Playa Negra

Playa Negra (a.ka. Black Beach), Vieques, Puerto Rico,

Taken July 28, 2015.

Key West Disco Time Machine

Would you dare to blast into your past with this time machine?

[Taken July 19, 2016 in Key West, FL.]

Tuesday's Tune: Photograph

I (heart) this song,  "Photograph," by Ed Sheeran. Sometimes all we have left are the reminders of love that's frozen in time. That particular moment (captured in a photograph or forever engrained in a memory) can be held onto even when the moment's long gone.  With the passage of time,  we eventually will forgive the hurtful words that once were so real (and probably thought we would never get over), and be able to look at that photograph, that person, that moment, and know that love wasn't wasted and love wasn't given in vain.  Love is eternal, it will always remain.

What do you think of this song?

Florida Trip

West Palm Beach in the distance.

In mid-July, I took a family trip with my Mr. Man and his side of the family.  It was an interesting trip, but not one that I would do again soon.  Florida weather in July is miserable.  Really, really miserable.  It's hot, humid, muggy, and humid (I know I already mentioned it, but it was that bad). Since there were so many of us with different itineraries, my Mr. Man and I flew in by ourselves and met up with his family members in Orlando and drove.

Walking on Old Seven Mile bridge.

Since there were several cars, with my Mr. Man and me having our own rental vehicle, we agreed to explore and eventually just meet the rest of his family members at our final destination.  So, my Mr. Man and I started out from Orlando, drove to West Palm Beach, then to Miami, and finally to Key West (all in one day).

Sunrise in Sombero Beach, FL.

We spent most of our time in Florida doing activities in Key West.  I went parasailing, which wasn't too bad, and visited several interesting sites in Key West (I hope to post a future blog posting here). While in Key West, my allergies didn't act up at all.  What I also found surprising about Key West were all the "wild" chickens and roosters running around.  Really, who would've thought that wild chickens and roosters would be a trademark of Key West.

Outside a post office in Key West.

After being in Key West, we then headed to the Everglades.  It was an interesting experience being in the Everglades, but July is NOT the best time to visit it.  If you ever consider going to the Everglades, go there during January or February, when all the birds migrate back to the area.  Also, don't expect to see flamingos.  There's a very long and sad story about the plight of the flamingos in Florida (you can go here and here to read more about it).  It really is a big swamp and you really do get to see some gators and other interesting flora and fauna native to this state.  It was supposed to be the "rainy" season while we were there, but then I guess Florida must also be going through a drought, like many parts of the U.S.

Birds flocking to the water, in this dried up waterhole.  Everglades, FL.

Looks like a field, but it's actually swampy underneath.  Everglades, FL.

Mangroves in the Everglades.

After two days in the Everglades, we headed to Tampa and Orlando, with a pit stop at Bowman's Beach in Sanibel Island.  Now, if you've ever googled the beaches in Sanibel Island, you'll see that it's known for its seashell covered beaches.  Now, I didn't find really big seashells, but I did find some small seashells.

Milky Way over the Everglades. 

Then we were off to Tampa to have dinner with a friend. We both stayed one night in Tampa, driving to Orlando the next morning to catch our flight to our next adventure.

Friday's Quote: Malala Yousafzai

"If you go anywhere, even in paradise, you will miss your home."---Malala Yousafzai

I haven't been blogging because the automatic updates to my computer killed the wifi on it.  So, I have to manually connect my computer to an internet plug and try to connect my computer to the internet.  I've also been on vacation for the last two weeks and have been having adventures.  I didn't arrive home until late Wednesday night and I'm pooped out.

I have so many stories and pictures to share, but I'm so glad to be home.  I didn't really miss my home until I actually got home.  I was in an area where some people may consider a paradise (it border the Caribbean Sea), but I've realized that it's not for me.  At least, not right now.  I'm so happy to be back at home, with my gardens, the less than humid air, my lake, and my overgrown yard.  I'm so glad to help make up my neighborhood and be a part of my neck of the woods.  It's home for me.  At least, right now.

How are you?  Have you gone anywhere outside of home...Europe, Asia, even down the street?

Waterboy

[Taken July 4, 2015.]

Tuesday's Tune: Go Rest High On That Mountain

I believe Vince Gill wrote "Go Rest High On That Mountain" after his brother's passing.  For personal reasons and a good reminder that those who have passed are never far from our thoughts, I'd like to share this song.

Please let me know what you think of this song.

Just Playing

[Taken May 25, 2015.]

Tuesday's Tune: Fight Song

"Fight Song" is such an awesome song.  I find this song, by Rachel Platten, so empowering, especially on the days where I want to be a nomad, get lost, and not care about the world.  On days when I feel the most alone, but know that I need to make my trek into the bigger world (especially when I'm anticipating a battle of hurtful words and emotions), this song strengthens my own personal convictions and restores my faith in myself that I will be alright.  It doesn't matter what others may say or do, so long as I believe in myself and trust my intuition, I will find the way out.

Let me know what you think of this song.

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

In my youth, I loved eating rhubarb dipped in sugar.  Somehow, my love for it didn't transfer into my adulthood.  It's not as if I didn't have access to rhubarb because I've been growing it in my gardens for a very long time.  I just didn't pick it.  I don't know what was the cause of my aversion to it.

So, when I was teaching my friend to jam this past weekend, I decided to make strawberry rhubarb jam as another jam flavor.  Wow, strawberry rhubarb jam is super awesome and good.  It was sweet but puckery sour.    I found the recipe at this website, which doesn't use any pectin other than the lemon juice.  Since the recipe doesn't use commercial pectin, it will set up a bit soft and not be too firm.  I modified the recipe a bit and the following is my take on it.

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

1.5 pounds of strawberries

1.5 pounds of rhubarb

2 Cups of sugar

Juice of one lemon

1. Wash the strawberries and rhubarb.  Cut the strawberries in half.  Cut the rhubarb into small pieces.

2. Put the strawberry, rhubarb and sugar into a bowl.  Gently stir to distribute the sugar.  Cover the bowl and let the fruit macerate in the sugar for at least six hours, up to twenty-four hours.

3. Pour the liquid from the macerated fruit into a pan and cook the liquid on medium heat until the volume goes down in half.

4. Add the fruit into the pan.  Continue to cook on a medium high heat and stir the mixture so it doesn't burn the bottom of the pan.  The cooking should take about 20 - 30 minutes.

5. Cook to a jam-like consistency.  You can check the consistency of the jam by using this method (which is my favorite method).

6. Take the jam off the stove and water bath can the jam.  (You can find canning instructions here.)

I need to find people to give my jam to because I've made enough to last a long time.  Enjoy and let me know what you think of the recipe.