the january days of florida...

We have been enjoying a long string of beautiful days. Blue skies, crisp air - the kind of days that beckon you out into the sunshine. Some days I'm content to be inside with the windows open, letting the breeze billow through, but other days find me needing an outdoor adventure - even for just a few hours.

So we've walked...

  we've zipped...

we've let our hair be tangled by the wind.

One day I even threw caution to the wind and walked the beach in my dress pants. 

And on Monday, after a two day organizing spree, we drove just a few miles north to the strawberry field...

...which led to the sunflower field.

I'm making the most of every beautiful day... the summer heat will be here before we know. it.

The sun will rise and set regardless. 

What we choose to do with the light while it's

here is up to us. Journey wisely.

-Alexandra Elle

 

the blustery, beautiful day... part 2

A little bit of fear bubbled up inside me when she asked if I wanted to walk on the weir. Every time we have kayaked up to it, it was wet. And slimy.  Camden had confirmed the slippery-ness of it when he dragged his kayak over and paddled up the other side.  But I decided that at least we could walk up to it.

Leave it to God to force me out beyond my fear...

We spotted a bird coming in for a tree landing, and I couldn't not wander closer.  Was it an eagle? Or not?  I made the first few steps out onto the weir in all but a tip-toe.  It wasn't wet. And although I could hear, and feel, the water underneath, it wasn't slippery or slimy. We still couldn't be sure of the bird, so we walked out a little more, and then a little further.  By the time we had decided it was a juvenile bald eagle, I had walked beyond my fear, and found a new comfort zone.  And as we navigated the remaining bricks, I was laughing in the joy of it.

I don't know if I even have words for what happened next...

Mom and I decided to make the loop, and walk along the dirt trail, rather than retrace our steps.  It was not an easy trek, the trail rocky and littered with ditches... not to mention the fence we had to climb around because the gate was locked!  And just when I thought the walk might never end, we spotted a red jeep across the water, driving (!) towards the tower path.  Hmmm. Bob. And Camden. We waved and jumped and shouted to no avail.  And we decided that if they were going to the tower, we wanted to go back.

Backtracking seemed like a fine idea... but once we climbed back around the fence, I realized that we had walked a greater distance than I had originally thought.  What if Cam & Bob turned around and headed home without even seeing us?!  I called and texted Camden, but there was no answer... so we picked up the pace and trekked on.  Finally, we spotted them again, and this time, they saw us. We thought they would wait for us, but Bob has a way of being our knight in shining armor (for officially 31 years and three days!)...

I was afraid to walk it, but here he came driving across.  Mom and I were laughing hysterically... and she confessed that he had been wanting to try it for months.  We were still laughing when we wearily climbed into the jeep... thankful for the save.

On our way back over the weir (driving!) I was terrified we'd end up off the side, but Bob got us home, safe and sound.  Cam's thoughts about Grampa driving them over the weir?  Cool. And? There was actually an adult bald eagle just sitting in the eagle tree...

the blustery, beautiful day...

She said she had a surprise for me in her neighborhood. I was anxious to get to her so it would be revealed, because she wouldn't even comment on my ridiculous guesses.  We walked along the water where we usually kayak, and the wind that blew our hair this way and that created waves on the usually-still river.   Our conversation was as constant as the wind.  When she pointed me to the walking trail, we took a tall step over the gate instead of swinging it wide.  We laughed our way down the trail, and she hoped that I would be as excited about the surprise as she was, as she thought I would be...

I squealed, because I am a lover of boardwalks.  I love the way they wind into the woods, to a place that would remain unseen without it, and I am so thankful that I live in a place where people take time to carve out the way.  {this is obviously unfinished!}  When I asked if this was the surprise, she smiled and said only part of it! I couldn't imagine what could be better.  But around the bend, was a tower, climbing into the sky, affording us this view...

We sat, we stood, we gazed and talked some more.  We spotted a hawk and two pileated woodpeckers along with some turkey vultures.  As we wandered back down the trail, we decided to continue down to the weir... and then the adventure took a whole different turn.

to be continued...

some weekend smiles...

