crabbing, originally uploaded by beverlykaytw.

On the dock at the Dolphin Club. Kids were crabbing with cousin Phil as usual. We have a couple of new cousins to add to the mix. There was a break in the rain so I ran down to snap a few photos. I didn't even notice the rainbow in the sky - can you see it? I like what a colorful group they were. If you look closely you can also see one of the crazy swimmers in the water - a surprising (to me) activity but there are always a few in the water.

crab from the bay

crab from the bay, originally uploaded by beverlykaytw.

Phil brought a chicken carcass for the crab trap and this was one of many crabs it tempted - one of the biggest for the day.

swinging

swinging, originally uploaded by beverlykaytw.

He was quite proud of how he found a swing for himself.

I stop here

I stop here, originally uploaded by beverlykaytw.

this is where I drew the line. I had already stooped down under one pier but it was drippy and I wasn't interested in joining them for their further explorations with cuz Phil.

bubbles in the face perhaps?

bubbles in the face perhaps?, originally uploaded by beverlykaytw.

I posted this back in mid-October. For some reason it gets a fair bit of flickr traffic - why?? It is up to 453 views with 4 views just yesterday. Perhaps something in the tags gets searched often? I just wonder how people end up looking at my stuff sometimes.

the sparkler

the sparkler, originally uploaded by beverlykaytw.

They had sparklers at the Target in FL so they just had to end up in the kids xmas stockings. We waited too long to do them - the cold front had set in but it was still fun.

Here are the guys at G-Wiz hands on science museum in Sarasota. They are deep in battle - one on one to use brain waves (Alpha and Theta) to control a little ball - the person with the calmer waves "wins" and the ball rolls towards the other person. Q's calm looking meditation didn't beat little Jack's scrunched up face approach - and my brother beat me soundly - twice. Argh!

For a change Q was the big winner at the fishing stakes. We had a great time out on the water the day before yesterday. It was our best weather day here and the bay was super calm. Q made the first catch of the day - a Bluefish - literally on his first cast of the day. That was followed in rapid succession by 2 more Bluefish - one each A and my Dad. Dad was using fake lures while the boys had live shrimp. P & I weren't fishing as we hadn't sprung for licenses. P was hooking on the shrimp as needed. I just hung out. Saw several dolphin as usual. We decided to head out after our haul of Bluefish as we weren't sure they were any good to eat. Also caught a few trout but can't keep them until Jan 1st. Our next couple spots didn't yield much but our last spot of the day was another bonanza spot - this time for Pompano. That is what Q is hauling in in this pic - the first one caught and by far the largest of the 4 the boys brought in. Interestingly enough Dad didn't catch one - they much preferred the shrimp apparently. Both boys ended up with the same # of fish. A is happy to fish all day but Q tends to get a bit bored - but not when he bookends his day with real eating fish! We called home, my brother found recipes, dad scaled, gutted and filleted the fish in the dark (flashlights!) while getting eaten by mosquitoes, I prepped the sauces for the fish and dad grilled them. Both fish were super! The Bluefish had red flesh and was stronger flavor but we made up a ginger/soy/lime/sugar dressing that was great. The Pompano was done in foil packets with a topping of onions/carrots/celery/garlic sauteed in wine/lemon/spices. Quite yummy too!

Yesterday we spent the afternoon at the beach after lunch at the Sandbar on Amelia Island. Such beautiful sugar sand. The kids had to jump in the pool when they got home for sunset. A bald eagle kept us entertained with his antics (he had a large fish in his mouth and kept swimming back and forth across the pond in the backyard). Tonite P and I walked along quite a few holes of the golf course for sunset and I saw a river otter head into one of the ponds. Also walked by a couple of chattering sandhill cranes within a few feet. Also saw hundreds of swallows all circle down and in to a couple of trees - then scatter back up to the sky. Love all the wildlife here in the community.