Patchwork Reflections

orange rules

2012-01-30T11:14:00.002-05:00

Annual family outing - girls only - to see the Lady Vols play at UGA

We took advantage of the family gathering so we could all sing to Carrie
on her near 30th birthday!

Pat Summit - Whether by choice or side effects of disease or medications, Pat stayed on the sidelines and let her assistant coaches pretty much run the show. We got to witness what might be the unofficial passing of the torch to assistant coach Holly Warlick, who did an awesome job of leading the ladies to victory. Even the bad calls by officials did not get Pat up out of her seat, definitely a different story from a year ago.

Good to spend time with the extended family, sisters, cousins, friends.

mountains

2012-01-27T09:18:00.001-05:00

in the distance, blue mountain ranges and green trees and brown grasses, like a bed piled high with quilts, each layer a different texture and hue, all blending together for a perfect picture

there is a distance to life here in the mountains, plenty of room to stretch and think and walk and grow and play and live

the mountains give perspective to our existence, any problem seems small when compared to these wide open spaces

there is a depth to life here, strength of community and family and tradition and hard work and faith

a closer view finds textures of hard wood and stone, soft pine needles underfoot, smooth creek rocks, rough tree bark, fresh mountain air

a nice place to be, home sweet home

rest stop

2012-01-25T10:07:00.003-05:00

Spanish moss hangs from the trees
like long gray beards

~photo at GA/FLA rest stop, 23 January 2012

so long

2012-01-20T18:50:00.001-05:00

So long Key West, it's been fun!

Heading out in the morning - northbound - cold weather here we come!

Key West bank job

2012-01-20T09:45:00.000-05:00

new Keys Federal Credit Union building open for business!

sitting area with local original Thurber watercolors

lobby featuring anchor and conch shell symbol in tile

lots of worker bee spaces

drive thru with budding palm trees

Another job well done and most importantly - finished! A little over schedule on this one, but worth it. Thanks to the boss for sending us down here!

boat races

2012-01-19T12:58:00.004-05:00

In town this week is the Quantum Key West 2012 yachting regatta, also known as the boat races, or a local endearing term, the snotty yachties are in town!

~above photo from Keys News, lots more at the official race gallery HERE.

whaling wall

2012-01-19T07:13:00.009-05:00

We wondered what this building used to be, the faded mural on the abandoned building at the harbor. Then a local blogger posted this HERE:
SAVE THE WYLAND WALL. The old Fresh Market is supposed to be turned into a mini brewery with a restaurant on the top. Rumor has it that in the re-modeling they plan to paint over the Wyland Wall. We need to stop this! Rumor is that they also plan on having bands with amplified music on top of the building. This also needs to be stopped.

An internet search discovered that this is a painting by the artist Wyland and is one of the 100 of its kind around the world as seen HERE:

Photo of Wyland's Whaling Wall #052 'Florida's Living Reef' The Waterfront Market 201 Williams St. Key West, Florida 52 Feet Long x 45 Feet High Dedicated September 27, 1993

Wyland has a gallery here in Key West, one of the many, many galleries here. There is art everywhere you look here, whether it be on canvas or concrete, watercolor, sculpture, or sand. The artists are drawn here by the light and colors and temperature (just like the rest of us!).

fountain near Mallory Square

around the block

2012-01-18T07:15:00.000-05:00

just out walking, found sand sculptures next door

and turtles

Home Depot with palm trees - love it!

and for sale outside Home Depot tropical flowers in January!

dining partners

2012-01-17T06:30:00.001-05:00

eating with the chickens at Blue Heaven

eating with the chickens at Hogfish Bar & Grill

and the resident cat at Hogfish

Blue Heaven chickens looking down on diners

Mallory Square rooster walk

Mallory Square cat feeders

I have been accused of getting up with the chickens, but this is the first place I have eaten with them, and cats too!

favorite restaurant

2012-01-16T07:06:00.000-05:00

Our favorite restaurant while here in Key West - Hog Fish Bar & Grill on Stock Island. Located on the dock, super fresh seafood, open-air tiki hut, great atmosphere, live music, free parking!

Book Review: 11/22/63

2012-01-13T06:45:00.000-05:00

11/22/63: A Novel by Stephen King

Anyone who is over 55 years old remembers where they were and what they were doing that day, the day Kennedy was shot. Stephen King was 16 that year. He had the idea in 1972 for this story: What if you could go back in time and prevent the presidential assassination? But in 1972 it was too soon, too fresh on every one's minds. Now the time is right, and the 849 page novel tells the story as only Stephen King can.

This novel is several genres all intertwined into one, a historical novel, a science-fiction tale of time travel, a work of fiction, with just a little King horror thrown in to round it out nicely. The overall combination makes for a great page-turner and provides some thought-provoking what-ifs?

If you are a fan of King, you will appreciate early in the story the reference to some previous King stories, mention of the Derry, Maine clown who terrified children, and the prison up at Shawshank.

Historical novel. King went to great lengths to get the history and facts correct in this one. No, he didn't just sit down at his typewriter and let the story flow out of his warped mind this time. He visited the key places in Dallas, talked with many experts on the subject, and viewed old film footage.

His story brings back those iconic black-and-white images we all saw on our televisions. The president and first lady riding in the convertible in the motorcade, Jackie in her blood-spattered pink suit standing with vice president Johnson as he took the presidential oath, Oswald in the police station gunned down by Jack Ruby. All of these accurate historic scenes and more were described in detail and integrated into the context of the story.

Time travel. I have always loved time travel stories. More research went into this part of the story, life in the early sixties, the language, the automobiles, the lifestyle, the money. The terms we learned in movies like 'Back to the Future' are here like time-space continuum, paradox, and butterfly effect along with harmony and residue. And the fact that time does not want to be changed, is obdurate about it, and will put any obstacle in your path to stay the same. [ob-du-rate, adj. stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action, see STUBBORN. (just place your Kindle cursor on any word and the definition pops up, love it!)]

Fiction. Once all the research was done King incorporated it all into a story with believable characters, some you remember from the television coverage or from history books, some new ones. The time travel portal (or rabbit hole) takes you back to September 9, 1958, so with the plan to stop the assassination of JFK, you would have 5 years to kill in the past waiting for that fateful day. A lot of time to fill up with story line, and who better than King to create filler material. I admit (like some other King stories) it seemed to bog down just a bit in the middle, but maybe it was just because I couldn't wait for the fateful day to arrive to see what would happen. Would he really be able to prevent John Kennedy's assassination? Would that also prevent the deaths of Bobby Kennedy and maybe even Martin Luther King? What would be the ramifications? What would the future be like?

Horror. Unlike his usual books, this is not a horror story, but it wouldn't be King without a little scary stuff, and he sprinkles in some here and there just to keep you on your toes and looking over your shoulder.

The 849 pages went much faster than I anticipated, another great story from the master storyteller.

I remember where I was that fateful day, 11/22/63, (as told HERE) what about you?

favorite

2012-01-12T07:13:00.002-05:00

I was asked recently what was my favorite place in Key West?

I had to think a moment, no not any of the restaurants, no not any of the touristy places, but immediately came up with it - Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.

The beach, the blue water, the shady pine trees, loads of picnic tables, only $7 entrance fee for all day, the inexpensive snack bar so you don't have to load up the cooler and carry food (PBJs etc.), and of course the historic Civil War fort, oh and don't forget their claim of the only uninterrupted sunset view in Key West!

We went last Saturday afternoon, enjoyed the view from our beach chairs, were lulled by the sound of the waves, and stayed until the sun set, at which time the park rangers are quick to point out it is closing time! The sunset was occasionally interrupted by elegant sailing ships, but they just enhanced the already beautiful scene.

