Karen Nichols

The Long Hot Florida Summer is finally over. As I sit in the office at the computer here on this little island, Fort Myers Beach, windows open, I feel the longed for cool breeze on my shoulders(to northerners, this would, most likely, feel like a warm, summer breeze). Below are memories from Summer, 2008, from June at doggie beach with Mimi through Fourth of July to my husband's birthday in September.

It will be coming upon 10 years since we purchased our home on Fort Myers Beach. That seems like a long time to me. People think of island communities as being filled with tourists and transients. But, in fact, there are many long time residents here among the approximate 6500 full time residents. Across the street, there is Susan, who has lived in her house for over 40 years. Her disabled son lives with her. Her brother, Jack, owned and ran shrimp boats. He was an unusual man(an attorney who turned to the sea for his living) and was known far and wide. When he died, Susan had to sell the shrimp boats. A couple of houses down, there is Bonnie. She brought up her children at her place. Her oldest son is now 40, married, living in Seattle. Soon, the tourists and snowbirds will begin their trek down to us and our population will swell and there will be traffic. They will enjoy the magic of our island for a week or two or a few months, and then come spring, they will all leave, and Bonnie and Susan and the rest of us will enjoy the quiet and relaxing joy of island living.

From Fort Myers Beach to Chicago, Realtors, for your dining pleasure:

Real Estate News

ARMOUR AVENUE was the name of this street and door signs on empty houses read "The Silver Dollar," "Swede Annie" and the Christian names of madams such as "Myrtle" and "Jenny."
Scrap iron, rags and bottles fill the front rooms hither and yon and signs in Yiddish say Abe Kaplan & Co. are running junk shops in whore houses of former times.
The segregated district, the Tenderloin, is here no more; the red-lights are gone; the ring of shovels handling scrap iron replaces the banging of pianos and the bawling songs of pimps. Chicago, 1915.

-by Carl Sandburg

Whether contemplating an Open House or making your own home a place you want to be, remember that decorating with certain Flowers bring about positive chi, such as the Sunflower for its stability and endurance. The color yellow brings light and life into a room, much like the rising sun in the morning. Yellow brightens any space and is welcoming. It's an excellent choice for children's rooms as well as the family and living room and kitchen. Yellow brings the feng shui energy of fire in a gentler way than Red and also is thought to increase self-estem. For Feng Shui purposes, use hot Yellow in moderation in the feng shui areas of East and South East areas of yoiur home. For Open Houses, placing a large vase of yellow sunflowers on that granite counter in the kitchen will be both eyecatching and welcoming. In my garden on Fort Myers Beach, Florida, my beach sunflowers grow all year round. For most residents of these United States, sunflowers may be purchased at the florist most of the year.

For those of you who will be in the Fort Myers/Cape Coral area this season and for residents who may not be aware of it, Cape Coral has an absolutely wonderful Art Studio located on Coronado, not from from the Parkway, featuring two find art galleries that display work from top local and Florida artists. Year round classes in a variety of mediims are offered, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, sketching and drawing, photography and jewelry making. Summer camp is also offered for children.

Cape Coral Arts Studio 4533 Cornado Pkwy. Cape Coral, FL 33904 239-574-0802