Sunday Surprise Visitor Day

Today started out cloudy and remained that way all day. The temperature only got down to 65 last night and reached 74 today. Rain seemed to be threatening, but we only ran into a few sprinkles when we were on our way to the Southwest Florida International Airport to pick up the youngest grand daughter, Brooke, who was coming in at 3 PM, to stay for a week on her Spring Break. My two daughters and another grand daughter, Amanda, had taken her to the airport for her departure. They sent a text to say that she had gotten on the plane and was on her way. The other grand daughter kept making comments on facebook every once in a while, talking about getting her turn to come visit the following week. That family is driving down. Just as the plane landed, Amanda sent a text asking if Brooke's plane had landed yet. We told her that it was just coming up to the terminal. She said ok and to tell Brooke to call her on the way out to the island. When I saw Brooke, I held my phone up to take a picture and just as I did, I noticed a taller blonde girl walking near her, I thought she looked a lot like Amanda and then in a couple seconds they got closer and I realized it was her. They were laughing so hard because I was just standing there with my mouth hanging open. Wow, that was a great surprise. This hadn't been planned at all. While they were waiting at the airport, Brooke started teasing her Aunt about letting Amanda come with her today. This banter went on for a while and Amanda's Mommy left for a while and came back with Amanda's ticket. She handed it to her and said, "Happy 16th birthday a week early". Amanda said she just sat there with a surprised look and said, "REALLY"? So, she got on the plane and they were off! Amanda with no bag. Her Mom is sending her things overnight tomorrow and we stopped to grab a few things she would need on the way from the airport. What an adventure! :) They had a great time on the plane with their Ipods and free WiFi today. That's how Amanda was able to keep posting on facebook, like she was still at home. They sure had us fooled. :) I think this birthday will be one that none of us will ever forget.



We stopped at Big Al's on the way back to the island. All of our food was great!

We made a beach visit at the Donax Street access. It was getting cooler and there were threatening clouds with some thunder. When we saw lightning in the distance, we had to leave.









We made a stop at Mango Bay to get a couple bathing suits for Amanda and that was the end of our night out. They have some very pretty bird of paradise plants there.

Sunny Sanibel Saturday

The low last night was 57 degrees and the high today was 82. :) We went to the beach at Seagrape Ln on the East end of the island and it wasn't too crowded. Although there were LOTS of people on the beach, near the Lighthouse. I could also see many people near the Holiday Inn. The other areas probably weren't as busy because today is check out for most condos. I'm sure it was much busier on the beach later this afternoon, after new people checked in. They will have nice, warm weather, but we do have a chance of showers the next couple of days. I hope it stays nice for the visitors. We also have one little visitor coming tomorrow to spend a week, Grand Daughter, Brooke. :)





Departure day, and somebody dumped their rejects. :( Or should I call them misfits?

Just another floating coconut. :)









I thought that Beach Morning Glories and Railroad Vine were the same, but I ran across a site a few days ago that said, while both are morning glories, the Beach Morning Glories (Ipomoea pes-caprae) are white, and the Railroad Vine or Goat's Foot Vine (Ipomoea imperati)
has pinkish or purple flowers.

Mostly Cloudy Friday

We had another warm day, with a little rain this morning. It was partly sunny for a short time, but was cloudy again for a while this afternoon . This evening I had to go to Bailey's to pick up a couple things for dinner, so I drove on over to Pointe Santo de Sanibel on West Gulf Drive. I walked out to the beach to see if there were many shells and there really weren't many. One thing was kind of shocking; the beach looked a little like a mine field. There were holes everywhere you looked. I guess those shovels are only good for digging, not for filling in. Thank goodness it isn't 'Sea Turtle Season' yet.









These cute little kiddies were having an unsupervised ball! :) I hope their parents show up to help them fill the hole.

All of these pictures are of different holes and only a sample of what was there.


There is another "Heavy Traffic Advisory" for Saturday, March 27th, 2010.

Heavy traffic is anticipated along Periwinkle Way from Casa Ybel Road to Tarpon Bay Road due to 27th Sanibel-Captiva Lion's Club Arts and Crafts Fair being held at the Sanibel Community House, located at 2173 Periwinkle Way.

Sanibel Beach Thursday

Last night it was 63, today 74! I think it's Spring for sure. We went to resident access 6, off West Gulf Drive. It was after 4 but still felt warm out, until we walked out onto the beach. The breeze was a little cool there, but not too chilly to look at shells. :)



Guess which one I happily picked up.

This little orange, Juvenile Horse Conch is it. The little Turkey Wing, I picked up somewhere along the way.

Spring Has Sprung On Sanibel

Fifty Four degrees last night, seventy seven today! Spring Has sprung! I really think this is it!

It was such a perfect day for the beach, but we had grocery shopping to do first. On the way off the island, I was envious of all the people having fun on the causeway islands. :)








On the way back, a couple Lee County police vehicles went flying past. When we got to the first causeway island, three police vehicles were parked there and talking to a man, who appeared to be angry. At the end of that first island, traffic was stopped. We noticed there was no traffic coming from the island, which made us think there was a problem on the causeway. We sat there for quite a while and then began inching our way to the next island, where we sat again for a long time.


While we were sitting there, two of the police cars came past us. One went to the left to go around traffic, so all the cars were pulling over to the right to give it room. Then at almost the same time, the other police car was trying to go around the traffic on the right side, in the emergency lane where they had all shifted to. Boy, did that cause a mess. When we finally began moving, they were switching back and forth, letting some traffic go off island and then let some traffic through to go to the island. An ambulance was allowed through, which sat on the bridge for a while, before leaving again. There were three vehicles sitting in the same lane, which all appeared to be pretty badly damaged.

Going to the beach on our return was now a plan of the past. Traffic was gridlocked all over the island. This happened during the time when traffic is most heavy. Most days, during season, traffic is backed up most of the length of Periwinkle and a lot on a couple of other streets, as well. That is the condition, even with police directing traffic to keep the flow moving off island as fast as possible. Today it just kept piling up. :(

No beach time today. But there's always tomorrow, which is supposed to be another nice one! :)

Still Waiting For Another Warm Sanibel Day

Today we went to Turner Beach on Captiva to check out the waves and the shelling. The water was pretty rough and it was very windy too. The high for today was only 67. They keep predicting 75 degree days; maybe tomorrow?



Last time we were here, I couldn't see any sand in the area where you see people in this picture.

It was so windy, you had to hold onto your hat!



I picked up one shell from this pile. Can you guess which one?

Hmmm, no child here.

As we left, I was trying to get a picture of the cute little red scoot coupe, just as it was pulling out of the parking lot.

We made a stop at Tween Waters Crow's Nest to say hi to friends. While there, we decided to have their Prime Rib special. It was marvelous and a great end to the day!


*Oh, almost forgot! The little shell I picked up was a Turban.

Another Happy Day On Sanibel

Monday started off with some rain, then sunshine and a 70 degree day. We had to make a trip across the causeway just after noon. I was surprised to see a minimal amount of traffic. There weren't many boaters or fishermen either. Folks must be resting after a busy weekend, or something. While overseas, we stopped to have a late lunch at Big Al's City Sports Grill, a place we hadn't tried yet. The service was very good and so was the food. We will be going back. :)




Later this evening we went to Resident Access 5, off West Gulf Drive. The waves had brought in quite a bit of sand since I was there yesterday. I couldn't see many shells coming in, but there were still some left at the high tide line.
















Beach Sunflower


Gaillardia or Indian Blanket