Poll

What's the most important things in a vacation rental for you?

Condiments in the fridge, yes, even used
0 (0%)
Basic spices and oil
2 (100%)

Total Members Voted: 2

Author Topic: The island  (Read 41718 times)

lighter

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Re: The island
« Reply #240 on: June 16, 2024, 11:24:14 PM »
I am happy, Hops.  Yup yup yup.

lighter

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Re: The island
« Reply #241 on: June 25, 2024, 12:01:21 PM »
I have 4 bookings this month, guests checking in today after late booking last nite.

Th patio door still rusted off it's hinges and the outdoor shower valve rusted off.  Again.

I plan to go for a month or two this winter.

lighter

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Re: The island
« Reply #242 on: July 07, 2024, 03:05:52 PM »
Guests checked out this morning....all good.  Super happy.  Guests checking in on 9th complaining about nearby marina fees going way up.  They're thinking about docking in front of cottage....my brother said strong currents,brought waters and heavy boating activity means hus anchor's unlikely to hold and I believe that.


lighter

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Re: The island
« Reply #243 on: July 15, 2024, 01:57:40 PM »
Cottage guests' flight delayed to our side of the island....always a possible problem as the tarmac holds water and shuts down entire airport.  I prefer the seaplane, always

Lighter

lighter

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Re: The island
« Reply #244 on: December 23, 2024, 12:16:15 PM »
 We made our way to the seaplane gate for connectiom after 3 hours on a hot, very cramped, Allegiant flight.  A passenger didn't have their documents in order and that had to be sorted for an hour.....they couldn't fly AND their baggage had to be off loaded.

$68 in freight overage costs.... food's heavy stuff. 

DD22: decided our safe word will be pickle.


sKePTiKal

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Re: The island
« Reply #245 on: December 23, 2024, 12:51:50 PM »
Pickles the kitty approves that choice!
Success is never final, failure is never fatal.

lighter

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Re: The island
« Reply #246 on: December 26, 2024, 12:04:33 PM »
We procured a dozen lobsters for Christmas dinner and had crunchy romaine salad with goat cheese and pecans, canned green beans and turnip greens with boxed cheesy potatoes.....they were so good. We're eating the last of the pantry items....made a white sauce with fish fry, butter, 1/2&1/2 and ricotta cheese....some spinach.....that lasagna was eaten first. One with beef and vodka sauce, one red with no meat and one regular with meat for caretaker....blew that little kitchen up!  It's a tradition to have lasagna in fridge for grab and go meals at will.

Stores should open back up tomorrow.  Will get more and different flavors Sands Pink Radlers, specifically grapefruit, guava and mango.

The pitty puppies are in a little cage, under golph cart cover, bc a male stray is crazy all over them.  Stray ate part of golph cart seat yesterday and headbutted cage till bent.  I heard nothing.

I found my good knife and extra sunglasses with readers.....I live in them. 

One split ac isn't blowing very cold.  A stand up ac unit exhaust needs rebuilt.  Bunk and LR ac units working great.

Cold water in bathroom sink not working....almost same in kitchen.  Might be exterior shower valve involved....will check.

My little tv with DVD player was stored in bag with hole so it's limping along. I usually make air tight with moisture wicking beads I can re use.  Gets better as it plays Kill Bill II in the background of my life. Again. Little parts begin moving again, as with stuck fans.

Will look for paint today..,...after swimming in bug spray.  I was squeaky clean on arrival.  Will shower then accept oily chemical covering that is inevitable.  I should just coat myself at Lauderdale airport. My back, ankles and belly included R inner thigh have bites to back that up, if I continue resisting.

DD oldest had a lobster roll and banana bread for breakfast.  I had lasagna and crispy lettuce with balsamic.  Youngest DD still asleep.

THIS trip needs to be about doing fun things with them, them, them, them!

Brother plus 4 arrives on 28th.  Usually they're fishing all day.

I want to clean and defrost chest freezer before.

