Vero's Restaurants

We have visited a number of restaurants in the area. 

More things to do!

There is always something to do here.  Besides the oyster mats (which I did for 8 weeks), there is yoga at the Yacht Club on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a variety of VBPS sponsored events.

Vero Beach Yacht Club

Yoga class, VBYC

We attended the squadron's Mardi Gras dinner party, as well as their St. Patrick's Day dinner.

I went to the Squardon's Ladies' Book Club meeting in March, which is held over lunch at the yacht club, and will also go to the Fashion Show on April 5.

Also, each Friday night our community has a gathering at the club house from 5:30 to 7:30.  Everyone brings an appetizer and their own beverages.  It has been a challenge to come up with something different each week.  I've made quiche twice, a hot crab dip, tortilla rollups, corned beef rollups and an antipasta cheese and salami rollup.  I need to find different recipes for next year!!  I have also helped decorate for Mardi Gras and St. Patrick's Day.

Welcome to the Mardi Gras Party

Decorations abound!

The "bar"

A huge selection of appetizers!

More connections with friends!

Gabi and Dan invited us to join them for a family celebration of St. Patrick's Day (after all, Sheehan is certainly an Irish name) on Saturday, March 15.  We drove up to Palm Bay in early afternoon and got to spend some time with Gabi and Dan before what they termed as the "invasion" occurred.  Three of their four children arrived during the course of the afternoon, along with 5-6 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren!  After being introduced to everyone, we went out to the back yard to watch the kids use the zip line that Dan built for them.  It looked so enticing that I asked Gabi if she had ever done it.  She said only once, a long time ago.  So I suggested that if she would do it, so would I.  It was great, except for the tree that you rapidly approach at the end!  Gabi served a corned beef and cabbage dinner that was absolutely fantastic.  How she stayed so calm and got it all prepared ahead of time was amazing--there must have been 15 of us at dinner.

While we were at Gabi's house, Jeff Parsons left a message inviting us to dinner, also for St. Patrick's Day, but since we were also going to the VBPS dinner the next day, we opted for later in the week.  So, on Wednesday, we set out for Melbourne once again.  The Parsons live just off of Route 1, a little north of the airport. 

The Parson's home, on Water Street, Melbourne

It was so good to see them again, and catch up on news, etc.  over cocktails.  (Jeff made me a Dark and Stormy!)  Patti and Jeff had just returned from a 3 month trip to England, Hong Kong, and New Zealand, where they had rented a camper and traveled all over.  They also went with Emily, Charles and their respective significant others to visit Hanoi!!  Emily's baby is due in April and Charles and Allie are engaged.

Cocktails before dinner

  Dinner was delicious--grilled chicken and vegetables, sweet potatoes and salad.  And Patti made a wonderful Toffee Date cake for dessert, with an English custard poured on top!  Wow!  We had such a good time that all of a sudden it was 10:30 p.m. and more than time to take our leave.  Hopefully we'll see them again, or at least next year!

We had a great evening!

Finally, yesterday, Bob and Carolyn Long came to Vero Beach for a brief visit.  Tom Barrett made a reservation for dinner for us at the Lobster Shanty, at Royal Palm Pointe.  We met them there after the Friday night reception at Coral Stone.  Ginny Devaney and her husband, Steve, were staying with Tom and Pat, and John Garrett (he and Peggy now live in Vero Beach during the winter months and in Old Lyme in the summer) also dropped by for a drink.

Josephine Bonello turns 95! Happy Birthday Mom/Nana!

Mom celebrated her 95th birthday on February 15, 2014.  After some discussion, Sieg offered to stay in Vero Beach with Minnow rather than subject the dog to boarding for 5 days or trying to figure out how to take him with us on the plane.  So I booked a flight from Melbourne to Hartford, via Atlanta.  That way, Sieg would not have to drive too far (i.e. West Palm or Orlando).  The airport is only 30 miles from us and it's a beautiful ride up through Sebastian and Melbourne on Route 1.  There are only 5 gates in the airport, so going through security, etc. was easy.  I even was issued a pink pass that meant that I didn't have to take off my shoes, belt, etc.  (I guess I'm officially old, or maybe just don't look threatening??)  Thank heavens I decided to leave on 2/14, because if I had planned to go one day earlier, the 18" of snow would have cancelled my flight.   My flight to Atlanta was on time, as was the one to Bradley Airport.  Ed and Betsy were en route from Maine, so they picked me up at the airport and we headed to New Hartford.  We had a huge pizza from Monica's for dinner and spent the evening catching up and watching the Olympics.
We had decided to cook a special dinner instead of trying to go out.  We made Pasta Bolognese and a Rasberry Mousse cake for Mom.  We gave Mom new flannel sheets, pillows and a heated mattress pad for her birthday.  We all sang Happy Birthday, and if I can figure out how, I will post that here one of these days!!

Mom with ther three children, ready for the pasta!

Ed, Betsy and Mom

Angel Food Rasberry Mousse Cake

Ready to sing Happy birthday!

 On Sunday, Tom arrived to spend some time with Nana.  He left Dover around 6 a.m. and showed up at 9:30.  We had lots of time to chat, and then decided to go the the Chinese Buffet in Torrington for an early lunch.  We all had several helpings of everything from dumplings to clams, ribs, coconut shrimp and sushi.  The food was much better than I remembered from past visits.  Once we got back to West Niles Road, Tom pulled out his school photo for 2013-2014 and proceeded to add it to a prominent site on the fridge.  The cousins have always competed for the most photos and the best spots!!  Eric has always given Tom and Mark a run for their money :)

We also did a family portrait of them with Nana, and even Tess got into the photo.

After Tom, Ed and Betsy left, we did a quick cleaning and shopping, since we had invited some of Brian's and Mom's close friends over for cake, ice cream and coffee.  Mark, Joanne, Ernie and Rob came over in the early evening and we again sang to Mom and celebrated her 95 years! 

And the cake appears!  Rob, Nana, Brian and Ernie

Happy Birthday song--Ernie, Joanne and Mark

Abe watches as Nana blows out her candles!

Throughout the whole weekend, I was amazed by the huge amount of snow and icicles.  It would have been up to my thighs on the deck!

Icicles on back deck

Back deck

Early morning looking at front yard and sidewalk

I had a layover both ways in Atlanta, enough time for me to get a decent lunch both times at the Sweetwater Pub.  Food was good, as was the beer!!  It's a local brewery.

Atlanta Airport, restaurant

In spite of the snow forecast, my flights were on time, and we actually made it back from Melbourne before it was completely dark.