WRAPPING UP – PREPPING TO GO

It is our last week in Cedar Key.

Our house is a mess with piles of this and that, collected to be packed.

Will we need to ship things home? We are not yet sure. 

But it didn’t stop us from going FISHING on a PONTOON boat on Tuesday.

Check out my goofy Sunglasses -a gift from John on a Caribbean vacation

Off we go, for our last day of fishing at CK

The pontoon is better for John’s back and it was quite comfortable.  But the fishing – not as auspicious as the day – clear, bright, windless – but the fishing was not HOT!  We brought along our friend Lonna (her hubby, Martin, has to work). We fished around North Key most of the time — some fun action in the first spot – but no keepers….

Trout, catfish, pinfish (good for bait), blowfish, stingray  and Lady Fish – who always seem to flip themselves off before they reach the boat (good thing b/c they are reported to defecate and flip all over the boat, making it a mess. ) John had a little mackerel action (but it got away) and Lonna has some big flash on the hook for a minute but . . . .

Lonna's first catch. All our fish were just UNDER the legal limit - drat!

Pin Fish - good bait, we are told

Blown Up Blow Fish - with TEETH

Lady Fish - but she's no lady!

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Shooing the Stingray back into the sea

Maybe no fish - but he caught some rays

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Back of the Boat fishing Mates

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Cloud Tower over Cedar Key

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Nice Shot Near Shore....

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One thing our guide yesterday said perked our ears — “The best fishermen in the area fish with jigs – not bait.” Those were music to John’s ears. He hates the bobber/live bait sitting on the bottom, waiting for a bite – which really leads to the small, unkeepable fish.  Any bigger fish trolling through is not going to stop at that small shrimp and say “Oh, Hey, What a Surprise!” No, those desired fish are going to grab at an unexpected  flash of a jig – jigging by – and snatch it.  But we haven’t found that guide yet. Next Trip? 

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Who we really want is our fisher friend John Pascoe –

John Pascoe - Fisherman Extra Ordinaire

who has the nose and adventure for finding the fishing holes.  We look forward to seeing him and fishing with him soon in New Hope.

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Over the past weeks we’ve had a few other wonderful adventures and events arise..

From airboating . . .

Brand New Airboat in the Area. A beaut

Laura, Capt Heath, Suzanne

Ready, Set, LET'S GO!

Johnny - With Wind in His Hair!

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"This IS FUN!" Suzanne w/Jeff right behind her

Driving Toward the Sunset

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Captain Heath sharing the story of the Battle at Fort Four

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Sunset over Bridge Four -- which got it's name from the Battle Heath told us about.

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.Then we had a second visit from Laura and Don

Don and Laura under the tent in the Backyard, sharing a meal.

Laura and her Birthday gift - a hand made neck scarf with her Great Aunt Bid's beads sewn to the ends.

and their Sarasota Friends Susan and Faru … who instantly took to the beauty of Cedar Key.

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I cooked a pork shoulder all day on Friday to create pulled pork.  Made a video of the process too but haven’t yet edited it.

Pork cooking in cast iron pot on the cowboy cooker! Last big feast - came out delicious.

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We tried to go boating on Sat. but the weather was awful.

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A brave face on a cold, wet boating attempt

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Capt Pat Bonish - "will someone call this thing off, please?!!"

It crushed our party (PREVIOUS POST: Rain Party).  But we hailed hearty and the night and Sunday worked out great – with a good boat tour with Pat Bonish – a terrific photographer and manager of the very cool LOW KEY MOTEL.

Sunny Day on the Boat with Susan and Faru

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Laura Loves Boats!

Susan got lost in the wilderness beauty

Pontoon Leisure at North Key

Susan is set free!

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Faru checks his GPS to see where he is at (!) as Don enjoys where he is at!

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Later in the week, we spent an afternoon at the WACCASSASA RIVER, where friends are building a home.

A natural wilderness still exists along the Waccassasa River

 

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John got up in the deerstand to snap this picture by the river

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Big Red by the Waccassasa River

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The home of our friends, under construction

Water Reflections

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Then there was a final dinner with Jeff and Suzanne at the ISLAND ROOM where we dined outside.  They have become very good friends – and it has been terrific to share Cedar Key with them and their daughter, Lauren, who lives in Gainsville. ….

John, Suzanne, Laura and Jeff - a final group picture!

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Suzanne and Jeff with Chef and Owner: Peter

They gave us CLAW LIGHTERS - as a going away gift. FUN!

