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© 2008 Gail Hunter
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| April Page 4 |
Count your blessings! I have just accidentally deleted the first April Page 4. You have
been spared my bitter diatribe towards the IRS, TurboTax, the phone company, and all
government agencies, both state and federal...All because I filed the wrong 1120 form. I
had the figures right, but in the wrong place. Picky, picky!
been spared my bitter diatribe towards the IRS, TurboTax, the phone company, and all
government agencies, both state and federal...All because I filed the wrong 1120 form. I
had the figures right, but in the wrong place. Picky, picky!
| Back to the Lovely/Lively Banks of the Myakka River |
Date? - I've misplaced my little black book - this IRS thing has really thrown me, but the
day is beautiful: brilliant sunshine with a veil of spring showers separating us from the river.
day is beautiful: brilliant sunshine with a veil of spring showers separating us from the river.
Time to get acquainted with our new neighbors: This squirrel has become too
friendly so we ignore him. The Great WhiteHeron fishes across from us, but seems not to
mind sharing the same spot with this roughly 12' alligator (one of several.) Two Black
Vultures deciding which will be the love of this demure female. A movie would have shown
them flapping, beating, rising up several feet, then finally going off, only to have one return
to rejoin the lady. From our nearest site-neighbor - Joe Ballard and Sweetie, his lovable
Great Pyrenees.
friendly so we ignore him. The Great WhiteHeron fishes across from us, but seems not to
mind sharing the same spot with this roughly 12' alligator (one of several.) Two Black
Vultures deciding which will be the love of this demure female. A movie would have shown
them flapping, beating, rising up several feet, then finally going off, only to have one return
to rejoin the lady. From our nearest site-neighbor - Joe Ballard and Sweetie, his lovable
Great Pyrenees.
And time to visit old friends: Dick and Leslie Vlontis, from Cor's way-back days in
Dedham, MA and Stowe, VT as well as from our 13 years here in Venice.
Dedham, MA and Stowe, VT as well as from our 13 years here in Venice.
Leslie showing off
the fresh corn from
"the girls" farm store
on Albee Farm Road
the fresh corn from
"the girls" farm store
on Albee Farm Road
Dick proudly showing
off his new knee from
Sarasota Hospital
off his new knee from
Sarasota Hospital
Leslie attacking with glee
a chocolate confection
from Publix Supermarket.
We demolished it.
a chocolate confection
from Publix Supermarket.
We demolished it.
No trip to Venice is complete without a Beach Dog from Anita's Sandcastle at the Jetties. I
had my first one more than ten years ago when Anita operated out of a cart set on a small
rise between two pines. Her father would trail the cart to this spot every morning. After much
zoning angst, Anita got permission to erect a permanent "home" along the entrance to Venice
harbor. Once again, Dad to the rescue: he constructed the present-day Sandcastle out of
three overseas shipping crates, and Venice was the winner as this is a highlight of any trip
here. Left to right: the Sandcastle; Anita cooking; Anita & Cor; view from the Sandcastle
had my first one more than ten years ago when Anita operated out of a cart set on a small
rise between two pines. Her father would trail the cart to this spot every morning. After much
zoning angst, Anita got permission to erect a permanent "home" along the entrance to Venice
harbor. Once again, Dad to the rescue: he constructed the present-day Sandcastle out of
three overseas shipping crates, and Venice was the winner as this is a highlight of any trip
here. Left to right: the Sandcastle; Anita cooking; Anita & Cor; view from the Sandcastle
This view through the front window reminds me
so much of a favorite ski trail at Sugarbush. It
is named "The Sleeper" - starts out easily
among white birch, then after a few turns, the
trees become closer and closer and you end up
having to negotiate a zig-zag to the bottom.
so much of a favorite ski trail at Sugarbush. It
is named "The Sleeper" - starts out easily
among white birch, then after a few turns, the
trees become closer and closer and you end up
having to negotiate a zig-zag to the bottom.
Left: Anita's hot dog cart was parked
under these two trees originally.
Right: Snake Island - where the ICW
meets the inlet. A haven for pulling up
your boat & taking a swim. For a while it
was unruly & the city considered closing
it. Luckily, visitors cleaned up their act.
under these two trees originally.
Right: Snake Island - where the ICW
meets the inlet. A haven for pulling up
your boat & taking a swim. For a while it
was unruly & the city considered closing
it. Luckily, visitors cleaned up their act.
My great regret - Lost photo department. Remembering the delicious ice cream cones
at Nokomis Groves, Cor and I stopped there. The big decision is whether to order a
lime/chocolat twistee or orange/vanilla. I alternate; today was lime/chocolate. The sadly
missing photos show the porch with thirty plus people sitting along the walls on benches,
everyone licking his or her cone in many different styles. The best picture was of a small
boy totally engrossed with his cone, tongue twisting around it and eyes popping. Nokomis
Groves started selling ice cream around ten years ago, but just in the winter when it was
orange season. Customers persuaded them to keep the ice cream stand open all
summer and it now has a steady flow of devotees.
at Nokomis Groves, Cor and I stopped there. The big decision is whether to order a
lime/chocolat twistee or orange/vanilla. I alternate; today was lime/chocolate. The sadly
missing photos show the porch with thirty plus people sitting along the walls on benches,
everyone licking his or her cone in many different styles. The best picture was of a small
boy totally engrossed with his cone, tongue twisting around it and eyes popping. Nokomis
Groves started selling ice cream around ten years ago, but just in the winter when it was
orange season. Customers persuaded them to keep the ice cream stand open all
summer and it now has a steady flow of devotees.
