The Mud Place, The Home of Handcrafter Pottery By Leslie

 

The Christmas shopping season gets in full swing on Black Friday even though you can start seeing sales in October. On the first Saturday after Black Friday is "Shop Small Business Saturday". A shopping day where Christmas shoppers are encouraged to purchase gifts from small local businesses. 

This year I totally forgot about this shopping day.  It wasn't until a week later that I happened to notice a road side sign on my way to Sam's Club to get gas. The sign was pointing directions for a local pottery shop.  

On my way back from Sam's Club, I followed the sign to "The Mud Place".  This business is tucked away in business park off Stan Drive in Melbourne, Florida.  

After parking my car, I entered to small shop only to find the owner and the master potter, Leslie, sitting behind a small desk. She greeted me with a big smile on her face.  After signing her guest book, she gave me the history of her shop.  

Her retail shop is the front of her pottery studio. I could see her studio through the open door leading to the back of the unit on Stan Drive. Leslie explained that she calls her retail store a pop-up shop because it is not open every day.  She uses her email list to alert her followers when her shop will be open and any special events she has going on. She asked me if she could email me and I said yes.  

This Christmas season, "The Mud Place" is open each Saturday until Christmas. Being that there are two more Saturdays until Christmas, you have time to visit "The Mud Shop".  

While I was there, she offered me a glass of Mimosa, which I gladly accepted.  Sitting on the small table, that she was sitting behind, was the guest book and a bowl of Leslie's Marinated Olives. She offered me one says that she made these. Leslie had the olive marinate recipe on a card behind the olives for anyone to take. After finishing off my glass of Mimosa and enjoying one of her olives, I photographed her pop-up shop while she continued telling me the history of her pottery business. I enjoyed hearing the part of her history about sewing caddies and the other sewing pottery pincushions and notions holders. There is a patient for the sewing caddy on display on the wall of her shop. 

She does most of her business online. You can visit "The Mud Shop" website and see all the pottery that Leslie has for sale. After spending time with Leslie, I left the shop.  As I was driving home, I call my wife, Kathi, and told her about "The Mud Shop" and my experience. I said that I was picking her up to return to the shop to shop. It did not me 30 minutes to reach home, pick up Kathi, and return to "The Mud Shop".  After we arrived back at the shop, I enjoyed listening to Leslie tell Kathi her story especially the part about the sewing pottery.  Because sewing was a big part of Kathi's mother's life, I could see that Kathi enjoyed this part of Leslie's history.  At one point Kathi reached down to touch the bowl of Leslie's Marinated Olives not knowing they were real.  She thought the bowl with olives was a ceramic piece.  She was surprised to see that these were actually a bowl of real marinated olives to eat. After regrouping, she selected an olive to eat. After Kathi enjoyed her olive, we shopped the store selecting a two items, one to give as a Christmas gift and sponge holder for our kitchen. All the mugs and bowls at "The Mud Place" are microwave and dishwasher safe. 

"The Mud Place" has an interesting selection of pottery in the pop-up shop with many more on line.  

If you are looking for that special gift for someone who appreciates handcrafted pottery, "The Mud Place" is the place to visit either in person or online to find that special gift or handcrafted pottery for yourself.

Have a Merry, Merry Christmas, and remember be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors. 

Himiway EV Cycles at Zoo Keeper EV Bike Shop

 

Every Saturday I go to my local Sam's Club to get gas an to do a little shopping. This morning while filling up I noticed a guy in the small shopping center beside the Melbourne, FL Sam's Club just east of I-95 on Highway 192 ride up on what appeared to  be an EV bike with two small dogs in a rear basket.  After my shopping I drove over to the shopping center to scope out the Zoo Keeper EV Bike Shop.  

The EV Bike shop is very small and only sold one brand of EV bikes, Himiway EV bicycles. 

