Ok…Would anyone else…

…Fall right into that tub

as they were searching for the light so they could pee at 4 am?

…And would any of your neighbors,

Heck even your family members particularly the teen kind

take issue with this?

…Juuust wonderin’

Photos: Coastal living

Beachcombing…

Photo: Peter Essick/Aurora

Shelling Beaches….the West coast of this fine state is known for some of the best…

A shellers mecca.

Walking the beach…and stooping down to search for one of these mobile homes of the sea

is engaging in an ancient... noble pursuit.

they are amazing and perfect these little vessels of the sea.

At our beaches listen to the ownership in that sentence…sheesh.

we certainly can find gifts from the sea…

but not the bounty of shells over on the west coast.

The other day I opened the door to a beautifully simply wrapped package

tied in twine and topped with the smallest most darling

little mobile home of the sea

Inside was a beautifully crafted mirror

with two little hooks for keys and such

It came from fellow blogger Cheryl….and was just what our keys needed

Perfect.

Thank you Cheryl!

Ambrosia of the tropical Gods…..

People…can we talk?

I have been eyeing a recipe for ambrosia nectar of the Gods

for awhile now

Not your mandarin oranges and marshmallow kind.

But a more tropical version

Or a Lime in the Coconut version.

Most of the ingredients can come from the garden…well our garden, anyway...IF everything were producing up to their potential. Ahem. Yours too maybe.

Fresh and juicy Grapefruit and orange and cuke and avocado

ooooh, and a feisty little jalapeno.

And a lime and some coconut

natch...

It is a fun mix of sweet and fresh with feisty and earthy

coconut is the grounding force.

Use it anyway you would coleslaw…

It is wonderful!

we are having it with grilled seasame and ginger marinated chicken breast...tonight.

Divine

Ambrosia of the tropical Gods

1 large Grapefruit off the tree remove pith and membranes

1 large navel orange remove white stuff like the grapefruit

3/4 c. chopped celery (about 2 stalks)

1 avocado ~diced

1 1/2 cups seeded and chopped cucumber (about 1 large)

1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil

1 fresh and feisty jalapeno~ seeded and minced

~ Mix together in a bowl~

Dressing

2/3 c. buttermilk

2Tbsp lime juice

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 garlic clove mashed to puree

1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh tarragon

2 Tbsp shreddded coconut

1 tsp sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

~ Whisk buttermilk, lime juice and olive oil until blended. Whisk in garlic, taragon, coconut salt and pepper. Pour over salad and toss.

Let flavors meld in fridge for an hour or so…serve with a slotted spoon.

Eat. Papa. Eat.

The lemon…lime? in the coconut…

A change from hotel searching...Phew! you say...I hear ya...I hear ya.

In the strange but true category

we have a sweet well decidedly sour gender confused lemon tree

species confused? Fruit confused?

Just plain ole’ Confrused Scooby.

But beautiful all the same.

We Love all of our babies...green or otherwise.

It is glorious in it’s yellow and green striped skin..and pink flesh.

It’s leaves proudly variegated.

Not your ordinary lemon

no siree.

But…This summer, a long new branch stretched and reached out…and out

And the fruit is different…very.

the leaves are different…it is a brother from another mother

so say I.

It smells lusciously like lime…looks like lime

Is certainly prolific this long branched peculiarity.

I dunno. Shaking head confused.

I brought it in…cut it

mixed it...

It’ll do. Oh...it'll do beautifully.

It’s still summer here and will be for months...and months…

And we all need a cooling refreshing cocktail. No?

~Fill a glass with ice

add a nice shot of Limoncello…some sparkling water…and a squeeze of lemon

or lime.~

whatever.

And if you can help me figure out my tree sit-chi-a-tion

I’ll have one waiting for you.

Truly I will.

And the search continues…

Okay…to be fair...some of the other rooms at The Cocker…

These are even less expensive...less than 100 bucks a night.

and no glass bathrooms yipeee…one of them does have a walk out garden terrace.

Below would be the Costa Petit Hotel…

warm, antiques, outdoor courtyard…looks like a great respite in a big city.

I love this bathroom…

with silver to boot!

This one, below, I could eat up with a spoon…again, in a lovely part of town, Palermo.

This was Francis Ford Copolla’s house... turned boutique hotel

he still comes here to write...and drink wine

Unfortunately…too, too pricey…at 1000 clams a night.

so long, dear friend.

This is a lovely looking gem is in an old restored convent...

The Malabia House

Brain fried.

I have even more I like…love.

Sheeesh.

put on blindfold and pick already.

Help me…..

Just curious….

Whad’yall think of this hotel room?

Um…That would be a bathroom above the bed

Glass.

The toilet on the other side of the sink.

and no curtain. I checked.

God forbid the poor soul that needs to make a few trips to the bathroom at night.

It does have a lovely private rooftop terrace with that room though…

and hard to beat the price.

What a gracious foyer…

This is in the San Telmo area of Buenos Aires…

I'm tasked with finding a great place for us to stay this September...I love this job...

and make it much more complicated than I need to.

Go figure.

I think I’ll keep looking.

Would you?

The Cocker...Dayum tempting...'cept for the toilet.

Jungle Beauties….

Amazing feats of nature…reds and yellows…lobster claws…

Even hairy think monkeys in the jungle…or baby parrots. Weird but true.

We are so gifted in the tropics…or sub tropics.

Such refined delicacies of color and shape.

Heliconia. Perfect.

We continue to rip apart our yard. Edit. Change.

...But thankfully find such gifts.

Happily thriving.

who knew?

find more hidden secrets at Hooked on Houses...Fun!

Farmers Market…on the river… Join me.

Small town…simple market.

Fort Pierce has been holding an ever-growing Saturday market for the past 10 years.

Fresh tropical fruit

Live music

what else does a person need? really.

Amazing bread and pastries (thank you Mr. Bread!)

Cooling your heels at the waters edge.

Why not?

It’s hot!

Limes of course.

Coconuts cradling orchids

who knew?

Handmade soaps…

….And more

call them…they’ll give you a deal!

A growing town

And Po’ man’s plants...

our yard is full of his benevolent wonder.

Support your local folk…

They’ll love ya’ for it.

Peace.