Dreaming the Life until We Can Live the Dream

Dreaming of Belize

2013-08-05T10:18:00.002-04:00

You may have noticed that I haven't posted in a while. I guess I kind of let go of the dream for a bit, but the dream, and I, are BACK!

But....the dream has changed....a little. Key West is probably going to be too expensive for us to retire to. So now we have our sights set on Belize.

Just a quickie that I wrote to a friend on Facebook about Belize:

Well, Belize is on the Atlantic side of Central America and has lots of cayes. We probably will not be able to afford a place on white beaches, but will, instead, get a place in Corozal, which is on a giant bay, with Mexico on the other side. Near nice water, but not white beaches. Also more protected from hurricanes.

However, nothing is very far in Belize. It's a very small country. They speak English and are a part of the British Commonwealth. Prince Harry visits often. The queen pretty much stays away ever since they fed her a giant rat when she asked for a local dish.

It's an interesting place with mountains, waterfalls, caves, many rivers, ziplines everywhere, and lots of beaches. It's more expensive than many Central American places, but cheaper than the U.S.!!

Here's a map. Belize is South of Mexico. In fact the area we're looking at is only a few miles from the Mexican border...about seven hours driving from Cancun.

And we're taking a trip down there in Feb.! Are you ready for pictures? Video?

In the meantime, we're doing our research. And what better place to post it but here!?!?

Let the fun begin!!

Digital Library of the Caribbean

2011-08-21T09:50:00.001-04:00

Just found a really cool webpage

The Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC) is a cooperative digital library for resources from and about the Caribbean and circum-Caribbean. dLOC provides access to digitized versions of Caribbean cultural, historical and research materials currently held in archives, libraries, and private collections.

Making Mojitos With Key Westie

2011-03-22T11:27:00.001-04:00

Fresh, Limey, Minty, Cold

How would you describe the taste of a Mojito?

Or should we just forget describing them and make one and drink it? Yeah, I vote for that!

Being the Hemingway fans that we are, and knowing that Papa loved his mojitos, we had to try one when we were in the Keys last month. In fact, we tried several. The best we had was at the Sunset Grill and Raw Bar--the big Tiki Hut on Marathon. Yum! Many bars couldn't serve them because they didn't keep fresh mint around (we just planted a bunch so we'll have home-grown fresh mint all summer). On the way home, our flight was seriously delayed out of Miami, so we spent our time wisely . . . we found the Cuban bar there and researched a few mojitos. The girl who was making them for us gave us a quick lesson in how to make them, and we couldn't wait. First, we had to get a muddler, an essential tool for crushing fresh mint, citrus and ice for Mojitos. We found one on Amazon. We selected the VIVA! Stick Black Muddler by Liquid Revolutionist Mixology. It was the biggest, meanest one I could find and you have to pretty much put some musles behind sumshing all those lime slices and mint leaves, and I knew I needed all the help I could get because I wanted to make a lot.

Key Westie's Mojito Recipe

10 Mint Leaves

3 Slices of Lime

1 Tablespoon sugar or other sweetner

1 1/2 oz Light Rum

6 oz soda

And how do you combine these wonderful, zesty, fresh ingredients to make a Mojito?

Watch here and I'll show you how!

A Tropical Night in Key West

2011-03-10T10:40:00.000-05:00

We had a fantastic time in Key West in February. One day we had lunch at Margartiaville (It WAS National Margarita Day!) ,played around town and shopped, then snacked on lobster quesadillas while we watched the sun go down.

Next, we wandered over to the Schooner Warf we've heard so much about. Then we strolled back through Key West to where our car was parked on Angela Street, listening to the music that spilled out into the night.

We put the top down and enjoyed the ocean air all the way out to Big Torch Key, where we were staying. All in all, we had a wonderful day!

My Journey to Trop Rock . . . and a Scott Kirby video . . .

2011-03-08T10:11:00.005-05:00

The band playing in Captain Tonys in Feb when we were in the Keys asked for requests, and Capt'n Dan and I surprised ourselves by groaning in unison when someone requested Margaritaville. We really do love Jimmy Buffet, and we've listened to him for a long time. We even enjoy some of his "popular" songs, although we've collected many of his lesser-known songs and appreciate some of them much more. But recently we've discovered the genre of Trop Rock and our horizons have broadened.

