Under Southerly Skies
2008 Annual Mileage count: 2254
Back from Florida. I would have posted while I was down there, but I didn't have access to electricity, much less internet on this trip. We had to run the shop and camper off of a pair of marine batteries, which meant we only had power for about half the usual lights, and the boss' dremel, and basically nothing else.
The trip down was trying. Apparently the trailer has developed axle problems, as we destroyed two sets of wheel bearings and two tires on the way down. A two-day drive became a three day one, as we lost time on repairs. Not cool. We arrived late on Friday, as usual, and rushed to get set up, even though we had left Indiana a bit early, with plenty of time.
The Ft. Myers Ren Fair is nice for a smaller event, the lack of electricity notwithstanding. Saw Adam, Cliff, Neckbet, and a bunch of other 'fair friends' down there. The weather was nicer than predicted. I liked being able to camp within walking distance of the booth, rather than having to get a hotel. They even had a nice showerhouse.
We were next door to Siege the Day again, which was funny! They've improved their stuff quite a bit since I last saw them in Texas. I was so tempted to get Phil a ballista for his 'siege weaponry' collection, but I decided that bringing home the money was more important. Just as well, they sold their only one just before I got over there to ask about it.
I should have started home Monday morning, but Susan wasn't ready to say goodbye to her husband quite yet. So instead, the four of us drove over to Ft. Lauderdale, and spent the day doing things there. We went to Pompano Beach, and I got to wander the shore collecting shells.
We ate lunch at the Deerfield Super Buffet. Normally chinese buffet places don't impress me much, but this one is exceptional. It has a full sushi bar, with a better sushi selection than some sushi restaurants here in Indiana. The food was wonderful!
Then we went to Butterfly World. Susan seemed to think they would have Nepenthes there, that I would want to see, as well as the butterflies and exotic birds. She was partly right. They had one, a very nice female, fully grown and nearly identical to the type I grow here. It was even sprouting a flower stalk. It was in the hanging garden section, right where the new butterflies emerge from their cocoons. I thought it ironic they would put an insectivore so close to their newly hatched insects, but then butterflies are in no danger from it. Their wingspans make it impossible for them to enter the pitchers. The other plants she thought were insectivores were in fact Aristolochia (Dutchman's Pipes). Still very cool. I brought home some seeds from the gift shop, and may see if I can get them to grow. It'd have to be indoors up here, though.
I took quite a lot of photos, but didn't have time to get them off of Tomas' camera before I left. So I'll have to wait for him to get around to it and email me. Lots of flowers and butterflies, and a few of all of us getting mobbed by lorikeets in one of the aviaries. It was funny, especially when one decided it liked Tomas and started nuzzling in his beard.
The drive home Tuesday was blessedly uneventful, just long. Susan's husband and I set out early Tuesday morning, and drove straight through, all the way home. We may have rushed it a bit, but we both wanted to be home. Not having to stop to refuel as often, since we weren't towing, and both being comfortable eating while driving, we made good time. We were both completely exhausted when we reached Evansville, but glad to be home.
Yesterday I just crashed, and started taking down Christmas ornaments. Nothing much. It actually snowed here yesterday evening, and the snow persists yet today. Kind of pretty outside.
Ah, well. Back to work. Got sewing I need to do today, as well as some writing, more laundry, and packing up the rest of the Christmas things. Hopefully I'll have photos soon!
Back from Florida. I would have posted while I was down there, but I didn't have access to electricity, much less internet on this trip. We had to run the shop and camper off of a pair of marine batteries, which meant we only had power for about half the usual lights, and the boss' dremel, and basically nothing else.
The trip down was trying. Apparently the trailer has developed axle problems, as we destroyed two sets of wheel bearings and two tires on the way down. A two-day drive became a three day one, as we lost time on repairs. Not cool. We arrived late on Friday, as usual, and rushed to get set up, even though we had left Indiana a bit early, with plenty of time.
The Ft. Myers Ren Fair is nice for a smaller event, the lack of electricity notwithstanding. Saw Adam, Cliff, Neckbet, and a bunch of other 'fair friends' down there. The weather was nicer than predicted. I liked being able to camp within walking distance of the booth, rather than having to get a hotel. They even had a nice showerhouse.
We were next door to Siege the Day again, which was funny! They've improved their stuff quite a bit since I last saw them in Texas. I was so tempted to get Phil a ballista for his 'siege weaponry' collection, but I decided that bringing home the money was more important. Just as well, they sold their only one just before I got over there to ask about it.
I should have started home Monday morning, but Susan wasn't ready to say goodbye to her husband quite yet. So instead, the four of us drove over to Ft. Lauderdale, and spent the day doing things there. We went to Pompano Beach, and I got to wander the shore collecting shells.
We ate lunch at the Deerfield Super Buffet. Normally chinese buffet places don't impress me much, but this one is exceptional. It has a full sushi bar, with a better sushi selection than some sushi restaurants here in Indiana. The food was wonderful!
Then we went to Butterfly World. Susan seemed to think they would have Nepenthes there, that I would want to see, as well as the butterflies and exotic birds. She was partly right. They had one, a very nice female, fully grown and nearly identical to the type I grow here. It was even sprouting a flower stalk. It was in the hanging garden section, right where the new butterflies emerge from their cocoons. I thought it ironic they would put an insectivore so close to their newly hatched insects, but then butterflies are in no danger from it. Their wingspans make it impossible for them to enter the pitchers. The other plants she thought were insectivores were in fact Aristolochia (Dutchman's Pipes). Still very cool. I brought home some seeds from the gift shop, and may see if I can get them to grow. It'd have to be indoors up here, though.
I took quite a lot of photos, but didn't have time to get them off of Tomas' camera before I left. So I'll have to wait for him to get around to it and email me. Lots of flowers and butterflies, and a few of all of us getting mobbed by lorikeets in one of the aviaries. It was funny, especially when one decided it liked Tomas and started nuzzling in his beard.
The drive home Tuesday was blessedly uneventful, just long. Susan's husband and I set out early Tuesday morning, and drove straight through, all the way home. We may have rushed it a bit, but we both wanted to be home. Not having to stop to refuel as often, since we weren't towing, and both being comfortable eating while driving, we made good time. We were both completely exhausted when we reached Evansville, but glad to be home.
Yesterday I just crashed, and started taking down Christmas ornaments. Nothing much. It actually snowed here yesterday evening, and the snow persists yet today. Kind of pretty outside.
Ah, well. Back to work. Got sewing I need to do today, as well as some writing, more laundry, and packing up the rest of the Christmas things. Hopefully I'll have photos soon!