A crafting project with Amber

Amber had called a couple weeks ago inquiring if I would help her repurpose her Mom's old coffee table into an ottoman.  This sounded challenging, and at the same time like FUN!  It took 2 Mondays.  We'd start around 3:30-4:00 after shopping for supplies. We'd take a break for dinner, and then finish for the day around 11:00.  Even Clif got on the scene.  He was able to cut the legs down to size, and notch the foam batting to fit along the wood casings and trim.

Although I don't have a picture of the original table (but Amber will try to get one from her mom so I can insert it later), this is the first point we thought to take a picture of what we were doing.



Once we got the foam attached by using spray adhesive, we covered it with batting.  Amber painted the legs from the natural wood stain to white.  Just this process alone took up the first Monday.

The following Monday, we had to go back to the store because Amber realized she didn't get enough fabric to pull to the underside.  Once home, we were real focused, and by 11:00, our job was done!







She now has a multi-purpose ottoman.  Looks like she's ready for bed!  We had a lot of fun doing this project.  Not bad for a couple of amateurs!

Withlacoochee State Trail

Today is July 4.  Those that know Clif and I well know that we usually don't travel over this holiday.  Anyway, fears put aside, we decided to venture over to Floral City to pick up a portion of the Withlacoochee State Trail.  We got there at 10:30, and got started on our adventure.



We decided to head north with a goal of riding about 10 miles each way.  We passed Fort Cooper State Park in which we decided to eat lunch there on the return. 



A few miles later we happened upon another park in Inverness. 



A courageous man was swimming along the dock.  I say courageous because this time of year there is a risk of contracting a deadly ameba from the warm waters.



The scenery was beautiful.  Lots of boaters were on the lake.  Although you don't see them here.



Then we passed the old train depot.



A turtle was meandering across the trail.  We continued along the trail until we got to 9 miles, then turned to head back.



On the return, we did go to Fort Cooper, but when we got there the skies opened up to LOTS of rain.  It was over a mile to the parking area to find a shelter.  We had a picnic lunch and the rain dissipated.
I had to get a picture of the sign when we left because I wasn't taking it in the rain!



The scenery in the park was pretty.  For it being July 4, they weren't busy at all.  As a matter of fact, when we got there, we were the only ones at the park.  About 15 min later a couple with a dog came.  That was it!  Very peaceful to say the least.  We headed back to the trail to continue to the truck.  We could hear thunder in the distance and saw another rain storm moving in.  We rode rather quickly in beating it back to the truck.  We did.  Just as we left the parking area, the rain came. We ended up biking a total of 21.3 miles.

 Despite the rain, it was a delightful day nonetheless.  Now that we are safe and sound at home, we will watch the neighborhood fireworks from the comfort of our living room. :)

Leisurely Fun

When I got home from Mary's I decided to finish the puzzle Jane and I started before I left.  I got it done Sunday afternoon.



After I was finished, Clif and I went to Lake Eola so we could see the baby swans that hatched a couple months before.





The sun was setting between the city skyline.



When we got back to the car, I had low tire pressure on the back rear tire.  It was at 15 lbs.  In taking it to Tire Kingdom, I found that both tires had separation in the inside in which I needed 2 new tires.  I was VERY grateful to God for protecting me on my road trip.  At least He waited until I was safely home to alert me to the problem. :)

Sister Visit (part 2)

I'm still at Mary's and having a wonderful time learning her way of life. We spent yesterday canning lima beans, and making creamed corn. We started at 9:00am with the lima beans. By noon we were finished.



Then it was onto the corn after lunch.  Remember how stuffed her refrigerator was in the previous post?  We must have shucked 40-50 ears of corn!  It kind of looks like scrambled eggs to me.



After Mary shucked, it was my job to get the corn off the cob.  There was a method to her madness to make sure I "milked" the corn.  I didn't realize that is how it becomes creamy.  She says you only have to add additional cream if you don't get adequate milk from the corn.  Periodically, I would say, "oohhh, this cob is producing lots of milk!"  By 3:30, I was ready for a nap.  Whew.

 Last night we went to what I now call the "Howard Farm" and picked some more blackberries, white acre peas, lima beans, corn, green peppers, cucumbers, and tomato.    When we had finished harvesting, we cut through the woodland buffer to the next door neighbor to deliver shucked corn husks and cobs to his donkey, and give the homeowners fresh produce.  We got fresh eggs in return.  Then, we stopped at the other donkey farm on the way home to feed the remaining corn stock to his donkeys.



Of course the photo isn't too good because I took it in the dark.  This farmer has 2 pens of donkeys.  This is the pen I fed.  Mary fed the others.   

Today was almost as busy as yesterday.  This morning we again started by 9:00. I washed the veggies while Mary put all the peas and beans through the pea shooter. Then I had to wash them when she was done.  This took us until lunch. We took a break this afternoon and did some errands, and I had to take another nap!  This canning stuff is hard work!




