Ahhh, the Beach!

 We headed out early this morning (9am is early on retired time!) to go and visit friends as they stay at a house they rented for a few weeks of vacation at Butler Beach.  I brought some yarn and tackled a new washcloth pattern during the drive there.

 The ocean was so changeable today!  The colors hit all the spectrum of blue through gray.  It was stunning.

 There were lots of clouds but that just gave you a break from the heat-add the ocean breeze and you have an idea of perfect!  (There house was tucked in just to the left of the beach access drive.)

 We swam and took a walk and even explored some tidal pools.

 We had the pleasure of watching and handling lots of these guys-very fun to explore.

 After lunch, the waves changed color again and the waves were much more frequent-fun to swim, body surf kayak and jump!  (These were a collection of group activities not all participated in by me!)

We also sat and enjoyed some liquid sunshine-a ten minute shower cooled us off.

These are the treasures I collected on our walk-I was looking for shells with holes in them so I could use them in my weaving and knitting projects.

When the shower transitions to a real thunder and lightening storm, we packed up and headed to a tourist shop.  I picked up this 6" souvenir  which is already on my shelf to remind us of the great day we enjoyed!
Thanks to Suzanne and all her family for the wonderful hospitality!

Electrical Upgrade!

 Today was the day-FPL (Florida Power and Light Co) subcontractors came to cut the above ground service and pull the wire through the underground conduit (which has been waiting for 4years to be used!)

 The men turned off our power and made the new connections to our electrical panel.

 They used the bucked to cut the wire from the first pole.

 Bill pulled the wire from the old temporary service we have had in this conduit up the side of the house!  Good riddance!

 When they turned the power back on and left, having finished their part of the day's work, Bill cut down the old unused pole-Timber!

 And dragged it away!  (We get to keep the old creosote pole and leftover wiring they took down, which is nice since it cost a LOT to switch the service the materials perk helps!)

 Bill worked around the old pole, loosening the sand to try and pull up the buried 6 feet of pole.  He was able to pull it up about a foot and then could cut the 'stump' off.

 He hauled away the stump and ....

One, two, three jump-and he sunk the pole down about a foot into the hole and filled it in!

 It looks so open and neat now without the visual interrupt of that old pole!

 There was one unhappy fellow when we finished-he skittered, slithered?  to quieter territory!

It sure does look nice without the pole interfering with the roof line!  See me do the happy dance!

 We got rained out twice while working today-in fact, we have had so much rain the last few days, that the pool is too full and we had to siphon water off!  Nice problem to have!

 When I wasn't needed outside today, I was putting together the corduroy quilt-all 12 rows sewn and pressed.

 I also loaded and quilted half of Millie's latest quilt, a Dora quilt for her great-grand daughter.

 This dahlia from my father is blooming again, it has finally adapted to the l o n g e r  season of bloom here, and wintered just fine!  (Happy Anniversary, Dad and Mom-58 years today!)

Bling was quite tired out from all the work today............a good job done and worthy of a nap!

The Last Shuttle Launch

 We arrived on the beach in Daytona in plenty of time to wait for the launching of the last shuttle from Cape Kennedy.  The beach was not as packed as the launch we watched in February-the weather kept many away.

 We got to see two split second views of the shuttle as it roared off the launch pad-it was a bit anti-climatic but we did get to see something!  (Click this pic to enlarge it and you will see the glow in the center just above the horizon over the scaffolding?)

 After the beach, we headed to our favorite pizza shop for some NY style pizza!  Nice to sit outside and watch all the people!

 I knit as we rode along and worked on another garterlac dishcloth with the yarn I purchased at the yarn shop from the visit to the McKees.  It is the softest cotton yarn I have ever used-just wonderful!

On the way home Bill spotted this road kill which we turned around so I could take a picture so we can learn to ID these guys.  It is a cottonmouth snake in the pit viper family (in which are most of FL's venomous snakes)  We had a great 'off to town' day!

Georgia Recap!

 I taught Marsel how to make the garterlac dishcloth and she grasped the concept right away-we had fun knitting and talking and being together!

Here are our finished projects-mine of handspun cotton and hers of variegated Sugar and Cream cotton.

 Bill worked on the front yard all week, trimming bushes, shaping and removing some unwanted ones which he bagged up and brought back to Florida to try to grow them in our hedge.

It really shaped up the front yard!  There is a mocking bird nest in the top of the topiary tree-very fun to be serenaded by her as we sat on the porch swing and knitted!

 I got to enjoy a gladiola-this one opened while we visited so Marsel brought it in.  I need to try growing them in Florida.  The rules change a bit-you have to dig up the bulbs and bring them in for refrigerator time for cold storage-in case the winter doesn't get  cold enough this year!  If the winter stays like it has the last few years, I could leave them out and they would be fine!
                                                 
While outside one day, I found this growing in the side yard!  We brought it in and pressed it in my journal for a memento.

When it rained, and hailed,  the kids just moved inside for play time-their imagination carries them through every day at breakneck speeds!

 They built forts and had ideas, David had the room filled with 'spider webs' of yarn at every turn-you had to be careful when you walked and be alert as you sat or you ended up tied up or tied to something!  The cats kept them in their view-the kids do fun stuff and they liked to tag along!  See Mindy peeking around the corner of the fort?

 Sprinklers still hold the joy of young and old alike!

It poured for the fireworks show but was still amazing!  The thunder and lightening just added to the fine effects!  What a great week-thank you McKees!

Happy Independence Day!

Family time......bbq, sparklers, pool and going to watch fireworks this evening!

Hope you have a great day, too.

Wrapped in Love

Getting in lots of grandchildren time!

 Blocked the second shawl from TheWholeNineYarns, an excellent pattern, and left it drying while we were at the pool!  Love how quickly things dry here in the southern sunshine!  I am going to give this one to the friend who gave me the fiber which I spun for this yarn!  Nice to complete the circle.

 Mindy approved the new shawl-fun to see that cats react the same way to a knitted object on the floor!
I did it just for her, right?!

And of course, a new shawl went straight onto the needles!  Hand spun Peru roving from KnitPicks, dyed with my own concoction of Jacquard dyes-very emerald like in person!  The pattern I am using is a free one from Knitty called Bitterroot.

Georgia Projects

First day here, and we began tackling 'The List"!

There is nothing like taking piles from the stash and turning into something so beautiful and useful! 

The porch swing got a new cushion and pillow set sewn of brushed denim-very inviting!

Marsel invited a sewing friend over for a project day!  Jelly roll aprons!

We laughed that we had worn shirts that matched the colors we had chosen-not premeditated!

Bill and David tackled the front yard landscaping and then went for some groceries.  Abigail enjoyed entertaining Karen's little boy,

Noah, who was the hit of the day!  Nothing can beat baby snuggles!