I asked my typical questions about battery like and inspected the white bike he rode in on. I was told that the battery had a charge that could carry one about 40 miles depending on how much one peddled the bike and the speed one was traveling.  I did not have time to chat longer or ask for a test ride on his bike so I picked up a brochure and left in about 10 minutes.  When I got home I visited his website and the Himiway website.

This brand of EV bike has a price range from $1,799.99 to $3,999.00. You will find a bike to fit many different cycling lifestyles. You can get a bike that has dual batteries as well as bikes that are well suited for off road conditions. The Cobra Pro has a soft tail and comes ready to hit the trails. All cycles have a two year original owner warranty.  

They have a great website. They support military veterans and have a Himiway Cycling club.  Over the past few years my interest in EV cycles continues to grow as I get closer to retirement.  I will most surely keep my eye on Himiway EV bikes.

So if you are in the Melbourne, Florida area and you are interested in EV bikes, by all means stop by Zoo Keeper EV Bike Shop. 

Until next time be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors. 

Coastal Kayak Tours - Haleiwa, Hawaii

It has been over one year since I posted to my blog. I guess I did not have anything to share since COVID-19 took a year out of everyone's life.  Well today I got motivated to share some news from the Aloha State of Hawaii. Back when I was doing some consulting for Dri Grip Sunscreen we sponsored a kayak fishing tournament in Hawaii.  David Eglas, AKA, Boogie D, ran the tournament. Dri Grip sent them sunscreen and a donation.  Since then Dave and I have been long distance compadres.  We follow each other on Facebook.  

Dave has been a busy guy. He has learned to be a bee keeper and is an active member of Nalea Farms which is a local farm cooperative giving back to the local community.  Boogie D still has his kayak tour business. Here is the link to Coastal Kayak Tours. They are the North Shore oldest and most experienced kayak guide tour company. Let them show your the real spirit of Aloha.  If you like to fish from a kayak ask Dave on Facebook to arrange a special kayak fishing tour. He can definitely put you on some big Hawaiian fish. 

Be sure the next time you are visiting the Hawaiian Islands to give Boggie D a shout out on Facebook and catch one of the Coastal Kayak many kayak tours.  The sunset tours I am told are spectacular.  

Unit next time be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great out doors. 

   

 

U.S. Navy Seals Fort Pierce Museum Memorial Day Weekend 2021

Poptop Heaven 2020 Update

 

Way back during my USAF career from 1981-1984 I was stationed in West Germany with the 4th Allied Tactical Air Force. We were a NATO outfit.  We were part American, Canadian, German and French military. There is where I fell in love wit the VW camper.  I purchased a 1970s camper from a Canadian Major who was going back to Canada that was not going to take it with him. It came with a cute little trailer.  The perfect family camping outfit. We traveled all over Europe camping. Camping in Europe is a blast. We went to Holland, Switzerland, France and of course all over Germany. After my tour in West Germany was over, I shipped it back to my new USAF assignment in southern California.  Sad to say I lost my VW camper to an engine fire when the fuel line ruptured. That is another story for another time.

Poptop Heaven is without a doubt the number one reseller of certified re-conditioned VW popup  and Rialta campers.  They are located in Yucaipa, CA right off I-10 in San Bernardino County. The closest air port is located in Ontario, CA. About a 30 minute drive on I-10. 

Since the last time I reported on Poptop Heaven, they have made some interesting changes to their offerings.  They still sell certified re-conditioned full size VW popups and Weekenders and Rialta campers but have added Dodge/Mercedes Sprinters. Back in the day they only offered one pricing level. Today they have added a second.  They offer an Essential and a Premium pricing level. 

