August Summer in Florida

Raspberry Sorbet on a hot July evening 
at an outdoor Oldies Music dance event

Welcoming August with the Hodgepodge questions. If you want to link up with your blog, click here.

1. What's something on your August calendar you're looking forward to? Or dreading if that's easier to answer. 

Just today Gary made reservations for us to attend a musical concert later this month featuring beautiful music from opera and theatre. The advertisement shows suits, tuxedos, and tasteful evening gowns.... sounds like a classy event to me.

VOICExperience

2. August 5th is National Oyster Day...do you partake? How do you feel about pearls? 

I have had both fried and raw oysters (although I don't remember the raw very well). The fried oysters were good, but deep-fry anything and it's usually very good. 

As for pearls, I love to wear pearls for dress-up. They look good with my graying hair.

3. Tell us about a time when you felt like 'the world was your oyster'. 

In 2017 when I moved to Florida, it felt like "the world was my oyster" with new beginnings, new places to explore, a new climate, and the delights of living close to the ocean (well, a 30-minute drive). 

On an interesting note, that "oyster" began to dissolve a little a couple of months later when Hurricane Irma marched across our city. For safety, we had to huddle in our laundry room, as the storm raged on for hours outside. 

"Spaghetti models" for Hurricane Irma 
2017

Hunkered down and praying for the best gave me time to re-assess the decision to leave Colorado. That was 9 years ago and I'm still a Florida resident, although I have moved farther inland.

4. Trip Advisor lists seven islands in the US that require no passport (for US citizens). If you're answering today from outside the US you'll still need to produce yours. An-y-way, have you been to any of the seven? Let's pretend you get an all expense paid trip to one this month...which one do you choose and why? 

Catalina Island California~Martha's Vineyard Massachusetts~Mackinac Island Michigan~Key West Florida~South Padre Island Texas~or Kauai Hawaii

I have been to 2 of the islands listed and a 3rd location that is very close to one of the others. 

Catalina Island, California in 1965

In the summer of 1965 my family lived in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California. Sister and I attended the teen version of Vacation Bible School at our church. We were part of a challenge to memorize a number of Bible verses. We both learned them all and found to our delight that the reward for all of us who "won" was a daytime trip to Catalina Island. We rode a ferry boat from the Los Angeles area to the island. Once there, we just wandered around the main area, found lunch, and shopped. It was a delightful experience I have never forgotten.

Mustang Island, Texas 1994 (which is just north of Padre Island, off the coast of Corpus Christi)

The summer of 1994 we drove south from our home in Colorado Springs to a luxury resort on Mustang Island, off the Coast of Corpus Christi. (Drive a little farther south to reach Padre Island.) It was a beautiful trip with gorgeous water views, and wonderful seafood.

Key West 2025

Us at the famous Southernmost Point Buoy
in Key West, Florida

We drove to Key West in February of 2025 after having spent time the previous day at the Florida Everglades. We didn't get to see as much as we would have liked due to the large crowds and looong lines of people enjoying the mild Florida winter. 

Lunch under the umbrellas

My favorite memory is our outdoor, beachside lunch with colorful chickens at our feet, pecking the ground for snacks.

 

The water close by, a cloudless sky with brilliant sunshine, and perhaps the most tropical atmosphere I've ever experienced.

Dessert that day:

Key Lime Pie in Key West, Florida
OF COURSE!!
with an added "crema" specialty by the chef

5. Sylvia Plath is credited with the following- 

"August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time."

Agree or disagree? In other words, how do you feel about this month? 

This graphic from Facebook says it really well. Our high temps may moderate a little in August, but October is the best month of all.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance. I Peter 1:2

Barbara