Puzzle IV & Moving Day

First of all, the puzzle-du-jour: Soap Box Derby

Our new place has a few more funky lamps, obviously a Hibiscus trademark.

This one is on Joan's bedside table. It has a special switch that allows for off, side light, main light, both lights.

Here are some questions for the Grandkids:

1 What did thy call the little side-lights. Your parents can help if they know. If they don't know, ask someone that's really old...

2 Can you find Grandpa Paul in any of these pictures? ... and no, I'm not hiding in the puzzle.

Here's a close-up of the little side-light. What do you call these?

Another funky thing about our new place is that it has a computer station.

At first I thought it was a chair and counter space to be used as a make-up table; silly me. It's a computer station because that's the only place in our one bedroom unit where the WI-FI is strong and consistent.

This is another view, shot while standing in the tub.

Please keep that in mind if you Skype us. [Just had to add that so we'll know if you read this before you Skype. If you're laughing hysterically when you call, we'll know why...]

If you give up, they're bubblers: if you look carefully, you can see the bubbles as little streams when the light heats up. Their main use was for decorative Christmas tree lights [a long long time ago].

Who woulda thunk it? In the bathroom... It's obviously true that the Internet is everywhere.

Puzzle Factory III

When it's very cold, or too windy or just plain dark outside, it's a good time to do a puzzle and have a few laughs. It's been that kind of weather in the last few days, so here are two more that have been completed, too bad the laughter doesn't come through in a blog...

This next one was just completed and had to be photographed with a flash, which turned out reasonably well.

I've mentioned the great puzzle box with sorting trays that Ron Mehrer built for us from very rough ideas that we had.

Today, I discovered a new use. I've been photographing the puzzles with the box flat on its back, mainly outside in the shade. This has worked quite well, but with a flash, all you get is the reflection of the flash on the shiny surface of the puzzle pieces. Tonight, I just propped the box fairly upright on a chair and every puzzle piece just stayed put, as designed! Thanks again Ron!

It's dark outside, good time to join in at the puzzle factory...

Beach Walk III

Cold and windy sums it up, but a walk on the beach, when the sun is out, always has something interesting to offer. Here the lake outlet is still mixing with saltier water and making interesting contrasts. The middle [and a little to the left] of the tannin-rich waters has a small ridge completely out of the water.

Here, a small outflow of Gulf water is returning to the Gulf by mixing with the tannin-rich lake water, mixing clear and reddish waters.

The sand cliffs carved by the lake outflow make for an interesting sculpted edge, highlighted by the play of light.

Here's another view that shows the size of this natural sculpture. Of course, the boys sunning themselves adds a little touch of Florida to the scene.

Here's a closer view of the boys, heads into the wind, just sunning themselves. Is this the real Florida or what...

I'll leave these next three pictures without explanation other than to say they are in colour...

Back to the puzzle works...

Puzzle Factory II

Last night's puzzle was a Springbok 500 piece rendition of Pebble Beach Green. Springbok is known for it's weird pieces and tight fit. You can double click on image to check out the piece shapes...

This is probably the first time Jan and Joan finished a puzzle at a single sitting [with a little, very little, help from yours truly].

Today is wet and cold so the magic puzzle box is getting lots of use.

As usual with almost every puzzle, there must be pieces missing... Funny how those pieces turn up as if by magic when there are less pieces to choose from...

We may even make some chili!

The Puzzle Factory

Our very good friend Ron Mehrer built us a puzzle making box with sorting trays that makes puzzles easier to sort and store. Now Jan likes puzzles with the best of them, but also wants to sell them on E-bay. We're reasonably good sports, willing to help a lady in distress, [I may exaggerate a bit...] but Jan needs to confirm that every puzzle she bought at garage sale, or in some other dark spot, is complete. It wouldn't help her E-bay 'satisfaction' score if she sold puzzles with pieces missing.

We've been most supportive of this and have relentlessly done Jan's puzzles to confirm their completeness. Over time, we've done a bunch, Jan helping of course, and we've had a blast doing so. Laughter seems to permeate the air when we're together, and laughter is very good for you!

Here are two puzzles we've done so far in Grayton. I forgot to photograph the very first one...

I'll try to keep you apprised of progress...

Wave Subtleties

We volunteered at Eden State Gardens this morning and ended up painting lattice work with paint brushes, not the most efficient way... Should they find a paint-sprayer, I'll go back and finnish the job...

After going to Jan's to deliver new-found fire-wood, we made it back to our place to change into something cooler.

A bit of sun, means a good time to go to the beach... Joan went for bike ride...

If you visit the beach long enough, there are subtleties that are not there for the very casual observer, subtleties that have no end, you just have to wait and observe. The rewards are there if you persevere.

Incoming waves are all different. When they enter the outflow of a brackish lake, the results are quite fascinating.

