"Sanibel Island Cottages" 6x8 oil on copper 450$ framed in gold or black with gold.

Shipping and frame are included in the price.

 

    I live only 24 miles from Fort Myers to Sanibel Island.  The drive takes me 40 minutes.

 

I purchased a Lee County parking permit so I could paint on Sanibel Island!

 

I thought I was parked in the right parking lot.  I took off with my camera to see where

 

I wanted to paint.  I came back to find a parking enforcer.  She had given me a ticket for

 

150$.  She told me this parking lot was the only one I should have avoided.  I drove away.

 

I decided to go back home.  Then I decided, "No!  Go park in the right parking lot and paint!"

 

I turned the car around.  I parked at Turner parking lot on Captiva Island.

 

Then I gathered up my painting equipment and hiked over the Sanibel Island/Captiva Island Bridge.

 

I wanted to paint the pink cottage on Sanibel Island.   I am glad I did this.  I didn't want to ruin

 

a perfectly good day.  I decided just to think of the experience as a learning curve.

 

 

I went to the J.N. Ding Darling Preserve also that day.

 

There were an impressive amount of White Pelicans, the second largest North American bird.

 

 

I saw a beautiful Night Crown Heron.

 

 

   I have always admired the Sanibel/Captiva Pass area. 

 

You can see the cottages I painted in the distance.

 

It is amazing the cottage remain after all of the hurricanes.

 

 

I really like how this photo turned out taken from the bridge.

 

The water in this area is magnificent.

 

 

Here is the sunset from Captiva island.

 

Festus was very hungry when I returned home.  

 

I left him with two cans of cat food and dried food.

 

He had licked up every morsel.  I gave him three more cans of food when I arrived home.

 

He meowed after he ate every can to let me know, "More please!"

 

Festus is a very active large cat.  He does laps in the house!

 

He has a great appetite here in Florida.

 

 

Festus and I are flying back to Maine December 3 on Allegiant Air.

 

They had an excellent deal.  We will stay a week to visit.

 

I need to get a tag for my car.  Florida tag office is booked till January.

 

I can't drive around with an expired tag here.

 

It will be nice to visit in Maine.  I might paint some snow.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

Festus enjoyed himself while I visited my parents in Winter Park, Florida.

 

This photo of Festus with the baby pink roses would make for a nice painting.

 

He knocked over the roses in the vase twice.  It was dramatic seeing the roses

 

flying in the air and water spilling all over the carpet.  

 

Festus spent most of the three days in their screen room communing with Lizards.

 

We all had a wonderful time.

 

 

We would check on Festus many times a day.

 

This is usually how we would find him.

 

He only ate 3 cans of cat food in 3 days.

 

Normally he would eat 13 cans of cat food in 3 days.

 

Festus ate 4 cans of cat food within ten minutes of arriving in Fort Myers!

 

He has been eating constantly ever since.  

 

 

I visited my friend Kathleen.  I really enjoyed catching up.

 

I hiked at Orlando Wetlands in Christmas, Florida.

 

Purple Aster and yellow flowers were in bloom.

 

 

There were very few birds visible because it was cool.

 

 

This has been one of my favorite places to hike and take photos and paint!

 

Blue Heron.

 

 

I will be painting this one.  The Great White Egret is so delicate and graceful.

 

 

I hung 300 white lights around the inside of the screen room.

 

We can sit outside at night now.  Festus loves it.

 

My parents gave me their washer and dryer.

 

We managed to put the washing machine into the back of the Lincoln SUV with

 

the help of a young man driving by the house!  I called him an angel.

 

It will be very nice to wash clothes at our house here in Fort Myers.

 

I will get the dryer on the next visit to Winter Park.  I love being able to

 

visit my parents often now.  I saw my friend Mary J Gray and her Daughter Beth

 

in Winter Park as we were driving home.  Festus was a big hit.  He is so gentle

 

with new people he meets.  He just loves to visit people!  He was in high spirits

 

on our 4 hour ride home.  He hardly meowed at all.  

 

 

Robert sent me photos of the dogs at the beach in Stockton Springs this morning.

 

They all had a great time.  They walked very far.  He said Monet struggled a little at the

 

end of their walk but he really enjoyed it.  Monet just has a little arthritis in his knees.

