Whacked out Dad

So, my mom and dad took us all out to the fabulous Encore right here in Key Largo. After a sumptuous dinner, we shared their signature dessert:  The Piano. Look at this work of art in white and dark chocolate, whipped cream and chocolate mousse!

My niece, Anna, took these pictures of my whacky dad. I like to think I am a chip off the old block!

Here is my niece, Anna, with my sister Leslie, and my nephew Will. We are having lunch at Morada Bay on a perfect day.

Wish you were here . . .

Blissful day

Yesterday, my friend Rich took me and Will out on his flats boat. It was bittersweet being in my old stomping grounds - I miss my old life so much sometimes. I was grateful to be out on the water on such a picture perfect day though and being with Will made it all the better. Will caught exactly one fish. Rich and me? Zero. We didn't care. Just being in the back country was enough for us. Look at how gorgeous it is and seriously,  how lucky are we??!

Mi Familia

So, my sister, Leslie and brother-in-law, Tom and Anna and Will are visiting me for a week, down from the frigid north. Last night Tom took us all out to the Big Chill for sunset and dinner. Fun!

Here is Daddy looking rather Germanic in Leslie's glasses. And, I finished another backpack, modeled here by the beauteous Sophie (who looks like she is thinking, get it off me, Mother!) I am loving the polka dots.

And, not wanting to leave anyone out, here is my little Lulu looking wise and wonderful.

I am off to go flats fishing with my nephew this morning. Woohoo!

So, yesterday I finished my last "made to order" bag. This is a purple bag for Sharon. Love those batiks.

Well, anybody who is in the know, knows that Wednesdays are for water aerobics followed by happy hour at my house.  Look who showed up for happy hour! I think she is the same manatee that nearly gave me a heart attack when I was in my kayak. She is one big girl! And, I know you're not supposed to give the manatees water or snacks, we just couldn't resist. Enjoy the pics.

She is loving her some fresh water from the hose!

Close Encounter

So, this morning we set off on our walk right about sunrise, as usual. Two doors up there was a possum in the neighbor's driveway. Lucy sprinted right at him and he did not move. Stood his ground. She got right up to him and there was a face off where neither moved, practically nose to nose, while I called her (a bit hysterically.) Sophie wanted nothing to do with him, of course. So, I looked up opossums and it seems that it is rare for them to have rabies and they hardly ever go on the attack. So, I guess he was just a rather bold and fearless critter. I did see one item of interest. Apparently, the only animals at risk from the opossum are birds, horses and sea otters. No, really. If they ingest opossum feces, they are at high risk of contracting a deadly disease. I swear I am not making this up. And, this is cute: The males are called Jacks, the females are called Jills and the babies are called Joeys. They are related to kangaroos. Ok, natural history lesson over. There will be a quiz.
Oh, so both the dogs were on their leashes for the rest of the walk. The possum watched us go.

Oh, I am in love with this bag! I have been hoarding this fruit fabric for ages and when I finally decided to make a shopping bag, there it was staring me in the face, saying pick me pick me! It is perfect, don't you think? This is a free pattern called Windsor Market Tote and you can get it here:  www.quiltingdaily.com/media/p/22016.aspx    It was too much fun, super easy and fast. I have some veggie fabric as well . . . hmmmm might have to make another.

What was I thinking?

Ok, the definition of an idiot? Someone who lives alone with two ineffectual labrador retrievers and watches a terrifying late night movie about giant bugs.
I'm exhausted this morning but must. drag. my. tired. butt. to. Our Lady of Perpetual Mimosas. (Hey, I'm not dead!)

I spent a lovely rainy morning in my studio working on Miss Julia's bag. Here it is. Kind of  beige but it is what she wanted and after all, it is a huge improvement on her black leather New Jersey bag!

And I took a few minutes out to make this little birdie zip. It could hold a pair of glasses or some change or pencils maybe.

Here is my helper, interested in every little thing. (Lucy slept thru the whole morning.)

Saga of the Rhino

OMG what a project! Well, I know myself and thought if I don't knuckle down and do some work on my rhino, I will forget what I learned in class and I'll never finish it. So, on Sunday, I skipped services at Our Lady of Perpetual Mimosas, and got to work. I worked for six hours on it and then woke up in the middle of the night and worked a few more hours to get to this point:

 Here is the front, all pieced together like a puzzle, and this is what the back looks like.

