Coming Attractions

Our winter kettle korn season is starting.  Hooray.  Just in time for the temperature to become more "normal."  Steve went to Brooksville to set up for the coming weekend--the Brooksville Raid; I traveled the 150 miles to the town of Homeland (Polk County) to claim my real estate for Alafaia.  We met back at Brooksville where we left the trailer and van and came home for the night.  We will leave again tomorrow and will spend very little time here until January 25.  So, probably no new postings till then.

Over the next three weeks, we will be popping at the Brooksville Raid, Alafaia River Rendevous, Townsends Plantation (aka:  Apopka, Mt. Dora, Reninger's).

Watch for sagas of these events.

Also, coming:

   Cruising the Connecticut River/Viewing the Fall Foliage
   Return to the Blue Whale and Tulsa Bound

Ordered 3 3/8 inch jaw breakers several weeks ago.  They sell really well at Brooksville, where there is a school kids day.  They just arrived from my friendly UPS driver.  Horray!  They weigh one pound each.  Kids, for some reason, love them.  Can't account for that taster, but....

The Mixed Bag of Sports Results

I am the sports fan in this family; Steve not so much. This season has been a mixed bag. The Gators lost to ‘Bama, keeping away from another National Championship game. But they did beat the Big East Team of Cincinnati. I am perhaps a rather confused person. The UCONN teams are first and foremost my favorite college teams—particularly basketball—men’s and women’s. I normally route for any other Big East Team (if UCONN is not in the running) unless that team is playing one of two SEC teams—the Gators or LSU tigers.

Since I live so close to Gainesville, I had better be a Gator fan by default. But after watching #15 for the last four years, I might have become a fan anyway. Tebow is a great, but humble, person. He is a joy to watch.

I have not yet arrived in the 21st Century and do not have cable or satellite TV. Most of our local TV channel sports coverage, therefore, center around the Gators in their various sports—football, men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, volleyball, softball, baseball. We rarely hear scores from any other teams—NCAA or professional.

My love for the LSU tigers comes from a compromise. My South Florida pets’ veterinarian went to LSU. He was from Connecticut, however. So, our deal was that I would cheer for LSU and he would be for UCONN as long as they did not play each other. If they played each other (women’s basketball being the most likely possibility), all bets and deals are off. We have known each other a long time. He was my pets’ doctor for seventeen years. We became friends. So, I have to live up to my bargain with him.

I had a treat yesterday, UCONN women’s basketball was the national game shown on a major network against North Carolina.  I could actually watch it. The North Carolina women are good. But, then there is UCONN—a whole different league against almost anyone this year. I understand that Stanford might be right up there with them. We will see later this season. UCONN won.

Today, I watched the Pats go down to Baltimore. This is the one huge disappointment of recent sports!!!! Happy to see Dallas win yesterday, however. Been much too long!

2004 was my favorite sports year.

Champions: UCONN basketball--men and women

                   BoSox

                   Patriots

                  And, believe it or not, Tampa Bay Lightening (who kept the Stanley cup for two years due

                  to the strike

A clean sweep would have been the Celtics, but alas, I had to wait four years to see that particular win.

The Weather Outside is Frightful...Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Wait a minute!  That is NOT supposed to happen in Florida.  But it did.  We woke up this morning with a layer of snow.  It could be seen on the cars.  On the news tonight, there were writings in the snow on various cars and children with snowballs.  No, No, please say it is not so.  It has been twenty years since the last snow.  Not long enough as far as I am concerned.

Last night the thermostat outside hit eighteen degrees.  It is also supposed to be that cold again tonight.  The fireplace is consuming our small wood supply.  I am glad that Steve cut down the eight-foot diameter stag horn ferns and put them in the garage.  He has left the heat on in the garage on over the last couple of nights.

My niece called from Connecticut to ask "how cold is it?"  My answer:  "too darned!"  The temperature is not that much different there.  The newspeople are calling the snow a "treat."  Are they nuts!!!!!  BRRRRRR

Manatees are congregating in warm canals; sea turtles are being rescued as they are in a como like state.  It's too cold.  I know y'all in the warmer climates think I am whining.  Well, yes, you are correct.  I am whining.  Wonder what kind of cheese goes with this particular whine (wine).

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Brrrrrr! It's cold. This is not what I pictured living in Florida would be like this. We have had the fireplace going almost every night. We cut the stag horn ferns from their perches and moved them by wheelbarrow into the garage where Steve has left the heater on low overnight. We covered all the other plants that we could (and have lost many). We even took care of the outside pipes (or so we thought). Nope! one broken pipe about which we totally forgot. Boom! Flood all over our back porch, where an old pipe ran to the pipe for the outside shower was. We have not used this as the former owners had an above ground pool, which we don't, and used this shower. Water is now off so that Steve can fix the problem.