After supper we made more blackberry jam.  I have this blackberry mushing down to a science.  We made 3 batches.  Then when the last batch was done, she served a few tablespoons of hot blackberry jam over vanilla ice cream.  What a treat!

I rarely eat after 7:00 at night, and because I couldn't resist the special treat, I told her we at least had to go out for a walk.  She offered us to ride bikes.  Well, we didn't make it down the street before we realized Mickey's bike had a bad tire.  It didn't hold air.  Mary said, "that's okay, I'll ride Michael's bike (her oldest grandson's bike).  Well....I couldn't contain my laughter watching Mary ride his bike with her knees pressing into her armpits.  Granted she wouldn't let me take a picture of her on the bike, but here's the bike, so just imagine that image in your head.



I offered to ride this bike, but Mary, being the considerate one that she is, would have no part in that.
So I road her bike...



Needless to say, I must have looked mighty graceful gliding along next to her panting, huffing, and puffing as she struggled to churn those wheels! LOL. :)


 Anyway, it was a long day.  We had a lot of fun.  I don't know how she does this week after week. She goes nonstop like the energizer bunny.  I on the other hand had to take a nap every afternoon.   I am now more grateful and appreciative when she gives me her canned goods. :)

Tomorrow I head back home to Orlando to recuperate. (Not really, my naps did the trick.)  :)

Sisters visit

I had decided to visit Mary and Janet this week.  It's not often we are able to see each other, so I had arranged to go to Charleston, SC to visit Mary, and while there, we would venture together to Morganton, NC to visit Janet and Rick. 

Mary is in full harvest.  I know what it's like just harvesting my small backyard garden, so I asked if she would like help harvesting her garden.  Of course, she accepted the offer!



She has 6 acres of land.  This is the view coming onto her property showing the garden in the background.



Lots of blackberries speckle the fence line.  We ended up filling 3 colanders full!  She makes a delicious blackberry jam.  We took fresh blackberries to Janet's and she made a scrumptious blackberry cobbler.  MMMMM!



Her garden is 40X60 feet.  I didn't realize, but it took me almost 3 hours just to harvest 1 row of lima beans!  She has all kinds of wonderful veggies, and cans them as she harvests.  Sooo...
We started with making bread and butter pickles from all the cucumbers she had already picked before I got there.


Of course you have to start with making the juice with all the spices.





Then you add the cucumbers and boil them.



When we were done with the process, we had 9 jars of pickles.



Next it was onto making the blackberry jam.  My job was to mash and juice the blackberries.







Once I did the prep work for Mary, she prepared, boiled, and canned the jam.  I am looking forward to bringing some home.  Yum! :)



This is what we were able to harvest in the 3 hours Sunday evening.  Mary tells me we don't have to shell the peas and lima beans.  She has a pea shooter that does that.  Whew!



I only had to rinse the veggies, she ran them through the shooter.  I was thinking we were going to can all these before we went to Janet's.  Luckily, she said we would do them Thursday when we came back.  I'll do another post of that whole experience.



Looking in Mary's refrigerator, there is lots of corn to prepare.  That is going to be for another day.  I have to admit I am exhausted from helping her with just the few things we did.  I am glad we have a reprieve to visit Janet and Rick for a couple days. :)




Janet wanted to know what we wanted to do while there.  I asked, "can we just do a puzzle?"  I needed to park my butt in a chair after all the standing required when canning.  No wonder why Mary is so skinny!  Well, I must admit, putting a puzzle together with these 2 is a hoot.  We spent more time giggling.  Janet was insistent we were missing 35 pieces, Mary was going cross-eyed trying to place the black-eyed susans, and I was putting puzzles pieces in "time out" that I tried numerous times to put in the same spot that didn't fit.  And when we couldn't find a missing piece, we laughed all the more when we realized it was the piece I put in time out!!!



Mary, Janet, and I standing on her back porch.

Gardening

Since being home from Clearwater, I have been finishing up the gardening Clif and I started back in March.  Some weeding and extra mulching needed to be done, additional plants added, and a bird bath put in.  Even though it is not 100% done, it is complete for now.  In the early spring, I will move some plants to different areas within the bedding to fill in the more open areas.  Eventually, the shrubs will fill in nicely.









We've gotten so much rain lately that the rain lilies are in full bloom.  I love how the reach to kiss the sun! :)

Summer Days

School is out, and summer has begun. :)

My first trip: Clearwater.  I went to visit my dad, Vicky, Barbara, and Pete.  It was relaxing.  I have been yearning to see the glorious sunsets Clearwater is known for.  The past 4 times I have been there, it has been either raining or overcast.  This trip did not let me down.



Vicky and I walked on the North beach heading toward Mandalay Shores.  We had about an hour before the sun would fully set.









I love how the colors change as the sun lowers.  There was a soft salty breeze which soothed the soul.
Aaahhh. :)