Zoe's first look at DICE

A picture tells 1000 words, right? I wonder what was going thru her mind....

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale...

Saturday July 12th I decided to rent a boat and luckily everyone else wanted to pitch in and so off we went.... Brian had a lot of fun catching pinfish after pinfish but c'mon, get something else!

Jan and I were the designated drivers but Vikki soon took over the wheel. I think it had a little to do with control but she said she just wanted to drive. hmmmmmm


We anchored a few times so that Brian could concentrate on fishing and we watched the dolphins swim around the boat. There are great numbers of them all around Englewood and even where there is a lot of boat action. So fun to watch and you can hear their blowspots when they surface. One treated us to a body surf in as well - four times he slapped the side of his body on the waves as he rode in towards the beach. Of course I didn't have the camera that time. Oh well. I remember it! The pic of Vik above is taken just inside Stump's Pass. It is a great fishing spot and also fun to watch the boats.
Vikki and Andy enjoying the view of Manasota Key and Stump's Pass in Englewood, Florida.
We anchored just inside Stump's Pass near the mangroves (MY IDEA, yes, I will take credit for that one) and Brian quickly started pulling in the Mangrove Snappers. He had five but one jumped right off the hook and into the water. Lucky one.

The weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed, if not for the courage of Vikki driving, the SeaCat would be lost. The Seacat would be lost. Ok, enough.
Actually, the dark clouds were rolling in (JULY - HURRICANE season - FLORIDA!) and we had about 30 minutes left of our rental. We told Brian that no more baiting the hook, we had to get back. So, what happened? Here's where the real tale begins!!! (finally, you say).
Well, Brian caught a BEAUTIFUL snook! Jan helped him pull it in and I snapped this picture. Snook are out of season now (spawing) so it is strictly catch and release.

As they were working to get the fish off the line..... Brian had a small catastrophe:

Pretty gross huh. Yeah, he's smiling now but he has no idea what awaits him at the dock. I am hearing rumblings about 'taking him to the emergency room' etc. and all he really needs is a pair of cutters to get that barb outta the way.
So, Vikki does an EXCELLENT job of guiding boat back to the dock and the owners ask how was the day. Everyone said it was great. I said, check out his paw! The two sprung into action and quickly performed a hook-en-dectomy. I couldn't watch so I just randomly took pics with my eyes closed. The shrieks and moans were enough for me. hee-hee Actually, Brian did awesome without novacaine. He was a little stressed and it prolly felt like it took an hour to get the damn hook out but he survived and so did the paw. Brian fileted (is that spelled correctly!?!) his snapper and I understand Vikki fried them (after I left of course) and a feast was had by all.

Boat rental four hours: 195.00
Bait: 8.00
Look on Brian's face when approached by two men with pliers: Priceless

Bad Breath, Snaggle Tooth, Glowing Eyes... Oh My

Dice is in da house! Elsie and I are the dog sitters this time! Little Dice has come to stay for a few days while his humans have some work done on their home.

I keep threatening to have those side teeth removed from Elsie's jaw.... Of course I won't but - dang - is she going to be one of 'those' chihuahuas?
Here's Dice sharing his greenie dog bone with Elsie.

To meet Dice's humans, click here: http://scottandlizlynch.blogspot.com/

Great friends and true animal lovers.

Englewood Beach, Florida

Here are more pics from our recent stay at the beach:
Vikki Rebholz - high school BFF

Brian Rebholz - 15 year old fishing fanatic, Vikki's DS


Brian and Elsie
More soon!

What is wrong with this picture?

First, I interrupt my vacation blogging to vent a little.... If you know me at all you know that I try to avoid MIC Products (pronounced McProducts) at every opportunity. I coined that phrase about a year ago for Made In China stuff. It irritates me that nearly every damn thing is a McProduct. Well, I was invited to and attended a Southern Living at Home party on June 12, 2008. Four weeks ago. Ok, well.... I looked thru that catalog over and over and over and over - you get the picture. Since I have a kitchen full of vintage Fiesta and all sorts of other not-off-the-rack stuff filling my house I couldn't imagine having anything from that catty in my possession. I call my decor early-american-garage-sale and it works for me.

However, you know how it is, you go to a party, you feel you must buy, right? Some of the pottery was pretty but I really didn't need it...I finally settled on an OUTDOOR set of HAND PAINTED pet bowls that include a wrought iron stand. Here is a picture of the item from a recent e-bay auction where I could have purchased the same item for half of what I paid but I digress.



The demonstrator did not have this item (I asked the hostess to have her bring it so I could see it 'in person') and in the picture it doesn't look so bad and I bought it. Zoe is spending a lot of time outdoors and I thought this would look better than a plastic bowl or whatever. Ok, back to my frustration.


My friend who hosted the party dropped my stuff at my house while I was on vacation which was awesome for me. As I looked into the bag, imagine my horror when I saw the McProducts words on the end of the boxes:

I was tricked. Neither the demonstrator or the catty stated that these were HAND PAINTED IN CHINA. I'm a sucker, a dumbass, whatever. I should have known. Anyhoo, I feel better now that I have vented and if you've read this far - maybe I should apologize to you, gentle reader.

I haven't taken the junk outta the box and am not sure what I will do with this stuff. Live and Learn right? BTW, the other box contains some other wrought iron thingy that was on sale. That box is unopened as well.
A close friend of mine teases me about my animals eating out of vintage Fiesta.... what was wrong with putting a couple of Fiesta bowls outside for Zoe? Gee, there I go again. Sorry. Anyone need some Gail Pittman Hand Painted Pet Bowls with Stand? Make Offer. LMAO

O Elsie, Where Art Thou?

Wasting away in margaritaville.... Well, actually in Englewood, Florida.... Manasota Key. This was my view the last seven evenings and Boy O Boy do I miss it. Elsie on the other hand.... well, she couldn't wait to get back to her couch, her home, her bed....

Too Many Paws

Some of you hear me say that a lot lately. But most of you don't know about the senior kitty Abbey - well you know ABOUT her, you've just never seen her. She's been a pill lately and she knows I was mad at her. So, she decided to be sociable the other day and actually let me take her picture. She is 15. Old. Right?

Hanging out on the couch. Elsie was in shock and awe.


Playing, yes PLAYING with a piece of yarn.

Abbey purring. Yes, she plopped herself down right on top of my project.





Abbey on the stamp cabinet and Zoe in Elsie's bed. This is the closest they've ever been without a yowling, howling, spitting cat fight.