It Takes All Kinds

It takes all kinds to make an interesting world. It really did get down to forty degrees last night so I was pedalling with my quilted shirt on this morning. I decided to seek out some new acquaintances. I noticed a lady working on her quilt. They are full timers but come from this area. Her husband sold their local business and the new owner hires him for tax season. They tend to summer in the Vermont area and winter here. She has one of those Rascal Scooters and belongs to several quilting guilds. She is going to offer this one for silent auction soon. Nice lady and really with it mentally. Took pictures and gave her some and she was thrilled to have them for her quilting "history book." Many camping people are friendly and willing to visit. Some are stinkers: can you say 8 of 10 Quebec citizens?

Then there are the absolute princes of Quebec ( "kebec"). Two are named Puma and Claude ( "Klode") I had seen them riding around and tracked them down this morning. Claude said he would be by around 2 for picture posing. Good as his word. Puma is a Great Dane who rides in a special trailer behind Claude's Harley Davidson. (Claude also has a big 5th wheel and diesel pickup truck) Puma has a helmet and "colors" all his own. His vest has an embroidered "69" and no, I didn't ask. When I mentioned I wanted a picture, Claude said he and his dog are always together- a man after my own heart.

Speaking of which, Buster "came with" to Deerfield tonight. Jason cooked a beef tenderloin, asparagus, sweet potatoes, hot Italian bread, and had little cheesecakes with choice of strawberry or blueberry topping. I was impressed. Lori's mom and her friend Martin are visiting from Texas (shopped till they dropped today) and they had Jake and Dean up from Fort Lauderdale. They winter here when Jake isn't traveling on business. They have other homes too. They are working on their 275 year old stone farmhouse on 100 acres in Pennsylvania. There are ten outbuildings on the property too. It sounds like real work and fabulous, too. They fly up to supervise the Amish craftsmen who are helping to fix it up. Dinner pix tomorrow. Kathy E. came too and seemed to have forgiven the friendly pats I gave her. Juneau and Buster do just fine together and Martin must have the "animal touch." Buster became quite chummy with him. Didn't mind his friendly pats at all.

Fun day.

(sorry about the white spaces-the first try on the pix didn't work out)

Happy Trails to Yoouu!

Harold and Julie left this morning. The empty space next to me seems...empty. They were great neighbors. Harold had fashioned a porch step because his site was so unlevel it required a major jack job during his stay. He gave the step to me. It is really well built and I always use one. Glad to have it. He spilled the beans that several campers were leasing spots up on 10th Avenue. An old trailer park is in transition preparatory to adding to a major apartment complex on the site. They are making deals because some income is better than no income and with the real estate market in the dumper down here, building is likely years away. I went to look it over. It is no prize but it does offer the two advantages of a guaranteed site and a longer stay. I am mulling but I don't have long to mull. They are going fast. Perhaps I can have a heart-to-heart with John the campground manager. I would rather be here but being left out in the cold is not an option.

Out of Synch

This day felt a little wobbly. After closing the Internet terminal, it took me four trips to the van to get ready and I had to loop the park and come back for something. The goal was to go to the beach and photograph. The beach was packed, the parking sparse so I headed up the A-1-A to the Palm Beach public golf course which overlooks the ocean. I started across the green holding up a twosome who graciously waved me across. I quickly hunkered down in the vegetation and snapped a couple pictures before the duffers started shanking golf balls within feet of me. Persevering, I tried a couple of artsy shots that didn't work. Headed up the road to Palm Beach wondering if I had enough gasoline to get home with miles of mansions and no gas stations in sight. Pulled into a Palm Beach Valero station and paid $3.29 per gallon.

The drivers were nutso on Dixie highway-too slow, too fast, or oblivious. I felt at risk and was wishing I had paid more attention to my instincts and stayed home. There are some days like this. Took a nice safe nap and woke up to the news that south Florida had a huge power outage It led the CBS News with Katie Couric. Only thing is, it didn't happen to me. Lake Worth has its own power company. Every stop light I hit was working just fine. The planets must be misaligned.

Stayed safely inside and watched American Idol. I had not seen this much talked about program until this winter. It is interesting.

Chatted a bit with Harold as he was prepping to pull out in the morning. He is one organized dude. I am sensing that I caused a problem by taking them to dinner last Friday. I think his friend Fernand feels threatened. Envy is missing from my emotional lexicon so I forget sometimes that it exists. The happy hours have moved to Fernand's and I am not invited. Booze figures heavily in the Canadian's social affairs. That chapter closes tomorrow. I wonder what the next one will be like.

It is supposed to get down to 40 degrees tonight. That is about the high in Wyoming on good days. They are rising at home and that is welcome news.

