More Sunsets

 

Had terrific dinner with new friends at their traveling house or motor home whatever you might call it on the Ochlockonee Bay which is east of Carrabelle.  Judy collected more great sunset photos before we hit the road.  

This is Katey's 37 year old self portrait fully assured in her self and moving thru her life and careers.

She had a great birthday yesterday.  We are winding down with this visit getting ready to pack and go.  Not really looking forward to the long drive.  We will stay in Cleveland TN like before.  

Going to try and reciprocate with our friends with a Shrimp Scampi dinner tomorrow night.  I will have to make about a bucket of this stuff.  Kenny knows how to eat.

 Thats if for now

All for now

stay safe

(hoping for decent temps when we get back.....this is the end of this blog, it was fun to write)

Bug season has arrived

 

We have fallen prey to the dreaded no-see-ums.  a little biting bug that blooms around here this time of year.  We were sitting outside of Harrys as sunset approached, and I felt my legs getting itchy.  Little bug bites emerged.  These little guys are unrelenting.  They aren't supposed to get here till March.  I guess they didn't consult the calendar and showed up a few days early.  So I continue scratching away.

Had occasion to visit a restaurant on their last day of operation last night,  much to our surprise of us all.  The food was ok but not great and too expensive.  We went with our new MN friends all us learning more about each other.  We were inside to stay away from the bugs.  The owner of the place came over to talk with us and relayed details of the sale of the place to investors.  These guys are planning a fancier venue.  It may yield a disappointment.

Nothing else today

stay safe

all for now

****Today is Katey's birthday!!!! I miss her a lot*****

Too Much talking

I can pretty much talk to anyone in nearly every setting.  It is a trait inherited from my father.  He definitely had the gift of gab (there's an old phrase for you).  He was a salesman and I was a salesman.  We both traveled around doing our jobs, him, in the state of Michigan and me throughout the midwest.  He never let traffic conditions deter him. " You get there when you get there" he would say.  Even though I never wanted to be late for an
appointment,  and sometimes got lost,  I was not deterred either.

This is sort of a preamble comment to meeting people on this trip.  We have met folks locally, from Minnesota and from Wisconsin, just regular people in similar circumstances, retired and fortunate enough to be able to get away from the cold climates we originate at.  I take none of this for granted.  

This is somewhat off topic but we have been viewing the  apocalyptic  series The Last of Us  on HBO Max.  While most of the episodes are full of mutated people and destruction, the third one is the uplifting story of two men that find each other and build a life together.  In one of the more touching scenes, strawberries are planted and the fruit emerges.  The first taste off the vine brings them both to gales of laughter.  In my life, I have had a similar experience at a farm with strawberries and felt joy of the first bite as a kid.  There were so many berries, I completely ate my fill in the field.  Anyway, if you get the chance to catch this series,  give it a try.

Harry's has an upside down boat hanging from the ceiling over the bar.  It was worthy of a photo.

We went on a side trip to Apalachicola.  Looking around, saw this amazing Aloe plant in front of a store.  

Not much else to report on today.  

All for now

stay safe

Scrabbled again

Played Scrabble yesterday with the same results as before yesterday.  This is a photo of a small minded man searching for words.  Went to Apalachicola for lunch yesterday which as a good plate of fish and chips.  In an emporium for wealthy tourists saw the jacket of my dreams, a glove leather vest with a shearling collar.  I could wear to my divorce hearing due to its purchase with nice a neck tie.  The fit on the size medium was perfect, only $475, maybe I will get two.  

Miss Martha is an old wood shrimp boat in the harbor there.  Shrimping was big business at one point in the history of the area along with turpentine and resins for boat building.  

Judy hated the last photo I used in this blog.  But she approved this one at the docks at Apalachicola.  

Had a foggy walk home last night from Harry's after some fun conversations with new friends Kathy and Kenny from Minnesota.  

