Stone crab socialiser

 Lately, going out and checking the crab traps has been even more fun then ever.  You might remember my last blog about the monster claws we got - and that was the best day yet.  

Well today, while we didn't get any more monsters we killed it on sheer quantity - 9!  And imagine, that could have been doubled if we had taken the two claws (as you are allowed to).

So! Very exciting.  We have friends coming over for drinks and appetizers next Sunday and guess what! We are going to do stone crabs. Going to keep it simple.  Plus also, we have explicitly said apps (not dinner), so there will be stone crabs, devilled eggs and crusty garlic bread.  And prosecco.  Eh, voila!

Excited to share our fishing haul and exploits with our friends.  Very much looking forward to it!

No clue what the context of the photo below is.  Found it in google images and it just made me laugh.  Lol!

Super bowl party!

 My second super bowl party! And hosted by the same people!  But in a new venue.  Our friends G&K have recently moved home and without a doubt their new house is just perfect for a party.  And even more importantly, with covid etc, it was just perfect for an outdoor viewing party.  I feel really lucky living somewhere that I can socialize (relatively) safely...

I will let the photos below speak for themselves

Share Wesley House love

How cute is this!! 

Patrick texted me telling me there was a heart in our garden, and when I came home I saw THIS!

Really clever... It is a fundraiser for Wesley House.  Someone went online and ordered it and then WH came out and delivered it. 

But who was that someone?!!  I immediately went to facebook and posted a pic asking "who did this?!!"  

After a few cryptic messages I figured that it was Enid!!!  Thank you Enid!  Love it, and love that you supported Wesley House all the way from Spain.

She later told me that it was so easy.  She went online at 5pm Spanish time, noon in KW, and that very same day it was delivered to our little blue house.  Cute little message on the back of it telling all about it and the hashtag #sharewhlove where you can search to see other houses decorated with hearts. 

I love Key West :) And ingenuity.  Normally, every year, Wesley House hosts a big Valentine's dance.  Obviously, they can't do it with covid so this was their idea to replace that.

Weber Grill 3200

 Our new barbecue arrived!!! 

Looking like it landed from Outer Space!

So after an initial little panic while we couldn't get it working. Which btw, exposed how differently we handle troubleshooting: Patrick pressing a million buttons, me going back to the manual (and both of us thinking the other person was crazy) lol. 

Fortunately, Patrick got a work call so I worked away through a number of steps and all was good!

I handed over to Chef Patrick at this point and he enjoyed working out the nuances of a fancy new Weber versus our cheapy old Dyna Glo. The result?! Amazing surf and turf (Porgy fish and New York strip steak) and corn on the cob.  My compliments to the chef!

Freezing February

 

It's cold.

I've no idea of temperatures etc (going from Celsius to Fahrenheit, I'm totally at a loss), I just know that I am dying with the cold.  And I do not have the right clothes for this weather.  This morning I went to work wearing my work dress over a pair of lounge pants, with a hoody and a fleece.  In work they said I looked like an Eskimo. I said I would take that, better than how Patrick described me while heading off "you look like a crazy female spiderman"...whatever that means lol! 

The good news is that it never really stays cold for long in Key West. And it is the Superbowl this weekend! We have been invited a party which will be fun.  We've been asked to bring dessert so, guess what we will bring?! Key Lime Pie :) The weather is supposed to be lovely (warmer again!) and our friends have a really big house with a really, really big yard and pool etc so it will be a perfectly safe gathering - they are putting a big screen outside so the party will be outside.

Monday chores

 Following on from last week, this was another busy Monday also today.

Amongst a load of other things, I got my new Florida ID card!  And thus my crab trap license.  I promptly took myself, my new ID and a copy of the New Yorker off to ihop to celebrate over some waffles. A very enjoyable time had by all, I am happy to report.

Crab trapping - the best day yet!

 

Look at this!!

Just imagine, with the weather the way it is at the moment (windy!), we weren't even sure if we would get out on the water.  Well we did! And in the first trap we pulled up we get two monster crabs and get two of these monster claws off of them.  And this haul could have been doubled!! Technically (legally) you are allowed take the two claws, but morally we always just take one.

We ate crab claws last night and we have the makings of a fabulous Valentine's celebration dinner waiting in the freezer.  Sure feels decadent I tell you, nothing like that sweet crab claw meat.