Bahamas, I think, et al

Well, Monday was a long awaited day to take a day trip to the Bahamas. Beautiful, sunny, warm Grand Bahama Island. About 5:00 a.m., I awoke to the sound of rain. Well, that can't stop us - maybe like last week, we will have a few showers. NOT! It poured rain all the way to Port Lauderdale, while boarding the ship, during the 5 hour cruise over, the 4 hours there, and the 5 hour cruise back. Actually, it did stop raining on the way back and we saw a little sunset peeking through the clouds. Also, it was so cool and windy along with the rain that Jerry and I stayed on the ship while Loni and Allen bought ponchos and waded through puddles to see a few things on the Island. What a disappointing day! We did get to play cards with a cute little 8 year old girl, who had also stayed on board with her grandmother. We watched Blind Side (for the second time) on the way back. We didn't get back to the condo until midnight and we were all exhausted. Life sometimes gives us days like this - not at all what we expect or want, but you make it through them all the same.
Ironically, today was a gorgeous day with not a cloud in sight. We went to Bonnet House in Fort Lauderdale, which is a 35 acre estate right in the middle of the busy city. When you are in there, you are taken back in time to early 1900's to a slower, calmer, more beautiful time in this tropical land. The home and grounds tour was so fun to see, and so eclectic. Frederick Bartlett was an artist in Chicago whose second wife was given these acres by her father, when she married him. He planned and decorated it in several styles. No pictures were allowed inside, but I took several pictures of the courtyard and grounds, including the ponds. In the garage was a 1941 Cadillac that was in pristine condition. It was purchased new by the Bartletts. The home and grounds were willed to the historical preservation society when the third Mrs. Bartlett died at the age of 109.