Big Adventure Time!

Bathing suits? Check. Properly inflated boat from Amazon? Check. Oars to paddle boat? Check. Large, warm body of water to test the seaworthiness? Good thing we are on the Gulf of Mexico.

First sea trials were very successful.....many more to follow I'm sure.

Day One-Beautiful Day at the Beach

So ends our first day at PCB. Gangs all here and the weather is perfect. Times are as good as they get......

Our First Beach House

Erected before the Florida sun kissed the white sand, our new gazebo stands ready to ease our days near the water this week.

One of the Sistas

Our own MC seems to have the beat going on with her new sistas!!

Lessons in Self Defense

Extending out on a platform from the port bow of the USS Carl Vinson, I noticed something I didn't realize were mounted on carriers---surface to air missiles.  The automated Phalanx systems are for up close defense but the newer RAM missile systems can reach out much farther.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIM-116_Rolling_Airframe_Missile#SeaRAM_.28weapon_system.29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS

Sub Pens

At least 4 Los Angeles class attack submarines are docked in San Diego this past week.  None with numbers to identify but one with a cover which leads one to believe it to be "Special Ops".  The entire harbor was alive with a military presence with the USS Carl Vinson at rest.  Typically, a least a couple of the subs stay with the carrier group when it deploys.  Hats off to the team for receiving Seal Team 6 a few weeks ago!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_class_submarine

Pretty in Pink

A recent rain made this shot easy :)

Hornets' Nest

On the north end of the Coronado peninsula, there appears to be a bone yard of Hornets-most without their radar and with the cockpits covered.  The extensive naval facility is located across the harbor from San Diego and is home to the USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Carl Vinson.  The Vinson was in port across the bay from the the USS Midway, which is decommissioned and serving as a museum.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F/A-18_Hornet

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAS_North_Island

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Midway_(CV-41)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_(CVN-70)

"How does your garden grow?"

Lots of youngsters in the little woman's garden this past week. Bodes well for a mid to late summer bounty!

Harbor View

Photo of the waterfront looking back toward San Diego's Gas Light district.  Quite a bit of the waterfront has been transformed into a very nice walk with marinas, parks, restaurants and maritime museums that include the USS Midway.

Happy Father's Day!!!

Have a great Father's Day Dad!

And of course, nothing says "I love you, Dad" more than this heart touching video...

Have a great day, Dad!!!

Good Housekeeping Freshness Seal

A recent irrigation project pointed in the direction of multizone drippers and mini sprinklers. The inexpensive timer was purchased to energize the on/off valves controlling the zones. However when the little woman and I went to purchase an outdoor box for the timer we found it more expensive than the timer itself.....so after many ideas involving ziploc freezer bags and old Tupperware containers, a cheap (<$1) sandwich container went into service. After a few rains it is doing just fine !!!

Pink Powderpuffs

The little woman is getting more than lots of broccoli from the garden this year!

Culture Sensitivity

Canadians have a reputation are being "Nice"......I've found out their secret. They eat "Nice" cookies!!!

Back in the Big City

Sunset over the northern Toronto cityscape---building lots of new towers. In Canada this week---which makes two Clarks in the Great White North!

The Young Padawan Graduates

Like his friend Spartan, the young graduate gets his diploma and is looking forward to a summer of leisure before hitting the books this fall!

And for those of you who are unfamiliar with his friend Spartan....

http://youtu.be/Rj7gN3T6l04

Big Day for the Future Skyhawk

Graduation ceromonies were held today for DHS---the photo shows the proud parents and "nervous" graduate. He gets to take a couple of months off and then its back to the grind for the UTM Skyhawks.

Way to go!!!!!!

Dialed up some great weather for our guests

Compared to what we've been having this forecast looks great!  Sorry about Thursday mom, have to water the yard a little!

Tennessee Mountain Gophers

Looks like one of the neighbors has a gopher problem (Again!)  The Tennessee Mountain Gopher is notoriously hard to get rid of once they get a foothold.  If you think these gophers are bad, you ought to try the Florida Skunk Ape :)

For these and other cryptids try:

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptozoology

Fault Lines

A recent trip took me over the Arctic Ocean just north of Iceland--not much to see other than clouds that day.  Iceland lies directly over, and owes its existence to, the Mid-Atlantic ridge where the European and North American Tectonic plates meet.



A few weeks later my flight plans would have been much different as the largest of Iceland's volcanoes lets loose!

Noodlers Needed:No Experience Required

We've got a few empty spots, just report directly to the job site :)

Let me get my penny out....

With about 4 inches of tread depth, these tires need to be measured with a ruler, not the time tested use of U.S. coinage. The treads are still measured in 32nds as with passenger tires, though every 500 hours on both right and left sides of the tire. This generates an estimated life of the tire and allows future projection (in years) of tire needs---really can't run down to the local tire shop and pick a few up when you need them :)

A Bit of Dip

First we need a great recipe.....

The finest ingredients to prepare....

The proper equipment......

To make the best Chunky Guacamole Dip!!!

Now where are those chips?

DIY Projects

Finishing up some unplanned home repairs this week. Having a couple windows reglazed at a local glass shop along with minor gutter repairs.

Happy Mother's Day!

From all of us to YOU!!!

Have a great Happy Mother's Day!!!

http://gatoringoldcountry.blogspot.com/