Unwelcome visitor

Lionfish are definitely not welcome wherever they go.

They are an invasive fish that has taken hold in much of our Gulf of Mexico.

Just a scant few years ago, Chris and I took our first trip to the Florida keys.

There already were rumblings about the lionfish invasion.

Organizers were encouraging Divers to spear them, and chefs to cook them.

I've heard they're quite delicious, but I have yet to find a restaurant that 

actually, has them or is not sold out.

The divers have become adept at spearing them and can bring in income by selling them to fish markets.

At least that is what I have heard.

As you can see from this map provided by a U.S Geological Survey, 

the lionfish is almost covering the entire Gulf of Mexico.

They were first reported officially off the coast of Florida near Dania Beach, Florida in 1985.

The Geological survey only begins in 1993 and as you can see, they have managed to travel quite far.

It is thought that they were introduced from aquarium hobbyists, possibly hurricane Andrew in 1992, but most likely they were stowaways onboard water ballast from large ships.

When the ships emptied their water, the fish were contained within.

They have become prolific ever since.

They are an apex hunter with no known predators.

That is, except for us!

We can eat them, when we can find them to eat.

We now have another hurricane that will impact our area.

Not a direct hit, but we probably will still feel the effects from the wind pulling moisture from the Gulf and crossing over us in the process.

We can only pray that Erin will take a turn more north into the Atlantic, missing the U.S. entirely.

As for us, probably lots of rain on already soaked soil.

My husband is my rock.

Chris knows I have been trying to figure out a frame that I could use for some lovely 19.5-inch wood circles I bought months ago.

After an hour trying to find anything, I did find a frame that would be made for $38 online.

Now that may sound bad to you, but to me it's just another art supply.

It costs money to make money in art.

Anyway, the $38 frame had a $79 shipping fee!

I can't handle that.

Today Chris asked if I wanted lunch and go look at a local large chain variety store to see if I could find a frame for these four circles.

After traipsing the store for almost an hour, we found nothing.

We decided to go to Lowes.

Lowes actually had tabletops in unfinished wood, but Chris would still have to router out the center.

"Let me build it. Let me see what I can do."

I just don't like causing him more work....

So, we came home, and he went to the shop out back.

A short while later, he brought in one of the circles with a beautifully cut frame encircling the edge.

"How is this?" He asked.

"Perfect! I'll just have to fill in the holes" I replied.

Later he went into the shop and produced 3 more, 

except these were wider and didn't have nail holes at the top.

Turns out, his mind was working overtime and this time 

he nailed them from the back instead of the front.

No worries, he had the putty to fill the holes on the first one, and it's already done.

I just have to sand them, Paint Kilz on them, and paint them white.

Needless to say, I'm excited.

Beautiful things are happening here at the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama!

Unwelcome visitor, Acrylic on wood, 12 inches

Day 45 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025