Fiesta Sand Sculpture Contest

The Fiesta of Five Flags Sand Sculpture Contest was held at Casino Beach yesterday. The beach was packed and folks strolled around to check out all the entries.


There was a great turn-out of participants. The closer you moved toward the water, the more crowded it became.


There were several age categories and an Open Division had been added for professionals and semi-pros.


I loved this one: "No dogs or glass allowed on the beach." How creative!


I wonder if the Tree Frog won first prize and claimed the $1,000 prize. It was incredible.


Yikes! There's an alligator on the beach!


How cute! A king and queen kissing fish.


Four beautiful dolphins springing out of the gulf water.


What sweet faces. Great work.


Wow! It's American Idol (the "C" version). Look, 'dawg' even has Randy's body language.


We had some very talented sculptors this year.


And SO creative.


Ahhh, a poor mermaid was washed ashore.


These little frogs were adorable. Look at the expression on their faces!


The Pensacola Beach sign! Turn right!


A Pensacola Beach pelican!


Ooohhh, an octopus!


This crab would make one big crab cake, no?


Look! It's a pink iPod!


Yo ho ho! The dead man found the treasure chest.


Celebrating Tristan de Luna's landing 450 years ago!


A beautiful cross in front of a stained glass window was created by local church group. Excellent guys and gals!


Oh my, it's so hot I wish this sundae was real! Yum!


A tiny pyramid! I wonder what's buried inside.

Reminders

A couple of things to remind you about today:

Traveling Turtle Girl blog - check out Kirsten's blog for new photos and updated info on our local sea turtle nests. It sounds like a great nesting season and Kirsten's blog is becoming one of my favorites!

Fiesta of Five Flags Sand Sculpture Contest - One of my favorite events at the beach! The sculpting begins around 8:00 a.m. and the judging starts at 2:00 p.m. Swing by the beach (Casino Beach area) this afternoon to see the finished works, or swing by my blog later and check out photos of them here.

Fishin'

Everyone seemed to have the same idea today...


Whether from the beach...


or from the sound, people were fishing everywhere I turned.


Hmmm, I wonder if I'll be having fish for dinner!

Sad, but true

It's a sad, but true fact that not everyone loves and respects the beach like most of us. It becomes disheartening to walk out to the beach on a gorgeous morning such as this and see what's been left behind from the night before.

Luckily there are people that help pick up trash when they see it and I thank you very much for your kind acts toward our beloved island.

Having fun

"Unless each day can be looked back upon by an individual as one in which he has had some fun, some joy, some real satisfaction, that day is a loss."

~~Dwight David Eisenhower

Catchin' rays

This lady is catchin' a few rays and chillin' with a good book. Life is good.

Summer Lovin'

"Summer lovin' began in the sun today...
Summer lovin' we really should get,
Summer lovin'"

~~ The Jelly Beans, "Summer Lovin'"

[Note: I'm not generally this intrusive. This is my stepdaughter and her husband, so happy to be back at the beach. You may be seeing lots of family photos in the next two weeks since they indulge me!]

Little lessons

"'Where do starfish come from?' asked Sam. 'From the sky,' answered Stella.
'Starfish are shooting stars that fell in love with the sea.'"

Marie-Louise Gay - "Stella, Star of the Sea"

Sago palm

When it bloomed last year, I discovered that we have a male Sago palm! I was surprised to see its unique bloom again so soon, having once read sagos don't bloom every year. These plants have to be 15 - 20 years old before they are mature enough to bloom, another reason to be surprised since I just planted it a year and a half ago and had no idea of its age.

On another note, today is our two year anniversary of buying this special home and moving here from our Portofino condo. It surely is a lot of work and a bit of a money-pit, as is most any house on a barrier island, but I adore it!

Sea dog!

I ran into this adorable, friendly pooch on the beach this morning, romping in the surf. That's some serious bed-head you have going on there, fella. (But what is he/she???)

Don't let Buck Lee see you out here on the beach!

[I've had e-mails and a comment that this could be a wire-haired fox terrier or a labradoodle, but my favorite was from lady "Lou" who said it must be a sea dog. HA! Hence a change in the title of the post. Whatever it is, it has personality plus.]

Wind from the south

The wind has turned and is coming from the south this morning, kicking up the surf a bit more, and our billowy clouds have moved farther out into the gulf.