 

 

Monet, Lily and Lady Violet.  Nice photo of them.

 

Robert said he cooked goat for Thanksgiving.

 

He loves eating goat.  The dogs ate goat too.

 

He also cooked a pumpkin stuffed with apricots, brown sugar, and spices.

 

 

 

 

Monet with Lily his Daughter.  Very nice.

 

 

Here is all four dogs!  Poppy is on the right.  

 

Have a good night.  I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

 

 

 

 

 

   The alley cat was right outside of the screen door looking at Festus face to face. 

 

Festus was quiet but the alley cat was using his mean kitty meow.

 

He ran off when he saw me.  Festus cried out for him to come back!

 

He used his most convincing voice but the cat did not come back.

 

We have heard the cat meow on cold nights.  

 

We also had a little dog that visited briefly.  Festus chirped at him from behind the screen.

 

He ran off too.  A squirrel came by many times.  There is also a little bird that comes close

 

to the screen for Festus to see.

 

 

Festus is entertained while I am painting.

 

All of the visitors tired out Festus.

 

 

I looked out the window to see a rainbow.

 

 

"Early Snow" 8x10 oil on copper    Sold.  Thanks.

 

 

  Here is the painting I finished today in the studio.  Endless possibilities with this scene!

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

"Plenty of Pumpkins" 8x10 oil on copper 650$ framed in your choice of black with gold or gold frame.

Includes frame and shipping.

 

   This is one of my favorite farm stands located in South Thomaston, Maine.

 

They have since cut down the weeping willow tree, placed new wood siding on the school

 

house, and changed the color of the paint.   This is how I like to remember the place.

 

They always had fresh produce and bakery items.  I love to visit this farm stand.

 

 

In the morning Festus helped me put together his Kitty Walk penthouse.

 

 

I had to put him inside for a few minutes so I could finish building the penthouse.

 

He was so excited!  He surprised me by climbing to the top!

 

 

The first thing Festus did was to remove the flag.  

 

I guess he did not like it!

 

 

In Maine he would spend at least two hours a day in his penthouse.

 

He was so happy to have one again here in Florida!

 

He was in the upper hammock for over an hour today.

 

 

I picked up this 1960's patio set for 175$.  It is made of fiberglass.

 

It is called a Russel Woodard patio set.

 

The chairs swivel.  The chairs are very comfortable.  

 

I had borrowed my Dad's camp folding chair.  Now we can return it.

 

 

Festus approved of the new seating for the screen room.

 

 

I found a white large metal table for 50$.  The table makes a great painting area.

 

Festus flattened his cardboard school bus scratching post today by jumping on top

 

of it at a high speed.  The whole thing kind of blew up creating a huge bang!

 

Festus ran into the bedroom while I brought it to the trash.

 

The cardboard school bus would be fine for a 7 pound cat.

 

Festus needs one build with 3/4 inch birch wood!

 

 

During the heat of the day, we turn on the AC, and Festus takes to the recliner for a nap.

 

I painted all day while we waited for the refrigerator to arrive.  We have refrigeration now!

 

 

Robert sent photos of the dogs during their sunrise beach walk.

 

Poppy loves to carry the largest stick down the beach!

 

She is very proud of herself.  Often she tries to get a human to carry it for her, she stops, and

 

yodels for their help.  We have never carried her stick for her.  She never gives up hope!

 

She is a very athletic dog.

 

 

Monet looks very good.

 

 

There is Lily!  She is very pleased to have her Daughter with her, Lady Violet.

 

 

There goes Lady Violet!  She is the youngest.

 

I think she looks a lot like her Great Grandfather Luke.

 

 

I bet Monet has an apple in his mouth!

 

 

They love to roll in the stinky rockweed.

 

 

 

Poppy, Lady Violet, and Monet.

 

I enjoyed seeing photos of them.  They are having a great time.

 

Good night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Festus has been sitting with me in a folding camp chair.

 

I found a Broyhill recliner at Big Lots for 350$.

 

I think you can tell how happy and content Festus was with this purchase!

 

He purred when he first tried out the chair.

 

Cats like to be comfortable.

 

 

A canvas drop cloth makes the perfect cover to protect the recliner.

