Free Bird's Adventures: 2015 October 10-20, Edison/Ford Winter Homes-Sanibel Island-Cape Coral Florida

Thursday, June 2, 2016

2015 October 10-20, Edison/Ford Winter Homes-Sanibel Island-Cape Coral Florida

Day 15: Saturday, October 10, 2015

I was up before 8:00 A.M., but my daughter slept until almost noon.

I ate a bagel with cream cheese for breakfast. For lunch, I fried some potatoes with onions, and I cut up tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers.

Around 2 P.M., we rode to the , laboratory, gardens, and museum.

The cost was $19.00 per person, and I bought a book about the Edison home.

At the entrance, we saw a silver statue of Thomas Alva Ediso,s standing in front of the Banyan tree. Next to him was a marker that reads: ,, February11, 1847-Octoberr 18, 1931. He was named the Twentieth Century Man of the Millennium by .

Mina Edison, Thomas's wife, had a statue sitting on a bench in front of the . As we strolled through the gardens,, we saw a butterfly garde and, with fruit hanging from them. Edison called this fruit his “Paw Paw."

We visited the 15,000-square-foot Edison & Ford Museum and Laboratory, which houses a collection of inventions and artifacts. We saw a bust of and Thomas Edison. We saw . Displayed in front of the Model T was a cross-section of the car Ford built, showing the location of different parts. At the museum, we saw Henry Ford's Inspiration & his impact over 150 years of innovation.& Do you know Henry Ford?

There was an entire room showing pictures of Edison after forty. The area shows Thomas Edison's family history, The Child Wizard, the giant light bulb, a display of his love for fishing, a hall of inventions featuring some of his early photographs, video recorders, telephones, projectors, his telegraph, and so much more.

We crossed the street to tour the Edisons/Fords' winter homes and gardens.

Historic markers were telling the history of each area as we walked through.

First, we saw the Edison Restoration and Rebirth, which describes the , comprising the family home, the pergola, the guest house, the , the Little Office, the Edison Caretakers' House, the Pool, the teahouse, and the seawall.

Our next stop was at the caretaker's home and yard, then onto the Moonlight Garden.

The Moonlight Garden consists of about 25 separate flower beds, laid out in a neat geometric pattern.

We looked at the , which was the original site of the Edison 1886 Laboratory.

Next, we stopped at Edison's Water Systems, in 1919 a large concrete cistern was built to capture rainwater for drinking only.

Next, the Motor Generator Edison's inventions and business life included extensive and successful work with integrated power systems.

We stopped to look at his Pool Complex, in 1911 Edison had a pool built right on his own estate.

We walked down to Edison's Pier, which was initially called the Wharf, and it was used as a working area to offload boats carrying materials and contents for the home and laboratory.

Edison had fire control: a standpipe in the main house, the guest house, the caretaker house, and the laboratory, with a hose rack and a reel with 100 feet of 2-inch hose.

We peeked inside the Edison Home and the guest house.

Then we walked next door to the Henry Ford Florida Estate, where we saw a statue of Henry Ford placed in one of the gardens. We also peeked inside the Ford Estate and then onto Clara Ford's Michigan Rose Garden.

We stopped at the Cottage Shop, where I bought a book about the Edison and Ford Estates. Palm trees were blowing in the wind, and there were ripe fruit hanging from the trees: , & .

We walked through Orchid Lane and Friendship Walk, where we saw mango trees, , Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium, and Cattleyas.

We exited the Estates, walked back across the street, and rode into , stopping at Joe's Crab Shack. We had to wait a few minutes to be seated. Joe's was located along the riverfront. Our seats were next to the glass wall that overlooked the river. We could see people getting off their boats and walking up the pier to Joe's for dinner.

Our waiter brought us an appetizer of with crab dip piled high on tortilla chips, topped with pico de gallo, black bean corn relish, Monterey Jack, and avocado lime dressing.

Our main course was Crispy Jumbo Shrimp hand-breaded and served with hushpuppies, fries, and coleslaw.

My daughter ordered a , with rum, Bacardi 151 Rum, red passion fruit, and orange juice, topped with Myers's Dark Rum.

Our last stop of the day was at the Edison Mall.

My daughter was out of makeup, so she went into Macy's.

I walked to the Finishing Line. I had a $20 coupon, so I used it to buy a .

I finished my shopping and went to the middle of the mall to sit and wait for my daughter.

While I was waiting, I updated my iPhone and uploaded some pictures to Facebook.

Another great day of fun.

Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison Winter Home

Category 5 Hurricane

Crab Nachos

Day 16: Sunday, October 11, 2015

I went to with my granddaughter, her boyfriend, and her mother.

My granddaughter parked the car, and we carried everything we needed down to the beach. We each had a chair and an umbrella to protect us from the sun. We waded in the water looking for seashells.

For lunch, we had ham & cheese sandwiches around 11:00 A.M.

I saw a sandy path leading up to the .

Along the path, I saw a sign that read: Nature's Landlord — Gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus). The sign identified the different turtles, their habitat, their reproduction, and how they burrow.

I walked a little further down the path and saw several signs posted on a large board; one described Sanibel & Everglades Restoration on the Caloosahatchee River Connection. There was another sign that read: "There are more than shells living on the shore; beach plants may look scruffy, but they're important." They help stabilize the sand and provide shelter for wildlife. Another sign read: A beach is a wild place; beyond the beach: Molluscan Reproduction and Egg Cases, Mollusks and the Environment, Seashells of Sanibel and Captiva Islands, and Sea Turtles on Sanibel. The path leads up to the Sanibel Island Lighthouse.

The Sanibel Island Lighthouse is a 98-foot above-sea-level iron skeleton tower built in 1884.

I walked back to the beach and we stayed until about 1 P.M.

On our way back, we stopped at , located at the intersection of Six Mile Cypress and Metro Parkway in Fort Myers.

We sampled their freshly squeezed juices. We tried Orange Juice, Grapefruit Juice, Orange-Strawberry Juice, and Orange-Cranberry Juice.

We each ordered two scoops of orange and vanilla ice cream in a cone.

I was dropped off at my daughter's apartment, so I could take a shower to wash off all the sand and change clothes.

I was going to ride with them to Tampa Airport, and they would be picking me up at 2:45 P.M.

The drive took about 2.5 hours, and we arrived around 4:45 P.M.

My granddaughter and her boyfriend were returning home on the 5:30 P.M. flight.

They rushed through security and to the connecting gate, only to find their flight had been delayed.

I rode back to Fort Myers with my daughter-in-law and one of her dogs.

We arrived around 6:45 P.M. She dropped off her dog, and we rode to Miller's Ale House at 4400 Kerne Circle in Fort Myers.

We both enjoyed a grilled chicken breast topped with dried tomatoes, sour cream, and cheese. We both ordered a Marguerite.

She dropped me off at my daughter's apartment at about 8:30 P.M.

My daughter and her roommate were getting ready to go out dancing.

They stayed out until 3:30 P.M., and I was still up watching TV when they came home.

They brought me a bagel with sausage and cheese from McDonald's.

I washed a few clothes and went back to bed until 10 A.M.

Enjoying Sanibel Island Beach

Grilled chicken covered in dried tomatoes with sour cream and cheese

Day 17: Monday, October 12, 2015

We rode to the Farmers Market Restaurant at 2736 Edison Avenue in Fort Myers. They have served the finest food you have ever tasted since 1952.

For lunch, we ordered their homemade Dreamsicle pie, fried zucchini, collard greens, cornbread, and tea.

Our next stop was the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, an environmental education organization on 105 acres with a museum, three nature trails, a Planetarium, butterfly and bird aviaries, a gift shop, and meeting and picnic areas.

We watched a live animal presentation.

The animal handler brought out a skunk and a boa.

He walked around the group, letting everyone who wanted to hold the snake and the skunk do so.

He told us he went into the marsh or the woods to catch snakes and other non-native animals.

We walked a short distance on one of the trails. We saw cages, buzzards, eagles, and hawks.

Inside, we saw fish, turtles, and a very irritated rattlesnake.

We saw deer, ducks, river otters, turtles, wild boars, alligators, snakes, large lizards, frogs, a collection of butterflies, a collection of shellfish, a collection of different rocks, the life cycle of a crab, and a live alligator swimming in the pond outside.

A Sign about the .

Adult alligators average six to twelve feet in length. Feeding on fish, birds, and even whole turtles, alligators live in freshwater areas in the southeastern US.

At the Planetarium, we watched a couple of movies: Autumn Skies and the Space Station.

We saw Land and our changing earth, Ice, Global Ice & Snow, Water —the basis for life —and Light pollution and our fading night sky.

We also saw the Spiral Galaxy Messier, Star's Death Blows Oxygen into Space, Hubble Chandra,

Spitzer radio, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible, Ultraviolet, and X-ray.

Visited the Lee County Junior Museum, Planetarium, and Atmosphere.

