For Your Support

I want to thank each and everyone of you, my kind friends, for your support and words of encouragement as we dealt with our family problems. It shames me that I've even bothered you good people.

This will be the last post in which I will mention my grandchild, Little Bit. I must sadly report she has been lost to us for the foreseeable future. I will not reveal the details as I'm sure I've tried you patience far too much with this sadness.

The bigger shame is how the Florida state government doesn't recognize the rights of grandparents.

It's been a very sad day. Our hearts ache.

Stephen

Resistance Movements

I must confess I like movies and books that deal with resistance movements. Doesn't really matter which resistance, though I like the stories of the Irish Republican Army above all others. Kinda runs in my blood don't you know. Don't ask why, I just do. With the current situation in our country a good resistance movement might solve many of our nation's problems.

The Swedish had more than there fair share of hero's involved in their resistance, as did the Italians, and believe it or not, the French.

Quality resistance movies are hard to find. In the above picture you'll notice 'the wind that shook the barley.' If you haven't as yet seen the movie by the same title - find and watch it. It's on Netflix.

It's interesting to watch a good resistance movie and identify the firearms. The early Irish movement greatly depended upon the Brits steady, but reluctant, supply of good rifles and handguns. Enfields during the early years later gave way to Colts.

Help me out. I'm bored. If you have a good title, book or movie, give me a yell.

Stephen

Believe It or Not

Believe it or not I've preached this simple little fact for years.

For all your survival needs and preps - I give you the lowly .22 caliber....cheap but effective.

H/T; Enola Gay

Stephen

Just Another Wednesday

I've grown webbed feet. My gills have formed and I'm certain this green stuff on my arms is algae.

It itches.

My rain gauge has been emptied twice and both times it overflowed. It holds just a tad over six inches.

We're wet, and the rivers and creeks of this area are well above flood stage. Welcome to sunny Florida.

Sorry for the silence. My internet went out yesterday, early. Not so bad as it gave me a chance to read and watch the down-pour. Went home and continued to read, and watch the steady and unrelenting rain.

My driveway slopes up and then flattens at the top. I keep our travel trailer parked back and next to our privacy fence. When I arrived home it was parked in about two inches of water. A mess of leaves and debris had formed a dam where the upper and lower driveway meet. I kicked and scrapped and stood back and watched the rush of water as it flowed down my drive and into the street. The waters came within a few inches of flooding my garage.

Fiddler crabs now graze my lawn.

Reports are the groups's bug out location, the Boar's Nest, is now occupied by catfish. The building sits high on piers so hopefully the interior is dry. We have an old Airstream travel trailer parked nearby and I'm hopeful my ammo cans are water tight. I'd hate to lose thousands of dollars of ammunition, and other preps, but I'm sure the trailer is flooded.

The local horse, pastured next door, has taken his weekly bath.

Hey, I've business to run. See you good folks later.

Stephen

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.

*****

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.

*****

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...

*****

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.

*****

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.

******

 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