Not much going on today.  Still foggy, humid and moist.  Will go on a wet 

sand walk on the beach later.  

that's it

hope your power returns soon if you lost it in ice storm.  

stay safe

 

Normal

On this trip, I discovered and became comfortable with a different definition of normal. This is a very un fancy place.  There are no lawns only scrub grass.  People are living in trailers and houses in various states of disrepair or development.  There are dead palm leaves scattered about.  There is an Assemblys of God church down the street with lively Wednesday services,  parking lots filled with Ram and Ford F-250 trucks.   Not really much traffic so you can walk on the road.  Folks are friendly always ready to start a conversation,  the length of which depends on your level of interest.  There are lots of beards and ball caps. pea salad and a treat called a Casanova which is ice cream and orange juice.  Different, very different than my life in Berkley.  I really like this place.  Very comfortable here,  realizing this is a  different normal.  For the first time 

on a vacation, really feel like I know this place. 

Judy took an impromptu shot of me in front of Harry's.  This is her payback shot yesterday afternoon in the same spot

I had to snap Bonnie, our favorite bartender.  She was the first on to greet us on the day we arrived in Carrabelle.  We went to play Trivia last night.  Every one in town had the same idea hence, there were no seats available.  Bonnie called me by name and tried to locate seating with no success.  We sat outside with some Wisconsin folks we met in our previous travels with a King Charles Spaniel chatting away and bitten by small bugs. 

Our scheduled boat ride in Wakulla Springs got cancelled due to mechanical difficulties with the boat.  Will have to find something else to do.

Ice is everywhere back home.  Kids have had two days off from school.  Everyone be careful.

all for now

stay safe 

 

Peas for lunch

 Had lots of good food while have been here in Carrabelle from a variety of places, Cubano sandwiches, shrimp Po Boys and wonderful homemade pastries.  Yesterday, however, at lunch with my "Blue Plate Special",  part of the meal was Pea Salad = awful!.  I told the ladies at the luncheonette, and they laughed. I gagged my way through childhood on peas. 

This is another view of the Carrabelle River that feeds onto the Gulf of Mexico as an estuary.  This town has a series of docks that are in the process of being rebuilt.  

Janine has not been feeling well for the last few days.  I took her to the Urgent Care in Crawfordville.  Good idea to be seen by a competent P.A.  After a couple of days all should be well.

Going to the beach for another walk with the dogs today.  It is a little overcast but warm.  Should be good.  Trivia tonite at Harry's.  We will see how we do

all for now

stay safe......no slip sliding!

Harry at Harry's

 

It's a quiet morning thus far, but not for long, Harry and Pippa are fighting on the couch.  We took him on our walk into town and to his namesake bar, a place we frequent.  I got the Carrabelle Junction lady to smile and laugh yesterday and now feel quite accomplished.  Sent the photos to his girlfriend Joyce a the Penitentiary. 

Got up earlier than usual and delved further into my book.  Grisham has painted his characters into a corner and it will be interesting to see 

how he pulls it off. 

Had a wonderful lunch at African Spice Cuisine.  Spicy fish tacos served by the engaging proprietor and her husband.  Judy had a  Pina Colada smoothy.  Both were tasty and filling.  Gave them a good review and plan to visit again.

Visited Harry's with new friends from Minnesota early in the evening. Good time with a large lab as a nuzzler and looking for French fries.  This place like many of the local businesses are dog friendly which is a change for me.  It goes along with the relaxed atmosphere around here.

all for now

stay safe

French Toast

Wanted to catch a good sunrise today.  But was not so lucky with fog rolling in. Was positioned directly in the East.  All I saw was the power lines and fence post.  To combat my disappointment,  made French Toast, a childhood favorite.  My grandma made it for me in a cast iron pan and always gave me a smile to top it off.  

Went to the Wakulla National Park yesterday about an hour ride from our location.  Saw this tree festooned with hanging Spanish Moss.  We saw this in Charleston SC at the park where they hung Blackbeard the pirate.  

Need to say something about President Carter as he is approaching the end of his days.  I believe there was never a greater. more compassionate former President.  With all he has done internationally to promote peace and fairness,  his efforts with Habitat for Humanity, swinging a hammer into his eighties and even teaching Sunday School at his local church.  He is the definition of a meaningful life.

