WAKEFIELD

"Who hasn't had the impulse to put their life on hold for a moment. Just vanish completely."

I watch a lot of movies. I really enjoyed this one, probably because I have been there. A few months before my split with my husband, late one night, I walked out my front door, across the street to an empty house... and sat on the front steps staring at my house. It was as if I had exited my life and for a moment was at peace, watching from the outside. Eventually I had to re-enter my stressful world, was asked those uninvited questions, "where have you been"... as if he actually cared. But I took a few needed moments of relief.

If you have ever lived a life you want to escape ... you should watch this movie.

State Rd 4a

Once upon a time, it was not an easy trip to Key West. Henry Flagler had a vision of building a railroad extension from the mainland to Key West. In 1912, Henry Flagler saw his dream become a reality. The train ran daily until the hurricane of 1935 tore up a lot of the track. There wasn't money to rebuild, so the right of way was sold to the state, and US 1 travels that route now.

3.59 miles to the end of the road.

But, before there was a US1 Highway, there was State Road 4a. It was in service from 1928 to 1938. A lot of State Rd 4a is still in used, but there are sections in the Lower Keys that are not. This last Sunday, I took my bike and explored one of those abandoned sections. Most of it is just a trail, but there is still asphalt all along the path. And I found a few interesting things.  

The beginning of my afternoon adventure.

This boat looks like it has seen a few drug runs... or something defiantly illegal. All of the windows are covered, and the whole boat painted green. I wanted to get a closer look, but not able to safely get close enough to see inside. The mangroves have closed off any way in or out for that boat, so it makes me wonder... how long, and why it made it's way there.

Here was another puzzle. An old bench, under an old tree, in the middle of nowhere. 

This is the end of the road, at the edge of the water, where a bridge used to carry cars to Geiger Key. 

It was a wonderful afternoon, exploring a rarely traveled road.

LYCHEE

Didn't know there was such a thing, until my neighbor brought me a bag of them. The meat is the texture of a grape, but the skin is hard and rough. It's not really sweet, but they are good.

After devouring them, I had all these seeds. Like I always do, I look online to learn more about them. The tree can be grown from seed. So I did. I planted 5 seeds ten days ago. Two have sprouted. They only grow in Hardiness Zone 10 and 11. I live in Zone 10.

The meat slides right off the seed.

I put them in water for about a week until the skin split.

The little tree is fragile.
It will be kept in a protected area.

MY PLANTS

Yesterday was a day to tend to my plants. I have a few potted plants that I have acquired over the last couple years. The Christmas Palm trees that came up from seed, were getting too big to all be in one pot. Yesterday was the day to separate them. 






My pineapple are growing, and doing well. They should be ready to harvest in July.











I need to help the bamboo palms that were here when I moved in, they are not growing at all. Too much sun?  Not enough water? Not enough dirt? Not sure, but they need help.

After I finished watering everything, I was standing there admiring the tropical plants and looked up into the banana plants. Just the other day, I looked to see if we were going to have banana this year, and didn't see a bloom. But, after a little wind, a bloom had fallen into sight. Yay, we will have banana.  

In my little yard, I have coconuts, pineapple and bananas. I also have three young Key Lime trees. Yummy!

COINS

I have a small collection of old coins, or coins from other countries. I run across them in various places. Today, I found a penny that is 100 years old. Just think of all the pockets that penny has traveled in, and how many things that penny has purchased. In the year 1919, an abundance of pennies were minted... so they are not really rare, but this is the first one I have found.

These are my two Buffalo Nickels. The date is legible on one, 1927. But it has completely worn off the other coin.

I have coins from Australia, Arabia, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Great Britain, Mexico, Norway, Panama, Switzerland and Turkey.

What I would really like to find is a chest full of gold and silver coins from a sunken ship! Wouldn't that be fun!

MY LITTLE PINEAPPLE

About a month ago, I was watering my plants and noticed my pineapple plants looked funny. I looked closer and could see the start of a little pineapple in both my plants. This is strange because I just planted the tops last July! When I harvested those tops, the plant was two years old. These plants are only 7 months old. I must have a green thumb.

3/16/19

MEMBER OF THE CLUB

Several years ago, I decided I wanted a tattoo. I've known what I wanted for a few years now, but just never got it. My birthday was a few days ago, and I was given a tattoo as a gift.

My mother called it my brand, but I know she loves me. I wanted something that would symbolize my living in Key West, because I know I will not live here forever. A "Saltwater Conch" is a person born in Key West, while the term "Freshwater Conch" refers to a resident not born in Key West but who has lived in Key West for seven years or more. I'm only two years away from Freshwater Conch status. 

This will probably be my one and only tattoo, but you never know!