A Few Days In The Sun: Impressions Of Florida

An old map of Florida seen at the Lake Worth Historical Museum

Turquoise bungalow in the old part of Lake Worth

Another turquoise house under a blue sky, because there are a lot of these in Florida

Florida outdoor living

An overgrown back alley

Maibox and bougainvillae

Florida oldie: a Chevrolet 3100

Those Florida sunsets...

Saturday's Farmers Market in Lake Worth

Oranges, anyone?

A plumeria tree just starting to bloom

Beautiful gardenias filing the air with their intoxicating perfume

Courtyard at the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach

A family re-union and a chance to hang out with my grandson

Fun in the water

I must apologize for my silence, dear Readers, but I was having so much fun in Florida that I gave myself permission to step away from the computer for a while to fully enjoy my time away. The main reason for the trip was a family reunion, which brought together four generations of the Kelly clan, including its youngest member, my little grandson Dove.
There was much laughter, much sun, and way too much eating, but it was wonderful and the days passed by way too quickly,
I am back in Carroll Gardens now, ready to resume blogging about our neighborhood.
Please check back tomorrow for new posts. Thanks for your ongoing support. It means the world to me.

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Well, hello Florida!

Sometimes, even a Carroll Gardens blogger needs to pack a bag, leave her favorite Brooklyn neighborhood, and head South.
I am currently in Florida, just soaking up the sun and exploring places that I have never visited.  I spent today in Winter Haven, visiting friends who introduced me to the Circle B Bar Reserve, which was quite stunning. I have never seen so much wildlife in one place.
Tomorrow, my trip will take me further down I-95 to West Palm Beach, where my husband and I will be reunited with his family for the big Kelly re-union.
More photos to come, so stay tuned. Read more

Coming Home

All good things have to come to an end, I guess. Goodbye sun, sand and beach. It's back to reality and the cold weather for this blogger. Will be back to reporting from Carroll Gardens on Monday, so do stop by for neighborhood news along with snow pictures of Court and Smith Streets.

I wanted to thank my mother-in-law Barbara for a beautiful week. It has been a pleasure sharing paradise with you.

To Helene and Jim, thanks for the hospitality and for the very tasty cosmopolitans. So glad I got to meet you.

And to Mary Ann, thanks so much for joining us for dinner last night. Loved your beautiful house.

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Brooklyn Blogger Stranded On A Sunny Island...In Florida

Dear Reader,
Can you imagine my misfortune? I am stranded on a a sunny island surrounded by beaches, citrus trees, long-necked birds, and alligators while I wait for the weather to clear in Brooklyn.
In the meantime, I am trying to deal with the warm temperature (80 degrees) and the blue skies...
Yesterday, Mr. Pardon Me took me on an 18 mile bicycle ride around the island and through a nature preserve. That's where we encountered the rather large alligator.
I'll return to Brooklyn on Friday, weather permitting. In the meantime, I'll try to manage here on Sanibel Island, Florida.

Katia

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At The Sanibel Farmers Market

Instead of doing my shopping at the Carroll Gardens Greenmarket this Sunday, I got to shop at the one on Sanibel Island. The produce was pretty great, especially the sun ripened tomatoes. (Remember those?)

I was most excited by the pretzels and incredible bread sold by a young German couple, who owns a bakery in Lehigh Acres here in Florida. The pretzels were definitely some of the best ones I have had in a long time and took me right back to my childhood in Germany.

The young bakers seemed willing to ship their goods to New York, when I asked. You can reach them through their web site here.

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Sand Between My Toes... On Sanibel Island

As promised, here are some of the photos I took yesterday on Sanibel Island's beach. The weather could not be better and my husband and I are enjoying our time with his mother.

So far, we have had a full program, as she is introducing us to all that the island has to offer. We have also met some of her island friends and it is great to know that she is part of a very close-knit community. Florida retirement looks rather awesome.

But no worries, I am coming back to Brooklyn...and the snow....in a couple of days.

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