Cedar Key, Florida

One of my favorite places. When I lived in Gainesville I used to drive over in the evenings just to watch the dolphins and sun set. Very low key during the week - no touristas.

Oak Logs

A gentleman brought these logs by from a lot he was clearing. The large one is a water oak and the small ones are red oaks. I sawed them into 5/4 thickness and for the most part quarter sawed the large log (25" x 10') and flat sawed the smaller one. Despite being dead for a while they were heavy heavy.

More Cruise Photos

These are some photos taken during my 10/2011 cruise from Tampa to the Cayman Islands, and Cozumel. The sea was getting rough coming back, tornadoes were supposedly forming south of us.

Birthday PC Trip

My daughters and son in law took me down to FL to celebrate my 60th birthday at Hunt's Oyster Bar. I am fortunate in many ways.

Check out this palm in a Panama City FL park in the St. Andrews area. Very unusual! Here's the official description.

A massive live oak, every young person's dream - designed by nature to be the perfect treehouse tree.

Don't forget, every one's welcome to leave comments. Daughter Angela was the photographer.

2011 Apalachicola FL Trip

This photo was taken (11/4/11) facing north on FL State Hwy 73 where it connects to FL State Hwy 71, a little south of Kinard FL. The next couple of photos were taken at the intersection of Hwys 73 and 71, south of Kinard.

Apalachicola's Seafood Festival

Ok folks be sure to check out the Seafood Festival in Apalachicola, FL if you're in the area this weekend. Hey give me a pat on the back I was able to do the hyperlink without daughter Angie's assistance.

While I'm there I'll be checking on a Ranger Tug, this looks to be the perfect boat to search the shoreline for drift logs that need rescued and revitalized into a bowl, cutting board, or whatever the log wants to be.





Leave me a msg if you'll be able to make it!

Pilot Boat

This is a photo of the boat bringing the harbor pilot out to the ship next to ours. I am standing on the 11th deck taking the photo. The boat is about 40 foot in length, but looks to be a toy boat in comparison to the cruise ship. Check out how clear the water is!

October 2011 Cruise

Here we are on Dennis Connor's 1983 America's Cup boat the Stars and Stripes. The boat requires a crew of 14 to get the maximum speed from her. We had just finished racing the Canadian boat in the background - also an America's Cup boat. Needless to say the guy in the front and I (in the dark shirt) were the winch grinders (the bigger guys were always used). You can see the winch handle in the front right side of the photo of the one I was responsible for. The winch had 3 speeds or gearings to help tighten the genoa sail when tacking or coming about - pardon me - my sailing vocabulary is a bit rusty. The real crew were the captain Tony (UK) adjusting his cap, Joe (Argentina) in the white holding the line on the right. The rest of us were cruise line amateurs.


This is the Stars and Stripes with main sail up and the genoa sail still rolled up.


We sailed on Carnival's Inspiration - leaving Tampa on a Monday, headed to UK's Cayman Islands on to Mexico's Cozumel arriving back in Tampa Saturday Morning.

Never thought I would say this but I was ready to get home. Five days of lazy were too many for me. Three days next time. All in all I had a good time except for the weight gain.

Fall Cruise!

I'll be taking a cruise later this year on Carnival Cruise Lines. We'll be stopping in Cozumel where I'll be sailing on one of Dennis Conner's America's Cup Ships, the Stars and Stripes. I am so excited. My sailing experience consists of the Chrysler Bucaneer, an 18 foot daysailor and a Catalina 22 we used to sail on Lake Eufaula (AL) and West Point Lake (GA). So this is going to be a dream come true!

That's daughter Amy on the beach in 1983 or so, I'm in the yellow sailboat - the Bucaneer on Lake Eufaula, AL.

Father's Day Lunch w/Daughters

Last Friday, my daughters and I had lunch at the The Farm House in Ellerslie, Georgia. Angie and I had the chicken and dumplings, Amy had the chicken and brocolli casserole. They were all good, the candied yams were exceptionally rich. The desert choice required some deliberations - there were so many to choose from. I could not have asked for better company to enjoy the ambiance of The Farm House and the true southern cooking. Check their website out. Thumbs up!

