We finished our month at Sunset Bay and are heading back north. In fact we currently sit in our room at the Best Western in Santee, SC waiting for the start of the Super Bowl. New Jersey is our next stop for a couple of days then on to Vermont for a month of skiing.

But it’s Stuart FL that this entry is about and it was a great, albeit quick month. It also was cooler than last year with temps in the 60’s many days and dipping into the high 30’s several nights. We also had plenty of rain including one deluge that dropped over 10 inches in less than a day. We did get the good weather often enough and thoroughly enjoyed the month.

Most people would not think of Florida as a hot bed of good and entertaining theater activity. Stuart has a renovated historic theater and just north of us is the Sunrise Theater in Fort Pierce. Early in the month we visited the Sunrise Theater and had the pleasure of seeing Garrison Keillor. We knew he was a great story-teller but had no idea what a live show would present. For over two hours he talked about life in Minnesota comparing it often (tongue in cheek)  to life in Florida. He talked non-stop, without any notes, and without ever taking a sip of water. A packed house had a very enjoyable evening.

The following Wednesday we got together with our long time college friends Sandy and Rick and another couple for dinner and a show at the Lyric Theater in Stuart. This time it was an Irish band, Gaelic Storm, whose high-octane lead singer and accompanying musicians got the theater on its feet. Both theaters offer a varied menu of shows and the Lyric is just a five minute walk from our boat.

 

We met a couple down the dock who told us how good the Ft Pierce farmers market was. We were surprised to hear that as we have spent quite a lot of time in Ft Pierce tied up at Harbor Isle. We had never been to the Saturday market and drove up to see it. Well it was huge, crowded and full of vendors of all styles and qualities. As bread lovers we look for vendors selling fresh specialty breads. Importico’s filled that wish. Their Kalamata Olive and Rosemary, and Asiago Cheese Bread was superb. As good as the bakeries we know at the farmers market in Dorset VT and Dogwood Bread in Wadhams NY.

We also found a vendor who is a painter. Lisa P. Young is based in Stuart but exhibits every Saturday at the farmers market. We had been looking for some art to liven the walls of Big Smile and thought we found a piece or two. We asked if we could meet with her at her studio in Stuart, which we did, and ended up purchasing one from her studio. We also commissioned her to paint another which was actually a copy of one should had done but that was too big for our space. She agreed and two weeks later Lisa and her husband Bob delivered “Tropical Diva”. A perfect compliment to the one we purchased from her studio.

 

We really like getting together with cousins and January didn’t disappoint. My cousin Deb and her husband Mark visited and spent a Saturday night with us. Coincidently Sandy and Rick and Ricks brother Rob came to Sunset Bay by boat and joined us for beer and wine on the bow. Later that evening we walked to town for dinner and ended up closing the bar at Sailors Retreat, the restaurant attached to our marina. It was fun to have Deb and Mark on board as we don’t get to see them very often.

 

 

Sunset Bay is named that for a reason. The beautiful sunsets attract mariners from all over and provide gorgeous views and lively crowds

 

 

January was a fun month and it was tough to leave. It’s halftime now and Seattle is leading 22-0. Peyton Manning is on his way to another super bowl loss. We don’t have a horse in this race but really enjoyed the National Anthem sung by Renee Fleming. She nailed it.

Time to upload this post. A few more views of our January home and Cath in her new immersion suit.