New Show Look, April 23, 2011

Introducing my new craft show display...well...honestly...the new table covers!  LOL  I am so excited to have new colors to look at every weekend.  The look is bright and cheerful--which I hope is a reflection on how I perceive the world.  Most of the time anyway.  

The new fizzie displays are so cute.  I found these little metal baskets at JoAnns last week...and then I found the display of all the fun fabrics I choose to coordinate in the new coverings for everything.  The line of fabric is called Tutti Fruitti and I think that says it all!

Some other shots of the booth:

So, what do you think???

Fleas! April 25, 2011

Boy, it has been a rocky month in the Turbot household.  Especially for our furry kids, Bonnie Dog and Princess Emily.  It probably started two months ago.  I had packages of Interceptor (Heartworm protection) and Sentinel (Heartworm and Flea protection) up in the cabinet for Bonnie.  I forgot I had both and they look exactly alike. Oops.  For two months I was giving only the Heartworm protection.

And then I started noticing hitchhikers (fleas) on Bonnie coming home from our walks.  She started scratching.  A little at first and more as the weeks went on.  By the first week in March I had realized my mistake.  But by that time, Emily was being bothered.  Mom and Dad's cat was starting to scratch a bit and ugh...poor Bonnie's back end was looking pretty rough.  Frontline went on the cats.  I started buying Capstar to kill the immediate fleas.  I thought after treating the yard, the house and all the bedding we would be home free.

But NO!  I got home from my show in Flagler Beach the middle of April and picked Bonnie up and she was covered with the little buggers.  Into the kitchen sink bathtub she went, closely followed by Emily.  Who of course meowed that pitiful awful meow cats do when they get wet.  It was so sad...Bonnie thought I was killing her, so she was all concerned.  You can imagine how thrilled the cat was to be getting a bath.  The pictures below sum it up pretty well.

Bonnie was so concerned about Emily that she jumped up on the couch and started licking her as I was drying her off.  The cat tolerated that for about 5 minutes and then she whooped her.  

So we are now a week after a second round of yard, house and bedding treatments.  Bonnie's trip to the vet yielded prednisone for a flea allergy, but, luckily she didn't need an antibiotic. I stocked up on more Capster and now a topical flea treatment, Advantix.   My vet tells me that the area around Tampa, Florida is the Flea Capital of the World.  All the companies that make flea protection products do their testing there.  I think a couple of these megafleas have made their way to Orlando.  BUT, I think we finally have them beat.

Fun with the Folks 2011

I have told you before about going out to Spring Training games out at Disney's Wide World of Sports.  This time we sprung for box seats while Mom and Dad were here.  We waited too late to sit low, but, honestly I think every seat in the house is a good one.  We got out early for batting practice and to watch the ground crew do their thing.  It was St. Patricks Day so they had a bit extra to do--one of the pics shows the big cloverleaf stencil they put on the base line.

Dad had a bit of trouble with all the walking from the parking lot, but, he ended up doing ok.  The staff is really helpful and made sure they had a temp seat for him if he couldn't make it up and down the steps.  We were a bit worried about the weather, but, it turned out perfect.  Not to hot and not to cold.  

The game was against the Washington Nationals and the Braves ended up blowing them out despite the Nationals late game challenge.  We got to see a couple homeruns, and, the fireworks they shot off after.  Oh, and it was the  first game back for the coach who got hit by a ball and lost his eye a month earlier.  Thank God, there were no mishaps this game. 

A couple nights later we took advantage of more good weather and scooted over to City Walk at Universal Studios where we had dinner at Margaritaville.  It was fun, the drinks were plentiful, food was delicious and the music was loud!  This is usually a problem for Dad's ringing in the ears, but, the waitress offered earplugs and he made it through with no complaints.  

  

We also made a run one afternoon over to Tampa to see my cousin Angie, Nick and the kids.  What a great family they have!  I don't know how in the world you keep house for five kids, home school and keep yourself in one piece but Angie has it all figured out.  Nick was just back from a month of training which took him back up to Quantico (I think that was where anyway) and we were happy to see them all.  Below you can see Christian performing his drum solo and Andrew playing around.  Somehow I missed a group shot on my camera, but, I hope Rod or Mom got one!

March 2011 Shows

During the month of March I did a couple small, new-to-me shows including one in St. Augustine at St. Anastasia Church and one at  Oviedo Presbyterian Church.  Both were pretty small shows, but, I had a good time seeing crafter friends and a few regulars. 

I did my old standby shows--first the St Augustine Seafood Festival where I got to spend some time with my friend Susan who lives in historic downtown.  The guy below was my artist  neighbor to the south.  He had these wonderful carved fish and birds...I hope he is back next year--I want one bad!  I heard him working over there and had to walk over and get a picture of the work in progress.  The show was a bit slower than normal, but, it is one of my favorites as I get to see people like my friend Russ, the Clean Air Candle guy.  

One of the cool things I did this weekend was go out to dinner with Susan at a raw food restaurant called Present Moment Cafe.  OK, how to describe what raw food is--think organic, vegetarian and unprocessed.    I got to meet the owner and her son (Yvette and Nathan) and had an absolutely fantastic (and healthy) dinner--oh the flavors cannot be described.  Check out their website at:    http://www.thepresentmomentcafe.com/

I talked to Susan later about finding more restaurants of this type and she recommended:   http://www.happycow.net/    Maybe you can find a restaurant near you to have a dining experience you won't soon forget.  Now, I remain a meat eater, probably always will be, but, I sure enjoyed it and can't wait to go back.  