The park sits on the point where the Atlantic meets the Gulf of Mexico and has more wave action than any other beach in Key West, the waves on the Atlantic beaches are hindered by the coral reef.

The main shipping channel goes right by the point of the park, making traffic watching fun, seeing the big ships go by - Navy ships, Coastguard ships, cruise ships and big yachts going by (in other words, how the other folks live).

So if you have seen all the bars and souvenir shops, take a break and try out this local treasure, located in Key West at the end of Southard Street on Truman Annex.

We have seen the sunset from Mallory Square, from our condo balcony, from Smathers Beach, from Higgs Beach, and from Zachary Taylor park. Each day's sunset is different, all of the views are spectacular and will stay with me a long time, especially since I have over 240 pictures of sunsets alone!

photo album

2012-01-11T16:57:00.004-05:00

Whew, got the pictures developed and into the album. Thanks goodness for digital cameras, right?

We took over 2500 pictures, this is just a summary album with only about 10%. Most of these have already been on the blog, but it is nice to have them all together. Enjoy!

Click on the rooster above, or HERE.

underwater locals

2012-01-11T06:50:00.001-05:00

Cassiopeia jellyfish

Cassiopeia jellyfish

Cassiopeia jellyfish

horseshoe crab

horseshoe crab

horseshoe crab meeting place

tarpon - is it 5:30 feeding time yet?

manatee - yum, fresh water!

jellyfish and horseshoe crabs are staying at the Marriott like us, swimming out back in the bay, tarpon and manatee are hanging out at Key West Harbor walk

older and wiser

2012-01-10T07:02:00.003-05:00

As Melissa's teenagers are ordering caps and gowns and senior rings and letterman jackets and completing college applications, she is joining in on the fun and going back to school too!

She has her student ID, her parking pass and books. She is going for a degree in computer geekology and posted on Facebook looking for a TI-83 whatever that is, it is all geek to me.

She has completed nontraditional student orientation, was shown the adult student study hall (no teenagers allowed!), and given her official Kennesaw State University OWL tee-shirt - Older Wiser Learner!

Melissa has some college courses under her belt already, picked up here and there. She also has a lifetime of common sense, all earned and paid for, so maybe she will end up teaching some classes herself.

The once lost teen years are found again, recaptured as an older and wiser Melissa - congrats!

In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure. ~Bill Cosby

A handful of common sense is worth a bushel of learning. ~Unknown

I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody. ~Bill Cosby

sidewalk strolling

2012-01-09T09:31:00.000-05:00

schools of fish

lovely bunch of coconuts

Strolling through Key West, always colorful, sunny, warm, and entertaining.

just another sunset

2012-01-08T18:18:00.003-05:00

just another sunset here in Key West,
this one from Zachary Taylor State Park

thank you amazon

2012-01-06T07:44:00.005-05:00

I love my Kindle. I read over 60 books in 2011, all on the Kindle. Being kind of on vacation for the last 4 months, I have enjoyed reading a lot.

Right now I am reading Stephen King's 11/22/63:

On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed. What if you could change it back? Stephen King’s heart-stoppingly dramatic new novel is about a man who travels back in time to prevent the JFK assassination—a thousand page tour de force.

There are lots and lots of free books available for Kindle, from Amazon and lots of other places including the public library.

Websites and blogs keep up with these freebies, like:

Free Kindle Books and Tips

and

Pixel of Ink

I love Amazon

Not only the prices and selection of almost anything you would want for general shopping and gift giving throughout the year, the free shipping, but the thing I love most is their memory, so I want to take this opportunity to say

Thank You Amazon

From all of us memory-challenged individuals who try to purchase a kindle book (because it is free today) and get a message across the top of the screen:

Instant Order Update. You purchased this item on December 23, 2011.

Or what they really mean to say - you already have this one dummy!

potential

2012-01-05T08:03:00.005-05:00

On a short walk I snapped these pictures of empty buildings, businesses that didn't make it. I see potential for a Chick-fil-A or maybe a Cracker Barrel restaurant, yum! Hey we are already here, just say the word and we can start next week!

reflections

2012-01-04T07:20:00.001-05:00

It is that time of year again, a time for reflections. Reflections on life, past, future, health, appearance.

It is that time of year that you look in the mirror and do not like the reflection, and vow to do something about it.

It is that time of year that you look around your home and vow to clean up, clean out, organize.

It is that time of year that you look back and see where you have been and look forward and see where you are headed, the time is now to make changes if need be.

In this first week of January 2012, the only reflections I see are those in the water here in Key West. All that other heavy stuff will have to wait for another time!

houseboats

2012-01-03T06:30:00.000-05:00

When I first saw these houseboats I thought of the trailer parks back where I come from, mobile homes on wheels, but then saw the prices of some of the houseboats on sale, one for $350,000!

Colorful close quarters, convenient to everything to see and do here in Key West, another option for living here, especially since there is no more land to build anything else here. That is if you don't mind your house rocking!

bay side

2012-01-02T10:44:00.004-05:00

on the 'bay side' of Key West this time, at the Marriott

where they have a beach

and a pool

from our balcony we can watch the traffic go by on busy Roosevelt Blvd, and across the street is the new bank building and K-Mart!

looking north to the hills in the distance,
wait a minute there are no hills in the Keys...
oh that is the landfill!

back in paradise

2012-01-01T19:03:00.000-05:00

wrapping it up

2012-01-01T05:30:00.002-05:00

Keys Federal Credit Union new office almost finished!

So long condo... see our balcony (pink building, far left, second from top)

I am heading back south (Key West!) for the final days of construction and for the long road trip home. Just enough time for a few more sunsets, grouper sandwiches, cruise ship sightings, swaying palm trees and sand between my toes {sigh}.

So the end of another year, another job, and on to the next. As far as job destinations go, Key West will be hard to top!

photo play

2011-12-31T18:16:00.006-05:00

it's a small world

macro in the workshop

focus on tools

focus on shavings

blurred background

relics in the woods

2011-12-30T17:51:00.000-05:00

just walking through the graveyard behind the workshop... looks like makings of a moonshine still!

red-headed visitors

2011-12-29T06:42:00.008-05:00

chopping wood

what happens when a redbird sees its shadow?

redbird's better half

family vacation, heading south

Trying to get some work done but the view out my office window is way too distracting. Pictures turned out pretty good considering they were taken through a second story dirty window!

homemade treasures

2011-12-27T19:12:00.009-05:00

Homemade gifts are popular for a number of reasons, they are personal, a lot of thought and time goes into them, but mostly because they are fairly inexpensive... we have all been there, more time than funds, and the holidays are a great time to be creative.

Carrie made this hot cocoa mix for me for Christmas. It has powdered milk, confectioner's sugar, cocoa, and more, all had to be sifted together... so in typical Carrie fashion, she got the recipe and called her sister to see what ingredients she already had in her pantry - why buy stuff when you can just "borrow" it?

Melissa told her, "I hope you aren't making that for MOM 'cause she won't open it, will just sit it on the shelf to look at, like the cookie mix in a jar that I made her many years ago!"

sand art cookie mix, year?

What? I am proud of the things my kids make me! But Carrie insisted that I try the cocoa mix, it is delicious! And the little felt hearts, so cute, did you make those as well? Oh well, they were just $1 at Michael's, a good buy!

As for the cookie mix, I am sure those cookies would have been delicious too had I made them at the time, but not sure I would eat them now, so the decorative jar is safe.

So the question is - gifts in a jar - to eat or not to eat?

