an exceptional anniversary gift

Our good friend, Jack Smith, has been working with me on the repairs of our home. Clearing out old pieces from around the house, I had offered Jack, my old Fenwick fly rod - he loves to fish.

Well, being such a sweetheart, and knowing that it was our 39 anniversary - when Sandy and I had eloped down to the Glades - Jack had kindly listened to my quirky story on how I caught a large Snook on a fly while canoeing through the mangroves, on that special day of our long ago, "Swamp Marriage" at Monroe Station.

So yesterday, Jack showed up with a 5ft long wooden sign which he had crafted while using my old fly rod, and presented this gift.  A nearly forgotten time and place.

a family visit, turned into a house project

The Balaban's annual visit sadly coincided with our major exterior house renovation. Too bad, cause I had hoped to have all the work completed before their arrival. And, disappointed that it took away from my time with the grand kids - with that funny Dustin & sweet Neve.

Balaban's shoes left at the doorway

After clearing out the darkroom, utility room and the work shed - a week into painting the entire exterior

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Though, on their last Sunday in town, the Balaban's invited us to join them for an epic day trip up to the Crystal River area, to "swim with the manatees".  And there, in the Three Sisters Springs, the Balaban family got that once-in-a-life-time chance, to swim among so many.

the annual camp out

Okeechobee, FL

Every year, a small group of us gather from across the state, to ride and camp for 3 days on a stretch of cattle land, right along side Lake Okeechobee.

  I started out early on a chilly Friday morning, packed and ready to roll.

And, not more than 5 miles down the road, my clutch cable snapped. There I waited on the side of the road for a flat-bed, tow truck service - and a driver named Gordon.

As Gordon and I headed over to a cross-town cycle shop, he told me he'd just moved down from Michigan after getting into some kinda trouble. When recounting his current life's story, it all sounded a little sad.

Seven hours later, I finally arrived along the shores of Lake Okeechobee.

Geoff, and his wife CJ, had already set-up camp - and sittin' there, was Geoff's prized '64 BSA Scrambler - a rare 650cc Spitfire Hornet. A proud bike, and one that always draws onlookers and attention.

Circling nearby, I came across a calf carcass - more than likely from a predator.

Saturday - we had planned a long ride around the Lake. Within the first hour, two bikes broke down - "Fuzzy's" '69 Bonneville overheated, was running lean - when it was suggested that he wrap his air-intake filters with two of his 'kerchiefs', which did the trick.  And then, Geoff's proud BSA Scrambler blew a primary chain 'tensioner' - and mechanically needed trailering to get back.

Back at the camp site - my time to rebuild last night's fire.  Our local good guy "Fuzzy" (a true southern gentleman, sportsman and cook extraordinaire) prepped our dinner - most of which he had caught or found fresh locally.

Our dinner menu - all deep-fried in a cast iron pot with peanut oil, all dipped in buttermilk, and lightly seasoned with Martha White's Corn Meal mix;

hush puppies
green fried tomatoes
fried Crappie
frog legs
Snook
and if requested, a cup of "sweetened" select buttermilk for dessert.

Sammy Ferrell - the land owner.  Always happy to have us, always happy to eat out under the stars.

By midnight, my good buddy Pete starting to yawn.

Sunday - I packed-up and left about mid-day. Had an ongoing noisy rear sprocket and chain, and was keeping my fingers crossed for that long road home.

About out an hour in, a 'pick-up' truck in front of me, sharply veered to the left, hitting a 5 foot gator trying to cross our narrow two-laned highway. I stopped, he didn't. It all seemed a little intentional to me. 

the 'early bird' @ Owens Fish Camp

An early dinner and a swing.

1st & Cocoanut

Sarasota's latest boom had me disoriented.  Sandy wanted to go downtown to a new theater, but I found, I could not find my way around. Maybe because it was dark. Or, on this eve of our national Inauguration, maybe it was Trump. I just couldn't get my bearings.

Finally there - Standing on the corner of 1st & Cocoanut, where once a little house stood - and looking across the street, where once a small house sat.

printed notice handed out at the theater ...... (we never saw the show - "sold out")

backyard secrets

I ran into an old friend of mine John, the other day - it had been awhile.

John Lambie, and his noted father locally, had both contributed greatly to an experimental legacy that began here in Sarasota. And with John, with his early-on environmental-friendly, Florida House (1992) - John inspired for many, the responsible need for future "eco-friendly" construction and home design, that reached out on a national level.

John had invited me to his annual holiday party earlier in the week. And, I was the first to arrive (must have gotten the time wrong), but it provided for me, an opportunity to wander and peer at his small, yet very unique backyard.

John described it as, a "perma-culture" garden, inspired by the late German social reformer, the esoteric - Rudolf Steiner. It would all be to difficult to explain - or even at times, try to understand, but I do like to grow things - and the study of "bio-dynamics" seem to resonate for me, from somewhere.

  

Sally invites us to lunch

And tells us how much she has always loved Christmas, ever since she was a child.