MYAKKA RIVER STATE PARK - RT. 72 - EAST OF SARASOTA
The state park is east of Sarasota, 9 miles inland from I-75 on SR 72 in the middle of a
wilderness preserve. The river flows from Myakka Lake which is fed completely by
rainwater. Consequently it becomes extremely low during dry spells. Waterfowl viewing is
best during those periods as the birds poke along the shoreline looking for food. It was
high for our visit, so we only saw a few herons, both Great White and little Louisiana Heron.
wilderness preserve. The river flows from Myakka Lake which is fed completely by
rainwater. Consequently it becomes extremely low during dry spells. Waterfowl viewing is
best during those periods as the birds poke along the shoreline looking for food. It was
high for our visit, so we only saw a few herons, both Great White and little Louisiana Heron.
Visiting friends are one of the better bonuses of being in Florida during the winter.
We were lucky to have Peggy and Trubee Racioppi drive over from their home
in Georgetown, TX. They found a great little house in South Venice through
www.VRBO.com (Vacation Rentals By Owner.) When we could get them out of the
pool, we drove over to Myakka River State Park to see what was going on there.
We were lucky to have Peggy and Trubee Racioppi drive over from their home
in Georgetown, TX. They found a great little house in South Venice through
www.VRBO.com (Vacation Rentals By Owner.) When we could get them out of the
pool, we drove over to Myakka River State Park to see what was going on there.
4/29 - Dinner for eight - first time. Worked out OK, but stupidly, I didn't use my new
camera, so missed the photo op: Leslie & Dick Vlontis (Venice), Jan & Dick Kilborn from
Moscow, VT, and Peggy & Trubee Racioppi from Georgetown, TX. Real easy finger food
right down to the mini-eclairs for dessert. Be sure to thaw them...I didn't.
camera, so missed the photo op: Leslie & Dick Vlontis (Venice), Jan & Dick Kilborn from
Moscow, VT, and Peggy & Trubee Racioppi from Georgetown, TX. Real easy finger food
right down to the mini-eclairs for dessert. Be sure to thaw them...I didn't.
Many visitors enjoy
fishing from the banks
while others prefer to
rent canoes or kayaks.
Or you can take an hour-long narrated
ride on one of the park's airboats.
fishing from the banks
while others prefer to
rent canoes or kayaks.
Or you can take an hour-long narrated
ride on one of the park's airboats.
You will learn about the
the oak hammock that
shades the floor of the
forest. The 1st Canopy
Walkway in America is at Myakka. It's
suspended 25' above the treetops.
the oak hammock that
shades the floor of the
forest. The 1st Canopy
Walkway in America is at Myakka. It's
suspended 25' above the treetops.
| Which is the real photo? Incrediblereflections on the Myakka River. |
Just to show you these Black Vultures can be quite gorgeous, and why we don't
take a nap outdoors. Gotta keep moving or they'll think you're carrion. Not Good.
take a nap outdoors. Gotta keep moving or they'll think you're carrion. Not Good.
Still making some adjustments: While driving along, Gail looked
up from the passenger's seat and noticed this vice-grip wrench
hanging from the antenna adjuster directly over her head! Ouch!
Bicycle helmet to the rescue - until we could get the thing fixed
The handle had come loose and a spring popped out. Now OK.
up from the passenger's seat and noticed this vice-grip wrench
hanging from the antenna adjuster directly over her head! Ouch!
Bicycle helmet to the rescue - until we could get the thing fixed
The handle had come loose and a spring popped out. Now OK.
Next fix - Our home-made super mattress proved to be too soft.
Consisting of 3" memory foam on top of a five-layers-of-foam topper
was like floating on a cloud. Sadly, it was so cushy we couldn't turn
over. Time to remove a few layers of foam. Gail cuts off 4 foam
layers. They were not wasted: The Ballard's dog "Sweetie" now has
a super-soft bed for her naps under their rig.
Consisting of 3" memory foam on top of a five-layers-of-foam topper
was like floating on a cloud. Sadly, it was so cushy we couldn't turn
over. Time to remove a few layers of foam. Gail cuts off 4 foam
layers. They were not wasted: The Ballard's dog "Sweetie" now has
a super-soft bed for her naps under their rig.
April ended with a bang! Fellow (is fellow both masculine & feminine?) Wellesley alumna
Caroline Montgomery invited some of our old Venice Sailing Squadron friends to a
get-together. "Among those present" - a phrase used at the turn of the 20th century by
the New York Herald Tribune's gossip columnist, Lucius Beebe - Caroline's husband, Don
Jenkins, Ed & Elsbeth Connor; Irv & O'Dota Groh , Laura Groh, Steve & Carol Henkle, and
Sam & Tonya Fiske. We were thrilled to see all, especially Ed who is celebrating his 104th
birthday soon.
Caroline Montgomery invited some of our old Venice Sailing Squadron friends to a
get-together. "Among those present" - a phrase used at the turn of the 20th century by
the New York Herald Tribune's gossip columnist, Lucius Beebe - Caroline's husband, Don
Jenkins, Ed & Elsbeth Connor; Irv & O'Dota Groh , Laura Groh, Steve & Carol Henkle, and
Sam & Tonya Fiske. We were thrilled to see all, especially Ed who is celebrating his 104th
birthday soon.
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