Chain of Events

This is an event from last year.  We went on one of our 3 mile walks and as we were walking, we heard a really loud "pop".  Of course we turned to where we had heard the noise and at that point "it was on".  By that I mean that we were about a block away from where the "pop" came from and we had to R-U-N.
We had to run because a crow had somehow touched the power line and the transformer the pole and the transformer that was at the top of the pole.  The "pop" noise was the crow being electrocuted.  The contact that the crow made shorted out the transformer and make an electrical spark.  Needless to say that the electrical spark started a fire at the bottom of the pole.  Yes, it's dry here in Florida.  More so now than it was a year ago.
The fire was spreading very, very fast.  I sure have to hand it to my kids, because they rode their bikes really fast and then jumped off the bikes to fight the fire.  My fat behind out of shape self, came lagging behind to bark orders give instructions .  "Use your helmets.  Get sand from here."  Blah, blah, blah...  I was dialing 911 and giving the info to the dispatcher as fast as I could.

I think it sounded more like this...
Run oh my gosh puff puff blow pant there's a fire, run boys, faster, at the intersection of...puff blow puff, oh dear, yes we are on 107 Street blow puff puff puff puff, use your helmet get sand from the road they need to hurry it's spreading fast puff, blow puff puff.....

Neighbors started coming out of their homes because they had no electricity.  One neighbor brought over a shovel.  He would use it for a minute and then I would use it a minute.  Gosh, I sure gotta tell ya...When you are excited, ya can't breath!  I really did think at one point that the fire was going to get the best of us.  It was touch and go for maybe 7 or 8 minutes.
My boys used their helmets to carry sand from the side of the dirt road to help put out the fire.  In the video you can see that the fireman was kind enough to rinse out their helmets.  What a great bunch!

Fishing off the Pier

Here's the gang of fishermen.  Shhh...don't tell the boys I called them men.  This trip was taken sometime last year.  No, I don't remember when but it must have been warm weather because we are wearing shorts.
We did catch a few things but mostly we just feed the crabs.  Regardless, it was fun and it was time spent together as a family.  

Matthew never passes an opportunity to get in the picture!

Bunny Ears!

The goofy one in the back just turned 18!

#4 bridge in Cedar Key.

Some day I hope to look back on all these pictures and giggle about the silly things that we did.  Yesterday we were all sitting with my mom on her front porch and the general conversation was light and silly.  I had a deja vu moment...It sounded just like a conversation that I remember years ago but I was the kid and my dad was me and my grandfather was my mom.  Does that make sense?  Anyway it was kinda neat how I remember a similar conversation.  It brought a smile to my face!

Levy County Fair

Don't you just love the fair?  Oh MY, it smells of cotton candy and funnel cakes.  It sounds of music and screams and giggles.  Many, many moons ago, yes, back when Shep was a pup...I would ride everything thing there was to ride and then start all over and do it again.  Now...Well I am more into the "Creative Arts".  I love knitting and crocheting and painting and crafting of whatever kind of craft I can get my hands into.  This year I entered 3 items in the fair.  My very first pair of knitted socks and 2 oil paintings.  I brought home 3 blue ribbons!  Matthew entered a beautiful piece of mixed media art that he did with melted crayons and yo-yo flowers.  He also brought home a blue ribbon!  He loves, loves, loves art!

 Several of us have a knit and crochet group that we call "Yarntastics" and these are some of the hats that we made.  They will be donated to the NICU at one of our local hospitals.
 Check me out! 

My Kayak

Here is my boat that I promised to show you pictures of. And yes, that's me on the river the first time.

Geocache

We discovered Geocache and we really, really enjoy it.  We found a few around our place and now we want to venture out a little farther.  Oh yeah - the price of gas!



Here's the motley crew all dressed in their finest (not).  Yes we had a great time!

Preemie Hats update

Well it's Friday and our group met again.  I just love, love, love our little knitting, crocheting and crafty group.  Today, we turned in bunches of little preemie hats.  They were all so incredibly adorable!  Everyone is so into these little hats and I feel so blessed that our group stared and is going in this direction.
Thank you all for all of the giggles that we all enjoy together!

If you want to go over and check out some great patterns, then go to Bev's Country Cottage.

On the stove

A huge chunk of beef - homegrown - raised on pasture grass.  I put it in the pot with almost 2 cups of water and let it boil (covered) for several hours.  I added some baby carrots and a huge white onion peeled and split in half.  Next I will add some potatoes and let them get soft and then I will make some brown gravy from the juice and pour it over the top of the meat, carrots, onions and potatoes.  The boys will serve it over rice and Superman and myself will serve it over cauliflower rice.  YUMMY!

A Boat

FINALLY!!!!!!!
I hope that you sense that I am excited!  Excited about a boat?  Darn skippy!  Yesterday we loaded up in the car and went to Brassingtons Trail Shop in Gainesville.  The purpose of the trip was to look at and maybe buy a kayak.  We not only looked at...but we bought two (2) of them.  One for me and one for him.  I have been waiting since 1998 for a kayak.  My first kayak trip hooked me!  I mean HOOKED!  Soon.  Very, very soon.  I will be posting pictures of my kayak alongside my husbands kayak.
What kind did we buy?
Wilderness Systems, Pungo 120 and Pungo 140.  I cannot wait to hit the rivers!  Hey, maybe, just maybe I will see you there.

Preemie Hats

This is kind of a long story but I'm gonna try to make it short because I want to go outside.
I had to contact our County Fair about art entries from our homeschool group and that lead me to a lady that knits preemie hats for charity.  I got to telling her about some of us from our homeschool group that meets at the library to sit and stitch.  So she came to one of the gatherings and now we are all so excited that we are making preemie hats and just so stinkin giddy about it.  I'll tell you more as we get more hats in the basket and yes...I will even post pictures.  Which reminds me...
Now that we are into these preemie hats, more of our kids are excited about being involved.  My youngest son wants to do everything that can be done.  Anything that his dad does or I do - well he wants to learn it.  Oh don't get me wrong, I am NOT complaining.  Well anyway, he like to use the Knifty Knitter and I found a great website that really helps him with the projects.  Knifty Knitter Loom - Knit Hats - Easy

Drum Roll

I need a drum roll please!  My very first post on my newest blog!  Yeah - go me! 
Now that I have officially posted something, I gotta get on the ball and get my design completed.
I wonder about things and ponder them over and then poof they are gone.  But in the days to come and as the dust piles higher, I will be wandering but I won't be lost.