I do love this global warming!!!!!!!!!!

It's Reigning Cats and Dogs

I think that is about time that I introduce you to our critters—four cats and a dog.

Throughout our marriage most of our animals have been a rescue of one sort or another. We never “buy” a pet from a pet store or breeder. We have had three dogs—Gumby, Molly and now Friskey (and foster cared Mandy for a while) and twelve cats (I think) plus five kittens from one of them--Diablo, Ephraim, Suzy, Mama (who became Marble after her surgery), Fred (Frederick von Freeloader), Scooter, Eb, Calliope, and currently Betsy, Sadie, Gray-C and Roscoe. Our critters have been spayed or neutered (even Mama-Marble, the one that gave us kittens, after the appropriate time). Over the course of time, I will tell each of their stories.

The current dog is an English Springer. He is about seven years old. He has outgrown his name, Friskey. It has become a misnomer; he no longer is frisky, but instead a bit pudgy. Very smart critter. Liver and white.

Betsy is fourteen and is primarily white with circles of a tiger-tabby color. She is very talkative. I swear she wears a watch because every evening when I start preparing our dinner time, she comes out of her hiding place among the pillows in “her” bedroom. She is the only one of our pets for which I can give an exact date of birth. Her birthday in 1995 fell on Steve’s Mom’s birthday…August 4.

Sadie, our really dummmmmmmb cat is a fat tabby and is about nine years old. Betsy and Sadie came to us at the same time from a woman who was moving out of state.

Gray-C, is our tiny little lady. She weighs about seven pounds and is a grayish brindle. We believe that she is a refuge from Hurricane Charley (that is what the “C” after the hyphen means) that blew up the West Coast of Florida and followed the Peace Rive inland in 2004. The vet at that time put her age at about two, which would make her approximately seven. She is our most affectionate and loves to get middle-of-the-night cuddles as she walks over us until someone’s hand comes out to pet her.

And, then there’s Roscoe. There’s sooooooo much to say about him that I would not know where to start. He weighs about sixteen pounds, although he’s not fat…just big, long--and did I mention big. He is almost two. He came to us August 1, 2008 as a kitten at which time we guessed him to be about six months old. He is jet black and ALWAYS in some sort of trouble. Unlike most cats, however, he comes when he is called almost all the time (unless his mind and agenda are elsewhere).

He's Playing the "Marine Hymn!" Shouldn't It Be "Anchors Aweigh!"??

John is retired Navy.

There have been many versions of Anchors Aweigh since it was first written in1906--composed by Charles A. Zimmerman with lyrics by Alfred Hart Miles as a fight song against Army.  The lyrics (version) most likely used when John was active include three verses and two bridges--the second verse is the one most commonly sung and is as follows:

Stand Navy out to sea
Fight our battle cry:
We'll never change our course
So vicious foes steer shy-y-y-y
Roll out the T. N. T.
Anchors Aweigh
Sail on to victory
And sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!

Bridge
Yo ho there shipmate
Take the fighting to the far off seas
Yo ho there messmate
Hear the wailing of the wild banshees
All hands, fire brands
Let's Blast them as we go. So

Verse 2
Anchors Aweigh my boys
Anchors Aweigh
Farewell to foreign shores (or "Farewell to college joys")
We sail at break of day
Through our last night ashore
Drink to the foam
Until we meet once more
Here's wishing you a happy voyage home!

Bridge
Heave a ho there sailor
Everybody drink up while you may
Heave a ho there sailor
For your gonna sail at break of day
Drink away, Drink away,
For you sail at break of day, Hey!

Verse 3
Blue of the Mighty Deep
Gold of God’s Sun
Let these our colors be
Till all time be done
By Severn Shore we learn
Navy’s stern call
Faith, Courage, Service True
With Honor Over, Honor Over All.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Five years ago, John joined an international Lodge.  He was immediately selected for an office.  Last month he was elected presiding officer.  It is the custom here in Florida to invite friends and relatives to the installation of officers. It is also the custom to have a meal for these folks.

The meal can be anything.  One time it could be a Spanish flare; another, meatballs and noodles; another, a Greek theme.  It is totally the preference of the new presiding officer (and usually his lady).  Lynne's mentor was a woman who helped her man put his installation together two years ago.  She had told Lynne to plan for 150 people.  After some evaluation, we decided that number was a bit high.  That gentleman had been involved for mannnnnnnnnny years and knew lotttttttttts of people.  Anyway, the fellowship hall had a legal capacity of slightly over one hundred (117, I think).

The main goal for Steve and me to go South to welcome the New Year was to help Lynne and John.  They wanted baked ziti, meatballs, salad, garlic bread and rolls.  Something somewhat easy to make for a large group, and something most people seem to enjoy.  I had been buying ziti at the grocery whenever they sold it for buy one, get one free.  When I arrived, I had fifteen pounds of ziti to cook.  Lynne did not think that would be enough, so she bought two more boxes.

