key lime dream

Scot turned 31 earlier this month (I know, I'm next, shut up) so I surprised him with a weekend down in Key Largo.  I used my Trip Advisor app on my Kindle to plan the whole thing, from where to stay to where to eat and what to do.  He still insisted on driving-there were doubts as to whether or not my car would make the trip and back alive- so I just plugged the hotel into the GPS and we were off.  6.5 hours later, after an unintentional scenic route through Miami (stupid construction!) we made it.

The first evening of our stay, I'd booked us a sunset sailing trip on a pirate ship.  Turns out, no one else had booked that evening so we got a private cruise for ourselves!  We got to help hoist the sails and steer the boat and maneuver all the sails and lines around-it was so cool!  It was interesting to get back in to "learning mode" because learning to sail a boat is what I think about when I get a little burnt out on flight instructing-when I think about how my students know just as much about flying as I do about boating, it reminds me to take care in my instruction and explain everything simply and clearly.

As the sun set, we got to blow the conch shell (pronounced KONK).  Traditionally, you blow it to signify the end of the day and to drive away any bad spirits, similar to the way you'd blow a trumpet.  It sounds a lot like a boat horn, low and loud.  Youtube it sometime, it's pretty cool.

The next day, we set out for some snorkeling.  At the same dock our boat left from, the actual boat used in the move "The African Queen" was being kept and refurbished.  I had to grab some pictures, because I adore that movie, starring Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart.  The African Queen herself looked amazing- I remembered that pesky boiler that Charlie Allnutt fought with the whole way through the movie, the tiller that Rose handled to steer them through the rapids and falls, and the newly replaced canopy, no longer tattered but a pretty red stripe.  I was in heaven!

Snorkeling was fun, of course.  The water was a chilly 77 degrees but we managed to hit 3 sites along America's only coral barrier reef.  We were 10 miles off shore and saw tons of amazing tropical fish and beautiful corals.  We also saw what's known as the "Christ of the Abyss"-a Jesus statue about 20 feet underwater, intentionally sunk for your diving pleasure.  So cool!  We got seriously sunburned on the hour-long ride back to shore because we, uh, kinda forgot about the need to reapply sunscreen after swimming in the ocean.  My legs are burnt so bad I can't even bend them to put socks on.  It's pathetic.

Upon arriving back at the hotel, all I wanted was a shower to get all the saltwater off.  Not happening, since the water pressure was gone!  Apparently the hotel was working on the pipes so we just went down to the pool to trade seawater for chlorine.  By the time we got back, water pressure was back up and we were able to get ready for dinner.

After a delicious meal followed by the best key lime pie EVER at Mrs. Mac's, we headed to a bar called the Pilot House, which has a glass floor.  You can totally see the water below and even feed the fish through a hole in the floor!  I had a key lime martini which was basically pie in a glass.  Freakin' awesome ya'll.
Sad to say we had to leave the next morning but we managed to purchase some key lime chocolate and a baby key lime tree on our way out of town.  I officially have a new favorite vacation spot, though.  And soon I'll have the homemade pie to take me back...at least for a brain-cation when I need it!  Enjoy some pics :)

 The African Queen!

 Sunset sailing

 The sign reads "Watch for falling coconuts"

 Feeding the fish at the Pilot House.  They eat oatmeal

 Snorkel friends

   Chillin' with Jesus

no gnomes allowed

It's garden time again!  Early last month I picked up some new veggie sprouts and seeds to give agriculture another go.  Last year I had a hell of a time battling with squash bugs (yes, that's what they're called) and diseased tomatoes after a good first batch.  Let's hope I learned something because this year we've got the following:
Squash
Zucchini
Tomatoes
Green beans
Corn
Bell peppers- green, red, and orange
Herbs

So far everything looks okay, I even picked my first squash off the plant this evening.  Nothing around to cook for dinner so it looks like I'll be having a squash.  And another glass of Keel and Curly Winery's Tangerine Tango Zinfandel.  If you're here in Florida, go get a bottle from Publix.  I'm usually not a red wine drinker (Lakeridge's Sunblush is as dark as I'll go) but this stuff is awesome!  It's like juice, only better.

Back on track now...

About the squash bugs- I've sprayed enough chemicals on those plants to kill every bug on the block, let's hope it works. 

Oh!  I also dug up my strawberry plants from last year and moved them to a box inside the screen.  Turns out the only reason I wasn't getting any berries at all was that the birds were getting to them first.  Admittedly, I only really get about 1 or 2 a week but they're a nice suprise and, after a quick shot with the garden hose, I eat them right off the plant.  We also planted a pineapple in a large pot.  Whether or not this is going to work is TBD because we bought one, ate it, and planted the top part that we cut off.  No Google research on this or anything but we're hoping in 2 or 3 years we get a result.

The herbs are in good form, as usual.  My rosemary plant is turning into Audrey II and that stupid mint I planted last year and then dug up because it started spreading and taking over the whole right side, has found its way back from the dead and started sprouting in the herb box.  Note: If you want to plant mint because you're like, "hey mojitos are awesome and now I can make them whenever I want!" STAY AWAY.  Or plant it in a pot where it can't get out.  I've been trying to track down some sage because I think it's sophisticated and plus I saw a really good looking pork recipe on the cooking channel that I want to try and I need sage.  Haven't had any luck finding plants though.

Anyway, here's a look!

Other than this, we've been crazy busy painting the house and relandscaping.  That'll be my next post, so until then... :)