SUNSHINE 'N SOCKS

I worked on the new socks and finished the one and immediately cast  on for the second when youngest son and wife arrived!

They were here to buy this second (3rd, 4th) hand 17' boat for family fishing!  Bill and Caleb made sure everything was road- ready to tow the trailer the two hours home and did some general check-ups when it was time for us to break for a late lunch.

We went right in town (close) so we didn't have to be on the road any longer than necessary for them.  Forgive the squinting faces--it was 96* out and 104 in the shade-there wasn't any! lol  

Soon it was time to kiss goodbye so they could head home.

  (the kids were at their other grandparents for the weekend so it was a very different visit than usual but absolutely wonderful!)

 

No Tears; Just Part of the Craft!

On the way to a special purchase today, I was knitting along and the numbers were saying to me,

"There are too many stitches for you!"  When I did a bit of math in my head, I thought that

couldn't be right!  I tried it on when I got home, placing all of the bottom stitches on waste yarn so it would be an accurate fitting and it was 10+ inches too much around--I know baggy is comfortable but you could look right through one sleeve out the other-a bit too baggy! lol

I sat down and ripped it back to the ribbing.  Don't think about it, just do it.

It's a good thing this was a good knit!  I get to do it again already!

We took a morning trip south of us by 45 mins to pick up this beauty!

No, we aren't going to take up sailing--on the contrary, this will be grounded but good.

I've wanted an old boat we could 'sink' into the ground to make it stable for an imagination voyage for the grands!  As soon as we can agree on a place to plant this girl, we will work on putting up a mast and a sail!  Wouldn't you have loved to play in it!?

While looking the boat over this morning, I noticed this set of twin trees that have grown together-not an uncommon sight here but what was unusual was the base-

It has a tunnel through it!

I would plant a row of little fairies in there!

(and pull the weeds!)

Saturday Socializing

Ok, so this sock yarn blocks thing is very, ummmm, well compelling.

You know, a just one more kind of knitting! 

Yesterday, Millie and I finished out our Florida Shop Hop adventure.

We had a great tour of five different shops throughout the Jacksonville area.

It was a wonderful shopping trip!

When I got home I did a bit of sewing-I have wanted to replace my ironing pad because it is softer than I like for pressing my quilt blocks.

Bill cut some cement board for me and then I covered it with cotton batting and then some canvas.

I serged the edges with a decorative thread. 

There is a piece of freezer paper ironed onto the new board so that when I work with fusible web, it won't stick on the ironing surface.  It works great to press with the harder surface! 

Today, we had a boat ride with Matthew and family!

Ethan loved 'driving' the boat!

(He wasn't so thrilled about the life jacket!) 

Will just wanted to go very, very fast!

He liked seeing all the birds, trees and going under a bridge!

We had a nice time making our own breeze because the temps today topped 100* and it was steamy humid!

We cooled off when we got home with an ice cream and then a dip in the pool!

It was a wonderful day!

Water Adventure!

I finished the clam shell quilt!  Once I got started, I just didn't want to stop! 

It needs its binding which I will get to soon.

I loaded up the next quilt in the queue, the tumbler block. 

The boat called to us today.  It's been a long time since we took it out on our waterways .

I was thrilled that the lake was smooth as glass!

This means that it isn't a back breaking ride for me! 

It was just beautiful out for the ride;  the water was in the 90's and the air 100F-yes, it is hot out but on the boat, you make a nice breeze so you don't feel the heat so much! 

The water line is down about a foot from its usual depth.

We saw one gator on a log near shore and one in the middle of the St Johns but not any others.

I couldn't get a pic of either!  Sorry. 

We docked at the pier at Corky Bells' for lunch.

It was so hot outside, we opted for a break in the air conditioning!

Until next time, so long to our fav fine dining destination! 

The clouds were all low and ran on into the horizon-I'm sure we could see a hundred miles of clouds!

We came home and cooled off in the pool.  There were several of these newly hatched babies-he is barely 2" long!  

The cats were a bit too interested in them!

Run, lizard, run!

It was a good day to visit the hydro life!

A Top of the Day

We decided to take a boat ride this afternoon when it got sunny and not gloomy any more!

The dock we usually launch from in Crescent City was under water so we had to take the second choice and it just made it! 

Ella took right to boating!  She liked sitting with people best, though! 

And playing in the cabin with Grandma or Daddy! 

Eli kept the deck clean!  As long as Mommy is nearby, he is happy! 

We saw this sad sight along Dunn's Creek.  Someone forgot to put the plug back in!

The creek (river sized one!)  had very high water levels and most homes were near flooding.  Probably a very tense time for them.

Caleb caught this photo of a rainbow in the cloud!

Spectacular. 

I finished another alpaca/wool hat.  Ella agreed to model it for me!

Sailing! Sailing....

Well, boating to be more accurate but that doesn't sing as well!

Our boat has had something wrong with it for quite a while now (3 1/2 yrs) so it was with great joy that we hit the seas with it today!  We launched at the public dock in Crescent City onto Crescent Lake.  I was a little nervous for our test float but it started right up! 

It was beautiful out if a bit breezy which made the lake a bit choppy. 

We cruised to the northern end of the lake into Dunn's Creek.  It was so much smoother and we could enjoy the view! And enjoy the variety of birds...cormorants, egrets (in the tree here) and ospreys!

After Dunn's creek, we traveled up the St Johns River to our favorite restaurant with a  dock, Corky Bells!  After a delightful lunch, we took the same route in reverse. 

This is the bridge over Dunn's Creek-the clouds were trying to gather and the wind did increase. 

It is quite beautiful where you re-enter Crescent Lake. 

It can be hard to locate our dock on the way home but we found this water tank is a good landmark!

The waves on the way home were quite jarring........it was good to be on land after a great trip!

It will be nice to add this excursion to our regular schedule! 

The luxury mitts are finished!  

And on my hands!

On the Sea with the C's

 We got to see Caleb and Cassandra for the day!  Of course, a boat ride was in order for this gorgeous day!

 So many gators to spot-small 6' ones and.......

 .........large 9' ones, too.  See him smile?!

 There were so many birds-this is an osprey skimming the water just ahead of us.

This was a flock of egrets over the St Johns River.

The creek was so calm and enjoyable to boat.....the lake was very choppy and not as pleasurable but it is always a good day out on the water!  We had a wonderful lunch at Corky Bells and ended the day with a swim and then a rousing game of Wahoo!

A week Ago

 Caleb brought his girlfriend to meet us last Monday, and we spent the day getting to know each other.  My camera batteries were dead-I borrowed Caleb's camera, my computer wouldn't download his pictures, he left his camera at Cassandra's house, I just got them from his FaceBook page-talk about crazy-but the day was just perfect so here is the record just a week late!

 We had fun spotting gators and enjoying the beauty of the ride.

 Caleb did a bit of this until the old skis left a blister on his foot!  He only fell once this time!

 We enjoyed a great meal together on the patio of Corky Bells.

 This bench is a tradition now for pictures!

 Isn't this egret majestic?  There were many birds hunting along the shore .

And several in the air!  They race along side of the boat and then finally go up above the trees.

We finished the day with some table games and a very grateful heart for God to bring a wonderful friend into my son's life!