Perhaps a better pelican shot --- came across this one the other night in the photos I hadn't yet downloaded!
Yours, soaring,
N.
Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts
Thursday, August 30, 2007
A better pelican shot
Perhaps a better pelican shot --- came across this one the other night in the photos I hadn't yet downloaded!
Yours, soaring,
N.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Editing the photos
Since we went on holiday with friends, and we each took cameras, there was a natural need to get together again afterwards. To review photos, of course.
This evening we went over to their house for dinner (an amazingly delicious dish of sesame crusted marinated wild salmon, with brown rice, roasted broccoli and a salad. And along the way, spent a lot of time sorting through hundreds of photos, deciding on which photos they wanted to upload to the company we use to print our pictures.
It was really interesting to see which ones they chose -- some were obvious, but at the same time, there were ones I knew they'd pick, and they didn't --- and others that I was really surprised that they wanted.
On the down side, after seeing the photographs at the beach, they had both decided to go on a low carb diet -- so the bread that I took over for dinner was unwanted, as was the wine.... a good thing that I hadn't made a cold sesame noodle dish too!
Oh well. Slim pickings.
Yours, not a skinny chef,
N.
This evening we went over to their house for dinner (an amazingly delicious dish of sesame crusted marinated wild salmon, with brown rice, roasted broccoli and a salad. And along the way, spent a lot of time sorting through hundreds of photos, deciding on which photos they wanted to upload to the company we use to print our pictures.
It was really interesting to see which ones they chose -- some were obvious, but at the same time, there were ones I knew they'd pick, and they didn't --- and others that I was really surprised that they wanted.
On the down side, after seeing the photographs at the beach, they had both decided to go on a low carb diet -- so the bread that I took over for dinner was unwanted, as was the wine.... a good thing that I hadn't made a cold sesame noodle dish too!
Oh well. Slim pickings.
Yours, not a skinny chef,
N.
Fauna IV (if they bite you)
About 5 or 10 miles from the beach is a wonderful little serpentarium (surely that should be herpetarium? but perhaps that would be less understandable to people) which we visited last year: it was a wonderful find: not cheap, at around $10 per adult (yes, I know, big city prices, blah blah blah, but this is not big city, and the aquarium is only $14 for an adult: and it is much bigger than the snake museum): anyway, last year when we went there with LOML's parents, we had a wonderful time: they have a display of snakes inside: outside they have snake handler give a 20-30 minute presentation: they feed alligators: they have a lot of wonderful turtles" and they really feel like they care. Oh, and a really nice, reasonably priced gift shop.
The downside? Skibo fell asleep on my shoulder during the snake handler's presentation, and stayed that way for ages. So I got to sit there holding him while everyone else went off to look at snakes and turtles and gators, oh my!
Still, at least I'd seen it last year.
Yours, hiss,
N.
The downside? Skibo fell asleep on my shoulder during the snake handler's presentation, and stayed that way for ages. So I got to sit there holding him while everyone else went off to look at snakes and turtles and gators, oh my!
Still, at least I'd seen it last year.
Yours, hiss,
N.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Another beach photo
But I promise that there won't be a lot more. I won't inflict more that too too too many on you, I promise (especially those of you who are a lot more than 5 hours from a beach:-)
Anyway, here are Boo and Skibo being hoisted into the air: I think that they were having fun.....
Yours, still on the beach, if only in my mind,
N.
I did pretty well!
Not to brag or anything, but I posted a list of the things that I wanted to do at the beach, and without even trying, I think that it pretty much summed up exactly what I ended up doing! I even managed to finish a book (and the rate I've been reading for the past two years, finishing two books in a one month period is a pretty mammoth achievement for me!)
Yours, in retrospect,
N.
Yours, in retrospect,
N.
Fauna III
Or the "In the Tank" edition.
On thursday we went to the aquarium: it is a pretty nice one, and our state zoo membership gets us half price admission. Oh, and Skibo is absolutely nuts about divers, so the deep sea tank is a huge draw.
After a fair drive (it's over an hour from the beach house to the aquarium, and since I had thought it was less, every minute over the 45 I was expecting felt like an extra hour), and a very pleasant five minute walk from the multi-storey car park across the green space (which turned into a twenty minute race about by the kids, which was wonderful:-) we started our tour.
At the moment, the city has Turtles on the Town: displays of turtle-inspired artwork all over town: other than the fact that the children were not allowed to climb on them they immediately brought lots of little-one joy. And we adults liked them too...
