summer skies

July 5th, rolling storm

8:20 to 8:25 pm 

 

 

Showtime

 

 

 

old Cherokee Park

Cherokee Park.  1950's bungalow, Florida regional style.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandy's 75th

(At first, didn't have the heart to tell her, but I did the math - she actually just turned 74). 

Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound & Useppa Island 

Arriving by boat.  Across the water, the natural world of Cayo Costa.

 

 

First morning both are sleeping in.

 

 

 

An early lunch at the Collier Inn provided a huge array of photos framed and hanging. I picked a few of the notables, who over the years have also visited and enjoyed themselves.

Erastus Foote (1928)

 

Mary Roberts Rhinehart - Novelist, mystery writer.  Note her large Tarpon caught, larger than her with a few shark bites to it's belly (1950's).  Charlotte Harbor has always been noted as an angler's mecca.

 

4:30 am. The night life down at Useppa's dock.  Myself, always up early.

 

At first light, flowers of the Night-blooming Cereus begin to close.

 

A Banyon tree lights up.

 

Path to a quiet beach.

 

Charlotte Harbor's, Boca Grande Pass.

 

 

Out on the grass flats near the old 'fish houses' of Pine Island Sound.  Sandy there dreaming of a retirement place.

 

Next day, a chance for Knuckle's to swim amongst the dolphin and the sharks. At first he suddenly appeared as would a manatee, but then just bobbed along wearing his new life jacket.

 

On her birthday, having lunch at the Collier, ordering the infamous 'Erastus Foote' sandwich - dreamin' of all things to come, even after breaking it to her sadly that she was only just 74.  A special place, a special time.

Our youngest comes for a visit

Rio, our one year old grandson, is a go-getter, confident and unafraid of the world. He came to visit with the old-man, Knuckles. Might be Knuckle's last. Rio normally wears his hair down, down across his face. But today, Sandy insisted on a hair clip for this photo.

 

Knuckles loves to sing

 

Soon, Rio’s off to Portland, Maine to start a new life.

 

My oldest graduates .....

My oldest granddaughter, Miss Kaya Overholtzer graduated recently from Champlain College in (way up there) Burlington, Vermont. Within a matter of weeks, Kaya, with her degree in Digital Forensics, and a minor in Criminal Law, will be relocating to Chicago to take on a position with the international consulting firm, Charles River Associates.

 

A delightful, quaint picture below of her noted college found hanging on a wall. The current campus covers over an eight-block area of downtown with a large contemporary, modern administration courtyard at it’s center.

At the graduation reception with a small bouquet and degree in hand. 

 

A family dinner was held aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen, while cruising out upon Lake Champlain. In the distorted distance below, an early evening view of the Adirondack mountains of upper New York state.

 

 

 

Two days later, I found myself in an isolation ward at the University of Vermont's Medical Center. I had left Florida with a slight upper respiratory issue due to what I thought were seasonal allergies. 

After the fourth day, I wasn't doing so well. The Urgent Care at the University’s Medical Center admitted me on the concerns that I might have Covid. Thankfully eight hours later, the RSV-PCR test results proved negative. Without the need for further quarantine, and the possibility of public isolation etc gone, that following morning I could actually fly home.

 

But again, so proud of our Kaya. She’s off to a great start.  (photo provided by my daughter, Crete)

 

 

play something

Siesta Key, late summer of '63

Not many friends while growing up, but I do remember these two .......