Friday Meanderings

Alpaca at Alpaca Magic USA

It’s Friday!

and I’m jumping right to what’s going on this weekend……

Three Sisters Springs is closing down until November. In mid-April the  Southwest Florida Water Management District will start rebuilding the banks that have eroded.  I’ve heard about this effort for the past few years and am very glad that they are finally starting the project.  If you want to know more about the plan, SWFMD will be having a meeting on April 12 at 5:30 at the City of Crystal River’s City Hall.

Meanwhile, because of the impending closure, the city of Crystal River is offering free admission into the refuge this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  The trolleys have already been shut down but you can park at King’s Bay Plaza and walk in.  First you have to have a ticket which you can pick up at Crystal River City Hall, the Citrus County Chronicle at Meadowcrest, and the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge building in Crystal River. The tickets are for a specific day and time slot.

Three Sisters Springs Open House

Another free opportunity is the open house at Alpaca Magic on Grover Cleveland.  We’ve taken our grandkids there a few times.  The kids were quite small and scared of the alpacas at first but eventually enjoyed the experience.  The gentle animals are shy but did approach the kids to get handfuls of hay.  You can check out my previous post about our visit here.

Alpaca at Alpaca Magic USA

Alpaca at Alpaca Magic USA

Okay.  Now it gets sad. And I’m going to get on my soapbox.

(Donna you might not want to read this–you’ve been warned) 

The Citrus Chronicle ran a story this week that three neighborhood dogs (two were pitbulls) attacked the herd and seven alpacas were killed and 12 wounded.  

That made me so sad.  The alpacas have no means of defense.  The owners love these creatures just like you and I love our pets.

Now for my soapbox, which I really try to not get on.  But I gotta.

I don’t understand how the owner of the dogs could let them run free.  This has been bothering me since I moved here.  I’ve hesitated to write about it.  I only want to report happy sunny bunny moments. But the death of these innocent creatures really upsets me.

I’ve had trouble with irresponsible pet owners since we moved here 13 years ago.  I’m not blaming the dogs. The fault entirely lies with the owner.  If you own a dog you need to love it and control it.  Whether it’s a pit bull or a Jack Russell. It should not be running loose.  Yes, there are times that those clever pets figure out how to squeeze through a fence or make a break through an open door.  But that’s an exception.  Dogs should never be allowed to run free.  If you want a pet, it is the owner’s responsibility to provide it a fenced yard or only allow it out on a leash. No exceptions. 

I was a runner.  Now more of a walker.  But to suffice it to say, I’m on the roads early in the morning enjoying my life. Unlike anywhere else I’ve lived, I’ve had numerous interactions with aggressive dogs because their owners do not take responsibility for their pets actions.

While I have already said that I’ve had many incidents, I’m just going to share two.

We had a neighbor with a pitbull that allowed it to run free.  I quit walking in the area just because after one incident I just didn’t want to deal with it.  I LOVE dogs, I just didn’t want to cause problems or get bit.  But one lovely Christmas morning, Terry and I went that way.   And the dog was loose.  It had a wonderful time running around us, snarling, and lungeing at us.  

After much hollering, the owner finally came out and accused us of being the problem.  The dog was just having fun. He wasn’t going to bite us!

Really?  This was a pitbull. With a huge mouth full of teeth and no control. After what seemed like an eternity, we finally got out of his range and walked home.

They eventually moved.  

But it never ends.

More recently, there is an owner thinks it’s okay to walk with his dog off-leash.  This is a big dog. It has a history of trying to bite a friend. I have made an effort to pet this dog when I’m out on my early morning walk. Calling it by name.  Chatting with the owner.  All the while being very wary of the dog.  A few weeks ago, after petting the dog, and walking on, it turned and bit at my legs. 

Its very large mouth and sharp teeth didn’t make contact. But if they had, my legs would have been ripped to pieces.

So, now, once again, I can’t walk in my own neighborhood.  Because I’m afraid.  

I hate admitting this because I’m a person that says I won’t live in fear. 

And I recently got word back that the owner says that it was my fault because the dog can sense a “troublemaker”.

Me.  A troublemaker. Not the owner’s fault because it didn’t take responsibility for his dog.

Alpaca Magic is still holding their Open House.  Terry and I will be there.

Have a great weekend.

