It’s Friday



Oh M Gee! So much going on!

Captain William Toney had his amazing and awesome Homosassa Fishing 101 last night. Full house as usual.

The “Book, Line, and Thinker” started this week with the Lecanto Primary. Gotta give a big shout out to Captain Mike Baize and his brother Captain Juin Baize. Great people that want to give kids great experiences. The kids go out with fishing captains in the morning then walk to the Homosassa Civic Club and have lunch. Then they have learning experiences at several stations in the civic club and the learning center.

Okay. These kids are walking from the county boat ramp to the Homosassa Civic Club for lunch. We have NO SIDEWALKS between those destinations.

People we need to FIX THIS! Talk is that the entire “Book, Line, and Thinker” program is expanding to all the county schools. Oh M Gee! Someone’s next project! Sorry peeps. I need someone to take this one on.

In case you don’t remember. Several years ago, the sidewalks in our community were presented by JJ Kenney. Commissioner at the time. I went to one of his townhall meetings and he said that these sidewalks would let the kids get to the library. Not happening because there are NO sidewalks on the road that the library is on. Ha! That was 7 years ago. Still no sidewalks to our beautiful library.

Okay. I’m not one that says ” HEY LOOK AT ME” but. The original sidewalk proposal was to take down a LOT of our beautiful trees that form the canopy over Yulee drive. I really wanted these sidewalks but when I looked at the first engineering plan my heart sunk. I said to Terry. This can’t happen. And we started a protest and now we have these awesome sidewalks. Which are used every day. And we have our beautiful live oaks. Right? One of my friends recently said that on her way to work every morning she saw a group of walkers on our sidewalks. And recently they are runners. HOW COOL IS THAT!

And we are letting kids walk down a very busy road. Seriously. This is a safety issue. I need some peeps to look into this. O M Gee. Another project that needs to be taken on! Just throwing that out there…..anyone else want to change our wee world?

The Homosassa kids are scheduled for February 18th, 19th, and 20th. There will be pics!

Okay peeps. We have to focus on all the GREAT local stuff. We are doing GREAT things. Look away from all the national stuff. Because it is rude and ugly and we are not that. The only thing we can change is right here. RIGHT NOW! Today I spent with many women that were excited about creating toiletry bags. It was very cool. Then I was blessed to spend a few hours with our piano students that get lessons for free. Moments that give joy. That’s what we have to focus on. Joy.

And now. Here are some pics from my hood.

Birds in a tree
Birds in a tree



Wood Storks
Wood Storks
Wood Storks
ibis

Have a great weekend and think about stepping up and changing our community for the good! Our voices are very small on the national, state, and even the county level. But right here. In Homosassa. Our voices and actions are very loud. We can make a change.

Happy Last Day of January!

Little known holidays on January 31st.

Fun at Work Day, Backward Day, and Gorilla Suit Day.

I don’t have a job, and don’t really like to do that whole ‘backward’ stuff but I would enjoy having a Gorilla Suit. Just to wear one day a year. According to an obscure website, Mad Magazine started this holiday back in 1963. What! I read Mad as a young person. I knew nothing about this holiday and if you doubt that this is a real holiday, check out this article from Wired (one of my favorite magazines that I read when I can get it for free.)

Courtesy of Wired Website!

January is also “Get a Balanced Life” month, “Clean up your Computer” month, and “Get Organized” month. I was not able to accomplish any of these feats. Hopefully February will have more realistic goals!

On to local events. Starting Monday, February 3rd, Captain Mike Baize will be heading up the “Book, Line, and Thinker” outing with the 5th grade students at Homosassa Elementary and Lecanto Elementary. This will continue for three weeks, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. (Except for President’s Day, February 17th because it’s a school holiday!) I’m looking forward to getting some photos of the kids and the fun.

Almost finished with the kitchen improvements at the Old Homosassa Learning Center. I was stitching up the curtains today in our Sew Cool! Workshop. I updated the upper cabinets in a very bright blue chalkboard paint. Have had mixed reviews on my color choice. It’s bright. It’s blue. I think it’s happy. You might think it’s glaring. Maybe photos will be posted next week! And you can give me your opinion!

Don’t forget Captain William Toney’s seminar on Thursday, February 6th at 7 pm at the Homosassa Civic Club. This is the third time he has spoke at the civic club. It will be standing room only. He is an amazing captain, speaker, and a kind person.

