A beloved comic ripped the other day.
Hal and I had hung it up years ago in the companionway. Marianna was still little enough she could run around and around on the seats in the boat without cracking her head on a thing. She also was in the hop-hop-hop mode of transportation. She'd hop onto the boat clinging to the rail, swing under, run to the cockpit, hop over the combing to the seats, run around the cockpit once or twice, hop down to the floor area and bounce down each step of the companionway.
Any unsuspecting person below decks was guaranteed a minor heart attack as this 50 pound squirrel was cavorting over their heads.
So it was with a saddened heart that I removed the comic that was not so relevant anymore. Marianna no longer resembles that 50 pound squirrel being all legs and braids and stealth. Oh yes, she has taken good notes from Harriet the Spy and can sneak up on lizards and mothers with equal aplomb.
However, waiting forgetten all these years under the comic was this pretty little plaque.
Now, I know you most likely cannot read it but just below the topmost chain it says "Oh Lord, my boat is so small," followed along the bottom with "and Your sea is so great." To the right is an image of St. Christopher and the words "St. Christopher be my guide."
I have zero recollection of ever having seen this before. Isn't that weird? It is now one of my most favorite things on this boat though!
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Beautiful evening tonight, Hal and I wandered down the docks to view the sunset with a fine glass of wine. The air was warm while the breeze was cool. I took a million photos of clouds that look like they'd be perfect backdrops for those celestial infant photos new mom's are drawn to purchase. A few turned out slightly more vivid as the sun sank lower, more sunset while listening to Beethoven rather than Brahms, if you know what I mean!
Of course, anytime the sun approaches the horizon here a chorus of conchs begins, A-Dock is echoed by C-Dock, boats on moorings join in. Some folks pull out air horns (cheaters!) or even flutes (who is that, anyway???).
Others jump in boats for a little cocktail cruising. This particular lady is just back from the sandbox and her kitty won't hardly leave her side. Have you ever seen another cat that would eagerly jump into a dinghy for a ride?
Finally, a recipe I don't want to forget as it is soooo good! Today is St. Isidore's Feast Day. This Spanish farmer inspired a grilled vegetable with picada dish tonight. I doubled the picada and breaded some orange roughy for the grill as well.
On the grill:
Bell peppers
Japanese eggplants trimmed, cut lengthwise into 3 slices
Green or yellow zucchini trimmed, cut lengthwise into slices
Olive oil (for grilling)
For the dish:
6 Tbsp olive oil, divided
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/2 tsp dried crushed red pepper
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 Tbsp wine vinegar (which I couldn't find so left out)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbsp chopped fresh oregano (left out, too $$$, a whole plant was cheaper than a package)
Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and crushed red pepper; stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add breadcrumbs; stir until golden, about 3 minutes. Season breadcrumb picada to taste with salt.
Place vinegar in another small bowl; whisk in 3 tablespoons oil. Mix in parsley and oregano. Season to taste with salt. (or dump oil over parsley and call it finito)
Arrange vegetables on platter. Spoon herb dressing over; sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
Deliziosa!
| I'm all at Sea with this Recipe! |
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FOR TODAY: May 12...
Outside My Window...
Low, racing clouds are tangling in the masts of the sailboats
I am thinking...
Summery, sandy thoughts
I am thankful for...
This poem given to me by Marianna for Mother's Day:
Daintily you sip
Topaz, Ruby, Onyx gleams
There you are, then gone.
From the kitchen...
Asparagus, roast beef and bleu cheese wraps
I am wearing...
A brilliant cotton sundress in retro greens and turquoise
I am creating...
A new summer notebook for grocery lists and notes
I am going...
To consider what it will take to complete a writing project I've been dabbling with this spring
I am reading...
I just began At Risk by Alice Hoffman this morning in the cockpit with coffee, a rosy sunrise and a blackbird chorus
I am hoping...
this blustery weather settles by Thursday
I am hearing...
Rigging clanking on masts, waves slapping the hull, the dinghy bumping the boat
Around my home...
Buena Vista Social Club is blasting (the first song is perfection, isn't it?), Marianna is crafting a mask and I'm debating on Italian Roast coffee or Lavender Green Tea this afternoon.
One of my favorite things...
Sand between my toes while watching herons fly home in the evening
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
Organization!!! The holds they are a-bursting!!!
Here is a picture thought I am sharing...
Thank you, Peggy, for the thought-provoking Daybook.
| Meme |
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Isn't live music simply the best? That is one of the #1 great things about Key West, you can find live music 24 hours a day in this town.
The other night we stopped in at our favorite Irish pub and Fiona Molloy from New York City was crooning her heart out. Since I just happened to have my camera handy I played around with natural light B&W photos. Black and white just seemed like a natural choice for the atmosphere that night.
And Fiona - I'm sorry I freaked you out! Here I was thinking the no-flash thing would be unobtrusive and inconspicuous. In a small venue nothing goes unnoticed, I guess!
Now whenever we groove along with local band Mile Marker 24 the tropical rhythms call for super saturated brilliant color, don't you think? You can hear one of MM24's songs over in the song box, right after the Beach Boys' Kokomo.
And Howard - you on the otherhand are way too fond of the camera.
I'm posting this under April Showers of Photos even though it is May - I think it'll turn into my general photography tag. Have a great weekend! I think we'll try to fit a bit of music in! Is music in your plans too?
| April's Shower of Photos |
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Well, they weren't really Cinco de Mayo Margaritas as I had to work Monday but my, my, my! have they been delicious Seis de Mayo y Siete de Mayo Margaritas! It has been the week of the quesadilla here aboard the S/V Mari Hal-O-Jen, chicken on Monday and steak on Tuesday and last night a super terrific and easy Mexican-inspired soup.
one can beans (I used black beans) and shredded chicken to taste.