First, I was just searching for songs to play on our boat, and knew that there had to be more "out there" than just Jimmy Buffet. I'd never heard of "Trop Rock" a year ago. One of the first artists I found was Howard Livingston, but I also searched out many more, including The Boat Drunks, Gene Mitchell, Mike Aiken, Brent Burns, Jimmy and the Parrots, The Caribbean Cowboys, Hanna's Reef, Bertie Higgins, Coconut Radio, Rob Mehl, The Yard Dogs, and Scott Kirby. We even started appreciating some of Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown . . .

Now, we still love Jimmy, and we're going to our first Buffet Concert in Kansas City next month, but we were determined to try to see any of our favorties who might be playing in Key West when we were there, and two were. We saw Howard Livingston and Scott Kirby. We got to meet both of them. I guess one thing we enjoy about Trop Rock is that the artists are so approachable, and are often near our own age. Both Howard and Scott agreed to have their pictures taken with me and didn't seem to mind that I took pictures and video at their performances. I respect these two artists and will try to be responsible with their images. I hope they approve of how I use them.

I'm just now downloading my videos from the trip, but I am totally excited to have captured Scott Kirby singing a song of his that I really love, "This is the USA?" Another artist was playing with Scott, Dave Edmisten, and I now intend to find out more about him and add some of his songs to my playlist. But for today, here's Scott singing "This is the USA?" which I was delighted to discover, is a true story. Scott knew these people!

A couple of my other favorite songs of Scott's are

Blow Me Down to Cayo Hueso

and

Out Here Near the Edge

You can find out more about Scott Kirby at http://www.scottkirby.com/

Coming Home to Iguana Isle

2011-03-07T07:36:00.000-05:00

When we arrived home from Key West a little over a week ago, we had a package waiting for us. Inside were wonderful spices and sauces from Iguana Isle. Last night, I used some of the Key Lime Margarita Chicken & Seafood Rub on grilled shrimp, and everyone agreed that it was some of the best shrimp they've ever tasted. It at least equaled any shrimp I had in the Keys! As I experiment with the other products they included, I'll post the results, but, for now, the Key Lime Margarita Chicken & Seafood Rub is a unanimous thumbs up!

See what was in our goodies box

I Love this Bling!!

2011-03-03T11:38:00.003-05:00

I just found the most wonderful Amazon shop for some unique bling! What fun! Sparkly and decadant . . . just like me! Capt'n Dan was telling my son the other day that the gift of jewelry always worked, and, of course, I heartily agreed, but also added (for my son's education) that girls like to buy their own bling, but expect the good stuff from their men. This store is totally BLING!!

Here's my story. I am attending a party with a "Nautical" theme . . . so I have the blouse pictured below and I need jewelry to accent it. Probably just earrings and maybe bracelet? The neckline kind of stands on its own, I think . . .

Here are a few more of the very cool pices I found by this vendor. Mouse over a piece below find out more about it. What fun!!

Hemingway's "The Garden of Eden"

2011-03-02T14:06:00.000-05:00

Capt'n Dan and I have been intrigued by the movie created from Hemingway's "Garden of Eden" for some time. We love to read and research Hemingway, and caught wind of the movie online, but could never discover where it was playing or how to purchase a copy. I have read the book, but just today I found out that the movie is on pre-sale, and we've ordered our copy and will finally get to see it before the end of March!

I will review the movie after I've seen it, but if you'd like to watch it as soon as possible, you can purchase the movie here or if you want to read the book first, you can purchase it here.

