Now You See It, Now You Don't

Recently a friend, Judi, called me to let me know she used my blog (DIY Lighting Project) to change out the pot lights in her new home.  We had so much fun talking about the project, that I thought I would share some of my recent DIY adventures.

BATHROOM TUB COVER

The biggest and most dramatic project is my bathroom tub cover.  Now You See It, Now You Don't.

A neighbor and golfing friend, Sue, asked me if I had any ideas on how to cover a bathroom garden tub.  It is a large tub that is in many homes in my area, including my home.  Sure it is big enough for two and has jets.  But I tried using it, and it took too much water, didn't stay hot and wasn't very comfortable.  Plus it is a pain to clean.  I know someone who had their bathroom renovated and took the tub out completely.  I wasn't ready for that option.  A tub cover sounded like an interesting idea.  Sue and I talked about the details while golfing.  I said I would work out a plan on my tub.

I decided to do the project in small steps over several days.  First I build the frame.  I moved it out to the garage to add the top.  At this point, I was feeling pretty good.

The problems started when I added the wood pieces to the top.  The issues seemed small, but ended with the finished piece a little too large to fit in the opening.  I should have made the frame smaller than the opening...a beginner's mistake.

After I had a small meltdown, Brian helped me cut down some spots...more like hack up a few areas and we got it to fit.  I am not proud of the finished piece.  Pretty ugly up close, but the project is done.  It is a great idea, but definitely a job for an experienced woodworker or carpenter.

CRACKING TILES

Several friends and neighbors have commented on annoying cracks in floor tiles.  Small hairline cracks...not a structural problem, just a cosmetic issue.  A friend shared how they solved the problem using paint.  I was INSPIRED.  I used some leftover exterior latex paint.  I dabbed it on the crack, waited a few seconds and then gently wiped off the paint.  The goal is to wipe the paint off the surface tile, but leave the paint in the crack.

The cracks are small and difficult to see in pictures, but believe me...once you see a crack, it looks like it is lit up in neon.  Paint can solve a lot of tile problems.  This is the same area that I painted the tile grout in January 2015.   It still looks pretty good.  Check out my blog, Painting Within the Line.

KITCHEN DRAWER DIVIDERS

I am fortunate to have lots of kitchen cabinets and drawers.  Lots of opportunities for organization.  The Internet is full of ideas for organizing your kitchen.  Rubbermaid containers, Command hooks and wire racks are my favorite tools for organizing.  Add some vinyl labels...that's my style.

Another favorite kitchen organizational tool is an Ikea drawer inserts for spice jars.

A golfing friend, Pat sent me a YouTube video for drawer dividers.   She made her divider from foam board and said it worked great.  I followed the video and made mine from 1/8" hardboard.  This project used my favorite DIY tools...chop saw, clamps and glue.  Now all the mess is organized.  I love having a place for everything and everything in it's place.

I didn't stop with one drawer, I did several. 

I am always interested in DIY projects and organizational ideas.  Let me know what your favorite projects are and I will continue sharing mine.

2018 Summer Adventure

When the summer heat was arriving in Central Florida, Brian and I were heading out for our 2018 Summer Adventure.  The theme this year was the Natchez Trace Parkway...ending with Family Time in Ohio.

In typical Florida summer style, it rained every day the first week.  We made a couple stops on our way to the Natchez Trace Parkway.  The first stop was at the Ho Hum RV Park in Carabelle, Florida.  With a name like that, I couldn't resist.   The campground was fine for a couple days.  We got to see a lot of the area despite the rain.  I found a great place for fresh steamed shrimp...yum.  We drove over to St. George Island, toured the quaint vacation town, checked out the state park and spent some time on the beach.  I enjoyed the diverse natural beauty of the area...inlet, barrier islands, beaches, marshes.  I definitely want to come back and spend more time in the area.

