February Shows so far, February 12, 2011

 The Country Fair in Lake Placid is one of my favorite little shows of the Winter.  And not to disappoint, it usually feels like Winter.  This year we had one great day and one winter-y day--at least it looked like Winter all day long.  I set up Friday afternoon as usual and had dinner at this great little spot adjacent to the park.  They looked like they were doing a great pizza business that night.  And the tables were packed full with diners.  The Clams with Linguine were great!

One of the neat things about this show is that it is very much a "fair" for the community.  Plenty of activities for kids of all ages.  The pictures below were taken primarily for the benefit of my husband, but, there is so much to do.  Plants, food, fresh produce--I usually find a couple bunches of Swiss Chard to make a great spaghetti dish when I get home.  

Since I have been doing the show for several years, I do have a nice following.  The folks below are some new customers who were performing on Sunday morning.  Becca, on the right, is 11 and she and her Mom put on a nice show.  Later in the day we heard one of Becca's friends--and that girl, I swear will be on American Idol one day.  She was fantastic.  This show has not been known for it's quality music--it's more Mom and Pop acts.  But, this year there was a definite improvement.  

 This year with the construction going on in the DeVane Park, we were set up along the road--which many vendors liked a  lot.  I had customers asking me if I was new--and I have done the show 6 years or so.  I KNOW I did better set up along Green Dragon Dr. so I hope they will consider doing this in the future!

I also get to see one of my favorite customers, Jan H., who taught herself how to make soap.  She brought me a bar to try--it's the one wrapped in tissue with a big bow.  I also met up with Kurt Elliott, a soaper from Pennsylvania--he was up at Crystal River a few weeks ago too.  We traded for that round bar of soap.  I can't wait to try both!

And that brings us to the show today at Florida Estates Winery.  It was a beautiful setting under some old oaks out in the middle of nowhere--near Land O' Lakes, Florida.  The "winery" itself was nothing like I imagined--think taking a typical concrete block ranch and plucking it down and putting a "winery" sign out front and you about have it.  I guess the Clermont Lakeridge Winery really is my new standard for wineries.  

There were about 10 vendors set up and if wasn't for long time customers Adrianna and Louis I would not be too happy with my results.  But those two took home a big old bag of soap and made my day!  Thanks so much!!  We had a lot of time to stare off in the distance, so, I caught these two making off with a couple bottles of Red.  

Operation Beautiful, February 10, 2011

Operation Beautiful...transforming the way you see yourself one post-it note at a time.

I came across this website/blog in my travels around the web and thought what a great thing it was for women.  Then I learned it was the brainchild of a twenty-something who wants to change the world one positive note at a time.  Caitlin Boyle spent years battling her weight and depression.  One day in a public bathroom, she put up a note on the mirror with a simple message, "You are Beautiful" and with those words and a quick photo  a movement was started.  In her own words:

"The goal of the Operation Beautiful website is to end negative self-talk or “Fat Talk.”  If this little blog only does one productive thing, I hope it helps readers realize how truly toxic negative self-talk is  — it hurts you emotionally, spiritually, and physically.  Through my own experiences fighting Fat Talk, I’ve realized the power behind an anonymous act such as Operation Beautiful.  When I post a note, I’m saying, “I CHOOSE to be positive!”

I loved the idea of encouraging and empowering women so much, I bought the book and had it sent to my two nieces for Valentine's Day.  I hope you will take a look.  Then grab a pad of post-it-notes and start changing the world!

Rod's Alien Arm, February 2, 2011

WARNING--GROSS Pictures to follow...

Got a guy in your life?  Well, then you are probably familiar with the Tough Guy Act.  You know, they are on their death bed and they refuse not to get ready for work??  Well, a couple weeks ago Rod comes home and says his arm is hurting.  He is prone to cysts and he had one on his upper arm for years and years--it was like a small fatty tumor under the skin.  Think the size of a pea.  So, he slides off his shirt and this is what I find!!!

