For any of you that visit here, you know the closing of the Big Dock downtown has been a bone of contention for 4 years!  At that time a hurricane came along and did major damage, causing it to be closed.  Everyone loved being on the dock, fishing, socializing and just enjoying a special part of the island.  After many meetings, bids, etc. the construction of the new Big Dock began last year.  The Cedar Key News has run a contest for people to guess when, exactly, it would be finished and ready for use.  Some pessimists said 2009.  BUT alas.........it it now scheduled to open for our 4th of July celebration here on the island. 

I shot these recent photos of it one evening last week.  Isn't it grand?

The building you see there.....those are the rest rooms.  Talk about convenient, huh?  AND we're told that if another hurricane comes along.........it might demolish our island.  But the dock?  She'll still be standing!

Oh and we have some other news here on the island also.  I put on my journalist cap last week and went out to do an interview for the Cedar Key News............if you'll click the link I just gave you here that's highlighted, you'll be able to see what will be coming to Cedar Key, hopefully in the not too distant future.  (NO, not a McDonalds!)

See you here next time.........

Joan is the owner of the Seabreeze Restaurant here on the island.  It's located on the Dock and she recently initiated a "Hotdog Night" there on Monday evenings.  It quickly became known as "Date Night" for the locals.  Date night for the mostly over-fifty crowd and also the "date" being one's spouse.  My friend, Ingaborg, had been coaxing me to come with Ray.  Hey, how could you beat it?  Hotdogs sell for $1 (yes, that IS ONE dollar) and bratwurst for $2........AND this includes a side dish like beans, along with cold slaw, sauerkraut and condiments.  So this past Monday we finally decided to go.  I had SO much fun, I can just about guarantee that this is where you'll find me every Monday evening. 

There was a pretty good turn-out and everyone lined up to go through the buffet.

We even had music to dine by from the band section.  Ingaborg loves a party and knows how to enjoy the moments and have a good time.  She had come with lyrics to many old songs and she grabbed the mic to lead us in a sing-along.

There was much laughter, along with humorous stories exchanged and lots of socializing.  Just another reason why I love my island.  No, it wasn't the "date night" that I recalled from my single days, but it certainly was a lot of fun.  I told my "date"......same time, same place, next Monday evening at 6 p.m.

See you here next time.........

This past weekend the Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce sponsored another new event for the island....Pottery in the Park.  Vendors set up their paintings, pottery, furniture, etc. and allowed the public to browse (and hopefully purchase) their work.

My friend and neighbor, (she bought the house next door to me) Joyce, was here from the east coast for the weekend with her very sweet doggie, Beans.

And we had planned to have a girl's day out with lunch and then browsing through the park.  I have to say the rain gods were looking out for us.  Thunder rumbled in the distance and we had a mid-morning shower.  However, by 11:30 when we were leaving for downtown, the sun came out.  But we were armed with umbrellas, just in case.  After a nice lunch at Cook's Cafe, we headed over to the park.

I've always marveled at the multitude of talent on the island and the surrounding area.  Creativity flows in abundance around here.  I was especially captivated with the stained glass.

See the brightly colored, gorgeous butterfly on the lower left?  Yup, it had my name on it and with my love for butterflies, of course I purchased it.  It's perfect to hang on our screened porch.  This work is done by local artist, Charles McDonell, from Williston.  Joyce bought a gorgeous piece of pottery that's ideal for baking fish.

These wonderful gatherings put together by the Chamber are a great way to get out, mingle with locals and tourists and support our local artists. 

And those rain gods?  I walked in the door and five minutes later the sky opened up with a torrential downpour.  While we do need and welcome the rain, and while I was very happy for clear skies during our browsing time.......I'm just hoping the precipitation didn't put a damper on the weekend event.

See you here next time...........

For those of you that don't know, we have a volunteer fire department here on Cedar Key.  Every single person has another full-time job and they carry radios to be alerted from the dispatcher if there's a fire or somebody is ill.  Yes, they are also EMT's and if we call 911, it will be our Cedar Key EMT's that arrive.  And in the three years that we've lived here, I've heard they're excellent.  I'm grateful we've never had to call them, but it's reassuring to know we have some competent people to assist us.

