Ok, so first off I have to tell you that I got stopped on my way home yesterday for "passing on the shoulder." I won't go into details but after the cop made me wait for 20 minutes, he came back and told me it was a $166 ticket and 3 points on my license . . pause while my heart sunk . . but I'll just give you a warning this time. I would have snatched him bald if he wasn't already. Bald that is.

I got home in time to meet and greet niece Ryder, here with Mom and Dad, and sister Becky, modeling that huge bag I told you about.

Then, off to meet up with the girls from the pool for Happy Hour and then over to Pilot House for dinner with M&D and Becky and Ryder. Said a brief hello to the girls before going out. When I got home, I knew something was very wrong when I opened the door. Oh, the smell. gag  Sure enough, pools of well, you don't want to know. So gross.  I couldn't figure out why until I spotted the container of Pro-Optimal Whey, Vanilla Flavor. I had been using an empty one of these to keep the doggy glucosamine and protein powder in and when it ran out, the sitter went to the cupboard, spotted a container that looked the same, and fed it to the dogs. Suffice to say, I was up and out with Sophie every 2 hours all night long. Lucy of the iron stomach slept thru the night. I have yet to go out and see what the back yard looks like. ick

Today, Becky and Ryder went off with the van and Rose, bound for Michigan. Short and sweet. And, I can't believe Mummy and Daddy are leaving Saturday already!

Happy Lizzie Day!

I was feeling the need for speed yesterday and had to get out of town for a Happy Lizzie Day. Florence came over to stay with the girls and I drove down the island chain that is the Fabulous Florida Keys, ending up in Key West. 

I stopped in Marathon at the Island Fish Company for some oysters for lunch - yum - and stopped to say hello to this guy. Kind of sad but I guess I'd rather see him in his cage than come face to face with him in my backyard. Zoiks! People who keep these things as pets should have to face some consequences when they let the poor things into the wild. They are not native to the Keys and have no business here.  Ok, I'm done now.

I ended up here at the Sheraton where I have a free night with points. Went for a swim, out for some fish tacos for dinner and enjoyed a good lie in until 7:15 this morning! No little wet noses demanding a walk at 6am! It's the little things, you know?

Going to Blue Heaven for breakfast this morning. What a beautiful life it is.






This is a new day; I am a new me.

Ok, so not only did Nat and family bring the rowboat and the paddleboard, they brought their bikes. And these are not just any bikes . . .

Genevieve's bike is attached to Nat's bike and behind Genevieve's bike, baby Ben is in his seat in the trailer. Seth rides behind Sarah. I think that my nephew and his wife must have incredibly strong legs. I loved having them here but the time went so FAST!

My three grandbabies are here for spring break (my nephew Nat, and sisterfriend Sarah's, kids) and I finally got around to taking some pictures. Busy happy times.

Ben, Seth and Genevieve watching the drug that is television.

Sweet baby Ben with Sarah

Nat and kids in rowboat

Love this pic. Lucy sympathizing with Genevieve as she soaks her splinter in epsom salts.

Off to the pirate pool - more later.

Well, I had some fun with my oilcloth, made these two little cosmetic bags and here they are with my flamingoes, and lined one of my beach bags, and doesn't it look great! Love those polka dots and it went together like a dream.


I've been so busy lately. Went up to the Broward quilt show on Friday with 5 of my BFFs and had a good time, although the show was disappointing. Not nearly the quantity or quality of past years but mos def some wonderful quilts. Here are a few:

This next one was my fave and I voted for it. She hand died her fabric and so all of the shading you see is a piece of darker or lighter fabric shaped into a hairline or a mouth or a hat brim. Just amazing. Can you imagine the time this must have taken? And the quilting was fantastic, tiny tight circles to hold down all of those pieces.


The following are art quilts and I'm sorry but I can't remember the name of the artist. They were my favorites. This first one is bats! So much fun. I would love to do more art quilts - no time these days . . .


This one is man-o-wars in the sea.

So, then Saturday, I went to an all day class (and thanks, Mom and Dad, for taking care of Lucy and Sophie) where Marie, from my guild, taught us this HUGE bag. Easy and fun and I just have to bind it. So, I'll share that with you when it is done.
Sunday, I went to dinner with Mom and Dad at Calypso. A month ago, we were eating on the dock in the dark. Kind of nice to have the daylight. Here is my Daddy.

I haven't written much because I've been a bit down since the RV show, missing my old life, blah blah blah.  I found this online support group for wives of men with midlife crises and OMG. And I won't bore you with the details but if you want to read about my former husband, here he is to a T. It is uncanny.  http://midlifeclub.com/his-midlife-crisis   (Why is it some people bounce back after a traumatic event and others take years to recover?)

So anyhoo, I was reflecting on this affirmation from Louise Hay on my way to work yesterday:  Happiness is an inside job. I choose thoughts that make me feel joyful and loved.  There was a huge traffic jam and as I got closer, I saw there was a dead body,  covered with a tarp, in the middle of the road. It doesn't get any clearer than that. Move on and enjoy life, girl.

Today, I am going to sew all day because it makes me happy. My mom is going to come over and help me with the stuff for my online store. Gloria is going to come over and paint. Time to celebrate life. Family, friends and fabric. Doesn't get any better than that!

I saw my family for breakfast yesterday morning. Nothing could have made me happier. We spent a few hours at my motel, wishing we had swimsuits but otherwise content. The kids are so tall since I saw them a few months ago and as you can see, Seth has become a super hero and the baby is growing like a weed. Look at the little bundle that is Ben! They will be down in the Keys for Spring Break so looking forward to that - big time.

