Day 8 on Captiva

After our daily coffee,  we took a trip to Ding Darling Wildlife Reserve to do some bird watching.   We arrived at the drive about 9 with a cloudy sky and cool temperatures.  The tide was low and a lot of birds were feeding in the distant waters including many White Ibis, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Little Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, Reddish Egrets, White Pelicans, Brown Pelicans, Cormorants, and a few Roseate Spoonbills scattered in the crowd.  We saw a lot of Blue-Winged Teals, more than we saw last year, but not any other ducks today. Some of our photos shown below:

 

 
We then drove into Sanibel to shop at Bailey's for dinner and a few other items.  It had started to rain by the time we arrived back at the house.    I made sandwiches for lunch on the porch.   It had begun to rain harder and was very windy.   Al had an appointment for a massage at 3 so we drove down to the Spa.   He was very pleased with the Masseur and his back felt better after his massage. The rain continued to fall.

For dinner I prepared Panko Crusted Red Snapper that baked in the oven.  Used recipe from the web.   Served with mashed potatoes and arugula salad.  Very good!  We dined inside tonight....too cool and damp on the porch.

 

Al watched the races at Northfield Park tonight on the computer.

Day 7 on Captiva

Morning started with coffee and pastries from Island Store.   I made a few cards ...still have to post on my blog.  We received a robe that I ordered from LL Bean for Al....needed a warmer one for cool mornings on the porch .   He was very pleased and hums the theme from Rocky when he wears it.....looks like a boxer in the ring.

I made sandwiches from leftover Chicken from last night's dinner...just added a bit more mozzarella.   Al twisted his back somehow this morning and began having muscle spams .....could hardly move but he managed to get to his appointment for a massage at Tween Waters Spa only to find out they failed to write his appointment down.  Bummer!!   I thought the massage would help alleviate his pain.

We spent the afternoon home and Al began to feel better.  He spent time on the beach with the sun warming his back. 

Dinner tonight at Doc Ford's in Captiva....so glad they opened this place in South Seas....much more convenient.   We arrived about 5:45 to be ahead of the dinner crowd.  I always enjoy the Mojito here.... the only time I drink rum. Al had a Manhattan.....his preferred drink.   We shared fresh shucked oysters on the half shell.  We always enjoy comparing the oysters at the restaurants on the Islands and deciding who has the most delectable ones.   Al ordered the Texas Baby Back Ribs served with fries and slaw.  I ordered the Calamari Salad with greens, cucumbers, and tomatoes with crispy wontons and a sweet and sour dressing. This is piled with Crispy Calamari.  Our server Tony was very attentive and very good.  A pleasant and enjoyable dinner.

Day 6 on Captiva

Today was a typical day starting with coffee and relaxing away the morning.  We had brunch of eggs and lox served with sliced tomatoes and  toast with cream cheese and of course orange juice.

We took a walk to the beach and bay but the weather was a bit windy and cloudy.   We made some photographs on our walk.
Birds on the beach:

The birds were about the only thing on the beach today.

 

On the bay there were a few birds and I made some shots of a pelican:

 

 



 The residing Osprey was posing on the top of  a tree:

 

These tropical blooms caught my eye:

For dinner I made Crispy Italian Chicken Topped with Mozzarella using a recipe found here on the web http://allrecipes.com/recipe/215777/crispy-italian-chicken-topped-with-mozzarella/ .   I had all the ingredients needed including that fresh Mozzarella from the Farmer's Market.  Served with side of pasta and steamed spinach.

Day 5 on Captiva

Today began early with coffee and biscotti.  It is a warmer morning and looks to be another beautiful day from the look of the blue skies and sounds of the birds.   I spent some time catching up with this blog and Al enjoyed his time on the porch.  We had some delicious fresh grapefruit with a cereal bar mid-morning.  I made Egg Salad (one of Al's Faves) sandwiches on Chicago Italian bread for lunch served outside on the porch.

After lunch we stopped at 'Tween Waters to check out their Spa for choices of massages.....Al is looking for another  Massage Therapist  since the lady he used last year has left the islands.   Things have changed at 'Tween Waters since we stayed there years ago.....they have replaced some of the cottages with more 2 story units and a new building houses  the Spa and Gym overlooking the expanded pool area.  Map shows the layout of current resort.

We then made a stop at the Island Store (downtown Captiva) to pick up a few items.  I wanted to check out the Seafood at Molly Malone  (located on the back porch) but they had gone fishing. 

We spent the rest of afternoon at the beach....breezy but warm and sunny.  A few shore birds kept us company but not many humans were around.  Just a few passer byes and the couple from Michigan with their dog who stay across the street.

