Lightning, Brush Fire, and Smoke

As is usual this time of year, thunderstorms and lightning are common especially in the late afternoon.  We had both yesterday.  After a particularly strong bolt of lightning, I noticed dark black smoke rising to the north of our condominium.  The plume of smoke spread wide in the air currents despite the heavy rain immediately to the east of the fire.  

Eventually, we were able to determine that a brush fire had been caused by the lightning.  It consumed sixty acres quickly fed by dry underbrush in a park and undeveloped area to the north of us.  No buildings or vehicles were involved.  No people have been injured.  

Today they report that firefighters have about 85 percent of the fire contained.  You can still smell the smoke from our lanai, but neither the lake nor the foliage across the lake from us have been affected.  It is amazing to think fires are possible in this tropical place with its daily rainstorms, but indeed they are common.  Lightning is the main perpetrator.  Hopefully, as summer progresses, the rainstorms will yield enough moisture to lessen the risk, but I am thankful we only got to experience it from afar. 

 

Father's Day: Clocks, Cracker Barrel, and 19 Years

June 21, 2026:  Father's Day and our 19th Wedding Anniversary.  Both fell on the same day this year, and being the summer solstice, Sunday was the longest day of the year as well.  When we chose the summer solstice as our wedding day, it symbolized the aspiration of this marriage becoming our longest union since both of us had been married previously.  We have achieved that goal happily, and hope for many more. 

  

The measurement of time is something special when considered to be the result of a now functioning grandfather clock that Jim constructed entirely from a kit perhaps fifty years ago.  The clock survived its move across the country for yet another trip.  Jim, being well versed in the mechanics of its functioning, was able to put its weights and pendulum back in place and after setting the time, we have the pleasure of listening to its lovely chimes throughout the condo. 

We also spent time on Sunday hanging pictures all through our home.  Somehow pictures, which have traveled with us to every home we have made together over the years, complete the feeling of constancy in our lives from place to place.  They represent memories and create a final establishment of "home" unlike anything else.  We may be miles from family, friends, and familiar locales, but these framed images create a feeling of belonging when everything else is unfamiliar, and relationships are yet to be created in this new place.  We have each other, and now we are surrounded by what feels like "us" in this new space we call home.  And that is a good thing.  

  

We ended the day with an early dinner at Cracker Barrel.  We frequent this restaurant routinely because it feels like a friendly place with homestyle cooking.  There's a saying, "time goes by fast when you're having fun", and that is so very true.  It seems like only yesterday we were married on a boat in Friday Harbor, Washington, yet here we are nineteen years later already!  We're still having fun everyday, and for that I am so very grateful.  

Bella Napoli Pizzeria - For the Love of Pizza

 

When in the mood for pizza, we like to try small and local pizzerias.  An electrician working on a few electrical issues in our condo last week suggested Bella Napoli Pizzeria.  It's a very short drive west of our condo on King's Highway in Port Charlotte, so we tried it after the electrician finished his work.  Turns out it was a good choice.  Situated in a small shopping center, we might not have noticed this venue without the recommendation.  Even at almost 7 pm, the restaurant was crowded and obviously popular.  We chose a small table in the bar with a clear view of the pizza oven, pizza dough twirling in the air, and order after order passing over the counter to the wait staff.  There's a brisk takeout business interspersed with the sit-down diners.  The decor and energy swirling around us couldn't help but make one feel as though they were at a party.

  

There was thin crust, thick crust and very thick pan pizza to choose from which made the final choice difficult.  Ultimately, we decided on thin crust and individual size pizzas with veggies on one and meat on the other.  Both were good choices.  Paired with a beer, this was pizza heaven.  We'll go back there I'm sure to take a break from our low-carbohydrate diet that our doctors would prefer.  After all, there are things in life that are just plain necessary.  Pizza is one of them.  But there are other Italian dishes also on the menu there.  I suspect we'll find excuses to eat out there often so that we can work our way through the menu.  

Sea Turtles at the Beach

The sea turtles are coming ashore on the beaches of Manasota Key, the barrier island just west of Englewood, a 40-minute drive directly west of our home.  During the night, Loggerhead, Green, and Kemp's Ridley turtles climb from the water and travel across the sand to lay eggs from May through October on Gulf of America beaches.   Car headlights are prohibited at night during these months in the parking lots fronting the beach, as they would disturb nesting female turtles and their hatchlings, who navigate by light.  The car's strong artificial light overwhelms the subtle natural clues of moonlight and starlight reflecting off the water that the turtles rely on.  Even streetlights and house lights can create false horizons for the turtles whose eyes have adapted to dim, blue-toned natural lights.  The nests consist of holes in the sand dug by the turtles.  Once her eggs have been laid in the hole, she covers them with sand and then makes her way back to the water.  Both she and her hatchlings will return to the beach where they were born to continue their species in this way, exhibiting one of the most amazing feats of navigation in the animal kingdom.  Marked nests were visible in several locations on the beach when we visited this past Monday, June 15th.

Previously, I have seen sea turtles in the Atlantic Ocean from a boat, but we have not gone out on a boat in the Gulf, so I can't claim to have personally seen our turtles in the water here.  We will also miss seeing them on the beach, as we avoid night driving.  It would be fun, though, to be with those who monitor the turtles at night on just one occasion to actually see these creatures complete their mission.

