condo installing a new light in the guest bathroom, repairing a damaged closet door and hanging more pictures than I think are in the Louvre. We also got together with friends and family and Nanc had cataract surgery. 

On the eleventh we drove to Ocala for a celebration of life for our friend Beth who passed away at the Florida Keys Elks in December. Several other friends from the the Elks were also there. It was a great tribute to a wonderful lady. Here are Jim, Nanc, Sue, Dennis, Dick (Beth's husband), Lance Shawna, Kathy and Joe.  

On Valentine's Day Rick and Denise flew south for a long week end of checking out our new hometown.

On Saturday my cousin Missy and her husband Marty, who are enjoying their first year of being retired snowbirds in Florida, came over to join us. They are spending the winter in Okeechobee and loving it.

We all went to Shrimpers in Port Salerno for lunch and then checked out a few shops and the many boats in the harbor. One was a huge yacht that had to be over 60 feet long.

If it's Sunday in Stuart it is time for the Green Market and Rock' N Riverwalk. As always there was a great band to entertain the crowd. We love downtown Stuart but this sign sure describes the two roundabouts we drive through to get there. Both intersections have five roads and a railroad track to navigate to get to the action part of town. Another thing we like about Stuart, there are hundreds of FREE parking spots.

That evening we went to Sailor's Return for a sunset dinner and more boat watching. Unfortunately, the clouds covered most of the setting sun so it was not very good.

We did had a great meal right on the harbor and the place was rockin with many people and a great band. 

The riverwalk on the St Lucie River is very neat even at night with the lights on the Roosevelt Bridge.

On Monday Rick and Denise had a late afternoon flight so we had time to check out Worth Avenue with all its very high end shops. I'm not much for the shopping but I do love seeing all the expensive cars. While Rick and Denise's visit was a short one, we did a lot including a trip to the beach where I failed to take any pictures.

And here is the pirate. On Thursday Nanc had cataract surgery. I was disappointed with the clear eye patch because it took away from the pirate look I was expecting. The prep and follow up required several doctor's visits. She has one more and hopes to be totally released.

After one day the patch was gone and she was allowed a glass of wine. She has been very happy with the results, but not happy that she can't wear any eye makeup for a few weeks. A small price to pay for much better vision.

We love seeing the birds here in Florida. This fellow has been roaming around Lexington Lakes. One day Nanc and Denise saw him eat a little gecko.

Another weekend and another festival in downtown Stuart. Only a couple weeks after the ArtsFest in Memorial Park. This one was the 30th Annual Downtown Stuart Art Festival and was much larger with nearly 200 artisans. I like the pipe sculptures, a big variety of whimsical pieces. 

This picture was near the end of the day and does not show the crowd. During the last weekend of March there is another event, the Downtown Stuart Craft Fair. We were not here for that one last year and are looking forward to checking it out. 

More neighborhood birds. These ibises are the most common birds we see right outside our doors. March has arrived and we are looking forward to more visitors from up north this month.