I hope they teach students about this guy.  He is truly a national treasure.  Most ex presidents retreat to golf, painting or some other hobby.

Not this guy, he spent his time seeking world peace and shelter for the poor.

all for now

stay safe

Cultural Carrabelle

Carrabelle had their cultural event yesterday with authors, music, and food.  Learned about some of the history of the area including the rendering of resins and turpentine for the manufacture for ships.  We met a courageous author, Michael Kinnett who is an expert on the history of Apalachicola and describes it thru historical novels.  We bought one to take it for a test drive.

The little guy pictured on the left is a rare white squirrel native to the area.  Judy captured him on a fence during a recent walk.  He is not an albino, note the black eyes.

These are some shots of my favorite, favorite, favorite joint here, Carrabelle Junction. The wall displays are very reminiscent of a 50's southern luncheonette.  Dining at this place makes me feel at home.  The booths are tired and floor is worn.  They have fancy coffee drinks and a cuban sandwich without parallel.  I will miss this place when I leave.

The library had an outdoor book sale coupled with a soup and 

treats sale.  These friendly ladies worked really hard to make this a success.  

We had another series of tremendous sunset images as we looked to the west departing Harry's at around 6:30.  We met up with folks fishing on our beach walk yesterday.  The young couple seemed to be very happy to be there.

These recent tales seem like a sales pitch for this small town.  It probably is.  

all for now

stay safe 
 

History in Carrabelle

There are big doings today in Carrabelle.  They are having a "History Crawl" through town.  Supposed to have music and food. Even though we have walked all around the place, there are probably things we haven't seen.  It should be fun.  

Had nice conversation with new folks we met that are from Minnesota,  a husband and wife team traveling in a rolling home parked in the lot across from Carrabelle Beach.  He is the CEO of a smallish trucking company and she is now a stay at home mom.  With my background in transportation, we had lots of war stories to tell.  The crowd a Harry 's was louder than normal with a variety of dogs showing up too, some agreeable and some not so much.  Mighty cold this morning, about 37 degrees, not Florida weather.

I got a new tee shirt with turtles migrating to the water.  The fabric is most likely color fast.  I thought of shirts of my past.  Usually short sleeved with a button down collar, called bleeding Madras.  It was plaid and the colors all ran together when washed.  It was expected. so you mom did not wash it with your tidy whiteys lest they become pink.   In my day, this shirt was worn with white Levis from Levi Strauss that probably cost about 10 buck a pair.

The sun is beaming outside disguising the cool temps.  It's 25 and sunny back home, moving above freezing later in the day.  My collection of stuff from the Gulf is complete.

that's it

all for now

stay safe

Crocs and Kayaks

 

Played Scrabble again yesterday afternoon,  always a glutton for punishment.  This game taxes my brain and concentration.  There are many places to find solutions but strategy seems to be the key.  It is very difficult to locate the correct word placement that will secure the most points.  Still defeated, my score was at least respectable.  This is an old game invented by Alfred Mosher Butts in the thirties originally called Lexiko.  Most kids would run from it, having no lights beeps or abbreviated catchwords.  I think it's good for my diminishing intellect.

Met this guy with an ocean kayak at the beach.  It is a much bigger craft than I am used to seeing, 15 feet long made of fiberglas.  Surprisingly had lots of storage spots in the hull all water tight.  He hailed from St. Louis and bought it in England during a visit for his daughters wedding.  The actual origin is Welsh.  Actually pretty cool.

Spotted this troop of birdies running to and from the waves.  They are some of our constant companions on these morning beach walks.  

My children complain about my Crocs footwear.  I realize they are not fashionable.  These rubber shoes are easy to get off an on requiring no hands and the little nubbies on the interior feel good on my feet.  As I've said before, I like things that work, simple, durable and providing small happiness to my tootsies.  And they look outstanding with short white socks and white legs. Katey, this photo is especially for you.

