SARASOTA FLORIDA

29th Anniversary celebration was held in Sarasota Florida this year..........



We were thinking about a cruise, but we thought we might get a case of the swine/bird flu, so we stayed close to home.



I always wanted to spend some time exploring this wonderful city. It is such a treat to be able to go on vacation and be an hour or so from home.





We did all the touristy things, and poor Bob, he had to do all the girl stuff with me. He shopped, he ate salads, went to museums, toured rose gardens and botanical gardens. We went for walks on the beach at Longboat Key. The whole time, I had my face in my camera. I took over 350 pictures there.


I never realized what a great place this is. It is really a well kept secret. We were so impressed with the Ringling Museums and mansion. I had no idea what John Ringling and his family were about. It is such an interesting and sad story.



This is a view from the water of his Mansion. I have many more pictures on my flickr page if you want to see more of the trip.



I haven't been very good about blogging lately, someone made me sign up on facebook. I like it, but there is only so much time in the day for the computer, we have to eat too! I have been on a diet!!!! Went to the gym today with Terri.

If that doesn't make me realize how old and out of shape I am! I did 30 mins on the bike and boy do I need a nap. It just started pouring here, so this is the perfect time to nap...zzzzzzzzzz

The Direction Home Team ~ Florida

The Direction Home Team ~ Florida

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, Cape Coral Florida

Our new team photo. Terri, Debbie, Ruth

Three blonds ready to buy and sell southwest Florida at your service!

We are having fun in the sun, come on and join us!!!

So much for fun, we have been working very hard on our marketing and education with our business. I have to go up to CT for a while to be with the family and the new grandbaby! I can't wait to see them, but I also hate to leave this nice, warm sunny place I live!!

Isn't Murphy cute?

He is the best dog, probably because he lives at Terri's house and not mine. He is such a ham! He really did pose for this picture. Murphy and his people rode out to Captiva one day and had a photo shoot. He just laid there and smiled like a good boy. Murphy is going to be famous, he is now giving out coping advice! Move over Dr. Phil and Ann Landers, Murphy is taking over.

HAPPY 86TH BIRTHDAY HELEN....................

My mother-in-law, Helen, celebrated her 86th birthday here with us. She has been living here since November. I can't believe she is 86, she can run circles around me! We try to keep her busy. She likes to go out to eat, (they always give her too much food!) We go for walks down at the pier and look at the boats and the water in the Gulf. She always loved the water. We are leaving to go to CT in a little while, so I just wanted to say see ya all when we get back.

Why crows freak me out......

For the past two weeks we have been invaded by thousands of crows here in the southwest section of Cape Coral. This has reminded me of the reason they freak me out. I got in the car tonight in the middle of the pouring rain to take these pictures. Actually, Bob drove me. It was his idea, but he still thinks I am nuts. It's all about the blog Bob!

I remember being totally freaked out by the movie, The Birds, by Alfred Hitchcock when I was a child, http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=crows&btnG=Google+Search, but that is not the reason....

In mythology and folklore as a whole, crows tend to be symbolic more of the spiritual aspect of death, or the transition of the spirit into the afterlifeIn mythology and folklore as a whole, crows tend to be symbolic more of the spiritual aspect of death, or the transition of the spirit into the afterlife,http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=crows&btnG=Google+Search, but this is not the reason......

Here is the reason:

One morning about 8 years ago on Memorial Day weekend, I was sleeping soundly in my bed. At exactly 5:50 am, I was awakened by this crow outside my window. It was a sound I have never heard before in my life. The crow was having a freaking fit outside my window.....I thought well I might as well get up now and get a head start on my yard work, stupid crow! At about 6:45, while I was working in the yard, Bob came outside and asked me to come in the house, he had to talk to me. Well, as you might have guessed it was bad news. My father was dead, he died at 5:50 am, the exact time the crow woke me up. So, this is why crows freak me out.

I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience.

Lover's Key State Park

Isn't this the coolest picture? I tried several times to capture this butterfly in action. I finally just kept clicking and caught him in action here. We went to Lover's key to have out boat hauled for servicing. I took my camera hoping to get a few nature shots in.

Check out my flickr page for more photos. http://www.flickr.com/photos/floridadeb/

I have been really busy lately and haven't been a good blogger. I went back to my old job to help out after they had to fire my replacement. I am working about 20 hrs a week, but for more money, so I guess it is worth it. It is so weird that when your not working you think you can get so much accomplished. Wrong, I got very little accomplished while I was home for 5 months. I guess I work better under pressure. I have to start getting ready for the holidays and also for my mother-in-law who is spending the winter with us. I have to shovel out Katie's room for her, which is also known as my sewing room and Bob's office. If only I had just a little more space here! We will manage though, I really want her to stay with us for a while and enjoy this paradise we call home. I know your thinking, ' is she nuts?' I may be, but I am really hoping it works out. I will keep you posted.

Starting the Garden

Trying to keep my mind off of smoking, eating, remodeling, and friends illnesses. I could start exercising, but that my send my body into a state of shock. I haven't been this good to it since I was 6.


I love to grow things and make things. Since I live in SW Florida, it is time to start the garden. My daughter Katie started this last year, and has gone to NY for college. I decided to take over her garden this year.

















When I was in CT last month, I took some pictures of my old garden that my daughter Carolyn has taken over from me. The sunflowers inspired me to plant some here, I hope they grow here.






This is a portion of my old perennial garden with some black eyed susans and an old copper thingy that I salvaged from my mother-in-law a few years back.






I miss the perennial gardens from the northeast. I have none here in Florida. I suppose I should take a class on Florida Gardening. It is a different gardening world here. You have to plant things that tolerate extreme sun, heat, and drought. Then in the winter, you have to plant things that like water, heat, and sun. You also have to be careful about exotic and invasive plants that harm the ecosystem and take over. Things just grow like crazy here. You have to trim everything back or it will take over the yard.































UPDATE Check it out, one week after planting sunflower seeds I have plants with the 2nd set of leaves already. This is amazing. The package said 7-21 days for germination. I hope they make it, stay tooned for updates