Inside the building, we took the standard route through, starting with the river otters (who were unfortunately asleep in the heat, rather than frolicking as they usually do) -- and it quickly became apparent that the time of day was near when the sprogs would need a mid-morning snack: and so we broke out of tour mode, headed down to the cafe (for perhaps the worst coffee I've had this year!), and then, realising the time, went to the deep sea tank. They have a show every morning in which there are several divers in the tank feeding various of the fish inside (not the sharks: they don't want to get them associating divers with food!)
We found a good side spot to watch the divers rather than the young lady running the presentation that went with it: and a diver saw us, beaconed Skibo over, waved to him, and made it clear that he was setting up so that we could take a picture of him and Skibo (and subsequently Boo too) together. It was quite magical, and made the morning's experience for all of us, and especially for Skibo!
The rest of the aquarium visit was good, with some lovely encounters, for example with real turtles,
jelly fish, crabs, carnivorous plants, tropical fish etc. But nothing could compare to the tank and the diver.
Yours, gratefully,
N.
On thursday we went to the aquarium: it is a pretty nice one, and our state zoo membership gets us half price admission. Oh, and Skibo is absolutely nuts about divers, so the deep sea tank is a huge draw.
After a fair drive (it's over an hour from the beach house to the aquarium, and since I had thought it was less, every minute over the 45 I was expecting felt like an extra hour), and a very pleasant five minute walk from the multi-storey car park across the green space (which turned into a twenty minute race about by the kids, which was wonderful:-) we started our tour.
At the moment, the city has Turtles on the Town: displays of turtle-inspired artwork all over town: other than the fact that the children were not allowed to climb on them they immediately brought lots of little-one joy. And we adults liked them too...
Inside the building, we took the standard route through, starting with the river otters (who were unfortunately asleep in the heat, rather than frolicking as they usually do) -- and it quickly became apparent that the time of day was near when the sprogs would need a mid-morning snack: and so we broke out of tour mode, headed down to the cafe (for perhaps the worst coffee I've had this year!), and then, realising the time, went to the deep sea tank. They have a show every morning in which there are several divers in the tank feeding various of the fish inside (not the sharks: they don't want to get them associating divers with food!)
We found a good side spot to watch the divers rather than the young lady running the presentation that went with it: and a diver saw us, beaconed Skibo over, waved to him, and made it clear that he was setting up so that we could take a picture of him and Skibo (and subsequently Boo too) together. It was quite magical, and made the morning's experience for all of us, and especially for Skibo!
The rest of the aquarium visit was good, with some lovely encounters, for example with real turtles,
jelly fish, crabs, carnivorous plants, tropical fish etc. But nothing could compare to the tank and the diver.
Yours, gratefully,
N.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Fauna II
As we drove up to the beach on Sunday evening, I was surprised to see a pelican. Surprised not because there was any reason to expect them not to be there, just that I had not noticed them the other three times we'd visited that beach. Mind you, those trips had been in February, May and October, so perhaps there were fewer of them there then. Or none!
Anyway, this lone solitary pelican glided silently overhead, and it was as if he or she was beaconing us further, come to the beach, explore!
Throughout the week, we saw more and more pelicans: rarely one by itself: usually a string of pelicans waving through the sky like a child's skipping rope, weaving from side to side, almost as if there was a physical connection from one bird to the next, and someone vibrating the one at the front! Quite magical!
The image above was taken, I believe, on the Monday evening, the same night as the sunset photos: I looked later in the week for an opportunity to photograph one against a blue sky, but the opportunity never arose -- I was too busy in the water with two little children most of the time!
Yours, in an Ogden-Nash-like twitter,
N.
Playing in the sand.
Is there anything more fun at the beach than playing in the sand? Boo, in the white shirt, and Skibo in the blue, both loved learning about making sandcastles. Last year when we went they didn't seem to get the ideas behind them -- this time, they did. It's amazing watching little brains click into gear, get an idea and run with it. And it is especially fascinating to have two small people, 21 months apart, and be able to see the differences in what they get and what they don't (and when they get it)! As with all children they have different abilities and interests and learning rates: Boo spoke much earlier than Skibo: on the other hand, there are many things he seems to be picking up (perhaps from her) much earlier than she did.
Yours, just watching,
N.
Other food at the beach
But N, I hear you ask, (did I not?) (I didn't?) (okay, well I'm going to pretend you did ask, tell you the question, and then answer it) "didn't you eat anything other than bread at the beach?"
Yes we did! And at least one of the meals is worth mentioning, especially for the sake of those who haven't spent much time in the south east US.
