Dave is a compulsive shell picker upper when walking the beach. This year in Nuevo Vallarta was different.
Normally there are very few shells as this beach is one of the most naturally clean ones we have ever seen. No seaweed, rocks or shells litter this beach. Contrast this with Sanibel Island in FL where there are so many shells, they cut your feet when walking.
Well this year 2023 was indeed different. In late December/early January there were “king tides” for a 2 or 3 day stretch in a row. The waves, 6 to 8 feet high came crashing in on the beach. The beach was officially closed to swimming because of the danger. We remember walking the beach those days and marvelling at the size of the waves. Afterwards the beach was littered with shells. So Dave had his pick this year of many shells for his “collection”.
What we have in order of decreasing quantity are cockles, augers, sunray venus, transverse arcs, scallops, calico clams, carnitas, butter cups, clams, oysters, 1 sand dollar (it broke in transit) and 1 dolphin tooth (I think). Also some interesting pieces of tile, broken glass and a plastic flamingo head!
It was a bounty year. Now what to do with them given that all the glass display containers in the basement are already full….
Given the following key, perhaps you can identify some of the shells in this year’s collection.
Well there’s people and more people What do they know, know, know Go to work in some high rise And vacation down at the Gulf of Mexico Ooo yeah
Oh but ain’t that America, for you and me Ain’t that America, we’re something to see baby Ain’t that America, home of the free, yeah Little pink houses for you and me, ooo, ooo yeah
As we said goodbye to Florida we enjoyed some last get-togethers with our American friends. It was the last social party night of the season at the pool. But before that we enjoyed a few other special activities.
Larry, Cindy, Kevin
Cousin Larry from Ottawa, Cindy from Ohio and Kevin from Michigan (brother of Cindy) and I enjoyed a great round of golf at Myerlee. It was a perfect afternoon of fun and not about the score. It was a great way to end the golf season down here after playing 11 times including a round with son Kyle when he visited this year. Larry and I made plans to play the Oaks of Cobden later this summer. Thanks you guys for the great day!
Yoga in the park was another favorite activity for us again this year. Anna and her husband Chip run the Yoga Bird studio in FM. They provide an hour of (free will donation) yoga in Alliance for the Arts Park every Saturday. I find yoga quite grounding, especially when outside, and look forward to continuing under Marie’s expert guidance.
There were some other last call activities.
Deb and the Dynamics at the Tiki Hut, Cape CoralLast walk on Bunche Beach
The final pool social is organized expertly by Sam each year. Everyone is starting to think about heading home but needs one more blast before doing so. This year was no exception and it was another great success.
Sam from the New Jersey shore, knows how to organize a great partySam’s wife Susan dancing with John
There is plenty of tasty food – BBQ sausage, burgers, salads, rich desserts and hot dowgs! There is a DJ that plays music that gets us all up dancing. There is lots of laughter and gaiety as we reflect on another warm winter down here. I took a few pics of our American friends for posterity purposes.
Chuck hams it up with the DJsJanice and Murray, Branson, MO with friendDee and Ron, Atlanta, GACarol and Bernie, Mentor, OHJimmy and Margaret, Boston, MAPat and Marty, Boston, MAElizabeth and John, Ottawa, ONCindy and Chuck, Ohio‘Sisters’ Marie and Cindy
It’s hard to find something not to like at our condo complex and we made so many great friends. Nevertheless we have decided to go to Mexico next year to seek a new adventure. So for now, this was our last get together with our winter family in FM. We asked Tricia our condo owner not to forget about us as we could be back the following year, God willing. Going to miss you guys, but never say never! Until we meet again in FM or elsewhere…thanks for all these memories. Ain’t that America, eh?
2018 Sanibel-Fort Myers Invitational Mini Putt Championship
Marie and I enjoyed some great times with John and Anita again this season. John and I met way back in 1969 at U of W in 1st year engineering. We roomed together for a couple of years and then went our separate ways. We reconnected at our 40th class reunion and discovered that we were spending winters less than 30 min apart in FL. Since then, we have gotten together each winter for some fun and to reminisce about the good old days.
John demonstrating his winning styleThe grounds of Sanibel
This year their daughter Beth was visiting from Seattle. The weather was superb so we planned another Mucky Duck sunset experience on Captiva Island. This time we had to wait well past sunset to get in.
Beth and Anita waiting for our table in the darkAnother great evening together at Mucky Duck
This year we went to a Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay baseball game up in Port Charlotte. It was very hot that day and we had great seats. It is a very nice country like ball park with great hot dowgs! While the result was close, Jays lost 6-5.
It was another great winter in the sun with you guys. We plan to get together again soon in Ottawa or Saskatoon. Thanks for the great memories. And thanks for all those shells Beth! Safe trip home and Happy Easter!