The next stop was the Davis Bayou campgrounds on the Gulf Island National Seashore.  The campsite I reserved looked great on paper...but when we drove up...oh my.  It was narrow with a difficult angle to back into...and lots of overhanging trees.  Despite his initial objections, Brian backed the trailer in on the first try...my hero.  I like state park camping because of the surrounding nature...but this was a bit much.

It rained a lot during our brief two-day stay.  I did enjoy the hiking trails and I want to come back to kayak in the bayou.

Natchez, MS

Before we started on the Parkway, we spend a few days at the Riverview RV Park on the Mississippi River...walking along the river...watching the barges.

Natchez is the oldest settlement on the Mississippi River...packed full of Southern history and hospitality.  We toured an antebellum home (the Longwood), had some great pulled pork (Pig Out Inn) and took a tour of the Frogmore Cotton plantation.

Natchez Trace Parkway

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a national park road that is 444 miles long from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN.  It follows a trail that was used by travelers in the early 1800s, travelling by foot or horse.  Merchants would float their goods down the Mississippi River.  Before the steam engine, these merchants had to travel back north by land.  The Trace was the popular route and could take a month to navigate home.  Today the Trace is packed with history and natural beauty.

The Parkway is easy to drive.  There is no commercial traffic (trucks), it is two lanes, steady 50 mph speed limit and very little traffic.

In typical National Park style, there are well-marked turnoffs for the many points of interest...natural ( overlooks, swamps, waterfalls) and historical (Emerald Mound Mount Locust home, Meriweather Lewis National Monument) and every mile is marked with an attractive mile marker.

Nashville, TN

Our trip on the Parkway ended in Nashville, TN.  We stayed a couple days at the Grand Ole RV Resort.  The owners were very nice and helpful...and the campers were friendly...but I couldn't get over the train noise.  There are train tracks within 100 yards of our campsite.  And a train came through almost every hour (day and night).  There were no crossings nearby, so no horns, but the noise of the train was enough.  While in Nashville, we visited the Parthenon and the Opryland Hotel...both large-scale attractions.

Also while in Nashville, we spent an afternoon  at Andrew Jackson's home, The Hermitage.  Jackson was the 7th US President and his personal and professional life were full of controversy...Indian relocation, dueling, bigamy, slave ownership.

Family Time in Ohio

The second purpose of our summer adventure was to spend time with the family in Ohio.  We stayed at a nice city campground in Stow, Ohio...Silver Springs Campground.  All the years I lived in Ohio, I never knew this place existed.  The campground has limited amenities, but I enjoyed calling it home for a couple weeks.  It was close to family and friends, had nearby hiking trails, a bike path and geocaches.

When we are in Ohio we like to get the family together for a long weekend.  This year we spent our family weekend on Kelley's Island in Lake Erie.  I picked this spot because we had a summer home there for a few years.  It was great to see the familiar sights on this quaint, old-fashioned island...the state park, the winery, driving around in a golf cart and the ferry ride to the island.

Three of the grandbabies were with us on Kelley's Island.  It was fun to spend time with each of the babies, but it was a blast to see them with each other.  Here they are giving us a concert on their piano play mats.

We also got to meet Matt's son, Nik.  The count is 3 grandsons and 1 granddaughter.  Evie has her work cut out for her.

One the way home, we stopped in Jackson Center, Ohio so we could take a tour of the Airstream factory.  Most of the online reviews of the factory tour were favorable.  I enjoy factory tours and am interested in how things are made.  However, Brian and I were not impressed.  Too many people, too loud to hear the guide and what I did hear was not interesting.

We also toured the Ohio Caverns near Jackson Center.  I have been through lots of cave and cavern tours...and enjoyed them all.  I find every stalagmite and stalactite fascinating...and I try to take a picture of each one of them!

Many of the places we visited this year we left wanting to return...Natchez, Florida Panhandle, Davis Bayou, Nashville.  But eventually it was time to head home...even Lizzie was ready.