The coastal southeast has a specialty that it calls a "low country boil": it typically consists of local produce, thrown in a big pot of water+, cooked, and eaten, sort of like a quick stew. And in our case, it was pretty good. Good enough we made it twice, especially because the fresh shrimp were amazing. All quantities are adjustable, so what I did was to ask: how many people? how much shrimp will they eat, how much corn, etc.
Low Country Boil
Shrimp: at least large, if not extra large or jumbo: ours were probably about a 20-25 count, that is 20-25 per pound.
Kielbasa or smoked sausage
Corn (on the cob)
Carrots
Potatoes
Beer/water
Old Bay seasoning mix*
The cooking method is incredibly easy: prep work takes a little time because of the shrimp (prawns in UK lingo): peel and devein the shrimp. Cut the sausage into 1-2 inch pieces. Dice the potatoes and carrots into 1-2 inch pieces. Cut the ears of corn into 2-3 inch lengths.
Saute the pieces of sausage for a few minutes in a large pot: this will help bring out some flavour. Add the potatoes, carrots and enough water and beer to cover (make sure that there is enough that the corn will fit in later too), and a good amount of the seasoning blend. For four adults, we used about 1/4 cup.
Bring to a boil, and simmer for 20 minutes or so until the potatoes and carrots are tender. Add the corn, and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the shrimp, and cook for two more minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and cooked.
Serve with freshly baked crusty bread: just spoon out some of everything into a bowl, eat with a fork or spoon, and sop up the juice with the bread.
Yours, bubbling away,
N.
Old Bay seasoning mix contains a bunch of spices and herbs like ground bay leaves, paprika, pepper, red pepper, mustard etc. You could probably try recreating it from the ingredients listed at the above web site.
Yes we did! And at least one of the meals is worth mentioning, especially for the sake of those who haven't spent much time in the south east US.
The coastal southeast has a specialty that it calls a "low country boil": it typically consists of local produce, thrown in a big pot of water+, cooked, and eaten, sort of like a quick stew. And in our case, it was pretty good. Good enough we made it twice, especially because the fresh shrimp were amazing. All quantities are adjustable, so what I did was to ask: how many people? how much shrimp will they eat, how much corn, etc.
Low Country Boil
Shrimp: at least large, if not extra large or jumbo: ours were probably about a 20-25 count, that is 20-25 per pound.
Kielbasa or smoked sausage
Corn (on the cob)
Carrots
Potatoes
Beer/water
Old Bay seasoning mix*
The cooking method is incredibly easy: prep work takes a little time because of the shrimp (prawns in UK lingo): peel and devein the shrimp. Cut the sausage into 1-2 inch pieces. Dice the potatoes and carrots into 1-2 inch pieces. Cut the ears of corn into 2-3 inch lengths.
Saute the pieces of sausage for a few minutes in a large pot: this will help bring out some flavour. Add the potatoes, carrots and enough water and beer to cover (make sure that there is enough that the corn will fit in later too), and a good amount of the seasoning blend. For four adults, we used about 1/4 cup.
Bring to a boil, and simmer for 20 minutes or so until the potatoes and carrots are tender. Add the corn, and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the shrimp, and cook for two more minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and cooked.
Serve with freshly baked crusty bread: just spoon out some of everything into a bowl, eat with a fork or spoon, and sop up the juice with the bread.
Yours, bubbling away,
N.
Old Bay seasoning mix contains a bunch of spices and herbs like ground bay leaves, paprika, pepper, red pepper, mustard etc. You could probably try recreating it from the ingredients listed at the above web site.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Fauna I
I love the beach, and not least for the opportunity it affords to observe, if not interact with, the things that live there.
There are two beach areas on the island: we stayed at the Atlantic Ocean beach side of the island, and in the mornings for high tide went to the Sound side, and in the afternoons swam on the low-tide Atlantic beach. The reason for this is that the Sound side beach is very muddy at low tide, and the beach is much steeper and the currents are stronger and more dangerous on the Atlantic side at high tide.
The Sound is known for its dolphins: every time we have gone we have seen scores of them: and this trip was no different. Unfortunately it is a rather tricky feat to photograph them, and our camera setup is not really up to the task. You can see a closeup from a couple of attempts from last year here. I haven't found any good shots from last week yet (but I haven't done a thorough job of going through all several hundred photographs either!). It is really thrilling to be swimming with my little ones, and to look over my shoulder and see a dolphin surface less than 20 yards away: they never came much closer than that (and I'd probably have been a little bit nervous had they done so!) but that was thrilling. No other word for it.
