Tenth Street Walk Out Atlantic Beach, FL – September 6, 2021Sand Art Atlantic Beach, FL – September 6, 2021Choppy Waves Atlantic Beach, FL – September 8, 2021King Tide Season Begins Atlantic Beach, FL – September 9, 2021It’s A Hell Of A Day At Sea, Sir Atlantic Beach, FL – September 9, 2021Passing Storms Atlantic Beach, FL – September 10, 2021Pink Skies At Night Atlantic Beach, FL – September 10, 2021Bloom Where You’re Planted, Tenth Street Walkout Atlantic Beach, FL – September 12, 2021
In The Gardens:
Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – September 7, 2021Honey Nut Squash Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – September 7, 2021Orange Bell Peppers Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – September 8, 2021Honey Nut Squash Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – September 8, 2021Gateway Greens Moistenland Hydroponic Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – September 9, 2021Snowball Cauliflower Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – September 11, 2021 Guitar Case Greens, Honey Nut Squash, Red Bell Pepper, Celery, San Marzano Tomato Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – September 11, 2021Eggplant Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – September 12, 2021Gatherer’s Gold Pepper, Orange Bell Pepper, San Marzano Tomatoes, Bumblebee Tomatoes Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – September 12, 2021Orange Bell Pepper Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – September 12, 2021Honey Nut Squash, Guitar Case Greens Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – September 12, 2021
On The Streets Where I Live:
Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – September 6, 2021Palm Avenue Atlantic Beach, FL – September 6, 2021West Third Street Atlantic Beach, FL – September 9, 2021
Parks and Recreation:
Tideview Preserve Atlantic Beach, FL – September 7, 2021Spanish Pond Trail, Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve Jacksonville, FL – September 11, 2021Spanish Pond Trail, Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve Jacksonville, FL – September 11, 2021Lake Loop Trail Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens Jacksonville, FL – September 12, 2021
Codee Cam:
Snuggle Bug Close Up Codee, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – September 8, 2021Watching The Waves Atlantic Beach, FL – September 9, 2021 The Ripple Effect Atlantic Beach, FL – September 11, 2021
On The Plates:
Roasted Cabbage, Sweet Onion, Golden Beet, and Chicken BreastPotato Cabbage Chicken Salad, Sugar Snap Peas, Gatherer’s Gold Sweet Pepper
Tideview Preserve Atlantic Beach, FL – August 27, 2021
You might think that after five hundred and thirty days of hanging out here in Atlantic Beach, I would be getting bored of some of my favorite places. Maybe it’s that the tide and the storms bring natural variation every day or maybe it’s that I split my focus between the view and the little dude or maybe it’s that I am hardwired to do the same show eight times a week. Whatever the reason, I can say that I am not the least bit bored with the views at Tideview and I hope you aren’t either.
Fishing For Lunch, Tideview Preserve Atlantic Beach, FL – August 27, 2021Codee, Tideview Preserve Atlantic Beach, FL – August 27, 2021
In The Gardens:
San Marzano Tomatoes and Honey Nut Squash, Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden Atlantic Beach, FL – August 27, 2021
Who else has had the pleasure of the honey nut squash on their plate? They can be tricky to find, but the small squashes were bred for a chef that was looking for a butternut squash with more flavor and less size….So, basically a honey nut squash is a concentrated butternut squash and they are super delicious and really adorable. You know, if you’re into that sort of “vegetables can be cute” thing like I am. I bought a packet of seeds last year and have had some limited success growing them on the balcony, but as I mention often, I grow things more for the entertainment than the yield…at the moment. Honey nut squash produce these bright, shiny blossoms that make me smile even if they never become squash. As a side note, I can’t get any variety of squash to survive in the garden, but I do have a few peppers holding on.
Gatherer’s Gold Peppers Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – August 27, 2021Codee Enjoying an Unexpected Snack Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – August 27, 2021
On The Streets Where I Live:
High Flamingos, First Street Neptune Beach, FL – August 27, 2021
Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach share a town line and they are similar in a lot of ways, but there is a little more of the funky beach vibe in Neptune. This particular little patch of front yard is probably my favorite along First Street. The owner is quite an artist about using recycled materials to scatter some fun into native plants beds. They also have wildflowers for the pollinators and a couple of other cute sculptures.
Recycled Flower, First Street Neptune Beach, FL – August 27, 2021Neptune Flower, First Street Neptune Beach, FL – August 27, 2021
Sweating It Out:
I love a quick walk down First Street. It’s a straight shot and there are so many people out running, walking, biking, and roller blading to help move you along. On the way back, a very pleasant older gentleman on a bike remarked, “Now THAT’S what I call a power walk!” While it was a bit startling, his encouragement was nice and reminded me that I hope to hear that same phrase during a load out again soon enough.
