Sand Castles, Shells and Sharks Teeth

 

We got to the beach just past 9:45 am today, a bit earlier than usual.  It was 74 degrees to start the day, and with the rising sun at a lower angle shadows made interesting photos.  The walk along the water was comfortable.  We opted not to swim, and from where the access path meets the beach going along the shore and back we covered over a mile in total.

Someone had built a sand castle which was at risk from the rising tide, but it was realistically rendered in the sand and looked lovely illuminated by the early morning light.

Along the way, we talked briefly with someone fishing with his family who informed us that today's catch was good.  He named several fish including a shark (the small, harmless variety he claimed) that he'd already hooked.  It was a family affair that included his parents and a brother.  There were several others fishing along the way and presumably they were all having some luck.

Further down, we visited with a lady who was visiting from Kentucky with her two children.  They are here for three days to hunt for sharks teeth.  On the way back we met another couple, and stopped to admire a large, black, fossilized shark's tooth he wore around his neck.  He had purchased it in Key West for $100, but his wife claimed she had found one just like it right there on the beach where we stood.  She doesn't wear hers for fear of losing it.  Perhaps she's looking for another so she can wear one without the fear of losing it.

I can't seem to walk the beach without picking up shells.  It's going to have to come under some sort of limitation as I will have a drawer full of them if I don't control myself.  Others with the same habit will be appreciative of a few more left behind for them as well!  

 
 

We've gone to the beach three times in the last twelve days.  It's an accommodation for the several weeks we won't be able to visit the beach following my second cataract surgery scheduled for this upcoming Thursday, September 24th.  I am so looking forward to having the surgery, and having great vision in both eyes.  The result in my right eye has been nothing short of remarkable, and now I know that there's nothing to fear during the procedure.  

Exploring Venice Beach

Though not consisting of sand as white as that found at the beach in Sarasota, the Venice Beach offers water just as clear blue, fairly level walking at the water's edge, and an easy transition into water deep enough for swimming.  This location is noted as well for black, fossilized shark's teeth that can be found along its shoreline that we hope to find eventually.  

There's a long pier for walking and fishing in one portion of the lengthy beach which we have not ventured onto yet.  South of the pier is an area where people are allowed to bring their dogs.  The dogs seem to enjoy the sand and surf as much as their masters.

Further down the beach, planes land at a nearby airport that is surrounded by a golf course.  Planes drop over the beach just above the sunbathers and swimmers, to land just beyond the dune line.  None of this activity seems to bother the seabirds strolling along the water's edge, nor the pelicans cruising just above the water in groups of as many as a dozen at times.  

   

Collecting seashells is hard to resist every time we walk the beach.  Today I picked up tiny ones in a wide variety of colors as we spent about an hour walking and then swimming before returning to our car.  Conveniently there are showers to rinse off the sand and salt water before driving home in the car.  We've found good places for breakfast nearby after both of our trips to this beach which is an added bonus.  It's a great way all around to start our day. 

 

Big Leaf Maple Leaves in Fall

Last Fall when we were living in the woods in Sedro Woolley surrounded by "big leaf maple trees", I retrieved one of their fallen leaves.  Tracing its edges onto watercolor paper, I was able to reproduce its exact shape and size.  These maple trees live up to their name producing huge leaves that measure up to as much as 8 inches by 9.5 inches!  

During the past few days I decided to finally paint the leaf.  I portrayed it as if it was sitting at the edge of a stream with one of its mates.  True to its life size, I also mimicked the soft yellow color the leaves acquire as the season changes, and added a bit of orange as an accent. The painting was a fun challenge, and here you see the results.  I'll probably make some cards from the image as I like to do.

As an aside, these maple trees are sought after for the prized maple syrup that can be made from their sap.  For me with this painting, I'll always remember the pleasure of living among the maples and the wonder of their leaves floating down in spirals across the yard during the cooler days of Fall in the Pacific Northwest.  

Texas BBQ Found and Loved in Florida

 

Once you've been to Texas and tasted BBQ brisket or BBQ pulled pork, you know what qualifies as exceptional BBQ.  We found a place here in Florida yesterday that matches the best barbecued food we've ever experienced anywhere, even in Texas. 

