Sunday, December 26, 2010

We Splurged


I've really been working too much lately, so Gary and I took time off to drive to the gulf for day trips near our home. It's too easy for me to get into the routine of not taking any time off and that's not good. We thought we'd get the scoop on how folks fish from a pier around here, in hopes we could do some fishing and add to our food source with a recreational activity.


We went to Fort Island Beach very close to us and walked out on the pier. While we were there we ran into a local shore fisherman catching blue crab with his collapsible nets. I talked to him for a while and happily learned some of his secrets of crab fishing. Check in again I might start doing some crab fishing myself.


While I was at the pier I looked down into the water and could see all the creatures of the sea. The water is amazingly clear and as I waited and looked closely I could see a whole world of underwater activity. It was truly amazing and mesmerizing to me. I could see crabs running along the floor of the gulf waters. I was surprised to see they run amazingly fast sideways. I could see stingrays swimming by making their rounds to the crab nets in hopes of getting the crab before the fisherman did. I could see fish small and large swimming in the drifting seaweed and sea grasses.


I thought about the stingray "learning" to swim by the crab nets in hopes of finding crab for food. I thought about how it's easy to think of creatures such as a stingray as being not so intelligent, and yet I saw they have learned to adapt to local ways, learning they can find a crab in a crab net easier than looking for one among drifting seaweed.

On the way home we stopped at a local fishery dock and saw some pelicans roosting on the pier posts sunning themselves. I walked out there to take a photo. As I was engrossed in taking the photo of one, I started to walk away and saw a blue heron standing below the pelican motionless. He blended into the hues of the wood dock so perfectly I had neglected to see him till just the last minute. So I quickly snapped his photo. What a wonderful day we had.


As we were driving home, we stopped and got some fresh fish from a local roadside fisherman. We splurged and bought a fresh Florida spiny lobster tail. Gary and I shared the lobster tail for our Christmas dinner. It was so delicious and the price was very reasonable. What a relaxing Christmas we had this year. I feel refreshed and renewed.

It's cold and rainy today, but no snow like other folks like Tracey and Meredith, all their photos have me envious, but not too much, don't want to do any shoveling that's for sure. Happy day after Christmas everyone.

15 comments:

  1. Linda, I'm envious of you! My childhood was spent on piers around the herons and I would have much rather been doing that instead of driving in the snow. I have had enough of this cold, ready for some sunshine!

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  2. Great images of winter scenes in Florida. Wow, how different than most of the country. Happy Fishing!

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  3. It sounds like wonderful fun. Lobster for Christmas dinner! Sounds delicious! So glad you had a relaxing and peaceful Christmas. I love pelicans and blue herons. Thanks for sharing your photos of them.

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  4. Ok, I am really starting to wonder where my comments are going, I posted a comment back to Tracey and it is no where to be found and yet it showed up when I posted it.

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  5. ok, it's there now, we shall see.

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  6. Hi Tracey, thanks, we are cold now, but not snowing, you are welcome to come down here and warm up, we could have a blast. Next Sunday is supposed to be in the 70s during the day, more normal for here. I am slowly learning all about what Florida has to offer, and loving it.

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  7. Hi Patricia, thanks, it's supposed to get down to 20 with the wind chill here tonight, very cold, hope all the critters and fish are ok, apparently last year a lot of fish died due to the cold.

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  8. Hi Teresa, thanks, I think I can count on one hand how many times I have had lobster, so it was definitely a welcome treat and every so delicious. I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season and having some "fun" too. I miss you and your blog, take it easy.

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  9. So glad you are taking time to explore that wonderful state you have chosen.
    Fishing would be a fun pastime but you might want to take up snorkling or scuba diving also. The sea has so many amazing creatures to watch.

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  10. hi linda, funny you should mention the stingrays' intelligence. i've noticed over the years (mostly on the radio) report after report concluding yet another species that is much more intelligent than we humans thought. maybe in another 100 years our arrogance about being the chosen species will wither. good to see you had some fun over the holidays

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  11. Hi Patti, thanks, I'll leave the snorkeling up the Gary, but it is truly amazing what can be seen so clearly in the clear water.

    Hi Jim, thanks, I was really amazed by the stingray. I read where an octopus had gone on shore for half a coconut to bring underwater for a hiding place and then returned and got the other half, which showed they had memory and could "build" their own homes. Creatures many think of as lowly aren't so lowly after all as you say.

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  12. I liked your beautiful balad and it very well written !
    Also, your photos are beautiful ! I wish you a happy new year !! :))

    Bye**

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  13. Your pelican photo is absolutely breathtaking!

    I actually feel more relaxed just reading your post today. :)

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  14. Great pics and sounds like a lovely day! Sorry I've been out of the loop, but have been busy with a capital B. Glad ya'll had a nice Christmas! Cheers!

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  15. Hi Mahon, thanks so much, hope you have a happy new year too.

    Hi Julia, thanks, we are so lucky to be living so close to the gulf.

    Hi Marguerite, thanks, I know what it's like to be busy, just keep creating those good recipes and dancing, ha, have a good one and don't forget to relax a little.

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