Nature soothes my soul and on a warm 80 degree afternoon I'm feeling okay again. I haven't felt much like writing in my blog because my dog had to be put down. It's been a rough time and I'm trying to focus on positive things again. Coda would want me to do that and remember the good times. And though, I'm usually packing up my car with her in tow - she will always be in my heart.
This squirrel was cute eating fruit and acorns on the rocks. There are so many acorns around for them to eat. Did you know Florida is the only state with no snow at this time? What you might not realize is the water temperatures are 50 degrees. Manatees and fish life have a hard time in these temperatures.
As one of the Foodbuzz: 24 X 24 Gulf Coast Ambassadors, last night it was my privilege to participate and showcase the cuisine of the Gulf Coast region. This event was held in St Pete, Florida at my friend Jennie's house with the proceeds going to the Greater New Orleans Foundation thanks to Foodbuzz with the focus on helping fishermen and their families in the area who have been subjected to the fallout from the BP oil disaster since April 20, 2010.
The stakes have been devastating to every single state along the Gulf Of Mexico and nobody knows if there will be much of a future for inhabitants or residents of the area. There is a darkness that looms in our offshore waters and the oil invasion is currently taking a heavy toll on all of us living in the coastal regions.
Like most everybody, I have been watching with horror as the events in the Gulf of Mexico have been unfolding over the last 50 days. Lately I have been using technology to make the most sense of what is actually going on out there. In case anybody has missed it, Google has a crisis response page for the oil spill located at http://www.google.com/crisisresponse/oilspill/. You can get the latest maps and Google Earth layers as well as watch YouTube videos and get the latest news.
Hi, I hope you are having a wonderful weekend so far. Today, I went fishing early in the morning and got skunked even though I had a large snook on my line for 5 minutes. I never keep them even when the season is open. I don't have the heart. My heart jumped when it hooked and peeled off line almost taking me with it.
The heat is blazing under the Florida sun and I'm hiding under any cover I can find. Yesterday after most people were back at the office I hopped out on the water for a late sunset cruise and fishing spot. Next, I baited my line with a scaled sardine through the nose where it doesn't hurt them. That is, until they become dinner for a bigger fish!
As the oil monster continues to toil through the depths of the Gulf of Mexico I take snapshots along my route.
What the heck are we supposed to think of the fish now? NOAA closed 19% of the Gulf of Mexico to fishing. The gulf is the only known spawning ground for Atlantic bluefin tuna.
Everyday I'm haunted by the reality. The Florida Gulf Coast is usually a haven for those seeking refuge. It is now an oily grave moving like a black plague of death. What if BP is unsuccessful in fixing this? Their track record isn't exactly stellar. Efforts so far have been thwarted. The capricious nature of this environmental disaster has yet to fully unfold. Will there be a future for Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida?
This was my early commute out to Mullet Key Bayou. I began at the southern tip of the key and made it out around the bayou. The area is known for mangroves and oyster beds because it is protected from combustion engines; kayaking is a must.