 

Festus approved.

 

 

I discovered aluminum pet screen at Home Depot.

 

I bought 50 feet of this screen.  I used special metal screws to put the screen up.

 

I was amazed at how easy this was to do!  In an hour the screen room was safer!

 

Festus inspected the screen room.

 

Festus is a very smart cat.

 

 

 

   He walked the perimeter, stopping, sniffing, and searching.

 

He realized there was no escape.

 

 

Then Festus leaped five foot up into the air and grabbed the screen.

 

He hung there for two minutes.  The screen held in place.

 

 

   He was doing some thinking.

 

 

He stretched out to test the screen.

 

The screen held fine.

 

 

  It took him about a half an hour of inspecting the screen to finally relax.

 

I am very glad the screen worked!  I can relax with him.

 

 

I took the larger tv back and found a 25$ Samsung at a thrift store.

 

The tv came with a wall attachment.  I hung the tv on the wall so that

 

Festus does not hurt himself.

 

He is a very active cat.

 

 

For two days two men took out the brand new hot water heater

 

that came with the unit.  The new water heater did not work.

 

I had to buy a new one.  They drained the first one.  There was some

 

water spraying across the room.  Festus delighted everyone by flying 

 

across the room trying to catch the water!  The next water heater

 

was installed with some spraying of water because the attachments

 

did not work.  Festus thought this was so exciting!

 

I kept him in his backpack for a little while.  I needed to protect him.

 

He climbed under the counter where the water was spraying out to investigate.

 

 

That was when I decided Festus needed to go into his backpack!

 

I really appreciate the park manager for assisting with the hot water heater.

 

I have hot water now!

 

 

(House located near the Thomas Edison Ford Estate)

 

   The last thing to do is have the small refrigerator delivered.

 

It is amazing how many things a person needs to do in establishing a winter place.

 

Florida Power and Light put the power in my name today.

 

The mattress was delivered.

 

Festus purred the moment he laid down on the mattress.

 

I knew he had this planned the whole time when he shredded the air mattress.

 

We had been sleeping on a twin mattress.  Rolling over was a challenge!

 

I had to grab Festus when I rolled over to relocate him safely.

 

The queen mattress fits Festus and I perfectly.

 

 

Banyan trees are everywhere.  

 

They do not grow in Orlando, Florida area.  It gets much colder there.

 

Good night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Thomas Edison's Winter Estate" 8x10 oil on copper 650$ includes the frame of

your choice and shipping.

 

    I enjoyed myself so much painting at the Edison Ford Estates in Fort Myers, Florida.

 

Temperatures were in the low 70's.  I met many wonderful Northerners who had escaped

 

snow.  The staff were incredibly kind.  

 

 

I started the painting by doing a drawing in oils on the copper.

 

 

I mixed many different purples with my limited palette to create depth.

 

Florida can be very green. The purples give a nice mood and create light.

 

The houses were backlit and so were all the plants and trees.

 

I mixed three different grass colors and painted the foreground the brightest

 

yellow green to add depth.  The distant grass is more neutral in color.

 

 

Seabreeze Bamboo.

 

 

I borrowed this Coleman XL chair from my parents.

 

Festus loves it.  I need to get another chair for the patio it seems.

 

We must be comfortable!

 

 

Robert sent me photos to share of the puppies.

 

Lily looks trim.  He took them for a sunrise run at Sandy Point Beach in Stockton Springs, Maine.

 

 

Saturday sunrise at the beach is one of their rituals.

 

Monet looks great.  Rock in his mouth as usual.

 

 

Lady Violet and Grandmother Poppy.  Looks like Poppy was doing some talking.

 

These two look so similar it is hard to tell them apart in person.

 

They act alike as well.

 

 

Looks like a great time!  Bet it was very cool.

 

I can see ice icicles on their fur.

 

Robert is taking good care of them.

 

 

There are rose gardens at the estate.

 

So how was sleeping on the floor last night?  It was not too bad.

 

Festus was sleeping on the floor too. He tried to climb under

 

the sheets to find the air mattress.  He was disappointed the air 

 

mattress was removed.  I hope the new mattress gets delivered tomorrow.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Festus poked a bunch of holes in the air mattress while I was sleeping early this morning.

