Winter Solstice

Boy did winter come storming in!  Thursday evening as we sat at the Tiki Bar we all kept an eye on our phones, watching a storm approach.  Will we get rain?  Cindy says no, it never rains here in Cedar Key, it always moves around us...oh no!  What's this?  There's some drops of water on the windows.....and the wind is picking up...

Jim and I left before the worst of the storm hit and the wind and rain continued through the night.  I don't think we got that much rain, but the wind!  It made the temperature drop and continued to blow with gusts up to 35 mph and coming across the water made for a chilly day Friday.  The Sun was out and except for the howling wind it was a beautiful day.  Jim took Boo out for a walk, bless his heart and I stayed in, keeping warm.  

We got a knock on the door and a lovely young lady delivered some yummy treats from Cindy and Pat, though I'm sure Pat didn't help in the making of them.  I had heard Cindy spent three days making cookies and candies for gift baskets...and we were lucky enough to get some.  Alas, half of them are gone and I've eaten enough sugar for the month!  Not sure the goodies will last much longer...

Speaking of Friday, December 21st...the Winter Solstice and according to the Mayans, THE END OF THE WORLD....well that obviously didn't happen!  But we had a good time celebrating with friends at the Tiki Bar.  I made some marinated mushrooms and most everyone brought something to eat.  There were ribs, pulled pork, buns, slaw, orzo salad, bacon wrapped goodies, stone crab claws, dessert platter, etc, etc, etc...I think everyone ate their fill!  Of course having a party at the bar means the alcohol and beer were flowing....We went over around 1700 and came home a couple hours later.  Once the sun went down that wind just froze us half to death!

Sometime during the night the wind let up.  As I type this it's 41 degrees outside with a wind chill of 36 and the winds are out of the north gusting to 25 mph.....yep, winter is here!  But from now on the days get longer!

Cold and Chilly here in Cedar Key

Well, we've been doing a whole lot of nothing!  Our weather has continued to be cold and damp.   So we mostly stay indoors venturing out only to do necessary things....like head to the Tiki Bar!  Actually we've only been a couple times and seeing old friends and meeting new ones is fun.  They've installed a wood burning stove to help keep it warm but the small bar is hardly sealed.  Pat has filled in all the window gaps with bottles and it's a great place to sit and just take it all in.

 Yesterday we went to the Pickled Pelican, www.pickledpelicanonline.com, for lunch.  Jim had a shrimp po-boy and I had a veggie burger.  Both plates came with home made chips and a pickle.  Of course we washed it down with a cold brew...

The pictures below show how foggy Wednesday was.  I thought everything looked cool

 

Pat has been busy with the bottles and 'little men'!  This is the water side of the Tiki Bar

 

Not sure if all these action figures are trying to get in or waiting for the tide to come in so they can swim out to sea

This bottle wall is part of the fence that gives Cindy and Pat privacy from the motel grounds.  They do recycle in Cedar Key but a lot of empties are finding a home here at Low Key Hideaway!

New at site 5 is this deck, we've actually sat out there once or twice!

Across the way is this beautiful green house that overlooks the water.  Shrouded with fog it looks better in black and white.

Yesterday after our lunch we drove into Chiefland to get some groceries at Walmart.  We finally broke down and bought a carpet cleaner....yuck!  I look forward to the day we can rip out this carpeting!

My heart is sad tonight....the senseless shooting in Connecticut of the children and adults just breaks my heart....

I keep thinking about all those gifts left unopened this holiday.
 Or all those trips not being taken. 
All those parent's, grandparents, family members, not having a 'Happy Holiday'. 
I think I need to burn a candle on Christmas for everyone that lost their life today, that way I won't feel so..... I don't know the word for it but I don't want to be so 'happy' when they are so torn apart. It's not fair. My heart aches for everyone there....