We were invited to spend the day in Sarasota Florida.
And – we were scheduled to see the Botanical Gardens
I did not know what to expect
and was quite surprised at what unfolded
as we spent over two hours walking
a paradise of green lush gardens!
A tunnel of mangroves! Every corner we rounded brought something unexpected!A eye ball with a waterfall represented a exhibit by SALVADORE DALI along with EGGS and BUTTERFLIES!Huge trees with roots expanded outward to better balance the tree as there is nothing but sandAnther SALVADORE DALI tribute LIPS!A quiet water fall just the sound calming and lush with vegetationA piano in the pondA piano in the tree!
As we walked – I was amazed at just how everything just blended
into nature – how calming it was – and so shaded!
SALVADORE DALI HATCHING FROM A EGG!A building full of originals some not seen in 15 years!Ginger our friend Sherry and her sister Debbie
You would never know you were in the middle of Sarasota!
And you would find yourself gazing out over the water!
Sarasota BayBenches at the end of a path sit and lookout over the bay
I found myself in a calm state of mind
Hug a tree with the one you admireSeek shelterSpread your wings as a butterfly!
It was a thing I had never considered to do
and now thankful I did!
Peace – love and happiness!
Glass ” WATER”Sherry Debbie Ginger
Thank you for reading Papa’s World
Elephant or Butterfly!
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PAPA!
WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY!
Marie Selby BOTANICAL GARDENS SARASOTA FLORIDA !!!!
Then – a friend invited us “OVER” from Winter Haven
where we had booked a AirBNB for a month!
So – we made the nearly two and one half hour drive
AND I WANT TO GO BACK !!!!!
Lido Beach Very wide white sand beach
I was so mesmerized by the city itself –
that I did not take pictures until we walked the beach!
Right at the end of the main street which the locals call the circle
We walked the main street – full of shops
both sides of the street
and all the places to sit down either outside
or inside and have breakfast – lunch and dinner!
Shorts – colorful shirts – music filled the air.
The vibe is what I noticed – and we could walk!
Right to the entrance of LIDO BEACH!
Sherry and her sister Debbie with part of Sarasota in the back ground
The sand – does not burn your feet for some reason!
And is like powder in some spots
and a mixture of crushed shells in others.
The waves – hardly any at all –
Big expanse of sand bar –
with tidal pools that were warm from the sun!
Just gentle waves and very easy to walkThe wide expanse of white sand beach
I found myself just calmed – no worries-
and wondering “HOW DO I GET BACK HERE”?
Birds taking a bath they were not concerned about us and they would just duck under the gentle waves and wash themselves so calming!Sherry walking the beach looking for shells which she found big ones!
Thank you for reading Papa’s World
If you want – put this one on your bucket list
A must see and do
SARASOTA LIDO BEACH a walk in the sandThe bay in Sarasota
her one birthday wish was to swim with the Manatee’s!
Since we were going to be in Florida
We made that wish come true!
Now – the second oldest last summer turned 16.
And her one wish was to see STAR WARS!
Ella our grand daughter who is a big STAR WARS FAN!!!!
So – we again were going to be in Florida
So we took her with us for a week!
In a State far – far away – the adventure begins!
Sherry and Ella in a Star Wars store at Hollywood Studios
Our trip was eventful – we spent a Monday – early to after closing
in the Hollywood Studios of Star Wars –
Riding almost all the rides – and seeing almost all the shows!
TEN IN ALL!
At the INDIANA JONES STUNT SHOW! Ella and SherryElla and Sherry about to ride the twirling saucers
It was a very long day – but so worth it
You can see it in her eyes and smile!
Then on Tuesday – Sunday we had done a giant Flea Market
We took her to our old stomping grounds
The Villages – where with my brother we spent three winters
before he passed away.
At Brownwood in the villages
We toured all three town centers
showing her everything we could
Ending up in Sumter Landing and listening to the live band and music
Watching all the old people like us
dance the night away!
I told Sherry I really miss it down here!
Ella and Sherry At Big Bend Power Park
On Wednesday – we took her to Big Bend Power Plant Park
To see the hundreds of Manatee’s
and then on to Clear Water beach and Sand Key Park to see the gulf waters
It was too cold to go into the water – although people were in the water
But she got to walk the white sand beaches
and see the Gulf!
Sherry and Ella seeing the sting rays at Big Bend park
Thursday was a down day – pick up groceries
and she watched the first two Indiana Jones movies
as she had never seen them
and after being at the stunt show
we decided to see them on Netflex!