We saw the Galactic Center Region, NASA's Great Observatories, a Picture of NASA's Shuttle, Several NASA Telescopes (Great Ball of Fire), Zeiss Binocular Reflector,

We went to Walmart and picked up a few groceries. We cooked cabbage, potatoes, tipple, chicken, and zucchini for supper.

Dreamsicle pie

Day 18: Tuesday, October 13, 2016

My daughter worked ten hours.
Got up early because my back and legs hurt, then took a nap.

Worked on the computer, typing up historical markers I had photographed, then watched some TV. I mopped the floors and took out the garbage. Late, I walked to the entrance gate, but my legs were hurting, so I came back to the apartment.

I watched TV and fell asleep on the sofa.

Day 19: Wednesday, October 14, 2015

My daughter worked ten hours.

Got up after my daughter left for work. I worked on the computer updating historic markers. I walked to the clubhouse, where I met Michelle. She talked about her Pentecostal church, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Michelle said she moved here about three years ago, from New York. She was with her eleven-year-old daughter. Michelle had been in a bad relationship. She said she was originally from Jamaica.

I ate cream cheese on a bagel for breakfast. For lunch, I ate a salami sandwich with mustard cheese and a slice of tomato. I drank a Diet Coke. I ate a banana and some strawberries.

Jackie took me to Edison Mall, where I bought a cup of yogurt from Yogurt Mountain.

My daughter went out to eat with a friend, and it was very late when she got home.

Day 20: Thursday, October 15, 2015

My daughter worked ten hours today. I think she was late after her long night out the day before. My daughter's roommate had a flat in her car. She wanted me to go to the gas station with her so she could air up the tire, but it was too flat. We started walking toward the clubhouse when we saw a young man eating his lunch in a Comcast truck. We ask him if he would help us. My daughter's roommate had an air compressor in her car, but her cigarette lighter wouldn't work, so she couldn't air up her tire.

The young man from Comcast aired up her tire, and we thanked him for his help. We rode to Chick-fil-a, where I bought two chicken sandwiches. I gave one of the sandwiches to my daughter's roommate. Back at the apartment, we were getting to know one another as she was getting ready to go out.

My cell reception was not very good, so I went outside. I sat on the steps in front of the apartment while I talked to Hubby and my sister.

I met the couple from upstairs and their little girl. I hear their little girl walking across the floor every night at bedtime.

I watched TV until my daughter came home from work.

Day 21: Friday, October 16,2016

We went to Verizon to get my daughter's bill straightened out, but they said we would have to come back on Tuesday. We went to Walmart, where my daughter sent her son and daughter $100 each for their birthdays.

My daughter bought a glue stick and a suction cup to make a sticker. We went to Staples to make two copies and punch holes in them. For lunch, we grilled chicken, boiled cabbage, & potatoes. I cut up some tomatoes and onions to make an avocado salad, but the avocados were spoiled, so we ate the salad without avocados.

We rode to in Fort Myers around 3:11 P.M.

The Manatee Park is on a small river that branches off from the Caloosahatchee River. There are three observation areas along the river. We did not see any manatees because they usually come to this area in November through March.

The park had a playground, hut rentals for parties, and a visitor center, which was closed. There were several walking trails to see wild animals and wildflowers.

There were a couple of boardwalks that extended out into the river.

There was construction going on across the canal and a beautiful ranch house across the river. It was an excellent place for canoeing.

Ethnobotany Trial is a study of how people use plants.

We saw several signs that said not to feed alligators, other wildlife, or manatees. We heard a loud noise it was a squirrel gnawing away at a bamboo tree.

We left at 3:47PM.

We arrived at 4:06 at the Shell Factory located at 2787 N. Tamiami Trail North Fort Myers 33903

There we saw a large collection of Seashells. Pirates cove with a Black beard, Rosie's Gourmet shop, Museums of Natural History with shells, fossils, Military Museum Betty Boots, Animals, and a Christmas Shop.

We rode to Cape Coral to attend the (thirtieth annual) The German American Social Club of Cape Coral.

There were three stages with nonstop bands, and a dance floor, featuring Zimmerer Kapelle Biberach and KauogeL.

The sit-down dinner was served in the von Steuben Hall, which cost $11 each.

Our choices were Schnitzel over Sauerbraten, which was sour beef, served with either noodles or dumplings, with red cabbage or vegetables.

We chose Schnitzels, with dumplings and vegetables, and water to drink.

We each ordered four-dollar Margaritas, found a place to sit, listened to several different bands, and watched everyone dance.

There was a carnival area for kids, featuring rides and games.

