'Home' for the Holidays

We left Florida last week with tears in our eyes as we had such a fun and relaxing time with Ken, Andrea and Jade.  I really enjoy those kind of holidays where you just go with the flow and not make any major plans. To me it feels more like a holidays than the ones that you over schedule with events and places to go.  We wish we could of stayed for Christmas but headed back to the far north to spend the holidays where Santa lives.

 

We arrived back to CamBay with all of the dogs, luggage and the cold weather.  It was supposed to be +28'C in Florida the day we left and when we arrived back home it was complete opposite with temperatures in the -30'C.  A bit of a shock to the system for us.

 

The next few days was preparation for Christmas dinner which we were hosting, with our friends Marg, Kim and Doug attending.  We didn't spend it with our blood family but we have adopted some good friends here in the Bay and they are our family north of the 60th.  We had a great Christmas dinner with great friends.

 

Tomorrow I return to work for a couple of days to play catch-up then off until after the New Year.  We are not in production and everyone will return on January 7th when we will be back in full swing processing more Arctic char products.

 

It is getting lighter outside but no sun until January 12th where we will experience the sun for a full 39 minutes 17 seconds.  The temperature today is still quite cold at -30'C and with a windchill of -41'C so it is hard to exercise the dogs outside, especially Molly as she gets so cold fast.  Not too many pictures today - hopefully next time.

 

Talk soon!

 

This was the temperature INSIDE our porch when we arrived home

New jackets!

 Blitz is modeling his

 Molly's new baby - it's as big as her

Blitz is dog tired today...too much Christmas Cheer yesterday?

Sanibel Island, Sarasota & Deep Sea Fishing

Three days ago Craig and I headed to Sanibel Island, one of my favorite spots in Florida.  It was a warm and sunny day and we just hung out at the beach the full day.  Sanibel has great shell picking beaches and lots of sea birds.  We left the island in time to watch the sunset on the causeway before we headed back.

 

Saturday all of us headed to Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota to meet up with our Cambridge Bay friends Bernie and Al.   We did take a few minutes to stop and visit the manatees at Manatee Park.  After a short stay we were on the road again. It was the first time visiting Sarasota for both Craig and I and the beach is rated one of the top beaches in the USA.  The pure quartz is pulverized to a fine powder and no matter how hot it is outside the sand feels cool to the touch. 

Yesterday Andrea had to work so she sent us on a boat to do some deep sea fishing and to bring home dinner.  We have been deep sea fishing in the past and it was a blast so we thought we try it again.  This day Captain Tony Fishing Adventures were just offering 1/2 day excursions so we left about 9am and we were home by 3pm.  On our way out we had some dolphins playing in the wake of the boat.  The boat ride out was about 1 1/2 hours and we had about 4 stops before we headed back home.  Jade was the first one to catch a fish and I was the second, third and fourth.  The girls ruled during this trip as we caught the most.  Captain Tony's gives a great deal, for $60.00 per adult they give you the use of a fishing rod, bait and informs you if your fish is a keeper or not.  The best thing is on the way back they clean your fish, bag and ice it.  A sweet deal!  We mostly caught grey snapper and pig fish and tonight we had a fish fry.

At midnight tonight Craig's parents arrive and tomorrow is a family day here in Florida as the following day we leave for Cambridge Bay.

Talk soon!

 

Some sandpipers at Sanibel Island

 

This gull was showing us the details of how one is to groom

Our spot at Sanibel

Wind surfer

Craig at the causeway of Sanibel

Our spot to watch the sunset

Good night from Sanibel Island

Another view of the causeway

Manatee Park

Craig, Jade and Andrea

MANATEE!

Manatee Park also had a butterfly garden

Our meeting spot at Seista Key Beach

The crew

Myself and Bernie having a cold one on the beach

The boys, Al and Craig having a beer

Bernie and Al

Jade and Ken discussing the plan for the day

Dolphin catching a wave

Another one having some fun

Craig = one happy fisher

Jade sampling the bait

My first fishy!

Ken's lovely fish

Our catch for the day

Jake and Christy, the crew cleaning our fish











The pelicans waiting for a free meal

The brown pelican

Great Day in South West Florida

Our day started off with a little shopping at Miromar Outlet then we headed to purchase Jade's Christmas present.  She didn't ask us for anything but since we live so close to Santa he told us that she has outgrown her bike and needed a new one.  When we came home this evening she was a bit confused why there was a bike beside the Christmas tree but when she found out it was hers she rode it around the house a few times.  It was a treat for us to shop for one of our nieces as we always send money for birthdays and Christmas to our nieces and nephews, it is easier and this way they can get what they want.

 

After we brought the bike home we packed for the beach and picked up Jade from school on the way.  We parked at Bow Ditch, Ken and I cameras in hand and I noticed an osprey sitting on the pier eating his catch.  I got close to him, close enough to hear what he was eating and I was amazed by the strength in his legs and beak.

 

From there we walked down the beach and I noticed a pair of cormorants close to the shore.  The male was acting normal, diving and swimming but the female one was circling and acting strange.  She came close to the shore, I handed Craig my camera and I scooped her up as it looked like she had a fishing line or something caught on her.  I checked her wings, legs, feet and looked down her throat and nothing was there.  She was still circling and throwing her head back, then we thought maybe she injured her neck.  Craig knew I wasn't going to leave her so off he went to find someone to help.  After waiting a bit the rest of us headed back to the parking lot where Craig and Andrea were on the phone.  Make a long story a bit shorter, we were to find Indian Creek Pet Hospital where they will hold the bird until the rescue group picked her up.  So, cormorant in my arms we all packed into the Murano again and headed to the pet hospital.  Once there they had a box ready for her and I helped put her in.  We asked if they knew what was wrong and they said it was from the red tide and she was the third cormorant that they received this evening.  I read a bit about red tide effecting the wild birds and the success rate for the cormorant is high.

 

After we left her in good hands we headed back to the beach where we watched and caught on camera the sunset, Ken taught me a few pointers and after sunset off we went to eat a fine meal on the beach.  All in all it was a great day here in South West Florida.  Tomorrow Ken has a commitment with Jade, Andrea is off to work and Craig and I will do a little grocery shopping and head to the beach again.

 

Talk soon!

Osprey 

 Osprey eating some fish

 Pelican

Brown Pelican

Craig

 Beach

 Ahhh, Fort Myers Beach sunset

 Pier at sunset

 Craig watching the sun set

 Andrea, Jade and Ken

 Christmas on the beach

 Another view

 New bike 'under' the tree

One happy girl

Sunshine State?

We arrived in Florida a couple of days ago and are still waiting to see the sun.  The weather is warm, humid and some thunder storms and we still have not seen the sun.  Tomorrow is supposed to be partly cloudy, 79'F and Andrea does not have to work so we are heading to the beach.  I can already taste the grouper sandwich and Land Shark beer from S.O.B.'s on the beach, one of our favorite places to go when we are here.

 

We have done a bit of shopping the last couple of days and today Jade and I headed to Michael's to purchase some scrap booking items for all of her school awards.  Things are looking good for the album and tomorrow we will start putting things together. 

 

Before we picked up Jade at 3pm from school Craig and I went for a walk around the neighbourhood.  The hibiscus are in full bloom everywhere and the coconuts are growing on the palm trees.  Tonight Andrea and Craig are relaxing in front of the TV catching up on some shows while Ken finishes up some editing for a client.

 

Talk soon!

 

 

The palm tree just outside our bedroom window with coconuts growing

 Hibiscus in the neighbourhood

 Palm trees

 More palms

 The entrance to the neighbourhood

 Jade showing off the Christmas tree

Cheers from Florida