SWEATER IS FINISHED. HAPPY VALENTINE!

 As the sunny takes take their toll on our tans here in Florida, I usually take knitting down to the pool area to keep myself busy.   This sweater of course as most things looks better in person.  It is for a granddaughter's  birthday in a couple of weeks.

I have also been knitting socks, the fingerless gloves which are a huge hit here and a couple of frilly scarfs. I could go into business!  Of course the pay would be about 0 cents per hour as I do a bit here and there with the gloves etc.  But having said that there are a couple of ladies here who would like to knit a bit, and one has even gone so far as to by yarn!  So good things are happening.

We have hit a bit of a cold spell on the panhandle of Florida, but in the sheltered area of the pool, we Canadians hung tough and sat in the sunshine.  It was funny on Sunday.  There we were, eight people along the sunny sheltered side of the pool.   As the sun moved off an area, one person would move to the far left till we were all sitting on the other side of the pool!  Too funny, one chair at a time and everytime someone moved, there was a cheer!  Life is never dull here.

We saw this amazing plane in our travels here.  It is one of those that hovers, then wings come out and it flies like a regular plane.  I can't remember the name of it, but Osprey comes to mind.  I refuse to ask (one more time) what it is called.  But it was a thrill  to see it take off.  We are living between two air force bases here so we see lots of military stuff.

Yesterday a plane flew so low we could have hopped on!  For we Canadians, anything like this is a big treat and we waved like crazy.

Today, being Valentine, we are going to a pot brunch at noon.  I do have red to wear for the occasion, and am making a yummy appetizer.  It is the one that I call Monica's Recipe.  Monica being one person that I know that really doesn't cook, but this is her recipe for each occasion that calls for "bring something".

Okay, here it is....one cup of chopped onion, one cup of mayo (hellman's only), one cup of cheddar cheese.  Bake for 25 minutes at 350.  I use a food processor to mix it all .  Also spray the dish before putting the mixture in.  Very very good and no one can guess the ingredients.    I serve this with rice crackers or other crispy crackers to dip.

I have also discovered Google Phone.  All I needed was gmail and I was dialing my fingers off.  A great little device.

Today it is raining and the sea is huge.  We are loving Florida Panhandle.

FIREFLY RESTAURANT, DINING AT ITS BEST!

If it was good enough for the President of the United States, it must be good!  Good is an understatement for this restaurant where we went last night.


The photo is in the middle of the restaurant, and above the lights on the tree are little green lights that just twinkle here and there for the "firefly" effect.  Beautiful!


Here in Florida's panhandle there are many fine restaurants.  But this one is where I had one of the most memorable meals of my life!


The shecrab soup was so good that I could have made a meal of this.  There was flavour such as I've never had, and the little piece of puff pastry in the soup was perfect.


There was planked salmon.  Perfect!  We had the Delmonico steak, done to perfection with the right amount of bernaise and an au ju sauce on the side.


I have never been to a restaurant where there is no salt and pepper on the table....seriously...have you?  


I am being so careful about eating as it is easy to get fat when one doesn't cook for ones self.  The bread pudding dessert which had chocolate and blackberries on top, homemade ice cream on the side.


Delicious, I couldn't finish it though as I was so full.  Imagine me being full at a restaurant.


This is probably the only restaurant review that you will ever read from me, so salivate....I ate the best for the best price too.    I'm not even mentioning Michael our server who guided us throughout the meal.


Today, we are going to tell everyone about this place.  I will advise the shecrab soup for sure.  


Enjoy the weekend.

KNITTING IN FLORIDA!

 This is a boa or a scarf that is becoming quite popular in the knitting circles of Canada at the moment.


Over Christmas when we were visiting my friend Helen who is also knitter extraordinaire, can you believe, she gave me one of these
little gems.


Of course it was easy for her to 
knit, but me?  I had to do it
twice to get the darn thing right.


The yarn is called Frill Seeker is wide as you can see and one adds nine stitches and the above photo is the result.


I didn't pick up enough of the 
yarn, and when I shook it to 
make the frills, it unraveled!
Oh yeah, what else would one expect
from my first attempt!


I am loving the colours for sure.


This photo of my knitting place is from our balcony with a wee Mary swimming in the pool getting her morning exercise which she she has been doing every day.


