An Afternoon in Tampa! Let the Fun Begin!

If you saw this scene up on some silver screen, looking all other-worldly and other-timely ---what would you imagine would come riding out of the mist?

It was eerily foggy this morning – with temps below freezing.  The fog hung low to the ground, but a blue sky was doing its best to shine above, thanks to the help and efforts of a determined sun beginning to rise.

This was my view out of the window at one of the vacant gates at the airport in Greensboro as I waited to board my fight to Atlanta – the first stop on my trip to Tampa, Florida.

Camels could come riding out of that mist?  Or maybe ORKS from Lord of the Rings.  Or maybe knights on white horses?

The only horse I was looking for was a winged one –but it took some de-icing and special treating of the plane to get us ready and able to leave on our way.

As it was – we were running a bit behind, and though we landed and pulled into gate B-26, and I only had to go straight down the terminal to B-6---the plane for Tampa was already boarding by the time I hoofed it down there.

Cloudy to Tampa, all the way.  No gorgeous views of crystaline water, no sandy beaches or sail boats to view as we descended.

Just clouds, clouds, clouds, and then….hello ground!

I was whisked off to lunch!

I am being hosted for the next several days by the Cypress Creek Quilters in Lutz!

We had a fun fun lunch at the Chart House, salads all around – you know how women are!  And I enjoyed a beautiful view – though temps are cool and hanging just below 60 degrees with winds.  It still feels wonderful to me.

What’s not to like about palm trees and water!?

I can tell we are going to be fast friends already!

It was still a bit early when I was dropped off to my hotel where I will be the next 5 nights.  On the way in, a walking park with trails was pointed out to me and I went out after unpacking to stretch my legs and make an EFFORT to get reacquainted with my fitbit after a long long winter.  It’s time to get back into a walking routine now that evenings are longer and temperatures are much better ((At least here in Florida!))

Crane? Heron? Ibis? Hello big white bird!

Oops, I think I got too close!

Do you see what I see?  Besides the bird?  GREEN!!!  And LEAVES!!  Oh, it’s been a very long winter!

I smiled up at the palm trees flanking the side walk.

((I think they waved back in the breeze!))

Park!  With miles and miles of walking/skating/biking trails!

And MORE GREEN!

And even swampy cypress too!

It was a good leg stretch.  I know I’ll sleep better tonight since I did more than just sit in a plane.

I had to laugh when unpacking my suitcase though…oh TSA…don’t you know me by now??

Hello!  You’ve been inspected!

I guess it didn’t help things having a shrink wrapped 10 pack of books and two big zip lock bags of scraps and project parts….I’m sure they thought I was trafficking something!

I’m a lucky girl.  I’ve got a dinner date with Terri, a friend I haven’t seen in a while.  And I have a borrowed featherweight so I can sew in my room over the next 5 nights --

I brought my lozenge project.  It’s time to sew these in rows--way past time to sew these into rows!

Life is good in Florida.  I hope it is good where you are too!

Click Here to like our Quiltville Friends Page on Facebook for more fun!
Click Here to join our sister group, Quiltville's Open Studio on Facebook, a place to Sew, Share & Grow!!