 

I found the gorilla tape, cut many pieces, found these holes, and taped them up!

 

I went back to sleep.  I went swimming.  I came home.  I went to check on the air mattress.

 

My comforter, sheets, and pillows were laying on the floor.  I didn't see any mattress.

 

I thought someone broke into our mobile home and stole the mattress!

 

Then I lifted the comforter and pillows to find the air mattress flattened.

 

One side was shredded up!  Festus held his tail and head high.  He high stepped to the

 

bedroom to show me what he had done.  I said, "Oh no Festus.  This is not good.  We are going

 

to be sleeping on the floor now!"  Festus chirped.  I left to search for a new mattress.

 

My plan was to purchase a box mattress at Walmart.  

 

 

 

(Moonlight Garden at the Edison Ford Estates here in Fort Myers, Florida.)

 

   Walmart had a Serta foam mattress for 400$.  It was too heavy to lift in the cart.  I knew

 

Festus would shred a foam mattress.  I drove on!  Costco did not take mastercard.  I went

 

to City Mattress.  They had a 30% off Federal Sale.  I selected a nice Serta Plush mattress

 

to be delivered Monday.  Problem solved.  The air mattress was a temporary sleeping 

 

situation anyway.  Festus and I will be living the dream sleeping on this new mattress.

 

I bet we will sleep much better.  Maybe Festus shredding up the air mattress was a very

 

good thing.  Smart cat.  Price of new mattress...1175$ delivered.  I was lucky to get one in stock.

 

They had a shortage of truck drivers to deliver mattresses to warehouses.  Festus and I

 

will have to sleep on the floor for two days.  I will be painting tomorrow!

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I visited the Edison Ford Estates in Fort Myers, Florida today.

 

This wonderful museum is only 4 minutes from my house.

 

I asked them permission to paint on their property.  They said they

 

would be delighted anytime.  I purchased a year membership.

 

What a wonderful place to paint.

 

Thomas Edison lived next door to Henry Ford.

 

Edison experimented with 17,000 tropical plants to find a source for latex rubber for tires.

 

Their properties have thousands of tropical plants from all over the world.

 

Their properties were situated along a river.  They built a large pool with a tall diving board.

 

They were escaping New Jersey Winters.

 

 

Here is the pool.  Loved it.

 

 

I enjoyed reading this sign.

 

 

I loved this palm.  It was not very tall from Reunion Island.

 

 

They had a large Ylang Ylang Tree.

 

 

Ylang Ylang tree noted for it's exotic smell.

 

 

I was leaving.  The attendant told me to make sure I saw the Canonball Tree.

 

This tree finally bloomed!  They had to find the only other tree in existence nearby to get

 

pollen to pollenate the tree.  It worked!  The tree produced one flower.

 

You can see it up at the top.  The flower is red and white in color.

 

The canonball is the fruit.

 

 

I could see this as a very large painting.

 

 

Green bamboo would be great to paint.

 

 

The blue bamboo was stunning!  

 

 

I gave Festus his medicine this morning.

 

He gobbled up four 3 ounce cans of cat food.  

 

He played with his toys.

 

Then he went out on the screen room with me to watch birds.

 

There are 88 pink parrots that fly over our abode twice a day but we have missed it each time.

 

 

This is Festus bird watching look.

 

You can see the papaya concrete floors in the screenroom.

 

 

I like the color.  I will work on the light warm pink paint next for the mobile home.

 

I will just paint the front and left side for now.  I will leave the trim white.

 

 

Festus was so affectionate when I came back to check on him after visiting the museum.

 

He pressed his forehead to my lips many times for a big hug.

 

I think he is feeling much better!

 

 

I decided to repair the screen holes myself.  I will fix the two unattached screen areas.

 

I would not let Festus be in the screen room unattended even if there were brand new

 

pet screen installed.  I think the screen room will be fine.  

 

 

Festus and I are driving three hours to visit my parents tomorrow.

 

What a lovely treat to be able to see them more often.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Festus had another cousin pass by our humble adobe.  

 

Festus was very quiet.  He didn't want to visit.

 

I gathered this particular cousin was another black sheep in his family.

