Show me the way to go home...

I miss my husband.
I miss my boat.
I miss my cat.
I miss the sunshine.
I miss the 80 degree weather.
I miss cooking for two in my galley.
I miss my little herb garden.
I miss my 'Florida' family.
I miss my clown bike (seriously, I do).
I miss the beautiful sunsets (the sun has shone ONCE since I have been home.)
I miss the swimming pool and hot tub.
I miss the tiki bar.
I miss the appetizers at Happy Hour.
I miss new friends....

I am ready to get back "home".  It is true, home is where the heart is.  I love my log cabin in the woods, but not when I am in it by myself.  30 hours and counting and I will be on a southbound plane for the Keys :)

HOWEVER....I must say, it was good to be with family here at home, to be with Mom, Em & Elle, Michael & Jessica, Ness & Eric and the kiddos, and of course, Simon buddy.  It is hard to be 'divided' from family.  I love them all, and miss them whenever I am away, or they are away.  It's just hard to be away, period.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today was mom's 77th birthday...it is good to have her home, and in good health.  There is much to be thankful about.  I had an impromptu birthday dinner/party for her tonight.  Michael, Em, & Elle were hungry for a home cooked meal.  Jessica came too, and we watched a movie afterwards.  It was good to have my kids home again.  I'll catch up to Ness and Eric and the kids later this weekend, or perhaps at the start of the week. I'm having dinner with Greg and Wanetta tomorrow night, then church and getting together with Sue on Sunday sometime...it's been a whirlwind week at home.

Three times is a charm...geesh, only two candles!

See the resemblance?



Pretty flowers from Emily and Sue



Cute couple...Cody's a good boy :)



Ellie and her Grandma ShooHoo (and Candy)



Finding comfort...

...in comfort food! Boy, have things quickly changed.  I am back to freezing digits, and covering up with a blanket wherever I land.  Feeling a little lonely without my hubby, but I am looking forward to seeing Michael (& Jessica), Emily and Ellen tomorrow night.  To keep myself busy, I have turned to making comfort food for Mom (and me).  You can tell I am back in winter weather....a pot of vegetable beef soup, mac n cheese, chicken and noodles and mashed potatoes tomorrow night, baking cookies, making Mom's birthday cake (for tomorrow, her 77th).  I can see that I will have to pedal, pedal, pedal my clown bike all over the Keys when I get back as I feel the winter weight piling on already :(  On the up side, Simon is very glad his "mother" is home, and Mom is doing great following her surgery.

No word from Donnie, so no news is good news.  As long as the Coast Guard hasn't called me, I assume all is well.  I am sure he is happily scuba diving, fishing, and doing whatever it is that boys do together for four days on a 34 foot boat! I can only imagine what smells and such will be lurking down below when I get back on Wednesday.  Donnie assures me Marquesa will be all cleaned up...but his idea of clean and my idea of clean are two very different things, lol. 

Fish on!

For the more serious stuff...I flew home yesterday for Mom's heart surgery.   She had an aortic arrhythymia, her resting heart rate was over 150 beats a minute.  While in surgery, with the problem taken care of, her heart immediately returned to 80 beats/minute.  She had no pain last night, heart rate was still normal this morning, so she was discharged already...PTL!  God is good, all the time.  I got her meds, picked up some groceries, cleaned out her fridge, and made a big pot of vegetable soup today.  Simon and I are going to lay in the bed with her tonight and watch Survivor :)

As for my hubby...it's a good thing I love him, because he really SUCKS right now!  He left at 4am with Kenny, Rich, and Bryan. The boat was loaded with scuba and fishing gear, and they are bound for the Dry Tortugas.  It is 60 miles west of Key West, about 100 miles from Marathon.  I spoke to him at about lunchtime, as he got a cell phone signal going around Key West.  They had already caught a big tuna, had it cleaned, filleted, and in the cooler to be grilled for dinner tonight...Nice.  To add insult to injury, it was nearly 85 degrees there, light winds, and the ocean was flat calm...perfect sailing.  Yep, low 30's here, cold rain and spitting snow.  Who's having more fun?

Going home

When the cat's away, the mice will play....

I flew home at the butt crack of night today, as Mom was having a heart procedure done to surgically correct her aortic arrhythymia.  She was in surgery for 2 1/2 hours, and did great.  I am still waiting for her to come up from recovery.

