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Thank you all for your patience and patronage. I’m quite happy with the simplicity of this blog and it’s usability. Expect aesthetic changes more often now that I feel more in control! Welcome, comment, or don’t, but whatever you do, pass a smile on to someone else today for me!
xoxox
Yesterday I packed our gear and drove down the street to beautiful Hanna Park for an impromptu week of camping. I picked D up from school and brought him “home” and he was thrilled. He has a play date today so I’m going to bring the other cute little bugger to the park with us for some hiking and bike riding. No time yet to post pictures, I’m just in the house gathering a few necessities and checking in on the interweb before I say good-bye for a few days.
Please don’t blog too much while I’m gone. I barely’ve enough time as it is to keep up. ;)
XOXOX
This is probably my favorite day of the year, you know.
In Japan, it’s celebrated as a national holiday, as is the fall equinox. The Chinese have their Spring Festival, also known as the Lunar New Year. The UN celebrates today as Earth Day, although most countries reserve that party for April 22.
Here in North Florida, this weekend, we have the Seafood Festival. It’s the first festival of the year, and around here, that’s some promised good people watchin’. The weather is looking a bit grim, chilly and cloudy due to the current Noreaster blowing. We prefer sunshine and warmth for family outings. But tomorrow morning we’re bundling up for Garden Day at D’s school. Today I went in and helped pull some weeds, but tomorrow we’re all (students and parents) planting several fruit trees. I’m crossing my fingers for their winter survivals!
It’s so exciting, this time of year! The caterpillars are falling out of the trees and they are D’s best buddies. My parents always told me these things would sting me, so I never played with them. Well, it was a LIE! Mom simply rolled her eyes when I told her it was okay, I’d already forgiven her.
And the Wisteria! Pinch me, I’m dreaming! It’s scent is just heavenly, I want to roll around in fields of it!
Thank you sweet Mother Earth!
2009, I’m loving you. I knew I would.
January, you were wonderful. You brought us new Hope, the most welcome feeling of Change I’ve ever personally experienced. I now am proud to be an American like never before.
February, HA! I flew right through your mean coldness. I even got my first sunburn during your reign of notsomuch terror!
March, you sweet little thing. I’ve even enjoyed your few overcast days thanks to a big beautiful aluminum canoe and my friend Megan’s desire to learn the art of fishing. Unfortunately she’s rather SLOW at getting pictures to me (yes Megan, I hope you’re reading this) or I’d have proof of our success out there. It has been a blast! We’ve each caught so many little fish, but she caught dinner last Friday and yesterday I almost had a nice sheepshead in the boat. We gotta work on Meg’s netting skills and I think I need some work on my knotting skills.
This past Sunday Team Arnold loaded up the longboard, the poles, and the little Pookie for a day at the beach. Tell me why children love being covered in sand? I probably enjoyed it as a kid, but now, claustrophobia city is all I see.
Look at Nate! He charged it. It was cold. In the lineup, he was sitting beside a guy in a full suit and booties. 3 waves and in came hubby. Like I said, it was cold.
We got there as the wind had turned onshore, which is no good really for surfing or surf fishing. So we headed back up to Megan’s house for the best damn Piña Coladas (made by her way cool Mom) we’ve ever had. Megan also fixed us up a huge plate of tuna salad, made the way I make mine, with olive oil and veggies in lieu of the typical mayo and relish. She placed that on top of a beautiful tray of mixed greens and topped it with feta cheese.
It didn’t stop there. We hung out by the pool, had some brews, another batch of Coladas, and all of a sudden it was feedin’ time! Marie (Megan’s Mom) insisted we stay for dinner. She had us at “crab stuffed shrimp” no doubt. We feasted! Many thanks to her and Megan!
And thank you, sweet March. I didn’t even completely overdo it on St. Patty’s Day so you’re just getting more and more pleasant. ;)
It’s time. I forget now how long I’ve had this blog but it’s time for a facelift which reflects my own style better. This has become a baby in a sense, and I’m ready for her to look more like her mother.
However. I’ve no idea where to begin. I’ve kept it this way because it’s simple. But I actually would like a couple things like a blogroll, the moon phases. Mostly though, I am in the market for a new design allover. I like simple. This now, while I like the colors, is too busy.
Suggestions, dear internet?
Wednesday, when Nate told me he wanted salad for dinner on Thursday, I calmly picked myself up from the dining room table, went to the bathroom, and grabbed a Q-Tip. After a few swabs in each ear I went and sat back down and repeated my question.
“What would you like for dinner tomorrow night honey?”
“I just told you, salad.”
“That’s it? Salad? I was thinking maybe a little broiled fish too.”
“Nah, just salad.”