What Happened?

The day was pleasant in every way but unremarkable. Just living and passing time. Visiting with the neighbors: Newish one, from Canada and newly retired. He and his wife are having a ball. They walk and ride bikes and just enjoy the sunshine. He stopped by when they moved in after seeing my Wyoming plates. He told me their daughter graduated from UW in Laramie. She attended on a swimming/diving scholarship and did well. His update today was that she is in Beijing trying to qualify for the Olympics. The diving venue is outstanding. They are assigned "minders" to help them and to keep them from seeing the poverty. They can go nowhere independently.

Took a pretty good bike ride. Took a nap. Ordered out from John G's restaurant- a great food place, Zagat Guide listed. Fish and chips. Late lunch and dinner. Much more temperate day. I'm boring but relaxed.

Show Business

The Academy Awards were pretty good. I snagged these portraits of Nicholson, Jolie, Blanchett, and Mirren done by the Big IT of-the-moment photographer some time ago because of the hyper-realism, warts and all, qualities. Interesting but not "pretty" in the movie star sense. Makes you appreciate the artistry of the make-up technicians. I still "get" the Oscars despite the fact my bottom hasn't graced a movie theater seat since the original Superman with Christopher Reeve. I look at the Oscars as teasers for DVD's I may rent or buy. You too may be "old as dirt," if you recognize the term "teaser."

The other show I attended was the dog show in the park. It was hard to find a place to park yesterday so I rode my bike on this record hot and humid day. After riding home I decided if I did anything else today it would be under air conditioning. I skipped the Street Art Festival for the first time. It will cool off by Wednesday. The dog show rigs have pulled out save one. "My" Afghan hound lost to "the blue bitch." Visited with the blonde's team. Nice people.

Cuz Donna called and we talked for more than an hour. Caught up on her news. I made spaghetti for early Sunday dinner. Greg wandered over after dusk- said he cracked his first beer at 10:00 a.m. I fed him right way, then we talked until 8:30 p.m. Called my baby number one son Matt on his 41st birthday. His requested "fine seegars" are on their way. Boy, I remember when a Grenadier, at about 50 cents per copy, was a luxurious cigar. Eight bucks a pop seems a little steep but he deserves to feel special on his day because he IS special.

Memory Hook: Fidel Castro has been the leader of Cuba since I was 15 years old. His brother was named to succeed him today.

Met a Gorgeous Blonde...

Met a gorgeous blonde and here she is. But then I fell in love about twenty times more as I met the dogs participating in the Boca Raton Dog Show. They are great. Their owners are also smitten and evidently willing to expend BIG bucks in doing the show circuit. Some of the rigs are custom and must approach the half-million dollar range.But there are some less well-heeled participants too. The owners and groomers couldn't be more gracious in allowing picture taking and even posing the dogs. I will tell you this: showing dogs is very labor intensive requiring dawn to dark effort. I met the top standard poodle at Westminster who is retired but was attending the show to see how his offspring performed. Like a movie star, he still looks great and knows it. Great fun to see and the interaction of man and animal.

Stopped by to give passes to the India-fest to Lew and Greg. Then I boogied up to Palm Beach and got lost but eventually found the venue. We arrived about the same time. Lots of
colorful sights , smells and tastes. There wasn't a whole lot of action. There was a series of musicians who were dwarfed by the stage. Very little visual spectacle so we were gone before my two hours on the parking meter was up. Greg bought a CD. A sunny beautiful humid day that tied the high temperature record- about 86 degrees. The heat was sapping my energy so I came home for a rest. They went to Deerfield Beach.

I thought the carved watermelon was pretty amazing.


Later I attended the barbecue, and campfire in the event that was supposed to be the farewell for Pat and Joe. The numbers are dwindling. Fernand and Harold know the lyrics to French and English Country songs and accompanied the recordings. There was a little war going on between Julie and Harold over the loudness of the music but like all the interactions in this group, it was good-natured. Fernand went to the restroom and when he came back he caressed his wife Yvette's leg. Harold told him, "No need to do that, I already took care of it for you." Tickled himself. I repeated my online observation that we were like teenagers, joking, listening to tunes around the campfire, having a few drinks, and hanging out. Harold said, "I'll take that!"

More Pictures at the Web Album:

Busy Florida February 23

The Fare-Well Season is starting

Joe and Pat left this morning for Sarasota. Pat will fly home from Tampa to babysit her granddog for Spring Break. Pierre, their friend from home came to visit before they left. We are still going to have their farewell barbecue tomorrow. The Canadians all take their sweet time going home. They have to reside in Canada for six months of a year to keep their health insurance.