After Steve and I came back from our Non-Beach Beach Picnic, cooked the ziti on Friday, January 1.  Six long pans disposable pans (wanted easy clean up).  The old blue table coverings were exchanged for new ones. Tables were set.  Butter, salt, pepper, individual creamers, sugar and its substitute, baskets for rolls. (Check, check, check).  Flatware tied into napkins with blue ribbon (the color of the Lodge). One of John's new pens and his business card at each place setting.  Programs printed.  Dessert table set up (minus the cake which was in the refrigerator).

Saturday morning, one of Lynne's friends came and made flower arrangements.  Her husband sells vegetables and gave Lynne much of the salad ingredients.  The flower arrangements were yellow and peach mini-carnations with baby's breath and peach roses (and some other small flowers) in small round bowl/vases. 

I went back to Lynne and John's and had a short nap.  Went back later to make individual salads.  We set the tables for 96 (a little different than 150).  Rolls and garlic bread sticks placed in baskets on the table. 

Put ziti in oven, meatballs on top of the very ancient stove.  The oven doors would not close, so Steve used one of the racks to prop it against both doors.  I am used to an electric oven; these were gas.  The ziti had lots of cheese (we had used ricotta, parm and mozzarella) and sauce in it, but perhaps got a twinge overdone--not bad, but just a bit.  The lady serving had lots of string as she scooped out each serving. Dinner went well, except we still over-planned.  It is, however, better than running out of food.

We adjourned to the Lodge room.  Each officer had an escort.  These escorts are usually the wives or significant others of the new officers.  If the officer is unmarried or otherwise chooses, the escort can be his children or a friend.  Most of the escorts are women.  This year, one officer, had his teenaged son; and another, his teenaged twin daughters (his wife sat with the other escorts).  The officer was presented for installation; the escort was brought to him.  The badge/jewel of the office was given to the new officer by his escort.  The lady escorts were then presented with a peach rose (like those in the flower arrangements) surrounded by baby's breath.  The son was presented with a boutonnière.  Each escort went back to her/his seat; the officer, to his new station.  Very nice ceremony.  Approximately one hour including all the thank yous and other acknowledgements.

The Lodge/installation had an organist which always gives a nice added smoothness and flare to the ceremonies.  While folks were walking, he played an assortment of music.  Apparently, no one told him that John was retired Navy (probably most people did not even know it).  But when John was being escorted to his station, the tune we heard was coming "from the Halls of Montezuma."  Lynne, John's parents, and I are probably the only ones who realized what song was being played.  (I think John was thinking about too many other things).  I wanted to burst out laughing!  A Navy guy getting "The Marine Hymn."  What irony! I love it. Turned to the ladies behind me and made the comment about John's earlier career.  They chuckled too.  I am quite sure the organist still does not know.

John, y'all look good in your new top hat! Best wishes for an exciting year, Hiram.

Only in the Warm Coastal States--Florida and a few others

A Happy and Blessed 2010 to All!!!

There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.  Genesis 6:9-10 KJV 

It is always good to get home.  It is great to spend time away, but it is always good to sleep in one's own bed and have the four cats welcome us back.  There is nothing like knowing where one's dishes, tea and silverware is without having to open every cabinet.  I will say I have opened enough cabinets at Lynne and John's over the years, that I do not have to waste extra energy.  We have spent so time back and forth in each other's homes that the other house is like a second home (even though we are approximately two hundred miles from each other). 

We went South for New Year's eve and a couple of following days.  John was being installed presiding officer of his Lodge (more about this later--another day perhaps).  At the time of Y2K we lived in the same town as Lynne and John.  . We spent that New Year's Eve with them; then went home.  Ten years later, we spent New Year's Eve with them once again. This year, however, we stayed was several nights. Steve went to bed a little later than his normal 8:30. Lynne, John and I made it to 12:05. Then off to the arms of Morphious!  (Guess this is gonna be an every ten-year tradition--meetcha again in 2019!!). 

The first item on Steve's agenda was to go to the beach. He loves the beach. There is a lady who sells hot dogs at one of these beaches. I think he has a crush on her, as that was most of what he talked about on our voyage south. He loves to walk the beaches. He has met many people there.


Another item on Steve's agenda was to visit old friends. Darrell and Jenny were ate the top of his list. I go south a lot more often than he does. But he wanted to make the rounds of friends of days gone by on this trip. I like Darrell and Jenny a lot. Some of his other friends, however, are not particularly folks with whom I wish to spend much time.  So, I decided to visit with Lynne.