“Tofu? D & I adore tofu and we’ve not had it in ages.”
:his face twists up like I shoved a lemon wedge up his nose:
“No, just salad.”
Thursday morning rolled around. It was an absolutely gorgeous day here in North Florida and I’d been dying to go fishing so my girlfriend Megan and I loaded up my little truck, headed to the bait shop across the street, hit the minimart for ice and beer (it’s impossible to fish without beer) and then trotted down to what we call the Little Jetties. I love it there, other than the fact that it’s at the back gate of the Mayport Navy Base and the helicopters are flying overhead constantly. I have a friend who flies them. He texts me occasionally to tell me he’s over our house. I texted him yesterday to find out if he could see us sitting there but he wasn’t working. I told him I thought the Navy was stalking us, he said they most likely were as they could see everything. I was fine with that. I’m 21. I can drink beer and fish on a Thursday if I see fit.
Anywho. I was really looking forward to having some fresh protein with my ginormous salad. It didn’t happen. I did know that we were in the wrong spot on the wrong tide but I also knew we had the right bait and the right patient attitudes. Neither worked, but we did manage some seriously fun girl time (that’s my kinda girl time) and practiced our baiting and casting skills in the process.
The water was beautiful, crystal clear in the morning.
Today’s a bit overcast but we’re headed out earlier for the tide switch and going to the rocks that steal my jigheads and bait but oftentimes land sheepshead, trout and whiting. Mama wants to bring home the proverbial bacon tonight! Actually, Megan just called and we’ve decided to take out the canoe today and play around in the little pockets in the marsh of the Intracoastal.
I have also decided upon a new hobby for myself. I’m going to make wind chimes from the billions of shells just like these all over our beaches. If I wire it, I might start selling them at local festivals. Here’s my first batch of shells… and this chime (once completed) is a gift to the lovely Reya at The Gold Puppy. Isn’t she the lucky lady!? Actually it’s a fabulous tradeoff – I get a copy of some of the best music ever (Taj Mahal live) and she gets some authentic Floridian salty shells. Don’t worry, I’ll post pics of the final product!
Peace, Love, and Happy Freakin’ Friday!
For the most part of my early to mid twenties I worked in a homey, locally owned oyster bar known as Slider’s as a hostess and then server. It was the best job I could have asked for at the time, I surfed all day and slung beer and oysters at night, off at 11pm to hit Pete’s Bar (the oldest bar in Florida and conveniently located right across the street) and up the next morning for classes. Repeat. Four crazy, fun years.
Meanwhile, I was meeting some of the coolest people on Earth. How fortunate they came to my workplace, and how lucky was I that they started this particular local seafood haven!? One of these eclectic individuals is my friend Sam. He’s a real treat to know. You always feel a little more colorful after a conversation with him. Here he is in his home in Bali with his geese, Lucy and Goosey.
Sam was a major force in the creation of Slider’s (which of course I highly recommend if you’re ever in Neptune Beach) and now he is the force behind at least two (that I know of) endeavors out of his current stomping grounds in Bali.
First: (and his most recent creation I believe) Bombastic Plastic. What a remarkable idea. Please take the time to visit and read what it’s all about.
Second: Bali Cargo Company. Not only has Samalam furnished Slider’s with the most beautiful dining tables and chairs but we have a storefront here in Jax Beach too to ogle the handcrafted goods. They have so much beautiful work to offer at incredible prices. I’ve made a habit of buying Christmas ornaments there, they’re just gorgeous. I know my friend Kim is now running the show, and I’m curious how much Sam’s involved but I know he had a hand in it’s inception as well.
Enjoy the goods people. I love stuff.
What a weekend!
We packed up Friday morning, chilled for a while and then headed down to St. Augustine. It’s only an hour away so we figured if gates to the campground opened at 11am we’d likely get a nice site in which to camp.
We were almost wrong.
By the time we rolled up around 2, the place was half filled already. The campground was a couple/few acres of mostly cleared land. There were just enough remaining water oaks and palmettos to snuggle up to for shade, but overall the area was not unlike a war zone, as Nate and I both noted many times throughout. Stroll over to his blog to read the “he said.” It’s a good read and he has pictures there from his phone to help further illustrate the mad fun we charged through. Even though he describes the heck that was getting our gear to the site well, words couldn’t describe what a daunting task it truly was. Ugh.
Beard Guy was a pleasant fellow whom we met as we were walking back from the shows to the site for a midday rest. As we walked past, he politely commented to my husband how lucky he was, what a beautiful wife and family he had. Nate, all swole up with pride, replied, “Well that’s a beautiful beard you have there!” I agreed, and he remarked on how lovely it was to have a sweater on his face.