Kathy

Watson’s 3D Paint a Seahorse

Watson's 3D Paint a Seahorse

I got a call from Wendy Watson the other day asking if Terry and I would be interested in taking a special 3D art class at their studio.  The class was a mix of business and training and they were looking for a novice in the painting world to show that anyone could make beautiful art with the proper instruction. She wasn’t really looking for me–they wanted Terry!  But of course, I tagged along so I could find all about the new painting class.

Did I mention that wine was involved?

Gil and Wendy have come up with a unique 3D painting idea.  They create the original hand-carved art and then use a special top secret material and make molds.  Providing a unique and fun DIY artwork.  You bring your own wine and an instructor teaches you how to make the 3D object beautiful!

Seahorse 3D paint
Here’s Jack Watson, 11, opening his 3D package.
Seahorse
It’s a seahorse!  Everyone started out with the same blank “canvas”.
Seahorse
Gil Watson, instructor, would snag the pieces of art so the artist could see the seahorse from a distance. This one is mine!
Terrys seahorse
Here’s Terry’s.

Gil taught us to darken the shadows and lighten the highlights.  

Red Seahorse
Here’s Terry’s seahorse before the top secret super duper magic glaze was applied by Gil.
Watson's 3D Paint a Seahorse
And Finished! Proof that a newbie can create beautiful art!
Watson's 3D Paint a Seahorse
Mine before the glaze was applied.
Watson's 3D Paint a Seahorse
and after!

I thought we did pretty good.  But then I went around and looked at the “pros”.

Seahorse
Carol Keizer (Partner, Artist, Marketing of Paint the Town Citrus), Jay Jordan UY (Marketing and Artist of Paint the Town Citrus) They will be offering 3D classes at their “Paint and Wine” classes at the Crystal River Mall.
Watson's 3D Paint a Seahorse
Wow!
3d seahorse
Stephanie Coatney, the instructor for Watson’s 3D art in the Tampa area created this beauty.

There was also a reporter and her 12-year-old daughter, a sales rep for the paper and her friend, another instructor that also gives the 3D classes at the gallery.

Watson's 3D Paint a Seahorse
Here we are with our completed art. That’s Dylan back there. When he actually holds still he loves super heros and legos. He did not do a seahorse but he did keep us entertained!

It was a lot of fun and we really like the finished seahorses. I’ve taken other “paint and wine” classes and hid my finished canvas in the closet. But I’ve already found places to showcase these two.  Terry’s is going on the gallery wall in the family room and mine is headed to a guest bedroom (just happens to be the same color theme!)

You can see more photos of the class plus get info at Watson’s 3D

The Watson’s do not have regularly scheduled classes at their gallery but are always ready to give special classes on request.  

What a great idea for a special girl’s night out or a birthday party!

Friday Meanderings

Green

What a crazzzzy buzzzzzy week.

Banjo Camp.  

So Great!

I already showed the photos.  Got home.  And then the small Green grandkids invaded Perfect.

Kayaking

Kendall
Love this photo. Little Miss Attitude!

Fishing

Jack
Jack. Fishing.In his pajamas.

Boat Trip

Green
All three of the little Greens.
Me
Little Miss Attitude took this photo of me. Budding Photographer?

making pom poms

Making Pom Poms
The Future Of Pinterest

Took them home yesterday and then spent some serious time napping.

Sheeesch.

A couple weeks ago I mentioned that I was shutting down the DIY website.  

Maybe a bit pre-mature.  Perhaps a result of exhaustion from doing toooooo many meetings, toooooo many projects, tooooooo much politics.

I’ve been missing my sewing machine.  And then my sweet Addison–the 9-year-old granddaughter–said she LOVES my DIY blog.  Oh geeeeeze.  I told her that I was shutting it down.  Noooooooo!  

So now I’m having second thoughts.

I actually think that she likes checking it out so she can make sure that I’m not making more for Piper than for her! “What!  Piper has a mermaid tail blanket????”

And I told Addison that if she took photos of any DIY project she was working on, I would post it. 

I’m so indecisive. If you have been following the other website, I’ll have a QAYG post up next Tuesday.

So what’s going on this weekend?  Hey, it’s Easter.  Christ is rising.  Isn’t that enough?

Have a great weekend!

Kathy