Every year I have to go to a conference for the fire alarm manufacturer we represent. It is always a big deal and we get to live like the other side for a few days. This year it was at the Marriott Marco Island Resort again. We went there three years ago and had a blast then. We kicked off the trip with a lazy day at the beach under an umbrella while people in white shirts and ties waited on us. While I took a nap in the shade of the umbrella, Janene decided to nap on the sunny side. When she was medium rare, we thought it best to get her out of the sun. That pretty much ended our sun related activities.
The beach is made up entirely of shells in various stages of disintegration, at some points becoming a white powdery sand mixture. It is not really the kind of beach where you can walk around with tender landlubber feet, but we were fascinated by the variety of shells to be found.
We dined on fine foods the whole time. As you can see, I partook of the bounty a little more freely than my beautiful bride. The sunsets were amazing for about three minutes, then the sun drops below the horizon and it is instantly dark. The reverse happens in the morning hours we are told. We never really found that out. We did a little bit of the sleeping-in action.
There were flocks of birds on the beaches and you could get a fun picture it you stirred them up a little with the sun in the background. We also got to see dolphins frolicking in the surf and signs to watch out for panthers and manatees. (We never saw any of those, however.)
We came home to snow on the roof in the backyard and a predicted freeze tonight, so it was straight to the garden to pick everything that couldn't freeze. Two five gallon buckets of tomatillos is going to be a little overwhelming for Janene, but I think I can smell the tomatillo salsa brewing on the stove already. The Hubbard squash were so big, I could only carry one at a time. It's time to pick all the grapes too, but we can leave the onions, potatoes, and cabbage up there just a little longer. Tomorrow, we need to bring down the green tomatoes left on the vines. There will probably be over a hundred pounds of those, so we are looking for someone with a good green tomato recipe. They will ripen in the basement (that is how we get red tomatoes at the store), but they are just not as good as the vine ripened ones from the garden
3 comments:
Look at those shells! I've spent a lot of time at beaches with my kids this year and I can tell you now - my kids would have thought that better than a gold rush! So fun. Glad you guys got away for a bit. I meant to bring in my sad garden today, but it took back seat to my vomiting children. Let's hope the valley's are a little warmer tonight!
I am amazed at your garden! You can see that in spite of all the fun you're having, you're also accomplishing HUGE feats of work!
The beach looks and sounds so nice right about now!!
I walked out to my garden today and the snow on the tomaotes still out there made me want to cry...but oh well..it was a good year and i got lots of salsa! Is it sad i am already looking forward to the next gardening season?? :)
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