Twisted Fork

"Twisted Fork" sounds like a weird name for a restaurant, but it's not referring to an eating utensil.  Jim thinks "Fork" in this case is referencing the part of a motorcycle that holds the front tire?  Located next to a Harley-Davidson Motor Cycles store in Port Charlotte, the name makes a bit more sense.  The building housing the restaurant appears to have evolved from a once-upon-a-time garage with multiple, closed garage doors still in place across the front of the establishment.  Inside, a taxidermy shark "swims" down from the ceiling with a T-Shirt in its mouth amid the dining tables. 

 

 

Along the ceiling a variety of lighting fixtures concocted from auto parts illuminate a wall of license plates, a USA and a Florida flag made from appropriately colored beer cans, and a wall montage of highway construction warning paraphernalia.  A wine bottle storage tower next to our table was fashioned from three lighted engine blocks.  Garage signage of all descriptions adorned the walls. 

A Saturday crowd filled the dining room shortly after we arrived, including a table of eight next to us wearing "Renegade Pigs" vests, jeans, bandannas, and sporting some tattoos and a beard or two to project the appropriate vibe for riding their Harleys that had followed us into the parking lot. But this is not a biker bar and restaurant, it had patrons of all descriptions and ages.  

Our table was surrounded by several large TV screens, and even one gigantic one, all of which were playing something different.  Visualizing all of this was entertaining, and it was not hard to wait for the delicious lunch which arrived in quick order.

 

There's an outside covered bar and eating area with music blaring loud enough to penetrate the inside dining area, but it wasn't overwhelming.  The wait staff were efficient and attentive.  The usual afternoon rainstorm arrived early while we were eating, relieving the humidity outside a little bit.  After eating, we strolled through the gift shop briefly and stopped to take some photos of the front entrance where a couple of antique looking cars were displayed.  

I'm certain we'll go back there.  It is a fun place, and provided an entertaining break in the day along with a very good meal.

An Ending to a Visit - Day Five and Six

June 9 to 10, 2026

We had picked up a large watermelon from a street vendor near home after a breakfast at “Waffle House” on Monday, which turned out to be really quite tasty after chilling it in the refrigerator.  “Seedless” turned out to be a huge exaggeration as the watermelon had countless seeds.  It was good though, so we overlooked the vendor’s false claim.

  

Tuesday was another quiet day spent at home.  “Albert” the alligator had disappointed us by not reappearing.  I enjoyed Kris’s help on Tuesday with grocery shopping at Walmart, especially with the replenishment of our drinking water supply.  The bottled water is heavy and hauling it home is a chore.

Kris left on Wednesday morning from Fort Meyers International Airport.  Unfortunately, all good things do come to an end.  Kris had to return home.  The drive to the airport was easy.  The goodbyes were hard.  

After leaving her, we headed to the Fort Meyers Subaru dealer for an oil change.  The service was needed after our 3,400 mile trip across the United States.  It turned out to be a quick, easy, and enjoyable experience with complimentary coffee and another customer to chat with as we all waited for our vehicles.  Maybe I’m delusional, but I continue to be amazed by the abundance of just plain happy people here.  From the staff to the mutual customer, time passed quickly in pleasant conversation.

We’re all caught up now on the lives of two elders and their cat “living the dream” in Southwest Florida.  Cheers, and back to you soon!  

Yup! that's really Snoopy (enhanced with Ai) "living the life" in Florida!

Beach Excursion - Day Four

June 8, 2026

Feeling empowered by experience, Monday we headed out to Sarasota to visit Siesta Beach on Siesta Key with an even larger collection of beach items stored in the trunk of the Subaru.  Adding an umbrella, bringing lots of towels, and donning bathing suits with hats, T-Shirts, and sandals, we felt prepared!

Claimed to be one of the best beaches in the world, the 99-percent quartz composition of the sand here creates a gleaming white beach with a sprinkling of tiny white shells of varying shapes.  Add to that the azure water with a wide, shallow wading area at this beach, and you have a perfect seaside venue.  For the younger folks there are volleyball courts in the sand, tennis courts, and shaded playgrounds.  There’s a trolley traveling up and down the street bordering the beach, covered picnic areas with grills, the desirable showers near the parking lot for rinsing off, plus a concession stand and washrooms. 

Though the hike to the water is lengthy, the amenities and 85-degree water at this time of the year make up for the effort to cross the sand to the water.  There are a variety of ways to achieve shade on the beach and our little umbrella is way down on the list.  Some people put up tent-like coverings creating lots of shade for their beach chairs or towels.  The only consideration is how much you wish to carry.  Others pull wagons with large, fat wheels filled with beach equipment and coolers containing their beverages and snacks.  It’s fun to encourage each other as everyone treks through the sand toward the water. We set up our umbrella, planting it in the sand with a special post-like device that at least partially screws down into the sand to secure the umbrella in the breeze.  A small beach chair held our belongings, and then we were off into the water to swim and people watch.

Little fish were visible in the clear water near the shore.  Under hats and with T-Shirts protecting our shoulders, we spent a considerable time in the water.  Kris found yet a few more shells.  Then we trudged back across the sand with our gear to enjoy a lunch break at the concession stand.  About the time we sat and started our lunch at 2:01 pm, a 6.1 earthquake occurred off the west end of Cuba. Unbeknown to us, we were happily sipping non-alcoholic Pina Coladas, and watching a volley ball game before us on the beach.  We never felt it, though many across Florida did.  Luckily, it didn’t create a tsunami either.  We only learned of it after the fact, upon arriving back home.  

Of course we ended the day with a Culver’s ice cream stop, followed by a siesta for Jim and Snoopy.  Life is good!