Out and About....

There's a temporary lull in our activities....In a week, Sparky heads to Myrtle Beach, VA, to visit with Eldy's sister-in-law for a couple of days...

For the time being, we are putzing around the house, reading, Eldo is researching where to escape the heat for a month next summer...Colorado, maybe?

Sparky celebrated her 65th birthday last week...Just a special dinner out at Mattison's City Grille in Sarasota, that was all that was needed to make her happy! And a glass of wine....She's VERY happy to be on Medicare!

Fantastic food this restaurant has....Sparky's dinner was a filet with gorgonzola cheese and bacon on top of mashed potatoes with a demi glace sauce with asparagus....

And creme brûlée for dessert! Perfect!

Life doesn't get any better than that!

Sparky is back out on her bike in between rainstorms....This is a different kind of rain pattern these past two weeks. Normally, the rains come in the afternoons, kind of late, hang around for a half hour or so, cool off the air, and they are gone. This summer, the rains come and they stay. It has rained two days in a row all day long. Rain is forecast in the 40-80% chance for two solid weeks, going on three. So getting a bike ride in is problematic at times. Sparky has checked the radar before heading out, only to find that she gets caught in pop up rain showers more than once! It can be sunny at our house, and pouring down rain in less than a mile. But she's still riding 15 miles at least a couple times a week... One rainy day we decided to go to the Red Barn Flea Market. There are supposedly 600 vendors at this market, but during the summer it's much more quiet. We think a lot of them head north.There are three open air Farmer's Markets, and lots of nice produce. There are also two food courts. In the summer, they host over 10,000 visitors each weekend. Because the hours are a little complicated, check here for when they are open: http://www.redbarnfleamarket.com/location-hours/

Sparky LOVE antiques and flea markets, but Red Barn has more junky stuff from China and India than true vintage stuff. But it's still fun to walk around and check out the junk. Sparky likes looking at the "As Seen on TV" stuff, and wondering how many of these silly inventions were once reviewed on that show, "Shark Tank"?

They've got the usual flea market stuff....license plates, tee shirts, sox, hot sauce.....

and jumbo jawbreakers....Nothing we can't live without.....

Eldo paused briefly at the golf supply shop but came away empty handed. (!)

Just as a personal opinion, we like the flea market at Webster Flea Market in Webster, Florida, MUCH better! Tons more stuff and variety, open every Monday....

Life is good and we are well and healthy.....Take care of yourselves and we'll see you again soon....