Jack K. Huston plays a twenty-something Hemingway-ish writer living a splendidly bohemian low rent ex-pat existence in Paris until he meets a wealthy American (Mena Suvari) on a kind of art buying holiday.*

Once these two meet, the young "Hemingway" is introduced to the finer things in life (new sports car, new clothes, expensive restaurants & chalets) but also to a more decadent side of life (as it turns out that his new bride is a bi-sexual gender-bending adventurer). *

At first the young writer goes along with his flirty new brides games and even dyes his hair blonde to match hers (which gets shorter & shorter & more boyish as the film progresses). But when these platinum blonde twins invite a third to play in their love games, a struggle for creative control over the relationship ensues.*

The struggle over sexual/gender identity & over the authorship or direction of the relationship is fascinating to watch, and the couple's beautiful Spanish companion is really something to see as she sheds her suit & bathes au natural in the cool Mediterannean sea that provides the stunning backdrop to this impossibly lush & lascivious "eden".*

*Excerpts from Amazon review by

Doug Anderson

Reflections of Duval Windows . . .

2011-03-02T09:42:00.001-05:00

I love walking along Duval and capturing the reflections in the shop windows. Merchants on Duval are so creative and out-of-the box, and their work, merged with the reflections of people, architecure and palm trees, create a unique art form. Well, some is art and some is just fun, like the picture below.

Click here to purchase this tee-shirt

This picture was taken in February 2011 on a trip to the Keys.

You can see work from my previous visits to the Keys here:

My Gallery

Key Westie in Islamorada

2011-03-01T19:38:00.000-05:00

Here's my first video from my recent trip to the Florida Keys!

Preparing to Escape to the Keys

2011-02-14T07:55:00.000-05:00

Monday morning. We'll be headed to the airport at this time in five days! So much to do! So excited! Need to dig out shorts and sandals, make lists, etc. It'll be hard to work this week, especially since it's a week of meetings. Yuck!

Thinking of my trip during our recent record snowstorms and enjoying a favorite song, I dreamed up this video about getting ready for our trip. Hope you enjoy it, too.

Key West Calendar

2010-12-14T11:47:00.000-05:00

Hey guys and gals,

I just made a new Key West calendar with photos and artwork from Key West and the surrounding keys.

You can still get it from Zazzle for Christmas and they have a 15% off sale today. It includes pictures of Duval and the Roosevelt district, and the moon over Cudjoe Key, as well as Bo's Truck and the Heartbreak Hotel. Check it out here. An exclusive Key Westie design. The perfect Christmas gift!

Click here to view all the pictures in the calendar

Anne Traintor Stocking Stuffers

2010-12-13T11:12:00.000-05:00

Christmas is right around the corner, but I am still shopping online. I just ordered the Rosetta Stone Farsi program for my seventeen year old who wants to major in International Relations. Now I need some stocking stuffers for my stepsons' girlfriends.

Look what I found! Anne Traintor luggage tags. What a hoot! Order them soon to get them by Christmas.

I Love Not Camping

Surely it must be five o'clock somewhere

so... how does a bombshell like me get through security?

And don't forget to add some Trop Rock tunes to your holiday playlist. Check out Key Westie's list here

Happy Sailing!

Nautical Christmas Tree

2010-12-12T13:31:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to share this picture from my Christmas tree. I will be posting more between now and Christmas. I think I have an absolutely beautiful tree!

This is a Christopher Radko ornament that we added last year . . .

Christmas Music for Trop Rockers

2010-11-29T15:21:00.000-05:00

I love traditional Christmas songs, but sometimes I like to spice up those traiditional songs a little. Here's a list of Trop Rock and other fun Christmas songs.

All of these songs have links to Amazon where you can purchase the ones you like. Let me know which ones you like and feel free to suggest others that I've missed!

Mele Kalikimaka!

