Captiva Island.......a much needed rest

April had been very busy and we needed a quick break...we didn't want to hassle with flying so we just drove 2hrs south to Captiva Island....it's old Florida and awesome. We parked the car when we arrived and didn't crank it again for 3 days....we walked and biked and had a blast.  We stay at the Captiva Island Inn...it's little cottages for the most part but they do have one building that has rooms in it. They are more than a regular hotel room. Some of the rooms and some of the cottages have full kitchens, and it's really easy with our bikes. They give you breakfast vouchers and you can eat at Keylime Bistro or RC Otters...both very good and a nice start. Breakfast surely holds you until dinner....so you can head out for a ride or some beaching...

Keylime has someone playing and singing at night...but not so loud you can't still chat. The first 2 nites we sat outside our cottage and listened at night, was really nice.

This is RC Otters and the Latte' Da coffee and ice cream shop....

Looking down the street...the beach is at the end..........and on the beach is the Mucky Duck Restaurant....we decided they make LOTS of money on drinks and appetizers at sunset time...it gets busy, but still plenty of room....

YOLO (You Only Live Once)....sells cool beach stuff, but also rents golf carts, bikes, wave-runners, boards, and other cool stuff....a neat shop. 

There's also a nice art shop and a ladies wear shop...several things on this main drag on Captiva

We took a bike ride down towards Seven Seas and the marina....saw lots of Osprey and nests, so nice to be out in nature. Was a tad warm, but we had plenty of water and were fine.

On this trip we spent some time looking at some of the larger rental homes...this one was a 6 bedroom/bath and was my fav. I think a big family vacation here would be wonderful.

Something to think about ....all 22 of us for a week.......sounds like fun to me!!

We always eat one time at The Bubble Room. This started as a few tables on a woman's front porch...as it grew and grew she made the house the restaurant and moved into another house...you just have to see it. Their desserts are to die for....the Orange Cake is AMAZING.

We tried a new place one nite Doc Ford's...was very good....the make a spicy shrimp that is WOW!!!

Denny loved their baby back ribs. We took it slow, did some riding, some sunsets and became fans of afternoon naps....but alas it had to end.

After breakfast on our last morning we headed for home...but we wanted to explore Sanibel a little on the way out. We'd never seen the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, so we stopped for a look. It was really cool. 

It's a tribute to Sanibel's past where you can glimpse at Sanibel as it was in 1880-1940. There are 8 restored original buildings...houses, General Store, school house, Post Office...was really neat. The island started as a farming community, but hurricanes ended that. There was not a bridge to Sanibel/Captiva until 1963. Now there is a huge new one and you pay $8 to cross it!!!!

We started our tour by watching a film...one of the original residents speaks about the island and you get a great feel for how it "used" to be.

This is The Rutland House...the rocker is original, belonged to Mr. Rutland, and that's him and his wife in the picture below

An original "crock pot"...u put a hot stone in the bottom, your pot of food on top and another stone on top, closed the lid and wait...same concept as today...we just improved on the footprint....however, theirs was not dependant on electricity....maybe we should think about that!!!

Mosquitoes were a big issue, had to have netting

The other side of the bedroom was "her" office....

Burnap Cottage was a two room fishing cottage built in 1898

This guy was there to "greet" you...they had it set up as it likely had been. The lighthouse light in the back was just there for display, it was on loan for a while.

On to visit the school....back in this day there was segregation...there was a black school as well. This one room school was kindergarten-8th grade. The 1 school on Sanibel now is the same way...it's more than one room...but it's K-8th...the kids have to bus off the island for high school. 

On to Miss Charlotta's Tea Room, was originally built to be a gas station...but later became the Tea Room and was restored back to its 1930s look

I think folks must have had some fun here!!

The packing house was important since shipping produce off the island was a major means of income.

We could see the surrey, but it was behind glass and impossible to get a picture, but it was really neat. 

This car was so cool...it too was behind glass but I attepted some pictures, they aren't great, but you can get the idea.

