Thursday, January 6, 2011

Goodbye to Florie and Lew...


Once again, I am forced to say my goodbyes and it's not getting any easier.  Florie and Lew have been here just over a month and I am going to miss them very much. 

Lew, I can't tell you how much fun you've been to us (especially Max) and I'm so pleased that the Silly String fight went over so well.  You are a fantastic person and I'm very glad that I had a chance to meet you.

Florie, you've been a true comrade at arms!  You are hard to say goodbye to.  I have truly enjoyed the time I spent with you.  Not only did I find someone that was creative and didn't mind getting pulled into some of my adventures (Christmas Eve was fun:-), but a truly lovely person with a good heart.

I can't wait for you guys to come back in the Spring to share your winter adventures.

Pamela

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Boating dogs King and Lady...

King, giving his standard greeting:-)

So every time I tell someone I live on a boat, the first questions asked is (of course), "With the dogs?".  Well, yes...with my dogs.  I can't imagine NOT having them on the boat~lol

Well, for all our friends that think we are crazy... I am pleased to present another couple of "crazies":-)  Meet boating dogs King and Lady.  They are on a sailboat that's only 2 feet longer than Mystery.  These two are absolute characters!  Both are very vocal and happy dogs and Bert and Lady have had a couple of great play dates.  I'm very glad they are part of our little marina here now... 

Yep, someone else has German Shepherd Dog's on their sailboat...


King, 10 year old male German Shepherd Dog

Lady, 1 1/2 year old German Shepherd Dogs

Saturday, January 1, 2011

The New Year's here...


So last night Bob, Max and I quietly rang in the 2011 on Mystery.  I find it absolutely amazing that 2010 is now nothing omre than a memory.  So much happened and it seems impossible that it was gone in what feels like the blink of an eye.

This year, we are going to seriously get to work on Mystery and try to find another, bigger and better sailboat...which I am sure will be named Mystery Too~lol  It doesn't seem possible to NOT have a little Mystery:-)

Wishing everyone a very happy New Year...

~Pamela

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Fun day...


Yesterday, Florie, Max and I went on a "hunt".  No, we were not hunting beast or fowl...we were hunting at Hobby Lobby for fabulous little gems we can turn into great pieces of art or jewelry~lol  This was Florie's second trip into a Hobby Lobby and we spent hours wandering around and looking at everything and had so much fun.  I have to say, Max was great fun, but I he'll most likely think twice before he asks to go on a shopping trip with us~lol

I ended up with all the supplies to make a light box (see Coastal Bangles and Beads) except for the lamps, which I'll pick up later this week.  For now, I have a heavy duty Halogen portable light that I can experiment with:-)  I also snagged a few items for artwork, which I'll be busy making late this afternoon/evening.

After our shopping trip, we had a late (read very late) lunch and then it was back to the marina to set-up the light box and make plans for today.  We'll be hitting a few of the tourist spots today that she's missed.

Last night, the other boaters with the 2 German Shepherd Dogs showed up for a few days and Bert finally got his play date with their 1 1/2 year old female, Lady.  It was love at first sight~lol  They ran for about 30 minutes non-stop.  They had so much fun last night, that we set-up a play-date at the dog park this afternoon to let them really let loose (Lady stayed on a long leash last night, so today she'll get to have a good run:-).

The weather's going to be around 66 today and sunny with a light breeze, so I'm going to pack as much "outside time" into my day that I possibly can.

~Pamela

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

My new Etsy catalog is here...

So, I've decided to place a few items on Etsy and to see how I do.  So far, lot's of "lookers" but no buyers yet.  Anyway, I decided to make a catalog of items (found a nitfy little app I wanted to play with~lol) so here's what I have so far...  It's not much, but it's a beginning!

Accidental Sailors December Catalog

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Weather update...

So Christmas was an absolutely beautiful day.  I was comfortable in a tee-shirt and jeans for most of the day and moved into a light jacket for the evening. 

It started raining after dinner, so we headed back to the boat.  By 2 AM the wind was really blowing with gusts up to 45 mph (it was a noisey night!).  This morning, we are right back into the miserable weather:-(

You'll notice the Hard Freeze Warning covering us up...
St. Augustine Airport
Lat: 29.97   Lon: -81.33   Elev: 10
Last Update on Dec 26, 8:58 am EST

Currently:  39 °F
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Wind chill values as low as 39. Breezy, with a west wind between 21 and 23 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Wind chill values as low as 17. Breezy, with a west wind between 16 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 50. Wind chill values as low as 16 early. Breezy, with a west wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Wind chill values as low as 22. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 55. North wind between 3 and 9 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 63.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.

