Thankful Thursday--Map making!

This week at home has been busy.  We came home to see our youngest daughter swim in her last home swim meet of the season.  As we headed out, she called to say that the roads were covered in ice and snow so we should turn around.  Since we are home, we are taking care of some much needed work around the house. 

Many thanks to Bob and Cathryn at Olalla Bay blog.  I have been reading their blog about their trip on the Great Loop.  Even though they are much farther along on their trip, we have had similar experiences. I notices that Olalla Bay has a map marking the stops on the trip.  Bob was kind enough to give me a little help in starting a map for Meandering Joy.  You can see it on the side bar on the starboard (right) side of the our blog.  Just click where it says "see Meandering Joy Maps" to see our path. 

It was very easy to make the map.   Check it out and let me know what you think.  What do you like about it?  What kinds of things would you like to see added?

Thanks again to Bob and Cathryn. 

Psalm 28:7     Matthew 6:34     Psalm 56:3-4     Genesis 28:15


 

Peacocks Get a New Home

The peafowl population at our home has outgrown its home so Mr. Adventure decided it was time to build them a new home.  What is the story with the peacocks?  When we moved to the country, Steve decided he needed peacocks.  He made some sort of  deal with a local neighbor to trade a fence for a pair of peacocks.  I never saw the neighbor again--he must have decided he better leave before I figured out the whole story about peacocks.

Our first peacocks --actually called peafowl, peacocks are male, peahens are female--were named Romeo and Juliet.  We kept them in a  pen for several months to allow them to get acclimated.  We installed mirrors in the pen as we were instructed.  In the spring we let Romeo and Juliet out of the pen to explore.   They were a happy couple until the fall.  In the fall, Romeo and Juliet got mixed up with the wild turkeys who also inhabited our farm.  On several occasions, Mr. Adventure was able to woo them back to the pen by having them follow a food trail.  However, Juliet could not be swayed, she finally took off with the wild turkey of her choice, never to be seen again.  Romeo remained heart broken and lonely.

Not one to give up on a dream and feeling sorry for Romeo, Mr. Adventure purchased another peacock and two peahens.  Over the years, we have had as many as 15 peafowl.  They enjoy hanging out on our front porch, perching on the railing, chairs and table.  Walking onto our porch might look like one is  playing some mixed up game of hopscotch trying to avoid the random droppings left by the birds. 

We have enjoyed watching the eggs hatch into peachicks over the years.  It is fascinating to watch the mother train her chick to fly.  They are beautiful creatures even though they are messy.

Manhandling the roll of wire to go around the posts

Nailing the wire

Wiring is finished along with a top rail.

Next step is the netting over the top to keep them from flying away--yes they fly quite well

Over the years I have tried to give away the peacocks--Steve has been appalled that I would even consider giving them away when they are worth at least $75 each depending on their color.  We have three different colors of peafowl--Leucistic Indian Peafowl (white), India Blue(iridescent blue), and Pied (white/blue mix). One website I visited advertised prices for assorted peachicks ranging from $34.10 to $51.13.  They were sold out.  This website also claimed that peafowl make great pets because they are more affectionate that other types of poultry.  Our dog Jack would beg to differ.  He has a scar on his head from a time when he got too close to Romeo. 

Perhaps there is a opportunity in the peafowl business that  I have overlooked...

joy


John 16:33     Psalm 112:4, 7

Favorites Friday!!!

Favorite Recipe of the Week

Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta

A craving for shrimp this week inspired me create this recipe. I wanted a cross  between shrimp scampi and shrimp in Alfredo sauce It got high marks from Mr. Adventure who had two helpings.  

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons garlic crushed

1 small onion finely chopped

2 cups sliced mushrooms

3/4 cup white wine

1/4 cup lemon juice

3 ounces cream cheese

3 tablespoons pesto sauce

3 tablespoons tomato pesto sauce

2 pounds peeled shrimp

Parmesan cheese to taste

Salt & Pepper to taste

16 oz angel hair pasta. 

Directions

1.  Cook pasta according to directions on package, toss with olive oil and keep warm. 

2.  Heat olive oil in skillet,  add onions, garlic, and mushrooms.  Stir over heat until mushrooms and onions are no longer crisp.  Add white wine and lemon juice, bring to a low boil.  Add shrimp.  Cook for 3 minutes before stirring.  Stir and cook shrimp till pink.  Lower heat and add cream cheese and both pesto sauces.  Stir slowly to incorporate cream into sauce without breaking up the shrimp. 

Serve over pasta, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
 Note:  We made a side of gluten free pasta--it is actually made of corn.  

We served this with fresh steamed broccoli and sugar snap peas.  Let me know if you try it--I would love to know if you like it as much as we do.  

joy 

PS--I am experimenting with different colors as I learn how to blog.  