Thanks, girls for these homemade treasures!

from the creek bank

2011-12-27T07:58:00.011-05:00

Carrie's dog, Tasha, has two favorite things

playing in the creek and fetching a stick

and when you throw the stick in the creek, even better!

slow moving water

Whenever anyone goes for a walk around here they usually end up at the creek, ever moving and changing with the rainfall and light, it is like a magnet that draws us to its bank.

Yesterday was no exception, a day-after-Christmas walk to work off some holiday treats and try out my new camera. I found willing subjects in slow moving water and fast moving dog.

shaking it off

good times

2011-12-26T10:24:00.006-05:00

under the tree is empty

Key West souvenir roosts on the mantle

home made goodies!

looking forward to making MORE and BETTER pictures this year!

Another Christmas comes and goes, the wrapping paper and bows litter the living room. Kids young and old are busy playing with their new toys and counting their cash. Good times, good food, then they are all gone to their other family gatherings, leaving us old folks here to enjoy the peaceful afternoon. Watching "It's a Wonderful Life" ends the day, and indeed it is. Life is good, all is well here in the woods.

seeing red

2011-12-24T13:04:00.003-05:00

the date that all kids look forward to is finally here!

the company Christmas bonus arrived,
not quite the jelly-of-the-month club, but...

employees seeing red?

bedtime stories of sugarplums for the little ones

and all the kids and grand kids coming
to see the grandparents on Christmas morning

hey wait, that's our door, how did we get to be the oldest generation?

ghosts of Christmas past

2011-12-23T08:34:00.003-05:00

Take this time to remember all those Christmases past, the trips to grandmas's house, the family traditions, the homemade eggnog, cutting the Christmas tree out of the forest, stringing popcorn, seeing distant cousins and crazy uncles, lots of hugs and kisses and being told how much you have grown.

The presents received are long forgotten but the family memories remain, they resurface each year at this time, our own version of the ghosts of Christmas past.

small town Santa

2011-12-22T14:42:00.003-05:00

it is good to have a back-up sleigh (CAT dozer)
in case the Georgia red mud is too much for your conventional ride

signs of the season

2011-12-21T06:48:00.003-05:00

the colors of the season

time to store up for a long winter

mountain food - greens and cornbread

another rainy day in Georgia

pull up the quilt, throw another log on the fire, cook up some comfort food, winter time fast approaches

shades of blue

2011-12-19T07:17:00.003-05:00

back in Georgia
where there are
wide open spaces
long winding roads
acres of pastures
miles of trees
not so much sky
a lot more land

back in Georgia
where the clouds
touch the ground
and the ground
is 3000 feet above
the ocean in Key West
where I was
a few days ago

back in Georgia
where the view
out my window
is still beautiful
the shades of blue
are deeper and layered
the people are family
the place is home

the letter

2011-12-16T06:15:00.000-05:00

Printing and signing and folding and stuffing and sealing and stamping - whew! But I had the easy clerical part (well I had some help)...

Buddy has the annual task of summing up the year in words and stories all with just a slight Southern accent.

Hot off the press, the 22nd annual Tidwell Family Christmas Letter!

Check out all letters from 1990 to present HERE

the last sunset

2011-12-15T06:35:00.001-05:00

Leaving out today, heading home to get ready for Christmas, open all those boxes from Amazon that are piling up from online shopping, get groceries for family get-together meals, finish up last minute stuff.

This may well be my last Key West sunset. Depending on the job schedule I may or may not be back after Christmas, so I have mixed feelings this morning. I have really enjoyed spending time here, almost like having a four month vacation, and I kind of dread getting back to the real world.

But for now the sprint is on toward the first goal, Christmas with all the family. Georgia here I come!

lower latitude observations

2011-12-14T07:07:00.011-05:00

fresh seafood

talented artists

holiday decorations - penguins on the roof!

colorful pets

dessert!

open-air Christmas shopping

flowers blooming in December

As my days are numbered here, trying to gather all the things I want to remember about living here in Key West, which is a good thing about this blog, documenting daily life to help the feeble mind remember... along with the literally thousands of pictures taken.

Just some random thoughts...

having to walk up steps to get into the grocery store or fast food restaurant

the homeless guys sleeping on the beach

lots of bicycles - the worker type at Buddy's job who arrived at work bringing in his bike seat so it wouldn't go missing

the old rundown K-Mart store

meeting an actual artist

the awesome sunsets

the massive cruise ships going by my window

locals in shorts and flipflops at the Christmas tree lot (dang I missed that picture!)

walking on the tarmac at the airport

the ever-changing colors of the ocean and sky

witness to hundreds of beach weddings

the feel of the sand between my toes, sun on my skin

palm trees swaying in the breeze

all the festivals and parades

the laid-back attitude, living on island time

the resident chickens

the history and architecture

delicious seafood at The Rusty Anchor and Hogfish Grill and Red Fish Blue Fish

condo life - surprisingly nice folks, nice digs, and of course my favorite - the magic garbage chute!

gingerbread houses

2011-12-13T07:16:00.004-05:00

Key West is an old town and most of the houses are wooden. The weather and salt air and humidity and sun all do a number on wood and in a lot of other Florida cities you see houses made of concrete and stucco which are very practical but not as picturesque and not authentic of original Florida housing. Another feature of the old houses is the gingerbread.

gingerbread
1: a cake whose ingredients include molasses and ginger
2: [from the fancy shapes and gilding formerly often applied to gingerbread] : lavish or superfluous ornament especially in architecture

This time of year we think of gingerbread cookies, but in the Key West houses, I am talking about the architectural term. Just imagine the work and craftsmanship it took to cut out all those shapes by hand many years ago. Walking down any street in Old Town is like walking through an art gallery and museum all rolled into one.

fixer upper

2011-12-11T15:40:00.003-05:00

Look what I found! A real fixer-uppper. Do you think the carpenter I married will like it? And it is on sale!

NEW PRICE! Reduced. Was $2,388,888 now only $1,888,888! This historic Conch house in downtown Key West is only 2 blocks from Duval Street. Strategically located on Eaton Street between Simonton and Elizabeth Streets.

the palette

2011-12-09T06:46:00.000-05:00

What is it about the sunset that draws us in, a must see event every evening. And then in the morning the sunrise starts another day of color and light. Throughout the day the sea changes colors from green to blue, reflecting the sky. The colors and light here are inspiring, the palette that is Key West brings in artists from all over the world, to capture the light and colors of this little island.

About my recent project, I was asked by a quilting friend, "Are you being inspired by the water views and gorgeous sunsets?" It does look that way!

now for some inspirational reading...

holiday harbor walk

2011-12-08T06:33:00.003-05:00

Christmas lights and palm trees, shorts and flip flops, open windows and warm breezes... I could get used to this!

Santa is in town!

2011-12-07T06:39:00.000-05:00

Let's see, some spectators are barefoot, the marching band members are wearing shorts, Santa is throwing beach balls, it must be the Key West Christmas Parade!

Unfortunately we missed this one, but luckily found these great pictures on a local blog, (yes I got permission). But don't take my word for it, read all about it here: Key West Christmas. Thanks for letting me share your photos!

And check out all of the other great pictures and stories about Key West at Old Town Key West.

winding down

2011-12-06T06:33:00.003-05:00

scooter for sale

As our time here winds down, we are sad. Thoughts turn to packing and home and where will we go after that? The next job awaits, just not sure where.

We came down here with just our pickup truck loaded, and hope to go back the same way. We have not accumulated too much stuff this time. I remember when we went to Tampa for a few months for a job and came back 3 years later with a huge moving truck full. So clearing out the stuff we don't need to take home, island things that can stay here, like my bicycle and the scooter.

It has been fun, an adventure! Anyone want a scooter?

letters from home

2011-12-04T09:36:00.005-05:00

The letterman jacket, coveted by nerds and earned by jocks for generations for their accomplishments in sports. Back when I was in high school even us lowly cheerleaders got one!