Top with Sharp Cheddar, diced tomato and sour cream.
Dick the Dog just in at the Navigator Monday evening from skateboarding down Duval Street. Really. I don't make these things up! He is a great 'boarder, you may have seen him on the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN or on the cover of the Washington Post.
Eeww!!!
I just saved my post and saw the title "Mayo Margaritas" and nearly grossed myself out - mayonnaise margaritas??? What the...?
I apologize profusely if you too were taken aback and I can assure you no mayonnaise jar came within 1 foot of the shaker when making the margaritas.
Tequila - yes.
Key Limes - yes.
Triple Sec - yes.
Mayo - NEVER!
| I'm all at Sea with this Recipe! |
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A most heartfelt thank you to all the participants in the April Showers of Photographs. I'd like to extend a May Flower to each and every one of you! With that in mind I carried my camera along on a walk with Marianna yesterday, snapping the wildflowers as we came across them. Then tonight I browsed through each of your blogs and selected my personal favorite photo from your collections.
"Go East," they said...
...and these Thy gifts...
As We Walk
By Sun and Candlelight
Five Monkeys and a Princess
Handbook of Nature Study
Island in the Grove
Joyful Chaos
Just Another Day In Paradise
LaPaz Home Learning
Moments Like These
Our Domestic Church
Our Heart's Haven
Parente Adventures
Pondered In My Heart
Running With Perseverence
Shower of Roses
Sonlight Garden
Spiritbee
Sweetness and Light
Ten Kids and a Dog
The Bookworm
The Cabbage Patch
The Family-Centered Life
This Blessed Mess
Three Plus Two
Totus Tuus Family
Marcie, Our Guest Photographer
Thank you, ladies, for your inspiration!
| April's Shower of Photos |
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Oh, yes.
I think I did mention that I might have an exciting announcement...
We just might take the boat out this weekend!!!
Weather permitting, of course.
| April's Shower of Photos |
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One of my favorite portraits from this past weekend, this Pirate of the Marquesas was hanging out at Schooner's Wharf near our table. I shot this photo with the telephoto.
While waiting for the band to set up after the World's Longest Parade, Marianna brought out her book to read by candlelight. This was shot with no flash as I was trying for the candlelit effect.
Now to try out that new program we downloaded I messed around with a few of the effects - film grain, b&w, etc...
What do you think?
| April's Shower of Photos |
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First off, I do want to apologize for my lack of posting over the weekend. 4 things got in my way...
1. Conch Republic Days
2. Work
3. New Photo Program
4. Loss of Camera Cord to Computer
Beginning with #4 is fairly easy, Don't clean your home up and you won't ever lose an important item again!
Moving up to #3 is an exciting thing, we've been using one program that we were not entirely happy with and continually talking about what to use instead. The most frequent use of the program would be for photo storage, followed by resizing for web display and some cropping. I haven't gotten into playing around with my photos in a digital sense yet. What you see on this blogsite is what I saw and what I tried to capture as naturally as possible. Photoshopper I'm not. So why spend $$$ for a program I'm not certain we would utilyze fully? Rather download Picasa instead! Picasa is a free program that seems to fit our requirements. I'll let you know how we like it. Three days in, we give it a thumbs up for sure!
#2 is fairly self-explanatory, work. Suffice it to say we went from a full compliment of bartenders down to 3 and one is really an office girl instead, so I've been pulling extra shifts. On the bright side, they hired 2 new girls and I get Saturdays off starting this weekend!!!
The first on the list, Conch Republic Days really defies explanation. Look for loads of photos coming soon, until then refer to last year at this time.
Now, I'm off for bed, this is my Friday night and tomorrow I plan on playing with that new program Hal downloaded. I need to discover how to resize my photos! So check back tomorrow for new pictures...
AND
...a totally cool and exciting announcement!
I feel like celebrating, won't you please join me?
See you tomorrow!
| April's Shower of Photos |
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How time flies!
That's right, another year gone. In celebration (and goaded on by Marianna) I've decided to change the colors a tad on this blog. What do you think of the new theme?
Ready for a blast from the past? Here's 12 posts from on or near the 23 of each month from the past year.
April:
We Seceded Where Others Failed! Conch Republic Days!
May:
Are we having fun yet? Dogwoods in the Redwoods.
June:
Today Coffee and pretty flowers.
July:
Christmas in July Planning and a foray into an alterna-blog formerly known as a journal.
August:
Breakfast of Planners Food and planning, two of my favorite things!
September:
Mixologist, Cocktalian, or Bar Chef? A job for me!
October:
Duo of Autumn Photos New braces and a coffee and donut treat.
November:
Last Autumn Gasp Acorn Cookies - cutest edibles ever!
December:
Midnight Mass and the first photos ever on my D40x.
January:
Let's Go Fly a Kite! A new Dragon Kite, that is!
February:
Birds of the Everglades The first in a week long Everglades series.
March:
Easter Cocoa The sweetest spring marshmallows for teatime.
Time now for a very important announcement!
The next year shall be documented not only on this blog, the S/V Mari Hal-O-Jen, but also over at Marianna's brand new and oh so colorful blog of her own the Rising Phoenix!
Go check out her totally hot new blog &let her know what you think!
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