I walked into the little round house on the tip of Pine Island Florida. The sight of it swept my breath away. All I could say was “Wow” as I roamed around seeing familiar things. The sweet scent of the salty Florida air filled my nose and lungs. Home. This is what home feels like. […]
Minnesota to Florida in 5 Days Read More »
Today on Pine Island we took the pedal kayaks out. Usually we take the double kayak out but after Martin’s little mishap yesterday, paddling is not a possibility for him. In fact typing is a bit of a stretch. It all started when… Martin dropped my toothbrush on the floor next to the toilet.
Kayak Adventure Gone Wrong Read More »
Life on Pine Island is pretty much awesome. My day started at 6:30 a.m. with a meditation. Then, I exercise for 60-90 minutes while watching the sun rise. Because I hurt my knee running a few weeks ago, I’ve been doing a lot more low impact cardio, yoga, and strengthening exercises. After showering, I savor my
Life on Pine Island, Florida Read More »
Palm trees line either side of the driveway, ushering me toward the little round house that is to be our home for the next few weeks. We are tired. Sprinting across the east coast of the United States for eight weeks left us exhausted. So we stop. At the little round house on Pine
Homemade Coconut Milk Read More »
It takes 3 hours driving 45 mph (mostly) on a two-lane road to get there. Accommodation is extremely expensive – about 90% more than anywhere else we’ve paid to stay. The beach has less than ideal swimming conditions – extremely shallow and full of weeds. Kitschy tourist shops line the streets. Is visiting Key West
Is Key West Worth the Hype? Read More »
In the early 2000s, my cousin moved to Miami Beach from Minnesota, which thrusted me into a Jimmy Buffet song. Everybody’s got a cousin in Miami / Everybody understands the impromptu / Dancing in the heat to the beat / That turns your clothing clammy / Everybody needs to have a dream come true. The first
Little Talbot Island State Park is 30 minutes east of Jacksonville on the Atlantic Ocean. Driving along A1A, I notice the flat road sloping upward slightly on each bridge, which are plentiful. Water is everywhere. I notice a policewoman standing in the middle of a bridge waving her arms at me. It takes me
Summer Camping in a Florida State Park Read More »
Before I left in July, I was committed to cooking on the road. I didn’t want to just live off almond butter sandwiches (although, I admit, I’ve had plenty!). I wanted to make delicious food wherever I was, with whatever I had available. Before we left Savannah, we stopped at the Farmer’s Market. In
Fusilli Pasta with Okra Tomato Sauce Read More »
While I’ve been back at home for a couple of weeks, I still dream of my vacation in Florida. I miss the beaches and the vast bodies of water. I miss seeing dolphins fishing just a few feet from the edge of our dock. I miss taking spontaneous boat trips with people I only
Florida Vacation – Cooking for a Crowd Read More »
In Minnesota, a vacation to a warm location during March or April is about a common as the snow itself. Usually by March, most Minnesotans are sick of the snow and the cold. I am definitely in that group. While living in a condo with indoor heated parking has significant advantages during the winter, I’m
Florida Vacation – Day 1 Read More »