A Post Office built from debris....neat

A cute Post Office with lots of history.....

Denny heads in to check out the General Store. He could remember these old style of gas pump from times of yesteryear. We enjoyed looking at the items on the shelves. It was funny to note that some products have not changed their labeling very much in all these years....like...Campbell's soup...Coca Cola....Gold Medal, and several more...I suppose..."if it ain't broke don't fix it" 

These old tools were hanging in the back room....

This is a model of The Bailey's Homestead....very nice.

We didn't realize you could order a house from Sears Roebuck.....wonder if you still can. It was a really nice house

Indoor plumbing....finally...WOOHOO!!!

A nice sun room gave lots of extra room.....for stuff.

Nice kitchen...still had an ice box...but really nice...the stove is in the room just past the kitchen...

Still roughing it, but much improved over the first house we were in!!

Who knew you could order a house out of a catalog???

Very nice dining room....complete with a "record player"

Nice kids room....the adult room (which I must have missed taking a picture of) was also nice and roomy. Had 2 twin beds and other furniture. There was also a really nice screened in back porch. 

This side tour was such a cool step back in history. It was hot, but we're glad we took the tour. So neat that all the buildings were saved and moved to this central location creating this "village". 

And so ended our little get-away. It was great, but was now time to head north on I75....this coming weekend is busy with church things. Maybe we'll have time to lay by the pool a little. :)

Rain and weddings don't mix..........March 2014

March and April were busy months, so blogging got behind....but it's time to catch up. My nephew Brad and his sweet fiance' married at Foxhall resort in March in the Atlanta area. It's a gorgeous place and in the middle of no-where. Lots of nature and beauty but you have to bring in EVERYTHING. There is not a hotel onsite yet, but it's coming...so they provide buildings, tables and chairs and you bring everything else....and I do mean everything.....good thing we have a large family, it took all of us....but it was lovely. The day of the rehearsal was rather windy but nice.....but the day of the wedding we got rain....they say it's lucky to get rain on your wedding day....so Brad and both his sisters should have plenty of that...it rained on all 3 wedding days, in fact for Brooke we set record amounts of rain, it was a mess......anyway....we headed to the rehearsal........

It was really happeing....The Buell/Stevens wedding.....let's go!!

The wedding coordinator was doing her best to keep some order......

Brad and Dave ....wondering how many more times do we have to practice this

Mom and Des bribing Quinton with cookies....it just might work

"ok folks...the sooner we get this right, the sooner we can have some beer!!!"


As you can see, Foxhall is gorgeous and this evening was lovely. As rehearsal was happening outside, many busy helping hands were inside setting up for the reception. Moving tables around, putting on cloths...and getting ready for the "place setting lady" to come tomorrow. The bar was being set-up and it was busy, but going well.

Uncle Denny found a new friend and enjoyed rocking and chatting

Cindy, our bride is from Michigan and several folks came to Atlanta for the wedding....it was nice to finally put faces with names.

The entire wedding party....lovely

Brad and his groomsmen....some friends that go back to grammer school, some more recent friends. Brother-in-laws, and one brother-in-law to be....a great group of guys.

After the rehearsal we all went to Debbie and Brandon's for a wonderful catered Mexican dinner. I was in charge of  Sangria and Margarittas so forgot to get any pictures, but it was really nice. The pool and pool house area were decorated with lights and really neat Mexican decor....Deb had 2 great friends helping serve and it went wonderfully.

Friday morning.....THE BIG DAY...............

Time for The Wedding Fairies to kick into action.....I have 3 sisters.....my oldest sister has 3 children(Brad/Britt/Brooke), when each of them married the other 3 of us became "Wedding Fairies"....we help do anything....artsy crafts things, pick-up delivery...and of course we handled Bridesmaids Luncheons and this time a Groomsman Luncheon.....never heard of that, neither had we....but this time we were on the grooms side, and Brad deserved a luncheon like the girls, only this was true...."guy style"

We didn't want to leave out Cindy, and because of folks traveling there had never been a really good time for a true Bridesmaids luncheon we made our first stop at the "girls house" They had 2 LARGE houses rented on the property and pre-wedding they were "guys" house, and "girls" house.....I think after the wedding they got mushed together!!!

