Making Changes (Key West, FL)

I'm having a hard time believing it has been almost 2 months since my last post.  Most of the time has been spent on base.  Between taking morning walks, sitting outdoors with the cats, and just enjoying this great weather....well, I don't know where the time has gone.  We have also visited the downtown area a couple of times, but I'll wait until the on posting those photos.  

To catch-up:  we celebrated Christmas in dry camping and moved the next day to full hook-ups.  A great Christmas surprise for us to receive a site on the waterfront.

I was going to post for New Year's, but I was distracted with the views from our front window and the announcement that the base was having a Yard and Crafts sale in January.  I reserved a table and became quite busy with my projects.

Even Dusty loved our new location.  At least once a day, he insisted on walking across the road to the picnic table (with or without us)

Dan and Dusty

where he continued to tell us what a great place this was and can we stay here forever?

I'm quite sure that Max and Hitch were not as impressed with their new location,

but they managed well enough with the openness of our site.  The smaller and tighter our site, the happier these two were about being outdoors.

  I have to admit that the sunsets were wonderful

with plenty of water activity going on right up to the moment the sun sizzled into the sea.

We are often up before sunrise especially when we are dry camping, so we were able to get some morning photos during our walks

sunrise over the marina

The last time we were here, I rarely saw a pelican around the base.

I'm happy to say they are back and just as much fun to watch as before.

We saw this Little Blue Heron several times hunting for lizards in the rocks.  He was very focused on his hunting and ignored the people nearby.  I look for him during my walks now that we have rotated back into dry camping.

 We will probably in dry camp here for about 3 weeks before rotating again since there are over 150 on the waiting list for full hook-ups.  Which is fine with us.  We have a great spot on a corner site with shade in the mornings and evenings.

one more sunrise

Who could ask for more?

On The Cutting Board

Okay, now to talk about the changes that I mentioned in the title.

I have decided to close my Etsy shop this year.  As of December, I am officially a senior citizen and have filed for social security.  Since it is starting in February and the orders have slowed down, I thought this was a good time to close shop.

I am signed up for a Yard and Craft sale next weekend that's being held on base.  I don't expect a whole lot of business, but with some luck, I hope to sale quite a few items.  In preparation for closing down my shop, I have been finishing up the last of my UFOs that I started last year for the shop.  Here are the last 8 Happy Campers:

I have also been cleaning out my storage tubs.  I have been carrying around polyester filling and stuff bear parts (eyes, joints, buttons) for too many years.  

Simply Pitiful Bear Angels

So far, I have made 7 bears and I probably could make another two with what is left.  I'll see how well this group of bears do at the sale before I decide to make the last two.  

 I'm hoping the pitiful look will melt a few hearts and they will find a new home soon.

The wings were suppose to be solid, but this seemed like a good opportunity to use up some scraps with a crazy quilt look.  I also found this to be a great way to practice a more free style embroidering with an English cottage garden theme.

Photos setup for Etsy Shop

 I often started with just a line for the stems.  I spent a lot of time going through my books and just deciding I should try making this flower.

 Half the time, I had no idea how they were going to turn out.

 I enjoyed embroidering the wings so much that I might try this again with a crazy quilt.

I'm in the mood for cleaning.  I have already cleaned out my files and supplies.  I'm definitely looking forward to retiring my handmade shop.  I'll finally have time to finish many of my UFO quilts and cross-stitch projects that I have been packing around for many years.

Happy Quilting!

Looking An Alligator In The Eye (Key West, FL)

Well, not quite in the eye, but close enough to get some good photos using my telephoto lens.  On our way to Key West, we spent two nights at the Midway Campgrounds so we could spend the day exploring the area.  With 26 RV sites, we almost had the place to ourselves except for the one family that decided to park only two sites away from us.  

We visited the Oasis Visitor Center at the Big Cypress. just to view the alligators.  

There were only two close enough for us to see from the walk area.  

This guy was directly under us so I got some good close-ups of his leathery skin.

I'll never complain about dry skin again!

This is the second one.  The water was clear enough for us to see his legs floating in the water.  Perfectly still.....

Okay, back to Key West... We are enjoying our days in the sun by taking walks around the base, sitting outside with our cats, and watching the sunsets.  We have only been downtown a couple of times.  Between different celebrations, crowds, and too hot to walk, we decided we can wait until it is a little cooler.

We have rotated twice from full hook-ups to one night stays in dry camping. 