Madison recently received a Letter in sports for Cross Country. So now she just needed a jacket to put it on. No longer provided free by the schools, a letterman jacket costs new, plain, $350 plus any additions (like your name or school name or sport). Wow, bummer!

Just think about all the letterman jackets out there that are packed away after graduation, never to be worn again. Maybe we could put an ad in the paper for previously worn jackets, probably get them at a good price. If we only knew someone who had one...

Earlier in the season at one of Madison's track meets, her mom told her dad that Madison would probably letter this year, and that she would need a jacket to put her letter on. (lightbulb moment!) "Hey, Andy didn't you have a letterman jacket at one time?" Yes he did! And after many years (17!) and several moves, he knew exactly which box it was in. He was skeptical, "Do you think she would want my old jacket?"

Well duh! There is the family heirloom thing and the recycle/reuse thing, and the fact that it is nice and worn in already, but knowing Madison the best part is the cost! She is very frugal with money and I am sure saw this as an offer too good to refuse.

I received an e-mail from her asking if I could look at the jacket and see if the old wrestling patches could come off, you know the stuff that makes grandmothers smile, asking for help from the grandkids!

The patches all came off without a hitch, the only worry was that the fabric underneath the former patches would be darker, but not!

So now the vintage jacket it is all ready for the next generation to proudly display her accomplishments. Way to go Madi!

freebies

2011-11-30T07:05:00.004-05:00

key west sunrise today

in this season of shopping for the perfect gift, the ultimate material possession, take time to look around and appreciate the little things, the free stuff, like a beautiful sunrise, the last piece of pumpkin pie, the smile of a child, or unexpected snow flurries

cartecay flurries yesterday

the view

2011-11-29T07:15:00.000-05:00

just like home, sitting on the deck watching the traffic go by...

here and there

2011-11-28T07:06:00.003-05:00

Travel - Key West airport - rode the scooter to the airport (5 minutes), parked for free, breezed through security, walked on the tarmac to board the plane. Atlanta Airport - walked for miles, rode the subway, rode the skytrain, stood in line for the rental car, sat in bumper to bumper traffic...

Food - As good as the seafood is in Key West, it was good to have some good ol' Southern cooking, fried chicken, biscuits and gravy…

Sleeping - At home, it sure is dark, and quiet…

Sunrise - in Key West 6:50, daily we look out at the sun coming out of the ocean. Home, 8:00, still waiting for the sun to come over the mountain. And there are no cruise ships on the horizon either…

Shopping - wow, a Wal-Mart! Huge and well-lit compared to the little old K-Mart in Key West. And just look at those acres of parking lot! We did a sneak-peek at the Thursday night sales, saw the folks starting to come in for the mayhem, on the way out the greeter said, aren't you staying for the show?

Okay we are back here for our last month or so, it should be a busy one, Buddy has to finish up the bank, I have to finish up some gifts, there are cards to mail and of course The Christmas Letter. We are looking forward to seeing how Key West does Christmas, if it is like everything else here, it should be memorable and of course involve a parade or two!

crazy quilt

2011-11-26T09:46:00.002-05:00

Like fabric scraps they arrived, ready to take their place in the crazy quilt that is our family.

Some are brightly colored, some are old and wrinkled, some are soft and new, some are embellished, some loud, some subtle, some have raw edges and some look like a work in progress.

Some go against the grain, some are as homespun as calico, some as rough as burlap, some as slick as satin. Some keep us on pins and needles, others keep us in stitches.

After some shuffling around and trading places to make sure that it all fits, the colors and textures blend and overlap and come together to make a beautiful picture - bordered by love, stuffed with good cooking - whether it be a quilt or a family, both are warm and cozy and make you smile.

holiday warm fuzzies

2011-11-23T06:45:00.003-05:00

Usually at the first hint of cooler weather (October?) my thoughts turn to making gifts, anything that can be sewn or knitted or crocheted, something that accumulates and piles up in my lap and warms me as I make it, kind of like cutting your own firewood (it warms you twice - once when you cut it and once when you burn it).

Last winter I started a project of making each of the granddaughters an afghan for this Christmas, well... one is finished, one is almost finished, and one is not even started, but the yarn is bought!

Since we are still enjoying the 80 degree days here in Key West, the holiday bug had not bitten yet this year, that is until we had to go shopping for jackets to wear on the trip home this week. Christmas music was playing at Sears and I found myself humming the tunes all the way home.

That is all it took, for the rest of the day I had the holiday warm fuzzies. I came home and finished up the second blanket, started online shopping, set up wish lists for the kids and grandkids at Amazon, went out shopping here and found some tropical Christmas cards to send out, it feels good to get started!

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock
Jingle bell swing and jingle bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun

turkey shoot - Key West style

2011-11-22T07:03:00.001-05:00

Usually a turkey shoot is a contest where folks shoot at a target and the one closest to the bullseye wins a free turkey for Thanksgiving, or a coupon for a free turkey to pick up at the grocery store.

But as with most things, it is done a little differently here in Key West.

Our "Turkey Shoot" begins at 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, where everyone gets to flip the bird by firing a turkey out of an air cannon, off the Sunset Pier and into the ocean.

Like angels from heaven, these birds will be flying on a wing and a prayer... to hit the target, that is.

Accuracy is the key, as the highest scores will win great prizes. There will be a men's, women's, and kids' division. This is a FREE event.

Bahia Honda state park

2011-11-21T07:10:00.003-05:00

Bahia Honda State Park, located at mile marker 37 on the Overseas Highway. 500 acres of native Florida, white sandy beaches, mangroves, snorkeling trips to the reef, and one of the famous Flagler railroad bridges. Enjoy the present and the past all in one place.

Last Train to Paradise

2011-11-19T09:09:00.001-05:00

Anyone who has ever traveled on that long road from Miami to Key West has seen the many abandoned bridges alongside the highway has to wonder of their story and the era and people who traveled on them, heading south to paradise.

Wanting to learn more of the area, I found this book, Last Train to Paradise by Les Standiford, and braced myself for a potentially boring list of facts and dates. Was I ever surprised! Written by a novelist, it reads as a very interesting story instead of like an 8th grade Florida history textbook.

I was captured by the first paragraph, it starts out with Hemingway securing his boat and house after reading the weather predictions. The description of the hurricane of 1935 (before storms were named) was fascinating, I found myself bracing for the wind.

The story chronicles the life of Henry Flagler, one of the richest men in the world at the time he began his Florida railroad project (around 1905), who partnered with John D. Rockefeller to create Standard Oil Company. Traveling to Florida for his wife's poor health, he fell in love with the east coast beaches and built great hotels from Saint Augustine to Miami, along the course of his railroad south. When he reached the end of the mainland he proceeded on with one of the most difficult engineering projects to date, building the railroad to Key West. It took 7 years, nearly $30 million, 42 bridges. As a businessman, his reasoning was not only tourists who would pay to take his train to the Keys, but the construction of the Panama Canal was underway and he predicted an increase of ships stopping in Key West, offloading their cargo onto his railroad for the trek north.

Folks are probably getting tired of me quoting from the book, as we drive around I point out things...

Casa Marina - built by Flagler and opened in 1920, all concrete and steel, did you know the walls are 2 feet thick at the base, and the military took it over during the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 60s?

Do you know why the bridge at Bahia Honda is so much taller than the other bridges built over the water, it is because the channel is deep there and the engineers figured that for every foot down of water you had to go the equal amount above the water with the bridge for possible water surge.