Our weekend weather was beyond gorgeous.
Blue skies... really crisp air. My favorite.

I was happy for us, but couldn't help cringing over the weather up north.  My friends are over the snow, and I giggled at one of the titles of the albums posted on Facebook: Pictures that anyone not living here might enjoy.  She typed it in ALL CAPS, and I could hear her frustration across the miles. Yes, I think they have had enough.

kim, i hope you don't mind that i borrowed this!!

While my up north friends were busy being snowed in, some of my local friends were being crazy-brave and rappelling down an 18 story hotel for a fundraiser.  Really.  I was standing there at the bottom, to take pictures, to catch her if she fell!  {I had already volunteered to be on call at 5am if she needed a get-away car!}  And when she arrived at the base, she was smiling and said I want to go again! Sometimes {most times?} stepping out of our comfort zone is the right thing to do.  I was so proud of her, and her husband was beaming.  I love when you can see true love!

look, macie kate! gramma lolly & grampa wally are just fine!

I could not stay in on such a beautiful day, so I called my Mom and we went for a walk.  I took my sweatshirt off, and put it back on. Just when I would decide I was too warm, along came a cool breeze that had me zipping up again. We walked the path, and along the water.  With the beautiful weather we were surprised not to see any wildlife... just some evidence!

And then, yesterday, I finally got my hands on my photos from last weekend!  I am so thankful I thought to hire a high school student to snap some shots. I would never have captured every moment! I'll share the whole day soon, but for now, here is a preview of the JOY!

I hope your Valentine's Day was filled with love and adventure... and maybe chocolate!
This year Eric gave me an orange... and I love it so much, not just for what it is, but the thought behind it!

the january traditions...

I look forward to the day every year, and this day was no different- except that I had been watching the weather all week, and it didn't look good.  All of Friday had me hoping the storm would pass through early, or hold off until after the fun.  Usually I am just in denial, but waking up Saturday morning, there was no denying the sound of rain. A lot of rain. And thunder. We hadn't heard that in months.

Camden headed out early anyway, armed with a jacket, umbrella and a spare pair of shoes.  He likes the rain, doesn't mind getting wet. We followed a couple of hours later, windshield wipers swishing across the glass. By the time we arrived downtown, Cam had found his chalk square, and the rain was just a mist.  We took our place in the not-so-long line, and anticipated hot soup in gorgeous bowls.

And then we were off to Fifth Ave to find Cam and his chalk square... and wander in and around the other works of art that had taken over the pavement.

by cam & friends... using splatter paint to overcome their disappointment of having to paint the logo instead of pandas...

The sun has overcome the rain and clouds, and was shining strong by noon.  We would have enjoyed this day of giving (donations for soup, time for chalk) in the rain if we had to, but everything seems sweeter with the golden rays of the sun!

a good day...

The sun whispered its goodnight hours ago, but I can feel the warm pink remnants of it on my skin. It reminds me that today was a good day. A good day for a lazy paddle under a blue, blue sky, with some of the very best people.

Out and back, and it is always good, even if the wind laughs at our effort and makes us work for the fun. Gators laze in the sun, mullet jump in front of us. One, two, three...and four! Better than skipping rocks. A glimpse of pink up ahead changes our right-then-left course. It is a rare and special treat to see a roseate spoonbill and no one wanted to miss the chance.

Cam drags his kayak over the weir, and explores the mangrove stream while we wait for his report. Plenty of head room, no spiders. Maybe next time we'll join him. I capture him in a state of pure relaxation and count my blessings that he has this time to rest. College applications finished, two and a half weeks of Christmas break, and a day without a list of must-dos. He needs this, probably more than I know.

A green heron flies silent up ahead, lights in the grass, takes off again once we near.  A mullet splashes again off to our right, and with a few more strokes of the paddle, we make our way to the dock. Happy. Filled. Content. And unbeknownst to us, just a little bit sunburnt.