Christmas In Paradise by Gene Mitchell

Little Saint Nick (Remixed 1991) by the Beach Boys

Hang Ten Santa by Eric Stone

Santa's Gone Surfing by Gene Mitchell

Ho Ho Ho And A Bottle Of Rhum by Jimmey Buffet

White Christmas In the Florida Keys by Howard Livingston

Santa, I'm Right Here by Toby Keith

Coconut Palm For A Christmas Tree by Gene Mitchell

Santa Claus Has Dreadlocks by Eric Stone

Christmas Boat Parade by Gene Mitchell

The Santa Boat by Brent Burns

Mele Kalikimaka by Jimmy Buffet

All I Want for Christmas is a Real Good Tan by Kenny Chesney

A Christmas Present by Howard Livingston

Let It Be Christmas by Alan Jackson

Rock, Santa, Rock from Swing Cats Christmas

The Christmas Can-Can by Straight No Chaser

Santa Wear Your Shorts by Hi-5

Santa's got a Sunburn by the Merry Men

Funky Santa by Red & Blue

I Only Want You For Christmas by Alan Jackson

Merry Christmas From Way Down South by Gene Mitchell

Boudreaux The Cajun Reindeer by Eric Stone

Christmas In The Caribbean by Jimmy Buffet

Christmas in Mexico by Brent Burns

Hot Rod Sleigh by Toby Keith

Christmas In The Isthmus by Eric Stone

Mambo Santa Mambo by the Enchangers

Ho Ho Ho And A Bottle Of Rhum by Jimmy Buffet

Merry Christmas, Baby (Remixed 1991) by the Beach Boys

Santa's Got An Airplane by the Beach Boys

The Angel At The Top Of My Tree by Kenny Chesney

Amazing Caribbean Christmas 2 by Horace Peterkin & Friends

Another White Christmas by Brent Burns

Hangin' 'Round The Mistletoe by Brooks and Dunn by Brooks and Dunn

Frosty by Cabana Man

Hey Santa! by Straight No Chaser

Christmas Cookies by George Strait

Mambo no.5 Christmas Medley

On Santa's Way Home by Marc Broussard

Christmas Island by Jimmy Buffet

Baby, It's Cold Outside by Brian Setzer

Rock And Roll Christmas by George Thorogood and the Destroyers

Merry, Merry Christmas by Koko Taylor

Give Music for Christmas

Got To Get You Under My Tree (feat. The DixieCups) by Sonny Landreth

A Sailor's Christmas by Jimmy Buffet

Island Of Misfit Toys by Cabana Man

Stay A Little Longer, Santa by Shemekia Copeland

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town by Bruce Springsteen

Dig That Crazy Santa Claus by Brian Setzer

Santa B Cruzn by Cabana Man

Gettin' In The Mood (For Christmas) by Jimmy Eat World

Florida Christmas by Red & Blue

Winter Symphony by the Beach Boys

Florida Christmas by Planet 9

Run Rudolph Run by Jimmy Buffet

Santa Claus Is Back In Town by Elvis Presley & Wynonna Judd

Cool Yule by Bette Midler

Christmas Blues by Canned Heat

Christmas In Your Arms by Felix Cavaliere

Christmastime On The Beach by Roy Holliday

I'm Your Santa by Lil Ed & the Blues Imperials

A Pirate Christmas by Captain Dan & the Scurvy Crew

Christmas Tears by Eric Clapton

Zat You, Santa Claus by Louis Armstrong

Christmas Macarena (as made famous by Los Del Rio)

Cheap Thrills at Blue Heaven

2010-11-22T10:50:00.000-05:00

The first time I visited Key West, I did my homework. One thing I knew we had to do down there was have breakfast at Blue Heaven.

We took two boys that time, in 2007, Jon and Chris, and rented a fantastic old Conch House in Old Town. We could walk to everywhere. It was hot, but we had a wonderful time discovering Key West for the first time.

And Blue Heaven was such a find! Chickens roam at will in this outdoor restaurant, as they do in all of Key West. They even have a chicken graveyard on the grounds for chickens who end their long, full, Key West lives there.

The food is wonderful, and everywhere you look are eclectic fascinating finds. Eclectic isn't even the word for it, but it's definitely Key West! The bar is under a water tank with a stage
around it where Jimmy Buffet and many other Trop Rockers have sung.

Last time we were there, this Summer, Jon and I again visited Blue Heaven. That was on his list of have-tos. We enjoyed it and will go back again. It's part of the Key West Experience that every visitor should have.

The Thin Green Line on the Horizon

2010-11-21T13:21:00.000-05:00

I've heard songs about it. I've heard tales of it. The green flash on the horizon that you can sometimes see if you are really paying attention when the sun goes down over the ocean in the Florida Keys. But I've never seen it. I want to see it, to capture it with my still and video camera. I have been determined that next time I'm down there, I'll see that green line, the green flash.