New Year's Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
Looks like New Year's may be pleasant:-)

Hard Freeze Warning

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
254 AM EST SUN DEC 26 2010

FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-262300-
/O.NEW.KJAX.HZ.A.0017.101228T0200Z-101228T1500Z/
/O.CON.KJAX.HZ.W.0021.101227T0200Z-101227T1400Z/
/O.CON.KJAX.LW.Y.0034.000000T0000Z-101227T0200Z/
HAMILTON-SUWANNEE-COLUMBIA-BAKER-NASSAU-DUVAL-UNION-BRADFORD-CLAY-
ST JOHNS-GILCHRIST-ALACHUA-PUTNAM-FLAGLER-MARION-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...JASPER...LIVE OAK...LAKE CITY...
MACCLENNY...FERNANDINA BEACH...JACKSONVILLE...LAKE BUTLER...
STARKE...GREEN COVE SPRINGS...ST AUGUSTINE...TRENTON...
GAINESVILLE...PALATKA...PALM COAST...OCALA
254 AM EST SUN DEC 26 2010

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EST THIS
EVENING...
...HARD FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING
TO 9 AM EST MONDAY...
...HARD FREEZE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY EVENING THROUGH
TUESDAY MORNING...

AN INTENSIFYING LOW PRESSURE CENTER OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC WILL
PRODUCE STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS TODAY. WIND SPEEDS WILL BE 20 MPH
TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH AT TIMES.

AN ARCTIC AIRMASS THAT IS MOVING INTO THE AREA WILL BRING MUCH
COLDER AND WINDY CONDITIONS. A HARD FREEZE IS EXPECTED TONIGHT.
TEMPERATURES WILL FALL INTO THE MIDDLE 20S OVER INLAND AREAS
TONIGHT AND LOWER 20S MONDAY NIGHT. STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS WILL
ALSO PRODUCE WINDS CHILLS IN THE TEENS TONIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HARD FREEZE WARNING MEANS THAT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN
27 DEGREES ARE EXPECTED FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS.

A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20 TO
25 MPH OR GUSTS OF 30 TO 39 MPH ARE EXPECTED. SMALL BOATS WILL BE
ESPECIALLY PRONE TO CAPSIZING. BOATERS IN THE ADVISORY AREA
SHOULD AVOID OPEN WATER AND STAY CLOSE TO SHORE IN WIND PROTECTED
INLETS. HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES SHOULD USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN
TRAVELING AS WELL.

A HARD FREEZE WATCH MEANS THAT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN 27 DEGREES
ARE POSSIBLE FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS.

&&

$$




Hazardous Weather Outlook

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
357 AM EST SUN DEC 26 2010

FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-271030-
ALACHUA-APPLING-ATKINSON-BACON-BAKER-BRADFORD-BRANTLEY-
CAMDEN (COASTAL)-CAMDEN (INLAND)-CHARLTON-CLAY-CLINCH-COFFEE-
COLUMBIA-DUVAL-ECHOLS-FLAGLER-GILCHRIST-GLYNN (COASTAL)-
GLYNN (INLAND)-HAMILTON-JEFF DAVIS-MARION-NASSAU-PIERCE-PUTNAM-
ST JOHNS-SUWANNEE-UNION-WARE-WAYNE-
357 AM EST SUN DEC 26 2010

THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY TODAY...
...HARD FREEZE WARNING TONIGHT...
...WIND CHILL ADVISORY TONIGHT...
...GALE WARNING TODAY AND TONIGHT...

NORTHWEST WINDS AT 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED
TODAY.  PLEASE REFER TO THE LASTEST URGENT WEATHER MESSAGE.

VERY COLD AIR MOVING INTO THE AREA TODAY WILL PRODUCE A HARD FREEZE
TONIGHT. ALSO...STRONG WINDS WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS.
WIND CHILL VALUES WILL FALL INTO THE MIDDLE TEENS BY EARLY MONDAY
MORNING. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST URGENT WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE.

THERE WILL BE AN ELEVATED FIRE DANGER TODAY OVER PARTS OF NORTHEAST
FLORIDA DUE TO LOW HUMIDITY AND STRONG WINDS.

A GALE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL WATERS THROUGH TONIGHT
WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 KNOTS EXPECTED.


.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...

...HARD FREEZE WATCH MONDAY NIGHT...

ANOTHER HARD FREEZE IS EXPECTED OVER THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT.  WINDS
WILL BE LIGHT ALLOWING TEMPERATURES TO FALL INTO THE LOWER 20S OVER
INLAND AREAS. A LIGHT FREEZE IS POSSIBLE INLAND TUESDAY NIGHT.

