Bands on the Beach

We're getting great turn-outs for Bands on the Beach.


Last night Wildwood was the featured band. If you click on their name you can go to their website and check the calendar to find out where they will be playing locally. You can frequently catch them at either Paradise Bar & Grill or The Dock.


Oh the joy of chasing bubbles! Don't you love the look on his face.


And, oh the joy of sitting next to your special someone at a concert on the beach.


Wildwood is one of my favorite bands and they are locals. Even if you don't get out to Bands on the Beach often, you should try to make sure you catch these guys. They will return on September 30, so mark your calendar.


Love is in the air.


Aren't these the most beautiful big blue eyes you've ever seen! From the sand on her toes, you can tell that little Ava has been on the beach with daddy (who has plenty of that white Pensacola Beach sand on his feet too!).


In style!

See ya next week at Bands on the Beach!

Memorial Day

"Here’s to those who paid the price
And stood atop the wall,
Who didn’t call it sacrifice,
But duty to a call.


"Beyond our power to add, detract,
Or honor with parade,
Or praise with words all copper-plaqued,
In public squares displayed,


"They held the line, they took the brunt
Directed at our flank.
From general to lowly grunt
Now “hero” is their rank.


"For some – unknown – the laurel wreaths
Must rest on unnamed graves.
For others still, their God bequeaths
No slabs or architraves.


"For other heroes, living hearts
Still speak aloud their name.
Their daughters, sons, and better-parts –
To memories lay claim.


"Some met the foe with angry eye;
Some trembled at the fray;
Some grieved for wife and family;
Some paused to kneel and pray.


"Yet, as their hour approached its mark
And minutes became rare,
All gazed into the dreaded dark,
And stood – where we weren’t – there.


"We praise with words their bravery,
Their steadfast soldiers’ hands,
That shielded us from slavery
And wrack from foreign lands.



"Now pause awhile, and think on them.
Let recollection stir
To memory, through this artless hymn,
Of those and who they were."

~~ Dean C. Broome MD JD, "Memorial - 2007"

Fish of the day

On the way home from Barrancas National Cemetery this afternoon, my husband and I decided to swing into The Market on the Island for a couple of things. While he went upstairs, I walked over to the cleaning station on the north side of the marina to see if someone had luck on a fishing trip today. As you can see, they did! Just look at the red snapper! Wow!


I'm not very adept at identifying fish in their natural state, but I believe this is a King Mackerel he's filleting.

Check out the area between 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily to see what they're catching in the Gulf. Sometimes people who have been out on a charter are willing to give you a deal on their catch and you can't get any fresher than this!

Sunday is Fun-day

As Mr. Roger's would sing, "It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood..." My neighbors, their family, and friends enjoyed an afternoon out by the dock, fishin' and floatin'.


Jonathan chills out on the sound-side beach while I wait for my camera to unfog (hence the soft focus effect).


Beautiful little Madison built sandcastles and enjoyed play time with Jonathan.


Hey, Braxton! Ready to get in the water, little buddy?


Jonathan is fishing for dinner.


Nine-month old Maggie spies the water. She's ready to get her tiny toes in the sand.


Maya does what she loves most...hunt for crabs. She gets her Omega-3 the old-fashioned way.

What a nice way to spend Sunday, creating wonderful family memories.

Firecracker plant

A big thanks to my friend, Lila Cox, for giving me several 'pups' from her firecracker plants (Russelia equisetiformis) this spring. They are a great addition to my yard, attracting both butterflies and hummingbirds. I was surprised that one plant in particular is already blooming profusely.

Hot pink!

Look at this hot pink umbrella! How cool is that? You wouldn't have to spend 10 minutes scanning the beach on a holiday to find your family or friends under one of these.

Alone time

One of the special qualities of Pensacola Beach (and there are many) is that even when thousands of people are visiting the island, you can still find your own little private area in which to read, meditate, or just enjoy the beauty which surrounds you.

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend on Pensacola Beach! It has become a tradition for gay men and women to gather on the east end of the beach for some fun in the sun. I've heard about the event and I've read about it, but this time I decided to walk down to Park East and check it out myself.


Hey, wait a minute, that's Betty Boop with Toto! Where's Dorothy?


I had no idea how huge the event is/was/has become. Rows of tents three or four deep paralleled the water for more than a mile. It was a beautiful day and the surf was high. Luckily the presence of jellyfish kept most of the people out of the Gulf and safe from riptides.


I've never seen so many umbrellas and tents! They're packed tight as sardines!


People and set-ups finally thinned out about a quarter of a mile past Park East, but that was at 10:00 a.m. this morning. From the look of traffic later in the day, there were several thousand people on this end of the beach.


Camp Flamingo! What a hoot! I enjoyed walking around and looking at all the creative and elaborate set-ups.


This person has more grass than I do!


I can't believe how much time it must take to bring all the stuff in and then get it set up. Whew! I love this white and green-striped tent.


After walking about three miles with no water, skinny dipping isn't sounding like such a bad idea.


The Holy Cross Metropolitan Community Church has a large tent set up for services, provides musical entertainment on Saturday and Sunday, and provides water. They also have several collection areas set up for recycling cans. Bravo!


Betty Ford Clinic class reunion? They're pulling my leg, right?


I'm sensing a theme. There are flamingos everywhere and at this spot they were all wearing wigs!


See! I told ya!


A little gnome away from home,
to Pensacola Beach he roamed.

If I didn't live on the east side and see the incredible amount of traffic, I never would have realized so many people were here. Everyone was friendly and happy, enjoying the amazing surf and watching dolphins put on a show. And, very importantly, the beach was being treated with respect as people picked up after themselves.

Everyone have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and please don't forget the true meaning of the holiday.

Surf's up!

The surf was impressive today and patches of blue started showing through the clouds. It ought to be a beautiful holiday weekend.

Evenings in Olde Seville Square

Thursday nights in the summer is one time you'll catch us off-island to enjoy Evenings in Olde Seville Square. My husband and I love this event which features great music, performed under grand live oaks.

You can check out the bands scheduled for Evenings in Olde Seville Square this season here.


Arriving early to set up our chairs and eat so that I'm ready to catch some cool shots during the concert.


Kicking back for a relaxing evening.


I'd say we have a couple of regulars here. Love the green bag and tablecloth.


Folks on Adams Street come out on their porch to enjoy the concert in Seville Square.


And puss just enjoys watching the crowd across the street. Isn't she beautiful?


Now this is what I call a spread! Someone even brought roses!


Time for a carriage ride?


Oh look! I came upon my Aunt Judy who lives in Cantonment!


Love the blue tableware and the little lamps -- the lights are especially pretty when it gets dark.


No idle hands here. This gentleman has turned his whittling into art! You should see how lovely these pieces are up close. "It's easy," he says. Uh huh.


A man and his dogs, a Michael Crichton book, and a free concert. Can life get much better than this?


John Wooton and Kaiso!, played fantastic calypso music for the crowd and we loved it! John treated us to songs from Jimmy Buffet to Michael Buble to Bob Marley. A friend said we need to get Kaiso! out to the island for Bands on the Beach. How cool would that be, the sound of steel drums on the beach accompanied by the sound of the surf and a breeze off the Gulf!

Check out John's website here.


Oooohh...pretty pink shoes!


Dancing the night away.

Perched

I think this Pelican has taken a liking to the piling at the end of a nearby dock. He always seems to be perched there lately when I go on a morning walk. If he keeps letting me get closer, I'll have a great shot of him soon!