We've been taking as many walks on the beaches as we can lately. I know one little mermaid who is delighted to have this part of her world returning to normal. The Intracoastal Waterway on a bright, sunny day. I love this time of year in the Deep South, when the magnolias are all in … Continue reading Back to the water
Tag: Ocean
Let the sunshine in
Color of lemon, mango, peach,These storybook villasStill dream behindShutters, their balconiesFine as hand-Made lace, or a leaf-and-flower pen-sketch.Tilting with the winds,On arrowy stems,Pineapple-barked,A green crescent of palmsSends up its forkedFirework of fronds.A quartz-clear dawnInch by bright inchGilds all our Avenue,And out of the blue drenchOf Angels' BayRises the round red watermelon sun.Sylvia Plath, Southern Sunrise … Continue reading Let the sunshine in
Volver: Cycling, a farmer’s market, and a feast
I have to say, yesterday almost felt like a "normal" day in the neighborhood. We took our daughter's bicycle to a local bicycle/coffee shop (which they have up and down the A1A) to get her brakes fixed. She ruined a pair of shoes riding her bike around yesterday without brakes. Apparently, she thought it was … Continue reading Volver: Cycling, a farmer’s market, and a feast
Matanzas Inlet before sunset
We drove up the A1A to Matanzas Inlet to determine whether it would be a good place for the maiden voyage of our new kayak. (And I think it will.) Matanzas Inlet is a channel that passes between two barrier islands and the mainland, just south of St. Augustine. I could not believe the volume … Continue reading Matanzas Inlet before sunset
The best water shoes ever
As someone who lives in a beach town and tries to spend as much time outside as is humanly possible, I have a lot of opinions about water shoes. Until recently, my favorite water-ready shoes were Teva sandals. I often wore them on hikes where I knew I would have to cross streams. They would … Continue reading The best water shoes ever
Eating sea urchins and azalea season
We have been hard at work (and hard at play) this past week. A few days ago, I was explaining to Elise how I would wade into the tide pools when I was a child in Southern California and poke at anemones and sea urchins. You could stick your finger into the sea anemones and … Continue reading Eating sea urchins and azalea season
Endangered right whale spotted off Flagler Beach with calf
Photo courtesy of Florida Fish and Wildlife So this is pretty cool. We've had ten whales and two calves visit our beach recently, including this right whale and her calf. This is a special event, as there are only about 400 right whales left in the world. This article includes drone footage of the whales … Continue reading Endangered right whale spotted off Flagler Beach with calf
A blustery morning
By early evening all the sky to the north had darkened and the spare terrain they trod had turned a neuter gray as far as the eye could see. They grouped in the road at the top of a rise and looked back. The storm front towered above them and the wind was cool on … Continue reading A blustery morning
Fort Lauderdale, Part Two
After the first day of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, we went to downtown Hollywood to eat dinner at Runa's Peruvian restaurant, which I highly recommend. The area seems to be mostly folks from Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela, and has many wonderful places to eat. There is a lot of neat street art in … Continue reading Fort Lauderdale, Part Two
I will never look at an octopus in a restaurant the same way again
Before boiling.... The octopus was about four feet long from head to, er, tentacle tips. After boiling.... The octopus fit in a large spoon. Now on the grill. Related: Did you know that an octopus has 9 brains and 3 hearts? They can seriously talk to themselves!
Days of Sunshine 