Donnie, on the other hand, is basking in 82+ degree weather.  He and "the boys" are planning a 4 day trip to the Dry Tortugas, which is about 60 miles further west of Key West.  Literally, he is moving the cat to Mac and Jean's (which probably suits Willis just fine as he is not too steady on his feet to make a crossing).  I am sure Bryan and Kenny will be taking pictures, and those that are "met with approval" will be put up on the blog after I get back. 

For now, it seems that Mom may very well get discharged tomorrow.  I will tend to her for this next week, and fly home a week from tomorrow.  Oh, yeah, its 27 degrees outside, cloudy gray, spitting snow, and I remembered very quickly why I wanted to leave Indiana during the winter.  I am glad to be home, however, and very glad that Mom sailed through her surgery.  God is good....I am now praying for good weather and safe sailing for Donnie and the boys.

Across the pond

We met a delightful English family; Nigel, Zoe, Hannah, and Harry up at the pool at Banana Bay.  We have met so many wonderful people in our travels over the years, including the three years that our oldest was stationed in England with the USAF.  Because we most often have been treated very kindly, and taken in by locals, we like to extend that same hospitality to foreigners visiting the States.  I think that often the world gets a distorted view of America and her people, particularly if their only exposure is through the media (in all its glory).  So we invited these folks to joins us for a sunset sail :) 

They are a cat family, so Hannah was very taken in by Willis.

Zoe and Nigel were kind enough to bring a bottle of wine
to share, and I put out some snacks.  The kids were not keen
on Reece's.  Peanut butter is not a staple of an English child :)

   

Harry took to the helm like an old salt; he was a natural :)
His face was lit up the entire time...it reminded me of the first
time I ever sailed and my face hurt from smiling for so long.
It's wonderful to be reminded of that pure joy.


  

The joy of sailing :)



Sunday Sail

After church, Donnie and I enjoyed the cheeseburgers in paradise from Cabana's at Banana Bay.  We basically enjoyed the day in the sun down at the pool.  I did find out that Mom will be having heart surgery, so I worked on getting a plane ticket home for tomorrow or Tuesday.  It was a beautiful day for a sail, so Bryan & Polly, and Kenny & Fran joined us for a sunset sail...it was a perfect day to sail, 10-15 kts. of wind, nearly flat seas, and a beautiful sunset...

Bryan enjoyed being at the helm again.



Kenny, Polly, Cap'n, and Fran- good times.



Simply beautiful.

Surprise :)

Today was just another day in paradise....Donnie worked on wiring the wind generator most of the day  I put a roast in the crock pot, tidied the boat up a bit, read my book in the sun, repotted some plants, and pedal, pedal, pedalled the clown bikes to Daffy Doug's (the $ store :) and to Home Depot.  The days go so quickly here, it seems.  Willis, naturally, took it all in stride, doing what he does best....

Such a tired kitty. He was sacked out in the cockpit
while Donnie was busy working...he was too tired to
do any supervising today, I guess.  Still recovering
from his bout of seasickness, perhaps?



The garden is growing!  I have blossoms on my tomato
 and bell pepper plants, the basil, rosemary, cilantro
 and oregano are big enough to begin using it. 
I am planning on some pasta later this week.



This was our surprise for the day, a visit under our boat from a 10 ft.
manatee.  I fed him some romaine lettuce (which apparently is like
 crack for manatees :) and a quick drink from the hose.  Hopefully this
 will be the first of many, so our visitors will all get to see them.
  Willis, naturally, slept through all the excitement.

Donnie is swimming his laps now; the wind generator project is done for the day.  Tonight we are going to Mac & Jean's for a visit (I need to color my hair!) and Donnie is going to play (guitars) with Bryan.  Tomorrow is church, and perhaps the beach.  It looks to be another gorgeous day.  Our first visitor is arriving on the 5th, we can't wait to share our cruising lifestyle with friends and family back home. On another note, I may be flying home this next to IN.  My mother is in the hospital with a heart-related problem, which is separate from the chemo treatments she has been taking.  She has told me to stay put here for now, but if she decides to have surgery, I will most definitely be flying home for a week or so through her healing and recovery.  Please keep her in your prayers, y'all- thanks.   