Friday and Saturday – we spent both days until dark
exploring 7 or 8 Disney resorts!
Animal Kingdom lodgePolynesian ResortThe Dolphin ResortThe Grand FloridianThe finding Nemo resortSherry and Ella on the new Sky liner at Disney resorts
We parked for free – and rode the Mono Rail to four different stops
And the second day we went to Board Walk resort
next to Epcot
And rode the new SKY LINER
to Four more resorts!
We parked for free – and neither the boats
the Monorail or the Sky liner
cost anything!
Sherry Tom Ella
We spent all Saturday after noon at Disney Springs –
Again – no cost!
Ella and Sherry at Disney Springs
They had so much fun together – making memories.
BUZZ LIGHT YEAR with Sherry and Ella
I hope you like what you see here
and thank you for reading Papa’s World
Ella and Sherry
And Oh by the way – Ella loves to shop
And that fit right into Sherry’s purpose of life! LOL
WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY!
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Sadly – we say goodbye as she flies back home.
By the way – her return fight ticket – her one suitcase
The last regular game of the season – soccer – girls – both J.V. and Varsity.
Seven seniors – four have played together for 10 plus years.
Our granddaughters – Maddy Meyers – varsity – & Ella Myers J.V. – both play for James Wood H.S. in Winchester Va.
The J.V. team – Ella is the starting Midfielder – finished the season 10 wins 2 losses 3 ties .
The Varsity – Maddy is the starting Midfielder – finished the season 12 wins 3 losses & 1 tie – having defeated the teams they lost to and tied.
Seven Seniors
We have watched – traveled all over the East Coast – stayed in hotels – packed food – eaten out – made friends with other parents and grand parents – for over eight years.
NUMBER 9 – MADDY MYERS
And sadly – it is about to come to a end – well – almost – as Ella will be playing the next two years !
Maddy – who is district all conference – will attend the University of Lynchburg Va. on a letter of intent – starting this Summer as all incoming Freshmen report for a week of camp for Soccer.
Debby and Mike being escorted onto the field by Ella.
Now – the district playoffs begin – James Wood is the number two seed – it was a four way race – the tie kept them out of first place – as that team ended up in first with one more win.
Debby – Maddy – Mike
Very proud on what she has accomplished – as a Freshman – she started Varsity – she also opted on her own – to move from the Winchester travel team – to Loudoun County soccer travel – the RED TEAM – D.C. area – higher competition – traveling the entire East Coast for weekend tournaments – driving 60 miles each way three times a week for practice – ( her mother Freshman – Sophomore and Junior years driving ) winning the ESPN tournament if Orlando Fla. when she was a junior.
All the while maintaining a 4 . 10 GPA – taking college courses – very – very proud of this young lady.
She selected the college from a list of 4 or 5 – and is now ready to move on – with a lot of emotional tears from her parents.
NUMBER NINE MADDY
It will be different next year as number NINE moves on – to be filled by number TEN as Ella moves up.
A host of records were set this year by the team – and Maddy and Katie P ( # 13 ) – who have played together for over 10 years – she is attending DeSales University in Pa. – with Maddy playing Midfielder and Katie forward – Katie broke the school record in scoring 74 goals and assists. They play so well together.
Maddy shot on goal.
Soon – graduation is right around the corner – but first there are the State playoffs. I do not know how far they will go – but I do know how far they have come – from little girls playing co-ed – to grown ladies – playing the best competition they could on the East coast.
Maddy taking a header in the middle toward the goal
So today we move on – Friday is the playoff game – hoping they place to move on for states – our little grand daughter all grown up.
Sherry – Maddy – Tom
The next step- University of Lynchburg HORNETS – going to be some awesome road trips !
I hope you enjoy my tribute to one we have loved for 18 years –
one who I remember picking up from the babysitter –
The years went by so quickly – fourteen to be exact. When she was four – she started playing soccer. It was at that time – the ball seemed to be almost as big as she was !
Our Grand daughter – Madison ( Maddy ) last week signed her letter of intent to play college soccer at the University Of Lynchburg in central Va.
We took the 60 mile journey to Winchester Va. to James Wood H.S. where she is in her last year – for a celebration by the school – and the other part of this story is that her friend and playmate for the last fourteen years – ” Katie P ” also signed her letter of intent to play at the University DeSales in Pa. !