On The Plates:
Chicken twice in one day? Almost unheard of for me. 😉 Both meals were really yummy and pretty filling, though. Supper included Applegate Organics Chicken and Apple Sausage, spaghetti squash, roasted cauliflower and orange pepper, basil, olive oil, nutritional yeast and a dash of crushed red pepper. Dinner was shredded chicken breast with roasted eggplant, onion, and grape tomatoes. I threw a couple of over grown arugula leaves that I had on the balcony in there for a little brightness. To round it out and up my fat intake, I had a couple of servings of raw cashews. I also had an apple because I love a little sweet at the end of my day.
Cronometer:
Perfectly on that razor’s edge of the calorie goal for the day….Just the way I like it.
Garmin Says:
Stay safe and moving, y’all!
PS.
Sweet Dreams, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – August 27, 2021
Keeping Guard at Town Center Atlantic Beach/Neptune Beach, FL – August 26, 2021
There were some rough seas this morning and not many people were braving the water, but our lifeguards were looking out just the same. Remarkably enough, I have not braved the water above my knees this summer, but I come to the beach almost everyday and it’s one of the places that I will miss the most when my time off comes to an end. I just keep reminding myself that I bought my condo and that it will all be here waiting….fingers crossed, of course.
Atlantic Beach, FL – August 26, 2021
In The Gardens:
Team Beautification, Beach Blvd Atlantic Beach, FL – August 26, 2021Dreary Day Sunshine, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – August 26, 2021
Back To The Beach:
Atlantic Beach FL – August 26, 2021
There was a break in the storms that made for a beautiful evening stroll and a little “bird” watching. I know it sounds a little like something an 8 year old boy would say, but I think that helicopters are so cool. We get a fair amount of air traffic over our beach because there is a Navy base 3.5 miles up from my place.
Atlantic Beach FL – August 26, 2021Atlantic Beach FL – August 26, 2021
Sweating It Out:
I had pretty mixed emotions about my cardio goal when I first set it. First, I thought it was too easy. Then, I was concerned that it was going to be too hard, but I think I hit it right on. The freedom of pace makes it not an overwhelming daily task and I think that I have found an awesome rhythm this week. I used to be so concerned with pace and distance. Right now, I am concerned with consistency, fun, and a feeling of accomplishment. Plus, it’s a truly great way to spend a rainy hour.
What I Watched:
I wouldn’t say that I am a fan of her music, mostly, because, well…I just never really listened to it. BUT….I am a big fan of hers. What is there not to love about a business woman, positive role model, and artist. I really enjoyed watching some of the story of her rise in the industry. I hate how right she can be about the perceived length of time that the American public will tolerate a woman being successful, but I hope that she sticks around for a few more decades. It turns out, she’s also a great storyteller.
On The Plates:
I don’t think that I have had this green drink consistency before. I am thinking about mixing it up once tour starts again and trying Athletic Greens. I don’t usually consume things with stevia because I have read some conflicting reports…surprise, surprise, right?…But convenience might win out a bit more on this upcoming tour. Drop me a line if you are an Athletic Greens supporter. I would love to hear your opinion of the product. Goodness knows that I hear all my favorite podcast hosts rave about it. Anyway, for the first food food meal of the day, I had chicken breast with roasted cauliflower, eggplant, and grape tomatoes. I also had a few extra herby bits kicking around, so there is a bit of basil and parsley in there as well.
See? Sometimes, I want to shout, “I eat things out of a package!!” 🙂 I’m just kidding, but it does happen. It’s a complicated food system out there, but I do think that a few companies are really trying to put out quality products. I really like the Applegate Organics Chicken and Apple Sausage. The chickens are raised in a certified humane way and the majority of the ingredients are organic which is about as good as it gets, barring knowing the farmer, of course. Plus, they are fully cooked and tasty. Tonight, I had one sliced into some coconut milk buckwheat and green beans. Less than 15 minutes to the bowl!
Okay, I’m going to keep working on it, but I have always had a difficult time getting these to photograph as delightfully as they taste. I pretty much end every night with a version of one, though, so…there you have it. I’m trying to get into this single ingredient pea protein that I bought and, it turns out that blending it with banana, strawberries, coconut milk, and basil helped me not care that it’s a little grainy. Like so many, I might be a little addicted to sugar…😉 and, like so many things in life, my recovery from it is a long and bumpy process. I like the way the addiction manifests itself in this phase, though and, historically, I have had very few regrets from indulging in natural sugars in whole fruit form. I can guarantee that my blood sugar wasn’t into the Jameson or the ice cream phase of my life, so progress, not perfection, right?