Planning a non event day today with a sandwich from the ladies at Carrabelle Junction, some reading and meetup at Harrys at 5:30

Thats it

all for now 

stay safe

(heard you're expecting snow today)

The Flemish Giant

Went to Harry's bar last night, entered their Wednesday Trivia contest and we won due in no small part to this guy on the left, the Flemish Giant a breed of rabbit. In the heat of the moment, couldn't fight the feeling and looked up the answer on my phone.  Struggling this morning with feelings of moral bankruptcy for my misdeeds.  In my past life of crime, I have taken pencils and pens from Staples when I worked there and a half empty box of cheap Papermate  mechanical pencils.  There, confession is stated and complete.  Our paltry winnings were matched by the bar and were donated to a local school literacy program.  We did the best on the nick names of music stars .

Looks to be a great weather day today, a walking trip to the grocery, and walk on the beach.  Trying a Pizza again for dinner, this time in the oven. No alcohol for me today,  had too many beers yesterday.

all for now

stay safe

 

Sunset Scampi

Made Shrimp Scampi yesterday in the late afternoon.  Cooked with Pandora music coming from my phone, providing some tranquility.  Sauce was created by the oil, garlic and butter combining and sticking to the pasta after slow simmering  We all enjoyed. Had a rare glass of white wine with the meal.  It turned out amazing.  No self congratulations intended at all. Sometimes things in the kitchen just turn out right. Need to make some notes on the preparation of the dish. 

This is our local troubadour rooster strutting his stuff through the neighborhood recently.  Judy captured some lovely sunsets on our walk home from the bar last night.  Starting to see people as acquaintances not strangers with more frequent contact.  Met with the lady selling gifts and apparel and the artist/guy from one of the local galleries at Harrys.  Bonnie the bartender seems to remember me. This place is becoming more and more comfortable.  We now have a walking routine along the beach with the dogs meeting other owners and their four legged companions.  

About at the halfway point in the adventure.  Last night we spoke to all the kids and all are doing fine.  Spoke to some of the cronies from the Tower too.  Gonna be cloudy today.  Thats ok, temps in the 60's.

that's it 

all for now

stay safe

 

Harry and the Starfish

A chin beard, its change for the sake of change.  Women can dye their hair all kind,  mens options are more limited.   Some manner of facial growth seems to work.  I don't know how long it will last.

Sent this photo of Harry to Joyce yesterday.  He is peering at the starfishes on the wall.  He is really having a good time on this trip.  

Went to the writer's event at the Franklin County Library yesterday.  We heard presentations from a danish cookbook author and a political writer that I supposed to be a right leaning guy with Newsmax as one of his sources.  The cookbook writer was chatty and appropriate for her audience of senior ladies.  Both authors were self published to start off their endeavors.  The gentleman stated that it cost him $6K to publish his first book.  Frankly, he was careful not betray his true feelings on the performance of our president.

 Went to our favorite watering hole on foot in the afternoon.  I had another favorite brew from the local brewery, Oyster City based in Apalachicola.  Another great weather day in town with a long dog walk on the beach.

As I am writing this at 8:23 in the morning, the report of the student shooting at MSU yesterday.  This another sadly recurring event in our country, this time, closer to home, 15 months after the Oxford shooting.  Been listening to a national report.  I am at a loss.

all for now

stay safe

Dead Pizza

 

Been thinking about the musical heroes that have left us recently, David Crosby, Jeff Beck and most recently Burt Bacharach.  All had different impacts on my life and listening habits over my lifetime.   

But before I go into that explanation, need to offer this photo picked up from one of my friends.  It typifies my life as of this moment living with two small dogs that are completely food driven,  always peering directly at you when you consume any food.  I realize that this is a crappy segue, but my brain throws things out there and they have to be used.  As of now, Harry is perched in his couch bed and Pippa is still in her room.  There is no food out yet.

David was part of my teenage life with the Byrds on Ed Sullivan, displaying jangling twelve string guitar and Roger McGuinn's granny glasses, and a long fringed leather cape.  His was the middling harmonizing voice below Roger's high tenor.  Later with CSN, again in the middle of Steve and Graham, he was the glue that held the harmonies together.  As I have mentioned before, Suite Judy Blue Eyes was the defining song of my youth.  Was later mesmerized by his work with Graham Nash, simple songs with definitive lyrics.