THERE WILL BE AN ELEVATED FIRE DANGER MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT REQUESTED AT THIS TIME.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN JACKSONVILLE WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV/JAX.

$$

MZ









Special Weather Statement

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
322 AM EST SUN DEC 26 2010

FLZ020>025-030>033-262200-
HAMILTON-SUWANNEE-COLUMBIA-BAKER-NASSAU-DUVAL-UNION-BRADFORD-CLAY-
ST JOHNS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...JASPER...LIVE OAK...LAKE CITY...
MACCLENNY...FERNANDINA BEACH...JACKSONVILLE...LAKE BUTLER...
STARKE...GREEN COVE SPRINGS...ST AUGUSTINE
322 AM EST SUN DEC 26 2010

...FIRE DANGER STATEMENT...

COLDER DRIER AIR WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE AREA ON GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST
WINDS TODAY. RELATIVE HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED TO DROP INTO THE 35 TO
40 PERCENT RANGE DURING THE AFTERNOON. WHILE THIS DOES NOT MEET
ESTABLISHED RED FLAG WARNING CRITERIA...THE COMBINATION OF DRIER
AIR...MUCH BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS THIS MONTH...AND
WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH COULD RESULT IN AN
ENHANCED FIRE DANGER THIS AFTERNOON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PLEASE REFER TO YOUR LOCAL BURN PERMITTING AUTHORITIES ON WHETHER YOU CAN BURN TODAY. IF YOU DO BURN...YOUR ARE ADVISED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION.

&&

$$









Fire Weather Watch

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
315 AM EST SUN DEC 26 2010

FLZ020>025-030>033-262200-
/O.CON.KJAX.FW.A.0104.101227T1700Z-101227T2200Z/
HAMILTON-SUWANNEE-COLUMBIA-BAKER-NASSAU-DUVAL-UNION-BRADFORD-CLAY-
ST JOHNS-
315 AM EST SUN DEC 26 2010

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT MONDAY AFTERNOON...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT MONDAY AFTERNOON.

A COLDER DRIER AIRMASS WILL SPREAD IN ON WINDY NW WINDS TODAY.
LOWEST RH`S ARE FORECAST TO FALL TO 35 TO 40 PERCENT WITH
SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH.

ON MONDAY...LOWEST RH`S ARE FORECAST TO FALL TO BELOW 35 PERCENT
MOST AREAS FOR 4 TO 6 HOURS ALONG WITH SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15 TO
20 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE
RED FLAG WARNINGS.

&&

$$









Wind Chill Advisory

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
304 AM EST SUN DEC 26 2010


FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-262300-
/O.NEW.KJAX.WC.Y.0014.101227T0100Z-101227T1500Z/
HAMILTON-SUWANNEE-COLUMBIA-BAKER-NASSAU-DUVAL-UNION-BRADFORD-CLAY-
ST JOHNS-GILCHRIST-ALACHUA-PUTNAM-FLAGLER-MARION-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...JASPER...LIVE OAK...LAKE CITY...
MACCLENNY...FERNANDINA BEACH...JACKSONVILLE...LAKE BUTLER...
STARKE...GREEN COVE SPRINGS...ST AUGUSTINE...TRENTON...
GAINESVILLE...PALATKA...PALM COAST...OCALA
304 AM EST SUN DEC 26 2010

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM
EST MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE HAS ISSUED A WIND
CHILL ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO
10 AM EST MONDAY.

STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS TONIGHT WILL COMBINE WITH TEMPERATURES
FALLING INTO THE 20S TO PRODUCE DANGEROUSLY COLD CONDITIONS. WIND
CHILL VALUES WILL FALL INTO THE MIDDLE TEENS BY EARLY MONDAY
MORNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS
WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN
FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.
IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS...MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND
GLOVES.

&&

$$




Lake Wind Advisory

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
254 AM EST SUN DEC 26 2010

FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-262300-
/O.NEW.KJAX.HZ.A.0017.101228T0200Z-101228T1500Z/
/O.CON.KJAX.HZ.W.0021.101227T0200Z-101227T1400Z/
/O.CON.KJAX.LW.Y.0034.000000T0000Z-101227T0200Z/
HAMILTON-SUWANNEE-COLUMBIA-BAKER-NASSAU-DUVAL-UNION-BRADFORD-CLAY-
ST JOHNS-GILCHRIST-ALACHUA-PUTNAM-FLAGLER-MARION-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...JASPER...LIVE OAK...LAKE CITY...
MACCLENNY...FERNANDINA BEACH...JACKSONVILLE...LAKE BUTLER...
STARKE...GREEN COVE SPRINGS...ST AUGUSTINE...TRENTON...
GAINESVILLE...PALATKA...PALM COAST...OCALA
254 AM EST SUN DEC 26 2010

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EST THIS
EVENING...
...HARD FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING
TO 9 AM EST MONDAY...
...HARD FREEZE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY EVENING THROUGH
TUESDAY MORNING...