This morning, in playing around with my pictures from past trips, I found this one. It's taken from a swimming pool (obviously) on Cudjoe Key during Tropical Storm Bonnie. And there's a green line on the horizon, so I am asking those of you who know that green line or flash, is this it?

Is it a line or a flash? What am I really looking for? And what causes it? Does it only happen in the Keys? Here's a closeup . . . .

Don't Let the Beach Ruin Your Camera

2010-11-08T15:31:00.000-05:00

I love my camera, but I almost ruined in on my last trip to Key West. Today I'm going to tell you how not to do the same thing.

Capn' Dan bought it for me for my birthday. This is the camera that I have and you can look at some of the pictures I've taken with it in the slideshow out at http://keywestcantina.com or in my Imagekind store at http://vineyard.imagekind.com/store/gallerylist.aspx.

If you are taking pictures on the beach, sand is going to get into your camera. Most people find out how destructive those tiny crystals can be after they’ve ruined a camera. Beach sand is also salty sand, a double whammy. They interfere with gears and corrode electronic boards. Plus, the more cool gadgets your camera has, the more susceptible it is.

I was lucky. It only cost me $95.00 to repair my $800.00 camera. Still an expensive lesson, plus I only had my old camera to record an East Coast trip in peak foliage season.

After a wonderful two-week family vacation to the Florida Keys where I took over a thousand pictures, I noticed that my camera sometimes didn’t come on or that it went off by itself. We thought maybe it was the battery . . . but when the expert at the photography shop looked at it, he stated that the battery was not the problem.

“This camera has been at the beach,” he declared.

“How did you know?” I sputtered, and he pointed out a few grains of sand in a crevice beside a dial on the top of the camera. Then he sent me to a technician who just might be able to save my camera. She saved my camera, and now I'm a poorer, wiser photographer.

Here are a few tips to save you from my pain and suffering:

Do not let your camera, or even your camera bag, touch the ground. Don’t leave your bag open, and when you get home, make sure to give it a good vacuum.

Avoid changing lenses, if at all possible, to decrease the risk of your camera being exposed to sand.

UV filters not only make your pictures clearer and more natural, they also protect your lens.

Buy an underwater housing for your camera

Put your camera inside a ziplock bag in your camera bag.

Keep Baby wipes and compressed air and a stiff brush to keep your camera clean, and clean it every time that you’ve been around salt and sand. Some people say that the compressed air can lodge sand in more tightly. The jury is out on this one.

Moisten your lens cloth with a cleaning solution before cleaning your lens.

Don’t hang your camera around your neck when you’ve been swimming in salt water and wash your hands in fresh water before handling your camera if they’ve been in the ocean.

Use a camera raincoat to help protect it.

If you know you have sand in your camera, don’t turn it on to see if it works. Those tiny grains of sand can do a lot of damage. To your lens and other delicate parts.

Consider having your camera professionally cleaned after a beach vacation.

Don’t use your camera on windy days, like I did when I took this picture:

Confessions of a Hemingway-Look-Alike Contestant

2010-10-19T09:35:00.000-04:00

Strolling down Duvall on a hot sticky July night, I knew I must be out of my head, and I hadn’t even had a drink yet.

Captn' Dan as Hemingway

I really didn’t know what I was in for and I had questioned the entire enterprise. Why the Hell was I doing this? Was I absolutely crazy? Or had the Vodka finally eaten a worm hole in my brain…or what was left of it?

My wife and I had decided some weeks earlier that I would enter the Earnest Hemingway look-alike contest since it would be going on during the vacation we had already planned for the last half of July. I wasn’t altogether certain why I had made that decision, but here I was, and I felt like I couldn’t turn back now. Needless to say, I’d had some persistent encouragement from my very loving wife whenever my courage started to flag….

As we made our way toward Sloppy Joe’s, we came upon a bearded old fart (yes, even older than me) who looked me over and said,

“Yep…..you’re heading in the right direction!”