There were many vendors, exhibits, and handmade crafts.

There was plenty of imported German Beer, Domestic Beer, German wine, and spirits.

Miss Oktoberfest Nikita Chadwick addresses the German American Social Club.

Mayor Marni Sawicki, who, for the second year, tapped the keg to get the festival started. Once the keg was tapped, it was time to party.

We left around 9 P.M.

Manatee Park

Day 22: Saturday, October 17, 2015

We rode to Edison Mall, where I bought a pair of black-and-white stretch pants and a Nike shirt at Finishing Line. I purchased a Star Wars scarf at FYE. My daughter bought her makeup and boots at Macy's. We came home and got ready to go to the Zombicom in downtown Fort Myers from 4–10 P.M.

On October 17, 2015, from 4–12 P.M., the dead will again rise. There were five stages with over 30 live performances, including DJs, dance troupes, zombie queens, & fire dancers. There were street vendors with food and merchandise.

Zombicom is not only about raising the dead but also about raising funds for the community.

We ate dinner at United Cafe Bar and Bistro. I ordered the Chef's Handmade Garden Quiche, served with fire-roasted red peppers, baby spinach, cheddar, and mozzarella, enveloped in a savory egg custard. Served with hand-cut roasted redskin potatoes.

We walked up and down the streets of downtown Fort Myers until I could walk no more. My daughter took me home around 10 P.M.

She went back to being with her friends. I watched TV until I fell asleep.

She said that she and her friends left a little after 11 P.M., which was a good thing because there was a shooting around 12 P.M.

Day 23: Sunday, October 18,2015

We went to Sun Harvest Citrus, where we tasted different kinds of juices. Strawberry/Orange, Grapefruit/Orange, Orange juice. I bought a Danish cheesecake at 1:53 P.M.

We rode to Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, and we walked 1.25 miles on the boardwalk that is above a swamp. We saw turtles, hawks, and birds. We also visited the Interpretive Center and Gift Shop.

At 4:11 P.M., we stopped at Bahama Breeze Restaurant for dinner.

We ordered the Mojo Marinated pulled pork, slow-roasted, served over sweet plantains with their signature sweet and smoky barbecue sauce.

We also ordered the grilled salmon and mixed greens, which are served on a bed of crispy baked tortilla with melted cheese, fresh greens, tomatoes, salsa, and avocados, drizzled with vinaigrette.

We rode to Lakes Regional Park, where they were having a Fall & Halloween Festival.

We saw people riding the Halloween express train. We saw how the locals displayed their creativity through scarecrows and a Pumpkin Patch.

We saw bounce houses, there were hayrides, face painting, Scarecrow contests, activities, and games.

We saw people riding bicycles, taking boat rides, and fishing.

We walked all around the park, including taking the bicycle trail.

On the way home, we stopped to fill up.

We stopped at CVS. I needed some cash, so I bought a box of Oreos and Ice Cream.

Day 24: Monday, October 19, 2015

My daughter had to work twelve hours from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. I made the bed, mopped, washed all my clothes, packed, wrote in my journal, and watched TV. Took a nap and ate Munster cheese, cream cheese chips, Somali, and a bagel with cream cheese for breakfast. I ate Oreos with monkey ice cream.

My daughter's friend, Sam, came over, and we watched a movie. Sam stayed the night. He slept in the roommate's room, and she went home for the weekend.

Day 25: Tuesday, October 20, 2015

We arrived at the airport in Fort Myers around 4 A.M. My flight leaves Fort Myers at 5 A.M.

I am flying on Delta flight 1380 to Atlanta, sitting in seat 42D next to the window. The couple that sat next to me slept most of the way.

The stewardess served refreshments, and I took packages of cookies, pretzels, & Cranberry Apple juice.

At the Atlanta International Airport, I had to walk to the next gate, which was downstairs. I took the escalator, then the tram missed my stop, so I rode to the end of the line and back: A, B, C, D, E, F & T. I took the escalator back upstairs to gate 35.

The plane departed the Atlanta airport at 10:29 A.M. and arrived at 10:25 A.M. Huntsville International Airport.

Hubby was waiting for my call, and he picked me up at the door.

We rode to Golden Corral in Huntsville. I ate turkey, collard greens, beans, cornbread, shrimp, carrot cake, and ice cream.

When we finished eating, we rode to Cabela's Outdoor Store.

That night, we met him at Texas Roadhouse to celebrate the people who had birthdays in October.

I ordered a six-ounce sirloin steak, baked potato, and a Caesar salad.

We were finally home, and it was 9:00 P.M.