Cindy had 13 Bridesmaids.....wow....lots of fun. We delivered chicken salad, crackers, fruit, cookies, deli meat tray and of course Champagne for a toast....hope you all enjoyed it.......

Now it was time to go check on the guys at the sket shooting range and set up for Brad's lunch....

We had a guy deliver and cook on site a low country boil, Brad was sampling some of his homemade sausage....YUM-O

We were able to use a pavillion by the lake and it was great. By this time we had rain and it was a bit cool, but we got some heaters brought in and once things were rolling we were fine.

We served appetizers first....Wildebeast, Bison and Venison and all the favorite beers were flowing 

Then....as the boil got ready, there was corn, potatos, sausage and shrimp it was wonderful and I think the guys really enjoyed it....

We played our version of trivia....all the questions were about Brad...some went waaaaay back. We gave points for correct answers and gave some cool mini bottle gifts....lots of laughs during this.

Then we served up Tequilla shots and ask his oldest friend, Justin to do a toast....thanks Justin you did a great job...

CHEERS!!!!

After Justin did his toast...brother-in-law Dave had some really nice words to say as well....thanks Dave.

No meal is complete without dessert and beleive it or not...one of Brad's favs is a chocolate chip cookie cake from the American Cookie Company....so you know the Fairies had to have that...

He's about to have the old "ball and chain" and when that happens maybe the Mr. takes on the Mrs. last name.....????

When we made our stop at the Bride's house, Cindy ask The Fairies to deliver her gifts to Brad (remember Fairies do anything)...so after lunch we gave Brad his sweet gifts....she'd made him a small photo album of their memories , he read every page and loved it

Then he opened the other gift...was an art piece with the words to a special song and their wedding vows on it....very cool...

Good job Cindy....he loved it, I think you got a few tears..........now it was time to go get ready for the big event.

As the music began, sweet Brad teared up.....first hug was from sister Brooke (pregnant with twins!!)

Good job Brookie...you and the girls did great.

A handshake and hug from Brother-in-law Des....I missed the one with brother-in-law Dave...sorry

Then sister Brittany.....so sweet........

And last....sister-in-law to be Jenny......very special

Then it was time to lighten the mood withBrad's 4 little nephews.....Quinton and twin brothers Jase and Witt and cousin Dylan

They all made it down the aisle....then out they went....good job little guys...you were adorable and that's all you needed to be.....cute!!!

Time for the Bride...........

Beautiful...............

One last hug for Dad before she belongs to Brad.......

"Yes Mr. Buell....I promise to take care of your daughter..........thank you for trusting me with her."

The minister did a wonderful job....it was a lovely ceremony

Sister Jenny is doing a reading as the couple watches on....

Sealed with a kiss.....Mr. and Mrs. Stevens............

The whole gang....looking good.......(the little boys were long in bed by this time, but they did make it down the aisle...whew)

Some fun pictures....now it's time to eat....drink...dance and enjoy.........

My phone battery died so I didn't get any pics at the reception...but it was wonderful. Cousin Turk catered the food, BBQ...YUM. An open bar, tea, lemonade....and cupcake dessert. There was a small cake for the couple to cut. There was a band and a cigar station and some cookies for each to have as a gift. It was a wonderful evening....well done.

The happy couple left in Brad's Grandfather's mule....it was perfect. They drove back to one of the houses on property and 2 days later enjoyed a week in the Dominican Republic......welcome to the family Cindy.

Denny and I flew back to Sarasota the next day....we had lots going on at home and needed to head back. April was busy with many things, house projects etc and at the end of the month we took a much needed get-away to Captiva Island.....it's heaven.