Another Hemingway Contestant

Wonderful. Was that what I wanted to hear? I didn’t really want to look as obvious as that, or did I? Wasn’t it all about looking like old Earnest? Still, it was a bit unsettling, but something I guess I’d getter get used to!!

Many, many Hemingways

My wife and I arrived at Sloppy Joes Bar in the midst of what seemed like total chaos. There was virtually no place to stand…let along sit….but my sons knew I was coming and had dutifully reserved an appropriate table in pretty much the middle of the bar.

I was relieved. Ben, Chris and Jon had at least staked their claim, and nobody seemed interested in messing with three sturdy lads.

Not sure what was being said here . . .

Once we had settled in at the bar, my oldest son informed me that the organizers of the contest had been calling out my name (apparently looking for me) and that I should at least get up closer to the stage where I could claim my name tag, tee shirt and other paraphernalia associated with being a contestant.

So my wife and I proceeded to do just that…and when we did, and I realized that I was going to be branded with a badge that read…..”1 to 5 Years”……I knew that I was toast. Some guys were running around with badges that said “Over 20 Years”! Clearly, longevity was a critical factor here, one that was revered as much as looks, and possibly even more.

But that’s okay. I really didn’t care all that much.

A unique costume . ..

Being a first-year contestant, and obviously having not had done any of this before, I felt like a complete goon (or orphan), depending on what second it happened to be. But, once again, that was okay, as I was completely determined to have a really good time…regardless.

So, back at our table with the family, I started ordering and slamming down vodka tonics as quickly as I could. I really didn’t know what to order, but those somehow seemed appropriate, and they tasted wonderful in the late evening of that sultry summery July evening. So, I had my share.

As I set there getting somewhat toasty, I realized, as I looked around, that this was more than simply a personal event in which I was involved, that it was much more than that…that it was virtually an historic event that would not only be recorded on web cams around the world but would also be recorded by others in other formats for many years to come. All of a sudden, it seemed to be something bigger than the reality that was going on around me…something bigger than the life I was experiencing at the time…….

Weird, to say the least.

The roundup on Greene Street

So, the next thing I knew, I was being summoned to exit Sloppy Joe’s out onto Greene street, where the prospective “Hemingway Look-Alikes” were to gather prior to being called up onto the stage where all the Rock ‘n Roll Bands normally would’ve played.

That, in and of itself, was also an experience in that all of a sudden I was surrounded by complete strangers who, just like myself……..looked just like me!! Damn!! How did that happen?? Obviously the vodka had done little to actually calm me down, but it had done some good……

Next we were ordered and grouped alphabetically by our last names, and so I was pretty near the start of the show. At the time, this made me even more nervous, because for the life of me I couldn’t think of a thing to say once I was on stage, but then waiting would have also been bad. I wasn’t going to win tonight, either actually or psychologically, but I’d come this far and I was at least going to give it a shot.

As best as I can recall, two or three groups went in front of mine, and I was straining to hear what was being said, but with all the noise and mayhem that was impossible. Forget it. I figured I’d get up there and just answer the question as best I could and simply be done with it. At this point, I was just in it for the fun anyway, so what the Hell?

Captn' Dan on Stage

Okay. Our turn. The group ahead of us jostled off the stage as we entered Sloppy Joe’s from Greene street. I was somewhere in the middle of the lineup and I was entranced by the crowd, the lights, and the judges. I could see my family out there cheering me on. As best as I can recall, the questioner came down the line of contestants asking a variety of questions, and although I tried to hear what was being said, the noise drowned out everything. When they got to me, they basically asked why I was there and why I should win the contest. I went pretty much blank at this point, but I vaguely (remember the vodka?) remember muttering something about being excited to be there and probably some other gibberish and then it was done. It was over with and they were moving on to the next guy. Once again, I knew I had blown the whole affair, but that was okay, as I could at least say I’d done the thing, rather as one might’ve done after taking your first straight shot of rye whisky when you were in high school (and I’ve never forgotten that moment to this day either!)

So, in a couple of moments, they were done with our herd and we were hustled off the side and down the stage steps. After meandering through that impossibly dense crowd I finally made my way back to my family’s table and got a very wonderful round of hugs and handshakes from everyone there. Undoubtedly the very best part of the whole evening!

