Kayak tales

Sometime after our "once-in-a-lifetime" experience, our double sit-upon kayak developed a crack and started to take on water. This was noticed three or four weeks ago at Tomoka State Park, when every breath either of us took would wiggle the boat. Yikes! Upon landing, the boat was too heavy for TWO MEN to lift! It had so much water in it that the hatch had to be opened and the boat turned over to let the water out.

A crack was found and Paul tried to repair it. Took the boat out again last weekend on the Silver River. After an hour we turned around because we were feeling a little instability in the boat. Besides, the patch fell off! Oh, and for once the weather-guessers were right: it started to rain at exactly 11 am, or should I say, about ten minutes before we reached the canal to Ray's Landing.

Since then, Paul found me a single sit-upon kayak (with built-in back rest) on Craigs List, which is reviewed as fast and easy. He also took our SUV kayak to the dealer, who repaired the crack with an Ugly patch. We will be taking it to Sanchez Park in Ormond Beach for a little test drive. We may take the new-to-us kayak out there Sunday morning.

Thrift Shopping

I like to buy clothes at thrift stores. Here are some dresses and a skirt I've bought.

Thrifting

Sewing with "baby steps"

When my friend came over on Tuesday to finish her tote bag, I pinned the straps to the yoke of the New Look 6828 top I'm working on. Yesterday I sewed that seam and removed the pins. Today I turned the yoke and basted the raw edges together. Sewing just a little bit at a time is what I meant by "baby steps."

DH is starting a web site business on the side, since his hours were cut back on his day job. He wants me to make him a little zippered tote bag so he can carry his business stuff around - camera, mini-notebook, pen, and receipt pad. Today I rough-sketched the pattern, and cut out the fabric for a mock-up.

Nuts to Smoothies!

I just made a smoothie that I can declare a total success, but only when Success is defined by "DH couldn't taste the greens in the smoothie!"

Blend until creamy:

• 1 large handful raw walnuts
• 1/2 Cup iced chai tea, sweetened with stevia

Add and blend until smooth:

• 1/3 head leafy green lettuce, rinsed, vein removed
• 1 Cup blueberries
• 1 Cup raspberries
• 1 Cup strawberries
• 1 large banana

I think the nuts cancel the lettuce flavor. DH said that he can tell it's got fruit in it, but the rest is a tasty mystery.

I filled up a salsa jar for my lunch tomorrow, and there was enough left for us to each have a large tumbler of smoothie.