There are more out-of-state boats this time of year than any other. Old teak boats with red leather means someone is refurbishing it every single year. I wonder if there is a bottle of wine stashed in the console? The upholstery beckons for a family with a dog to be cruising around on.
Is there anything better than the smell of fresh brewed coffee in the morning? Seriously. Ice coffee and John's oatmeal pancakes are the best on Sunday, preferably after I've been out on the water relaxing. During brunch we talked about the day. My morning went like this - we took the boat out at sunrise and explored the solitary morning hours before beaching for my run along the surf. When I got hot, I dove in the surf, came up for air and flowed right into yoga on the sand. Yoga in the sand is rather hard without a mat.
Perhaps I worked up an appetite?
How many crabs can you get in one swipe? A swipe being one breath and going as far as you can or need to find them underwater? She is up to 3. Weekend goals rock. Our packing list revolves around sunscreen, bathing suits, towels, pineapple slices, coconut water and fishing gear, tackle box, lines, life jackets, oh and a few sandwiches.
Hint: It's off the mainland in the Gulf of Mexico. Here is a more expansive view of the area.
Living near the coast and having a boat means upkeep and maintenance for safety and comfort. We make sure every flare, fire extinguisher, and flotation device is ready for quick access before the season kicks off. In addition, we check anchor lines and doors for loose hinges. Did I mention this is in addition to the tune up and battery replacements. Boating is not for everyone; but, if you are responsible and don't mind upkeep and boat safety regulations you are cut for some serious adventure.
This weekend I was up to my elbows in dirt trying to recover my yard from weeds that have taken over the portion that I was not willing to part with. It wasn't a pretty site. Having a green yard all year means either you are dedicated to gardening or you pay someone else to do it. I'm in the do-it -yourself category. I get intense exercise from it and feel absolutely no need to ever join a gym.
What defines me as a food blogger and makes me unique?
Food is the one constant in my life. Every day I eat and sometimes I dream of running off to live in Italy to cook for tourists in a tiny village. Then I wake up to reality and realize I already have a great life here. Living along the Florida Gulf Coast I get the added bonus of catching and cooking up the local daily fresh catch whenever I want. This means I can fillet fish in under 2 minutes and would probably live on an island very well if I ever got stranded. My friends and I like to pull our resources together and have fish fries and clam bakes on the beach to enjoy the sunsets. Simple clean eating is ideal for me and I don't fuss on too many ingredients or hard to find items. Once you've had freshly caught fish or seafood it is really hard to enjoy it any other way. The flavors melt in my mouth like butter and each fin and shell has a unique texture to savor.
The water was calm, clear, and cool enough to swim in. September boating is a welcome relief to the busy summer rush on the waterways. We went for long walks on the beach and sipped cold drinks to stay hydrated. It's too hot to fish so we swam mostly. The water was so clear I could see my shadow on the bottom. As soon as the tide started to come in, so did the fish. The little bait fish roll with the tide in and out. Pretty soon, I was sitting right next to a mullet the size of my arm and said, "What a nice lunch that would be for a snook". Snook season on the west coast of Florida is closed due to the long cold spell last winter. If you gotta have it, head to the east coast.
I hope you had a great weekend.
Well I've had enough of the rain and I'm headed to drier ground. I think. Ah Texas, larger-than-life tales of honor, valor, betrayal, and romance. In my quest to be someplace where the sun is shining, Austin seems like a good idea this weekend. Austin appears to have more nature trails than you can shake a stick at. Then, when the sun sets and the bats fly the live music calls to my heart.
