Thursday

 

We hung some artwork in the foyer today. John painted this one. I think we should find a frame for it.

The camera had a hard time capturing the color from a distance, but this image shows where we hung it.

This is our new golf cart! We dropped Toby off at daycare and headed to Largo, about 15 minutes south on Hwy 19. Sounds spontaneous, but we've been thinking about it for awhile. Our list of wants includes lots of toys, like kayaks, electric bikes, etc., but we have to pace ourselves. With summer approaching, we knew we'd be driving Toby to shaded parks to avoid the sun and heat. Last year, we went to the community center every day. We had hoped to use his bike trailer, but he outgrew it and he doesn't like it as much as he did when he was a puppy. (We still have it and may try it again with the top open at some point.) The new golf cart will also be useful for taking him to Lake Saundra to walk, Weaver Park, Marina Park, Edgewater Park,  and downtown. We can also use it to drive to Stirling Park (alongside the Pinellas Trail) for our morning causeway walk. That will cut out a boring mile walk up Palm Boulevard into the neighborhood.

We also thought it might be fun in May when my family comes to visit. It will hold 5, easily. By then, we will have learned the backstreets where golf carting is permissible and where you are allowed to cross major streets, between here and downtown.

The hardest part was choosing a color. We liked the orange one and the yellow one, but thought this color might work better in the long run. Also, John said it would be easier to decorate for the holidays. Yes, people put blinking lights, flags, sound systems, etc. on their carts for the holidays. I thought we might like the lifted version (6 inches taller), but it was bouncy and had a higher center of gravity. It didn't feel as secure. Plus you had to climb up to get in it. This one you just slide in.

We learned not to drive in flip flops. John's flip flop got caught on the brake on his first test drive while he was heading for a moving forklift that was backing into our path. 

Delivery should be tomorrow. We were hoping for tonight. 😞 

We rearranged the bikes to make room for our new toy.

We managed to pick up Toby and visit H&R Block to sign an amended 1040X due to a revised brokerage 1099 that arrived after we filed and after we had already received our refund. Then we got our new cart insured (cheap) and visited the Dunedin city office for golf cart permits and got our sticker. Then we walked Toby at Highlander Park, next to the community center. The city is preparing for the 54th annual Highland Games (link goes to schedule of events), which is a big deal. Because of the pandemic, we haven't experienced it, but it sounds fun. Advanced tickets are sold out, so I'm not sure we'll be able to get in at the gate. The last games were held in 2018 before the pandemic. We'll at least try to walk by and take pictures.

John took a picture of this sign about lightning detection. Florida is the lightning capital, after all. From Tampa to Titusville is nicknamed "Lightning Alley."

Miles walked: 3.5

Miles biked: 0

Today was a car day. Boo.

Wednesday

Toby’s chillin out in the grass. The temperature was 82 degrees. The wind was blowing 14 mph, so it felt just about perfect on our after lunch walk.

The skies were awesome.

Our morning routine was a bit disrupted. I had a 7:00 a.m. appointment for my fasting blood work. I didn’t get home until a little before 8:00. After cereal and coffee and walking Toby, we hopped on our bikes and headed to the causeway. We arrived at 10:00, about an hour later than our usual walk.

We watched this kite surfer for a few minutes.

Look how high off the water he is!

In this picture too.

It was a comfortable 72 degrees on the walk.

Chicken salad with cauliflower hummus on my bread instead of mayo.

Beet, ginger, lemon juice combined with OJ.

And a fruit bowl with Greek yogurt and cottage cheese.

And then this monster for dinner! We ate the whole Jet’s Pizza, veggie deep-dish. This was to celebrate months of healthy eating and exercise after having my blood work checked this morning. John said it was cheating, but it was so good. He joked that pizza keeps his cholesterol around 175. It’s true. He tests under 200 no matter what he eats. I can unwrap a stick of butter and my number goes up 50 points.

Lab results tomorrow. 🤞

Miles walked: 11.2

Miles biked: 5.38

Tuesday

A seaplane flew over us while we were on the tidal bridge this morning on our morning walk. We took Toby to daycare first. 

The temperature was 70 degrees when we finished. The wind was almost calm at 4 mph. It was a good day for kayaking and paddle boarding. The lack of wind made it feel very warm.

We walked to the entrance of Honeymoon Island State Park. They're making progress on the ticket booth addition. Folks waiting in line will have a nice view of the lagoon.

Speaking of progress, John got this shot of the tortoise progress. This view is from Curlew Road.

Workers were repairing some of the pylons aligning the main channel under the drawbridge.

Just finished our walk.

Lake Saundra from our early morning walk. No wind.

After we picked up Toby, John and I rode down to Weaver Park to exercise. John left early to check on Toby and dinner.

