To say we feel as if we are stranded is not an overstatement. What a year it has been. We wish we were writing this from the cockpit of Dream Catcher, but alas, we are stuck in Vero Beach, Florida. While not a bad place to be stuck, we are so bummed not to be back on the boat this summer, sailing those cool Maine waters. Well - there's always next year!
The year began with Sharon's dad dying in early January. It was such a surprise, given she'd just lost her mom in June and the fact that he was doing well. It was an ominous start to what we now know has been not such a great year for many, many people.
Though we have missed his smiling face, we feel fortunate that he hasn't had to deal with the challenges of COVID-19, the stressful political climate in the country, and a continuation of rampant racism that he had been dealing with since the sixties. Enough already! Can't we all get along?
Sharon's dad
Early in the year, friend visits made it all so fun! Late in 2019, friends Jim and Cynthia spent a week with us; friend Pat spent a week with us, enjoying the warmth in February; Lori and Tom shared a week basking in the sunshine; and Renee made it for a long weekend, early March - her first visit to our home here in Florida. Plus, Sharon's Aunt Gale and Uncle Dan were traveling around Florida in their camper, allowing several visits; Sharon shared a visit with friends Peg and Pam; Jon and Mary Ellen came to see our new home; and cruising friends Jim and Cristine shared time with us as they sailed through Vero. All visits were delightful and everyone made it home with no health issues, thank goodness!
Jim, Cynthia, Sharon and Greg
Tom, Lori, Sharon and Greg
Pat and Sharon in front of our house
Sharon and Renee at the Museum of Art Sculpture Garden
Sharon, Uncle Dan and Aunt Gale
Greg, Sharon, Cristine and Jim
After COVID -19 became a real issue in late March some of our visitors had to cancel late Spring visits. Bummer for all of us. We still had friends John and Grace and Marilyn and Bob in town. We shared golf and the occasional socially distanced outside cocktail hours. And fortunately, we have some great neighbors and are able to do the same with them occasionally. Sharon had been enjoying a pottery class at the Vero Beach Museum of Art and was starting a second 12 class session when the virus outbreak forced the museum to close. It was so much fun learning how to throw pottery on a wheel and her first projects weren't bad. She had also been taking a weekly group golf clinic at Sandridge Golf Club to try to get a handle on the game. It was so very helpful and her game is progressing. Then, the club closed! But, we found other clubs that stayed open, hit balls over at the municipal field, and practiced pitching in the back yard.
Sharon's first pottery pieces
Greg celebrating his Hole in One!
From April through June, we spent a good amount of time on our bicycles, walking the beach, sharing time with local friends (socially distanced of course) and on the golf course. With a change in the golf rules due to COVID it was easy to keep our distance and enjoy the out of doors in a safe way. Everything is sanitized and you're never within 20 yards of another human. Normally this would be weird, but now welcomed!
We have so missed dining out at our favorite restaurants. So far, all of them are still in business and we look forward to the days we feel comfortable dining out once again. It's a good thing Greg likes to cook. It keeps it interesting. We have had a lot of homemade pasta, pizza and other gourmet meals. We still wish we were comfortable dining out, but we'll leave that risk to the more cavalier folks.
First attempt at ravioli
Mint pesto to go with the lamb chops below
Seared scallops with spices, capers and cilantro
During all of this, our daughter Courtney and son-in-law Paolo were awaiting their first child's arrival. A sweet little girl, Penelope Olive, joined us on July 2. What an adorable child she is. We're so lucky! And we're looking forward to spoiling her over the years, of course.
The toughest weeks we had were when we had to fully quarantine for two weeks before we could visit with Courtney, Paolo and Penny. That meant not leaving our property for anything. So, Sharon's walks were around the yard to get her exercise rather than through the neighborhood or on the beach. Greg just worked the whole time, which was sort of handy because he needed some dedicated time anyway. We bemoaned our inability to walk up the street and jump in the ocean.
But, it was all worth it! We had a delightfully long weekend sharing meals together, cooking, and holding that sweet little baby - and, of course, hanging with Paolo & Courtney - always a delight.
It's also worth mentioning that Paolo and Courtney have had to quarantine since COVID started in February. The big benefit to this is that they and Penny are happy and healthy. And that is the most important thing nowadays. Thanks kids!
Sharon's walk around the yard,
the box in the middle is our house
Dad, Mom and Penelope
Living in Florida has its ups and downs (as does everywhere). One of the things we constantly marvel at is the unique vegetation and critters that live here. We have huge banana trees that supply us with lots of fruit. Flowers bloom all year long. What's strange is that we can't grow herbs the same way we could in New England. They die in the summer from the high heat - but most of the time, we have fresh herbs. Our tomatoes died before they even bore fruit (planted in July, ergh.) Maybe we will try them in October? On the other hand, our aloe and other succulents are going crazy! Our coleus is huge and re-seeds itself everywhere. The poinsettias that Sharon planted two winters ago on a whim are healthy and huge. No new blooms yet, but Christmas is coming.
Passion Flower Vine growing on our outside shower wall
Firebush with a Zebra Longwing Heliconian butterfly
outside our sunroom window
Buddha with succulents, nasturtiums and coleus
Firebush with a Monarch Butterfly
Beautiful Canna Lilies at a favorite garden center
Water Lily at McKee Botanical Gardens up the street
Pineapple Plant at McKee Gardens
We have several banana trees in our yard as a result of purchases of three varieties in the Springs of 2018 and 2019. Some are tall, some short. Last year we harvested from only one tree. This year, we have harvested from two, there is another with a large bunch still growing, and a new blossom on another. Each version tastes and looks different. It's been great fun!
Tom helping Greg with the first harvest this year
This is a 12 foot tree called an Ice Cream banana
166 bananas!
This tree is only four feet tall and the bananas are still tiny
And then there are all the critters! Lizards are in full force at this time of year. Fortunately, we are too far north for the destructive iguanas that our kids have at their home in Boca. We've seen land turtles, all kinds of tropical birds, lots of spiders, lots of lizards, a few snakes, and new to us, armadillos. Small snails are found crawling up the trash cans or across the sidewalk and strange moths are found in bushes. So interesting!
Portuguese man o' war - they wash up on the beach
in a heavy East wind
Sandhill Crane - common sight on many golf courses
On the golf course - Florida Box Turtle
Gopher Tortoise
Armadillo - on the golf course
Armadillo in our back yard
Polyphemus Moth - an 8" wing span - in one of our Areca Palms
These pictures are Sea Turtle crawl paths as they make
their way up the sand from the ocean to lay eggs
The stakes and orange tape surrounds a nest.
We saw 40 nests in a one-mile stretch earlier this summer
A storm rolling East taken from the marina, a half a mile
from our home. Staying here on Dream Catcher
introduced us to Vero Beach.
We had hoped to get the boat launched and head to New England in June. But with all the closures along the east coast and a new baby in the family, we have yet to do it. It may end up on the hard for another winter. ARGH!
Fortunately, we are safe, healthy, and staying busy as best we can. Life is quite different for us, but we are fortunate that we feel secure, live in an easy climate for outdoor activity, and have wonderful tech tools to stay in touch with those we love.
What will the fall bring? We don't yet know. Probably not sailing though. Hopefully, more time with Penelope, more time on the golf course, and a change in the atmosphere in our country. We wish and work for peace, less self-centeredness, a caring attitude toward one another, and hope for a better future as we approach 2021. We wish you good health and happiness as well.
'Til next time -
