Society garlic

I had never heard of Society Garlic until my neighbor did a lovely planting of them in his front yard.


It does very well here on the island. The bulbs and leaves can be used like garlic and garlic chives. Plus, it deters moles and deer...of which we have none. Now if only it would deter armadillos. That's the plant I'm looking for!

Don't worry; be happy

"There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will."

~~ Epictetus

Beautiful evening

A great evening for Bands on the Beach. It was still 80 degrees by the end of the concert with a nice breeze coming from the south, over the Gulf water.


Pensacola Beach is the perfect place to be on Tuesday nights! Bring a beach chair and join us next week!

Dewberry Cobbler

Enough dewberries for a cobbler tonight - see how easy it is. Add a bit of sugar to your dewberries and allow them to stand. Since dewberries (sand blackberries) don't give up as much juice as regular blackberries, you will want to add a bit of water. I was a bit adventurous and added orange juice instead.


Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and melt a stick of butter in a rectangular pan.


Pour your batter (equal measures of self-rising flour, sugar, and milk - maybe a pinch of cinnamon if you like) on top of the melted butter.

Sprinkle your berries on top of the batter and slide the pan into the oven for about 45 - 55 minutes, or until golden brown.

I mixed up a bit too much batter this time because I wanted more crust, but it soaked up all the juice and left the cobbler a bit dry. Only one thing to do when that happens...serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Life is good!

Beautiful day

What a beautiful day on Pensacola Beach. Life doesn't get much better than this.

Distinctive Kitchens

Have you ever attended any of the cooking classes held by Distinctive Kitchens? What a unique experience.


Yesterday I went with friends to Distinctive Kitchens' location at The Wharf in Orange Beach for the first time. Chef Angela Miller was smokin', as you can see!


Chefs and assistants have this down to quite an art.

I also had an opportunity to meet Chef Josh House for the first time at yesterday afternoon's event. By the way, vegetarians might be interested in the May 27th class at Distinctive Kitchens. Chef House will be demonstrating other things you can put on the grill besides meat this summer.
The menu items you'll sample that evening (and take home the recipes) are:

Grilled Eggplant with Feta and Olive Tapenade on Pita

Grilled Peach Salad with Goat Cheese and Champagne Vinaigrette

Grilled Summer Vegetable Risotto with Basil Oil

Grilled Cardamom Spiced Pineapple with Vanilla Ice Cream

Great music...

as folks mingled on the upper level, sampling gourmet hors d’oeuvres and wine.

Chefs Josh House and Angela Miller enjoy these events, as you can see.

The prep table...my favorite spot to hang out. Yummmmmm...that mango salsa was awesome!

Angela takes off her chef's hat after another successful event and enjoys time with her friend.

Check out Angela's next class - "Date Night" - May 23rd at Distinctive Kitchens' Pensacola location on Palafox Street.

Thanks for allowing me into your 'distinctive kitchen' for photos, Angela!

Catchin' pompano

I watched some of the fisherman setting up along the beach for pompano yesterday morning. First they wade out.


Then cast the line as far as possible.


Wade back to shore.

Place the pole in a PVC pipe you've hammered into the sand -- then wait.

And wait...

And wait...

And then you swing by Joe Patti's on your way home.

Leapin' lizards!

Actually it's a curious anole, which is fine -- as long as they stay out of my mailbox. I really don't like it when I open the box and one jumps out at me.

Hallmark moment on Pensacola Beach

I just love capturing moments like this. I'll never know who this papa and little boy are and they will probably never stumble across this photo, but the rest of us can enjoy their special time together on Pensacola Beach.

Driftwood

Lovely pieces of driftwood from far away places are washing ashore as high surf continues.


Giving people like me something special to photograph.

Unfortunately Mother Nature is also taking this opportunity to clean out her Gulf water -- or perhaps she's just giving us back all our 'lost items'. The beach is heavily littered right now with all types of debris washing in. It's nice to see people trying to help out by picking up plastic bottles, cans, and all sorts of odds and ends.

Extra brownie points and good karma to those who stop to pick up deflated balloons and string, or fishing line. Balloons which get into the Gulf water may be mistaken for jellyfish and ingested by our sea turtles, further endangering an already threatened species.

We learn more every day how to make our environment better, cleaner, and more safe. By sharing what we learn and personally taking small steps forward, we will make a difference!

Put da lime in da coconut

You should see all the coconuts washing ashore after the extended length of high surf we've had on Pensacola Beach. Nothing to do but 'put da lime in da coconut'!

Slim pickin's

Slim pickin's in my secret dewberry patch this morning. Shucks!

Bands on the Beach kicks off

Our iconic beach ball tower watches over us.


This week's band, Wildwood, kicks off the season for Bands on the Beach.


Folks file in and begin to chow down...


and then chill out.

Ahhh...sweet baby.

Beach bikes...I want one just like this! Aren't they perfect!

Bands on the Beach

Heads up! Tonight is the kick-off for our Bands on the Beach concert series. Wildwood, one of our fave local bands, starts the season off right.

The music starts at 7:00 p.m. at the pavillon. Bring your lawn/beach chairs and sit a spell.

Bellingrath Gardens

I prefer to keep my B.I.G. blog all about the island or events and activities I enjoy not far from home. Occasionally, however, I take roadtrips and would like to start sharing them with you.


So I started a second blog called "Jaunts & Journeys with DJ" on which I'll post photos of other places or trips. and each time I post, I'll provide a link on this blog.

Most recently my husband and I took a trip to Bellingrath Gardens, about an hour and a half drive from my house - perfect for a day trip. I've been there several times, but this time I'm sharing my visit with you.

To see more photos of my visit to Bellingrath Gardens, click HERE.

Blessing of the Fleet

For several years I've wanted to attend the Blessing of the Fleet in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. This year I made sure to mark it on my calendar. Many fishing communities around the world continue this tradition where a local priest blesses the boats for a safe and bountiful year.


They have evolved into festivals with parades, music, contests, and lots of seafood. Today there was a gumbo cook-off, an oyster-shucking contest, and (I couldn't watch) a shrimp de-heading contest.

The Anna Priscilla - the real deal.

"Safe in the palm of my hand."

Tall and small, all types of boats line up.

Waiting to be blessed.

The Fleet Blessing Queen (right) and one of the Fleet Blessing Maids pose for photos.

A blue hydrangea

Every flower is a soul blossoming in Nature.

~~ Gerard De Nerval

The Blue Heron

What a lovely fellow this is and he doesn't even seem to mind me following him.


Ah ha! He's spotted some activity!

Slowly....

Bam! Sushi breakfast!

And on we go...