Marie the Centenarian - A Wonderful Celebration

My Mom, Marie McDermott, celebrated her BIG 100th in fine style.  She started the day attending 8:30 Mass at Sacred Heart Church where everyone sang Happy Birthday to her.  Father Stephen Olds greeted her warmly and said the Mass for her intentions.  

At noontime, she zoomed with our entire family.  Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren lit up the airwaves in conversation from Hawaii, California, Connecticut, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Florida, etc.  At 2 pm, she celebrated at South Port Square Town Hall (where she resides) with 30 of her friends at a Cocktail Party complete with piano and songs from every decade of her life.  

The Grand Finale was a 6 pm at the Isles Yacht Club.  Fourteen family and close friends enjoyed a sumptuous champagne toast, prime rib dinner and chocolate birthday cake.  There was a wonderful slide show of her life created by son-in-law, Al Kuhnen.  A beautiful picture of her youngest great granddaughter, Lana Spanbock, was shared with everyone.  It was particularly meaningful because Baby Lana was dressed in Marie's original 100 year old Christening dress and hat!  As the party came to an end, we again sang Happy Birthday led by the Isles' Duo and had a parting dance.  All and all, a perfect tribute to wonderful Lady and inspiring Mother.

Mom standing with her poster about her life

Wonderful Slide Show created by son-in-law, Al Kuhnen

Champagne Toast

Beautiful grand-daugher, Michele, did the toast

Birthday Cake with Nephew, Jake Hickton

Mom with daughter, Joanne

Jake & Claudia's gift - new hat, animal print scarf and shades.
The New 100 Look!

Cayo Costa After the Storm

 Eta, a near miss for Punta Gorda in early November, almost pushed the sea over our seawall and into our backyard. Cayo Costa was not so lucky; the park's floating dock was damaged. We took advantage of our nice weather to run down to Pelican Bay November 20th to find the floating dock surrounded with yellow tape. 

Upon calling the ranger, Joanne found that we could use one of the slips on the fixed pier.  This was our first time to dock at the park dock other than by dinghy.  We chose a slip next to the floating dock that we soon learned that the tour boats were now using. Not a problem as they were not operating that day. Before we left a few hours later, the rangers had affixed a "Service Boats Only" sign for the slip. 

After riding over to the beach, we walked about a mile along the beach. You can see the line shells washed far up on the sand in the photo below.  After walking back to the dock, we left to  anchor in Pelican Bay for a beautiful sunset and cool evening.  

The wind picked up to put white caps on lower part of Charlotte Harbor for a breezy ride back home on Saturday morning. 

Lickity Split at Park Dock

Many Shells Newly Washed Up on Beach 

Driftwood On the Beach

     

Sunset from Anchorage

Sunset from Anchorage

 November 17 - Fourth Farm to Families Food Distribution for Charlotte County.  Once again Lions, Vincentians and other volunteers manned and womaned our distribution of food boxes one this beautiful morning in Franz Ross Park.  Over four hundred families received food boxes this morning. Many more boxes were picked up by local food pantries. Charlotte County provided a forklift and driver as the Oakes Farms semi was not equipped with a lift gate.

County Provided Fork Lift and Driver

Volunteers 

  

A New Roof

 A New Roof for Our House - Our roof was damaged by hurricane IRMA three years ago. We had no leaks but a number of tiles were cracked.  We didn't know or even suspect any damaged until we had the roof cleaned a little over two years ago. A year later the insurance company settled for about $75,000 for a new roof. On November 5th, the city building inspector signed-off on the roof completion. All that awaits is a new solar panel for the hot water heater. 

October 22nd

November 6th