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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Punta Gorda Walkabout!

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Ahhhhhh!!!  FLOWERS!!!!

To be where things are blooming when the USA has really been through a doozy of a nasty snap with the great “Polar Vortex of 2014!”

I took a long walk before dinner last night to explore my surroundings.  AFTER I took a nap – because a nap was very much needed and appreciated!

I’ve never been to Punta Gorda before and it is such a charming little town.

I love the colors of florida ---here you can paint your building, aqua, melon, yellow, lime green, purple –and it looks wonderful!

Check out this cute little vintage gas station turned into flower shop:

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ADORABLE!!

The windows on the side are faux painted onto the exterior…there are really no windows there…but what a great effect!

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See the open garage bay?

As I walked past, the florist was working on an arrangement of white roses for a gentleman that was standing there watching ----flower arrangements made in open air.  The fridges for the fresh flowers are in the back of the garage bay area –but only in Florida could you do floral design open to the elements!

I don’t think anyone would want to be doing this in say ….MINNESOTA….right now? :c)

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I found the old city hall building!

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And I learned how Gilchrist county got its name!

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I smiled at the flowers and they nodded back to me!

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As the sun peeked out of the clouds, heading toward sunset – I walked half way across the bridge to Port Charlotte and back ---

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The Peace River is wide and beautiful, even in cloudy conditions and threatening rain.

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Boys must have their toys!!

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Florida in January is a great place to be!

I’m ready to meet up with the Peace River quilters today – we’ve got a My Blue Heaven workshop in the works!  It promises to be a fun day ----

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Morning is opening to a beautiful day outside of my window!

Oh, and wonder of wonders….the Quilt-Cam episode from the other night is miraculously working this morning!  So looks like YouTube took care of whatever the problem was yesterday with it not playing.  YAY!  If you missed it, click the Quilt-Cam tab at the top of the blog and choose it by date – it’s at the top of the archive list!

Have a wonderful day, everyone!  I’ll check back in later with some fun from class!


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14 comments:

  1. Hi Bonnie - It looks beautiful there!! Thanks so much for the pictures too. I knew YouTube was the culprit and I'm very glad they took care of things. Enjoy your time ... My Blue Heaven is on my list for this year, fabric bought and pattern in the 2014 book. Can't wait!! Huggles!

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  2. Beautiful peachy/salmon colored hibiscus! I may have to go out and buy one in that color!

    Deb

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  3. Hi Bonnie
    Punta Gorda is where my Mom lives so I am familiar with what you showed in your photos. It is a nice town! She lives near Ponce De Leon park, Punta Gorda Isles at the end of Marion Ave. Have a blast there with those gals. I know the weather is nice and warm. Wish I was there too.

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  4. Your pictures are great. It looks nice and warm! Enjoy your time there and thanks for sharing it with us.

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  5. enjoy the winter respite and get some R&R in by the salt water....

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  6. Weeeee, great post!! I just love "travelling" with you Bonnie. When I tuned into YouTube yesterday morning it would "hiccup" and start over of mid way, or . . . well it just didn't matter because I just kept sewing and made GREAT progress on Celtic Solstice. Enjoy your students today! Look forward to seeing their progress. Hugs, Allison in Plano

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  7. Hey, I'm spending the winter just across the bridge in Port Charlotte. Have a great time and check out the Tiki Bar on the water behind the Sheradon hotel.

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  8. I am so glad that Quilt Cam is now showing up. I missed it on Monday WAH!!! I am not always on top of my blog reading so I often miss the date. I do, however always get the Google+ notices. As if you aren't already busy enough...would it be possible to send that notice out for the next quilt cam. We ask too much and you give us everything! Thanks,Bonnie. Enjoy Florida.

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  9. Thank for sharing the beautiful colors, and warm weather inspirations with everyone. It's only the middle of January, but us Minnesota Quilter's can DREAM of those outside flower shops by our indoor next to our roaring fires!! Penny - Minnesota Quilter

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  10. Thanks for the pictures Bonnie...you made me a wee bit 'home sick' for my former Port Charlotte home.

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  11. OH STOP lolol - this when I miss my home state! Winter in FL is wonderful. The weather usually is co-operative and beautiful .. "snowbirds" aka northerners fly down in huge numbers etc

    I have to keep telling myself :0 - Warm weather and flowers etc etc = BUGS. Ok, this might be a glimpse of FL reality one doesn't want to hear. Living in TN, since arrived, I have not had to share my living arrangements with very nasty insects. OH birds love them. It is FL's eco-cycle.

    KEEP QUILTING LADIES
    Smilies
    JulieinTN

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  12. Linda B in TX aka MI9:22 PM EST

    Well it looks like the devistation from hurricane Charlie has been renovated.
    Trees are not sticks in the horizon from the bridge going across to Punta Gorda. We left Florida the year after Charlie.

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  13. We snowbirds from Wisconsin will be in the Punta Gorda area (actually across the harbor in Englewood) for the month of February. So eager to get back. Last February we spent 3 weeks in Charlotte Harbor (just over the bridge and about a 1/2 block from the Peace Rier) and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it!. Enough of this cold and snow already in the northern climes. Time for warmth, white beach sand (not snow), and farmers' markets.

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  14. Bonnie didnt know you were in Punta Gorda this Winter. I have been enjoying going out on the Peace River on an Air Boat is so much fun!!!Debbie Kelly

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