Me?  I'm walking on the beautiful beach, my sweetie is walking 5 km each day.  Wonderful, wonderful, and he is loving the walking even if he has pain in his hip.  We should be in great shape for cottage time.


The weather has been extraordinarily warm for this time of year, in the mid 70s and so sunny too that even the locals are wearing shorts.  


Not too far from our villas is a bar, a biker bar to tell you.  Anyway one morning Mary (friend in residence) needed change and since this bar only closes for an hour a day, she walked over got quarters for laundry.  Coming out of the crowded bar, she noted a Harley Davidson with rider parking.  Now Mary is a nurse, and she notes that this guy has all kinds of coloured tubing wound around the seat of the bike, and looking to the rear of said bike is an oxygen tank with the mask.  Only if Florida folks, only in Florida.

WATCH THOSE "SALES"!

Funny how a little time spent in the "north" gets me knitting sweaters.


This beauty is the first I've made in years and years.  But, with the quilting on hiatus because of travels, I'm a knitting nit wit as you can see.


I find that one must be ever vigilant when it comes to the "sales"  advertised.  Mary, the other knitter and I went to Michaels for their 50% off sale.  Well the Lions Brand wasn't 50% off, but after looking at the pattern, I bought at 30% off.


Well, after finishing the sweater, and giving it to the girl for her winter in Ottawa and it being very cold there, the "buy one get one free" flyer came out nine days later.


Mary, who must be the best shopper and the
queen of returns, got our bills, and off we 
marched to the Michaels.  The 
manager, a fine young woman was
overpowered by the return queen.

We got our money back in the amount of $28.00 between the two of us, with me getting the most!


Happiness is having money in the pocket and learning about "sales".


We had a visit with Helen and D.  The guest room is just about the most comfortable that I've ever been in what with antiques all over the room and photos of their family heritage abounds in the spaciousness of this guest room.  There is also a large private bathroom with a walk in shower.  


We slept like babies under a goose down duvet, perfect pillows, and this beautiful Amish quilt sits on the bed.  In her travels which she and her sweetie visit many quilt shops; she found this quilt.  It was perfect for the bed and there it sits in total comfort for all who visit to see.


We have returned to Florida bringing the good weather with us it seems.  Today, the wind is blowing and the surf is up as the saying goes .  Our friends are arriving today too, so life will be another adventure.


It is also great to be back and able to blog and read posts again after such a long absence.  As they say here in the south..."hi y'all"!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Now honestly, would you spend time quilting inside if this was your view?

So, I've made up my mind to knit in the sun while in Florida.  It is much easier to carry around with me.  I don't need the sewing machine and table etc to load into the truck.

And since our unit is on the second floor, carrying wool up there will help my sweetie with his back.

I am still going to buy fabric, which will be cottage stuff, but honestly when we returned to Canada for the holidays, I hadn't used my fabric, sewing machine at all, and the two binns, plus the machine was just too much.

I went to Michael's which had a huge 50% off sale on wool, so that got me started.  I had to buy knitting needles, because most are packed in storage of our furniture etc from the old house.

So, a new adventure begins...photos to follow...we head to Florida in about 10 days.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

GINGERBREAD MEN! IT IS THE SEASON!

 We left Florida on Monday morning.  The trip was an excellent drive, coming north on highway 65, through Bowling Green Kentucky which was a lovely lovely area.


We arrived in Whitby in time for the Gingerbread decorating fest.

It was a great fun night and amazing how different each person is in their ideas of

decor.

There was a bit of dilemna as to who could possibly taste the creations of the decorated men as the amount of icing was only left to how much one could control the piping coming out of the tubes.

Oh, Jeremy, you taste it first!  He did and thought it was yummy stuff.

A lot of time was spent by the boy decorating his man which is the one with the least amount of decoration on it.  Who knew?

On a different note, here is a photo of happiness personified.  Me with the dog on the beach in front of our villa.  The weather was fabulous for December and the dog actually loves the beach walking.

We are returning in January to finish our stay at this place.

Just a photo of how great it is to travel with the dog....the photo is of his favourite stance in the car.

He slept all the way home.  Only awakening when we had a pitt stop or parking for the night.

Truly easy for both of us.

So, dear friends in blogland, Merry Christmas till I connect again in the new year.

We are all like friends aren't we?  We may never be face to face, but it feels like hugs just the same when comments are posted on our sights.  It usually makes my day, so I hope that I'ves spread a bit of cheer throughout the passed year, and that we will all get together again in the next year.

