Been a long time, just remembered I had the blog.....

It's been a while.....

Changes are many, themes are few. 

Since we last updated our lives the following has occurred:

• We vistied the Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot Idaho on purpose.
• a few other changes and updates but mainly have relocated to Temple Terrace Florida.  Hillsborough Counties third largest city.  (Fun Fact: there are only three in the county)
• Mom passed away after living a miserable last three years of her life; hence promises to ourselves to always take care of ourselves, physically, mentally and spiritually (whatever higher ambiance you embrace)
• My focus on hobbies basically include an obsession with bicycles and travelling as much as I can with Meinen Fraulein.
• My family has been a rock and I am so proud to identify as them versus an individual.
• Simpler is better; live in the moment, watch a lot of Ted talks for skill tips on dealing with depression, isolation and rumination.

I think I'll begin to focus our chats on these obsessions.  I used to have another blog regarding bicycling in Florida at 12 mph.....since then, other wonderful sites have arrived highlighting routes, stats and achievements.....I use the software, plan the routes and the like, but I think I will focus on the main mantra learned while on the GAP and C&O trail with meinen bruder.....ride your own ride.  This was in 2014; a self supported tour and a wonderful introduction to long distance touring.

So moving forward let's see what we can do to comment on :

1. Commentary on routes/rides and experiences in the area.
2. Focus efforts regarding Bicycling Buddies to promote commuter oriented experiences in the County that is close to leading the nation in Traffic related fatalities of pedestrians and bicyclists.
3. Commentary regarding experiences in our travels.  Either on two wheels or travelling abroad.

Let's see if this will work.

Moving on down (?)

Time for an update.....Meine Frau und I have been working hard on the haus, hence the lack of updates.

We will be moving from this abode to something smaller, easier and simpler.  It will be our 7th residence in our life and hopefully our last.  After all, as we grow older, we want to simplify a lot in life.  Two of our three are living on their own, paying their bills and figuring out what they want to do with THEIR lives.  As much as we want to and sometimes fail, I mistakenly confuse guidance for direction.  I apologize.  It is their life, not mine to relive.  More on the house hunt later.

Over the past 18 months we have completed a number of projects in preparation of selling this block of concrete:

After the underpinning under the garage side of the house due to settling ($$$$),

• We fixed the brick wall and veneer on the west side of the house.  New/re-purposed brick blended real well with the existing.
• Wired/restucco'd the garage wall.
• Primed/painted east, west and south side of the house
• Painted the fascia to match the trim.
• New roof in 2012.
• Removed the Bottle-bush tree as it provided ugly curb appeal.
• Trimmed out the butterfly/hummingbird garden.  Welcome back winged friends
• Replaced the pool pump motor
• Thinned out the garden to more manageable beds (beans, carrots, and tomatoes).  Asparagus and pineapple are moving along.
• Painted three bedrooms, kitchen, breakfast nook, 3 bathrooms, 5 closets, laundry room.  All colors are in sync and blend well with the house.
• Regrouted two shower stalls
• Replaced ceiling fans, lumadome lights and panels
• Resurfaced patio roof 3rd coat in three years....I want that thing rubberized.
• Removed the child pool fence; pressure washed all to oblivion, more and more flowers, planted along the fence lines to make my bride's office view even prettier.

We are down to replacing the carpets for the new owners, painting two more ceilings and then pop a sign in the yard.

Our motivation is simply this.  Simple things seem to be easier.

We work the majority of our life building.  Building everything.  Building character, reputation, education, career, family, finance, belongings, experiences, everything.  At some point, you realize, why do I have some much stuff?  Character, education, experiences don't take any room.  They are the good things in life.  The other stuff does, and if we don't really use it, why have it?  Time to move on and pare down.  I'm also hypocritical, as we also have 10 x 15 storage unit.....that's another post.

We live in a 2600 sq ft house with three people, a dog and a cat.  Our dining/living room barely get used.  one bedroom is an office, another one is just a place to put a computer, iron clothes and assemble stuff that can be done anywhere.  It's time for a change.  

Though we know we need a change, we also need it for our personal preservation (isn't that one of man's 5 basic needs?) I spend three hours a day in the car.  Simply too long of a time, not healthy and certainly risky with the amount of miles driven through a populated city.  That too is another post on travel options.

So, moving forward with this blog will be a transformation to a simpler and easier life.  You hear that people work to live or live to work.  I've been the latter for all too long.  As I begin to make this change and transition into my 50's, I will also need to change outlooks, perceptions and goals.

Big things are planned for the last half of 2014...please stay tuned.

Igor Spazmouseski July 8, 2005 - April 21,2012



Goodbye to the best puppy ever.......

"Why we should keep Spaz"

This was the title of a note given to me by my children regarding our special needs dog, Spaz.  It was a plea to keep Spaz and not put him up for adoption.  The best line was:

......to put it bluntly, he is an ugly dog.

His full name is Igor Spazmouseki, he was born the 5th of 10 puppies on July 8, 2005.  During Hurricane Dennis which was nothing more than some wind in the air here in Tampa Bay.

When he was born, it took Luna about 1.5 hours to push him out after #4.  When he came out, he was out of his umbilical sac, the cord was already detached and he was unresponsive.  It did not look good for #5. 

I did what they do in the movies, put him a towel, gently massaged his wet, limp body and breathed into his puppy face.  He did come around and he was memorable over the next eight weeks with his siblings.

