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

ABONDONZA! We are picking ripe tomatoes!







What a treat in January. These are really good too. I made fried eggplant and tomato sandwiches for lunch today. Yummie....


I also have some baked beans in the oven. This is my second try at them. I tried to make baked beans from scratch for Christmas, but in my haste, I skipped a part of the recipe. I didn't see the part where you boil the beans for an hour before you bake them! I was so determined to eat them anyway. I baked them for about 8 hrs, then, I put them in the micro for 6 min about 10 times. Then I put them in a pot, added water and simmered them for 6 more hours. Finally, my husband reminded me that there is a much cheaper and easier way to have baked beans, you buy them in a can! I was defeated, I dumped them. They tasted great though, but slightly crunchy.

I just made an apple pie too, still hot, go get the ice cream!




I haven't been able to do any sewing, I am so itchy to do it. By the time I get everything out, find a spot to work, and figure out what I want to do, I lose the old MoJo to sew.

I have been playing with my camera, mostly because it is easy to pick up and just do it, and it takes up no room except for in my hard drive. Here are some pictures I have been playing with. I have been experimenting with the editor in the computer and find it can make a world of difference in the way the picture looks.













Taken a Fakahatchee state park in the Everglades yesterday, I played with the color and contrast. This is supposed to be a picture of a spider on a web, but you can barely see it.














Sunset in Pine Island Sound. I might enlarge and frame this one for my friend's new restaurant. She wants me to do some photos of the area for her artwork.
















I named the two pelicans Ebony and Ivory. I took them in Goodland at Stans Bar yesterday.