The Long Key viaduct was based on the design of the Roman aqueduct, the arches are poured concrete, they started out at one shore building one arch at a time, working off of barges, but they didn't build it continuous, they built one arch, then skipped one, then built another one, going back later to build the ones in between. This bridge was one of Flagler's favorites, he was so proud of the way it looked, but was dismayed when he realized the passengers on the train would not be able to see it at all. So he commissioned a photographer to be positioned on a barge to capture the train going by on the bridge, this photo became iconic for the railroad.

Being in a construction family, the construction details were very interesting, which I shared with Buddy as I was reading the book. About the special concrete additive brought in from Europe to strengthen the concrete to stand up to the salt water etc, as 'American concrete' was not good enough, and how they had to bring fresh water down on boats from the mainland to mix with the concrete.

More than 400 people died when the hurricane of 1935 completely destroyed a 30 mile wide swath from Tavernier to Vaca Key, the storm is the most intense hurricane to ever strike the United States since reliable records began in 1851.

The railroad could have been repaired, replaced, but by that time another engineering feat was well on its way, the automobile. It was decided to build an overseas highway and the railroad right-of-way was sold to the state for $640,000, the end of the railroad to Key West.

Unlike old generals, the old Flagler bridges do not appear to be fading away. The three principle bridges are the Long Key Bridge, the Knight's Key (Seven Mile) Bridge and the Bahia Honda Bridge. They are the only ones currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places. ~Sustainable Visions

So the next time you are driving on highway #1, look over at the old bridges alongside the new highway, see if you can catch a ghostly glimpse of the last train to paradise, don't forget to smile and wave!

passing the torch

2011-11-18T15:20:00.001-05:00

Melissa's lists

For as long as I can remember we have had Thanksgiving dinner at our house with all of our family plus sister Kay and her family. This year we are working out of town and will arrive home just in time for the good stuff (the eating part).

So I am passing the torch - this year Melissa is in charge of the cooking. She went through my recipe collection and after many questions, she came up with the official menu. She now has lists scattered all over - shopping list, lists of recipes, lists of dishes to make on Wednesday, dishes to make on Thursday, even an oven time list. Carrie called to tell her she was making a broccoli casserole, but Melissa told her to get in line for the oven(s), that she would check her oven time chart and pencil her in.

Thanks for everyone who are pitching in! Carrie and Daniel are cleaning, Melissa is cooking which means Sarah and Racheal and Keith are also cooking. I can't wait to be there just as a guest!

morning has broken

2011-11-18T07:20:00.002-05:00

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word ~Cat Stevens

Another beautiful sunrise here in paradise. All you have to do is get out of bed and walk over to the window. I can see some serious vista clearing in the future of our mountain cabin...

catching up

2011-11-16T11:30:00.000-05:00

Melissa came down to visit last week, to catch up on R&R and de-stress and lay low for a while, taking a break from her busy life.

It was fun catching up - enjoyed the time with her, we caught up on all the news of kids, grandkids, work, sisters, neighbors, school, we planned thanksgiving dinner, did some sightseeing, spent time at the beach and harbor and lots of eating out.

We talked about where all the kids will be in 5 years - which ones will be married, which ones will be in college, if she will be a grandmother yet - LOL!!!

I am glad that both of my girls took the chance (bribe) to visit us here in paradise, probably won't ever be back this way again. I miss them already and looking forward to seeing the whole family at Thanksgiving!

colorful locals

2011-11-15T06:48:00.000-05:00

zoom zoom

2011-11-14T16:45:00.002-05:00

The super power boats have been in town for over a week now, you see them at the harbor, out the condo window, on trailers going down Duval Street, or at the races.

airborn at 125+ mph

watch the action on the rocks

or from your yacht

or beachside at Fort Taylor state park

or up close from the tour boat

sometimes they stop

but mostly they just fly

The similarity to NASCAR is obvious, the expensive and powerful toys, the bright colored paint, the sponsors, the competition, the tents set up selling t-shirts, they go round and round real fast, they break down or flip over, the towtruck(boat) hauls them out of the way, they even do a burn out and victory lap.

Unfortunately when you have boys and their toys and lots of speed, danger is part of the thrill. Tragically 3 of the racers lost their lives this week. Five helicopters followed the boats around the course with rescue divers on the edge, ready. One local newspaper columnist described it:

They are like teens hell bent on outpacing their guardian angels; the racing boats laying wakes on a 6-mile path through Key West Harbor. The accuracy of the analogy is proven with one glance at the guardian helicopters, dubbed Angel 1 and Angel 2, as they cut across the race course to follow the boats and protect their occupants.

The races are over for another year, hopefully more than just a good time was had, hopefully lessons were learned. But as I write this on Monday, I can hear the engines roaring, the white spray catching the sun as they speed by my window.

most of my pics look like this, I like still targets...

but if you want more boat race pictures, check out Buddy's album HERE

catch of the day

2011-11-13T07:07:00.000-05:00

Any excuse to eat out, especially when company is here. Stone Crab claws are in season now and offered at all the local restaurants, so when Melissa was here we indulged!

The stone crab claws are harvested by local fishermen, who are allowed to take one claw and release the rest of the crab back into the water. The claw will regrow in a year's time. Pigs feet are used to bait the crab traps, although Buddy heard of one local using iguana for bait, makes sense, it is locally available and very plentiful.

Since we have been here we have had yellow tail snapper, grouper, mahi mahi, shrimp, lobster, jewfish, and stone crab, all fresh from the sea and delicious. Just one more reason it will be hard to leave paradise.

The body of the Florida stone crabs relatively small and so are rarely eaten, but the claws are considered a delicacy.

The Florida stone crab loses its limbs easily to escape from predators or tight spaces, but their limbs will grow back. It only takes about one year for the claw to grow back to its normal size. Each time the crab molts, the new claw grows larger.

The larger of the two claws is called the "crusher claw". The smaller claw is called the "pincer claw". If the larger crusher claw is on the right side of the crab's body, the crab is "right-handed". If the crusher claw is on the left side of the crab's body, it is "left-handed". Since crabs' eyes are on stalks, they can see 360°. A large crab claw can weigh up to half a pound.

Crab traps are set using pigs feet for bait. Harvesting is accomplished by removing one or both claws from the live animal and returning it to the ocean where it can regrow the lost limb(s). To be kept, claws must be 2.75 inches long, measured from the tips of the immovable finger to the first joint. Florida stone crabs are legal for harvest from October 15 until May 15.

wedding crashers

2011-11-11T19:32:00.002-05:00

11/11/11 - a popular day to get married for some reason - perhaps so the anniversary date will be easy to remember?

The local paper reported 83 marriage licenses sold the first three days of this week. From our balcony we were virtual wedding crashers, witnesses to many of these ceremonies, going from sunrise to sunset, we watched sometimes seeing as many as 5 at one time.

Good luck to them all. But a comment in the local paper - I wonder how many of these will get divorced on 12/12/12?

Whether prompted by a cosmic connection or a conveniently remembered anniversary, couples all over the world have chosen to start their life together on today's rare palindromic date, meaning the numbers read the same backward and forward. The phenomenon happens only once every 100 years, with 11/11/11 achieving even more infamy as the only double-digit occurrence, as there is no 22nd month.

Courthouses throughout the nation have been reporting steep increases in the number of marriage licenses issued for 11/11/11 weddings. The Monroe County court clerk had issued 83 such licenses countywide between Monday and Wednesday afternoon. Last year, only 23 were issued in the county in the same three-day time period, a representative of the clerk's office said. ~ Keys News

which way to go?

2011-11-09T07:03:00.001-05:00

playing tourist with Melissa!

power boat parade

2011-11-07T06:55:00.001-05:00

The super power boats are in town for the 31st annual Key West Championship race. Like everything else that happens here, it has to have a parade!