AN INTENSIFYING LOW PRESSURE CENTER OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC WILL
PRODUCE STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS TODAY. WIND SPEEDS WILL BE 20 MPH
TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH AT TIMES.

AN ARCTIC AIRMASS THAT IS MOVING INTO THE AREA WILL BRING MUCH
COLDER AND WINDY CONDITIONS. A HARD FREEZE IS EXPECTED TONIGHT.
TEMPERATURES WILL FALL INTO THE MIDDLE 20S OVER INLAND AREAS
TONIGHT AND LOWER 20S MONDAY NIGHT. STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS WILL
ALSO PRODUCE WINDS CHILLS IN THE TEENS TONIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HARD FREEZE WARNING MEANS THAT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN
27 DEGREES ARE EXPECTED FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS.

A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20 TO
25 MPH OR GUSTS OF 30 TO 39 MPH ARE EXPECTED. SMALL BOATS WILL BE
ESPECIALLY PRONE TO CAPSIZING. BOATERS IN THE ADVISORY AREA
SHOULD AVOID OPEN WATER AND STAY CLOSE TO SHORE IN WIND PROTECTED
INLETS. HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES SHOULD USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN
TRAVELING AS WELL.

A HARD FREEZE WATCH MEANS THAT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN 27 DEGREES
ARE POSSIBLE FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS.

&&

$$




Hard Freeze Watch

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
254 AM EST SUN DEC 26 2010

FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-262300-
/O.NEW.KJAX.HZ.A.0017.101228T0200Z-101228T1500Z/
/O.CON.KJAX.HZ.W.0021.101227T0200Z-101227T1400Z/
/O.CON.KJAX.LW.Y.0034.000000T0000Z-101227T0200Z/
HAMILTON-SUWANNEE-COLUMBIA-BAKER-NASSAU-DUVAL-UNION-BRADFORD-CLAY-
ST JOHNS-GILCHRIST-ALACHUA-PUTNAM-FLAGLER-MARION-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...JASPER...LIVE OAK...LAKE CITY...
MACCLENNY...FERNANDINA BEACH...JACKSONVILLE...LAKE BUTLER...
STARKE...GREEN COVE SPRINGS...ST AUGUSTINE...TRENTON...
GAINESVILLE...PALATKA...PALM COAST...OCALA
254 AM EST SUN DEC 26 2010

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EST THIS
EVENING...
...HARD FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING
TO 9 AM EST MONDAY...
...HARD FREEZE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY EVENING THROUGH
TUESDAY MORNING...

AN INTENSIFYING LOW PRESSURE CENTER OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC WILL
PRODUCE STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS TODAY. WIND SPEEDS WILL BE 20 MPH
TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH AT TIMES.

AN ARCTIC AIRMASS THAT IS MOVING INTO THE AREA WILL BRING MUCH
COLDER AND WINDY CONDITIONS. A HARD FREEZE IS EXPECTED TONIGHT.
TEMPERATURES WILL FALL INTO THE MIDDLE 20S OVER INLAND AREAS
TONIGHT AND LOWER 20S MONDAY NIGHT. STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS WILL
ALSO PRODUCE WINDS CHILLS IN THE TEENS TONIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HARD FREEZE WARNING MEANS THAT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN
27 DEGREES ARE EXPECTED FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS.

A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20 TO
25 MPH OR GUSTS OF 30 TO 39 MPH ARE EXPECTED. SMALL BOATS WILL BE
ESPECIALLY PRONE TO CAPSIZING. BOATERS IN THE ADVISORY AREA
SHOULD AVOID OPEN WATER AND STAY CLOSE TO SHORE IN WIND PROTECTED
INLETS. HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES SHOULD USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN
TRAVELING AS WELL.

A HARD FREEZE WATCH MEANS THAT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN 27 DEGREES
ARE POSSIBLE FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS.

Friday, December 24, 2010

A new favorite photographer...

So, for those who don't know, I have a few items for sale on Etsy.  I have found a photographer that has some fabulous items available and I wanted to share a link to her site...

BeccaVonne Photography