They both had played as four year old’s all the way through H.S. including travel teams in Winchester and the last three years traveling 65 miles one way – three times a week for practice with the Loudoun County Red team.
Maddy has had this goal in mind for a very long time and with all this she still has maintained a 4 . 10 GPA ! Katie also has done the same.
Her college team is going to be a three hour drive for us – which in my mind is ” ROAD TRIP ” something we both enjoy.
Very proud of the young lady she has become – from being the smallest on the field to a strong midfielder who has become defined by her coaches as the ” FULL PACKAGE ” , everything comes through her on the field.
And as you can see – she has grown into the part – taking after my wife who with Swedish heritage – is 5 ‘ 9″-
Maddy certainly has those genes. Another day in PAPA’S WORLD – living healthy and life to the plus !
We traveled into DC to watch our twin grand daughters
sing in a fourth grade chorus of 110 classmates!
Papa – Bode & MorMor
But first we had to get there – so we took Bode on the Metro!
Five year old grandson Bode
And you can see the excitement in his eyes!
Riding the train!
Coming up at the Regan Center
We arrived around 3:00 pm. The girls were to sing at 5:00 pm.
So – we walked to
the Elephant & Castle to have lunch!
MorMor ( Sherry) & Bode
We were going to meet Tammy and Marcus
and we killed some time before going back outside
in the wind and cold –
18 degrees wind chill!
Marcus Bode Tammy We met up but the gates were closed because somewhere there was a incident we never learned what it was!
So – we walked up the street to Old Ebbit Grill
And they had some wine
and got warmed up!
Tammy and Bode at Old Ebbits Grill
When we walked back down the street
we found all 110 kids standing outside the gate
they still were not allowed in!
We found Taylor and of course as always a big smile!
And then we found Cassidy so darned cute in her purple hat and scarf!
Soon – the secret service and the park police arrived
and opened up all the gates –
Then it was onto the Christmas Tree stage
The stage with the White house Christmas tree behind it!
It was really cold and the wind was blowing
All the kids were ushered into a big tent
where they grouped up – got warm
and waited to come out!
The director of the choir and Cassidy in Purple climbing up to her spot on the top row
Cassidy ended up on the top row – and you could see her rising
up and down on her tiptoes to be seen! LOL
Taylor ended up in the front row
Then they began to sing – and I was very impressed!
The Madison Trust fourth grade chorus
They sang five songs – and they were really good –
All are classmates of the fourth grade in the school they attend.
The White House Christmas TreeThe WHITE HOUSE in the background Each small tree is from all the different statesBeautiful sky behind the treeSome of the toy towns and trains on the lawnSherry with the Washington Monument in the back ground It was cold!Cassidy – fifth from the right
We had traveled to Raleigh N.C. to see Sherry’s sister.
On that Saturday – we went into Raleigh early
11-23-19 parade started at 9:15 am.
to find a parking spot
and meet up with her daughter – husband and two grand kids.
Tom and Sherry in downtown Raleigh waiting for the parade to start
This happened to be the 75th. year of this parade
a parade that was scheduled to go for 2 1/2 hours!
But – rain was predicted
we hoped we would see it all!
The first marching band was from
The University of North Carolina State
North Carolina State marching band I am guessing some where around 5 or 6 hundred in the bandThey kept coming and performed just past usThe end of North Carolina State marching band
We managed to see all kinds of units
clowns – horses – cars – trucks – drill teams
But the marching bands kept coming
And they almost all were High School and huge
One after another
The uniforms were just fantastic
and most seem to be from this area
We got to see them all perform just past our spotOur niece Kristy – daughters and husband Casey along with Sherry’s sister Debbie
The rain held off – there were floats – Queens and courts
both local and state.
Band after bandIt started to sprinkle
Gingerbread – followed by a band – preceded by a band
They were running with the shark and would run toward the crowd on either side of the street and at the last moment turn away the kids loved it!There were about a dozen trucks like thisStar Wars 20 to 30 people dressed up like all Star Wars peopleMany Ethnic groups marchedThe many different Queens
It was here that it started to rain harder
we had watched for two hours
a dozen or two of marching bands
We started gathering up our chairs
covering our heads
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The legion for Star Wars
We stayed as long as we could
I felt sorry for the remainder of the parade
as I looked up the street – there was no end in sight
we had seen in two hours so much it is hard to explain
or to remember.
Sherry watching the marching bands Put this parade on your bucket list It was not on mine but I want to return it was that good!