This past Saturday the fire department had an open house.   I saw it in the newspaper and told Ray I'd like to go.  We have a brand new fire house for them downtown (built within the past few years) and I'd never been inside.  Also, the paper said the fire chief would "be making an announcement that would affect home owners in Cedar Key."

So we went out for breakfast and then over to the fire house.  I know I always say this, but......I just love living in a small town where everyone knows everyone.  Of course we got there and bumped into everyone.  So we chatted and gabbed and got caught up on people's news while we were looking at the fire trucks and all their equipment.  They have a lovely kitchen upstairs and a very nice training area for training programs they take.   We have a First Responder truck here on the island.  So if they're called for a medical emergency, I was pleased to see their truck is fully equipped with everything needed.

They had some little give-aways on the table for people, like fire hats for children, info on emergency preparedness, and also a table with soft drinks and pastries.  And then they gave some plaques to a few of the firemen for various years of service.  We were also told they're going to be getting a fire boat.  I remember when I heard this might be a possibility last year, I thought, "is it really necessary?  How many fires do we really have out there on the water?"  But when the assistant chief explained about medical emergencies for people on boats and also many of the homes are waterfront, not to mention Dock Street (all the buildings back right up into the water) and it would be impossible to fight the back of a fire with a structure on the water.   All of a sudden, I understood how vitally important this piece of equipment will be. 

And then came the announcement mentioned in the paper.........Apparently, fire departments get points and ratings based on various things.  (I was never aware of this) Like their equipment, their response time, how much ongoing training they get, etc.  They are then given points, with 1 being the best.  I guess they had their survey last Oct. and now have their scores. 

I'm very proud to say that the Cedar Key Fire Department ranked a 5, which is excellent.  Remember this is a volunteer fire department.  The town of Chiefland (45 minutes away) has a full-time department and they are a number 4.  So I'd say that's MIGHTY good!  AND.............because of this rating they got, all of the homeowners on Cedar Key will be getting a 20% discount on our homeowners policy, starting August 1.  Needless to say, they got a round of applause for this.

Some of you might recall that sometime last year I did a blog entry about firemen.  Because it's a profession that I've always admired.  I'm terrified of fire, and therefore I feel that anybody that chooses to do this job deserves the utmost aknowledgement.  And I have to say, I'm mighty proud of our Cedar Key Volunteer Fire Department!  Bravo to them! 

This is just another reason why I love my little adopted island and why I'm very proud to be part of such a great community.

See you here next time............

The Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce sponsored a new event on the island this past weekend, Flowers in the Park.  Local vendors came to sell beautiful plants and flowers.  So Ray and I went yesterday.  They had some very nice things from roses to succulents.

I came home with a very nice flowering plant called Imperial Blue and it also has the added benefit of attracting butterlies. (which I love)  And I also got two pink Caladiums.  The area surrounding my fish pond is beginning to brighten up and I'm pleased with both the color and how much fun I'm having doing container gardening.  Butterflies are being drawn to my Pentas and the Imperial Blue seems to be drawing even more.  And I was very happy yesterday to see that the Dragonflies have returned.  Here's what it looks like.........

I sure am enjoying all of this.  The fish are doing great and I even have some babies out there now.  I noticed them the other day.  I believe they're Danios.  They're very tiny but they seem to have a much better chance than the babies in my aquarium did.  The fish in the pond aren't bothering them at all (all goldfish and Danios and I think more civilized than those Mollies I had inside) and the babies seem to be hanging out at the bottom of the pond in the water lily planter. 

I'm so glad I decided to get involved in all of this.  Hey, I AM a member of the Garden Club and now I feel justified belonging. 

Today is Memorial Day and my thoughts and gratitude goes to all the past veterans and to all of those still fighting to keep our country safe and most of all, free.  So my silent prayer goes out to all of them. 

See you here next time........