We have been very lucky with cold fronts cooling off the area just in time for our dry camping making for a perfect night's sleep with open windows. 

Since our arrival, the weather has been above average.  No complaints since I have been monitoring the weather in Sutherlin, OR.  It has been a wee bit chilly there.

We are trying to get our walks in early which is perfect for viewing all the wildlife.

The Ospreys have been busy building their nest.  Soon, we will be able to see little ones begging for food.

This Egret was up early looking for handouts and not having much luck.  

So, that's it for now.  Not a whole lot going on and yet, I go to bed every night feeling like I had a full day enjoying paradise.

On The Cutting Board
I guess I am doing more than just sitting around and watching sunsets. 

I am getting ready for the Yard and Crafts sale.  Hopefully, the MWR will schedule one in mid December.

Small Happy Campers $12 - $12.95

I have 25 new Happy Campers ready for my table in addition to my items listed in my shop.

Medium Happy Campers $14

I'm hoping to sell as many as possible before I need to list them online.

Large Happy Campers $14.95 - $15

While I wait, I decided to make three muslin bear angels with crazy quilted wings and bent halos, so back to sewing!

Happy Quilting!

Rainy Days and Rainy Nights (Foley, AL)

We left Texas last week and made it to Foley, AL in two days.  Our first day of travel was uneventful except for driving through pockets of rain.  The second day was more fun as we crossed through Louisana's waterways and many swamps.  I spotted two 2 alligators!   The highlight of my day!😁

We also crossed the Mississppi River.  As we were going over the bridge, I was reminded of Clive Cussler's Flood Tide.  The adventures in this book brings Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino to the Mississippi River to foil the evil genius.  It was fun trying to imagine the two men on a boat pretending to be local fishermen while an old cruise ship tries to sneak up the Mississippi.  Yea, I know.  Sounds a little over the top, but I do love reading all about Pitt's adventures and I love visiting locations featured in fictional books.

Mississippi River

 Our first day in Foley, AL was a trip to Florida's state park office to get a new pass.  We stopped at Orange Beach which was quite busy with the last vacationers before school started.  I have missed the white sandy beaches of the Gulf Coast.  The sand is soft and as fine as sugar grains that it squeaks if you drag your feet while walking.  Oh! And the big Turtle to the left offers free beach toys for the young visitors to borrow while they are on the beach.  It looks like the visitors are doing a great job of honoring the Turtle because the bin had quite a few toys in it.

Orange Beach, AL

A couple of days later, we visited the Foley Depot Museum & Model Train Exhibit.  The following are photos of the park.

With the look of rain coming our way, we decided to move inside to see the model trains. ☂

 

Below are some photos of the Model Train Exhibit.  The guide turned off the lights so we could see the town with all the night-lights on.  He told me that a group of men got together at one house and spent 14 months building this small, not to mentioned, very detailed town.  The town got so big that they had to cut it into pieces to get it out of the house.  A great place to bring everybody.  The kids were really enjoying the display with the lights off.

 Lots of moving parts.  The ferris wheel is going around while the drive-in behind it is playing a movie with Lucille Ball.

Towards the back, the Fireworks building is on fire.  The firefighters are trying to put it out. 

 My favorite part is the man trying to escape the bear.  According to the guide, the bear is protecting the moonshine still from the revenue guy.  🤣LOL!

And what train track doesn't have a Hobo camp?  Looks like they have found themselves a nice little camping site.

 They even have a list of Hobo Codes. The "Jail with good lodging" is a good one.

 But, my favorite one is the "Kind Lady" code!

Kitty!

Lots of rain in this area which hasn't cooled it off.  It is still hot and humid.  After seeing what is happening in other areas, I am quite happy to deal with this weather.

The fires and the floods seem to be getting worse.  If you are in the NW or the NE states, I hope you and your families are safe.

On The Cutting Board
I'm getting a few things done.  Well, sort of.  I'm not sure what is up with me lately.  I just want to work on a few things and then I put them aside for later.

I started an English Cottage garden themed for the Happy Campers.  I'm really loving the Hollyhocks.  I have actually found them relaxing to make and a joy to watch them grow.

I have finished embroidering quite a few of them, but this is as far as I have gone on them.

Now, I am working on a new ABC Animal quilt.  I'm on the 'B' now and should have the 'C' done soon.

Maybe once the weather cools off just a little, I will fill more like pulling out the sewing machine and getting all the UFO projects done.  In the meantime.....
Happy Quilting!