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Day is done but the friendship goes on

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In the past week, we’ve been enjoying the Blooming Oleander trees at our neighbors…. and all over town.

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The Hibiscus has been blooming all winter

Oleander Lane!

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And a last supper with Lonna and Martin on their deck….

View from Martin and Lonna's deck

Wonderful Views....accompanied by Sand Gnats "Ouch" Slap, Rub! But soooo beautiful to look at.

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Me and Maaaatin!

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We had BUCKS Join the party, once it cooled off!

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A lovely table on the Deck

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…But most recently we’ve been consumed by three events.

1. A job that opened with the Cedar Key Arts Center and Festival – which I interviewed for, was offered, but turned down, because I realized, after the interview, I would be consumed with the job and thwart what I came to CK for in the first place: our own creative work.  They understood and have secured a terrific person for their plans.  Good all around.

My Job Interview Outfit --New Dress from the Mad Men Collection at ?? I don't know my stores....but it was in the MALL (yikes) Love the dress - with pockets!!

 

2.  Our dog Bucks, who had a new symptom arise – difficulty to get a breathe.  He has been drawing rough breaths in rapid succession.

Dr. Sammy, who gave Bucks an excellent exam.

Vet said it was the weakening of the muscles in his throat that close when he eats/drinks … and they are not fully opening.

Daisy Paw and Bucks Paw.....on night on the rug.

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..He put Bucks on Prednizone – which has calmed down the inflammation but increased the peeing — in the middle of the night – so not much sleeping going on.

We are  now focused on getting him home –

so he can RIP with his brother in our garden.  There have been a few blubberfests on this matter – and discord between John and I as to what was happening and how to deal with it …. until we found our mutual desire to have Bucks resting in New Hope – not any where else. So, despite the Easter Holiday, we may take off early to get him home. 

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.Last night, Shari (an Artist from NYC who is quite a character)

Shari - our hostess - and artist - I crave her flower stained Glass

cooked us a delicious meal of Shrimp Scampi and her friend Peter (a muscian, writer, activist soul) joined the party. 

The Flower Stained Glass I crave

Shari had been trying to connect Peter and us for a while now and I’m glad she did. He is a most interesting soul – following his heart code through and through – and had so many curious stories about his life,  which leads to a story about a WWII mission and the pilots involved, which leads to the investigation of what happened in the gulf and some chemical substance that was sprayed to sink the oil to the bottom – a substance that is illegal in 19 countries but not in the USA) – and how he was exposed to it heavily b/c he was sleeping out on the islands at that time and began bleeding from the lungs – and how many in CK got a respitory inflammation that hung on for months – and how the people in Louisiana were really doused by it and are dying, quickly.   That’s what he told us. 

Shari's Garden / Art Gallery

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Peter and John Mind Meld

.Along with the assertion that when new Oil Wells were approved recently – BP got the first one.   And how they won’t show the well head – and …the chemical they sprayed has circulated the earth through the currents and…the fish are coming out with lesions … and….every one has been bought off – in the Government … for the benefit of big oil.

It made me wonder: Where can one go?  Is our only option to chose a place or places that please us?….. And have a back up plan for getting off this planet when it gets untenable?  

Kurt Vonnegut wrote in SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE: “The secret of life is to forget the bad and concentrate on the good.”  

I agree.  Sometimes that feels like being Pollyanna.  But what other choice do we have?  Be consumed by anger?  Flailing Don Quixote-style at a monolith of corporations who control our lives? Perhaps Ignorance IS Bliss.

I don’t know what the answer is. But maybe the serenity prayer is the only one to go by: Grant me the serenity to change the things I can, accept the things I can’t and the wisdom to know the difference.

My cousin Dee said to me the other day – “You don’t yet know how much this trip has impacted you – and you won’t until you’ve gotten home for a while”   She is so right. And thus, I must now take my leave of this blog until we do return home….”for I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep …and miles to go before I sleep” (Robert Frost)

Be well and send me your thoughts on all this. Would really like to hear how YOU think about these issue – either as a comment on the blog or an email: http://www.lauramatsonhahn@gmail.com

Thanks for coming along on this ride.  And, CONVERSATION FARM will continue….as we continue to explore the adventure of our lives.

I leave you with a few, happy, parting shots.

Paddling the Back Bay of Cedar Key

xoxo  Laura

Like the true snowbirds, the White Pelicans have gathered and flown the Coop

Heading to our Bridge in New Hope, PA .... for some more Lovely Days!