Again, Merry Christmas to all of you and yours.

FINALLY.....FEELING FLORIDA! TOTAL BLISS!

 We moved from our so called "beach house."  I am pleased that the landlord was very accommodating and refunded most of our monies that had been advanced.

It just was not what we expected.  We wanted the feeling of being in Florida.

So, yesterday morning we packed up and found this little piece of paradise on the Panhandle, not too too far from where we were.  One

must believe in Karma!  We had passed this pink residential hotel a few times after getting lost, noting that it was right on the beach.

This is perfect!  I mean perfect!  Every unit is different, except that there is the same bedding which has these very very cute quilts on the beds.

 Also our living room has hand painted pillows.  They are very quilty looking and I think I may get into this when I return to the cottage.

Note for anyone older than 50, this is the original typewriter table, painted green and so wonderful to bring back memories.

We have a one bedroom, green walls, retro feel to the

unit, what with Marilyn, Liz Taylor,

and Bing Crosby on the walls. Also the bathroom floor is small black and white tiles.  Now if this isn't just the most perfect place!

The beach is close as you can see from the photos.  We cannot believe that we have found such a place.  It must be the best kept secret by snow birds! 

This morning, I stepped outstide with the dog, to smell the salt air and see the beginning of my happy days.

ps.

Helen if you read this, please send email to same address as I have lost my computer address book.  Same address at gmail.

LIFE IN FLORIDA

First, I cannot tell you how happy I am to be back after three weeks in limbo and on the road.

We arrived in Florida without any problems, but our computer went into shock and we lost all our data.

Of course the back up system is

at the cottage and we cannot

get to it till spring.  So, I've lost all my email addresses which fortunately, I'm pretty good at remembering family and friends most of the time, but so many of bloggers are just a "reply to" that I don't have those.

Oh, well, work for me while I

am shopping at Joann's Fabrics.

I went shopping the third day here, but without internet, I've not done anything with the fabric.

I bought greys, blues and a few patterns that will make a cute

quilt after Christmas I am sure.

The fabrics were all on sale for about $6.00 per yard. 

I didn't buy enough so am going

back Monday.

 I wish I could say that this is our house.....really, but alas, this was a house in Alabama.  One of about a dozen of these beautiful old houses that are still kept so beautifully.

Our rented house would fit on

the veranda of the above house. It is pretty small, but we are close to all amenities which is good so that I am able to drive to the grocery store and could now go to the fabric stores by myself.

This is the dog.....he slept like this for the whole drive...like a

baby.  The motor starts and we put the car in drive and he passes out!  How good is that?  A great travel dog I tell you.

Here in Florida on the pan handle, it isn't a very good economic area and all around us are business, and homes in foreclosure.  It is very sad.  On the street where we are, the  other night a family moved out in the darkness before the sheriff put a lock on their contents.  A young couple too, which was so sad.

How fortunate we are that we can come here and enjoy the wonderful weather, although a bit cool at night.  Everywhere we go, we are welcomed which is something to say for the southern hospitality that is abound.

So, as a neighbour told us that a treat for their children would be a trip to McDs.....we are indeed blessed.

On a lighter note, we have free calling to family and friends in US and Canada, thanks to our generous landlord.  And of course SKYPE.  Lots of laughs before our computer fritzed.

Talk to you soon. 

MAIL FROM AUSTRALIA!

 A while back my friend Shay (Quilting in my Pyjamas fame)  noted that she had this solitary zipper.

Heh, I blogged to her, send zipper and I will use it.

Well the zipper has arrived.  It is a lonely thing to see, one little blue zipper.

So Shay decided to add other goodies since she was mailing to Canada anyway.

This little item which looks like a pumpkin or maybe an orange strawberry is a bag.  It's pretty wrinkled when one opens it, but it will hold eggs, milk, bacon along with a few more grocery items. 

Oh, I've already tried it out because you know how much I like bags!  The cashier thought it was the coolest thing!

Ah the next goodie!  I cannot tell you how delish these little chocolate candies are.  I didn't even share them with my sweetie as he would have wanted too many. 

Shay said in her lovely little note that they aren't made too far from her home.  I'm thinking I would have applied as a taster for the company.  Very awesome taste.