According to the Tough Guy, it had grown over the last 4 days or so!  Hm, this thing is about the size of a hockey puck and is sticking out about an inch.  It literally reminded me of a movie--I was Signourney Weaver and Rod's arm was now the Alien.

So, being a dermatologist in another life I can't wait for this thing to pop.  I told him we would do warm compresses (it was his Friday night) the rest of the day and the next.  If nothing happened by then we would let the real doctor do it.  Plus I was pretty darn sure he would need an antibiotic.  Oh, that gross little thing do at the bottom of the picture above is an enlarged blackhead.  Eekkkkkk!  Don't let them get this big!!!

So on Friday morning after the soak, this is what we had.  The thing was not going to go by itself.  So our dermatologist fit us in before their Friday afternoon off.  It was hilarious. The nurse took one look and  said, "Wow, that's huge!"   The doctor took one look and said, "Yep, let's get that drained".  And then every nurse, receptionist and every other interested party still in the office came in to have a look.  Turns out I am not alone in being fascinated by this kind of thing.  I asked the doctor if I could stay, because I really, really, really wanted to see what came out of it.  

It had to hurt like hell, but my Tough Guy survived the needles--it took six good sized syringes of "numbing stuff" to start the work.  Don't worry, I didn't have the camera, so you won't be treated to that nastiness.  But let's just say the remaining cyst material that popped out of there looked like a good size shrimp.  And the pussy green bloody mess that came out was incredible.  I learned that that was what was left of the cyst material after the body had gone to work trying to fight the infection.  Yuck!   If Rod were here he could tell you how he had to doctor himself the next two days since I was at a show.  He pulled about a mile of the packing stuff out of the hole and then had to flush it with saline solution.  It looked like the picture above three days after the lancing.   

And, the near final result, after TWO WEEKS on Cipro is above.  It is still a little hard to the touch, but, the redness is nearly all gone and his arm is back to normal size.  The whole is already starting to fill in.  Cool!  

January Shows, February 2, 2011

The first couple of pictures here were taken out of the back of my booth at Deerfield Beach over the last weekend in January.  This is one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida...maybe anywhere.  As the day worn on, lots more beach chairs and umbrellas came out.  And may I just say--thank God for Lifeguards everywhere!  Those boys were just plain hunk-a-licious!  Oh, the show was fantastic.  It was my best since moving to the beach from Pioneer Park four years ago.  

The next group of pictures is from the first show of the year, at Jensen Beach.  You are looking at the sun rising over the Intercoastal waterway.   I love doing this show--it gets bigger every year and it is so well supported by the local residents and merchants that everyone has a great time.  My friends, Janis and Candy are still going great guns at the gallery, CC Key Art, just down the way in this historic shopping district.  I got to stay with Janis at her cute little bungalow just a couple blocks away.  Janis is the culprit who turned me ont to the Saltine Cracker Toffee!  The weather was gorgeous--a bit warmer than it had been and sunny.  Lots of folks were out for the weekend.  

We had dinner and drinks with a group of artists and Janis' friend Greg.  Greg comes down with a dog and a cat (in advance of his partner who joins them in a week) on a road trip from the Northeast every year at this time.  We traded traveling tips, enjoyed the music and had an awesome dinner.  

And then there was the Crystal River Manatee Festival.  What a crowd that festival draws--the community support is fantastic.  But, not sure if it was the 30 degree temps or the economy, but, I did pretty bad.  We did have some fun camping out that weekend though.  I brought an extra two blankets to fill out the big rectangular sleeping bag.  All was well the first night.  The next night was COLD.  But I was snuggled in my bag all nice and warm until sometime in the morning...when I woke up.  My arm was asleep and the only way to get it back to normal was to put it outside of the bag and let it come to life.  Uh, huh.  That wasn't going to happen, so I tossed and turned for a while trying to get it back to normal.  

