Our Stay at Hyatt Regency Sarasota Florida

 Once again we were at our favorite Hyatt Regency in Sarasota, Florida.

Hyatt Regency Sarasota ←click link

We once more had to fight heavy traffic, coming from the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando. See previous post...

But here we are!

At 15:50 I stepped out on our balcony and made this photo from the Sarasota Bay and to the right you see the Van Wezel performing arts building.

First time EVER that we were at the very front and center of the Hyatt Regency.

Next day on December 30, we went for a walk through the Sarasota Bay area.

This is the front of the hotel and our balcony is hidden behind the 2nd palm tree from center.

We were on the 6th floor (out of 10) in room 614.

Behind the glass sections are glassed in seating areas—no balcony and not open.

We had that in February of 2022.

In February there was a huge fence around here—due to construction. Now there were beach chairs for a beautiful view of the John Ringling Causeway Bridge towards Saint Armands Circle on Lido Key.

Since February also this playground got finished.

The Ibis Playground...

We continued our sunny walk along the Bay towards the Van Wezel performing arts building...

Me standing at the Bay waters with a rather dramatic sky.

It sure was a lovely day with highest 27°C or 80.6°F

Peering over the menu at the Currents Restaurant on our first day we discussed with friendly waiter George several dinner options.

He arranged with the Chef for taking out pork chops for us and having them prepared in a healthy way—for me at least, for the next evening.

On the menu it was ALE BRINED PORK CHOP with cauliflower puree | rainbow chard | black cherry demi

The only thing wrong was that they served mine with mashed potatoes instead of cauliflower puree and I'm not allowed to eat potatoes in any form due to their high potassium levels for my kidneys...

But the pork chop sure was good not being ALE BRINED and so was the black cherry demi—very special taste!

Our New Year's Eve walk.

Pieter standing here at the place where you can slide with your kayak into the water...

Just in jeans and his Burberry shirt—so mild and no more wind.

Love this area called the Mangrove Bayou Walkway

There are many live oaks on the parking lot of the Van Wezel performing arts building and also very tame squirrels!

Once again I had to take a WeFie in the gold reflecting glass door of the Van Wezel building...

Van Wezel with a dramatic sky resulting in dense fog the next morning on New Year's day.

We ended the year 2022 with a bowl of GULF COAST SEAFOOD CHOWDER...

That was delicious with some bread on the side.

On New Year's Day, we once more went for a walk and fed the tame squirrels some nuts.

We also had a great swim in the afternoon.
Only on our first afternoon we did lie at the pool, just to relax... 

It is said to be heated to 86°F or 30°C but it felt rather cool when getting into the water but with the sun above us, it was great!

Our Hyatt Regency room 614 had the BEST shower/tub we've ever experienced.

Having both had back aches, it was a great massage and warming.

We walked after that...

Doves were sitting on the electrical wiring above us.

Zoomed in on both doves...

They started roosting for the evening, just like the water fowl that we again observed in the Mangrove.

You can see pictures in the links below from previous posts.

This time we did NOT visit any friends like we did during previous stays.

Also for not disrupting their family plans during the holidays and we both enjoyed a truly relaxed stay of four nights here. No driving involved but reading, cross stitching (trying to finish a project started in 2007... and on New Year's Eve we watched the darling movie of The Bear (1988) ←click it) that I'd found on a blog. We had this on video but gifted it to Mom & Dad to play on their Multi system VCR (gifted by us as well as a gifted Multi system TV). Mom LOVED it so much and so did my young nieces and nephews.

Pieter and I watched this fond movie once more.

It is filmed in British Columbia, Canada and such beautiful nature!

What a blissful 4 free nights on Pieter's accumulated Hyatt points these were!

Booked already on October 20...

On Monday, January 2 of 2023 our wonderful Hyatt stay ended as we had to check out.

Driving once again through very heavy traffic jam.

This entire trip was like that—coming and going.

By 6:30 PM we arrived home in the dark and our kitties were oh so happy!!!

Related links:

From Lakeland, to Sarasota via Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Florida | previous post by me

Nature Trail Walk at The Bay Park in Sarasota, Florida | previous post by me

Lunch with a Dear Writer Friend in Osprey, Florida | previous post by me

{Award Nights at Hyatt Regency in Sarasota, Florida} | previous post by me

{Sarasota, Florida - Hyatt Regency} | previous post by me

{Sarasota Bay, Florida - Great Egret} | previous post by me

{Sarasota Bay, Florida - Anhinga} | previous post by me

Wearing Mom's Wedding Dress to Church

 One of the treasures I did bring home from Limburg was Mom's wedding dress!