After exercising, I rode through downtown and stopped at Stevenson Creek to watch these two manatees swim under the Pinellas Trail bridge.

I rode on to Alt. 19 and turned around.

Our trainer sent us pictures from Monday's class. We were practicing sit (or down) and stay on a 15 foot leash. We waited for two minutes and then walked back to them in a heel position and released them. Toby did it. He also did the come command on the long leash with a delicious treat that he had to walk over without eating (leave it). He did that, too.

John sent me grocery shopping. Can you tell? Beet, ginger, and lemon is delicious! (I add OJ and take my 100% psyllium with it.)

For our afternoon walk, John took his trike while Toby and I used our feet. John claims it gives him better stomach and leg exercise than walking. He walks so fast, I’m thinking of getting ankle weights for him.

John made crockpot chicken with a ginger and sesame marinade.

Today’s bike route to Weaver Park and Alt. 19 in Clearwater 

Miles walked: 11.7

Miles biked: 11.93

Monday

 

John took this picture on our morning causeway walk. The wind was hardly blowing (4 mph), and the temperature was in the upper 60s when we started and about 70 when we finished.

We rode our bikes out to the drawbridge and started walking from there.

We were both tired on our walk today. Some days are easy and some are challenging. 

We pass a veteran every day who walks with a walker, his feet dragging the pavement with each step. He’s a friendly guy whose effort reminds us to keep trying, working with what we have.

The skies were vivid on our after lunch walk. The high temperature today was 76 degrees. Low humidity, just beautiful.

Today was training day at Petsmart. We did okay, not great and not embarrassing. We didn’t practice much last week. It’s hard to incorporate it in our regular day, unless it’s “leave it” “come,” or “sit.” After Monday training is over, we put the other commands out of our mind for the rest of the week, so glad to have made it through another class. We’re going to try to do better this week practicing the more difficult commands.

Next week is graduation day. This six-week course has lasted for nine weeks.

To graduate, he has to do 13 commands in a row without treats, among other things. I see a repeat class in our future. After all, three of his classmates are on their second round of advanced.

We were practicing “camera” in the above photos. 

He’s still the next-to-worst dog in the class. Thank goodness for the dog who chews on her owner’s shoes every time the dog gets in a down.

I love that Toby's pink skin matches John's shorts.

Miles walked: 12.3

Miles biked: 5:15

Sunday

Our morning causeway walk was an ideal 68-72 degrees with a 8-9 mph breeze.

It was a leisurely walk, not like our usual marches.

We stopped by Publix on the way home to pick up salsa for tonight. The Pinellas Trail was very busy.

I think 72 degrees fits most people’s comfort zone on a bike, as long as it’s sunny and not too windy. We have friends who only ride in the winter because they find the summers are too hot to ride. John and I think summers are perfect for bike riding because you create your own cooling breeze. We often wear a jacket when we ride if the temperature is below 80 degrees.

The tortoise face is becoming clearer.

Lunch

sandwich: chicken salad, made with lemon/chickpea hummus and yogurt

fruit bowl: yogurt, apple, avocado, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and cottage cheese

drink: watermelon/lime sparkling water

Three more days until I get my blood drawn.

After lunch we rode our bikes to an open house (on Jones St. behind our house). Fully updated 3/2 with a pool with double pocket sliders out to the pool.

Then we headed on our bikes downtown. We stopped at St. Andrews condominiums to take a look at the golf course view of the condos in the rear.

Dunedin was crowded, as usual. Live music at the VFW and Lucky Lobster. There was a baseball game at the Dunedin Stadium. In the photo above, you can see the condominium progress on Edgewater Dr.

We paused at Stevenson Creek to enjoy the view. The temperature was 73 degrees. There were lots of bikes out.

We decided to continue on to Clearwater. Downtown Clearwater was dead. So sad. There is so much potential. We rode downtown to the library. 

Front of the library. The other side opens to the sound. 

The "Imagine Clearwater" project is making progress. This shot is next to the library, looking west to the Clearwater Causeway. It looks like the project is going to include the water side of the library. There will be a bandshell, water feature (similar to the one at American Tobacco in Durham). There is a 40 foot bluff looking out at the water, so it should be a dramatic water feature. I hope this gives the city the jumpstart it needs.

Takeout chicken egg foo yung, topped with avocado for dinner. John puts salsa on his.

John spied this handsome iron table sitting on the side of the street on our last walk. We are gradually furnishing our house with castaways.

Toby just chewed through his fourth harness! 😩 

We’ve been so good about taking it off when he’s in the car, but this time he did it in the house. Eventually we will learn. Looking on the bright side, I said at least his harness always looks new (because it is).

Today’s bike routes to the causeway and later to the Clearwater library 

Miles walked: 12

Miles biked: 20.39