One of my first post Beatle records was the album Jeff Beck Truth. Rod Stewart was in the band at this point.  Don't remember too many of the details of this recording but was shocked by the sounds coming out of his instrument.  Jeff played with his fingers only, no pick, again, amazing.

Burt in tandem with his colleague  Hal David wrote songs that I listened to on CKLW on my AM radio traveling to and from school.  He wrote songs for Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield  and many others.  In the sixties, his tunes were always on and we knew all the words.   Walk on By was always played at my high school dances (for a slow dance).  Pop music such as this kind of fell from favor in the decades that followed.  Then Elvis Costello and Burt discovered each other and had a mutual blending of lyrics and music. The meaningful recording Painted From Memory was the result.  This is one of my all time favorite records.  The song Toledo (about Spain not Ohio) is the best.  

Had this big plan to make pizza in the spectacular gas grill at our rental home. Had an action plan to use the high heat generated to make a pie like those made in wood fired ovens in NYC.  The plan failed completely, sadly the bottom was basically charcoal and not good.  Scraped the toppings off an put them on tortilla chips. Oh, well a learning experience.

that's it

all for now

stay safe

Day 12 at 6:54 am

It's about day 12 of this adventure.  I am sitting here in the dark and quiet.  Harry has been out and is in his bed on the couch.  The rain has finally stopped, thank goodness.  Went to a nutty Costco in Tallahassee yesterday for some provisions.  Should have known the place would be mobbed on a Saturday.  But we got our stuff and took off.

Tried a southern classic Waffle House  for lunch we spotted.  Haven't been to one since my traveling days for work.  The food was good and definitely a cut about fast food.  The staff was a ballet of activity like a well run coney back home.  Really enjoyed it.

Been viewing a couple of newer shows during all the inclement weather.  The first of which was The Lincoln Lawyer .  It was good but had too many plot lines and characters to keep track of.  They did a decent job tying up the loose ends at the completion.  But better is the current series Shrinking  on AppleTV+ starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford with notable supporting cast including Christa Miller.  It's a quirky dramady about a Psychiatrist  practice and its therapists.  There is a lot of casual cursing which looses its punch after a while.  This one definitely has promise. 

At nearly 73, I can sadly no longer call myself middle aged, but hesitate to use the "O" word.  It's too dreadful to consider.  I still have my wits about me even though my wife's detailed instructions are sometimes not completely understood.  I hear the beginning of sentences but sometimes not the ends. My kids are always telling me to pick up my feet (wisely so).  Self forgiveness is difficult to accomplish as hard as you may try.

Thats it.

all for now 

stay  safe.

Super Bowl tonight, I don't care who wins. 

 

Scrabbled

 

During all the rain yesterday, Janine and I played Scrabble, a game that has been around since 1933.  I played respectably  but lost by a large margin.  All I could find were little shitty words and had no real strategy for scoring points.  It is the first time I've played in years.  The sum total of 4 games under my belt is all I've got.  Even though my brain hurts after the game is over,  I really enjoyed and will play again.  Anyone have comments on playing this game?

Very few shells on these Gulf of Mexico beaches. Thus far, only got these, some what disappointing based on our visit to the Atlantic Coast.  

Still raining although more intermittent.  We are making the trip to Tallahassee to visit the Costco store there for some provisions. Should be interesting.

Our cute little traveling partner Pippa is still a puppy and sings for food at the dinner table and also manages to get stuff from her owner's  purse, off tables, and other surfaces.  Her current fav are hair clips with springs.  She like many dogs, has a singular focus to get stuff in her mouth whether it be food or other objects.  Her superb laser focus allows her to devise a strategy to get the stuff and put it in her mouth, very much like a kid that wants something.  As adults, we have so much stuff in our brains, things are falling off the plate.  Our abilities have long since been depleted.

all for now

understand it is 1 degree this morning in our neighborhood (sorry)

stay safe

(need some tips on scrabble)

Starting on our second week

 This is the beginning of week 2 in Carrabelle .  I am still looking for that sweet spot of tranquility.  The beach walks help and the walks around town. All I can hear when I take Harry out in the are the competing  roosters with their morning call.  It is really dark and windless.