Roadkill

This picture does not do this morning's trip to the grocery justice!  We just needed a "few" things from Winn Dixie, plus a stop at the post office, and the computer shop for a Computer God to get my Dell up and running again for no charge.  I love it down here....but I digress....  I was taken in by the sweet Spanish-speaking woman at Winn Dixie on our second trip to the grocery store several weeks ago.  That is, I was strongly encouraged to get a Winn Dixie card to cash in on all of their weekly specials.  Let me tell you, they have some serious deals each week, so I have taken to scouring the local paper for the grocery ads to see what I can't live without.  I had EVERY intention of sticking to the list this trip, afterall, I already had my laptop bag in my basket on my clown bike.  It was not meant to be....chicken was buy one get one free, 2 liter Pepsi's were 10 for 10 dollars, 5lbs of potatoes were on sale, even Cheerios were in this week's sale.  Needless to say, we came out with about 75 lbs of groceries, and only our clown bikes to pedal, pedal, pedal our bounty home.  (That reminds me, I need to puchase some Bounty paper towels on the next trip)  Oh, but the good news?  I saved $18.69 bill!  The bad news?  We could barely balance ourselves on our bikes.  We didn't dare stop pedalling or we would have been like the old guy on his tricycle on Laugh In! (Boy, did I just date myself with that :)  We very nearly made it back to the marina, only 15 yards to go, and then Donnie hit a pothole, and lost our box of Cheerios, and then ran over it for good measure.  We had a woman take a picture of us, but she cut off the roadkill Cheerios which were in front of Donnie's bike wheel.  Oh well, we cracked ourselves up.  Just another day in paradise.  Spent the rest of the day piddling on boat projects, and sunning by the pool.  Gotta go join my hubby in the hot tub...I hear him calling me...over the sound of the band singing "I hope you have the time of your life"  Sweet.....I am....having the time of my life :))) 

Sombrero Reef with new friends

Today was a beautiful day for a sail, winds 5-15kts., the seas were nearly flat....when we started out.  But more on that later... Pictures tell the story better!  (I cannot take credit for these beautiful photos; that would be Marc's handiwork, and very fancy camera equipment :)


Wendy is in the cat bird seat!



Willis came out for a look see while we were underway. Little
did I know his nose was to the wind for a reason.  He was trying
to get some fresh air...before he got seasick...three times... poor kitty.



Cap'n Donnie was just glad to be out sailing again.



A pair of dolphins came to play in our bow wake :)



Wendy's steering reminded me of myself as a rookie...zigzaggin'
across the ocean.  At least she was having a good time!



A school of juvenile yellowtail snapper. 
Check out the photo bomber!


 

Marc took a turn at the helm, too.

Oui, oui, a french angelfish :)
















The rest of the story is that I did not dive at all.  After cleaning up three Willis messes down below, my stomach locked up.  I was done before I ever got in the water. The waves kicked up on the reef to 3s and 4s, and on a mooring ball that's alot of motion.  Donnie took a wave to the face, and swallowed a bunch of saltwater.  Marc also took a wave to the face and swallowed a bunch of water.  Note to self: don't swallow saltwater, your body will quickly reject it.  So, Donnie 'fed' the fish.  Marc also 'fed' the fish.  I wanted to feed the fish, and Willis didn't care to even look at the fish.  Wendy was the only one with a cast iron stomach, so she very nearly had to drive us all home!  Believe it or not, it was a beautiful day in spite of the sickness.  The sun shone bright, the water was gorgeous, the reef even more beautiful.  We were moored in only 9 feet of water, and it wasn't even necessary to dive as the water was so clear.  I saw yellowtail, red dnapper, parrot fish, sgt. majors, and barracuda right from the boat.  Believe it or not after we got back to the marina, we all felt fine, so we joined the neighborhood for a surf and turf fish fry.  Any reason for a party, people.  It was a great day!

Key West or Bust

Last night's Valentine's dessert party was a raving success; Chocolate white, frosted cookies, red velvet cake, chocolate covered strawberries, and precious, coveted chocolate covered oranges from Bryan's orange tree.  It was heavenly... any reason for a party, and the neighbors on Anglers Drive North are up for one, anywhere, anytime :)


Dan is sittin' in the cat bird's seat!

 Today dawned brightly with the wind still cranking 20 knots plus, so our plans to sail and dive the reef were quickly scuttled.  On to plan B, take the $3.00 bus to Key West for the day!  It was a perfect day for walking about the town, having a delicious lunch at Fogerty's, a little sandals shopping at Kino's, and just taking in the local (ehem...) 'scenery'.  Dan and Sharalee, Marc and Wendy, and Donnie and I had an awesome time.
And the Mackinaw Island fudge gelatto deserves a repeat performance. First stop though, the sponge factory... Marquesa needed a new sponge for cleaning the topsides.