Jonathon Dickenson State Park

Brian and I got in one more camping trip before our BIG 2018 SUMMER ADVENTURE.  We packed up and went to Jonathon Dickenson State Park near Jupiter, Florida.  I thought it would be a "relaxing at the campsite" type of trip.  Instead, there was so much to see and do that we didn't get to do everything I planned.

Sightseeing Outside the Park

We visited two interesting beaches, Coral Cove and Hobe Rocks Preserve.  There are plenty of traditional beaches in the area, but I enjoyed these unusual sights.  At Coral Cove there are large worn limestone ridges between the sand and water.  It was fun exploring the pools of water for shells.

Another day we visited the Hobe Rocks Preserve at high tide to watch the waves crash.   It was relaxing to watch the waves crash on the rocks.  I would definitely like to come back and spend more time here.

We climbed the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.  Climbing lighthouses are a challenge for me on two levels.  The physical part of climbing is a little difficult.  But my fear of heights and enclosed spaces is the biggest challenge and adds to the adventure.  The view from the top is worth all the pain.  The climb down is what gets my palms sweating and my heart racing.  But then, I can't resist stopping to take pictures.

Brian and I participated in a nighttime turtle walk to watch a loggerhead turtle lay eggs on the beach (Loggerhead Marinelife Center).  I appreciate the sea turtle conservation efforts.  And I found the information about the turtles interesting.  However, I didn't enjoy the evening.  It was too late at night (close to midnight), too many people in the group to see everything, plus after an hour I got bored!  The best part was watching the large 400 pound sea turtle walk back into the ocean.  I don't have any pictures because you could not use any lights or a cell camera.

Fun Times Inside Jonathon Dickenson State Park

I was amazed at all the activities to do within the park.  The park is over 11,000 acres on the Loxahatchee River, the first Florida river designated a National Wild and Scenic River.

I hiked every day (a good way to get in my 10,000 steps).  There are plenty of trails, some with geocaches.  I thought the caches would be on the trail...but NO...I had to bushwhack my way through the brush to find the caches.  Luckily they were nice sized ammo containers, so once I got the to coordinates, they were not hard to find.

The river's name, Loxahatchee, comes from the Indian words for turtle and river.  I definitely saw turtles both hiking and on the river.  Most of the turtles were adult sized, but I noticed this little baby slider on a path.  I also saw lots of birds...scrub jays, osprey, mocking birds and hawks.

Also on the hikes, I started noticing the wildflowers.  It would be interesting the change in the flowers at different times of the year (one of my reasons for wanting to come back to the park).

The park has miles of off road bike trails for the adventurous mountain biker.  It is a popular area and I always saw riders on the course.  I only biked on the road and paved trails...very comfortable and scenic.

Brian and I climbed the observation tower on top of Hobe Mountain (the highest point in southern Florida at a whopping 86 feet).

There was so much to do that we never went kayaking.  I know it is hard to believe. But we couldn't leave without getting out on the Loxahatchee River.  On our last morning, we took a pontoon boat ride on the river with a stop at Trapper Nelson's homestead. 

We will return to this park...

So much to do...and not enough time  

A Walk in the Swamp

Brian and I spent a few days at the Collier-Seminole State Park on the west side of the EVERGLADES.  The highlight of that trip was a SWAMP WALK.  We took a guided tour from the Clyde Butcher Big Cypress Gallery.  It was a private 2 hour tour with our guide, Scott.  I was a little concerned about the walk when I booked it.  The usual concerns...alligators, snakes, bugs and walking in water.

It was a blast!  We spent two hours walking through water from ankle deep to hip deep.  Walking was very slow.  Even though the water was clear, you have to test each place you put your foot down to watch for roots.  In the two hours we probably only covered a half a mile.

It is beautiful in the swamp, the lichen and algae decorate the trees, the air plant blooms were everywhere and we saw several native orchids in bloom.

There were young alligators, swimming in front of us.  One was a group of three and they took off once they saw us.  Another small alligator was swimming in front of use for a little bit.  Eventually he got irritated that we were following him and he took off.  Brian noticed a fish spider, probably 4 to 5 inches.  The spider was very patient and stood very still while we talked about it and took pictures. 

