Winter's update for Feb.

Here it is the middle of Feb already! Time is flying. Just realized I haven't made a post since Jan 22nd.  Doesn't seem that long ago!
   Last post I told you about a live bait box we'd built and how well it was working. We have had a couple of catostrophic failures. Our first sump pump burned off it's plug, had a warranty to cover that and then one of the extension cords failed. We finally ran a permanent circuit out to the bait box area and so far all is well. Been testing the revived shrimp as often as we can. The training session of the shrimp and using mini-gafs is going well. Another thing we've done is borrow 4 crab traps and baited them with chicken bones and we have them tied off the dock. Blue clawed crab is the goal and we've been catching them a few at a time. They're able to regenerate a claw and you're allowed the keep any claw over 2 3/4" long. Once you harvest the big claw you release them and they grow a new claw in a few months. One thing we've learned is to NOT let them pinch you, they can really grab ahold of you and it'd hurt. I watched one scramble around in the trap and it's facinating to see how easily they can move around. We've trapped quite a few large snails and catfish. 
   The new drawbridge is progressing. We watched a major, almost dangerous, screwup with the big crane. They were pulling out some old pilings and a sling broke which made the crane act like a long fishing pole and backlashed which made a big backlash of all the cables. I thought the crane was gonna flip off the barge.They're still trying to fix that mess 2 days later.
   As usual we've been going down the street to listen to good music a couple times a week. On Wednesday it's bike night (aka free shi* Wednesday) and they issue raffle tickets as we go in. Heather has been winning something ( CD's, Shirts, etc) regularly. Sure do enjoy this routine. Had a few park cookouts with our neighbors and smoked 6 chickens last Sunday. Fed 14 people and had a lot leftover.

   Been helping Carl, the park mgr, finish off a new unit. Plasterboard finishing and wiring. Good exercise and something to do. It's fun and we're seeing progress.
  We get visited by 2 cats every day first thing in the morning. Been feeding them. They also show up when it's hot and we have the AC on. They just walk in or come thru the window and flop in the chair to cool off. Funny how cat's can sense cat people!
  Hope everyone that follows our blog is enjoying life as much as we are.
   REMEMBER, FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS AS TIME GOES BY QUICKLY...Charlie & Heather