Raining today and tomorrow.  We travel on the beach at low tide.  This is the rippling sand left as the seas recede.  The precipitation is coming in waves this morning with some thunder in the background.  

Watching the MSNBC  Morning Joe  pretty consistently here.  My new favorite descriptive phrase is Grievance Train, used to define the current majority of the US House of Representatives,  kind of like Soul Train with complaints rather than dancing.

Pooches are lounging on the couch, unbothered by the rainstorms.  All the morning ablutions are completed before the precipitation started.  

Not too much to report today.  Going to be an inside game day today.

all for now

stay safe

  

t

Trivia night

We went to Harry's for their weekly Trivia Night.  It was crowded and we got the last seat available.  The group was rather rowdy and the lady running the game tried to keep them under control with out much success.  But hey, it's a bar and people were consuming large amounts of alcohol.  Many of the questions were difficult and obscure.  We (team Triple J) did well but were not the winners.  It was fun and interactive.

Another trip to the beach for our dog walk.  This is a shot of birds at water's edge  Judy captured.  Warmer and sunny for the entire day.  Doing lot of walking on this trip.  

We have a couple of bees hanging around our back door, not 

doing much and not being threatening.  

Spoke at length to my Uncle Len over the phone yesterday as well.  He is my only living relative from my parents generation and a fascinating guy who is always in the middle of house projects even at 92.  Always a pleasure to speak with.

The morning is sunny,  I'm fed and well rested.  What will the day bring?

all for now

stay safe

Dolphins

On our beach walk yesterday, we viewed dolphins cresting on the Gulf of Mexico. This was another treat, actually something that was a complete surprise.  Too quick for a photo. 

They are having an event a the local library next week.  We walked over to check it out.  They are having a couple of local authors discuss and 

answer questions about writing.  Maybe I can get some tips.  This library has an interesting history.  The woman pictured entered a Paul Newman's Own cooking contest with her Gumbo.  She won $50,000 and decided the town needed a library and be-quested the county the dough. Paul kicked in some more and the projected was started.   It's the library that Gumbo built.

Harry's is having a Trivia Contest tonight.  Judy says I am good at this. Between the three of us we should get something right. My talent, not really sure.  If the topics are too far out of my wheelhouse, I won't be too successful.

Went to Apalachicola yesterday afternoon.  It was more "touristy" than I like.  Stuff was too expensive or maybe I am becoming more responsible in my spending.  this is a photo from the dock at the end of town.  But the beer from Oyster City Brewery is still outstanding . 

that's it

all for now

stay safe

Ribs and 50 cent coffee

 

In our beach travels yesterday we came across  lots of dogs and their owners happily striding along.  It was a warmer day, hardly needing a sweatshirt.  One dog walker of note was an old guy with long white hair and beard sporting a Grateful Dead tee shirt and bare feet.  His canine friend was a black scottie named Angus Young (ACDC) which seemed quite fitting.  When asked, he said his dog was not too friendly, a grumpy Scotsman.

My sweet ex daughter in law is a wonderful cook of comfort food.  Her Mac and cheese, banana pudding  and ribs are without parallel.  Ate lots of them during family dinners served from  disposable  alum pans with large serving spoons.  

But without a doubt, her ribs were the best.  Janine thought they might be a good idea for dinner.  So Carla taught me the steps to prepare and they turned out terrific thanks to her help.  Yes, she is an ex.  We get along well both able to look past our differences. 

Have a new favorite local spot in walkable distance.  It's called the Carrabelle Junction.  If you could picture in your mind the place your grandma took you too for a fried bologna sandwich and a coke in the 50's, this is it.  They have lunch fare, some hand wrapped pastries,  lots of old stuff on the walls including Howdy Doody, and metal signs of local

  sodas I don't recognize.  It is run by a little southern lady with few smiles but really not mean.  And, they have ice cream too.  Also, the coffee is 50 cents even today.

that's it

all for now

stay safe