Oct 15-18 - Matzek Family

October 15: Matzeks and Claire's friend Kenna arrived around 1 pm, just as we were leaving at Johnson Beach. Of course, the girls couldn't wait to get on the beach and in the surf. We spent the afternoon enjoying the beach and surf fishing.

October 16: After a morning on our beach, we took the Matzeks to Robinson Island in Perdido Pass. They call it Hermit Crab Island, because they remember that they can find "gazillions" of hermit crabs there. They spent the afternoon exploring and playing while we fished nearby (no luck). After we picked them up, we went for a very successful dolphin ride along the back of Ono Island.

Snorkeling!

We got very close to the dolphin group.

Dolphins feeding!

October 17:  Bill and I got up early on a very calm morning to try our luck at finding the Minton East Reef. After much trial and error, we found the reef and found Red Snapper easy to catch. However, it is not Red Snapper season, so we couldn't keep them. We decided not to continue fishing there, since that seemed to be the only species to catch. After lunch, we took the Matzeks to the island again and fished the jetties. We caught several small pomano, blue fish and gray snapper, but no keepers.

October 18: Saturday and last beach day:

Windy Days

October 14: Stormy weather passed through Monday night, leaving wind and big waves in its wake:

Surfers at sunset

Not a good indicator

For fishing success.

Project for a windy day:

October 15: This morning we got the boat back in the water, having pulled it out for the bad weather. Later, we walked about 30 minutes from the end of the road along Johnson Beach in the National Seashore park to watch the Blue Angels practice. Laura and her family arrived before we got back to the condo.

Blue Angels flying

High over Johnson Beach dunes

Spectacular sight.

Strange objects wash up,

Barnacled sunglasses are

the find of the day.

Flounder for Supper

Step 1: Catch the flounder:

Step 2: Clean the flounder:

Step 3: Cook the founder (with crab cake stuffing):

Step 4: Eat the flounder (nothing left to photo)

I'm not just standing here

I'm not just standing here

watching the changeable surf

and listening to its rhythms.

I'm not just standing here

with warm waves washing over my legs

and sand shifting beneath my feet.

I'm not just standing here

with the sea breezes blowing in my face,

with my face warmed by the sun.

I'm not just standing here.

I'm surf-fishing.

Oct 7-12 - David's family

October 7: Tuesday morning we went to the Naval Aviation Museum. Owen pronounced the experience "incredible."

October 8: After a morning on the beach, David and family headed back home, leaving at 2 pm.

October 9:  Late afternoon fishing was not productive. We came back to the dock just in time to see the moon rising.

Blood moon coming up

Impossibly large and red

Over Perdido.

October 10: Started out early and fished all morning. It was a little too rough at the jetties and beyond so we went to our old standby dock behind Ono Island. Results: 1 redfish at the upper edge of the slot, 1 Spanish mackerel and 2 Black Drum.

Redfish filet for supper, served with crab Alfredo.

October 11: Mississippi State Beat Auburn! Made a good fish salad out of the mackerel.

October 12 (Sunday): At the beach just before dawn for some surf fishing. Caught 3 whiting which were fileted for supper.

Surf fishing at dawn

Worshipping the Creator

In Her Creation.

Orange Beach 2014 - Week 1

October 1: September went by in a flurry of activity. Our six-week adventure began Oct 1 at 6 am with coffee. By 7:30 we were on the road. At 5:30 we were in our Wind Drift condo.

Summer heat lingers

As falling leaves litter lawns

And geese fly over

First of October

Six-week adventure begins.

Beach sun fish boat fun.

October 2, 6 pm

Storm clouds gathering

Scattered raindrops wet my face

Then quickly over.

October 3:

Allison's first beach

Exploring, discovering

Sand and surf delight.

Owen on the move

Building sand castles, knocking

them down, chasing birds.

October 4:

Cloudless blue above

North wind-calmed sea green ahead

Warm sand underfoot.

October 5: Beach Sunday

Another worship

Not confined by sacred walls

Soul's unbounded awe.

David catches a bull redfish, 33 inches, 18 pounds.

October 6: Feeding the fish and helping catch the bait.

October 7: Sunset beach walk

October 8: Last morning on the beach was perfect, playing in the sand and surf fishing.

August Garden

My August Garden cannot compete with the June Garden for beauty, nor the July Garden for productivity. However, nothing beats the August Garden for perseverance. Insects have taken their toll and the weeds have gotten ahead of me in most of the beds. Tomatoes are giving up to blights. Yet I still pick more than I can use every week and I am still doing a little canning/freezing.  With a few pounds of tomatoes and ample apples, I made Apple-Tomato Chutney on Friday, a recipe I found in my favorite old church cookbook. Ask me, and I'll share because I ended up with 12 half-pints and 5 pints.

August 22 Harvest

Pear trees are laden, but pears aren't quite ready for picking

With the new bamboo trellis, I need a ladder to pick pole beans.

Pole Beans are blooming profusely, thanks to plenty of rain this month.

Peppers come into full production when it gets really hot. They love August!

No more squash, but the marigolds like the heat.

Tomatoes are looking sad, but still producing more than enough to eat. Basil is ready to pick again.

Okra thrives in hot weather. New for this year are purple hull peas, which were planted when the bush green beans were pulled out. They haven't matured yet.

Multiplying onions and marjoram are perreniels.

Eggplants have been unusually prolific this year.

The Swiss Chard looks pretty ragged, but in September I will cut it back and it will continue to produce tender greens until a hard freeze.