Swamp Folks

 ~ watch yer own dang kids ~

Dave and I are struggling along at a condo in Satellite Beach, FL owned by Vicki of 2-Bags Full. It's a tough life but someone has to do it and, dang nab it, we stepped right up to the plate. Vicki and her Gardner love to travel and a lot of their traveling is done in the beautiful sunshine state. Right now, she's having a give-away on her blog so hurry along and sign up; while you're there, stay a while and enjoy yourself. Vicki is an uplifting, energetic blogger and there's always eye candy abounding. We've become friends and I'm anxiously waiting for the day when we meet face to face. As for her condo, never have I been in a more personally decorated, warm, cozy and friendly property. Dave and I walked through the front door and it felt like home. There are personal touches throughout...actual artwork and not the mass produced generic "art" most people throw on their rental property walls; hand stitched artwork, a fully stocked kitchen...every where the eye lands, there's room to rest. There's not a jarring note to be found; it's simply beautiful! Well done, Vicki! We are finding rest here.

~ our fearless leaders ~

Well now, today, in the tradition of Swamp People, I went 'gator hunting. I've seen nary an episode because the commercials scare the socks of me and I'm not talking about the wild life...wink, wink. Anyway, I went gator hunting while Dave waved good-bye...did he mention something about life insurance as I was leaving???...on a 'gator hunt air boat ride. That's okay though; he can watch this and it's just like being there. I did see some alligators; a 7' long mother and her babies. 

 ~ baby gator ~

 It's pretty difficult to see and Dave thought it was a snake, but in the upper left of this photo possibly you can see a long, stripped body. That's the baby gator. I missed the baby gator snatch but found it on you tube, watch it here. Now, these boys good ole boys apparently either aren't much afraid of baby gators OR their mother OR they are juiced up on "something". Care to guess which? -wicked grin-

~ great egret ~

Back to the beginning. Dave and I started our day at Son on the Beach where we had breakfast. I had fried green tomatoes, shrimp, poached eggs, hash browns and a glass of milk. Why no, I'm not going to plow today, why do you ask?

~ Gullah Benedict ~

Dave had pork tenderloin, sausage gravy, hash browns, two eggs and a biscuit and he didn't work today either, though, I think he might have napped later on -grin-.

~ Country Fried Pork Loin ~

The rest of the day was spent unloading and re-loading the car. Why, you may ask? Well, because I finally found a thrift store that had something I wanted! A matching rocking chair and rocking ottoman that was "fun sized". In other words, it fits my short, stout peasant type body just perfectly! However, I think I'll be able to fit in the three or four bags we have to pack so we can leave Saturday morning. It's either that or leave Dave here and send come back and get him later. We talked about that but I don't think he was as serious as I so...I re-packed the car -grin-. You'll have to wait until we get home to see a picture of the rocking chair and ottoman; it's buried too deep to go back now.

~ me, blown away on the air boat ~

When people I don't even know call me Grandma Sandy...and I'm not...it doesn't leave a lot of room for pride -smile-. Thus, this self photograph of me on the air boat today. Have you ever seen one of those commercials with the high powered hand driers? That's what it felt like on the boat. It felt like my face was being blown off the bones and I spent most of my time gritting my teeth and keeping my mouth shut. "Oh, why", you ask? Well, let me tell you a joke. How do you tell a happy motorcycle rider?

Because of the bugs caught in his teeth! -har-de-har-har- The young woman next to me kept squealing like a pig girl because she couldn't keep her mouth shut and kept getting bugs in her mouth. If it wasn't bugs in her mouth it was bugs down her shirt...her skimpy tee shirt, duh!...and bugs smashing against her legs. Me? I looked just like a granny. I had on long pants and a long shirt and nothing, but nuttin' bothered me. At one point the young woman anxiously patted my arm; when I looked at her, she nervously pointed at my leg. OHMYGOSH! There was a grasshopper on my leg! I just smiled and kept taking pictures but I'm not sure my calmness rubbed off on her. Too sad. 

Time for some ice tea and a wind down before bed. I'm trying to get a lot of sleep and walks on the beach; will try and remember to take my camera tomorrow to show you some of the beautiful shells.

Good-night all, sweet dreams.

Blessings ~ Vicki ~ Paradise Beach Club ~ Satellite Beach ~ gator hunting ~ air boat rides ~ rocking chairs and ottomans ~

For Your Information...