Yesterday, you saw tannin rich brackish waters making their own magic designs. Today, new magic appears as the incoming tide pushes back the brackish waters. Hope you find the pictures interesting.

Of course, Florida wouldn't be complete without a pink beach house. This one was actually in yesterday's post, but I thought it interesting enough to post a newer version.

These houses are all on stilts so that a surge waves can just sweep through without damaging the house at all. Not a bad idea seeing as how hurricanes do come this way, and surge waves are known to be 30 feet high or more...

The beach-front may be pricey due to their view, but there are risks...

Beach Walk II

Stormy weather coming so it's a good time to go for a beach walk. We brought our fleeces but put them in a bag quickly; the wind wasn't that bad, the temperature was finally pretty good. Here's Joan crossing the Alligator Lake outflow into the Gulf.

You might notice that the water at her feet is pretty dark; a result of lots of tannin from decaying leaves and stuff in the lake.

The next picture is just a little upstream and shows the shore erosion [those white cliffs are just eroded beach sand. The reddish brown water is full of tannins from the lake and is quickly heading out to the Gulf of Mexico.

The tannin-rich water does make for interesting designs in the flowing water; the darker parts being deeper water.

One of the mysteries of Grayton Beach is the annual appearance of these feathers, they are about 10 feet apart, in a straight line, and go well beyond the park boundaries. Here's one, after last nights' rain, one of hundreds!

The beach houses here [ Grayton Beach ] have suffered from the last series of hurricanes that wreaked havoc about 5 years ago. Note the lack of sand below the building, and the complete lack of a back yard...

Sea Gulls seem impervious to impending storms and such, here is a twosome checking me out.

As we walked, the clouds became somewhat menacing so we turned around and made our walk shorter.

By the way, the feather in the lower right corner above is another one of hundreds in this section of the beach [see above].

The clouds seemed more menacing as we returned to our bicycles.

Here's the view to the West as we were walking East.

Some of the house colours are very representative of the 'Florida' look.

We made it back without a drop hitting us. As a matter of fact, the clouds did not amount to anything; the sunshine returned and comfort was assured. What fun!

For those that noticed, these pictures were made with my old Nikon 4500, an ancient [by todays standards] 4 mega pixels camera that's been in my trunk, following me around but unused for years. It's small, weights nothing, is useless in full sunshine [like today] but still makes decent images. You may see more of it...

Beach Walk

Sunny day, so far, with possible rain and cloud; it's definitely time for a beach walk.

We live in an area with many park areas including huge forests. Most of these areas have fire management plans that include prescribed fires. On those days, signs are installed on local highways warning of smoke or fog, one way to minimize all the expected emergency fire calls. Sunday is not a usual day for prescribed fires, but it can be. As we walked over the access walk-over to the beach, this threatening smoke cloud showed up north of the State Park. This is likely 10 to 20 miles away, so it's quite a threatening sight.

No worries, happens all the time.

Here the 'boys' are having fun, just cruising the beach. On a better day, they'd all look identical, just soaring, because they can.

The fight is always between the water, the sand, and the land. Water and wind push the sand over the land. Developers push the land into the water.

One natural local plant that helps moderate this conflict is the sea-oat grass; it grows roots many yards deep, has a grass like leaf that helps retain the blowing sand, and is reasonably resistant to major wave action. That's why the sea-oats are protected by Florida law; you aren't supposed to walk on it, remove it, etc.

Here's a little dune, covered in sea-oats making it's stand against both the developers and Nature. Best of luck!

And finally the beach! Very fine white sands, rolling surf, and a threatening sky. Everyone else was expecting rain so we had the beach to ourselves. Good stuff!

Shorts, bare feet and a fleece. What fun!

Kings Isle, Port St Lucie Fla

About ten years ago, an acquaintance from primary school was moving into our condo building and I chanced to recognize him. He was still taller than me and there were other signs of no longer being a teenager, but his eyes didn't change much even though I'd be hard pressed to tell you what colour they are. Whatever, we had an old-standing [fifty years old or so!] friendship to renew, so we did.

Turns out Richard is an outstanding Bridge player and his wife Terri wanted to learn and practice. An ad on the condo board requesting Bridge partners brought us together and the rest is history: we're good friends and have a very good time together.

Terri and Richard have a house in Florida and after a few missed opportunities, the stars lined up, calendars were coordinated and we drove down to see them earlier this week. Much laughter, more Bridge, some wine and food, and we had a great time. We walked Jensen Beach, looked at properties for rent and for sale, and played more Bridge. [Did I mention the guys won? that's another story...] Joan and I will be looking for a place to rent nearby for January / February next year when temperatures should return to their normal pleasant levels. What fun! a new adventure.

