Planning New Trip

 Life has been a little complicated since the last post.  

After a wonderful day, on our 22nd anniversary, I fell getting off the dock.!  I fractured my right shoulder, my dominant arm.  It has been a long and painful 7 weeks.  With God and time, and PT, we can now begin to plan our next long trip.  

Our estimated time of departure will be sometime around Thanksgiving.   With some stops along the way, our destination is New Orleans for Christmas.  Then we hope to travel along the Gulf Coast and enjoy warmth! 

In the meantime, my sad soul has been trying to heal, I have more good days than sad ones and I am beginning to smile when I remember my son Jonathan.  I watch this video, put together by his cousin Meg.  Thank you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NsNVSc7oTA 

These photos are from about 6 years age.  Healthier and Happier times!

New Chapter

 Well hello!  It has been a bit of time since I posted something.  We got back to Massachusetts late April.  We have camped in Wompatuck State park for a couple of weeks, stayed at Katie's for a while. and had a Celebration Of Life for my son Jon.  

My new chapter is now living live again without regret and looking at the positive parts of life!!  Lemons, lemonade.  Trying.

Today we escaped to a wonderful campground in Rochester, Ma.  The Gateway to Cape Cod.  It is rustic and quiet.  Tomorrow we will explore the campground, visit the boat launch and try out the pool.  

We are only an hour from home so I could go back and get the Kayak if I wanted.  We will visit Gene's sisters in Falmouth next week.  My sister Maureen will come here to visit from Wareham .  Life is good!

 

Celebration of Life!

http://www.jonathancollins.us/

We invite you to celebrate the life and times of Jonathan Andrew Collins.  Though Jon left us much too soon he lived life on his own terms.  

Come and remember him with us, his family and friends.

Heading North

 Well this has been quite the3 adventure, but it is time to go back up north.  We have been to national parks, seen alligators, watched birds fly, turtles swim and enjoyed the rising temps.  It is now time to go home for the summer!

It is time to plant sone herbs at Katie's house, get he pool going for the summer, go to lunch with old friends and renew our souls with seeing our children and grand children.

Just some random photos of places and sight we have been!

Paranormal?

 Sometimes I know things just before someone says something.  Sometimes I feel things , like a hand on my shoulder or a touch on my cheek.  Well...

Something weird happened last night. About 2 hours after I went to bed, I woke up to the radio coming on and the song that was playing was "When I get to where I'm going". but it was not being sung by Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton. It was being sung by someone else.

That song has been in my head everyday since I got back to Florida.

Gene got up and said did you leave the radio on? I said I haven't turned on the radio in weeks! Maybe Jon was visiting?

https://youtu.be/TbFz2F_YYzI

I listen to this often.  It is always in my head. I find it peaceful and comforting

Deb

Sanibel Island

Beautiful Day so we went exploring!  76 degrees with a slight breeze.  

Welcome to Sanibel Island.  

I've been everywhere man!

We had lunch at the Blue Giraffe and then just stopped by the side of the causeway and watched people try to wind surf and kite surfing!    Comical, relaxing.

We may go back tomorrow and go to the nature preserve and take another tram ride

TTFN!

Shark Valley!! in the Florida Everglades

 Can I just say WOW!  We went to Shark Valley in the Everglades National Park.  It is a 15 mile loop that goes into the everglades.  We took a 2 hour tram ride with a wonderful guide.  I must give a nod to the tram driver who was quite knowledgeable about the animals in the habitat .  He was also quite comical as well!

This sweet lady was busy laying eggs!  She did manage to smile for the camera!

Beautiful Sky over the Everglases

View from the observation tower

  After this, we went on an air boat ride through the everglades!  

The after boat ride show!

Life in South Florida

 We went to a nice campground called RoadRunner RV Resort in Fort Pierce , Fl. We met people from Ohio, Michigan, Canada...   So much fun!  The pool really was the place to be!

I finally got my nails done!  What a nice job too!  

We did some sight seeing, went to Jetty Park.  It was along a beautiful canal.  Bench swings, white sands, lots of people fishing. 

posing with my feathered friends!

 The above picture is across the canal and it is a Fort Pierce State Park.  The state parks here are awesome! well maintained, spacious, scenic.

We really try to stay away from the regular tourist traps!  State parks, beaches, wildlife sanctuaries....  oh and yes Marinas!

Lake Apopka Wildlife Reserve

 Florida has some of the nicest state parks and wild life reserves.  We went to Lake Apopka Wildkife Reserve the other day.  It was mostly a driving tour but you could pull over and get out of the car often.  Lots of people with cameras that had lenses longer and wider than I have ever seen.  

Birds, turtles, alligators, oh my!  What a day!!

Alligator on the bank

Big Boy

Another view of Big boy

Deb , Lauren and in the middle - an alligator!

?

Cute turtles

More gators and a bird. (not sure what kind)

Happy!

Eagle!

Sunbathing!