Duval Street boat parade

We picked Melissa up from the airport on Sunday the 6th and took her out to lunch, tour of downtown, and the boat parade. She even got some beads!

southbound

2011-11-06T09:35:00.004-05:00

More folks making their way south for the winter. Speaking of flying south, Melissa is on her way for a visit!

parrot heads stomp out cancer

2011-11-05T10:17:00.005-04:00

We're calling all Parrot Heads to come out and walk with us as "Team Parrot Head" to help raise money for a local Key West organization. The Zonta Club of Key West will be having their annual "ABC 5K Run/Walk" on Saturday, November 5th, 2011. This organization raises money to cover mammogram's, thin-prep pap tests, other diagnostic test and preventive measures for uninsured and underinsured women. Monroe County has some of the highest incidence of breast cancer, because of so many workers living there who have no healthcare.

~photos - the ever changing view from our balcony!

it's 5:00 somewhere...

2011-11-04T07:18:00.004-04:00

This one is for the over 3500 Parrot Heads in Key West this week! The official Jimmy Buffet fan club is celebrating the 20th annual Meeting of the Minds Convention. They are everywhere in their parrot head t-shirts, the local bars are playing Jimmy Buffet music, a great time is being had by all. Just another party week here in paradise.

I'm gettin' paid by the hour, an' older by the minute.
My boss just pushed me over the limit.
I'd like to call him somethin',
I think I'll just call it a day.

Pour me somethin' tall an' strong,
Make it a "Hurricane" before I go insane.
It's only half-past twelve but I don't care.
It's five o'clock somewhere.

At a moment like this, I can't help but wonder,
What would Jimmy Buffet do?

local literature

2011-11-02T06:50:00.001-04:00

To Have and Have Not by Ernest Hemingway, 1937

Good beach reading, my first Hemingway, the sand and salt air provide ambiance for the story.

Key West in the 1930s, boating back and forth to Cuba, smuggling people or booze, taking the rich folks on fishing charters (the haves), trying to make enough money to feed the family (the have nots).

Found this at Amazon for 14 cents... the first 'real' book I have read since receiving my Kindle last Christmas. I miss the button that makes the font bigger...

flying south for the winter

2011-11-01T07:06:00.003-04:00

hawk out our kitchen window

According to yesterday's local newspaper, "This is the migration route for hawks and many other birds. The hawks are right on time; the buzzards will be another week or two before the masses arrive."

Yankees are not the only ones to head south for the winter, why do you think they are called snow birds?

on parade

2011-10-31T09:35:00.003-04:00

Fantasy Fest souvenirs

jellyfish

natives

favorite movie characters like Chunk

and Beetlejuice

scary puppet baby

and zombies

and lots of breasts!

Ever since we learned that we were headed to Key West, folks would tell us about Fantasy Fest, saying what a spectacle it was, Key West version of Mardi Gras. So back in August we googled it, and we knew what to expect.

There were lots of elaborate costumes and lots of no costume at all!

With October being breast cancer awareness month, the breasts were well represented at Fantasy Fest. Large, small, perky, pendulous, young, old, all were hanging loose and proud to be on display. Self confidence is something we all try to instill in our daughters... well maybe not this much!

Almost everything was covered with elaborate artistic body painting, so it was like a walking art gallery to us on the sidelines.

This is obviously a good place for all of these free spirits to live or just to visit, so if you are comfortable in your skin and are so inclined to shed your heavy winter clothes there is a time and place for you do to just that, the last week of October in Key West, Florida.

pets on parade

2011-10-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

Nancy D'Amato did a great job as emcee of the Pet Masquerade

KISS kids

pet turtle dressed up as shark!

Three Blind Mice

one of the many service animals, tequila chihuahua

the things we do for humans

Pet masquerade contest to benefit Lower Keys Friends of Animals, sponsored by Keys Federal Credit Union! Just one of the many events this week during Fantasy Fest in Key West.

Pet Masquerade video HERE

local talent

2011-10-28T07:03:00.002-04:00

Conch Pearls by Andy Thurber

We ended up at Gallery on Greene in an interesting way, not usually art gallery folks.

Buddy is building a new facility for the folks at Keys Federal Credit Union. Their maintenance man is a good contact person, he knows everyone here, knows who to call, and has been a big help. His name is Andy Thurber, he grew up here in Key West, and is also a fisherman, he has shared some of his catch several times, bringing it to the jobsite - lobster, jew fish, and on last Friday some stone crab claws - yum!

While at the jobsite on Friday, he gave Buddy a flyer about this art show and said to stop by on Saturday if we could, he had some pieces of art there at Gallery on Greene. We were downtown on Friday evening so went by the gallery just to see where it was located. We wandered through and found a couple of Andy's watercolors, then were approached by the proprietor. She asked if we were there to see the Andy Thurber collection?

We were directed up the stairs where all the art displayed was by this one artist, Andy Thurber, all ready for the show the next day. Wow! Some awesome watercolors depicting Key West and its history, some going for $1600 each. There were also some wood carvings (like the one above). Buddy was flabbergasted, this maintenance guy/fisherman is an artist! And a very good one.

The nice art gallery lady told us that his art has grown in popularity quickly over the last several years, popular with collectors, and that we should hurry and pick one out before the reception on Saturday because they would go fast (explaining that the ones with a red dot were already sold). We were asked if we had collected any art, what was hanging on our walls? I mentally pictured our walls covered with framed posters from the Grand Canyon and Banff ($10 each?) but didn't bring that up, luckily Buddy told her of his wood work/art that we have displayed. Whew! Good save, Buddy!

We were the only folks in the store so were given the tour, a brief bio of the artist, and sales pitch, until we mentioned we just came downtown to see the big boat take off. "You mean the cruise ship?" It obviously hit home to her then that we were not in fact potential art collectors and with a roll of the eyes she left us to be 'just looking'.

We went back on Saturday to see Andy and all the guests at the artist reception. Since we don't have a small fortune to spend on an original Thurber, I wanted to take the flyer for at least an original signature... but no.

Another new experience for this country bumpkin, rubbing elbows with artists - who knew!

watercolor by Thurber

Andy Thurber website HERE

travels

2011-10-27T08:10:00.000-04:00

here's your sign
It seems someone from home has traveled here before... LIJ - Ellijay, Georgia

two-wheeling
With the crowded narrow streets and streets crowded with tourists, it is hard to maneuver the big pickup truck downtown. So we opted for two-wheeling it instead.

caught on camera

Big brother was watching as we cruised through the toll booths on the way down here, the sign said Dont' Stop - You Will Be Billed. As we cruised by a ton of cameras took our picture, frontways and backwards, kind of like those cameras on rollercoaster rides. Sure enough, 6 weeks later the bill comes in the mail.

street festival

2011-10-26T06:47:00.002-04:00

Goombay Fest, Petronia Street, Oct 21-22

The kickoff of the week-long Fantasy Fest, this street festival was held Friday and Saturday. Billed as arts and crafts and music, there was mostly FOOD! And not your usual festival food - no funnel cakes or cotton candy or caramel apples - lots of grilled meats and tropical drinks.

Also in the advertisement for this one: This is a family friendly event and NOT the time to be wearing body paint or showing too much skin. In other words, no nekkid Fantasy Fest folks here, please!

zombie parade

2011-10-24T19:51:00.012-04:00

kids

and pirates

and kids

and dogs

what is a parade without music?
check out the boom box with iPod -
generator in front basket

and kids

and mummies

and funny bikes

and...

and costumes

don't text and drive!

and they ride off into the sunset...

front page news!