2011 - Apalachicola's Annual Antique Boat Show

I was able to attend Apalachicola's Boat Show this year see www.antiqueboatshow.org for more info. It was the 4/15/11 weekend. If you like wooden boats this is something you might want to check out.

Of course the seafood is always worth the trip down from GA for me. This is a photo of my favorite meal at Boss Oysters Restaurant - blackened grouper with of course a cold beer, nothing more needs to be said.

I had a great time I met my buddy Chuck there and friends Becky and her husband Jim.

The other photos were taken at the Sportsmens Lodge in East Point, FL.

The peacock was trying to entice a hen that was feeding in the bushes. I watched him for about ten minutes and still the hen continued to ignore him. Women, whatta you gonna do?

On the way home Sunday I stopped at Sadie's Flea Market and bought some plants. I still have not been able to get a rosemary to survive the winter, so I had to get a couple more of them. Now the question is, will they survive the summer - its been way too hot and no rain in sight.


I also stopped in at Harbor Freight to add to my tool collection. Can't have enough!

Well folks thats it for now.

Don't forget you can click on photos to enlarge them and remember all comments are welcomed!

April 2011 Chattanooga Trip to Visit Daughter Amy

I visited my daughter Amy in Chattanooga for a fun filled weekend. I was exhausted afterwards. Got there around 10 on Saturday morning.

First thing we did was take an excursion train ride on a steam engine http://www.tvrail.com/ . We got to see some scenic views and - for me the most interesting part was watching the engine turned on the roundtable. The roundtable is so balanced that when the engine and tender is centered, one man could actually rotate the table. Also had to take a picture of a Southern engine - I was a Southern Conductor/Brakeman for a while years back.

Next thing we did was get a pedicure, yes, I got
one too. Apparently it is OK for men nowadays.

There was a male bodybuilder getting one as well so I did not feel too bad, plus I was out of town so no one I knew would have seen me anyways.

After that we went to the annual Corn Bread Festival in Pittsburg, TN to enjoy the crafts and of course cornbread and pinto beans, check it out http://www.nationalcornbread.com/ .

By the time we got back to Chattanooga we were hungry (at least I was) so we stopped at the local Five Guys http://www.fiveguys.com/ for burger. A suggestion here - one order of frys is enough for 2 - 4 hungry eaters. Wish we had a franchise in my area.

We then rested for 5 minutes, changed, then went
to a Chattanooga Lookouts game. The highlight of
the game besides the actual game was a performer
named The Amazing Christopher who performed a Village People take off using life size puppets. I could not do him justice by explaining so search for him on the Internet!

That was Saturday, are you tired yet, I was and am!

Sunday morning we stopped at Dunkin Donuts for my favorite coffee which Starbucks cannot touch.

Then off to downtown for a ride on a Duck http://www.chattanoogaducks.com/ on the Tennessee River. The driver gave a very informative
commentary about the river and its history in
addition to the development of the Duck which
is a WWII deuce and a half truck converted to a
dual purpose freight hauler (by land and sea).
This is a trip every one should take when visiting Chatta.

We then went to Chattanooga's Market http://www.chattanoogamarket.com/ , another treat special to the area. They hold the market every Sunday in a pavilion downtown. There are all kinds of fresh local grown produce, local artists, crafts people, food vendors, plant/tree vendors, bakers, in addition to a musical performer. We got some German bread, brochens, and I got 4 Dahlia tubers, and hey they are doing well.

After that we stopped for Mexican food at Taco Max I think the name was. Amy had to work that evening so she caught a nap while I headed back to GA to check on the chickens. Had a great time. I am very fortunate in that both my daughters enjoy (I hope) hanging out with me.

Comments are always welcome, thanks!

Remember to click on the photos to enlarge them, enjoy!

Amy and Angela hanging out with daddy!

Some photos of daughters and daddy's big toy (Wood-Mizer Sawmill).

Don't forget to click on the photo for a larger view.

Cheerleading!

Angela, Jason (cousin), and Amy years later.

Sweet little daughters!

Amy and Angela during the ballet and dance phase that we all put our daughters through!

I keep meaning to ask them if they enjoyed it as much as we (the parents) did.

I'm back!

I've been away for awhile w/FB and decided that I prefer posting to my blog. Soooooo, folks stay tuned! Your comments are always welcome and appreciated!