Sanibel shells
P.S. This year John reminded me of our first trip to Florida together in 1973. Friend Rick and I drove my 1970 VW Beetle from Ottawa. John and Mike (another class mate) drove from Toronto. The plan was we would meet up at Daytona Beach… Rick and I drove all night long to Daytona. After arriving and driving a few miles on the beach we backed into a parking spot with hundreds of other cars around. About 10 min later along comes John and Mike who just happened to turn in at the right spot and spied us right away. It was pre-internet serendipity! We continued on to the Keys for a great sunny stay in our tents. Here are few scanned pics from that era.
John with Mike, Caffee Gawd!Rick and Mike in the KeysMy 1970 VW mintMe in the era
We were blessed with a recent visit from Irene and her daughter Jennifer. Irene is a dear friend from Arnprior whom we met through Galilee and Jennifer lives in Syracuse, NY. They were on their annual getaway together and chose to visit us in FM. They stayed in the same condo complex so it was easy to meet up.
View of the pool from their condo
They kept us hopping. From great restaurants, to walks on the beach, to shopping, movies, chatting and many a happy hour, we tried to keep up with them. They enjoyed escaping the late winter weather up north and we enjoyed showing them the sights here.
At the Wednesday night pool partyShopping at Lakes Park marketJennifer in the ocean
We went out to a number of restaurants for some great meals together: Cafe Toscano, the University Grill, Nomikis Plakka (Greek), the Lazy Flamingo and the Coconuts pool side restaurant at Casa Ybel. Our personal favorite was Cafe Toscano – great pasta and eggplant and service at reasonable price.
On the pier in Cape Coral
It was their mutual birthdays so their family bought them a dinner out at Blanc, a new upscale epicurean restaurant that has received rave reviews. They loved it!
Marie and Dave went out the next day to the 60th annual shrimp festival at Fort Myers Beach. It was a fabulous peel and eat shrimp boil up on the beach. Here are a few images of that colourful food experience.
Yes, we likely gained a few pounds, but hey it’s not everyday that Irene and Jennifer come to town on their birthdays. Thanks you two for your wonderful visit, the fun and great eating, wine and conversation we enjoyed together. We’ll do it again real soon. Thanks Jennifer for the great extra photos.
Last year, Michelle, Tim and the boys had a great visit with us in FM. This year, Kyle and Ashley dropped in for a whirlwind visit. We had an active time together! They arrived after visiting Texas, New Orleans and Orlando by car. We tried to show them the FL lifestyle as they wanted to do everything and never seemed to tire.
Day 1 was a visit to Fort Myers Beach. That day, Fort Myers was the warmest place in the continental U.S. at 31 deg. It was also calm and surprisingly uncrowded given that March break was about to begin. We spent a marathon 6 hours on the beach until sunset. Ashley and Kyle did the parasailing thing as we watched warily from shore. Piece of cake remarked Ashley. No problem added Kyle.
We ended the day with dinner at our favorite restaurant – Doc Ford’s. Of course we had to have the signature dish – Yucatan Shrimp. Food and service was great as usual and there was no traffic getting home. We stopped at Love Boat Ice Cream for dessert and enjoyed some spontaneous singing of Sweet Caroline. Great start.
Day 2 was an outing to beautiful Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Friends John and Anita invited us to drop by their beach front condo for some walking and shelling.
With Anita and John on their roof top
Then it was on to Captiva Island for a dolphin cruise. We boarded the Lady Chadwick not knowing what to expect. We saw our first dolphin in the mouth of the harbour and then dozens more as we toured around Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve. We were so close to the leaping dolphins, we were getting splashed. Dolphins love to frolic in the wake of the boat and apparently eat upwards of 30 pounds of mullet a day. Males travel in 1s or 2s. Females travel in pods and form a circle to protect a birthing mother.
For dinner we headed to the Mucky Duck restaurant for our 3rd annual get together on Captiva beach. John and Anita joined us and we arrived just in time for another glorious sunset. Too much fun – we are getting younger down here with Kyle and Ashley’s influence.
On day 3, Kyle and I started the day with a little swimming in the 25m pool across the street. We followed that up with a game of golf at Myerlee with two nice young men from Nashville and Baltimore. Ashley and Marie spent the day shopping at Bealls, TJMax, Rosses and Peltz shoe after getting pedicures. That evening we went to our local go to sports bar Bucketts for their Thursday evening backyard BBQ – ribs and chicken, yum.
Day 4 was upon us already. We enjoyed a Blue Jays – Twins game at Hammond Stadium. It was a 2-1 Twins win after the Jays stranded 2 in the 9th. John and Anita were there too. It was very hot in the sun but hey, it was all time record heat all month here.
We went on to Castle Golf miniputt beside Lakes Park for a friendly round. The men against the ladies. Scores: Ashley 57, Marie 57, Kyle 57, Dave 58 – ladies win! It was real fun and we worked up an appetite for Sweet Tomatoes salad buffet restaurant.
The next day Ashley and Kyle sadly had to head home for Winnipeg leaving us after a fabulous visit. Thank you Kyle and Ashley for spending your precious vacation time with us. Come back next year!
