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We were “Heart Attacked” this week.

Happened last year, too. But this year I caught them in the act!

Can’t tell you who did it just in case they will be hitting your house.

Last year, it was a whole different scenario. I came home from walking and noticed all these hearts on the front door. Kind of creeped me out. While I was out, someone came onto my property! What???? And my other thought was, how many days ago did I use the front door?

Anyhow, I kind of figured out who was doing the “heart attacking” although they denied it. Vehemently. This year I caught them in the act. I was making dinner and out of the corner of my eye I saw hearts on my front door. Busted!

It’s cool. A fun idea. I need to start thinking about who I should “heart attack” for next year!

It’s been a busy week of meetings. We have already started our monthly meetings for the festival that happens in November! Then there was the Old Homosassa Heritage Council meeting on Wednesday. Last night was the Homosassa River Alliance meeting.

The river alliance meeting was extra good. The new manager of the Homosassa Wildlife Park was the guest speaker. So interesting! Raised in Homosassa on Spring Cove Road (which is right down the street) she then worked at Zoo Tampa and Busch Gardens before moving back to Homosassa and being employed by our local state park. She worked her way up to manager. Little known facts, 60 orphaned bear cubs have been rehabbed and then released from the park in locations that she did not reveal. (Could be in your backyard–just kidding!)

“Book, Line, & Thinker” had another great week at the Homosassa Civic Club campus. On Wednesday an animal rescue was still in the learning center when the kids and I went in to set up for ukulele. Kids were lucky enough to get to sit with a skunk and learn all about it. (de-scented, of course). There was a kestrel hanging out there, too. Such great stuff going on. Captain Juin Baize showed me on his phone the piece that BayNews9 did about the project on Tuesday. Captain Mike Baize said that all the “big guys” were there on the campus the day before. (I’m not sure who all the big guys were.) But, I guess they were very important to the program. (As in donations?) He said that they want to bring it to Crystal River next year. The captains will go out of Kings Bay and the kids will have their science experience at the Plantation Resort. How cool is that?

Next week the Homosassa 5th graders will be having their turn so I will get some pics and post them here!

The “Roaring 20s for the Tower” fund-raiser is this Saturday. Tickets are SOLD OUT! Woo-Hoo! (But, gotta tell you, I know who prints them so if you wanna go, I might be able to get you one or two!)

Okay. I think Spring might actually be officially here. February is always an iffy month for me. Cold–heat on. Hot–AC on. Cold again. Perhaps a freeze warning? But. The red buds and the bridal leaf spirea are in bloom. Two harbingers of Spring. I wait until the end of February to cut back any of plants that were frost bit other than the roses. They need to be cut back and fertilized right around Valentines Day. So yesterday, on a beautiful balmy morning. That’s what I did.

And here’s a few pics of the flowers that thrive in the winter…

And then I found caterpillars on the milk weed. Will we have butterflies or will a freeze shut them down?

And one more pic. Rodent of the week.

Have a great weekend!

Kathy

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.)

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!

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

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.

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!

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.

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

Ahhhhh. Too cute.

Have a GREAT weekend!

Kathy