We love Mom and Dad!

Inverness, FL    February 15 - 25, 2013

We made the drive from Mexico Beach to Inverness to stay with Peg’s mom Leslie and step-dad JT.  We were a little nervous about the space at their house for our huge traveling home.  We couldn’t fit within their fenced yard, but luckily there is a vacant lot right next door.  With much help from JT, I was able to back Suni into the lot.  He also ran a power cord for us, so we could have power!  Thanks Dad!  Their Inverness house is wonderful!  It sits on ½ acre right on a canal with tons of wildlife flying and scurrying about.  The large yard is all fenced in so all of the animals (including us) had a leash vacation – it was fabulous.

The new deck on the back of the house.

 

The canal behind their house.

Suni next door

During the first couple days of our visit we were treated with an additional guest.  Peg’s aunt Patti Gibney flew in for a two day visit.  We all toured the Inverness area visiting Leslie and JT’s favorite haunts; a great fruit stand, a beautiful beach, a manatee harbor and a great tiki bar on the water.  After many years of trying to see a manatee we finally did it.  The big guy swam right up to us where we could follow him around while he munched on the bottom grass.  Patti treated us to a round of drinks on the water as we watched the osprey feeding their babies - so cute.  We then celebrated being together with a traditional Vineyard dinner… JT’s famous clam chowder, smoked blue fish, stuffed clam points, and delicious scallop scampi!  What a feast.  It was great catching up with Patti sharing old family photos and trying to figure out the last time they all saw each other which we think was over a decade ago. 

Peg, Mom and Patti

 

Manatee!!!!

Peg loves dad's chowder.

We spent the rest of our time with mom and JT relaxing, eating, drinking and laughing!  We were able to go out in their boat twice.  The first day on Rainbow River a crystal clear spring fed river that was truly beautiful.  We saw tons of birds and turtles and even an alligator.  The second trip out we launched in Hernando Lake and trolled around the canal system that runs behind their house.  We even found a great beach to have a delicious lunch.  Navigation is quite interesting in and around the canals as they all look alike.  For a while we felt like Kathryn Hepburn on the African Queen, but JT was in complete control and got us home safe and sound. 

Gator aaaah

Turtle turtle tutle

Peg, JT and Mom in the boat

Of course mom cooked all of Peg’s favorite things and then some!  We gained all of the weight we had managed to lose before we got here, but what a way to go.  She also mended all of Peggy’s knitted sweaters and upgraded our new dish pad with a loop for hanging!  What are mom’s for - we love you!

Mom and JT’s dear friends Kathy and Larry treated us to a delicious dinner at their house one night.  It was great to meet them after hearing so much about them from mom.  Mom and JT also treated us to a couple of fabulous meals out – which is always such a special treat for us.  On one of our final nights we made them a special thank you dinner which we served in Suni; our first real dinner party!  Great fun.

JT let us go through all of his extra books so we were able to stock up on some new favorites!  We are hooked on Stuart Woods thanks to Dave Berg and JT had a great supply – saved us a ton of money.  We were all so sad to leave, but none sadder than the grand-pets as they will desperately miss the freedom they enjoyed in the yard.  They loved going to see grammy in the morning and it wasn’t just because of the treats in her pocket even Miciou loved it there.  We can’t wait to see them again in the North.

Coming soon… Sarasota and Fort Myers, FL