Since Harold and Julie will be leaving for Orange City, FL next Wednesday, I took them to dinner at Phyllis G's thinking they would love it and thanking them for their many kindnesses. They did love it. It was a very pleasant evening. They have been coming here for five years. Harold retired in October, Julie in November and they were in Florida in December that year.

Beautiful day today. No rain. Boynton got a visit for my laundry and the luxury of a 5 nozzle shower. That is on the way to Delray for dining so it made good sense and was very relaxing. With kids camping on Scout Hill and dozens of rigs with five or six barking dogs per each, it is not relaxing here right now. It won't last but the weekend so I am just enjoying the sights and sounds.

Too much to do. I was given tickets to India Fest in Palm Beach, Lake Worth Street Painting is this weekend, the dog show is in the park. I will do what I can do. Glad to see sunshine.

This Weather is for the Birds

This is the second try on this post- the pictures wouldn't show up before. Thursday was another rainy day. I am getting tired of the rain but the moisture level is now a little above average which is a good thing no matter if it leaves me restless. The rain came straight down and the awning was perfect. Yay! That, at least, allowed me to sit in the screen room.

Since the send-off for Pat and Joe was rained out I grabbed umbrella and camera and walked over to their site during a lull of the storm. Nobody home. I walked and took pictures until it started to pour again. At my 6'7" height umbrellas are not very good for keeping things south of the equator dry but walking in the rain was a good experience.

Confined to quarters, I cooked and ate, napped, read, repeat, repeat. Watched American Idol .

Turns out I lied about the Met Life blimp. They just moved it over to the intersection of Congress and Lantana where the advertising value is better. Over here on this side people are waiting to cash in on their insurance which is not an insurance company's favorite thing to do.

The clouds did provide a great sunset. Friday is supposed to be nicer.

The show dogs are showing up and Buster is taking a dim view. He is not shy about complaining and warning them off.

Click on to Embiggen the pictures.

Night Out With the Kids

Kathy, Lori and Jason's dear friend from Phoenix and Chicago joined us for dinner at Phyllis G's, one of our favorite spots in Delray Beach. I have known Kathy since the kid's wedding so I gave her a greeting hug but her big old purse was in the way so my hand ended up on her fanny. I apologized. When we parted I gave her a little hug and she said, "Watch the hand." Lori said, "She's asking." I obliged. In between, we had our usual great meal and enjoyed our waiter, Jamie, from New Jersey, who is married to the owner's daughter. Kathy thought he was cute enough to be on American Idol, so I started kidding him. THAT was his on button. He loves American Idol ( but is a bad singer). He was Mr. Personality plus. We had a great time and he may have talked himself into a job interview. I had the coconut encrusted grouper- which was delish. (pictured). Jamie brought us the specialty dessert of the house (on him): Cuban Flan which impressed us greatly, though I am not normally a flan person.

We watched the start of the eclipse there and by the time I got home it was cloudy, then over.

Getting as Good as I Gave: When I picked up the mail today there was a Thank You card "for the delicious chocolate in the heart shaped box, delivered in the rain." It was sent anonymously. Now it is my turn to wonder. Funny.

Another coolish day. I worked on the fancy fan I had installed on this rig four years ago. It was reluctant to start but ran fine when it got a little push. I think it is fixed. Rode the bike to music until I got sweaty and worn out. Rode bikes with the Park Ranger for awhile. She is a husky girl in fighting shape- a very pleasant woman but she appears to be quite prepared for any eventuality.

Tried out the green grocer-Spanish Market on Lake Worth Avenue today. I doubt I will ever buy veggies or fruit from the supermarket again. Great stuff, cheap prices. A busy place.

We are gearing up for an influx of campers on the green out in front. There is going to be a big dog show on the 23rd and 24th. Agility courses, etc. I plan to photograph.

Rare Sight-Men at Work!

Fernand and Harold remounted the deflector shield on Harolds's rig. They drew a crowd, including a photographer. Harold had his coveralls on and tool box out. His license has a significance- I think the price of gold when he cashed in some corporate shares and bought his motorhome.

Shared the pix at Vespers at Harold's. Some hoots and laughs. We celebrated Joe's return and a clean bill of health. He brought back pictures of the Christmas wedding of one of Patsy's and his daughters- a beautiful family. They had gone home for that. They will be out of here on Friday-for the west coast (of Florida- about 150 miles). There will be a Thursday send-off at the barbecue pit.

Lew and Greg drove by- they were out playing with Gregg's new camera and he was so pleased with it and Lew was pleased because of that. They got a Canon A720-is which is a gem- "highly recommended" by DP Review which is a hard recommendation to get from them.