We love being with our family and let’s hope we can get together again soon. Luv, Mom and Dad.
I attended the 10th annual Men’s Conference of the Diocese of Venice Florida last weekend. About 300 of we men gave up our sunny Saturday to hear a number of great speakers and be reminded of what our purpose is in God’s plan for men.
The Diocese of Venice, established in 1984 from parts of other dioceses, consists of some 70 parishes, 12 elementary schools and 4 high schools in SW Florida. By contrast, the Diocese of Pembroke, ON, (my home diocese) established as a Vicariate in 1882, is much larger in geographic area but smaller in population.
Bishop Frank Dewane urged us to remember gratitude, prayer and the Lord in our daily lives. Next the dynamic Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers exploded onto the stage. Deacon Harold is one of the most passionate, forceful and loudest speakers I have ever seen and heard. He reminded us of our purpose as men – to serve, protect and defend (Gen 2:15)
Men have to take a more serious approach to prayer including with their wives daily. Men have to be witnesses and present to their kids and love their wives to show their kids the example. Single men must be spiritual witnesses to society. It is more important to be loved otherwise we are less capable of loving others.
Interviewer Canadian Patrick Coffin took the stage and in a more subdued manner explained that God has a plan for the world and each of us. Men are the ‘weaker’ sex but God favours the weak, joked Patrick. Manhood is under attack in our culture. Canadian Bill 16 adds gender expression and identify of trans-gender people to the groups that are protected from discrimination or hate propaganda under the criminal code. Life has become complicated and some feel freedom of speech and religion is under attack.
We finished the day with some great songs from Bob Rice, a theology professor from Steubenville, OH. It was great meeting some men from the area and seeing how American Catholicism functions in today’s world. I thought the idea of an annual men’s conference is a great idea worth pursuing back home.
The weather has turned spectacular here now and does not cool off as quick in the evening. One of the things we like to do is to go to the monthly sunset concert at Cape Coral Yacht Club. It is only a 10 minute drive and there is amble free parking. We parked behind a car with this pretty licence plate.
A superb slide guitarist name Kraig Kenning was performing again this year. He plays his own material and other well-known songs. You sit in your beach chair just a few feet away as the waves softly lap, sip your beer or wine and enjoy the sound.
The evening was great. Kites flying, families gathering, music playing and the birds singing. We brought a picnic dinner and wine.
We met a local CC family who had several generations of family members there all enjoying the evening. As the sun gets close to setting, everyone turns to the water for that perfect picture. It was a 10 out of 10 evening. We plan to go to again next month with some visitors. Thanks Lord for these great moments in FL.
The highlight was Kyle and Ashley’s wedding in May in Winnipeg. Everything went superbly. Family and friends enjoyed sharing the special day with the newly weds and wished them a long and happy marriage.
Prior to that we spent the winter in Fort Myers and had more visits with family and friends than in Arnprior. The weather was superb.
On our way home we went on a Panama Canal Cruise that was fun and interesting.
The summer in Arnprior was great. We had some interlock work done at the front. Marie played bridge while Dave golfed. Swims in the river followed by patio dinners were frequent.
In September we went to Pembroke for Fiddlefest. Then it was off to Pickering in for our annual Oblate Associate retreat.
Dave led an Oblate Associate formation session in the fall for Marie and two others. Marie led a series of yoga classes at Galilee that Dave and others attended. Kyle and Ashley came home for two whirlwind visits. All the family got together.
Before we knew it, we were on our way to Florida again, but not before another fab cruise in the Caribbean.
We truly thank God for all his blessings and gifts in 2017.
So now it’s time to get ready for what 2018 has in store.
The Twenty-fifth Day of December,/ when ages beyond number had run their course/ from the creation of the world,/ when God in the beginning created heaven and earth,/ and formed man in his own likeness;/ when century upon century had passed/ since the Almighty set his bow in the clouds after the Great Flood,/ as a sign of covenant and peace;/ in the twenty-first century since Abraham, our father in faith,/ came out of Ur of the Chaldees;/ in the thirteenth century since the People of Israel were led by Moses/ in the Exodus from Egypt;/ around the thousandth year since David was anointed King;/ in the sixty-fifth week of the prophecy of Daniel;/ in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad;/ in the year seven hundred and fifty-two/ since the foundation of the City of Rome;/ in the forty-second year of the reign of Caesar Octavian Augustus,/ the whole world being at peace,/ Jesus Christ, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father,/ desiring to consecrate the world by his most loving presence,/ was conceived by the Holy Spirit,/ and when nine months had passed since his conception,/ was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judah, and was made man:
The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.
This beautiful Jacaranda tree is struggling to put out its yellow blossoms. It has been so dry here of late. There are other colours of this wondrous tree including purple, fuscia and blue.
It is native to Central and South America, Cuba, Hispanola, the Bahamas and planted in Florida is seems. The one above is in our previous condo community. I check on each year to see how it is doing. I love the shape of this tree, the colour and its will to survive.