 

Festus did great at the vet.  He has a mild respiratory irritation.

 

She gave me saline to put a few drops in his nose everyday.

 

She gave me a pill used for dogs that will clear his lungs.

 

This pill is not an antibiotic but she said it works magic.

 

Festus was very active.  He was showing off to all four ladies who

 

came in to see him.  They had a lot of questions.  He showed them

 

how he could leap up to five foot effortlessly.  They all gasped in appreciation!

 

Festus swirled his tail around a few times after he noticed they were admiring him.

 

He used his paw to open a cabinet door.  He tried to open the door to the room.

 

They all marveled at how active he was.  Festus has lost a few pounds.

 

The vet said thinner is better.  He will gain it back naturally.

 

Festus handled everything fine except when they took his temperature.

 

His front paws were out swinging faster than lightening!  The vet said, "Look out!"

 

She held down Festus better. I held Festus's front paws.  Temperature was 102.6 degrees.

 

The vet said that was a high normal.  Cats get excited at the vet.  Their temperature can go up.

 

 

Love this pink house in Sanibel Island.

 

I must paint this one.

 

I finished painting the concrete in the screenroom and walkway.  Two coats of paint!

 

Tomorrow I will work on painting the trim of the screen room white.

 

Festus and I will spend a lot of time in this room.

 

We decided to hold off on ordering pet screen.  It will cost 3000$ to have installed.

 

Festus has an outdoor penthouse coming just like the one he has in Maine.

 

He can enjoy being outside and be safe.

 

 

Someone's shell collection.

 

I swam 18 laps in the 25 yard pool.  

 

I think I will reward myself with something good to eat.  

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   I am a member of all of the community pools in this area for a 75$ a year!

 

This salt water pool temperature was 86 degrees!  It was heavenly!

 

I swam 10 laps in this 25 yard pool.  I will work on my endurance.  

 

I was counting my blessings today while I soaked in this pool.

 

I loved the 1970's and 1980's music they played!  They had an aerobics class.

 

I swam my laps, treaded water, and relaxed.  There were about 25 people doing

 

the aerobics.  They have excellent showering facilities!  I still have no hot water

 

but was able to take a nice hot shower there!  I plan to go to the pool all 5 days they

 

are open and take a shower afterwards.

 

 

New Florida bank account...check!

 

New Post Office Box...check!  

 

Internet, cable, and security system will be installed on Monday for 170$ a month....check!

 

I decided to have the security system installed for the 30$ price a month to protect Festus and

 

all the oil paintings.  

 

Parking and Pool passes purchased for the year..check!

 

I decided to drive to Sanibel Island to reward myself!

 

I arrived as the sun was going down.

 

The drive from my house to Sanibel Island during rush hour took me 40 minutes.

 

The drive home after dark took me 35 minutes.

 

 

Sanibel Island is like a different world.

 

 

I will do some painting here very soon.

 

I need to get an epass so the bridge charge will come off of my credit card.

 

Without the epass they send a bill to Maine.

 

 

What a treat to see Sanibel and Captiva Island.

 

 

I went to the Bubble Room and ordered two slices of Bubble Bread for 4$.

 

Bubble bread is a slice of French Bread with garlic butter/mayonnaise topped with

 

parmesan cheese.  I was happily eating my cheap dinner driving home to Fort Myers!

 

Normally a dinner for one at the Bubble Room without alcohol would be 40$.

 

I was kind of proud of myself!

 

 

This is such a beautiful palm tree. I always admire it.

I will put it on my to paint list.

 

I canceled the stove I ordered.  I decided to purchase a small toaster oven instead.

 

I found a nice 43 inch TV.  I will install it on the wall to save room.

 

 

One of Festus's distant second cousins by marriage came to visit him, lizard Betty Lou!

 

He seemed to be all a twitter about her visit!  He had heard about her from his relatives.

 

He never thought he would ever actually meet her.  (She is sitting on the ledge).

 

 

I asked if I could take a photo of them together.

 

Festus put his foot on her for the photo.  You might see her head sticking out by his left foot!

 

She was smiling.  Kind of hard to see in this photo.

 

 

I suspect Festus has many cousins.  I liked this photo best.

 

They visited for a few minutes and off she went!

