Tornado watch, severe thunderstorms - - - - we're still in Key Largo!

For once the weather was just as predicted, wild and wooly and NOT a good day to be heading anywhere. We gathered again on the veranda for breakfast and before we had finished eating the rain began. It was a gentle shower at first, but by 10:30 it was coming down in buckets. Dan had a fishing gear consult with Glen in the morning because he had gathered all sorts of sundry fishing tackle with the hopes of entertaining Patrick Clemo when he and Rose join us in March. Glen declared one reel trash but the rest will pass muster. The challenge was too much for Dan, so he spent the morning trying to get that reel in good working order.

By noon the sun came out and we thought the storms had passed. Dan had the entire galley covered with fishing detritus so he suggested lunch at the Tiki Bar down the dock at the Holiday Inn. He called the rest of the crowd and they all joined us. It was a lovely spot and the lunches were quite good. He and Glen left straight from lunch to visit a fishing tackle store while the rest of us returned to our boats. I had been sewing all morning and had two tote bags half finshed. I kinda hated to go back below to sew with the change in the weather, but it wasn't long before it was raining buckets again! Luckily the guys returned before it started.

Maureen had decided to feed us all on the veranda tonight, so I was able to spend the rest of the afternoon finishing the two bags. We gathered early tonight because one of the "regulars" had set up a movie night and it started at seven. Once again everyone brought a little something and dinner was delightful. The rain had stopped and the TV was all set up on the veranda. Instead of a lovely sunset, tho, we began to see menacing clouds approaching. Pete checked radar on his Blackberry and it showed a band of red coming our way. We decided to move the movie viewing inside the hotel lobby and still had trouble hearing some of the dialog over the driving rain, thunder and lightning. The movie we watched was, appropriately, Key Largo. ~~~_/)~~~M&D

He's baaacck --- with an attitude!

Here's the veranda where we've done quite a bit of socializing the last few days.

All quiet after the storms.