It will be a gorgeous, but very warm day on Pensacola Beach. Be sure to put on that sunscreen!

Treasure from the deep blue

I love my discoveries along the shoreline, beautiful treasure from the gulf.

Beachin' day

This is the time of year when the colors of Pensacola Beach are at their finest. The water can change from sapphire to emerald from one day to the next. Thunderheads build all around us, but frequently part and go north or south of the island.

Life is good on Pensacola Beach!

Self-portrait

My self-portrait - well, sort of. You cast a long shadow on the beach at 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. when facing west and the sun is behind you. It's difficult to get a good shot without including yourself.

It's a beautiful day on Pensacola Beach, but you know it will be a hot one when it's 80 degrees on the shady side of the house at 7:00 a.m.

Turtle tracks!

The photos below are very special. They were just recently taken by Kirsten Dahlen who works with the Gulf Islands National Seashore park service and show how she discovers sea turtle nests as she patrols the beach each morning.


You are looking at the tracks of a loggerhead (Caretta caretta) which has come ashore to lay her eggs. Note the rather rambling path she takes. [Tire tracks are on the right edge of the photo.]


These photos help explain how large holes left by folks playing on the beach could cause problems for a sea turtle struggling to nest. Plus, exterior lights or even bright indoor lights can disorient them at night, so be sure to draw your shades/curtains if you live on the beach.

I just discovered Kirsten's fascinating blog. Since she is on the beach daily, she has some fantastic shots you should check out on her unofficial National Park Service blog.

Bands on the Beach

Kaylea (I hope I spelled her name correctly) is learning the lyrics to Pretty Woman! Isn't she adorable?


Stylin' on the beach.


We had a huge crowd at Bands last night. I think it may have been even larger than opening night with the Navy Band. Word must be getting out that the beach is the place to be on Tuesday night.


Touch of Gray was the band and they did a rockin' job.


Dad was chasing bubbles with his baby girl.


When it gets crowded, just move your chair back on the beach. The music sounds just as good, plus, you can wiggle your toes in the sand.


This guy is living the life of Riley, isn't he? I need one of those chairs.

See your next week at Bands on the Beach!

Bands tonight

Don't forget Bands on the Beach tonight. The free concert begins at 7:00 p.m. at Casino Beach. Bring your beach chairs and a cooler full of goodies. Or, if you're pressed for time, you could stop by Subway or The Market on the Island for a sub or wrap to enjoy during the concert. Yum!

Tonight's band is Touch of Gray. You may click on their name to see more info about them -- and check out their song list.

Shhh! They're back!

Shhh! I'll tell you a wonderful little secret. We already have four sea turtle nests on the island! We still had none at this point last year.


Won't it be wonderful if we see our sea turtles numbers start coming back up?

Click here to find out more about our Florida sea turtles and how to help them.

Don't forget: To pick up trash on the beach - especially plastic bags or balloons. Sea turtles may mistake plastic for food.

Don't forget: To fill in any holes you may have dug. Sea turtles coming ashore to nest can get trapped in a large hole.

Don't forget: To turn down the lights and close your shades at night if you live on the beach. Sea turtles can get disoriented when coming ashore to lay their eggs, thinking land lights are moonlight reflected on gulf waters. An entire nest could be lost.

Don't forget: To share your love of these magnificent creatures with others and spread the word on how to help them.

Click here for more info on nesting from The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute .

Oceans of truth

"To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me."

~~ Isaac Newton

Look what's new!

Incredibly, I've been blogging for more than three years now. It seemed time to put a fresh face on my blog and brighten it up a bit.

I hope you enjoy the new look! I still have a few additions coming, such as links to various blogs I follow. One thing that has not changed is my love for the island and my enjoyment in sharing it with you.

Skopelos on the Bay

What a beautiful day for lunch in Pensacola at Skopelos on the Bay! Friends of Chrissy Cook gathered to help celebrate her birthday. Happy birthday, Chrissy!

June is here!

What a beautiful morning on the beach! At seven o'clock my little weather station said it was seventy-eight degrees and 67% humidity! It may be hot here, but imagine what it will be inland. At least we have that wonderful gulf breeze.

The water is gorgeous today! Get out here and enjoy it.

Hurricane Season arrives

The first day of hurricane season has arrived and I have one major to-do list on the calendar: photograph the contents of each room, closet, cabinet, and drawer of the house, plus the garage.