 ~ Sam P. Spade, Secret Agent ~

All the dogs help with chores and seem to love being in the Ranger on a beautiful day. Here, we're cleaning out the livestock water tank; it tends to get algae and "seaweed" stuff that needs to, periodically, needs to be removed.

~ water tank needing to be cleaned ~

~ clean tank; please notice my little helpers ~

 ~ the view from my hammock ~

There's hay on the ground that, hopefully and God willing, will be baled today. Hurrah! It's always a good thing to have hay against the time of winter so the horses and sheep can eat. We've been so blessed to have dry hay every year, save one, and then were able to buy hay. God is good.

~ Sadie's nap time ~

This photo was taken last year and Sadie is too big to get in the hammock with me this year. With our combined weights, and the fact Abbie and Sam would want to climb in with us, that ole hammock can't handle the load. So, warm and fuzzy memories and photos will have to suffice. That and taking a lie down on the back porch where we all pile up like puppies.

Are you familiar with Dr. Michael Youssef? He's Egyptian, by birth, and, now, a citizen of the USA for the past couple of decades. He's a wise man, filled with the knowledge of God and a thought provoking preacher. He has asked folks to join him in Praying for America between 4 July and 2 November. Yes, that's right, between our Independence Day and Election Day. He wants 100,000 people to join him and, yes, I've signed up as I believe only God, by the prayers of a righteous people, will change the direction our county is headed. As Dr. Youssef said, "Can we have the fruits of the tree if we destroy the roots?" You know not.

He says our prayers should "thank God for the rich Christian history of our country; we should pray for the repentance of individual and national sin; we should petition God for His blessing on our country; we should pray for wisdom and discernment for elected officials and ask God for boldness and strength to tell others about Christ."  As a Christian, do you agree these are worthy prayers, no matter your political bent? As a Christian, please consider telling others and passing the word on your own blogs.
 
Quite often, I'll run across something in Blogland that really gets my attention.  Such was the new to me blog, Getting There and the Father's Day post about their wonderful and beautiful wood toys for children. I'm all over hand made, hand crafted, the work of our hands and heart and, generally, will buy old, vintage, antique or whatever you want to call it, as opposed to the trash that's mass manufactured today. Visit Getting There and, please, consider buying one, or more, of their toys for the child or children in your life. No, I don't know Getting There from Adam's cat but just look at the quality of those toys. Have you ever seen better? I think not. Maybe I'm having one of those Poor, Pitiful Me days because I've never had children but these wooden toys absolutely grip my heart. You just know they'll be around for your grandchildren's grandchildren; what a magnificent legacy!


Exciting news...friends Nelson and Dianna have purchased a beautiful home in central Florida. They will use it, primarily, for their family but...but...I am SO excited because they have, quite generously and graciously, offered it to Dave and I for a week. Be still my pounding heart! I already have plans for the heated swimming pool and hot tub that include l.o.n.g. periods of the day, a good book and me. They have made it available for rent through VRBO, Vacation Rental By Owner, a business Dave and I have used in the past. When we travel, we prefer to live with and like the locals...we rent apartments, cottages, etc. and find it's about the same money as renting a hotel room. Plus, the added benefits include complete privacy, being able to eat in our own kitchen, more space and now...a heated pool and hot tub that aren't shared with a bunch of strangers and strange people -smile-!

 ~ heated pool and hot tub ~

So, in a few months, Dave and I will travel to Florida and, hopefully, family will be able to come as well. The house is in a great location...an hour or thereabouts from the beach, same time from Cape Canaveral, quite close to Disney, Epcot, etc., shopping, fitness center so I can drop those nasty ten pounds while I'm there -HAHAHAHAHAHAHA- and restaurants, wonderful food markets...er, excuse me while I wipe the drool from my chin.


If you've ever thought about going to Florida, visit Nelson and Dianna's house and then look at their calendar to see availability. Tell them Sandra sent you; it won't do you any good but at least you'll have someone you both know to talk about -laughing hysterically at myself-.

Can you tell it's cooler weather? I'm absolutely stupid giddy with joy!


Blessings ~ cooler weather ~ hay ~ Nelson and Dianna ~ Florida ~ hot tubs ~ heated swimming pools ~ wonderful helpers ~

Dei Gratia,
Sandra