 

Festus was very gentle with the lizard Betty Lou.

 

 

Here was some ones shell collection for the day.

 

Tomorrow I will finish painting the concrete floor in the porch the papaya color I chose!

 

The concrete floor in the screen room was a military grey.  

 

I will paint the screen porch trim and dolphin a gloss white.

 

I will paint the mobile home a very pale pink.

 

I think a few small pink hibiscus plants around the front will look charming!

 

Then there will be a lot of zinnias to grow!

 

 

I have an appointment for Festus tomorrow morning at 8:30am.  He is doing fine.  Just a good idea

 

to establish a vet in this area.

 

 

Robert and the dogs are doing great!  Poppy was yodeling to be petted.  I could hear Monet growling

 

to be petted too.  He was busy!  He is very pleased with Festus and I's progress here in Florida.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I bought it!  I did look at one more mobile home in North Fort Myers that had a wonderful

 

heated pool, clubhouse, 200 mobile homes, 1 hour from the beach (too far) for 8000$.  Funny but

 

the one thing that stopped me from purchasing this one was the management.  She had someone

 

threaten her so had hired an armed guard to protect her while she worked!  She was not kind to me.

 

I just did not want to deal with her.  Also 1 hour from the beach is just too far for me.  I would never

 

want to drive the hour to Sanibel Island to paint.  I had a few nerve wracking days trying to decide.

 

I thought of staying at a hotel for a month for 1000$.  I just did not want to waste the time or

 

money.  I woke up in the morning and decided!  Festus and I would live in the mobile home shown

 

in the photo in Fort Myers on Palm Beach Blvd.  The neighbors are very nice.  The 36 mobile homes

 

creates a smaller community.  They all watch after each other.  Yesterday Festus and I

 

moved in!  We had visited a few times.  I think this helped the transition.  I purchased a small new refrigerator,

 

microwave, and a stove.  

 

 

This is what we see from the bay window to the left.  There are palms lining a side street

 

with very nice houses.  There are sidewalks!  I already road a bike along the East Riverside

 

Drive and back.  The river is very pretty.  I took Festus for a hike in his backpack.

 

 

Side street view.  

 

 

Festus likes the bay window.  

 

 

The screen room is a hit!  There are many song birds and lizards to admire!

 

We keep the mobile home door open for air circulation.  The screen room

 

keeps Festus from escaping.  I am going to have the screen room more secured for him.

 

Festus has 600 square foot to explore.

 

 

  Festus hiding behind the bed.  

 

I am going to take Festus to the vet on Monday if we can get an appointment.

 

He started to sneeze and rub his nose with his paw in Maine many weeks ago.

 

The house in Maine had some mold where the roof was leaking.

 

Lowes is replacing the roof in a few weeks.  My tinnitus is about 50% better already.  I must

 

be sensitive to mold.

 

  During our drive from Maine to Florida I saw him

 

sneeze and rub his nose more.  He was shivering.  Today he only sneezed once.

 

I didn't see him shivering today.  I know this is a symptom of an upper respiratory infection.

 

He may or may not need antibiotics.  Cats are sensitive to mold.  They are also sensitive to other

 

irritants and can have allergies.  The mobile home seems clean without leaks.  There is a new metal

 

roof on the mobile home.  

 

A vet check is never a bad idea.  She can listen to his lungs.

 

 

To the right on Palm Beach Blvd is a new Post Office then this huge park.

There are tennis courts and covered basket ball courts.  There are many pavilions.

 

There are three beaches 10 minutes away from the mobile home.

 

The Fort Myers Beach is farther about 30 minutes away.

 

Sanibel Island is 45 minutes depending on the traffic.

 

 

There is a very bright light above our mobile home for security.

 

Tomorrow I will get a post office box, ship two paintings, purchase a beach parking pass, call 

 

for internet installation.

 

 I will take Festus to the vet if I can.

 

Good night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    This is it!  I toured the mobile home.  Festus stayed behind in the luxurious Holiday Inn.

 

He looked too comfortable lounging on the beautiful white sheets in the air conditioned room.

 

We have been driving for days from Maine to Florida.  Last night we visited my parents for an

 

hour.  Then we drove to Fort Myers.  I wanted to see this trailer at night.  Garmin, the navigation

 

device told us where to go!  Garmin guided us to an empty lot in the middle of a very bad area.

