Today's Dive

I went diving today on a local wreck in the Gulf of Mexico.  We didn't know what to expect with the oil or how the visibility would be.  Happily, the seas were a rolling 1-2 foot seas with very little (if any) breeze. 

We anchored and set about the business of donning our gear.  After stopping several times to pour ice cold water down our wetsuits (did I say it was hot?), we got into the water.  The top water temperature was about 86 degrees.  We started down and hit a thermocline (a place where the water temperature changes and you see fuzzy water like the fuzzy look on a hot road) at 55 feet.  With the top water temperature being so hot and the air temperature being scorching (oh yeah, I told you it was hot), the cooler water of the thermocline felt great!

Two remora followed us down the anchor line.  A small one was attached to the larger one which was trying to attach itself to my dive buddy.  I guess my gosh-awful-flourescent-yellow dive gear was too much for the remora so they decided to annoy my dive bud.  It didn't work, though.

Anyway, we hit another thermocline on the bottom.  The visibility was about 40 feet with current only on the bottom.  We saw butterfly fish, gobies, spade fish, amberjack, blue angelfish, goliath grouper, and a bait ball that had the amberjack going crazy!  Little tiny scales floated down and lit the water like an underwater disco ball.

The picture at the top is one of the butterfly fish couples we saw.  And before anyone asks, no, we didn't see any sharks.

We're told that the oil slick is moving to the west and breaking up.  We didn't see any evidence of the oil, but we saw lots of oil slick boats and boom. 

Time keeps on tickin' . . .

Yes, I realize that it's been a long time since I posted, but there is that thing called "life" that tends to get in the way of living.

Anyway, I've been down to the Florida Keys for a short visit and thoroughly enjoyed it!  I went to a bird sanctuary, road an airboat, biked in the Everglades, and saw tons of gators - some of them guarding their nests!  It reminded me of the vast world around us and our need to protect our environment.  I tried to dive with my buddies, but the 4-6 foot waves became 6-8 and diving came to an end.  The first dive had us swaying with the surge underwater which showed us that a second dive would be a bad idea.  We were right.  On the second dive, four of our divers were plucked from the water by a different dive boat and a diver from yet another dive boat was swept five miles out to sea.  Boy, am I thankful that none of those eight footers took our divers from our dive boat out to sea!  The diver was rescued and God is truly good . . .

I've also begun the process of ending my summer (sigh . . .) and gearing up for the inevitable in the fall.  My posts will happen when living occurs and life doesn't get in the way.  I'll try to post when I can be creative, but that may be few and far between.  Thanks for your understanding.

I'll be in touch, so you be in touch.  :-D

Black and White Card

This is a sympathy/concern card made for a card swap at my church.  Unfortunately, there always seems to be a need for this type of card.  I made this using the Victoria embossing Cuttlebug folder on the white background while using a black and white flocked cardstock to add even more texture to the front.

On the inside, I put a white piece of cardstock in order to have a handwritten note, and I cut a strip of the flocked cardstock to give it weight and to connect it to the front.  The sentiment on the outside is from a generic stamp that if found at Hobby Lobby.  I've had it for a long time or I would give the name of the stamp brand.
:-)

The label for the outside sentiment is cut twice - once in white and once on black.  I cut the sentiment labels from a cricut cartridge that I can't remember the name of.  I made this card several months ago and I didn't record the cartridge I used.  Truthfully, I never thought anyone else would see it. lol

Anyway, I hope you like it.  I was an easy card to make.