Black Friday

Push,Pull,Drag,your body through the horrid crowds of discount shoppers.
I had heard it all and now about to experience my first BLACK FRIDAY shopping expedition. The parking lots seem calm, lots of cars, but no bodies scurrying around, no lineups on sidewalks, or cashiers mobbed by customers. Black Friday was a let down, not the show I had been warned it could have been. I walked in grabbed most of what I wanted and returned home with my friend. Only a slightly bit less cash in my purse than when I left.

So where were the shoppers? Probably in bed after getting up at 3 a.m. to make the purchases that they had oodled over in the ads. Not wanting to miss the favorite toy that little Sally wanted or the bit of bling for a loved one...........

I have decided I just live too boring a life!

It's a wrap!

 
This is a wrap dress
It is made of one circle, one band and 2 straps.
It can be worn in many variations depending on how you wrap the straps
It will be a gift to my daughter- she has the right figure!

Here are some direction for wearing if you are interested

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW_Sslp5H3A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gDzM4BWH2Q&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ghEhHhYOqQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8rPHs5Jq8Q&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0rdglMRhQw&feature=related

And the garden grows

 
 


We made a trip to Market of Marion about 20 miles north of us.It is a wonderful clean, bright and cheery market with stall of fruit, furnishing, textile and plants. I have for the second time made some gardening purchases.
One is a silver dollar Eucalyptus tree that I fell in love with a little more than a year ago, when my neighbor had one -it shortly met it's demise. I asked and I received a beautiful replacement specimen that we negotiated where to plant to benefit both families. It will adorn the west side of my RV a delight for all to see. As it matures and the delicate branches stray we will cut and prune and try (successfully) to graft new shoots for future reforestation.

The second plant I bought is a very delicate specimen. The Master Gardner tells me it is from the bleeding heart family, I am going to have to do a little research on that one. My bleeding hearts are so different at home, that I am unfamiliar with this specimen.

Leesburg, Fl

We are vacationing in leesburg, fl and you see my various highjinx while here.I thought it prudent to learn a little more about the small city declared in 1857 and named after it's first premanent resident Evander Lee. Originally from Alabama Evander brought his wife and 8 children ,and settled into their new estate , a homestead purchased for the large sum of $3300

Joined by several brothers he made his riches from a storefront on Main St in Leesburg. Interesting enough it was his brother Calvin, his business partner, who gave the sleepy town it's name " Leesburg" On July 12,1857 the city of Leesburg, was corporated.

In the early 20th century, Leesburg was an important center for watermelon production. In 1930, Leesburg held its first Watermelon Festival, an annual tradition that would last until watermelon production in the area dwindled.The festival is still an important part of Leesburgs' attractions , however the juicey fruit is shipping in rather than locally grown......


Known for the once roaming orange groves, that dwindled with the great freeze of 1983 and 1985, the landscape changed. Tourism flourished and Leesburg is now noted as a popular retirement center in Florida.The city of Leesburg is now home to 20,000 tax paying residents.Easily tripled in the season of the snow birds!

Leesburg's most notable bodies of water are: Lake Griffin and Lake Harris, provide hours of water sports and fishing. Equipped with a public boat launch Lake Harris is a mecca to the fisherman in the area. With open water, a connecting canal system and a leeside breeze a dream for anyone with a sailboat. Mind you the alligators may turn one off of docking a small wetboat!

Talk about spoiled

 

 

Now some would think that people would rate first in this family. But somehow the car got the shade and not the humans.
In buggy season the car can sit out and the people can lounge in the screen room. But for now.........................need I say more!

History Lesson 101

A neighbor asked me about the Rideau Canal today and I thought it prudent to brush up on my history of my " home town".

The three waterways that make up the Ottawa Region are the Mississippi, Ottawa River and the Rideau system.Of course the most historic body of water is the Rideau River and the Rideau Canal.The Canal being - man made- under the direction of Colonel By (Ottawa's original name was Bytown after the Colonel)

You can read all about it!!

http://www.rideau-info.com/canal/history/hist-canal.html

For a synopsis, the Canal was conceived after the war of 1812 when it became apparent that Canada may want to have a secondary route of transportation of goods, via waterways, other than the St. Lawrence River, that would be heavily guarded by USA patrols.In 1826, Lieutenant Colonel John By of the Royal Engineers directed the construction of the Rideau Canal. It was an immense undertaking to devise a pathway and create a navigable waterway. The building of the Canal was subsidized by the British Government. It was not an easy task with the terrain that had been virtually undeveloped bushland. Opening in 1832 it boasted of 47 masonry locks and 52 dams creating a 202 km (125 mile) waterway.Noted in the 19th century as greatest engineering feat.

Low's laundry center

 

Voila off comes the cover and up pops the umbrella clothes line
See the assembly? From washer to line the job in record time!

TAKE A GUESS

 

What do you think lies under the vinyl cover?

Welcome............

 

Now all I need is a welcome sign to add to my BBQ. Wonder if there is one hiding around somewhere?
Hmm I had one perfect one I left at home, maybe I will rememeber to bring it with me next year

All set twenty four hours later

 
 

From trash to treasures I managed to use 1 can of bright yellow spray paint as a base, then 2 cans of white and viola an antiqued BBQ loaded with plants.
The rest of the paint can went to Ben to paint his propane tank that is in the background.

From trash to treasure

Stay tuned and see what I do with this!

Orange Tree

Ben pride and joy well fertilized and now full of fruit- he did something right

The good side

Let's give Ben credit he scrubbed the front for me. That is right I am too short

Spit and Polish

Well almost the RV I hand washed and now to wax it tomorrow

Low's Laundry

Ben dragged home this little laundry unit for RV's
We washed on the picnic table just in case the thing leaked
It washed and rinsed. I am the spinner as it has no high speed spin to really get the water out. Now on the dry cycle.............. It works perfectly

Garden reserected

A little landscape fabric, lots of cedar bark and some new little plants gave it a boost

Would you believe

Here I was thinking I would come back to a nice little garden. Much to my surprise it looked like a jungle, a little sweat and atoil and below the garden appears. Notice all the freebies survived the hot summer sun. Now to think landscaping fabric and annuals! It may take me a few days I have plan, oh do I have plans!