Hurray for Nat who finished his thesis!

and really, who wants to look at a cow head staring at you when you're just trying to have some lunch. I ask you.

If I'd had about sixty grand in my pocket, this is what I'd have spent it on. Oh well.

I got home yesterday to a pile of mail including some new oilcloth. Woohoo! (Although why they are sending it folded instead of rolled, I have no idea. It takes days to let the humidity take the creases out.) Here it is hanging on my back deck. So pretty, love the colors and the new oranges print! Can't wait to get to work. 

In another (perhaps misguided) attempt to vanquish the monster from my previous life and superimpose a new reality, I drove up to West Palm Beach where I went to an RV show today. Bittersweet memories, that's for sure. I loved that life. I let the memories in - mostly happy ones. No tears.
It was interesting to see how the various male salespeople dealt with a lone female looking at RV's. Men are idiots. But you know that.
Anyhoo, I think I should have an RV, I really do. I'm loving the View 24J by Winnebago. Unfortunately, I can't afford one right now but I think in the future, I will buy one. I used to fear the driving but not anymore. I've said it before and I'll say it again, one amazing side effect of the siesmic change in my life when my husband left is that I have no fear. Zip nada zero. Something must have shifted and it is definitely to my benefit.
***
Well, a much more compelling reason for coming north is to see my beloved Nationio, his wife and my sisterfriend, Sarah, and my grandbabies, Genevieve, Seth and newbie Ben. (I've got Ben's quilt with me.) So excited to see them in the morning for breakfast.

Did anyone see the moon this morning at dawn? Enormous golden orb low in the sky. Amazing. And, the full moon must be making the ocean so high. Look at my backyard, and it's not high tide yet..

Have to say I am LOVING my new camera. I thought the crummy pictures were my fault but now I can blame my old camera. This is a Canon Power Shot. Represent!

We have been on the go from early morning until, well 10 at night: Visiting friends, eating seafood, going to water aerobics, shopping, dinning, sightseeing, partying, having a blast. Tomorrow will be our earliest morning yet - 5:30am we leave for the airport. It's been fun.

After a whirlwind visit from Sue, even Sophie is exhausted.

Love this . . .

So, I opened my blog for the first time in a while today and realized that Sue's friends are probably reading to see what she has been up to down here. Well, unfortunately we had an argument that first day and she left and I have no idea where she went. . .

hahaha just kidding. Well, before I tell you what we've been up to, I have to tell you about the palmetto bug. They are so NASTY. (And, really they are just disgusting giant cockroaches.) We were sitting on the back deck in the evening and I looked up and saw a gecko running up the wall, just missing a palmetto bug bigger than he was. Those suckers are so fast. He took flight. Right into my living room. That could not stand. I went in after him. No sign of him. No way could he be allowed in the bedroom so I looked in there, heard a sound from the bathroom and sure enough, in my shower.
By that time, Sue, Lucy and Sophie were with me in my teeny little bathroom. I tried to sic the girls on the bug in the tub and they went INSANE, while Sue and I shrieked with laughter. Then, I unleashed an arsenal of books and mags, got him with my Bali book, got in the tub and stood on it until his little bug legs stopped moving. I liken it to when the house fell on the wicked witch and all you could see were the ruby slippers sticking out. Come to think of it, little skinny roach legs sticking out from under a book aren't exactly ruby slippers but you get my drift . . . Anyhoo, the tub stayed like that 'til the next afternoon when I really had to get a shower. Sue put on her medical examiner hat and got in the tub to remove the dead body. yuk

So, on Thursday I had a party. Just have to do that once a year in gratitude, love and appreciation for my wonderful friends. We had some good food, too much wine and nice music. Good times.

And, for her friends back home, here is Sue at the party. Catchin' that Keys Disease!

So, I was going to tell you all about the wonderful water aerobics luncheon Sue organized at Category 3 on Monday - I have some cute pics.
And I wanted to document Katrina's impromptu birthday celebration at Encore (she looked quite fetching in her crown.) In this case, the bartender had obviously never operated a digital camera in his life and the pics were quite black.
But, I am waaaaaayy too busy because . . . I'm having a party tonight! Yay! But more on that later.
First I want to tell you that my friend Sue J. from Maine flew in on Tuesday night - got here at midnight (and so thankful to Marc for picking her up!) Got up at the crack yesterday and drove down to Silver Shores where we got on a bus to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino up in Hollywood.

It cost $25 and when you get there, they give you a $20 gambling voucher and a $5 meal coupon. We made good use of both. It was fun! We had to ask a very nice man to explain how to use the slot machines - no more one armed bandit and a bucket of coins, more's the pity - and then we sat down to play. Sue immediately won $29 and I thought she was going to stroke out on me. haha Her eyes rolled back in her head. Hilarious. We had grouper tacos out by the pool, which is spectacular.

This is an aerial shot of the cafe on an island in the pool that I pulled off the net. Doesn't do it justice. It was just fabby darling.
We got stuck in  traffic on the way home - another reminder of why we here in the Keys don't like to go off the rock too often.
Sat outside while the sun went down and feasted on shrimp. Doesn't get much better than this . . .

* * * * * * * * * * 

Here is what Louise Hay has to say about March:

As I look outside, I see many new buds on the trees and blades of grass showing the promise of spring. When I am still and look inside, I feel the stirring of new ambition. This is the beginning of a positive turning point for me. I envision myself as extremely successful and at peace with my life. I am grateful and happy.

I am taking this to heart. Happy March.