We woke up to rain and wind this morning. It was not the
type of day that we were inclined to spend time outside.
Usually, we solve Sudoku puzzles while we are eating
breakfast. I guess only time will tell if this activity will keep us from
developing Alzheimer’s.
We purchased tickets for the Orioles home opening game for
their spring training in Sarasota. Tickets went on sale at 10:00 a.m. and I was
surprised to find myself put in a virtual waiting room when I accessed the web
site at exactly 10:00 a.m. It has become a tradition for us to go to the home
opener and I remember from years past that this game is always sold out. I had
a hunch that it might be even more popular this year since the O’s had a good
season last year. So, we have out tickets for March 4th.
Sunday, January 25th
This morning, we worshipped at Zion Lutheran Church which is
about a five minute drive from our condo. We went there one time last year
while we were here. They were in the process of calling a new Pastor at that
time. Today, I spoke with a member
who told me that they had to make three calls before they got their current
Pastor.
We attended the blended service which is contemporary and
traditional with a mix of liturgies and songs. There were a lot of people attending this
service. I counted ten ushers who took up the offering and there were five communion
assistances. They encourage children to remain in the worship service and they
have “Busy Bags” available for them to use during that time. At our home church
we call them “Worship Bags”.
Pastor Deterding and his family had spent some time at
the theme parks in Orlando last week. He told us about seeing a sky writer who
wrote three Christian messages. He learned that it is done by a pilot whose
plane is kept in Fort Lauderdale at an airport whose owner does not charge any
fees. The pilot very often writes messages at other places in the state. I love
this idea and hope that I get to see some of the message before we leave.
After church, we spent the afternoon on Sanibel Island
again. This is such a beautiful and fun place, that we can’t seem to stay away
from it. Besides, it is just across the bridge spanning San Carlos Bay from
Fort Myers.
First, we stopped at the local Dairy Queen for lunch.
They have no inside seating and all the tables outside are either under cover
or shaded by trees. It was a bit chilly at noon and we sat at one of the few
spaces that had a ray of sun shining through.
We left our car at the Dairy Queen parking lot and walked
the bike trail in both directions to find three geocaches.
During our walk, we passed a favorite shop of Barb Hauser’s—She
Sells Sea Shells. We didn’t go in this time because I am sure we will be
returning there with Barb while she and Jim visit with us.
Sanibel is known over the world for the number and
variety of sea shells that are found on the shore lines. We saw a mailbox that
had been covered with sea shells. I can’t imagine the amount of glue that had
to have been used.
One cache was located in a kiosk that had information about
a historic home, The Rutland House, which has been relocated and preserved
elsewhere on the island. One of 13 children, Clarence Rutland, known as Uncle
Clarence, was a farmer, assistant lighthouse keeper, fisherman, taxi driver and
jack of all trades. We intend to tour the house during another of our visits to
Sanibel.
While Cordell was locating the geocache in the kiosk, I
was reading the posted information and found a cute no see’um house. Even
though, I carefully inspected it as I would a geocache site, I never did see
any no see’ums.
We returned to our car and drove to a parking area for
the Shipley Trail which is in the Bailey Homestead Preserve. This trail
connects to the Pond Apple Trail that we hiked earlier in the week.
At another kiosk, I was surprised to learn that 68% of Sanibel
Island is preserved. I am sure that is the reason that it is such a beautiful
place.
Back at the condo, we
enjoyed another sunset. God certainly
created a beautiful world.
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