Today's Catch

Having walked almost the full length of the beach now, we can report excellent shelling in the stretch of shoreline from The Sandbar Restaurant south to Bali Hai in Holmes Beach. At other times I've noticed that shells are quite prolific down on Coquina Beach as well. Of course, I just found an enormous shark's tooth in the shell path at my house, so you never know where you'll find treasure! These olive shells, lightning whelks, scallops, and assorted mollusks were collected this morning.

Mountaintop View

Who knew that we have a real hill on Anna Maria Island? Visit Leffis Key and experience it for yourself! Located across the street from the public parking at Coquina Beach, Leffis Key is a nature preserve filled with boardwalks and informative signs explaining the various habitats found on a barrier island. Climb the hill (manmade from dredging deposits years ago) and get the best views on the island! Just be sure to use your bug spray; mom and I had mosquitos chasing us out of the preserve because we forgot ours!

Pelican Roost

We loved this flock of pelicans roosting on one of the groins jutting out into the water at Coquina Beach. Mom and I have noticed that the birds seem to naturally segregate themselves: pelicans on one groine, seagulls on another, herons on yet another.

Danger, Will Robinson!

Beach warning flags are useful things with which to familiarize ourselves. Thankfully, the beach has been almost perfect all summer long...no flags necessary!

Heading Out to Sea

While finishing our first section of beach walking (we're now walking the entire length of Anna Maria Island's 7 miles of beach), mom and I spotted this vessel heading out for a day of adventure.

The End of the Island

We made it all the way to the south end of the Island! Hard to believe we've walked every single street on the Island...and we're ready for more! Tomorrow we set out to walk the entire beach.

Harvey Memorial Community Church

Head north from Bridge Street down Church Street toward the Bradenton Beach Marina, and you'll find this charming little church tucked away near the end.

Marina Docks

Our friend Kathryn Sandberg joined us on this particular morning as we explored the marina.

Bradenton Beach Marina

Walking early in the morning makes it easier for us to explore places that would be crawling with "official" people during the day. We loved visiting the Bradenton Beach Marina, a place we always see from the Cortez Bridge but have never seen up close. It's a fun place, with lovely trompe l'oeil paintings on diesel tanks and walls, and docks with all sorts of vessels.

House Boat

Currently on shore, this house boat at Bradenton Beach Marina gives new depths to the "house" part of the moniker.

Moon Over Bradenton Beach

We've begun to notice that the days are getting shorter, as this full moon over the clock tower at the Bradenton Beach Pier attests. Ten minutes to seven in the morning, and the skies were dark and the moon was shining!

Fire in the Sky!

Wow! While mom and I were walking the streets of Bradenton Beach, we saw some lovely sunrises...but none so amazing as this one, taken while we walked out on the Bradenton Beach Pier.

Too Clever!

Why can't I ever think of these great names? This sign adorns a tiny cottage barely bigger than the sign itself!

Cute as a Button

Bradenton Beach features a wonderful assortment of tiny vintage cottages evoking images of a much simpler time. Hopefully there will always be plenty of owners who believe it's important to keep these marvelous examples of our sleepy beach heritage.

Soaring Box

You don't get a lot of space to work with in Bradenton Beach, so these owners did a clever job taking things up a notch by building their piece of the American Dream straight into the air!

Cottage Cute

Mom and I love the adorable pint-sized cottages in Bradenton Beach!

Peerless Piers

As the many bayfront piers attest, Bradenton Beach visitors have lots of options for getting out on the water without the benefit of a boat!

Mangrove Walk

One of the best things about walking every single part of the Island is that we get to see what's in back! Taking a stroll through the parking lots of all those condos lining Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach has revealed beautiful Bay views, most of them enhanced by piers stretching far out into the water. A sunrise excursion on boardwalks winding through mangrove forests is a sublime experience.

The Cactus Blooms Again

It's hard to remember why we don't like cacti at the beach when they bloom like this. The bees were in bee-heaven!

Another FABULOUS Sky Greets the Day!