Thursday, December 31, he dropped me off and went out to visit.  When he got back, he mentioned Darrell and Jenny.  He had stopped at their house and found him home, but she was not.  Steve was reminded of the next morning's picnic, however...at the regular spot on the beach.  Get there between 9:00 and 9:30 am.  Steve is always too early for everything.  So, we left with Lynne about 8:30 (John had to work--yeah, I know it is New Year's Day--but he works for a company that is open, so...) on Friday. 

We have known Darrell and Jenny since we moved to Florida twenty odd years ago. We were often included in their various celebrations--birthdays, neighborhood get togethers and New Year's Day Beach Breakfast Picnic. They have been celebrating the New Year for twenty-seven years with friends, relatives, acquaintances for breakfast. Their regular venue is a covered pavilion at the beach. No one is particularly invited. No one is turned away. The only criteria are to bring something--a dozen eggs, kielbasa, bacon, OJ-- and your own chair. After all these years, everyone seems to know what to bring and who is going to do the cooking, etc. Some years there have been several dozen people; some years, just a handful. We are now into third or fourth generation of those attending. Since we moved from that town in 2004, we had truly missed these events.

 

The sky was blue to the East, but it was starting to darken coming in off the gulf.  Within a short time, we had thunder booms and then, and then it poooouuuuuuurrred.  A couple of inches in a very short time frame.  A decision was made to retire to Tom's house several miles away.  Everyone picked up their stuff and started down the beach road.  The puddles were amazingly high.  We got to the Intracoastal just as the bridge was about to go up for a waiting sailboat.  He was heading back in.  The weather stations had shown the showers had moved north.  But, big surprise... we got hammered.  We were half way cross the bridge when the blinking lights came on.  Lynne and I were in the last car to cross.  Unless one is familiar with draw bridges, one might not know that one does not want to get caught on the barrier side if one is in a hurry.  It is a long, slow process.  We even beat the host back to his house.  His wife, Pauline, had stayed home and had gotten a surprise when he called to say he was moving the party to his house.

At the beach people bring all kinds of cooking devises--Coleman stoves, cookers, pot and pans.  And, of course the pavilion has several places with which one can use charcoal.  They had just barely gotten the charcoal lit when the rain came.  It came so hard and fast, I thought we should be gathering animals two by two.  We get rain somewhat like this most SUMMER AFTERNOONS, not in January.

Lynne drove to the address we had been given.  When she heard the street name, she mentioned that John's brother and his family lived on the same road.  As it turned out, it was not just the same road, but the house next door.  As we pulled up a lady with a large white and red umbrella (it was raining so hard that we could not see a face and barely a shape) came up to the car to say we could park in their driveway.  Both Lynne and her sister-in-law were surprised to see each other.  Unfortunately, time was getting away from us by now.  Lynne had a million things that had to be done for John's impending installation.  So, she dropped me off and went about her errands.  I was supposed to meet her back at her house around 11:00 to help her get things ready.  While we were visiting at Tom's house, a message came to me that I did not need to be back until after noon as Lynne had not finished her chores yet.  It was a good thing that the timing changed.

Because the facilities in one's kitchen in considerably different that would have been at the beach, everything took longer...no insult to the cooks, but just circumstances.

Some of the kielbasa was pan fried and put out on the table.  We munched at that.  The next thing that came were some cinnammon rolls--immediately devoured.  Next came a supply of wonderful Christmas cookies.  My philosophy for a number of years has been "Eat dessert first, life in uncertain!"  So, the cookies worked well into that.

In the meantime, as more people appeared, other goodies started to show up on the table including the makings for morning alcoholic beverages--tomato juice, OJ, celery, onions, Grey Goose, Absolut. I am a tea-totaler; Steve drinks only beer--but never that early in the day. So, the alcohol did not make me nearly as happy as the food.  Coffee came, and so did the brandy.  Ghiradelli Chocolates. 

Buckeyes--home made chocolate covered peanut butter crispies.  Some of these folks are from Ohio and have not yet figured out this is GATOR country.  The Buckeyes were delicious--as one of the boat captains at Silver Springs had been known for saying:  "Buckeyes are Gators favorite meal."  That was the year University of Florida beat Ohio State in both basketball and football championship games.  

Several people were cooking more kielbasa, friend potatoes with onion--true "home fries", scrambled eggs, bacon, peppers.   Amazing quantities. YUM! YUM! YUM!

We ate about 11:30.  The early fixin's kept us going.  It was good to be with some long lost friends once again. I hope this traditional lasts another three/four/five generations.  The youngest person at this bash was sixteen months old--age progressing to retirees. 

Thank you Tom and Pauline.  It was great of you to invite us into your home to preserve a bit of tradition.

Rain, Rain, go away. 

It would be nice if you came another day.

But we can party anyway!