Fix to Blogger Comment Issue

 

 

Housekeeping post today.

So, Blogger is having a bit of a hiccup at the moment. For some reason, comment notifications are not being sent to my email. Since this is the easiest way to reply to comments, it is a problem.

After some research, I found out three things: 1) This is a widespread problem 2) After no response on the Blogger Product Forum all day, one of the experts finally replied that Blogger is working on it 3) In the meantime, there is a fix that is working for me. At the bottom of your post's comment section, check the box that says notify me. This basically subscribes you to all comments on that post and they will show up in your email inbox. You will need to do this on every new post.

Hope this helps! And share this too :-)

 

This and That

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a strange weekend weather wise here on the gulf coast of Florida, with Tropical Storm Alberto scheduled to bring rain and wind. It did rain a bit, was breezy, but no more than usual this time of year and I wouldn't call what we saw a tropical storm at all.

We did get out quite a lot, including a walk on the beach near the yoga circle, a trip to the nearby orange grove for orange ice cream and on Monday, a late lunch in downtown Sarasota at a new to us barbeque restaurant. We are trying to discover some non beachy type restaurants; less touristy and better quality food.

I was able to finish watching Little Women on Masterpiece and I loved it so much. The reviews gave this adaptation a mediocre rating, but I thought it was beautifully done, with a bit of a modern feel. For me, the heart of Little Women is Jo, and the actress who plays her had all the charisma needed for the part. If you love this classic novel and especially Jo March, you will enjoy this version.

Happy Tuesday!

 

Celebrating the Bride to Be

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, there was a royal wedding this past weekend, but we had another wedding on our minds. It was Megan's bachelorette weekend in Traverse City and we had the best time. Megan definitely felt the love from all who were there.

Melissa, her sister and maid of honor, did a wonderful job planning the whole weekend, with fun touches like team bride hats and having the groom's photo on sticks for everyone to carry. The girls came from Chicago, Nashville and the Detroit area and I was happy to be invited and make the trip from Florida. They were a mix of college friends (University of Michigan), high school friends and elementary school friends. The mother of the groom and a few aunts were there as well.

Upon arrival on Friday, the moms and aunts did our own thing, while the girls hit the town in their team bride hats. We started the night at the beautiful rooftop bar at our hotel, walked a few blocks to town for dinner, also on a rooftop and ended the night back at the hotel rooftop for a nightcap.

After breakfast and a bit of shopping, we met the girls after their bridal brunch and proceeded on a bus to four beautiful wineries on The Old Mission Peninsula. It was so much fun and though it was chilly, the rain went away and we tasted some great wine. If you ever have the chance to go to Traverse City on a winery tour, definately go to Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery and drink the frose' (frozen rose) standing on the balcony overlooking the vineyards. Perfection.

That night, we had dinner in a private room at Red Ginger and the restaurant did a beautiful job with signage, flowers on the table and delicious food. After dinner, Megan opened presents and the girls convinced me to go to a bar with them for one last drink. I just love my daughters and all the girls in the bridal party. They are all beautiful girls - inside and out.

While the girls did a private yoga class, the moms and aunts had breakfast the next morning and my sister and I walked along the shore of Grand Traverse Bay, before our drive back to southeastern Michigan.

Like I said. So. Much Fun.

Happy Thursday!

 

Guest Posting Today

 

 

Laura was kind enough to ask me to write a guest post on her blog and she posted it today. It's all about how we downsized and became young retirees in Florida. This is my first time writing a guest post and it may be a fun way for you to learn something new about me.

Happy Monday!

 

A Visit for Mother's Day

 

 

 

 

A couple weeks ago, my daughter Melissa mentioned that she was free Mother's Day weekend (she travels a lot for work) and would I like her to come here for the weekend? Of course, I enthusiastically said yes and she was able to take a couple days off and stay Thursday night through Monday night.

Except for the weather not really cooperating, it was a great weekend, starting with a day at the beach on Friday, our only sunny day. It's always a treat to experience a beach day with those just arrived from the northern states, as they soak up the sun, sand and relaxation that comes with it. We came home, showered off the sand and ended the first day at our favorite beach bar for dinner.

Unfortunately, the clouds rolled in, but we still got in a few hours of pool time on Saturday, followed by Melissa's request of a home cooked meal. I made mashed potatoes (her favorite) for the first time since Thanksgiving. It made my mother's heart happy to cook for her. We ended the day with a walk to the beach, puppy in tow.

Sunday, rain was in the forecast, but we grabbed umbrellas and made the best of it. We headed north, to Clearwater Beach and met my mother in law for lunch. Luckily, the rain held off for lunch on the beach and only started falling once we were back in the car. However, a little rain didn't stop us from an impromptu stop at St. Armands Circle in Sarasota for a little shopping and dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant.

