Will Stephens
Trip Start
Nov 19, 2007
1
122
171
Trip End
Ongoing
St.James, Pine Island,
Florida,
United States
Friday, January 30, 2009
Still a couple of weeks behind in our entries......but getting caught up!
The few days we enjoyed with Diane and Greg felt like so much more as we said our goodbyes and promised to stay in touch......off we went to wind our way down the coast to Pine Island. Pine Island is an old fishing Island that sits in between Sanibel Island and the Main Land of Florida. It is very protected by the barrier islands and is quaint, quiet, and perfect for my dear family friend, Will Stephens. Will is living on Pine Island with Sidney, his devoted Boxer. We have known each other for my whole life starting back in our hometown of Brewster, NY.
Darcy, my sister, called and set up the date with Will for us all to descend upon him and get the tour of his home before going out to lunch. Will is to pick his favorite eatery. We arrive at the 12 noon agreed upon time to be greeted by Will in his apron and the house smelling terrific! We are dining in and Will is the "Chef"!! doesn't get better than that!
First Will took Andy and I through his wonderful canal front home. Three stories with decks and porches and balconies to always have a view of the canal, the bay and Sanibel Island!!! Fantastic! The third floor is devoted to outdoors and is basically a covered deck. It is totally fabulous with view and breezes for a Florida paradise.
We ended the tour as Darcy and Bill arrived and went to the first floor deck where Will pointed us to a self serve cooler full of iced down drink choices! From water to beers to rootbeer, and Starbucks coffees everyone found just what they wanted! We all were directed to the dining room table to which Will had paid great attention, as it was laden with huge shrimp cocktail, sliced cold chicken, chicken salad, green salad, sliced tomatoes and onions ready for the burgers on the grill to be done. WOW! What a spread! We all dug into the shrimp while "the Chef" cooked us up some whopper burgers!! (way better than any Whopper by Burger King!!!).
The time flew by as we ate and enjoyed each other's company in Will's easy and gracious living style. No better a host could be found anywhere!! We couldn't eat another bite as we slowly started to clear the table......Will got that twinkle in his eye as he brought out ice cream!!! Hagan Daas Rum Raisin and Breyers Vanilla. Good grief! Can't say no to either of those! We made coffee on his totally 'up to date' single pod coffee maker so we each got to chose the type and strength of our cup. Very "cool". Very "Hip".
I am so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. The love just doesn't stop! I love you Will....you really are the "Cat's Pajamas"!!