Thankful Thursday

There are so many things for which to be thankful.  Being thankful for things today just does not feel right.  Lately the scripture I have been reading has focused on being thankful in all circumstances, a concept with which I wrestle.  According to the scripture that I have read recently, Christians should be thankful in everything-the good--and yes the bad.  

A few years ago I had an unfortunate accident while white water rafting in which I broke my leg.  I was not thankful for this situation, in fact, I was about as far from thankful as one could get.  I was angry and in pain--a difficult combination of feelings.  The athletic sense of pride in me was humbled by the fact that I could not walk the simplest of activities in my mind.   I became dependent upon my husband and my daughters for most everything.   Over time, I began to develop a sense of awareness and concern for others who lacked mobility-- permanently.  My leg would heal in twelve weeks, but others I met, would not be healed. 

Unfortunately, I did not "rejoice always" or "consider it pure joy" as the scripture below encourages. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

James 1:2-4 (NIV) ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18(NIV) ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Today, I can be thankful for how the difficult situations have taught me lessons I might not have otherwise learned.  I can pray that I start to be thankful during all circumstances in the future. 

One last verse for today that is thought provoking…

John 16:33   I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart: I have overcome the world. 

Marine Bargains

I can remember when Peachtree Salvage Store opened in my hometown.  One of my favorite things to do was to wander around this store sifting through the sweaters hoping to find a bargain.  I found a green sweater for about 7 dollars  that I wore all through college.  I still love going through these bargain, flea market type shops hoping to find a bargain.

While visiting  New Mexico on a trip in 2010 with our daughter's physics class , we toured The Black Hole  The teacher who put together the trip loved to take the students to unusual sites.   The Black Hole was started by Ed Grunthus who worked at Los Alamos.  He went into private business buying salvage items from the government.  Included in the inventory are centrifuges, chemistry lab supplies, gas masks and more. 

Why am I talking about the Black Hole  when I am nowhere near New Mexico.  Sailor's Exchange in Jacksonville could be the nautical version of The Black's Hole.  Sailor's Exchange carries nautical décor, rope, charts, books, teak items, glass ware and plates and more. 

Mr. Adventure found a 2012 Florida chart for $40.  They typically sell for $100 or more.  He also found some tubes for holding fishing rods that we can attach to the boat.  I found a painting of a lighthouse that I hope to use somewhere on the boat. It reminds me of my youth in the seventies because of it's psychedelic  nature.  We were told that the artist works for Sailor's Exchange in St. Augustine.

Sails





Books

Charts

decorative items

Lots and lots of line

Immersion suits for a great price!

Cute melamine dishware

Glassware

Wooden accessories

Care to take a guess as to when this came out?

Ship in a bottle

 

Chamblin Bookmine Visit

Visit to Chamblin Bookmine

Walking around Lamb's Yacht Center, we discovered Chamblin Bookmine.    Walking around the Bookmine is like walking through the lava of an erupted volcano of books.  Books are stacked high and low, far and wide.  Chamblin's is  located in an older building in an out of the way part of Jacksonville.  The parking lot is full, completely full.  

Books line the aisles with handwritten labels describing the subjects.  Chamblin's sells both new and used books.  Looking up and down the aisle, one can see used books and new book. There are so many aisles and books that begin to look the same that I got lost--yes lost in a sea of books. I found two books--one on photography and one silly little mystery to read on the boat when we have down time.  The website for the Bookmine describes the inventory as 98% rare and used books with 2 % new books.  They have a trade in/purchase policy which allowing customers to barter books.Bookmine sells online if one is unable to visit the store in person.

Mr. Adventure and I started out in the maritime section.  I was looking for more books on knot tying.  He found a book on Pirates that he thought might help me overcome the pirate voices I sometimes hear at night while at anchor. I didn't discover any books on knot tying--also known as marlinspike (that's the nautical term for the art of tying knots--definition by Joy)

Chamblin's Bookmine is a treasure, as its name suggests, in the rapidly changing  world of books.. There is no better way to spend a rainy afternoon than with a worn book in hand curled up under a blanket.  We visited Chamblin's Bookmine on Roosevelt Boulevard.  There is another site named Chamblin's Uptown on North Laura Street.  The Uptown shop includes a café.  We will definitely make a visit to the Uptown location when we return with a car.

The exterior doesn't give a clue to the treasure inside.

Mr. Adventure looking at marine books

Steve's pick for me

Seamanship

Women's Studies & Gardening

Some of the choices in women's studies

Just to be fair I suppose--Men's Studies

Paranormal Romance?? Haven't seen this category before.

Finally something that I can read before going to bed--I don't know why the picture is in sideways

More light reading choices

Reminds me of the school video Katy made in high school about Stephen Hawking

So many books they have to stack on the floor

Our girls had Hooked on Phonics!!!

Fun mystery series

Psalm 52:8      Proverbs 3:5-6