In spite of these enormous "red" clouds over the Gulf this morning, it's dry, dry, dry today! I ate lunch with some friends at the Sandbar Restaurant this afternoon, and the water was pure aqua and the sand was great...who needs to go anywhere else?

Morning Has Broken

The sun was just peeking over the horizon as mom and I finished our walk in Bradenton Beach this morning.

The Cat's Meow

Mom and I never tire of the imaginative mailboxes on this island! We spotted this one early this morning in front of a little resort on Gulf Drive bearing a name that has something to do with cats...I'm desperately searching for it in the Chamber Guide and the Yellow Pages, but with no success. The resort, like its mailbox, looks cute...every room is named for a cat!

Sunday Afternoon Traffic Jam

I was on my way home from church on Sunday afternoon when I got caught in a traffic jam in Holmes Beach. At first I thought it was the Island Trolley making its stops, but then I noticed cars lining the street and people looking out over the canal just north of Seaside Gardens. I decided to join the crowds and see what they were watching. As it turned out, a mother manatee had just given birth to her baby, and she was showing off her pride and joy to excited human onlookers. How glad I am to have stopped!

Mommy & Baby

How exciting to watch mommy and her brand new baby as they slowly moved around the end of the canal.

More Mommy & Baby

Baby is the darker, shorter spot above the big blob. The baby stayed right under his mom's nose, swimming wherever she swam, and breathing whenever she breathed.

We've Made it to Bradenton Beach!

Mom and I are all the way south in Bradenton Beach now...it's hard to believe we've walked every single street in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach! The further south we go, the more we find things that surprise us, even having done this walk once before. Yesterday morning we caught sight of this cute house on Avenue B north of the little trailer park at the Bradenton Beach/Holmes Beach line. We love how they turned their garage into a bar, extending the fun out into their garden.

Avenue E, Probably our Very Favorite Street

One of the things mom and I love about these walks is that we've discovered our preconceived notions about portions of the island were all wrong. Avenue E is a perfect example: we'd never bothered to explore, because who would think something so lovely would be called "Avenue E," or that it would be just one block west of one of the busiest portions of Gulf Drive?

This charming little street runs from 28th Street at its southern end to Gulf Drive as it winds around the back of the Walgreen's parking lot. Along the way there are vintage cottages, really nice new homes that don't all look the same, fabulous beach access paths, a retro beach cabana, brightly painted natives, tucked-away lodgings, and everywhere the sound of the surf and white sands that make this island so special. Avenue E is one of our favorite "discoveries!"

Tiny Island Home

Thank you to the owner of this original island cottage...mom and I are so glad you consider history worth preserving!

Sprouting Mailboxes

This cluster of mailboxes reminded us of so many mushrooms sprouting on the side of the road!

1920's Cottage

Another one of the Island's numerous vintage cottages from the days when traveling to Anna Maria was an arduous undertaking, including riding a ferry across Tampa Bay. No bridges were built until the late 1920's, which meant that building supplies also had to be ferried across and then loaded on wagons for the final leg of their journey.

Beach Plums

Mom says you can make jelly or jam out of these golf ball-size fruits. Edible or not, they make a lovely addition to the landscape at this time of year.

Our Very Favorite Beach Access Path

This perfect beach access runs off of Avenue E across from 29th Street.

Funky Details

The collection of neon-colored houses on the island aren't to everyone's taste, but we've noticed that the attention to funky details on these homes is really impressive. In this case, hand-painted awning supports feature a collection of instrument-playing island natives. Very fun!

Private Beach Cabana

One of the things mom and I love about Avenue E is that there are surprises with each new property we pass. A blustery morning yesterday made this cabana look especially cosy.

Red Sky in the Morning

A tropical depression brewing somewhere out in the Gulf made for fabulous clouds Tuesday morning as we crossed the wooden bridge from Sunbow Bay into Sandy Point.

Roseate Spoonbill

These are supposed to be common around here, but this is only the 2nd or 3rd Roseate Spoonbill we've seen on the Island. This one was showing off his/her colors this morning in front of the Sunbow Bay Condominiums across the street from Publix.