The second annual ZOMBIE RIDE celebrating Halloween and Fantasy Fest was Sunday afternoon and once again we had a great view from our balcony!

Over 400 bicycling zombies went by on all sorts of bikes with kids and dogs and crazy costumes.

You just never know what you are going to see when you look out the window around here!

cleanup

2011-10-22T07:48:00.000-04:00

after the storm the cleanup starts...

the big machines come out

to move the mounds of seaweed

and patch the potholes

Gotta make the beach all pretty again for more tourists and weddings and the thousands of folks coming into town this week for Fantasy Fest!

icons

2011-10-21T06:46:00.007-04:00

US highway #1 starts here in Key West. Or more likely it is the end of the road for most folks. Driving down from Miami it is the only road and travelers anxiously watch the mile markers count down as soon as they leave the mainland, all the way to ZERO in Key West!

But did you know that US 1 goes all the way to Maine, 2377 miles, to this SIGN.

more on US Highway #1 HERE

One of the most popular photo ops here in Key West. Yes, we stood in line for this one, geesh!

90 miles to Cuba. Speaking of Cuba and its close proximity, several sites here on the island were used in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

So when you think of Key West, these two icons pop into your mind. They are on t-shirts and key chains, and are featured in millions of tourist's pictures, just like ours - got it, check it off the list!

Carrie and Daniel are back home in the cold mountains now, with nothing to show for their trip but iconic t-shirts and a little suntan and lots of photos, like these!

webcam

2011-10-20T10:28:00.001-04:00

two ships are better than one!

Mallory Square webcam HERE

the sun is back!

2011-10-20T08:17:00.002-04:00

sunrise this morning

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right
It's all right
~George Harrison

fast and furious

2011-10-19T07:58:00.002-04:00

long night
tornado watch
wind whistling
lightning and thunder

laying awake
shoulda made that hurricane kit
even tho they said in September
hurricane season is over

tornado watch, just like home
but no basement here
maybe the 6 story concrete stairwell
do we even have a flashlight

what to grab first
computer, phone
tennis shoes
food, water

bad weather happens here
fast and furious
hot sunny days
please hurry back!

stormy weather

2011-10-18T15:50:00.006-04:00

wedding shower

treading water

keep it between the lines

come on out and play

storm? what storm?

It is rainy and windy, but there are still folks enjoying the outdoors, the sun worshipers are replaced by the kiteboarders, the wedding planners are determined to squeeze in a quick service between showers. I guess you just have to find the silver lining in the storm clouds.

The view out our window entertaining as always.

water, water, everywhere

2011-10-17T10:45:00.001-04:00

Day after day, day after day,
We stuck, nor breath nor motion;
As idle as a painted ship
Upon a painted ocean.

Water, water, every where,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink.

~from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Water, water everywhere here today, it has been raining for 3 days, with a total of 7 inches in the last 24 hours! Not much to do here in the rain, just watch it fall.

There are 2 cruise ships at the dock today, bummer for those folks wanting to get out and explore the city.

Our two resident tourists, Carrie and Daniel, are also bummed out, leaving out tomorrow. Good thing they watched the weather forecast and crammed a lot into the two sunny days we had last week. Could be worse, could have paid thousands of dollars for a cruise and be stuck on a boat for a week in the rain...

Here's hoping for sunny skies again soon!

island time

2011-10-14T10:39:00.000-04:00

Carrie and Daniel are busy playing tourist, she has her list of places to see and things to do, they are scurrying around checking things off the list, well Carrie is anyway.

They need to slow down and enjoy, get on Island time… found this online for first-time visitors to Key West:

The term ‘Island Time’ means everything down here is slower. The most important thing to remember is that YOU ARE ON VACATION. The second most important thing is to GET YOURSELF ON ISLAND TIME. Slow down. Relax. Live your favorite Corona commercial!

Of course the ironic thing is that Carrie is the daughter that has no worries, not the one who really needs a vacation. Melissa is home with 4 teenagers, her work has slowed down, the weather is cold, I keep telling her COME ON DOWN! That could be you in these pictures!

walk through history

2011-10-12T06:58:00.001-04:00

Key West Cemetery, Passover Lane
established 1847
19 acres located on Solares Hill
elevation 18 feet above sea level

wrought iron and wood fences mark family plots

estimated 100,000 residents
buried above or below ground

U.S.S. Maine Memorial
a solitary bronze sailor overlooks the plain white marble markers commemorating the victims of the 1898 sinking of the battleship U.S.S.Maine in Havana Harbor

Unlike modern public cemeteries with their uniform rows and grass and rules about flowers (when and where and how long can they stay?), the old Key West cemetery has a lot of personality. The epitaphs are amusing to touching, the tombstones are simple to ornate, the residents represent the history and heritage of Key West, from sailors and soldiers to cigar makers, millionaires, paupers, people of all races, Catholics, Protestants and Jews rest side-by-side.

The cemetery was relocated here to Solares Hill after a hurricane destroyed the former cemetery near Higgs Beach. This is the highest spot on the island at 18 feet above sea level. A lot of graves are above ground because of the hardness of the coral rock and of course because of the water level. Note: At Buddy's construction site footings were dug for columns and the holes promptly filled up with pretty blue sea water!

A must-see stop if you visit Key West, go in the early morning or on an overcast day as it is hot, walking or riding a bike is a good way to see everything. Free maps and tour guide at office.

Cemetery tour and map found HERE

island news

2011-10-11T06:42:00.000-04:00

conchs

2011-10-10T15:31:00.000-04:00

Key West HS - Home of the Conchs - other local teams are called the Sharks, no one seems to use the mascot of jellyfish or shrimp or crabs...

The name "conch" is widely used in the Florida Keys to refer to a lifelong resident of the Keys. Native people born in Key West and the Bahamas call themselves conchs. In times past proud parents in Key West placed a conch shell on a stick in the front of their house to inform neighbors of a new born infant.

People who take up residence in the Keys are humorously referred to as freshwater conchs. Politicians sometimes issue certificates to people active in community interests declaring them "honorary conchs". Locals like being called conchs and take pride in the appellation.

sunrise

2011-10-07T06:44:00.004-04:00

the sunsets are celebrated here, but don't forget the sun rises here too!

the news on my iPhone...

2011-10-06T07:16:00.003-04:00

apple.com

Cancer takes another life.

It is not discriminatory, it doesn't matter if you are young or old or the girl next door or the greatest visionary of our generation.

As I read the news last night on my iPhone, it made me angry. Why does someone so brilliant have to die at 56?

The answer is cancer.

If only Steve Jobs' brilliance was in the medical research field, maybe there would be a cure.

Besides inventing some pretty awesome stuff, he also had some pretty inspiring things to say:

“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.”

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.”

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.”

When presenting a new product, he liked to say, "But wait! There's more!"

Not this time.

rest in peace

and thanks for everything

something's missing

2011-10-05T07:50:00.004-04:00

madison

racheal and sarah

matt and sarah

racheal

kyle and sarah

All four in high school, lots going on. Sarah ordered her cap and gown yesterday, Kyle just got his class ring, Racheal is in the school play, Madison is running on the cross country team... and lots more, two are driving, all have boyfriends/girlfriends, whew!

Life and family coordination managed by MOM, Melissa!

Away from home, missing the grandkids, they are getting so grown up!

Thanks to Crystal for these great shots by Crystal Photography.

construction of art

2011-10-04T09:08:00.003-04:00

Time for Fun
by artist Seward Johnson
The Custom House Museum

construction pictures found HERE

colorful

2011-10-03T06:34:00.004-04:00

Everywhere you look is something new and different and colorful!

iguana hiding in the tree, can you see me now?

