Bits & Pieces

Recently I had to make a quick trip to our local WallyWorld. Normally, I stay as far from the place as possible, it being a third world nation with the worst dressed humans I've ever seen. Need evidence, click here.

I rushed through the store and grabbed the item I needed and back at my truck I noticed an object on the ground next to the democrat-truck return area. I walked over and found a nice new FoodSaver. It had been taken from its box and laid there bare-butt naked.

I'm not the type to look a gift horse in the mouth. Took it home and thought, 'Its been trashed.' Much to my surprise when I connected the cord to power and hit the button she hummed and purred like new. Score one for me. By the way, the vacuum sealer pictured is an older model.

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Tropical storm Debby has dumped a ton of rain. When I went to bed at 0300 this morning I feel asleep to a downpour. The high winds left a mess in my yard. I went out early this morning to find another mess of downed limbs in the yard. At least my newspaper had been double wrapped and was dry.

I'm afraid when our group next visits the Boar's Nest (our bug out location) we'll find the river flooded and I worry about our old travel trailer. The trailer is our storage unit and holds precious items easily spoiled by water. We need to move it to higher ground and place it high on pilings.

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We drove through hard rain on our way home from Cedar Key. Not one put off by wet hair I stopped a couple of times to shop at road side produce stands. In one I purchased a jar of honey, some local and unique to this area Mayhaw jelly, a watermelon, and some fresh picked cantaloupes. Then Sweet Wife grabbed a few jars of pickled vegetables and fresh tomatoes. We ate well last evening.

If you've never tried Mayhaw jelly....I feel sorry for you. Whitehead Farms makes some of the finest jelly in our area. They are located in Lake Butler, Florida. For the adventurous among you call, 904-966-1602, they do not have a web site, and no I do not receive a penny from them. I just like their Mayhaw jelly.

 

The range of the Mayhaw bush...

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Many of you have nicely asked about the condition and other news of Little Bit. Sad to say, I don't know. The last time Sweet Wife had a chance to visit and speak to her was May 22nd, for me it's been since June 7th. Since then we've received zero information as to her condition. My few minutes with her only revealed she'd lost weight. We are in the dark.

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You guys have a great day. I need another cup of coffee. See you later.

Hey, be nice, and God bless.  And, Matt, thank you. You're a good man.

Stephen

Ben

My friend, Ben died.

Damn.

You will be missed old partner...

Stephen

As Evening Approaches

We strolled and ordered pizza and took a long walk and admired the locals and flowers and I snapped a couple of pictures and it was good.

Above - the news on our arrival.

Hemingway at work.

Across from our condo - the old and now abandoned Captain's Table restaurant...a sure sign of the times.

My day in a simple picture.

She went and shopped...asked my opinion and of course I liked it.

For kymber. A variety of Hibiscus not familiar to us...and here's another....

Sweet Wife really likes this variety, said, "It's a really neat one."

Above, this is a famous landmark here on Cedar Key. It's called the Honeymoon Cottage. We've watched it deteriorate for close to twenty-nine years....I don't believe it was ever used as a 'honey moon' cottage. I think its just an old fishing shake the locals used as a tourist gimmick and the local artist jumped on the band wagon and have painted it to death. I still remember when the walls stood tight and straight.

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 For my friend, lotta joy. We stay at The Island Place. This is a group of privately owned condos for either purchase or rent. As far as I know only two are presently on the market. All are open to rent on either a daily or weekly basis, if not in current use by the owners. I highly recommend the Island Place. Each unit has a kitchen and most can accommodate two to three adults and a couple of rug rats. Each unit has a kitchen, normally fully equipped, a small washer and dryer, dish washer, television (if you insist on the distraction) and a land-line telephone. The office transmits a wi/fi signal, but don't depend on it. Cell phone service is very irregular. Cedar Key is located at the end of a chain of small islands connected by a causeway. It's a long way from any major town or city.

Most  visitors to Cedar Key walk. Many use golf carts. If you must drive and waste gas it'll be a short trip. Many of the local tourist traps have gone out of business. This depression has really been felt here in this small fishing village. There are two or three very fine restaurants, and one really great pizza joint.  There is but one grocery store on the island...its called, The Grocery Store. Prices are high. They do stock a fine selection of wines and other silly high end items. Shop inland and use a cooler for your milk and other perishables. Trust me.

The locals are friendly and helpful. They know on which side their breads buttered. Other than tourists the main money maker for these good folks are clams. Fresh clams can be purchased in several places along with smoked mullet and dip.

There are consignment shops and dress shops and other silly tourist clap-trap to wear you out if you can't read and relax. There is a fine world class fishing pier for the man of your life.

You may contact The Island Place at 352-543-5307. Ask for 'Gulf Side' condos. You'll want to see the water. Ask for condo 109, 108 or 107. Any above those are fine too. They also have a web site...just Google it. Reservations are highly recommended.

Stephen

Island Time

I again must make this as quick as possible. My connection to the Internet here is tenuous - fleeting as the wind and I never know how long I'll have to work. So, I shall make an attempt to post pictures while I have the time, and if the God's allow, write a few words.

I'll try and answer your comments, too, but if you don't find an answer please understand I shall reply as soon as we arrive back on the mainland.