He was the runt of the litter, wasn't getting the milk or nourishment he needed.  We fed him separately and gave him separate time with Luna to feed before the other eight jumped on board. 

I found myself needing to take him to my office to feed him goats milk, since he kept getting pushed off of Luna by his siblings.  For two weeks he was with me, in my office, in a box or a toweled off area in by my desk.  Although he was not my or our first dog, in my heart, he was my dog.

We call him Spaz because when he started to stand he had the shakes.  His hind legs were not enough to support him and he quavered whenever he stood or walked.  In addition, his head was not exactly right....right in the way you would say, "something's not right about that one"....He had the look of 'Ed' one of the hyeanas from "The Lion King"....hence Igor (Young Dr. Frankenstein reference).  Mouse, as we are big fans of Disney, so Igor Spazmouseki.  He is a purebred Labrador Retriever.  Purebred and now sick.

He was a vocal one, one that would talk to you, not bark.  One that would tell you something was going on.  One, when he ran or trotted his legs would kick out to the sides instead of a gallop/run.  He can catch and carefully disect a lizard and leave it for you as an offering to remind you he is the best there is.  He would find you at night, talk to you and have you walk him to his cage at night, seeking permission to go to sleep.

He never learned to pee with one leg in the air.  He would try to be the dominant dog of the three, I think Bey and Luna allowed it to make him feel better. 

My dog is going to die soon.  He has chronic kidney failure. He has lost 20 lbs over the past few months.   His kidney's are shutting down, toxins building and there is not a damn thing I or we can do about it.  We can make him feel comfortable and we do.  His diet is changing to not give him as much protein in his diet.  He is beginning to lose bladder control. 

To compound the bad news, his grandfather died last week of heart failure, grandma was put to sleep a few months ago.  Spaz's mom and dad know something is up.  Bey checks on him, Luna has laid down in the cage with him and does not need to be asked to go to bed, as a mother I guess she just knows.

We soon are going to know when it is time to make the trip to the vet for the final goodbye.  I've done this twice before, with our first dog and our first cat.  This one is going to hurt and hurt bad.

When we now look at Spaz...what is he telling us in his eyes....I'm in pain, I'm uncomfortable, I'm tired?  Wish we knew, we could help buddy.

I love my dog Spaz.

Freeze Damage in Zone 9

Morning, learned a lesson this week.  Do not cover your tomatoes with a plastic drop cloth.  However, when you have lemons, you make lemonade (we already did that this week with the our lemons), we are going to make some green tomato salsa with a recipe found on another Zone 9 gardener's blog.

Here are some photos of the damage and product

I'm trying something as this whole garden thing is trial and error, I've pruned back the last two plants, one is a Hybrid Roma, the other is a Hybrid Beefsteak....let's see if anything comes of it.  In addition, I've taken a root string from one of the Roma's and put it in the Earthbox to see if anything sprouts...who know's?

As you can see, quite lot of salsa ahead of us.

Next up is January's planting's and more garden improvements.  On the slate is:

• Chucking the planting table....haven't really used it
• Adding in two more 2x4 raised beds
• Have noticed a real need for an herb garden, so Cilantro, Parsley, Mint and Thyme will be added
• Starting January/February seeds
• Have another couple of sweet potatoes sitting, just waiting on their slips

Enjoy your weekend, if anyone is reading this decrepit site.

Sometimes it just takes some time.....

Happy New Year!  We wish you and yours the very best in 2012 and continue to pursue your dreams and ambitions.

This is our brick from Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park.  We ordered it after the Olympics, then moved from Atlanta and this was the first time we've seen it!  We love it and it was chilly over the holiday.

Brown Thumbs?

Well, we took the plunge, put on the boots and started the garten.  Yes, it also looks like a Bier Garten.  Can you blame me?

This project kind of just 'grew' (get it?) from a raised bed, as seen on the left (below), Right (above).  Got so excited and discovered a source of throw away lumber and acquired a number of 2x4 boxes.  Stacked them together, secured them, and filled them up with rock, compost and soil and we now have several raised bed gartens.

This is on the southwest side of the house and gets good sun the majority of the day.

So, in September we planted tomatoes, bib lettuce, romaine lettuce, canteloupe (listeria free mind you), corn, onions, carrots, green/yellow/orange/red bell peppers, yellow squash, pole beans, watermelon, broccoli and cauliflower.  Potatoes are next, just need to get them from the feedstore.

Total of 60 sq feet of garden.

Due to drainage issues, built a deck along with it so our feet don't stand in the water after a heavy, heavy rain.  Again, recycled pallet material, even reused the nails!

 Started the corn, tomatoes and Romaine lettuce from seed!

Even had some help with the decking.

So all in all, we should be able to get our ROI this season alone, thanks to the 'recycled' boxes and deck work.  More important, it is a place to relax, reflect and feel proud about the work we did and think back on some fond memories of my grandmother's tomato garden and how sweet they were.

This is our first real garden since we have been here, we had some good success in Ohio, but not on this scale.  Thanks to Megan and Michael to really be an inspiration to get motivated and see it through.  Now only if these brown thumbs can turn green!  (sounds like a Elton John song)

On the plate for this week:  Hanging a truss system for the Blackberry plants.  These are the "Natchez" variety of Blackberries.  They were in the 50% off rack at Lowes, I think I've nursed them back from their distressed state and they seem stable where I want to plant them.  My research says, although they are from Arkansas, they will grow successfully in Zone 9.  Can't wait to see if we are lucky to get some fruit.

Next up...blueberry bushes around the pool cage.