Week 28 / Week 21 in Ft. Pierce

     Sunday, 3/12/22 ~ We started Daylight Savings Time. With Tillie getting up before the sun, we were concerned that she might be up demanding attention around 4 or 5 AM. Thankfully, when she made noises and Pete got up to let her out around 2:30 AM. Tillie settled down to sleep as soon as Pete laid down on the sofa. We were able to sleep until 8 AM! WOO HOO!!!

 
     At the dog park, we had returned to the larger dogs’ enclosure, the big dogs crowded her and picked up on her trepidation. She cowered and then they surrounded her. She once again panicked and cried. So, we went to the smaller dog enclosure at the park to build Tillies confidence with all dogs. Sometimes she plays a little bit rough and tumbles with the younger, smaller puppies. We just monitor her more closely. Hopefully, she will forget about the Pittie incident.

 

 

    Rumors are true! There are grouper here in the marina. This one is about 3-foot long and maybe 80 -100 pounds. There is also a larger one they say, which is reported to be about 5-foot and 500 pounds! No, we haven't seen the goliath grouper yet, but we keep looking!

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    Once back from the dog park, I started chores onboard. I was able to remake our “high security doors” for the cockpit. I use the wooden doors as a pattern; two wooden planks for the top and 2 for the bottom. I then cut Styrofoam board insulation to form the top and bottom of the door. They are then covered with contact paper that looks like wood, and the edges are covered with white duct tape. They look good and insulate so well, besides being light and easy to use.

     Monday, 3/13/22 ~   About 2 years ago, local artist and muralist, Kenny Maguire, painted the seawall across from the Center. For the past week or so, he has been the sea wall by the Manatee Center.  

 

In progress

Completed

Opposite Wall across the creek

     Tuesday, 3/14/23 ~ I had a noon Pilates class. After class, I exited into the atrium to find peahens in the building, trying to get out via a locked gate. 

In the building

I shooed them out the main entrance. As I was herding them, a woman asked if they were my pets. As I was about to answer, the UPS driver commented, “only people in Ft. Pierce would be unphased with peacocks strolling where they please.” I then explained about the peacocks: 

In the 1970s, Jack Crain opened a travel agency in an ornate enamel tiled building on Orange Avenue. He had a love for peacocks and purchased a few to roam the walled yard behind his business. Over the decades, the flock has grown and cascades into an area called Fort Pierce’s Peacock Arts District. Peacock Crossing signs posted warning drivers to proceed with caution and artfully painted potters that line the streets. (from a number of articles on the web)

 

Here are the peacocks and peahens around their "home"

Other feathery friends in the neighborhood include various chickens and ibis

     Wednesday, 3/15/23 ~ We were up early and headed with Tillie to the tax office to register the new dinghy and get the title for the old one. Florida prefers to hold onto the titles and forward them when needed. Apparently, too many are lost and issuing a new one is more time consuming. We needed the title for our old dinghy as it has a new owner, and he is anxious to get it registered. The only way to retrieve the old title and register for a new title is in person. Apparently, residents of Florida must make an appointment at the county office in which they are registered. That meant that we had to make the 3 ½ hour drive to Green Cove Springs rather than use the one in St. Lucie County that is only 4 miles from the marina! Making the appointment via the web was easy. I received an immediate confirmation with a code. The morning of the appointment, I received a text saying that currently (9 AM) there were 16 people ahead of me. We had a chance to grab a quick lunch and be early for our 1 pm appointment. Pete went in at 12:55 and was back at the car by 1:10! It was painless and efficient. The clerk was once again super and able to handle all our needs. Wish all government offices were as efficient!

     Friday 3/17/23 ~ was rather busy. Since it is St. Patrick’s Day, I made a corned beef dinner in the crock pot. Then I prepped the clothes for the laundromat: Stripped bed, bath and kitchen of washables, sorted, checked for my laundry supplies and quarters, then put the bags in the car. I had Pilates at noon for an hour. Pete made me lunch and brought Tillie to the parking lot so I could take her to the groomers. I was able to complete the laundry not far from the groomers and get back in time to pick Tillie up after her “spa” day. She gets bathed, blown dry, trimmed around the face, paws, and butt. She loves her visits. Today, many of the dignified, older dogs were there and didn’t want to be bothered by an over exuberant pup named Tillie. I was asked if I could exercise her before her appointments so she would be a bit calmer. Last time, we took her to the dog park prior to the appointment. Unfortunately, she drank so much water, she piddled 3 times on them. 

 

  

     Dusk brough out the lights ~ Green for St. Patty's day and 

the firey tail of the Falcon Rocket that launched from Cape Canaveral.

    

     Saturday, 3/18/23 ~ We got brave and took Tillie with us to the Farmer’s Market. This is the first time she has been exposed to so much stimulation. There are lots of people, dogs, smells, stalls, and new sights. Tillie is a people magnet. Everyone wants to know what breed, how big she will get, and can they pet her. All things considered, she did remarkably well. Her walking with the leash was the best so far. I had her sit on the bench next to me and she was very content to watch everything from there. It didn’t take long for people to stop by. Barbara was the first. A number of families and couples stopped by. They were all dog lovers and she loved it. She, and we, were tired when we got back. 

     Once again Pete could not go for a bike ride. The winds were 25 out of the north with gusts of 30+. Melissa called me to let me know that Pete’s bike was ready to fall off the dock. The cover for the bike served as a sail and shifted the bike towards the water. Pete rescued the bike, but it only held for another half hour. He had to resort to removing the cover and secure the bike with an extra dock line.
     We met Howie for dinner at Cobbs. It was obvious that they had a lot of food left over from yesterday. There was “Green Beer” and various corned beef dishes on the specials’ menu. Pete enjoyed his burger; Howie wasn’t disappointed with his Gumbo, and I loved my Mediterranean Salmon.

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~  K & P