Disney cruises by the beach

pink feet

the nightly ritual

beach artist

and of course the city symbol

West Martello Tower

2011-10-01T09:57:00.000-04:00

Key West Garden Club at site of Civil War fort, West Martello Tower.

History of site HERE

lunch break

2011-09-30T12:55:00.003-04:00

all decked out for tomorrow's commissioning ceremony

sittin' on the dock of the bay

Navy destroyer vs giant cruise ship - size matters?

get your ducks in a row - well, seagulls

takin out the trash the island way

just a lunch break from work, quick trip to the dock to see what is going on!

unusual sightings

2011-09-29T06:50:00.000-04:00

here comes the bride
the dream wedding, white sand, palm trees, sweaty strangers, sand spurs

rainy day
photo taken from Buddy's office (a.k.a. truck) after 3" of rain fell, when you are already at sea level, where can the water go?

graveyard tours
Key West Frightseeing Tour

blast from the past
phone home?

a giant postcard
wish you were here!

buried in the sand

2011-09-28T08:12:00.005-04:00

Have you ever been at the beach and buried someone in the sand, just leaving their head out? Lots of fun, right? Well, you might not want to try that at this beach.

Near this site lie the remains of 294 African men, women and children who died in Key West in 1860. In the summer of that year the U.S. Navy rescued 1,432 Africans from three American-owned ships engaged in the illegal slave trade. Ships bound for Cuba were intercepted by the U.S. Navy, who brought the freed Africans to Key West where they were provided with clothing, shelter and medical treatment. They had spent weeks in unsanitary and inhumane conditions aboard the slave ships. In all, 294 Africans succumbed at Key West to various diseases caused by conditions of their confinement. They were buried in unmarked graves on the present day Higgs Beach where West Martello Tower now stands.

more on this story HERE

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

2011-09-26T09:44:00.001-04:00

the locals

the beach

directions

fort circa 1845

USS Spruance

If you are looking for a nice sandy beach with waves and seashells, the Keys is not the place for you. There is a coral reef that stretches all along the Florida Keys. The reef protects the Keys from pounding waves of the ocean, which by the way is why there are no natural beaches in the Keys. There are no pounding waves to erode the rock away and create sand. This reef is the longest reef in the region, and the only reef in this part of the world.

That being said, there is a sandy beach across from our condo, Smathers Beach. It is a great view. The sand was imported from the Bahamas at great expense. There are still no waves, and the water is filled with seaweed making it an unpleasant place to swim.

We found a beach on Saturday that so far is the best one we have been to in the Keys at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. It has everything we were looking for in a good beach (except the sand), clear blue water good for snorkeling or swimming, shade trees (!) picnic tables, a snack bar with reasonable prices. Just remember to take some water shoes because it is rocky. There is even a civil war fort and a great view of the newest Navy ship docked nearby.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

watching the horizon

2011-09-23T08:11:00.008-04:00

Watching the horizon today.

You see that faraway line where the water meets the sky? Just this side of that is the shipping channel where all the cruise ships pass by here.

But no cruise ships today, the town is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Navy's newest warship, USS Spruance today at 2 p.m. The ship will be here for a week and then be commissioned on October 1st at the port at sunset.

The 510-foot, 9,200-ton USS Spruance will sail into Key West Friday afternoon, touching off a week of pomp and pageantry to herald the ship's Oct. 1 commissioning. The ship is the first naval vessel to be formally commissioned in the island city that has hosted countless military vessels, aircraft and personnel throughout its storied history.

With flags proudly flying and its crew lined up along the rails, the Spruance will navigate Key West's main ship channel about 2 p.m. ~full story HERE at keysnews

Will try to get some pictures today when it goes by, and then tomorrow we will be heading down to the port for a closer view.

In the meantime, while waiting on the ship to come in, there is always something going on out the window!

hey a beach tractor, love it!

balancing act

save the chickens

2011-09-22T09:42:00.000-04:00

Gypsy chickens of Key West

Chickens roam all over the island. Roosters strut their stuff and crow at all hours. Hens and chicks cross the road stopping traffic.

Descended from proud fighting chickens brought over from Cuba and local domestic chickens left behind by homeowners, these colorful residents are the unofficial mascot of this tropical city.

Images of chickens show up on paintings, t-shirts, and other souvenirs, they are part of the culture.

They are very colorful and the tourists love 'em, not so sure about the locals. I did see a local restaurant featuring 'free range' chicken on the menu.

But as always there is controversy. Some want to rid the city of the fowl while others want to save them.

When the birds get especially bothersome, they might be gathered up and taken up to a retirement home on the mainland, The Chicken Store, home of the Rooster Rescue Team, they even have t-shirts.

Save the Chickens! This one is for you, Kay.

blimpy

2011-09-21T06:44:00.000-04:00

Driving north out of Key West on the Overseas highway, the blimp on Cudjoe Key can be seen for miles, especially when it is high in the sky.

The official name is Tethered Aerostat Radar System, but locally nicknamed Fat Albert.

Fat Albert is used by the U.S. government for several purposes, including radar for aircraft and boat traffic (especially for drug enforcement) and weather. The blimp is also used to broadcast "TV Marti" a U.S. television station targeted toward an audience in Cuba.

behind the gate

2011-09-20T06:56:00.000-04:00

Gated community - having long ridiculed the gated communities and their list of rules and covenants, we find ourselves in one now, and I must say, it is surreal. There is something about a list of rules that makes you want to break at least one, or maybe bend it a little.

I do love the garbage chute outside our door, just drop it in and the garbage disappears - as opposed to home, waiting til you get enough stinky garbage saved up to warrant the trip to the dump and then paying them to take it off your hands…

I want to shake the rugs out over the balcony, but that is prohibited, which is reasonable given that folks live down below. The country girl in me wants to string up a clothesline on the balcony - all that free sunshine!

I am very aware of the sound level of the television and radio, not used to having folks living above and below and beside me (well at home Melissa lives next door, but I can't even see her house and it is a good walk to get there.. and I don't think she can hear my loud music).

The walk to the mailbox includes an elevator ride and a key. Unlike the one at home, I doubt this mailbox has ever seen any snow or colorful fall leaves.

The same moon shines here just like home, tho at home you usually can't see it for the trees. It looks like our camping chairs are enjoying the view and being up out of the red Georgia mud for a change!

cruisin'

2011-09-19T07:45:00.010-04:00

cruise ship docked at Key West

docked ship view from our kitchen window

watching the ships come in - not getting a lot of work done here...

balcony view

see the tiny people going in the door from the dock

I am fascinated by the cruise ships going by, one every day last week. And this is the off season, in November and December there will be sometimes 3 a day here, a popular stop for those travelers to spend a day in Key West.

Most of them leave out by 2 or 3 in the afternoon. One last week stayed until 6 p.m. so we went down after work for a closer view. The size is awesome, as was watching them maneuver away from the dock.

We used to go cruisin' from the Tastee Freeze to the Fountain in Blue Ridge back in our younger days, but this is a whole different level of cruisin'!

The calendars for the arrival of various cruise ships are HERE.

see food

2011-09-18T15:18:00.005-04:00

Bo's Fish Wagon

Just Google 'key west best grouper sandwich' and you come up with Bo's Fish Wagon. We saw this establishment last week when downtown, but had no idea what it was. Described on Trip Advisor as "the place looks like something from the old show Sanford and Son", but all the reviews were great so we checked it out. We agree, great grouper sandwiches! Sitting on a stool watching the traffic go by - tourists, locals, bikes, motorcycles, scooters, a fine dining experience.

Also this weekend we cooked up some lobster brought in by someone from the job, it also turned out great!

Wow, we haven't had a hot dog or hamburger in a couple of weeks now, I could get used to this!