Tonight we ate at Lazy Flamingo, one of our favorite casual places-a real dive-but the food is great!

We arrived about 5:45 before the crowd and were able to get good seats at the bar, our preferred area to sit.  This place is very small with seating of only about 30 at the booths and tables for which there is usually a list of people waiting.  It can get very noisy when the crowd arrives.  Food is ordered at the bar and then picked up by you and carried to your table.  No servers here! The advantage of eating at the bar is your food and drink are served to you. 

 

For dinner we started with a platter of Oysters on the half shell shucked right at the bar and Blue Moon beer now on draft.  The beer is so pretty that a couple of customers asked me what I was drinking.  Al ordered Fried Oysters served with French Fries and Slaw.  I ordered 1/2 Caesar salad with Shrimp that I wanted grilled but it was served blackened.   We shared the dinners and Al ate the shrimp which was too spicy for me.   Food was very good!! And the place was rocking with customers when we left.  The picture above shows the corner of the bar that we sat but not the crowd.

Day 4 on Captiva

Lazy day today!!!  Weather was a bit windy or as I said breezy( tropical breezes).  We had coffee and pastries and spent morning hanging out on the porch.  I made a card for a couple challenges. We watched the butterflies flutter by on the Morning Glories before they closed up. I served lunch of sandwiches and chips on the porch.

As I recap our day's events,  I realize that it was a very uneventful day......just spent a restful, relaxing, do nothing kind of day.  Nothing to be guilty about....we are retired!

For dinner I made shrimp and mushroom pasta served with arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette.

Day 3 on Captiva

Today is the beginning of a new month. Already?   Today began slowly with coffee and bear claws served by the Room Service Guy (known as Al by some folk).   We spent a restful morning catching up with blogging and doing surveys....all that computer stuff that we do.
We had brunch of poached eggs, steak(leftovers), toast,fresh sliced tomatoes, and orange juice on the porch.  rain was forecast but never shown up....just a bit overcast.

There were several butterflies in the trees just outside the porch and I managed to capture one with the wild morning glories:

We took a walk over to the beach and found the Eagle was still hanging out in the Australian Pine tree.

 

 

 We walked back to the dock on the bayside and made some pictures:

As we sat on the bench on the dock,  the fishermen in a near by boat called out for us to look behind us and there stood a Great Blue Heron coming down the walk way.

 

 

He stood quietly for several minutes posing for our cameras.   He then flew into the water for a fish but returned to a piling by the dock before flying atop the roof of the boat house.

And then he flew away:

 

 

For dinner tonight,  I prepared a Chicken Salad Plate with mixed greens, sautéed chicken tenders, avocado, hard boiled egg wedges, tomato wedges, radishes, red onion slices, parmesan cheese  and more with Asiago  Black Peppercorn Dressing.  This was enjoyed with hot French Rolls and glasses of Pinot Grigio and Merlot.

Day 2 0n Captiva

This is our home for the next six weeks on Captiva Island.  

 

Today was a late start to our day...no getting up at 5:30.   After coffee and muffins, we went to the Farmer's Market in Sanibel for fresh produce and fresh Mozzarella cheese.  It was pretty much the same vendors and layout as last year.   We also purchased cut flowers, a basil plant and some bear claws in addition to produce.

 

We headed to the Sanibel Café for brunch and  were ahead of the Sunday crowd and did not have to wait for a table.    As usual,  Al had Smoked salmon and bagel with cream cheese, served with tomatoes, red onions and capers. I had the Shrimp Salad served over Romaine lettuce with  melon, fruit, and a  walnut muffin.  Very good food and service.  By the time we left,  there was a line of  customers waiting for tables.

We decided to take a drive through Ding Darling even though it is now about noon.   The highlight of the drive was seeing a Dunlin up close as he walked along the shore line .

"The Dunlin is a familiar shorebird around the world. The winter dunlin is basically grey above and white below.  Medium-sized sandpiper. Moderately short neck. Moderately long, drooping bill. Moderately long, blackish legs. Slightly hunched appearance."

Other sights on the drive:

White Pelicans

 Roseate Spoonbills

 

Island of White Pelicans

 

We spent a restful afternoon doing not much of anything.  It was too cool to sit on the beach,

 Al made us a new drink for happy hour made with Vodka and muddled Blueberries, calling it Kim's Berry Delight.  Very Refreshing! 

 

For dinner, Al was to grill steaks but the outdoor grill would not heat up enough, so he cooked inside with potato wedges and we served with Arugula Salad.   It was not one of our better meals as the steak was a bit overdone for our liking.   Glasses of wine did make it better!