Oh, I saw "The King's Speech" at the Crystal River Mall.  Great movie--love Colin Firth...see it!!  That little mall was a hoot.  A Sears, a JC Pennys, a Belks and a Kmart.  Never seen a Kmart in a mall before!  But it was kind of nice to not have to run to Walmart for a few things.  

The Great Diet Fiasco, January 27, 2011

So my sister Jodie and I started out in December trying to watch our weight to make sure we didn't lose control (too much--that is my feeling, Jodie was really trying!) over the Holidays.  I have a pretty good body image-- which I know is surprising to some of my small friends.  I don't stress on it.

I was thrilled to see the following picture in Glamour.  It is of one of their models and the fact that she was a real person showing her real body--unretouched--made my heart sing.  I immediately "friended" her on Facebook.  LOL  She is about 5' 11" and weighs about 180 giving her a healthy BMI of about 25.  At least 10 points less than mine...thus the annual diet.

But, given our family history of diabetes and heart disease (and everything else known to man) I have to be careful.  I keep thinking that it is going to hit me one day...like a Mack truck, but, I keep doing what I do.  Which is--eating healthy, until I don't.

So, we weigh in on Monday mornings and then I email Jodie and she emails back.  The last three weeks have been dreadful.  In truth, I haven't been doing anything to control myself--no food journals, no increase in exercise and I even made a friend's Toffee recipe with nuts and chocolate chips.  It was yummy, so much so that I am looking forward to making it again...once I get over feeling the guilt.

On the good side, I am using my Wii once again and walking Bonnie Dog most mornings.  I eat much less packaged food than I ever have and I stock the frig with lots of veggies and fruits and the pantry with whole grains.  And occassionally the box of Mac & Cheese and chocolate chips.

So here is to making better choices and perhaps even losing a pound or 60 in the next year.  Jodie, I promise to be better!!!

Year End 2010

So much happened at the end of the year and I really didn't take time to blog about any of it, so here are the highlights.  Oh I hate even saying that because you all will know just how boring things are here in Orlando!

I did some of my usual shows in November and December (Lake Eola and Tally).  Both of those shows were up significantly from the year before, but, several of the new ones I did left a lot to be desired--St. Augustine and Stuart in particular.  I was especially surprised by the St. Augustine show where I have so many customers.  Perhaps it was the weekend--the annual Christmas Light Up celebration in downtown.  But anyway I had a great time with my friend and customer, Susan--who recently moved up from the Keys to the nation's oldest city.  We had a nice time at the ceremony and had a great dinner with her friend Di.  One show that I did that I think I can grow over time is the one I did the second weekend in New Smyrna Beach, the Flamingo Follies...I will try that again next year!

I got the flu the second week in December and that really messed up our month.  The following week I had to get up all the backed up orders.  The week after, Rod took some time off so we were able to get all the Christmas shopping done and shipped.  But the Christmas cards became a casualty of the time crunch.  I am sure you all missed the Christmas Letter, right???  LOL

Our Anniversary was on the 21st...which brings us to our 25th Anniversary.  Can't believe it has gone this quick!  Having the right guy makes all the difference, don't ya think???  These white roses all opened beautifully and were so full...it made us wonder if they are always better than their colored counterparts?

We had several hard freezes during the month, the first while I was sick, so, I just gave up trying to cover our perishable plants.  We probably lost all the white ginger and the tea olive by the pool pump and a couple hibiscus.  Some of these other ones may make it...hopefully.  

We spent Christmas with our friends Lynn and Paul...who many of you know as the SpiceLady and her boyfriend.  We had a great day with good food made by all of  us...and even some mulled wine to complete the somewhat coolish day.  We traveled up to North Florida the next weekend to spend time with Rod's side...and we had a great dinner at Deb and Jan's followed by a scary movie that we pretty much woke up from to find it about New Years.  Rod who had been sleeping out on the porch actually came in just before to make sure we celebrated properly.  

Bonnie Going for a Ride, January 26, 2011

This is how we ride when Bonnie and I travel together.  I think I was trying to take a still picture and had it set on video instead...but it turned out cute!  LOL