 The original Sponge Bob No Pants



You, too, can wash your pot-bellied pig with one of these!



Wendy is modeling The Donald Trump sponge!




Fins to the left, fins to the right...



Remember beautiful Flagler College back in  St.
Augustine?  In the 1800's Flagler ran a railroad
all the way down to Key West and was a key
figure in the development of Key West tourism
as well as the market for harvesting sponges.
Look closely, Marc and Wendy are posing :) 

Marc challenged this guy to a photographer's duel;
you've so got this, Marc!

Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, bigger is definitely better!



The cruise shippers were released on Key West
for all their drunken debauchery!



The Key West Lighthouse; we didn't pay
 the $10 to climb 88 steps!

T

Awww....named after our very own Willis T. Cat!

I hate roosters...reminds me of Cozumel.



The bouganvilla was beautiful, all over town.



Bawahahaha...

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Cupid struck at the McDaniel dock...we can't get rid of this d**n busted up flamingo! Honestly, though, she never looked better...she had new eyes and eyelashes painted on, sexy stockings, the whole nine yards :)

She even had a heart shaped box full of Hershey kisses!

   Thank you Cupid, (Fran and Polly?!)  Willis sends his love to everyone back home!!!  Tonight we have a dessert party to go to; I can't wait.  I intend to OD on chocolate, then watch the Bachelor with Paps and the girls.  It is 74 and sunny right now, time to go get in the pool before dinner.  XOXO to all.

John Denver tribute...



Sunshine, on my shoulders, makes me happy.



Sunshine, in my eyes can make me cry.



Sunshine, on the water looks so lovely.

Sunshine almost always makes me high.

If I had a day, that I could give you.

I'd give to you, a day just like today.

If I had a song, that I could sing for you.



I'd sing a song, to make you feel this way
(return to the top for the chorus:)



To market we go...

Last night we walked to the redbox for a movie; this the view of Tilden's.  It is the dive shop next door.  It looks very Keys-ey.

Saturday dawned very cool and very windy.  My thoughts of pedal, pedal, pedaling my clown bike to the Farmer's Market vanished with the huge dark clouds rolling in.  Paps to the rescue; he took me to the market, then the grocery afterwards.  

Willis, being he curious cat that he is, had to check out the
produce; a pineapple, mangos, strawberries, tomatoes and lettuce.

While I was gone, Donnie first attacked Helga (the stinkin' head) one last time.  It turns out we only have a 15 gallon holding tank, so it is likely filling in a week's time, since we have an electric flush.  However, he discovered a kink in the hose leading to the vent, so hopefully that corrects the problem once and for all.  He then decided to tear into the wind generator.  Time to move it off the topsides and get it properly mounted off the stern.  It was an ordeal, as any project on a boat is.  It means you have to tear everything up to get to all the hatches and hidey holes to drill, run wires, etc.  I had naturally cleaned the boat thoroughly before he decided to take these projects on...

Donnie has himself folded into the sea berth, drilling holes
in the boat for the support mounts.  It always makes me
nervous to put holes in a boat!



This is Windy, our
wind generator. The
paddles are not yet
installed on the
turbine. The plan is
once she's working,
between the solar
panels and wind
generator, we will
be completely self-
sustaining to keep
all batteries charged.

We could conceiveably be on the ocean, or at anchor, for extended periods of time, under sail only (no engines running) and we could generate enough power to keep all electronics working, the compressor on the fridge working, even enough juice for the computer, DVD player, etc.  Going green :)  Willis will be very pleased at this, as he does not like the sound of Bessie running.  Bessie starts and runs beautifully now, by the way.  All of those problems are solved, thanks to Mr. Fix It.

While Donnie toiled away, today, I started a new book.  Willis kept bothering me wanting to play.   He likes to get down in the cockpit (if you're in the boat) and stalk you for a sneak attack.  A simple croakie off the sunglasses kept him entertained for awhile.

 

We were invited to Fran and Kenny's for pulled pork...it was delicious!  It made for a nice evening with friends... Hopefully tomorrow it looks to be a little warmer, but still a cranking wind out of the north for a few more days.  Our plans to go sailing looks to be pushed back until Tuesday.  We need the wind and waves to lay down a bit, if we want to dive/snorkel on the reef.  I doubt there's much vis given the weather this weekend.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.