Scraping Barnacles

Like many men, I grew up idolizing my dad. Sure, we had our disagreements as I grew up but most of the time he was my hero. He stood tall, was quick with a joke, admired and respected by many, and loved by me and my brother and sisters. He was a Coastie and I wanted to be on a ship like him. I joined the Sea Pilot Cadets when I was a boy instead of the Boy Scouts. I learned about sailing, tying knots, and the ways of the water, lessons that stayed with me throughout my life. I watched every show that had to do with fishing and sailing, even SpongeBob. It seemed whenever someone got in trouble and got stuck with a job they didn’t like it was scraping the barnacles off of some ship.

Imagine my surprise when my wife brought these home. 

Yup, that’s right, barnacles. Pretty but big, nothing like I’m used to seeing. Then she started telling me about this show she watched where the host ate barnacles. She said it took place in Chile and no, it wasn’t that guy on the Travel Channel who eats anything and everything even eyeballs.

I volunteered to cook that night……burgers and fries. No barnacles. Gotta watch that woman.

Dan the Man and Fishing Lures

Welcome to my blog where I jot down ideas and tell stories about my life in the North Florida woods. I live here with my wife, 3 dogs (poodles I've trained to hunt), one cat (the other got snake bit), and a lovebird I bought for my wife. We live far back enough from the road that not too many people can see the house. Good. That's the way I want it. The folks who matter know where I am and come to visit often. We have a big house, a bigger garage, and about 20 or so boats. We'll talk boats later.

Hunting and fishing in the part of north Florida I live in is a way of life for many and definitely is for me. I live for it. I plan next year's hunt the day after hunting season is over. I know the moon cycles and the way it affects the deer and fish. My favorite TV channel is the Weather Channel. My favorite clothes are camo.

Yesterday my wife found some old, excuse me, vintage fishing lures while yard saling and decided to make key chains out of them. Cool idea. She showed me them before she started and I swiped one before she could "upcycle" it (her words). Great little trout getter. The keychains are cool, too. She did them up and posted them in my Etsy shop, MetalWoodsnWater. Now she wants to decorate the Christmas tree in old fishing lures and bobbers. I do believe she's redder than me.