I woke up on Monday and I could not move my head. My neck and shoulders were in agony.  So I ate about six Advil and put in a call to Dr. Lu who saw me right away (she is so awesome.) I had to drive to Homestead to have my car serviced but then came back and went for a massage. I happened to have a gift certificate so I went to somebody I'd never seen before. A young greek man named Solarius (or something close to that) with a thick accent. He nearly killed me. Seriously. He attacked my neck and shoulders and back with a vengeance, like they had done something horrible to him and he had to take revenge. Oh it hurt. Dry relass, dry relass, he says. Ow, says I. Ow!  Long story short, it helped. A lot. Yorgotta eyetzit, yorgotta eyetzit, he says. Took me about two hours after I got home to realize oooohhhhhh (forehead slap) "Try to relax, try to relax" and "You've got to ice it, you've got to ice it!" I took yesterday off, on Lu's advice - had to go up to Miami anyway - but when I got home, I couldn't help myself. I had to pull off the paper and see what I had so far. So here is my rhino emerging as I pull the pattern off. Now to sew.

 Although, I think his shoulder might be too light . . . hmmmm  I do love his eye though.

. . . stay tuned for the finished project.

A bright and beautiful morning

Things always look brighter in the morning, don't they? Literally in this case. Here is the view from my dock. Eckart Tolle says the moment that judgement stops through acceptance of what is, you are free of the mind. Just thought I'd share that with you this morning.

I know the night is not the same as the day: that all things are different, that the things of the night cannot be explained in the day, because they do not then exist, and the night can be a dreadful time for lonely people once their loneliness has started.  from Ernest Hemingway in A Farewell to Arms.

A warm humid night tonight, the sky full of stars and the smell of the water and sound of the crickets bring back such wonderful memories, and I have not one complaint in the world. I loved being married and I loved my husband and my life. I accept that I am on a different path now, but sometimes I wonder if I will ever be truly happy again. 

I have to trust that one day soon I will look back and think, oh silly me, I'm happier than I ever was back then . . . 

Yesterday was quite the busy day. Mom and I went to the annual luncheon and fashion show to benefit Voices for Florida Keys Children down at Hawks Cay Resort.  It was a mob scene but we had a good time as always. Here is a shot of some of the models lining up and one of Mom and me (can you tell which is which? hahaha) The other picture is of the dolphin tanks at the resort with the bridge in the background. It is such a beautiful place and Mom had to hold my hands in my lap so I couldn't bid on the two night stay auctioned off (it was a steal!)

It was after 4:00 by the time I dropped Mom off and she and dad headed up to my house to walk and feed my dogs - THANK YOU! while I, social butterfly that I am, headed off to the big celebration for Chuck and Steve. Look at their mugs on the door of the Civic Club. Too funny. Karen went all out and had transformed the room - so festive - and there was tons of food and drink, not to mention a huge crowd. Great party. I didn't last long, went home, jumped in the pool and went to bed. Happy birthday you guys!

Sophie

She had a busy morning. Went for a run, chased a cat, ate some garbage. Doggie heaven. Time for a nap.

You can always cope with the now, but you can never cope with the future -- nor do you have to. The answer, the strength, the right action, or the resource will be there when you need it, not before, not after. - from The Power of Now

I went for a walk and found this beautiful yellow hibiscus. Sad that they only last one day but that must be why they are so gorgeous, putting all of their energy into being beautiful for one whole day only.
And, here is the quilt my mom put the binding on for me.  I look at this quilt and it makes me smile. I made it in a class with my friend, Rina. We laughed hysterically practically the whole time. Too much fun.

hmmmm, this picture makes it look kind of more pink-y than it actually is...

Les Mis

Mom and I drove up to Fort Lauderdale to see Les Miserables on Sunday. It was awesome. Lawrence Clayton played Jean Valjean and what an amazing voice but I have to say the most impressive part of the production was the sets and lighting. Fantastic! If you have the chance, go.
  Busy busy week but I will be back in my studio after tai chi today.