Another fun time was when a catfish and gar swam past us...the catfish brushed my pant leg. 

We didn't see any snakes.  I really don't like snakes, but I was so comfortable in the swamp that I was disappointed not to see one.  I was so into the moment during the walk that I didn't remember to take many pictures.  It was that much fun.

The SWAMP WALK was the highlight of the trip, but it wasn't the only thing we did.  Brian and I arrived at Collier-Seminole State Park at the tail end of Subtropical Storm Alberto.   I am not sure if it was the storm or the time of the year, but there were plenty of open campsites.

The storm left lots of water...good for our swamp walk...not good for the bugs.  I did get some mosquito and fly bites.  I was surprised to hear the park only considered it "Moderate".  I don't want to be around when the meter says "Donor". 

Another fun and educational adventures was the Shark Valley Tram tour.  The tram travels through the EVERGLADES.  Halfway there is a stop at a 45' tower with great panoramic views.

Our tour guide, Kelly, did a great job of describing the EVERGLADES and the different ecosystems within it.  The EVERGLADES begins south of Orlando where water feeds from a chain of lakes into Lake Okeechobee.  The water overflowing from Lake Okeechobee forms a slow moving river through the limestone all the way to the Florida Bay.  Water from Orlando will take a year to get through the EVERGLADES, a vast and unique region...one of a kind in the world!

When I think of the EVERGLADES, I think of sawgrass marches, also called a prairie.  That makes up for most of the EVERGLADES, but there are also hardwood hammock (raised land where palm trees and hardwoods grow), pinelands, cypress swamps and mangrove swamps.

Urban development, agricultural chemicals and exotic invasive animals (pythons) have created challenges to the EVERGLADES.  In the 1970's the importance of the EVERGLADES was recognized and restoration plans were started.

Of course with all the water around, Brian and I kayaked...in a mangrove swamp.  There was no wildlife on this kayaking trip...no alligators and no birds.  That didn't stop me from taking pictures of every mangrove root and flower.  Still, any time kayaking in calm water is relaxing and enjoyable.

One afternoon we went to Marco Island and visited Tigertail Beach.  I picked up a dinner to go of grilled shrimp with homemade cocktail sauce and black beans at Lee Be Fish.  This meal should get a Michelin Star.  It was that good.  The shrimp was fresh and perfectly seasoned.  The homemade cocktail sauce was unique...tangy, fresh with a bite of horseradish.  The black beans were also homemade...lots of toppings for a nice flavor.

The EVERGLADES is not a park that takes your breath away when you first see it (like the Grand Canyon or Mammoth Cave), but the more I experienced it, the more I love it...except for the biting bugs of course.

Hike, Kayak, Campfire...Repeat

I have been asked a few times what I like about RV adventures.  After much thought, I would say I like our RV adventures because each adventure is different and yet the same.  The differences are the places we go and the sights we see.  And the same is the comfort of our own tiny home, travelling with Lizzie (our cat), campfires and kayaking.  I wake up each day in our own home, then open the door to a new fun place.

Brian and I started our RV travelling adventure last year in our first travel trailer with trips to several Florida parks and a longer trip up to Ohio.  The first travel trailer was nice, but Brian and I both admitted we need just a little more room.  In January we bought a new 2018 Shadow Cruiser travel trailer at the Tampa RV show.  It wasn't an impulse purchase, we researched the different layouts and went to the show to check our options.  We bought a 30' Shadow Cruiser.  Not only a little longer, but the slide gives extra width.  The trailer has a comfortable small sofa...big enough for Brian and I with room for Lizzie.

We took a couple trips in the new trailer to shake out any problems.  Our first trip was to Rodman State Park...a couple hours from home, at the north end of the Ocala National Forest.  Brian does the driving and is the project manager for the RV setup.  The campsite at Rodman was not level and with the new trailer, I am sure we put on a good show for the neighbors...with me trying to direct Brian into the campsite.  We made it after several attempts.