After a trip out to the beach area of Englewood, we found a little restaurant called "Texas Best Barbecue" that really delivered a real Texas experience from delicious food to superb service.  We opted for their "Texan Tator" which consists of the largest baked russet potato you can imagine smothered with sour cream, butter, melted cheese, and pulled pork or chopped brisket.  We opted to try both the pulled pork (Jim) and the chopped brisket (Chris) so we could sample both options with an iced tea on the side.  There was no room left over for their Texas Pecan Pie which might be in the cards next time if we opt to split only one "tator".  As it turns out, we each brought home half of our meal, so tonight can be a repeat of yesterday's dinner.  Yummy!!

Texas Best Barbecue has a website if you want to see what they are all about or if you want to find them the next time you are in Florida.  It's worth the trip!

Decorating for Fall

September 1st is my clue to start thinking about Fall.  Of course those who know me, know that means decorations.  Moving gave me the opportunity to significantly decrease my decoration collection, but I brought a few favorites along to grace our new home.  Let the holiday season begin!

 

The front door makes a good place for displaying the wall hanging I made, and it wouldn't be Fall without these glass pumpkins.  They reflected interestingly in the mirrored shelves of our dining room but I eventually moved them to our coffee table with a couple of gold leaves.  I like that better.

 

In the process of unpacking these items, I found a cat mobile we purchased in Bisbee, Arizona.  It's now out on our lanai watching for sunsets and "Al" the alligator.  I also uncovered a teddy bear Jimmy gave me when we first met and a stuffed black poodle toy I cherished finding at a store in Mount Vernon, WA after I lost my own black poodle.  With Snoopy's absence heavy on my heart, it was comforting to hug my toys after finding these in the holiday decoration boxes.  Sometimes you just can't outgrow the little kid that resides in the center of your heart.

 

 

 

Cars and more cars...

 

Recently we've experienced two car shows locally.  The smaller of the two shows was held outside in the parking lot of our nearby Cracker Barrel restaurant.  It was a great reason to go out for an early dinner and then stroll the parking lot thereafter among the cars on display.  A win on both counts!

 

The second show was held inside at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center in Punta Gorda.  Needless to say, air conditioning is a plus this time of year.  There was a lot of money on wheels at this show plus several jazzed up fun cars, some decked out bikes, model diecast cars for sale, and a couple of free toys that we were given at the show to bring home:

    

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Another fun day followed by lunch out at the "Burg'r Bar Where Friends Meet" in Punta Gorda that serves up delicious 14-inch hotdogs, as well as burgers we'll have to try on a later date.  I have to say there's no lack of interesting restaurants to go to in Charlotte County.  I may forget how to cook!

 

 

Exploring Arcadia, Florida and New York Cheesecake

A couple of weeks ago, on Saturday morning, August 8th, we decided to take a mini-roadtrip.  About thirty minutes northeast of our home is a historic town called Arcadia which was established in 1886.  We had seen road signs and knew it wasn't too far a drive to see the town.

The road to Arcadia travels past horse and cow pastures plus ranches with gated entries and long driveways that often lead up to large homes.  A citrus grove is tucked in here and there as well.  Eventually the road crosses a narrower portion of the Peace River winding its way along the edge of Arcadia as it meanders southwesterly toward Punta Gorda and the Gulf of America.

Many of the original buildings still stand in Arcadia's downtown area and along nearby residential streets.  The imposing Desoto County Court House built in the Classical Revival Style during 1912 to 1913 stands majestically in town amid oak trees on the appropriately named East Oak Street.  It feels like the entire town is under road construction as we criss-cross the town's residential streets near the court house.  Passing older tin-roofed homes along the way, the historic, frontier settlement nature of the town is evident everywhere.  Arcadia's original growth stemmed from it being an original river landing for shipping goods, running cattle, and moving freight and cut timber along the Peace River.  Real growth came when the railroad arrived in 1886.

Today, there's a converted railroad depot serving as office space.  Mostly antique and thrift stores fill the buildings along the town's original main street, with a hotel flanking a park at one end of the historic district.  The park, called the "Tree of Knowledge Park" has a focal point of an oak tree planted in 1938, which will be one hundred years old in 2027.   It is an interesting place to visit on a lazy Saturday morning for a view of old time Florida.  We'll likely return next year when the road work is projected to be completed and see what the town is like when driving around it should be easier.  We're told there is a worthwhile Farmer's Market to experience there as well, but not until the weather is not quite so hot.  

Thereafter, we drove back to Port Charlotte for lunch at a New York style deli near home called Brentwood Eats.  It was a delicious ending to our drive with a Hero Sandwich that we divided between us, saving room for a piece of New York cheesecake.  Yes, the cheesecake was authentic, decadent, and worth every calorie.