Old Man Pine

Mom & I were amazed by the burls in this wonderful old Australian Pine at the Gulf end of 38th Street.

Luxury Beach Home with a Sense of Humor

It's nice to know that even in a tough economy, some vacation homeowners still have a sense of humor!

A Bevy of Beautiful Birds of Paradise!

Looking perky in the early morning light, this Bird of Paradise in front of a Holmes Beach condo sported a whole flock of blooms.

Sleepy Island

I took a wonderful bike ride on Monday from my house in Anna Maria down to the area we've been walking in Holmes Beach (behind Hurricane Hank's). What I discovered was that we've all of a sudden gotten really sleepy around here! It's been a super busy summer; my office had the most July bookings in our history. Now, however, families are heading home to start school, and things are winding down. It's a treat to have moments when we feel like we're the only people left on the Island!

At the other end of things...

So, who says simple touches are the only way to go? We like this jaunty number across from The Martinique South on 52nd Street in Holmes Beach.

Simple Touches Make All the Difference!

We love these seagull shutter on "Seagull Cottage," located on 4th (or was it 5th?) Avenue. The little street is a treat to discover, with wide beach access and a few cute cottages reminiscent of unspoiled Old Florida.

Adorable Historic Cottage

Mom & I found this cutie on 48th Street in Holmes Beach, just two or three houses from the beach.

Yummy Colors!

After mom's holiday sailing in the British Virgin Islands, we're back on the road, starting south of Hurricane Hank's and west of Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach. In her absence, I mostly relied on an old step aerobics video tape, but I did take one terrific walk on the beach from the Sandbar all the way around the northern tip to Lakeview Drive. That doesn't sound too interesting until you realize that I did the ENTIRE walk on the beach! Actually, I hopped off at The Rod & Reel Pier in order to avoid walking under the pier, but the rest of the walk was entirely on the beach. Those of you who've been concerned about erosion at the north end will be delighted to hear that nature is rapidly filling in what it had devoured last year.

Seagrape Jelly

Seagrapes are in season these days! Everywhere mom and I walk we see these plants bursting with fruit. I always thought they were merely ornamental, but apprently you can make a good jam from these island delights. I've taken this recipe from "Gourmet Bahamian Cooking" by Marie Mendelson & Marguerite Sawyer:

1 quart seagrape juice
5T lemon or lime juice, freshly squeezed
1 package powdered pectin
5 c sugar

To make the juice, wash the grapes and place in a large pan with half as much water. Bring to a boil, mashing often with a potato masher. Continue boiling until fruit is reduced to a soft pulp, about 25 to 30 minutes. Drain through several layers of cheesecloth. Place 1 quart of the juice in a large saucepan, adding remaining ingredients. Bring to a rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary. Pour into hot, sterilized jars and immediately seal lids.

Lisa Sharrow, This is for You!

Visitor and friend Lisa Sharrow wanted to know the name of this lovely tree blooming abundantly at the corner of Marina Drive and Key Royale Drive. I contacted another dear friend, Sandy Moses, owner of Sandy's Lawn Service, and she did quite a bit of research to discover that this tree is a lovely example of a Mexican Poincianna. No wonder the foliage looks so much like that of the Royal Poincianna! Thanks, Sandy!

Key Royale Golf Course at Sunrise

These kind of views make us wish we played golf!

Contented Cat

We found this happy cat gazing out over the Key Royale Golf Club.

Oak Grove at Anna Maria Elementary

Last time we walked right by AME, not wanting to violate any laws about being on school grounds during the school year. However, yesterday we decided we were dying to get right in and see the campus after driving by countless times and admiring it from Gulf Drive.

Of course, the school is closed for the summer, but if I were a student I'd be eager to return to this wonderful spot as soon as the doors re-open. This beautiful stand of live oaks shading picnic benches is just one example of truly idyllic surroundings.

Another Favorite

We spied this wonderful new pool through an open fence at a construction site near Publix. Around the corner is more pool fed by a spa and a waterfall tumbling down over four rock steps. The old rectangular job at home will never look the same!