Boo and Skibo were thrilled too -- at first. By Friday, Boo's response was one of "They're just dolphins. So what??" I am pretty sure this was largely because she was in a snit about something or other.... and I hope she recovers her sense of wonder again soon:-) I think I need to find some old episodes of Flipper for her to watch!
Yours, by the Sound of it,
N.
There are two beach areas on the island: we stayed at the Atlantic Ocean beach side of the island, and in the mornings for high tide went to the Sound side, and in the afternoons swam on the low-tide Atlantic beach. The reason for this is that the Sound side beach is very muddy at low tide, and the beach is much steeper and the currents are stronger and more dangerous on the Atlantic side at high tide.
The Sound is known for its dolphins: every time we have gone we have seen scores of them: and this trip was no different. Unfortunately it is a rather tricky feat to photograph them, and our camera setup is not really up to the task. You can see a closeup from a couple of attempts from last year here. I haven't found any good shots from last week yet (but I haven't done a thorough job of going through all several hundred photographs either!). It is really thrilling to be swimming with my little ones, and to look over my shoulder and see a dolphin surface less than 20 yards away: they never came much closer than that (and I'd probably have been a little bit nervous had they done so!) but that was thrilling. No other word for it.
Boo and Skibo were thrilled too -- at first. By Friday, Boo's response was one of "They're just dolphins. So what??" I am pretty sure this was largely because she was in a snit about something or other.... and I hope she recovers her sense of wonder again soon:-) I think I need to find some old episodes of Flipper for her to watch!
Yours, by the Sound of it,
N.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Sunsets
When we arrived at the beach on Sunday, it was just 8 o'clock, but we needed to go to the grocery store to get supplies for a late supper and whisk the children off to bed. So I experienced the sunset standing watching the red sky behind the grocery store: hardly the image I wanted.
After a most unpleasant dinner (ruined by the corn on the cob that we bought at a fruit and vegetable stand on the road, which was immensely disappointing, and by pork chops from the grocery, which were amongst the worst I've had a in a long time) (still, subsequent meals were better, about which more later) we put the children to sleep, and LOML and I settled down to read for a little before hitting the beds ourselves.
Monday we made an especial effort to be done with dinner by about 7:15 so that we could get shoes on children and get out to see the sun set --- the best views were a 10 - 15 minute walk down the beach from our house --- and managed to do exactly that.
Unfortunately timing conspired against us, and we didn't get to see another sunset: it was more important to still be swimming when 6:30 or 7:00 rolled around than to see yet another sunset: still, I think that we got some half-way decent shots.
Yours, setting,
N.
After a most unpleasant dinner (ruined by the corn on the cob that we bought at a fruit and vegetable stand on the road, which was immensely disappointing, and by pork chops from the grocery, which were amongst the worst I've had a in a long time) (still, subsequent meals were better, about which more later) we put the children to sleep, and LOML and I settled down to read for a little before hitting the beds ourselves.
Monday we made an especial effort to be done with dinner by about 7:15 so that we could get shoes on children and get out to see the sun set --- the best views were a 10 - 15 minute walk down the beach from our house --- and managed to do exactly that.
Unfortunately timing conspired against us, and we didn't get to see another sunset: it was more important to still be swimming when 6:30 or 7:00 rolled around than to see yet another sunset: still, I think that we got some half-way decent shots.
Yours, setting,
N.
Flying kites on the beach
Flying kites on the beach, on Tuesday morning. The wind was high, but not turbulently so, so the kites would stay airborne. There were some unpleasant minutes early on with a very unstable kite, and its effect on a subsequently very unstable Boo, but finally we got her kite high in the sky and she happily flew it, Poppinesque, for half an hour.
Do you get that I like pictures of objects against a blue sky background?
Yours, stringing you on,
N.
One of my favourite sights when I get to the beach
One of my favourite sights, one of the ones that tell me that, yes, we are finally at the beach, and it is time to unwind, is the sea oats. Something about the insouciant way they toss in the wind, or sway in a gentle breeze, and the fact that we are urged to cherish them, makes me know that I am there.
And today, it brings back the memory: I can smell the sea, taste the salt in my mind.
Yours, in reverie,
N.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Where to start?
There are so many stories of the vacation that it is hard to know where to start. And so, rather than starting at the beginning, the middle or the end, I'll take my cue from my blog, and talk about the bread.