Since I use a digital camera, I will download the photos on an external hard drive. Hopefully I will never have to print them out for an insurance claim (especially the one of my closet!), but if necessary they will be there.

Whether or not you live on the Gulf Coast, this is a very important thing you can do to protect yourself against loss, especially after all the natural disasters which have been in the news this year. If a disaster hits, it's impossible to try to recall every item in your home, so take the time to photograph your home and its contents.

Fadin' with the waves

"Getting stuck sure would be easy,
in this palm tree paradise.
Ambition fades with every wave,
for the finer things in life.
Maybe I'll just hang around here.
Go home later next year..."

~~ Kenny Chesney, "Be As You Are"

View from Hemingway's

A view from the rooftop of Hemingway's Island Grill is spectacular, especially at sunset. Click on the photo to get a real feel of the view.

Evenings in Olde Seville Square

It was another festive night at Evenings in Olde Seville Square, which featured Mr. BIG this week. Let me tell you, that pitcher looked like it was full of something cold and deliciously sweet!


While waiting for the band to start, you can see folks find various things to keep them occupied. Some bring books, some talk to folks around them, and other do crossword puzzles. I'm a Sudoku addict myself.


Having fun in the playground while mom sits nearby.


She's barefoot in the park.


Little Miss Sunshine!


You've seen this couple before! They get my cool couple award.


Ooohh, look at that plate of fruit. Yum!


This cutie was having a blast with her two little friends.


Perfect night for an ice cream cone.


Dance with me, baby, all night long.

Portofino from Range Point

As you can see, it is really a beautiful walk from Portofino east to Range Point where I was standing. It's one of my favorite places.

My photography

I appreciate the kind and complimentary e-mails I've received lately regarding my photography and inquiring about my availability for family portraits on the beach.

As much as I would love to accommodate your requests, I am not a portrait photographer and don't want to make false claims about my ability. In fact, I'm not long out of the gate as any type of photographer, but nature and wildlife is where the magic is for me.

When my husband and I moved here as full-time residents in 2005, I only had a three-year old Olympus Camedia, a 3 mega-pixel point-and-shoot camera, which gobbled up AA batteries. Still, one of favorite shots was taken with that little camera after Hurricane Ivan.

Overwhelmed with the beauty of the island, I started taking photos every day and posting them to my blog, enthusiastic and happy to share my new life on Pensacola Beach. It took about six months before I convinced my husband I needed a new camera with more capability. When I opened my Christmas present that year and saw the Canon Rebel XT he'd bought me, it was love at first sight...sorta like with Pensacola Beach.

I've had discussions with one of the local beach retailers who is favorable about carrying my island photos, so I am hopeful they will be available in his store this year. And, as always, if you see yourself or a member of your family in one of the candid shots I take during Bands on the Beach or Evenings in Old Seville Square, let me know and I'll be glad to e-mail a copy of it to you free of charge. It will be my gift to you, from one island-lover to another.

Sea Nettles

We are seeing quite a number of sea nettles (Chrysaora quinquecirrha), in the area lately. Last weekend they were heavy in the gulf. This weekend I'm seeing a heavy concentration of them in the sound, especially between Portofino and Range Point.

Sea nettles, a form of jellyfish, will keep swimmers out of the water even when rough surf will not. During times like Memorial Day Weekend when the beach is packed and the surf is high, the presence of jellies can greatly reduce the numbers of rescues. Nice to know these little buggers are good for something.

Click here to read information about what is produced which causes the stinging from sea nettles and what to do if you are stung.

Romeo

Romeo is a gorgeous blue and gold macaw. If you visit Pensacola Beach for very long, you are sure to see Romeo and his owner, Mike Gammill, biking along Via de Luna or Pensacola Beach Boulevard.


Who knew Romeo would turn out to be such a ham! He loves having his photo taken. Did you know that macaws can live to be 50 years old. There is even a report of one living to be 100!


Calling Hollywood! "I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille."


Oh no you don't, Romeo. You can't have my hat, but I'll take a (tiny) peck on the cheek.

Sadly, I was so engrossed in photographing Romeo that I neglected to get a photo of him with his owner, Mike Gammill. Click here to see a photo I took of them together in 2006.

Sunset on the Sound

What a beautiful evening for a walk along Santa Rosa Sound.


In the distance you can see a kayaker as the sunlight spills across his path .