I also did the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens again at the end of March.  The show is being run by a new gal and I think we encountered a learning curve year.  There were too many changes--an increase in the cost of getting in for customers and some changes that affected the artists.  I hope this show goes back to what worked in the past.  We seemed to lose the whole day on Sunday--too few customers and no reason for it.  

Luckily the weather was fantastic at all these shows and that was so appreciated.  Mom and Dad arrived for the month but spent a bit of time down in Naples with a friend and then sometime over at the beach abpve St. Pete when my sister, Jodie, came at the end of the month.  We had some other fun that I will detail in my next post.    

North Florida Trip, March 4-7, 2011

This weekend's show was up in St. Augustine at St. Anastasia Catholic Church out on A1A at the beach.  I went up on Friday night and stayed with my friend Susan who moved up there from the Keys several months ago.  She so nicely offered a place to stay and even let Eve bunk in too despite having the guest room full--her sister is visiting from Mass. and her kitty Abby is sick.

We got up early and caught the sunrise above going over the intercoastal bridge on Hwy. 312.  Set up at the church was a breeze, and, by nine we had a nice little crowd on the grounds of the Church.  The church sells food from the kitchen, a bake sale and an auction all to benefit their mission projects in Hiati.  It was nice being able to be part of their good efforts.

The show was quietly successful, and after packing up I headed up to Fernandina to spend some time with the in-laws.  Rod's sister Pam was in town, and we wanted to see her, but only I could make it this time.  The big news was Rod's Dad getting his scooter to tool around town if he chooses.  He was testing out the newly charged buggy--and already planning a couple modifications so he could take Cody with him! 

I spent most of the time with Pam and Deb.  Jan was working early morning both days, so, I saw him in the evening hours before he had to get to bed.  We mainly enjoyed couch surfing at Deb and Jan's but on Sunday we spent the afternoon antiquing at the two big places on Centre St.  I found this great old mirror.  It is the one thing I will probably be wishing I had bought in a couple months.  Pam and Deb were so funny--the things they can't afford to buy get visits every once in a while.  They just stop in to pick them up, say HI and then put them back in a hidden spot so no one else will buy them before they get a chance.  LOL

Next up--back to Saint Augustine for a three day Seafood Festival put on by the Lion's Club.  

Braves vs. Tigers Spring Training Games, March 3, 2011

On Rod's day off this past week, we headed out to an afternoon Spring Training game at Disney where the Braves play in the Grapefruit league.  It was a windy, warm day and the sun was shining bright.  Lots of families out for this game against the Detroit Tigers.  I would say the crowd was evenly split between Braves and Tigers fans. 

For anyone who has not been out to this park, it is so family friendly.  We love sitting out in the outfield lawn seats.  Just spring for a $10 ticket ($13 game day) bring a blanket (no chairs allowed) and prepare to be transported back to the old days.  That would be when you were a kid and your Dad took you out to the park to try to snag a ball.  

On this day we wouldn't get lucky in the ball department.  I made Rod promise to give a little kid the ball if he were lucky enough to field one.  He promised, but reluctantly.  :)  We brought in a bag of peanuts (they don't allow coolers) and were lucky to snag a couple $3 beers in the sixth inning.  

The Braves won it in the ninth inning...I can't remember the score.  We had a great time.  As did the father and son playing catch below.  Grandpa joined in a couple times too.  Nice times.  Lazy days.  And I didn't forget the sunscreen this time! 

Art Fiesta, New Smyrna Beach, February 26 & 27, 2011

This show has been suggested by artists over the years, but, I finally made it to the Spring show in New Smyrna Beach at the end of the February.  My spot was not in prime real estate.  It was hidden at the back of the show, off the main arteries through Fort Park.  But, I did see several of the customers I added at the Fall show--Flamingo Follies.  SO, it will stay on the calender for another try...and hopefully a better spot on the street!

The view out the front of my booth was nice--the intercoastal.  And it was FANTASTIC weather--in the 70's, so all was not lost.  I stayed with two friends--Ronna of Ronnacards and Joan who makes copper and glass jewelry AND paints.  Joan had a terrific show, Ronna's was about like mine.  But we had a great hotel on Daytona Beach  (Perry's right on the beach with a great balcony) and one great meal at Outback.  AND one meal that SUCKED at a tourist trap towards Main St.  Yuck.  School lunch type meal with mystery meat hamburgers and plain school lunch pizza.  

I can't tell you how many customers thought I had the BEST spot in the whole show.  My response:  I would take 100 degree heat out on the street, no breeze--just to have the traffic they had on the street!  :)

Southerners take their historical sites very seriously!  A little more history on the site:   The Turnbull Ruins, a coquina block foundation overlooking the Intracoastal, represents the colonization by Andrew Turnbull from 1766-1777. It's believed that he attempted to build his personal mansion on these coquina remains. A foundation of sea coquina block was set, but work was never completed. The true origination of the ruins is unknown, some theorized that they may be the remnants of a pre-colonial fort or a colonial church.

Sunset as I hit I-4 on the way home!