We finished out the rest of the evening watching the remaining contestants do their thing on stage, and, quite frankly, I was amazed at what some of them did for their piece. I really think some of them could’ve said absolutely nothing and still won while others might have recited the entirety of “The Old Man and the Sea” and it wouldn’t have made much difference.

I guess he won something?

While the judges were making up their minds about who should win this beauty contest, there was a wonderful auction of Hemingway pictures and memorabilia, and I could not resist buying a few items for my growing collection back home. In most ways, that was really one of the better moments of the evening for me. I was finally relaxed and pleasantly drunk, and it was really a lot of fun. And, I came home with some really neat stuff!

The Auction

During all this time, it became very obvious that this was not so much a true contest as it was a charity ball and an endurance contest all rolled into one. All of the fellows were really great and were having so much fun that it became obvious that, although they all wanted to win, including myself, that in the end it was the act of being there in that crowd that really mattered to everyone. That’s what really mattered. However, in the end, I’m quite certain the judges were very fair and picked the correct winner, although it was pretty obvious that it really had very little to do with looking like Earnest Hemingway….which was fine by me. It was one of those events that you’ll never forget for as long as you live.

Captn' Dan with other Hemingways--The Three Amigos?

After the contest was over, we strolled back to our car and motored back out to the Parrotdise Bar and Grill for a wonderful dinner looking out over the moonlit water. It was absolutely beautiful there as it is most everywhere in the Keys. The Hemingway contest was over for me, until next year, and in the meantime I could enjoy my remaining time in paradise.

One of Key Westie's Hemingway Pictures

Pina Colada Balls

2010-10-14T22:08:00.000-04:00

Pina Colada Balls

Ingredients

1 (12 ounce) package vanilla wafers, crumbled
1/2 pound ground almonds, ground
6 ounces white chocolate
1/2 cup rum
1/4 cup orange marmalade
1/4 cup key lime juice
One can sweetened condensed milk
How much? Dried pineapple
1 pkg. flaked coconut
1 cup powdered sugar

Directions

Mix 1 box (12 oz) vanilla wafers with 1/2 lb ground blanched almonds, and coconut
Put some of your cookie mixture with a few of the dried pineapples and chop in chopper. Keep doing that until all are chopped (the crumbly mixture keeps the pineapple from all sticking together. Add pineapple to the mix.
Melt six 1 oz squares white chocolate in a double boiler
While chocolate is melting, add rum and sweetened condensed milk to mixture.
Stir in the melted chocolate.
Shape into 1 inch balls and roll in powdered sugar mixture. Store in refrigerator.

To Make Guacamole, You Have to Mash a Few Avocados

2010-10-12T11:08:00.000-04:00

Well, my Guacamole is pretty famous here in the Heartland, where, unfortunately, a lot of Guac is the frozen stuff. Can you imagine? I admit. I did not learn to make Guac in Key West. I learned to make it in California. Out there, you could pick up avocados that had fallen from trees onto the sidewalks as you strolled through the neighborhood.

I've been making Guac for a very long time and my recipe has evolved, and, from the rave reviews it gets, it must be pretty darned good.

So . . . on a Saturday afternoon, when Capn' Dan and I were just hangin' out, and we were hungry, I decided to make Guacamole and film a cooking video showing you how to make it too.

All the tools you'll need are a potato masher and an avocado scooper/slicer (or a large spoon), a cutting board, and, of course, a bowl.

You can find the recipe on the food page of the Key West Cantina Website:

http://keywestcantina.com/foodanddrink.htm

And you can join me in making a batch of my famous Guacamole below:

Pelican Poop

2010-10-07T10:36:00.000-04:00

I posted a picture of a primitive mask on Facebook earlier this week, and some fellow Key West lovers have been trying to guess where the picture was taken. Well, I'm going to tell you now.

The first time we visited Key West, we stumbled across a store on Simonton Street, and went inside. The place has quite a history. When Hemingway first arrived in Key West from Paris with his second wife, Pauline, he was supposed to pick up a car at a Ford dealership, the original building where the Pelican Poop is now located. The car had not yet arrrived, so he and Pauline ended up staying for a while in an apartment above the dealership. That's when he fell in love with Key West. They eventually traveled on north, but they returned.

