Seas and Greetings

The season is upon us. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I think of all the family up north sitting in front of their fires and toasting to the new year which is rapidly approaching. And me? I am just trying to find where I put the suntan lotion.
I am so grateful so many of us were able to gather here in Florida last year. This year Gerard and I are adjusting. Truth be told, it is me who is needing the adjustment....finding a new way of being in a land of forever green. It is unseasonably warm even in Florida... 87º all the way through Christmas Day. Plenty of beach time will be part of the adjustment.
I am missing all of us being together.  My mom, Sarita, had a small dinner party on the 20th in Chicago and I was able to fly in unbeknownst to her, It was such a delight to witness her surprise as I walked in the door. I flew back the very next day.
Speaking of fly time, I flew in to see the grandkids a couple weeks ago, but there was unexpected hiccup. My oldest, Halyn, landed in the ICU for three days from complications of strep throat... a bit of a scare. While there I managed to contract a little somethin' somethin' that prohibited me from flying up to see the boys. I didn't want anyone else sick before or during the holidays. So I returned to palm trees and sunshine to recuperate.
I hope and pray sometime soon my kids and my grandkids will have the opportunity to come down and visit. For now, we have to rely on FaceTime. We love chatting with the kids  and being able to SEE them! They are growing so fast, each so different and wonderful angels who amaze us at every turn.

Erin, Kyle, Reed, Trey and baby Levi

Chaz, Brittany, Halyn, Myla and Elidy

With no holiday traveling, I spent the morning cleaning owl burrows. I started volunteering with Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife after finding a new burrow here in the neighborhood.  Every Wednesday we go out with weed whackers and clear the overgrown burrows, so these little creatures can find their way back. Cape Coral has the largest population of Burrowing Owls in all of Florida. We manage to clear and mark 20-30 burrows each week out of the 3300 scattered throughout the community. It is extremely satisfying, especially when we come upon active burrows. The owls often just watch us work.
Gerard has seen one of Alley's babies. I am hoping it will inhabit her nest and we will once again have a resident alligator. I have to say the wildlife is what I love most about SoFlo.

Gerard is still working out in the studio tonight. He has been in a creating mood. We will participate in the Sunset Festival in January and February to sell our jewelry before we head out on the road for two months. We hope to set out and discover the Old Florida in our new van.

This year Gerard also went mostly vegetarian. Eating whole foods has made us both much healthier and has challenged me to be more creative with food. I thank my lucky stars I am a pinterest-a-holic and can find so many recipes. We both walk Sitka miles and miles... he definitely keeps us moving.

Bowman Beach on Sanibel Island

Tonight, we will take a ride out with ragtop down and go see the houses with computerized light shows. I understand they get better every year.  click here--> Holiday Light Show.
Tomorrow night, Christmas Eve, Gerard and I will make our family's traditional arroz and tostadas. Christmas morning and I mean morning....6am!.... we will head over to Sanibel Island for sunrise and shelling and a mimosa breakfast on the beach. Here's to new traditions. We hope to catch sight of spoonbills at JN Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge and then take s swim in the Gulf.

It is awfully quiet around here, but all our neighbors should be returned after Christmas and I expect many of us will be sitting in the hot tub with champagne for New Year's Eve.

We hope the new year will bring a quick sale for the Heart House. I am finally ready to let go. I am ready to turn the page and write the next chapter.

Wishing you all love, health and prosperity,

Catherine and Gerard