Fancy Feathers

This guy was showing off for visitors and a few girlie peacocks at the local zoo...

"He has made everything beautiful in its time." Ecc 3:11

Lord God Almighty...Master Creator....Master Artist!

The Dog Ate My Homework

Wow, I can't believe I'd ever be saying that but sure enough, that's what happened....really.  I was working on my watercolor class homework the other day (a color chart) when I had to take a break to run an errand.  Since it was still wet, I left it on the coffee table in the livingroom to dry, never imagining in a million years that my very obedient, never-gets-into-anything, perfect pooch would think it smelled tasty enough to eat.  Apparently he did, because we came home to find this on the bedroom floor...

Yup, the dog really did eat my homework...or more accurately, chewed it up and spit it out...guess it didn't taste as good as it smelled, lol. 

Kayaking St. Andrew Sound

My hubby and I first discovered kayaking on a trip to Siesta Key, Florida last year and fell in love with it.  It's a very serene, relaxing way to spend a beautiful, sunny day on the water...or so I thought.  Now that we live so close to the water, we were itching to start exploring the various waterways in the area so the first somewhat warm day (about 60 degrees) we headed straight for the naval base in town (Naval Support Activity) to rent some kayaks.  Being retired military has some great benefits, one is having access to very affordable outdoor rec rentals ($10-$15/day) and the other is having access to the amazing and very secluded beaches of Tyndall AFB.  Hubby loaded up the kayaks from the navy base and we headed to Tyndall to explore St. Andrew sound. 

We were hoping to make it across to the narrowest stretch of the barrier island and walk across to the gulf (I so love the ocean and couldn't wait to have it all to ourselves).  This being the first time I had my own kayak, I had underestimated the strength of the currents I'd have to fight...much easier being a passenger!  (I wonder if the wind had anything to do with it?)  We started from the northwest end and planned to paddle around the 2 big bends to make it to the skinny stretch of sand that separates the sound from the gulf.

View Larger Map

Well, we also totally underestimated how far it really it is, so after making it around one big bend and coming ashore on the fatter part of the barrier island, we explored a bit but couldn't find a path to walk through the scrub bushes (we were in flip flops) and it was getting late so we decided to head back and try again another day.

On the way back I did the dumbest thing.  The current was so strong that it seemed no matter how hard I paddled with my skinny little arms, I was either staying in one spot or moving backwards.  Now my hubby, being Mr Fitness, was having no problem making his way across and had pity on my plight so he paddled up to me and told me to grab onto his kayak and he'd paddle us both to shore. 

Here is where I made two fatal errors in judgement...one was to listen to him,lol... and the second came when the kayak, instead of moving forward with his, immediately flipped over into the water...taking me and my camera (thankfully being in a ziplock bag it survived unscathed) into the 54 degree water...brrrr!  Second mistake...not letting go immediately,lol. Yeah, apparently I do not have cat like reflexes...or even dog like reflexes for that matter...more like turtle.  By the time my brain understood what was happening I was under water.  Once I came up for air, for some reason I found it incredibly hilarious & couldn't stop laughing...which is good because after having to paddle all the way back to the truck soaking wet and cold against the current...the good news is hubby is still alive.  I knew it had to happen sometime...just wish it had been in the summer when the water is a nice 80 degrees.  Even after that though, I can still say I still love kayaking...although lesson learned...don't hang onto another kayak unless you want to swim with the fishies.  

All Moved In

We are now all moved into our hew home and are enjoying it very much.  The first month has been very hectic (and unseasonably cold we are told by the locals) but now it is time to explore this new land!  One of the first must see places for me is always the beach!  Laguna Beach to be exact. 

It was a little chilly but made for a very beautiful and peaceful walk along the beach.  On another day, we visited a gorgeous beach in the Destin area.

I have to say, Destin does a great job of keeping their beaches clean & looking good, can't wait to go back!

Travel Tails

Our journey from Ohio to Florida was quite an experience with our pooch, Shep.  We were a tad worried he may not travel well since we were told he came from a abusive home...plus, we had only had him for a little over a year and hadn't done any long distance traveling with him. Thankfully, all in all, he was a pretty great traveler, always happy to be sitting behind Dad in the truck while on the road.

Our only issues arose when we had to stay in hotels while on the road and waiting for our household goods to arrive.  Can you say separation issues?  We couldn't leave him alone in the hotel room for more than 5 minutes without him whinning and barking up a storm!  So, needless to say, he came with us almost everywhere we went.  Even the beach!

Yup, they have a dog friendly beach here...how cool is that!  I believe he's gonna fit in just right with our beach loving family... 

Exodus to the Promise Land!

After over 20 years of following my husband around the U.S. while he served his country, our time had finally come to kiss the frigid winters we'd endured (16yrs combined) in Alaska and Ohio goodbye to follow our dream of living by the sea in a sunny land!  We are both originally Arizona natives and were tired of shoveling snow, scraping ice from windshields, driving on icy roads and freezing our patooties off for too many months out of the year (these photos were taken before Dayton got over 3 feet of snow in the span of 2 weeks).

Thankfully, the Lord opened up a door to the sunny land of Florida in the form of a job transfer...so in January we tearfully hugged our beloved friends goodbye & off we went.

Asta la vista Ohio & arctic winters!!!!

Woohoo!!!  Hello Florida!!

So that brings us to the beginning of this blog...a journal of our new beginnings in a new land...