The Essential pricing level comes with a 3 month / 3,000 mile limited warranty. The Premium pricing level comes with a 2 year / 24,000 warranty. Both have the option to buy a 5 year / 60,000 extended warranty. But the main difference between these two pricing levels is cosmetic.  With the Essential pricing level the vehicle will contain blemishes like worn carpet or worn spots on the exterior paint.  See the photo above of the open rear of the VW Camper. You can clearly see spots on the bumper where the paint has worn off.  These kind of blemishers do not impact the function of the camper.  But with the Premium price level the carpet will be replaced and the camper will be painted. Click HERE for the Poptop Heaven website page that explains in detail the two different pricing levels. Adding a second pricing level gives the buyer another purchasing option.  If you do not live in California, you can have your camper shipped. How you ship it affects the CA sales tax. To avoid the sales tax, the shipper must a registered shipper. Having uncle John drive it from CA to let's say Ohio, you will pay CA sales tax. You can arrange your own shipping but give Poptop Heaven a chance to beat what ever quoteyou get. 

You can find them on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, and YOUTUBE.

So if you are in the market for a new adventure vehicle, why not give Poptop Heaven's certified re-conditioned campers a look.  You will not be disappointed. 

 Remember to wear a mask when in public and keep your social distancing to greater than 6  feet.  The COVID-19 pandemic is still around. This fall can you see yourself driving the Blue Ridge Parkway look at all the fall colors in your new Poptop Heaven Camper. 

Until next time be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors.

Surf Expo starts on September 16th with and an all virtual tradeshow

It is that time of the year for the September Surf Expo. Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic this year's show will be an online virtual tradeshow.  The show will return to the Orange County Convention Center next year.  This is the second Surf Expo of each year.  Each year the expo just keeps getting better and better.  So if you are an owner or buyer for a local surf shop or a sporting goods store or specialty outdoor gear  retailer, do not forget to mark your calendar and register because the show starts on September 16th for three days. Do not miss out by not attending online where you can visit virtual brand booths to see all the new products for the 2021 surfing season.  Until next time be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors.

Until next time, be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors. 

SCARPA Mountaineering Footwear at Outdoor Retailer Online Summer Market

My father grew up in NYC.  He use to tell me stories about all the different emigrant groups who came to NYC many years ago during the great migration periods.  He told me that the Italians were the shoe makers. As I grew up and started my hiking and mountaineering adventures, I became aware of how very good Italian mountaineering boots were. I have never owned a pair but have known a friends that vouched for that.  

The 2020 Outdoor Retailer Online Summer Market was held in July. But the access to all the exhibitors is open to all who registered until the end of August. As I cruised all the online booths I found the SCARPA booth. SCARPA stands for the Association of Footwear Manufacturers From the Mountain Area of Asolo.  SCARPA is n ow run by an Italian family who have been in the mountaineering and ski boot business since 1956. Click HERE for the SCARPA history on their UK website.  

I seems like my mountaineering days are long over but I still love to visit the mountains any chance I get. I now live in central Florida. But now and again I do get to visit the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia visiting my son's family. When I travel I like to wear footwear designed for the mountain and surf lifestyles.  I have a closet full of these kind of shoes. 

After visiting the SCARPA USA website, I came across two different mountain lifestyle designs that caught my fancy. one was the Mojito for men and the other was the Margarita. I use to have a pair of Rockport sailing shoes that look very similar to the Mojito. I flat wore them out until the soles separated from the shoes.  It is a shame I do not have a local store where I can try on a pair Mojitos. Remember when selecting a SCARPA boot or shoe this is an Italian company where all the sizes are European.  

That is why it is important to try them on before your purchase them.  It will save some agony if the shoe or boot does not fit and you have to return them.  

The SCARPA Margarita has a rubber rand that goes all around the shoe. The rand is that part of a rock climbing shoe where the rock climber gets extra friction when wedging the shoe in a crack.  Not sure that is necessary wearing a pair around town but having a rubber rand on a mountain lifestyle shoe will keep it from being scuffed up or damaged on rough surfaces. So if you have a specialty outdoor outfitter near you that carries the SCARPA brand of boots and shoes, check them out.

Until next time, be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors. Be sure to wear a mask and social distance until COVID-19 pandemic is over.