The package also included this bag of yummies yet to be tasted.  But if they are half as good as the above, I won't share these either.

Thank you Shay for all of it.

We are house/dog sitting while our friends are in Cozumel, and not having the best weather because of rains.  Still better to be served in a lovely place by pleasant staff than having to prepare you own meals.

In Canada we are huge all inclusive people. There are hundreds of planes from Toronto alone that take people to all inclusive resorts to the Carribbean.  It's a very Canadian way of vacationing in the winter months.

The two little outfits on my right were made by my friend Helen at the cottage.  I haven't seen the many many other blocks that will result of this work, but you can be sure the final results  will be wonderful.

We are about 10 days away from leaving for Florida.  I am excited to leave to begin our adventure of the winter.  I know hundreds of thousands of people go south for the cold seasons but this is our first. 

I wish now that I had packed some fabrics to keep me busy when we left the cottage.  I've been knitting and donated a couple of dozen pairs of socks to a charity, but my left elbow seems to have some tendon issues so the little fingerless mittens are on hold for a bit which leaves me with not much to do.  Ah well, soon soon, I will be shopping at Joann's in Florida.

I know the weather in November is not always the best here in Canada and northern US, but gee we could have still been at the cottage!  Yesterday the temperatures were about 70 degrees, or about 18 Celcius.  Of course we are quite a bit further south than the cottage in Whitby, but still we could have been there because it is a mild fall season.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

This morning we will be at the ceremonies in Whitby.  We should never forget how fortunate we are.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR!

I have never been a fan of the changing times....It puts my rythym out of sinc for about three months.

What is the purpose?  I remember being told that the farmer could now milk his cows in daylight...duh...they have nighttime milking too!  Ok, I didn't believe that one.

So here we are now in the year 2011 and the Old Indian in my photo had it right.

An update on our life without cottage time for you.  We are at our friends' house in the city, doing this and that as they are almost ready to leave for Mexican holiday for two weeks.  Then we leave for Florida.

Our life has not been without drama.  About the second day we arrived, we saw a pesky mink trying to get into the fish pond.  The mighty dog Wilson scared the mink away.

So, it was decided by the owner of said pond to put out a trap to catch the mink.  The trap caught a little skunk!  The dogs discovered that little stinker!  Yes, they smelled!

So, then the house stank, the dogs stank to the point of airings and de skunking baths for the dogs.   Have you had experience with skunks?  Poor little things....anyway, a towel was put over the trap and then it was released.  All clothing was then put into a garbage bag but it took almost three days for the smell to be gone.

No more minks, and definitely no more skunk in back yard!

The weather has been fabulous, to the point that we think we could have still been at the cottage.  Oh well good to know for next year.

CLOSING THE COTTAGE

It's always better to close the cottage on a calm sunny day.  This year we hope to do the same.

Today, we have a bit of a breeze but still managed to get the sewing machine and the equipment that goes with it over to the marina.

My sweetie is in charge of all that.  I have been cleaning out the fridge, preparing our final meals when Bob and Mary come tomorrow to help us close.

Our dear friends Bob and Mary have been, over the passed few years been there for us.  We are in pretty good health this year, so we can pitch in so much more than last year when I had a bad hip.

We are expecting sunny days for our big jobs.  |The docks are to be taken out Saturday morning I think and then we will pack up and leave.

It is always a sad part of the year for us, but this year a new adventure begins for our winter in Florida.

To top off the season, I saw three white tailed deer at the back of the bunkie on Monday.  Of course the bear has been here to take another bin but no damage was done and hopefully he will forget to torment us next year. 

I am now thanking those of you who read and follow my blog.  It is always a good day when blogging.  I never thought I'd get to know so many wonderful people from all over the world.  Thank you all.

I'll see you in a few weeks when my new adventures begin.

MAN AND BEAST ...NOT FIT FOR EITHER!

Our weather conditions are fit for neither man nor beast these days, but here at the cottage both are being kept busy doing little jobs.

My sweetie has been keeping the generator going in the day time and our wonder dog is so wanting exercise that he has been going up to the workshop to supervise the job.

We are still without power, not to be daunted, last night's dinner was baked potatoes (microwave), then made hamburgers with fried onions to finish off the mains, and as we have lots of pickled beets, we added those.   Not the best of meals, but it tasted so good considering I am able to only use one burner at a time .