The no see'ums are bad.  We're pretty eaten up......take Benadryl to sleep through the night.  Night 2 we had margaritas and DD22 took my third one away.  I woke up on sofa and toddled to bed, unaware a boat capsized off our beach.....rescue happened...I heard nothing.  The good thing is, no hangover.  Such a lightweight. Not sure if anyone hurt.

The first night's meal was cracked conch from little restaurant at end of drive.  Owner wasn't open, but made us heaping plates of crunchy fries and conch....I had a yummy salad, so good!!!  Gave her $60 and she handed me back $20....no change.  Found out her DD was having annual movie night and toy give away for the children so handed her the $20.  Such nice people! 

This morning Capt Brown brought fresh conch and conch slop(slop for bait.) I gave him some lasagna with vodka sauce and called it even.

 He's taking 9 people out to lobster dive, 3 at a time, for half a day.   Same group fed the rays on Monday.

Will try to get girls on his boat with a trade and some cash soon.

Newly updated wifi equipment working well.

Lighter over and out


sKePTiKal

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Re: The island
« Reply #247 on: December 27, 2024, 07:35:09 AM »
Good that you're getting a change of scenery! Fun must be priority one this trip!
Success is never final, failure is never fatal.

lighter

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Re: The island
« Reply #248 on: December 28, 2024, 02:24:03 PM »
Yaaaay.....about that.  Fun turned into fighting fleas......fyi lavender and citronella are crypto nite to fleas.  We sprayed our beds and selves down with all we had.....slept ok.  Bug man came the next day and things are just now ok.

"Caretaker" sprayed yard and his 2 flea covered pups down with diesel this morning.  He also picked up most of the residual trash......my brother boating in this afternoon with new exterior doors, yard poison and dog flea treatments......I haven't had much time for normal island things.

Last night I cooked cracked lobster....about to do that again, with fish and conch.  That's been a bright spot.....fresh seafood.

My handyman dropped by and we had a nice visit.  He'll make this me to help with doors and every remaining deck is falling apart...... I'm afraid to really look at the exterior.

My January renters arrive on the 8th with a new puppy. 

::shaking head::.

I'm so glad we left baby girl pug home with sitter she adores. 

I scheduled a shark lab tour for 30th.  Had to bribe them for a date both daughters can make.  None of us have seen the lab, in all these years. It's part of the having fun plan.

Brother will take oldest DD on boat for her last 2 days here.....she adores feeding the rays and fishing.......both girls got colds, btw.   

My sister and I have stockpiled meds and essential oils, so hanging in.  As long as I don't give in to feeling completely powerless things are ok.

I have to say .....both girls are tougher than I knew.  Even with colds, they killed their fair share of fleas, helped figure out essential oil relief and did very little complaining.  True troopers. Tough damn stuff.

Oldest DD sleepy on sofa watching a Troll movie.....2 benadryl, Chinese tea and water on board.

Youngest DD feeling better and has less sensitivity to fleas.  Oldest DD and I are allergic, for sure.

Going to make yummy food now.

I hope everyone is safe and comfortable. 

Lighter

Twoapenny

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Re: The island
« Reply #249 on: December 29, 2024, 05:22:14 AM »
Apart from the fleas it sounds like a good trip, Lighter, glad you got those critters sorted out!  They're so pesky.  Hope the colds clear up and fingers crossed for good times now :) xx

Hopalong

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Re: The island
« Reply #250 on: December 30, 2024, 05:55:05 AM »
Bugs bad. Food good. Ocean excellent!

You sound happy, Lighter.

Engaged in the moment/s to the max!

Hugs
Hops
"That'll do, pig, that'll do."

lighter

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Re: The island
« Reply #251 on: January 01, 2025, 09:11:36 AM »
Oldest DD made it back to the States where her bf and buddies were waiting to celebrate the New Year with her. 

