{"id":889,"date":"2008-03-26T23:50:32","date_gmt":"2008-03-27T03:50:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/catchingfireflies.com\/blog\/?p=889"},"modified":"2008-03-26T23:50:32","modified_gmt":"2008-03-27T03:50:32","slug":"quaint-cortez-f","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.catchingfirefliesgifts.com\/blog\/2008\/03\/quaint-cortez-f\/","title":{"rendered":"quaint cortez florida"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>\"S17\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Steve and I managed to escape the grey skies of Michigan recently by jetting down to the keys of Sarasota, Florida.\"Sarasota_keys\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

One of the reasons we chose to visit this area is because of a lovely store on St. Armand’s Key<\/a> that sells lots of our a.i. paper design<\/a> products.  After experiencing the St. Armand’s shopping district<\/a>, I can see why they’re so successful.\"S8\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

Being the restless soul that I am, I can only handle a few hours relaxing on the beach and then I need a little adventure.  So Steve and I started exploring some of the other keys and found ourselves driving by this eye-catching store<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"S15\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

Since we passed it the first time around, we looped through a little neighborhood to back-track and then I spotted this oh-so-adorable-I-would-love-a-cottage-like-this<\/em>…. maybe-someday!\"S9\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

Okay, back to the Sea Hagg<\/a>… which is filled with interesting antiques, nautical goods, artist wares and other curiosities.\"S10\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

I love how they created their fence from a variety of finds – bed frames, ornamental metal and old fences.\"S11\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

The garden pathway of goods.\"S12\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

The salvage garden<\/a>… I do have an affection for windows and doors (as you can tell by my displays at catching fireflies<\/a>) \"S13_2\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

More colorful vintage nautical wares… I love all the bright colors.<\/p>\n

\"S7\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

Some fun goodies inside – a scoop of seaglass if you like.\"S6\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

Or pirate treasures for the bargain price of 2 for $1.00.\"S4\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

I went home with a couple of these locally made funny-frog business card holders for our store.  (I hope to carry them at catching fireflies soon)<\/p>\n

I just noticed after looking at my picture what they had painted on their check-out…"We reserve the right to slap the parents of children left unattended"  ha ha!\"S14\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

After talking to the sales associate about this wild shop, I found out that the owner<\/a> (who happens to be from the Midwest) lives in that great cottage we passed by earlier… hmmmm – now that’s what I call a retirement plan.<\/p>\n

\"S3_2\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

We ended our little jaunt in Cortez with a stop for lunch at a local favorite, the Star Fish Company<\/a>.\"S1\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

And we enjoyed our crab cakes and sweet scallops on a picnic table with an ocean view.  A perfect ending to a delightful afternoon adventure.<\/p>\n