The Rodman State Park is on the Rodman Reservoir (aka Lake Ocklawaha), created by the Rodman Dam (aka Kirkpatrick Dam).  Not only are the names controversial, but the dam and reservoir have been a hot topic from the beginning.  The dam was erected in 1968 as part of the Cross-Florida Barge Canal.  The canal project was never completed and the controversy continues today.  The environmentalists want the dam taken down because it serves no purpose (hydropower or water control) and the dam supporters want it to stay because the area has the best bass fishing in the state.

We packed a lot into our short 3-day trip.  We visited the Ravine Gardens State Park in Palatka, Florida.  The park has a nice hike up and down the ravine (not common topography in Florida).  The azaleas were in bloom...very scenic.

In the afternoon, we launched our kayaks at the boat launch in the state park.  The best part of the trip was the half mile inlet from the boat ramp to the reservoir.  There were lots of birds and wildlife in that short area...and the water was very calm.

On the second day of our adventure we went to the Marjorie Kinnan Rawling's State Park.  Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' was the Pulitzer-prize winning author of The Yearling and the park is her homestead.  She was a northerner who enjoyed the Old Florida lifestyle which inspired her books.  Our tour guide of the homestead was a big Rawling's fan.  He had great insight into her life, her writings and how she was inspired by the Old Florida.

Even though this was our first trip in the new trailer, it felt like home from the start.  I like to start the day drinking my morning coffee sitting outside, watching and listening to the birds.  And I end the day with a campfire, while the sun sets.  This beautiful tree and catbird made being outdoors fun.

Our second trip was to the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park in White Springs, Florida.  Just as the name has a lot going on...so does the park.  There is a carillon tower, museum, craft square with a gift shop, a bat house...and the Suwannee River.

On this trip we avoided the "Trailer Backup Show" because we had a pull-thru site...nice and easy.  We will save the encore show for another trip.  We checked out all the attractions in the park.  The carillon tower is being repaired, so we didn't  hear the bells.  There are a couple places to visit outside the park.  One is the remains of the White Sulpher Springs bath house.  A once popular health resort built in 1908 around the spring.

Another place we explored was the Big Shoals State Park.  I hiked a couple miles to see the Big Shoals rapids on the Suwannee River.  Brian and I have paddled several times on the Suwannee River...at Juniper Springs and Manatee Springs...each time in very calm water.  Most of the 250 mile river is a slow moving, black water river.   At Big Shoals, when the water levels are high, the rapids earn a Class III White Water designation and are recommended for expert kayakers (not me!).  When I was there the water level was too low for rapids, but I saw some beautiful rocky outcrops and sand bars.

The hike was fun.  I think I have Nature ADD.  I stop to take a picture of every plant, lichen, fungus, sign and misshapen tree.  A hike takes me twice as long as it should.  This hike was the same until I saw this guy...a pine snake.

I like nature, but I don't like snakes (or spiders or bugs).  The only time I like them is when they are moving away from me.  This guy would not move!  I waited...and waited..then took a deep breath and stepped over him.  When I looked back he finally started to slowly slither into the woods.  After that experience, I spent more time looking where I was walking.  It didn't help that every root looked like a snake.  I survived and so did the snake...and the tree roots.

The second day, Brian and I kayaked on the Suwannee, far up stream from the rapids.  We headed up against the current first...so we could relax and float downstream.  The world is different sitting on top of the water.  We paddled past the White Spring bath house that we visited the day before and under US 41 bridge.

We started a new tradition on this trip...campfire cooking.  I brought a cast iron pan and cooked a couple meals on the campfire.

This park has a bat house.  I have been to the world's largest occupied bat houses at the University of Florida in Gainesville.  The UF bat houses have an estimated 400,000 bat population.  At Stephen Foster State Park, the bat house was much smaller but just as fun to watch.

The new trailer gets two thumbs up from Brian and I.  Also very important, Lizzie likes it.