The group here boated to the Casino where DD22 was unhappy to find the rooftop bar, pool and hot tub closed.  All pools were closed, in fact, which is weird bc usually they're open and the bar, pool, bathrooms and kitchen at the marina on our side of the island are closed.  Yesterday, they were open and there were festive lights wrapping palm trees and draping the big tiki bar. The staff was friendly and the food yummy. Guests came and went.   Sunset glorious over the infinity pool edge.  I was almost giddy with happy surprises.....everyone got in the pool. 

A small group went fishing afterwards. I, likely, won't master the deep drop electric reels. Ever.  The immediate and constant gratification of holding the reel, feeling the weight in the waves, anticipating nibbles and setting the hook is comfortable and comforting compared to the deep reels, ime. 

I hope the boys went fishing early.  That was the plan.  We're supposed to swim with the rays this afternoon! 

Oh.....and....the Sea Captain staying with us is from Ohio too.  I knew he sounded a bit like my uncle...all overtly competent men, brother included, of course.  Sea Captain is cooking and I'm head of clean up crew, happy he's on top of meal planning.

They're up and moving.  Discussing plans.  Doors and dishes in motion. 

Lighter






Twoapenny

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Re: The island
« Reply #252 on: January 02, 2025, 08:44:26 AM »
Oldest DD made it back to the States where her bf and buddies were waiting to celebrate the New Year with her. 

The group here boated to the Casino where DD22 was unhappy to find the rooftop bar, pool and hot tub closed.  All pools were closed, in fact, which is weird bc usually they're open and the bar, pool, bathrooms and kitchen at the marina on our side of the island are closed.  Yesterday, they were open and there were festive lights wrapping palm trees and draping the big tiki bar. The staff was friendly and the food yummy. Guests came and went.   Sunset glorious over the infinity pool edge.  I was almost giddy with happy surprises.....everyone got in the pool. 

A small group went fishing afterwards. I, likely, won't master the deep drop electric reels. Ever.  The immediate and constant gratification of holding the reel, feeling the weight in the waves, anticipating nibbles and setting the hook is comfortable and comforting compared to the deep reels, ime. 

I hope the boys went fishing early.  That was the plan.  We're supposed to swim with the rays this afternoon! 

Oh.....and....the Sea Captain staying with us is from Ohio too.  I knew he sounded a bit like my uncle...all overtly competent men, brother included, of course.  Sea Captain is cooking and I'm head of clean up crew, happy he's on top of meal planning.

They're up and moving.  Discussing plans.  Doors and dishes in motion. 

Lighter

All sounds really lovely, Lighter, proper break and get away.  Be nice if 2025 carries on in that general way for all of you xx

Hopalong

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Re: The island
« Reply #253 on: January 03, 2025, 07:46:23 AM »
I loved "overtly competent men."

I married one competent philosopher and one very competent sculptor. Both lousy husbands.

Something was wrong with my picker.

Maybe there's a competent fisherman rowing your way, Lighter!

Hugs
Hops
"That'll do, pig, that'll do."

lighter

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Re: The island
« Reply #254 on: January 05, 2025, 08:00:38 AM »
The boys changed out the 2 external doors, though old door handles and locks are a tad off and can't be retrofitted, unfortunately.
Hardware store not open today, so not sure how that will go. 

Five of us trekked to shark lab, the ferry North then cage diving with huge Bull Sharks.  Tbh, standing on the dock, looking down at them, was scarier than being in the water with them, though the current occasionally pinned us to the back of the cage, which was terrifying.....there was a bar to hang on to in front. 

I went with DD22 and we danced in the cage and made each other laugh, which was a mistake, bc salt water in sinuses.  Sometimes the sharks hit or swam against the cage, and my hand auto reached to touch them, as with the rays and nurse sharks.  Almost felt like a forcefield in place, combination of strong tide and survival instincts.

Today is lobster diving with cool air hose on boat.....I think. We, DD and I,  have a couple days till the group leaves. Lots to cook! 

It's chilly here.  I think a bonfire, chili dogs, chili spaghetti and fish tacos would be good.

I'm up first.  In and out of bathroom.  Thinking about coffee.

Lighter