The building almost burned down, and the present owner's father bought it at a very reasonable price. Now, I believe it's one of the most valuable properties in Key West. The father was a sailing man and a contractor. He brought salvage materials from around the world to rebuild this wonderful residence and store. The whole thing is called Casa Antigua. The store is called the Pelican Poop.

For two dollars, or for free if you spend a certain amount . . . don't remember how much, but we did . . . you get the tour. It's worth paying for, though, if you are a Hemingway or history buff. And in a dark corridor, you'll find that primitive mask . . .

Capn' Dan and Key Westie, Jr. in the courtyard of Casa Antiqua

http://www.pelicanpoopshoppe.com/

Island Art

2010-10-05T12:26:00.000-04:00

As you probably know, I live in an inland city, far from the sea. But my heart is on an island 90 miles from Cuba. Yep. Key West, with palm trees and ocean as far as you can see.

Reflection on Duval

Barefoot in the sand, eating a banana I picked from a tree and grilling a fish I caught on a banana leaf from that same tree. Drinking margaritas. Laughing and loving and soaking in all the beauty of my favorite place.

Moon over Cudjoe Key

I do go to the Keys as often as I can, so far about once a year, but we're thining of ramping that schedule up. We need the Keys. I created the Website Key West Cantina out of my longing for the Keys. I know that many, many people feel the same and, once they've been there, always hear that siren's call.

Tropical Intensity

I am a photographer, and everytime I'm there, I take literally thousands of pictues. Then, I get back and feed by soul by creating art from those pictures. That's alway what Key West Cantina is all about, sharing my art with kindred souls.

Birds over Islamorada

If you're like me, and long for the next time you can smell that salt air, gaze out on a sea that looks like glass, stroll down Duval, watch the sunset from Mallory Square, have a fish sandwich at B.O.s and toast the Keys with your margarita on the beach, come share my Keys artwork with me. I will keep adding more. I have thousands . . . .

Parrotdise

If you'd like to see the rest of my artwork, here's the link

Wooden Boats

2010-10-01T14:17:00.000-04:00

Fall is coming to my home town. I envy people who live on the Gulf or in Key West and who only have to change to their winter sandals . . . But I'm a lucky girl, and I live in a Norman Rockwell neighborhood, I have three and one half Westies, a husband and son who I adore, and I have a wooden boat. It's a 36' wooden Chris Craft, a Sea Skiff, and it's up on Grand Lake.

Our Boat on Grand Lake

Wooden boats are an obsession. If they're not an obsession with you, don't get one. This weekend is one of my favorite of the year. It's the Grand Lake Classic Boat Show. For a photographer and wooden boat buff like me, tomorrow's going to be a great day.

A vintage rowboat at last year's show

Here's a video from last year's boat show. The older guy at the end is Chris Smith, grandson of the Chris Smith who founded Chris Craft Boats, standing with my hubby, Captn' Brown.

Beautiful Chris Craft

Here are some of the pictures I took there last year. Stay tuned for new ones from this year's show!

Ben's Old Boat

And while We're thinking about boats, here are a couple of my favorite boat tunes:

Boats To Build by Guy Clark

Boats: Vessels of Freedom by Kenny Chesney

Your Weekend Challenge: Margarita Balls

2010-09-30T09:20:00.000-04:00

Margarita Balls

The weekend is almost here. Time for fun and games. And cooking.

What are you going to cook this weekend that reminds you of Key West? Last weekend, I cooked Margarita Balls . . . to rave reviews.

Yes, they do have Tequila in them, and no, the alcohol is not cooked out. I'm sure that if they're not eaten fairly quickly, it evaporates, but they get eaten fairly quickly.

They are made with vanilla wafers and almonds

They also contain WHITE CHOCOLATE!

The recipe is posted on http://keywestcantina.com.

Well, enjoy your Margarita Balls. I am trying to think up my new Key West Challenge dish for this weekend!