Some of the people at the Fest were absolute Festheads. They don’t bathe. Period. Or change their clothes. They eat and smoke and drink and recreationally use whatever pharmaceuticals they can get their hands on.
The Solar Cafe was run by some cute little dready hippy chicks and right next door was a jambalaya/pizza stand. Both were delish and a welcome option to firing up our own Coleman stove late at night.
We found our site by it’s section name. Devo. How appropriate since I only this weekend realized how incredibly “back” the eighties are. I saw girls wearing stuff I gave to Goodwill 20 years ago. I wanted to barf; I’ve not seen so much skin-tight black acid wash and generic Keds in my life. Obviously they were not old enough to have experienced such high fashion the first time around and felt the need to relive it. I don’t feel that need. Please leave the eighties in the past. Please.
Daddykins made us our own sign. I realized I’m going to need to fashion a “real” one for future excursions. 
While D was literally one of maybe five children in attendance, it certainly didn’t deter him from having more fun than a barrel of monkeys. We only heard “I’m not really having that much fun” a couple of times. And he was totally lying both times he said it.
My son is such the photographer. He took this and I explained to him fiercely that I did not want him to delete this of me, I like it. It’s the last time he’ll be playing with my camera though. He left this picture, a video of our friend Kellie that is hilarious, and the picture above. Thank God we brought another camera and had Nate’s iPhone for further pictoral documentation, which The Handsome Monster did not get a hold of.
He may or may not admit it. But D rocked out the whole time and loved it.
It was quite the trek going back and forth to the event. And we did it a couple/few times a day. Kudos to D for only having to be carried twice a very short way.
Headed in! Obviously this was before my shoulders were black from sun and filth.
Above mentioned friend Kellie watching her husband Bo’s band, Onslaught Dynamo. We were so stoked they were there. As a performing artist, Bo had the option for he and Kellie to stay in the volunteer/artist campground. But they came over Saturday night and camped with us in the dirt hole! We had such a great time recounting the day’s festivities with one another.
Bo had the best dreads at the whole event. And THAT, my friend, is saying A LOT.
I don’t know any of the other band members, but here are a couple of shots. Nate’s a great photog don’t you think? I tweaked the colors but his composition is getting really good.
Daddy’s Dirty Feet and D’s Delicious Dog (he ate at least 2 corndogs a day)
The swings were by far the best ride for either of us. I only rode once however. Spinning around that much after having a couple of beers isn’t really fun. D rode them five times, at least.
He thought he wanted to go on this with me. I thought I wanted to go on this. It was a bad idea. I had to scream (as my nearly not-intact head flew by) to let us off early. I loved that thing when I was little, I guess I’m not as hardcore as I was at 12.
Self-explanatory, isn’t he? No? You’re on your own, I have no idea either. He enjoyed yelling at the lovely ladies and pointing out the people that were staring at him.
Free Shade! Sweet little hippies. Gotta love ‘em.
On the way back “home” for a rest. Tired kiddo. Thirsty Mommy!
Ah…. home.
This is the only shot I have of many, many instances of this. D would rock out right on time and he had women all over going gaga at his cuteness. The best was for MURS though. Which reminds me, I’ve hardly recounted my favorite band memories.
MURS was my unexpected favorite. I was unaware of him previously, and what an introduction! D, again, was the only kid in the crowd and we got up close. Nate got some really good shots which he posted already.
Bad Brains and Girl Talk were my Top Two to see, and both blew my expectations away. I had a great shot of Girl Talk, but the offspring so considerately deleted it as to save space. If you’re unfamiliar, and you like to be inspired by new creations of not-so-new music, check this DJ out, you won’t be disappointed. Our site was super close to the 2nd stage so we were fortunate enough to hear KRS-One and Kool Keith and Keith Murray while we were sitting around drinking and eating in our comfy chairs.
Wow. What a weekend. More pics to come. I hope I’ve at least slightly given you a peek at the immense amount of fun we had!
…especially when you know Harvest of Hope is this weekend and you get to camp with your two favorite boys in the world!
Another beautiful day on the First Coast. Team Stewart joined us this weekend in an outing full of fun to the Poles.
My Granny (Dad’s mom) made that quilt I’m sitting on. It’s one of my favorites ever. We also use it as our tree skirt on Christmas. I didn’t notice the feather in front of me till I saw the picture here.
Wanting to make a sand angel sans paparazzi please.
The boys had a great time fighting the wind playing Cornhole.
The lovely Abigail and Elaina
Lorna thoroughly enjoying being buried.
And finally, here it is almost 9am on a Sunday and he’s still sleeping. Amazing. Precious. Sweet little cheeks.