Next week our Sew Cool! Workshop will be having a special sewing project. We will be making toiletry bags. All are welcome. You need a placemat and a 14″ zipper. I’m buying the vinyl for the inside. (Unless I run out!) This is what it might look like when you get it finished. I haven’t made it yet. And I don’t plan on being the instructor but it might happen!

toiletry bag

Now here is some important stuff. Steve and Cyndi Minguy–the Homosassa River Restoration Project People–went to Tallahassee last week for legislature days. They have worked incredibly hard to get money for this project. And they reported that it was all about HOMOSASSA RIVER! Starting in April, after manatee season (no we don’t hunt them, we protect them cause they like to hang out in the warm springs in the winter) the cleaning of the river starts. The state government awarded the project $2 million last year. This year they have been advised that a lot more is coming. Woo Hoo! And we are friends with this power couple! Go Steve and Cyndi!

I’m also hearing about some other important events going on. As soon as I get better info, I will report it here.

All good stuff!

Just wish I had a gorilla suit!

Have a spectacular weekend!

Kathy

Happy Friday!

I live in central Florida. It’s been cold but no iguanas are falling out of our trees. That was in south Florida. It was big national news. Something you might not know is that iguanas are invasive to Florida and it is legal and even encouraged to humanely kill them. They are very destructive–destroying crops and plants and digging holes under buildings that causes structural damage. Being non-natives and obviously migrating here illegally, like all nonnative, invasive species, they are not protected in Florida except by anti-cruelty law.

Back in 1999, I made my one and only trip to Miami. Played golf at Key Biscayne and was amazed at the size of the iguanas on the course. And they were everywhere! We have small lizards in Homosassa and they leave big poo behind. I can just imagine what these huge iguanas leave behind.

Anyhow. My first thought when I read about the iguanas falling out of trees was that the property owners might just take the opportunity to scoop them up and “humanely” rid the problematic creature! But I haven’t seen any news reports on that.

iguana
Not my pic but that’s what they look like!

Today is “Beer Can Appreciation Day”. The special holiday celebrates that great day in 1935 when beer was first sold in cans. I do not believe that this is a national holiday. Banks do not have it off. But maybe they should consider it.

Okay. So now I’m on to local events.

I had a goal of getting the kitchen in the Old Homosassa Learning Center painted and new curtains hung. Didn’t quite get that far. Lots of work was done. Just a little more to go! Like Terry always says about my plans–Trying to fit 10 pounds in a 5 pound sack. Yep. That’s me! I’m kinda proud of that statement ’cause sometimes I actually do it!

We have a really great fishing seminar on February 6th with Captain William Toney. Captain Toney. I don’t really know him–or maybe I should say that he doesn’t really know me. But he is always gracious. Always a gentleman. Seriously. He does this once a year for the Homosassa Civic Club. After a full day of working on the water, he comes into the civic club at 7 pm and tells all about fishing on the waters and answers a thousand questions. He is such a good captain that captains come to hear him speak. If you are coming to this seminar, get there early. Cause the club can only seat 75!

Captain William Toney Seminar

Also want to put a big shout out to Captain Mike Baize. Mike was a teacher at Homosassa Elementary. A VERY popular teacher. He is now a full-time captain but he has not forgotten the kids. Every February the captains take out the 5th grade students from Homosassa Elementary on a fishing trip. This year Captain Baize is spearheading an effort to spread this to the entire county. Lecanto Elementary is being included this year. And the education foundation wants to bring it to all the elementary schools in Citrus County.

This is very cool. The Homosassa Civic Club was asked to help out. They will be having lunch at our facilities and then have learning stations at the Old Homosassa Learning Center. Perfect since we are a LEARNING CENTER!

The learning center will have to shift some classes around but everything is cool. Because, as I always say, our mission is the kids. That’s what we do!

Oh. I have photos of dogs! I haven’t had a “dogs in the hood” in forever.

This is Barkley. I’ve known him for a few years. He pretty much ignores me because he is the king of the house and doesn’t need new friends.

Barkley

Until two weeks ago. Barkley got a new brother. And suddenly Barkley is my new best friend!

Chumbley

Ahhhhh. Too cute.

Have a GREAT weekend!

Kathy