Terri and Richard live almost half the year in a wonderful gated community where golf is well favoured with contract Bridge not far behind. Actually, just about every activity you can think of interest to 55+ types is available at the club-house. Their house is on a small street of dozen or so houses and this is a picture of the front.

Once in the screened front door, you're faced with a few comfortable chairs to bask in the morning sun behind screening that keeps the critters out.

Out back, a screen and glass lanai allows comfortable enjoyment of the backyard; a little lake often visited by sand-hill cranes. Just how cool is that?

Of course, had it been a little warmer, we could have played bridge at the table above, but played in the kitchen instead.

Here's the other end of the lanai where a large TV shows sports, olympics and stuff like that, in air-conditioned comfort.

My picture of our hosts didn't quite make the 'cut' so I'll have to go back and do it over again...

We drove back to Grayton in time for supper and we're now settling in to our place-for the-next-week.

Today, we drove to Eden State Gardens and were very enthusiastically encouraged to return and volunteer next Tuesday. With a warm welcome like that how could we say no?

Huey's Next Adventure

Huey was our 1978 GMC motorhome, the one that brought us to volunteer at Grayton Beach State Park. We bought in November 2002 and stopped using it in favour of the convertible in mid 2007. [ http://gmc1978.blogspot.com/ ]

Our history with Huey was mostly pleasant and he shared many very fond memories with us. ... but it's a lot easier for me to describe the mishaps...

He was bought in Welland, ON and I drove him to Ottawa in the rain, after stopping in Wellington to see Wayne and show off. Huey had already lost two hubcaps. The following month, we drove Huey south and hit a pretty serious snow-storm with blowing winds, snow drifts and the lot. We went to Sandusky MI where there's a GMC specialist who made Huey safe to drive and more reliable. The whole front drive-train from the end of the transmission to the front wheels was replaced in only 3 or 4 days. Other miscellany such as the steering-box were also replaced, and then we left for Florida.

More surprises were in order. When we hooked up the water, we had a reproduction of Niagara Falls coming from behind the rear bumper, so we used a bucket of water for the rest of our three months there. To add insult to injury, one of the side windows blew out and we had to tape it over while waiting for the folks at Sandusky to send us a new one. With lots of advice, I managed to install it without getting too much of the sticky black goo on me, but that's another story.

For the rest of our stay, Huey worked fine and I think we even managed a weekend side-trip. On the way home, Huey endeared itself once more by having the transmission melt on the 401 near London ON. We were towed to a transmission repair place where the owner had once completely rebuilt a GMC that he bought from an insurance company after it had been in a serious accident. He then used it for many happy years, and was quite happy to work on Huey. We rented a car to get home, and I returned to a once-again-repaired Huey at the end of a week.

Huey had a few trips to the maritimes, with the only incident being an awful smell of ammonia because I had parked it on a very steep incline, with the fridge 'on'. So the fridge stopped working for the rest of that trip, but solved its issues on its own in due course. Next came a brake failure in Smiths Falls where our great mechanic happens to be, so he stayed late and replaced a whole bunch of brake lines: then we had our coldest trip to Florida.

The last indignity was another brake failure last summer, after being parked for a year. Actually, that were two complete break failures, but that too is another story.

Huey was parked at our good friends [Judy and Jim Pantekoek] for all the time it was not in-use. The patience and generosity of good friends can never be repaid, but then, good friends never ask. We'll always owe Judy and Jim for having baby-sat Huey for most of the time we owned it.

Over the years, Len Churchward helped me 'fix' things, such as replace the complete water-system, install a new radio, and a few other major and minor things.

My attempt at selling Huey was a great source of frustration with absolutely no moments worth remembering. Judy and Len Churchward, fine friends from our mutual boating days, came to my rescue once again, and managed to finally sell Huey and photograph its trip to the new owner, yesterday! In the middle of Winter no less!

Here are some of Judy and Len's pictures from this short trip from the Pantekoek's to Antrim, a nearby village.

Here's Len holding up the mirror, ... no really, I jest; the mirror was fine and has always operated without a flaw and beyond reproach.

Thanks Jim for removing the snow so Huey could escape.

One thing Huey did very well was start, which is not always easy for a motor with a four barrel carburetor that's been sitting for a while, even in the coldest day! ... but again, I digress.

Here's Huey facing the long and snowy laneway, probably with some unnecessary trepidation on Len's part.

Judy made this next shot where the road was actually cleaned.

Here's Huey [or whatever his or her new name will be] in Antrim, in the new owner's circular drive.

Huey always had style, or some might say: attitude. On this particular occasion, having driven for 30 or so miles, the tires were nice and warm when it was parked on the fresh snow. The tires melted some snow, six wheels sank, the new owner gunned it, and you guessed it, Huey was stuck.

Len had the money, and the plates, and left...

Hey "New Guy', welcome to my world.