 

There was a two story house boarded up.  There were a row of cabins, one light on, with an African

 

American standing in the door.  He dashed inside and them reappeared as we drove by.

 

I honestly worried about getting shot!  But we survived.  The Lincoln SUV was out of place.

 

I do not think we fit into the neighborhood!  I was shaking.  Festus was shaking too!

 

We tried five times to find the mobile home on Palm Beach Blvd.  We gave up.

 

We were still shaking when we checked into the Holiday Inn!

 

 

I found the mobile home.  It is in a much nicer area.

 

Thank heavens!  I like the lady Tammy who manages

 

the place.  She is very honest.  She did not sugar coat anything.

 

It sounds like many ladies live here.  There are many Mexicans.

 

I saw many White people too.  There are only 35 mobile homes.

 

Fort Myers is a very diversified area as is most of Florida.

 

She said they have not had crime problems.  She had been living

 

there for 30 years.  

 

 

This is part of the bedroom.  This unit was once a camping trailer.

 

They made it into a stationary unit.  It has new carpet, vinyl, new

 

metal flashing for a roof.  The screen room is nice. I will need to have

 

pet screen put into the screen room to protect Festus. I won't let him out there

 

unless I am there.  I will buy him another cat penthouse so he can lay in his

 

hammock again.  The air conditioners, electric, plumbing work fine.  

 

It is clean.  I think we will enjoy wintering here in this mobile home.

 

We will do the signing and money transaction tomorrow.  So we still have

 

today and tonight to think about it.  It is a big commitment.  I will be locked into

 

paying the 475$ lot fee until I find another buyer to  buy the mobile

 

home from me if I ever want to move.  There are no amenities but it is 10 minutes

 

from the beach and under 20 to Sanibel Island.

 

 

There are no appliances.  The cabinets and sink are new.

 

 

I am going for a swim in the Holiday Inn pool.

 

 

  Festus is cleaning himself. His bowels are back to working.  I am relieved.  He

 

did not have any action in three days!  I do not think that is healthy for a cat!

 

He ate two little cans of Fancy Feast last night.  Fancy Feast is only 70 cents a can.

 

Normally he eats Wellness Core Chicken pate at 2.50$ a can.  He likes the gravy

 

of the cheaper Fancy Feast.  I told him that was fine if he wanted to each the cheap

 

stuff but if his hair starts to fall out he is going eat his Wellness Core chicken

 

again!  

 

I want to find a Home Depot to buy a broom and cleaning supplies.  The roads in Fort Myers

 

are complicated with many one way multi lane roads.  I will figure it all out.

 

What an adventure!  Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Tiz Autumn" 14x20 oil on copper sold while we were driving today.  Festus is going to be very happy.

Thank you!

 

    I did not sleep well last night.  I might have slept a total of two hours.

 

This morning we had a visitor!  My Facebook friend Margaret came to our hotel room to meet us!

 

I have known her for many years. It was so much fun meeting her in person!  I wished we lived closer

 

to each other. She was such a lovely, elegant, lady.  Festus and I were delighted!  Long ago she sent

 

me a copy of her book.  It was the story of her family connected with the Holocaust.  Fantastic writer.

 

 

 

 

We stopped a few times along our drive for me to close my eyes.

 

I think tonight we will sleep better.  Becky's Log Cabins in Smithfield, NC are very quiet even though

 

they are near I 95.  I carried Festus into the hotel to ask if they accepted pets.

 

The two lady owners loved visiting with Festus.  They petted him and held his paw.

 

They had a lot of questions.  Will he get any bigger?  He might!  Maine Coon Cats can grow

 

up to five years of age.  Were his parents this big?  His Dad is larger 35 pounds and his Mom is

 

17 pounds.  Does he eat a lot?  When we are on the road it seems like Festus does not get

 

hungry.  He has eaten very little.  He does drink a little water at night in the hotel room.

 

At five o clock in the morning he was happy I continued his morning ritual of having breakfast!

 

He ate two bites of his canned food and three pieces of dried food.  That was it!

 

Does he spray? "Oh no, I told the ladies.  Festus is a gentleman.  "  They both laughed.