The plan was that I would make bread with the children the whole week. This plan, while well thought out, had three fatal flaws. First, the space in the kitchen in the beach house, while fine for one person in the kitchen, left much to be desired for four or five, and there was only one chair suitable for a sprog to stand up on. Second, the sprogs, for most of the time, were either much more interested in the beach, or were already exhausted by the time that breadmaking came around. And lastly, the schedule of breadmaking was so soothing to my soul, so relaxing for me personally, that I was loathe to share it with the children!
Truth be told, I did spend several hours the first day after we got there with Boo and Skibo and their friend B, during which they counted quarter cups of flour, water, half-teaspoons of yeast and salt, and took turns mixing the batter then the dough at great length, so that we could have bread for the evening.
And it turned out great.
The next day, I started in on the cunning plan -- I would not tell anyone, but I was going to keep using old dough, and either no yeast or just a little yeast each time, until the bread was basically a sourdough. This went on, Tuesday, Wednesday, until Thursday evening I started a batch for Friday morning: B's uncle and six-year old cousin had flown in from Houston the previous evening, and courtesy of TS Erin they had arrived about 13 hours late --- and I thought that good bread baking the next morning might take the edge of the beginnings of a much-shortened vacation for them. I let the dough rise overnight, and it was perhaps the best bread I have ever made: the crust was crispy, with a crunch, yet chewy, and the insides had the best open crumb I've yet to achieve. This bread comes close to earning me a temporary "extra" to go with the "ordinaire", I think.
I wasn't quite as careful with the batch for Saturday morning, so it came out just really good. Saturday evening I cooked up a regular batch, together with a little yeast in the interest of time, and then made it extra crusty to go with a rather nice little low country boil (shrimp, corn, kielbasa, potatoes, carrots, beer and seasonings) that I just threw together. A beach feast indeed.
Yours, an extra, temporarily,
N.
The plan was that I would make bread with the children the whole week. This plan, while well thought out, had three fatal flaws. First, the space in the kitchen in the beach house, while fine for one person in the kitchen, left much to be desired for four or five, and there was only one chair suitable for a sprog to stand up on. Second, the sprogs, for most of the time, were either much more interested in the beach, or were already exhausted by the time that breadmaking came around. And lastly, the schedule of breadmaking was so soothing to my soul, so relaxing for me personally, that I was loathe to share it with the children!
Truth be told, I did spend several hours the first day after we got there with Boo and Skibo and their friend B, during which they counted quarter cups of flour, water, half-teaspoons of yeast and salt, and took turns mixing the batter then the dough at great length, so that we could have bread for the evening.
And it turned out great.
The next day, I started in on the cunning plan -- I would not tell anyone, but I was going to keep using old dough, and either no yeast or just a little yeast each time, until the bread was basically a sourdough. This went on, Tuesday, Wednesday, until Thursday evening I started a batch for Friday morning: B's uncle and six-year old cousin had flown in from Houston the previous evening, and courtesy of TS Erin they had arrived about 13 hours late --- and I thought that good bread baking the next morning might take the edge of the beginnings of a much-shortened vacation for them. I let the dough rise overnight, and it was perhaps the best bread I have ever made: the crust was crispy, with a crunch, yet chewy, and the insides had the best open crumb I've yet to achieve. This bread comes close to earning me a temporary "extra" to go with the "ordinaire", I think.
I wasn't quite as careful with the batch for Saturday morning, so it came out just really good. Saturday evening I cooked up a regular batch, together with a little yeast in the interest of time, and then made it extra crusty to go with a rather nice little low country boil (shrimp, corn, kielbasa, potatoes, carrots, beer and seasonings) that I just threw together. A beach feast indeed.
Yours, an extra, temporarily,
N.
Returned from the beach
We are back, safe and sound from the beach, and as we get our pictures sorted through, I am planning on posting some, and of course, talking about the wonderful time that we had.
Just to make you all jealous, of course!
Yours, rested and relaxed,
N.
Just to make you all jealous, of course!
Yours, rested and relaxed,
N.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Off soon, on vacation
I'm off to the beach soon: for a much needed vacation, break, holiday, rest,.....
I'll let you fill in the remaining words from your favourite thesaurus!
I doubt that I'll post much until I get back -- net access on this particular island is known to be particularly hard to find, and I must admit I don't intend to look hard.
My best wishes to all my friends while I'm gone: and I will comment with you all when I return on the 20th of August or so.
Yours, disappearing,
N.
I'll let you fill in the remaining words from your favourite thesaurus!
I doubt that I'll post much until I get back -- net access on this particular island is known to be particularly hard to find, and I must admit I don't intend to look hard.
My best wishes to all my friends while I'm gone: and I will comment with you all when I return on the 20th of August or so.
Yours, disappearing,
N.
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