Coolish weather and I am loving it- the more Florida acclimated are griping.

Brother Rich just called. His daughter Alicia kicked her boyfriend to the curb in Denver about 5 months ago (that is a figure of speech but she could have done it). He moved home to Casper, and allegedly flashed his (wee-wee?) at a nine year old girl. She ran out- $75,000 bond. Faces 47 years. I'm sure he will plead "under the influence of drugs" which was the issue that blew it with Alicia. Sad for all.

http://www.trib.com/articles/2008/02/20/news/casper/cd0af85d63fb2735872573f50008aba6.txt

Whatever Works

Not everyone has a grand camper and nobody gets snooty-because there are as many uses and users as you can imagine. People who drive behemoths sometimes cast an envious eye on the camper with a light tow and decent gas mileage, or the ability to maneuver. Some people only need a dry place to sleep, others need a mini-home. Some like to live simply and others need all their toys. Practically everybody has some ingenious adaptations that suit their particular needs.

Another slowish day here- we started out wet and it gradually got nicer. I didn't open the Internet terminal because it was too wet this morning. I have switched my drink of choice to Rooibos red tea with a dollop of honey-home/Sun-brewed in plastic water bottles. No caffeine might be slowing me down. But I feel well.

Fortuitously, I made a big dinner. Pork chops-skinny ones, were on sale the other day and it seemed a good idea to cook the whole package in barbecue sauce. Greg and Lew and the dogs stopped by after their jaunt to Okeechobee today so I was able to nuke some potatoes and serve tough little pork chops, pork and beans and a salad. I was glad to see them. They have zest. Dogs did all right too.

I have been carrying a dead cell phone around apparently. When I discovered it, I plugged it in and found Lori had called this morning. We connected and will do something this week. They had friends- 3 sets, all of whom were in their wedding, arrive in town Friday. I didn't expect to hear from them this soon. I asked Lori if they laughed until their stomachs ached and she said yes. Sounds like it was a boost all around. That makes me happy too.

Tried to shower earlier but all showers in our building were occupied. I am going to wander up there in the dark and hope we don't get another power bump.

Mount's Botanical Gardens

It has been kind of a strange weekend. I think I may have been working up to a sleep deprived state because I did a lot of sleeping, and that seems to promote the loss of fluid that builds up in my legs so it was fine with me but not very exciting. Saturday was mostly at home except for a quick jaunt to the grocery store. I didn't even need to do that because Harold and Julie gave me leftovers- a seafood in alfredo sauce and noodles dish that was very tasty. I was up early Sunday and opened the terminal, got sleepy and went back to bed. When I awoke Patsy's coach was gone, a new outfit was moving in and Patsy rode by to tell me she was now in number 10- lakeside property. Joe will come back Tuesday night and they will know if they are going to the west coast as planned or home for more treatment for Joe. I decided to look at my list of things I want to do for something fairly close. I boogied up Military Trail, leaving Buster at home because it was a hot day, and found Mount's Botanical Gardens and proceeded to give the camera a proper workout.

Mount's has several sections over fourteen acres- Tropical Forest, to arid, edible gardens, butterfly gardens, islands, formal gardens: a very wide cross-section of flora and a little fauna. It was pretty quiet. A few families and couples did pretty much what I was doing, ambling, some taking pictures, some having lunch, most just enjoying being in vegetation.

I stopped and ate at a Chinese Buffet on Lake Worth Road. I had Buster covered with some stuff at home. The food was very good and the place was near Albertson's where I wanted to pick up some candy to put in the dish I was returning to Julie. And here I am.


More pictures at the web album:

Mount's Botanical Gardens

The Morikami Japanese Gardens

Packed up the camera and the dog and headed southwest to the famed Morikami Museum and Gardens. A shady parking spot for the hound and a bowl of water allowed me to explore most of this unique place. It is not a flower-rich place but the art is amazing. Ever-changing focus makes you see the same objects in a different light/view/perspective. Every hour, changes the art. It is a peaceful place.

The simple placement of a round frame invites you to frame different places.

Some rock gardens are just that- rocks, arranged artfully.

Water features are not flashy but serene- tranquil. This place invites contemplation. A great way to spend the day.

It was a pretty good jaunt down there. It was closing in on dinner time when we started back so I made two stops- burger time for the pooch, and I bought a couple of Boston Market Chicken pot-pies which are better than you might think. I had Patsy in mind. We sat outside and had a dinner. I did the dishes- walked them to the dumpster. Nice day.

More pictures at the Web Album:

Morikami Japanese Gardens Delray, FL Feb 2008