 

I told them both, "Festus will be your best behaved client. He left all his guns at home!"

 

They roared laughing!  They said, "Well we are glad about that!"  I told them he lost his 

 

concealed weapon permit in a hushed voice.  They looked at each other.  I tried to keep a straight face.  She said,

 

"Well I hope he didn't do anything too bad!"  I didn't tell them anything else.  I thought it was best

 

to let them wonder what Festus, the orange Maine Coon cat did to lose his concealed weapon 

 

permit!   I told them, "Thank you very much for letting Festus and I stay here."  They said

 

it was their pleasure!

 

 

I thought this was cute.  He has such a gentle personality.

 

 

He sat like this for an hour watching cars go by.

 

 

Cute boy!

 

 

He is very flexible.  

 

 

He has not spent very much time on top of his card board school bus.

 

I could not fit my bed comforter in the car because of his bus.

 

I decided it was more important.

 

 

I am sure Festus would have been quite happy home with the dogs and Robert.

 

He will miss them.    I am sure he thinks about them as much as I do.

 

 

   Now we have a few more lot rents paid for thanks to today's painting sale.

 

I think we will have a total of four months in advance paid for.  That should be very

 

good.  We will sleep easier tonight.

 

Tomorrow we will drive to Winter Park, Florida.  We will visit with my parents

 

for an hour or two.  Then we will continue to Fort Myers, stay in a hotel, and

 

visit the mobile home Friday morning.  We can purchase it right after we tour the mobile

 

home.  Then we can move right in! The electric is already turned on.  We will call the power company

 

and have it transferred.  I will share a photo of the new place soon.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

"Autumn Bounty" 20x26 oil on copper Sold. Thank you!

 

 

"Fancy Lobster" 6x8 oil on copper  Sold.  Thank you!

 

   Festus and I made it to Delaware tonight.  We checked into a Quality Inn.

 

We stepped out of the car.  I was holding Festus.

 

There was an African American couple in the car next to us.

 

A man in the passenger seat let out a high pitch scream and threw his hands up in the air.

 

I laughed so hard.  Festus scared the man?  The lady was laughing next to him.

 

I put Festus's paws on his window.  He let out another squeal with his hands up higher.

 

He rolled down the window and asked, "Is that a Bob Cat?"  I told him he was a Maine Coon Cat.

 

He said, "I never saw a big cat like that!  I never thought there was a cat so big!"  

 

The lady asked if she could take a photo of Festus for her grandkids.  I said sure!

 

The man excitedly asked her to take a photo of him with the cat!  He said, "Take one!  Take one!

 

I have got to have a photo with that giant cat!"   They asked about how he got that big?  How

 

long had I had him?  I told him there is a story that Maine Coon Cats could be part Bob Cat!

 

They were in awe of Festus.  Festus stood on the window area with me holding him while they

 

admired him.  They thanked me for our time.  What a delightful couple in Delaware!

 

Festus enjoyed meeting them too!  I enjoyed the man's reaction so much!  How comical.

 

I honestly do not know if he was genuinely afraid of him or not?  He would not touch him so I 

 

think he might have been frightened.  

 

 

Many people have asked me how well Festus travels in the car.

 

He meows for the first hour.  Then he likes to sit on me.

 

   Nothing else exciting happened all day long except Festus practically died of fright when a New Jersey

 

gas station attendant wearing all black with a neon green vest approached our car.  Festus shook and

 

fell over.  I picked him up.  He tried to get under my seat.  Then he tried to get under the gas petal but we

 

were parked.  I picked him up and told him it was ok.  It took a few hours for Festus to recover.

 

He was not afraid of the screaming man in the car in Delaware at all! 

 

 

Festus is very chilled out the rest of the drive.

 

 

Driving can get boring.  We are bored.

 

 

Driving to the George Washington Bridge in New York City was a little exciting.

 

Gas fumes!  We turned the fan on high.  Festus approved.

 

 

Heavy traffic as usual in New York City.

 

 

Tunnels are cool.

 

 

Festus was looking at cars as we passed by them.

 

 

Traveling with Festus is fun.

 

Tomorrow we will drive to South Carolina if we can.  Good night!