My friends, meet Hemingway. Hemingway is a six-toed cat, a direct descendant of the writer Hemingway's family of cats born in Key West. Our cat Hemingway lives here at the condo. He refuses to leave and while we're away is cared for by the buildings staff. He's coal black, and if you look carefully at his front feet you'll notice his sixth toe...see the right front foot under his belly. When we arrived he came in, jumped into my lap and gave me a good rub down. Then to Sweet Wife. He's a very nice old cat. About seven years old. He's eaten one bag of food since we arrived...just eats and sleeps. He has many friends....

Hemingway's friends arrive not long after chow is provided.

Random shots of the condo...

My office. Cover shirt in foreground.

The Storm. Notice the leading edge of the clouds, the roll. This shot is to the south and west. Its headed our way. Mere moments after I took the shot lightning forked. Wish I'd caught it on film...

View from our deck.

Another, the waters edge.

My Sweet Wife reading the menu for her birthday dinner. We had a fine meal. The chief is a three time world champion for his clam chowder.

Enough pictures. I have three novels to read and my time is limited. We made a stop on the way here and I got carried away and bought three John Sanford Prey novels. I somehow missed the last three and this weekend hope to correct my oversight. 

As I glance out I see the clouds are gray, the winds light. At the moment, life is good. Sweet Wife just left for an afternoon of shop browsing....Lord help me. So, please excuse me while I make another pot of coffee and return to the deck with my book.

Take care.

Stephen

We're Here

Reception for cell and wi/fi is extremely spotty...this will be short.

We have arrived at the condo on the Gulf and all is well. Just back from Sweet Wife's birthday dinner.

Here, I hope are a few photos.

Above, a view from our condo. The deck and water.

And, that's it. Can't get the rest to download due to this very weird wi/fi service....

Anyhow, I'll try again tomorrow.

Stephen

Bits & Pieces

Beautiful day here....warm, light winds. Tropical storm dinking around out in the Gulf. As with all things in life if you want to make God laugh tell him your plans. We have a long weekend planned at Cedar Key. We leave tomorrow morning. What the heck, rainy days make for fine reading.

Tomorrow is Sweet Wife's birthday. She'll be twenty-five. (I bet she smiles if she reads this post.) Anyhow, a few days later we celebrate our anniversary. This weekend is my gift to her. She needs a break from her routine. It's been a rough year and her tears have left tracks on her cheeks which will take years erase.

I will post from Cedar Key between nap sessions. It'll be the first trip in many years without our Little Bit. She'll be missed.

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Last weekend I joined my friends for a day out at our Boar's Nest. Spent some time on the range. The little (and very heavy) Detonics Pocket 9 functioned flawlessly. I'd been told she would have an awful recoil, a hurt your hand kick. Bullhockey. Her weight absorbed and she fired like a dream. I like her. She'll now replace my backup carry piece in my satchel.

I did order a spare magazine for her which are as rare as hen's teeth. Took me a while to find one but finally came across a little shop out in Kalifornia. Place called Gunclip Depot.. The final tally was a wee bit over forty dollars. Hate it when people refer to a magazine as a 'clip.' If you think you're a member of the gun culture and walk around calling a magazine a 'clip,' go buy a pair of clogs and walk a poodle......

I also wrung out my new to me Para P-12 .45. Again, flawless performance and quite accurate. Not a single hiccup.  Well worth the money paid. I love a good gun deal.

Isn't she pretty....

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A few days ago my good friend, Duke, came by the shop and gave me a gift of a bag of his fresh homegrown tomatoes. Most of the bag held yellow tomatoes. Sweet, with a sharp fresh acid taste....remember the tomatoes your grandparents grew in their backyards...yeah, that kind. I took the yellow tomatoes and made a big salad last evening. So good. Thanks, Bubba.

I still have a few left over and hope to pack them down to Cedar Key. They're too good to waste and I'm the kind of fella that enjoys a good tomato with nothing more than a shaker of salt.

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Business is slow this morning. Excuse me while I jerk another cup of coffee.

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I took a walk this morning. Must have been around three. I have many sleepless nights of late. Anyhow, I eased down to the river and walked out to the edge of my neighbors dock and listened to the crickets and a school of mullet flip and flop from the water. I stood there, hands in pockets, for close to twenty minutes then slowly walked back and took a seat on our front porch and listened to an old owl sing a haunted song until the light of dawn.

When you hear of people speak of lonely it's not easy to relate. I believe I understand, now. Sometimes lonely hasn't a cure. It can become a permanent part of ones life. As of yesterday I'm sure my loneliness became fixed, branded on my soul.

Within the next few weeks I shall make a decision. Is life worth living without a heart....or should I simply thank God for what I have and toughen my soul with the loss and plug forward empty of happiness.

I'm weary.

P.S., Sweet Wife will be 'over' fifty tomorrow. The twenty-five was a joke....

Stephen

Thanks & Welcome

To my new friend and follower, Beth of Red Barn Farm. Beth, I promise to always answer your comments, and if I miss one, let me know and I'll correct my oversight.

Please, if you haven't as yet made a visit to Beth's farm, ride on over and say hello. I'm sure she'd enjoy your company.

Again, thanks and welcome. You are now among friends.

Stephen