We tried for a few hours at the pool on Monday, but we only there for a few minutes before a storm rolled in. Dissapointing weekend weather wise, but still always fun with my daughter by my side. And, the best part of her visit is that it coincided with my trip to Michigan and instead of saying goodbye for months, I will see her (and Megan too) in just a few days.

Happy Tuesday!

 

Wedding Planning

 

 

 

In just three short months, I will be the mother of the bride at my daughter's wedding and I can't believe we are at this point. When an engagement comes there is a lot of happiness and celebrating. The planning starts, but it all feels a little abstract at that point. Over time, details begin to emerge, big decisions are made and deposits are paid. Then you are in a period of waiting to make final decisions, payments and work out all the small, but important details.

Everything is coming together, with the vision Megan wanted from the very beginning and I couldn't be more excited. I wish I could share the details, but we will keep everything under wraps until the big day and this is not the place to talk about them. Believe me, I will post many photos of events as they happen.

 

 

Next week I will be heading to Michigan for the bachelorette weekend in Traverse City. It is one of my favorite cities in Michigan and we will be celebrating Megan in a big way. A wine tasting tour is planned and she will be surrounded by some of her best friends.

June brings two bridal showers, the final fitting for her wedding gown and a meeting with the florist that I am excited about, since I love all things floral. I also will be seeing the venue in person for the first time!

So much to be excited about and I promise that I will take you along for all the celebrations.

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Sunday Funday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sundays for us are usually relaxing, quiet days, spent watching golf or football, reading and maybe cooking something for an early dinner. Yesterday, we headed out bright and early for a round of golf with some friends who are headed back to Michigan for the summer. It was a fun time on the course, but bittersweet, since we won't see them until our daughter's wedding in August.

After golf, my husband and I headed to downtown Venice for one of the bigger festivals; The Venice Seafood and Music Festival. There was live music, and a long row with any kind of fresh seafood you could want. It was very hard to choose, but I went with blackened grouper and my husband chose jambalaya. Delicious. The margarita tasted really good as well, since it was the first of those hot and humid Florida days we experience all summer long.

Not wanting to go home quite yet, we set off to find an out of the way place we had heard about that sells orange soft serve ice cream. It actually is very close to our house, just down a road we hadn't been on before. There is an orange grove attached and the cute store has a walk up window for ice cream sales. I had the vanilla and orange flavor and my husband had pineapple and orange. It lived up to its billing and I think we will be back and it will also be a great place to take out of town guests to experience a bit of old Florida.

Happy Monday!

 

May Book Club - The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

 

 

 

What a charming book! This book is not one that I had heard anything about, but when I read the synopsis, I was immediately hooked. Harold Fry is an ordinary man who unexpectedly begins walking ( in boat shoes) from one end of England to the other. He believes that by walking to visit his old friend Queenie, who is in hospice, that she will stay alive, as long as it takes him to get to her. He meets many people along the way who each teach him something important and becomes an "Everyman" hero to the country. We also learn in bits and pieces the history of his marriage and how his wife Maureen comes to realize that she took him for granted and begins to miss him, much to her shock. There is a point in the book where the reader finally learns what lead to Harold and Maureens' painful life and this pilgrimage and it is quite shocking. Of course, the book nerd in me, couldn't help but compare this book to Pilgrim's Progress and I was transported right back to English Lit class.

And, much to my delight, there was wine and cheese served at book club! We sat around a small table, discussed the book and then stayed to chat even longer. It definitely broke the ice a bit more and I feel like I'm really getting to know these ladies. It was a very nice night of books and conversation.

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

An Active Monday

 

 

 

 

 

It's a lifestyle at this point. Yes, being active is good for my health, but it has become something I love. I love the way I feel and I love exploring new places.

Mondays are my yoga days, right here in my neighborhood. I only have to walk the three blocks to the clubhouse, yoga mat in hand and I'm ready to begin. We are a small, but committed group (I'm the one with the green mat) and the instructor is really good. I really feel it, in all my muscles, usually the next day. We do a lot of core work and I believe it is so important for someone my age to stay strong and flexible. I'm slowly, but surely, building up my time on planks. I also go to yoga on the beach, but that is really more about the beautiful location, than getting much benefit from the practice.

It was such a beautiful night, still warm and breezy, so I grabbed my puppy, jumped in the car and drove the short distance to the beach. We walked on a path around a small lake on one side and the gulf on the other, shimmering in the pre sunset light. So peaceful.

A good day for both body and mind.

Happy Tuesday!