Today, the first of our company arrives.  Bob and Mary are here as the advance party to prepare for the week end feasts.  We should have power by this afternoon.  Am making pizza dough in anticipation.  If we don't have power, well maybe the BBQ will help us through this.

Our neighbours have closed their cottage and have just left. Their dog however, wanted to stay here with my guy.

 We are in our last week of living here.  After this, we are off to house sit for Bob and Mary, for a few weeks, then off to Panama City Beach Florida.   An adventure awaits us.

Favourite things Friday is on holiday, but if I was posting this week, I'd say the generator and the guy that makes it work is absolutely my FAV.

NB>  In the last 20 minutes, the power came back on, we started the dishwasher, washing machine and the heater is on in the sun room.  The neighbours weren't even gone five minutes when Helen (just arrived at another dock) shouted to them that the power had just come on....so they came back and finished their cottage and are now on their way home till next spring.   It's like we wait 15 minutes and life changes.....a big thanks to Hydro One for their efforts.

DID YOU GET A STORM TOO?

 We woke up around 4 am to so much noise from the winds, only to realize we were once again without power!

Not only that, but our boat was sitting sideways in the dock area.  The wind and rain on the lake actually caused two of our dock lines to break! 

We couldn't go down to see if there was any damage done, because of the winds and the gusts.  We awaited day light to
find this.   The propellor actually saved
the boat because it achored itself in the
sand.

So, my sweetie is having another busy day securing our life here at the cottage, and on his birthday too!

The motor was raised and our boat was then gently pulled over to the dock and secured with new ropes.

I've been saying that the water was very
low, well here is a photo of our beach!  Actually the water is usually up to the top of the blue steps till September, when the water from our lake is diverted to continue the use of the Trent Canal system.

 Amazing that in this day and age, a hundred year old tradition is still in use, and we suffer from it.

Now, we are comfy due to the wood stove,
the beloved generator, and of course my
guy doing his best.

Yesterday, was a great day at the machine.  I tell you, I made lots of big bags and little bags to fit into them.

They are a sight.  I used a shower rod to hold them in display as I have no room in my little corner.

Now, I'm going to buy some little zippers to make more of the little bags as they have multiple uses.

The saving grace of today is that it actually isn't cold, just raining.  The winds are calming by the hour and our neighbours are still coming up to close their cottage. 

Hopefully we will have "the hydro" back up by the time they arrive.

POWER IS WONDERFUL!

First, let me say KayJay at My Fat Quarter is having a big giveaway...go see her. I don't know how to link...it must be easy though as everyone does it....just not me.

We now have our power back.  First thing  I did was turn on the dishwasher, then loaded the washing machine, turned that on while my sweetie turned on the heaters in the sun room.

It truly is amazing what we take for granted.  I tell you I try to not forget how
wonderful electricity is.

I cut out and made the first bag on Tuesday afternoon.  I also added the little pouch to go inside it.

I didn't have any strapping that matched, so made my own which, by the way is simply three inches of fabric, halfed, then pressed to the inside again so that the selvages don't show.

I hope that the recipient loves them.

A few more man bags are required, so I've done a couple more.  I bought the grey strapping which was 60 Cents a metre on sale at Fabricland.

I'm using up so many scraps!  I am going to run out of zippers for sure, but I plan to cut more of the smaller bags to insert into these larger bags.

I could never go into production to make any money as I can do a little here and there and then I have duties to do you know, such as put wood in to the stove to keep us warm.
I don't know how people get an etsy business going.  I'm good to make a few a day, never mind even a quilt...

This last bag is for my granddaughter who is at Ottawa U.  She has a computer bag of this fabric.  It's from Liz Claiborne fabric.

Anyway, we are winding down our stay at this place.  The season I feel is coming to a close.  We are planning to be here till the end of the month.  Our neighbours to the east are leaving next week.  That will leave just us.  Everyone on our island has closed up.

Yesterday the dog and I took a walk along the shores of the island to see that even the hardy youthful owners have packed up and left.  It's the water levels more than weather I suspect, although the storms of November do rock and roll the water.

The winds have changed to the east.  Good for me!  The sunroom will be cozy warm, and I can sew.  More rain is coming for the next couple of days.  It's everywhere isn't it?

I don't care.   I'm happy because we have a gang coming for the weekend.  I'm getting ready for that.