October 15, I wore it to Mass after I had it dry cleaned at Presstine Cleaners in Atlanta.

The dress was made out of a nice rayon georgette and I wear my black patent Escada sandals.

The dress originally came with train.

Mom's bridal bouquet looks like she was holding white stock or Matthiola Incana—also very fragrant!

In Dutch white stock is witte violieren...

Dad with a hat in his hand and gloves...

The day of the beginning of a Blissful Relationship—blessed by Dad's maternal Uncle—Heeroom.

Mom and Dad more up close.

Mom sure had lovely hair here and wearing her golden cross on a short necklace.

Those were the days of hats and Mom has worn many hats, especially when going to Church.

Her dress with train got later altered to a shorter version.

Can't recall if she wore it to certain events...

Dad had no camera of his own in the early years!

Photo taken after Mass by a friend.

Pieter wearing his silk Burberry suit that I also did bring back from Limburg...

The side seams of the top were let out by my sister, some 3 inches (7.5 cm). The dress is too wide for me now. 

At home one more WeFie in bright daylight...

Pieter wearing his Escada silk elephant tie.

This photo is from March 8, 1968 when I wore the dress with boots in Horst, Limburg...

Funny, I was 17, and above I am 71... just reversed numbers.

But I'm the only of 3 daughters that still can wear Mom's small sized dress!

Guess Mom was smiling down from heaven to see her wedding dress go to Church once more...

The History of the Bridal Gown

Not in white

It used to be unthinkable to buy a dress for one day. That only happened at court. 

Well into the twentieth century many brides married in black.

Even Pieter's late wife Thea did...

In front of the Church—also with hat and gloves in hand...

Don't understand where she left her gorgeous bridal bouquet.

Pieter with the bridal bouquet, full of orchids...

In 1983, when it was the rage to wear such black jackets—Pieter's 19 year old adopted daughter Liz, begged for the jacket of his wedding suit and Pieter gave in...

A handsome groom that stayed with Thea for 27 years—living like brother and sister...

BUT thanks to that, he wrote the mushroom bible and helped thousands to make a better living!

Everything has a reason in life and we both are grateful that God made us meet 53 years ago and we are happily married for a long time.

Related link:

{The Little Black Dress & My MOM} | previous post by me with Mom in her bridal gown

Both of us LOVE Elephants | previous post by me with Pieter's Escada elephant tie

FAMILY Treasures from Chef of Smulhuis in Brunssum/The Netherlands | previous post with Pieter's Mom also wearing a black bridal gown

Dad Sang Solo on Mom & Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary | previous post with Mom & Dad on their wedding day photos with Heeroom

Rolling our Bikes in the Sunshine

 August was a rather WET month with too much rain...

Good for the yard and the farmers — but not good for riding our bikes!

At least for planning a longer route that is.

NO—there is no black spot between my eyes... just shade.

That is a happy WeFie from August 28.

August 28 it was 32°C and not raining after a long time...

Pieter at a sturdy built bridge over big creek.

We stop for a sip of water and a brief break—at 93.5 you can't go on and on!

The weather on September 18 was again a lovely 31°C

Me at the same bridge for a sip of water... not from the creek but from the bottle 😉

Contrary to Limburg/The Netherlands where you have safe bike lanes AND lots of stops with a bench and often a coffee shop nearby.

We paid Kyle Wayne Dinkheller a visit at his memorial in Dudley, close to Interstate 16, where he got killed after he'd stopped some guy that was speeding over 90 miles an hour.

Kyle left his expectant wife and 22 month old daughter behind...

Such a tragedy in January 1998 and we will never forget that!

Also how the community came together in supporting his family.

Resting on the cross tire as there are no benches.

On September 21, we spotted a baby donkey on the way over but as we came back it hid in the shade...

Cute as can be!

On sunny September 25, we rode in 31°C

Spunky girl greeted us on the driveway, where they love to chill out...

During the devastating hurricane Ian, even our area was affected by the weather change.

Only 18°C on September 29

Another happy WeFie from October 6.

Yes, a blissful relationship on wheels...

Our lovely Indian Summer was back with 28°C

Lovely stretched out fields in the hilly area on October 6.

On October 9, we rolled again and here I'm standing on the side of an overpass over Interstate 16.

October 9, it sure was lovely weather at 25°C

After squatting down on the cross tires during our previous ride—we spotted these seats for taking our break.

Easier for getting up at our age 😉

Happy me on said bench in Dudley, almost having devoured my rice cake...

Just as I was about to leave, I spotted this plaque:

IN HONOR OF DR. JIM KIBLER

BY

HIS CHILDREN

~

Thank you so very much!

Do you find rest areas in your area when biking or walking?