Tag Archives: beach

Highlights and lowlights

31 Wednesday Dec 2025

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“It’s a New Year and with it comes a fresh opportunity to shape our world.
So this is my wish, a wish for me as much as it is a wish for you: in the world to come, let us be brave – let us walk into the dark without fear, and step into the unknown with smiles on our faces, even if we’re faking them. And whatever happens to us, whatever we make, whatever we learn, let us take joy in it. We can find joy in the world if it’s joy we’re looking for, we can take joy in the act of creation. So that is my wish for you, and for me. Bravery and joy.” ― Neil Gaiman

2025 was a tough year, most of all because of my dad’s passing.  Still, I know that his passing was timely and was a blessing for the fact that he is no longer in pain, and he passed on his terms.  He transitioned. He is here but in other form.  I was able to be there and hold the family together – for that I am so grateful.

 

Today was a cold day (for Florida) so I am using my dad’s sweater and lounging pants.   There is something comforting about that.

Dad, be in peace!  You are loved!

 

Then there was the long regulatory audit… so much stress, so many sleepless night,  and let’s not forget the costly assessments for our condo structural repairs.

Still, in 2025 there was also a lot of highlights, such as:

  • Taking my mother to a casino resort in Argentina to celebrate her 90th birthday
  • Skiing in El Colorado, Chile in August
  • Skiing trips to Breckenridge
  • Cruise to Caribbean
  • Trips to the Seminole casinos
  • Sunrises at the Indialantic Beach
  • Sunsets at Melbourne Pier
  • No regulatory fines
  • Condo construction finished

For 2026 I am hoping for more adventures and fun trips with Michael.  The future seems so bright and big.  I am blessed, and I know it!

For you I wish so much love and joy.  I wish you strength and wisdom! I wish you peace!  I thank you for being in my corner in 2025.  I thank you for the kind word that showers me in love!

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.
So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.
Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it.
Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”
― Neil Gaiman

 

Sanford and Lake Mary

28 Sunday Dec 2025

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“Have you also learned that secret from the river; that there is no such thing as time?” That the river is everywhere at the same time, at the source and at the mouth, at the waterfall, at the ferry, at the current, in the ocean and in the mountains, everywhere and that the present only exists for it, not the shadow of the past nor the shadow of the future.” ― Hermann Hesse

We had a fun Saturday biking on the riverwalk in Sanford, Florida. We got there very early and it was very foggy, but then turned into a gorgeous day.

After the bike ride, we stopped for coffee at the Caffe Di Riverwalk.  I had a mocha and a bacon, egg and cheese on a croissant. Michael had a potato burrito and a black coffee.  It was good, not outstanding.   I thought my sandwich and my mocha weren’t hot enough. Great service, but I am not running back.

We walked around town afterwards and there was a little fair going on.  I found brigadeiros (Brazilian fudge candy) and I had to buy some.  They were okay.  From the booth next to it, I got a Dubai chocolate cake.  I have started seeing all these “Dubai” items more and more.  I guess any time you put pistachios on something you make it “Dubai”.  The cake tasted like it was from a box, and the chocolate frosting was just okay.  I wouldn’t buy it again.

We then drove to Lake Mary and walked around downtown for a while.  We then went to lunch at Pisco Peruvian.  It was awesome!  Everything about it was perfect.  Beautiful ambiance, amazing service, delicious well-thought-out food.

To drink I had a passion-fruit (of course) drink and Michael had some non-alcoholic (he was driving) frozen coconut lemonade. He had a sushi dish with shrimp ceviche.  I had the lomo salted, and of course I also yucca fries – I have to have that any time I see it on the menu.  I brought dessert home  – it was 3 leches cake with a layer of merengue and crème diplomat.    I would go back to eat those again and to try different items.

After it, we walked next door to Brooklyn Water Bagels to bring some bagels home.  I gave up on trying to find a good NY bagel in Florida, so I only bought a couple thinking that they would be disappointing, These bagels were delicious. We just had them for breakfast and now we are sorry we didn’t buy more.

Too bad those 2 great finds are almost 2 hours away from where we live.   Any time I find a good restaurant it is always far away.  Maybe it is for the best – my wallet and waist are probably better for it.

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”  – Virgina Woolf 

 

Lately … beach, river and town

20 Saturday Dec 2025

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Life continues with sunrises at the beach, sunsets at the river and the occasional night out. Oh yeah, work has been driving me insane with end of the year compliance issues, but I am choosing to focus on my huge list of blessings.

Daily sunrise walk

Amazing sunsets – so grateful

 

A curious little squirrel 🙂

 

Yucca fries and passionfruit mojitos – while I wait for skirt steak with rice and beans – yummy

“If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present.” ― Roy T. Bennett

 

Turtle life

02 Saturday Aug 2025

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Turtle traffic? Some days the turtle tracks are very confusing.

Mama Turtle

Mama turtle in action

Baby turtle

2 baby turtles in action – it took probably about 20 minutes, as the tide kept returning the to the sand, but eventually they both made it to the ocean.

People seen at sunrise on the beach

01 Friday Aug 2025

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A Surfer

‘

 

A kayaker

 

A fisherman

 

A photographer

Wishing everyone a blessed weekend!  May August be full of love, adventure and discoveries!

Just a pirate on the beach

30 Wednesday Jul 2025

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This morning, besides a turtle laying their eggs, and some baby turtles getting to the ocean, I saw the pirate again.

I am not sure if I have mentioned here before or not,  I see a pirate walking on the beach every morning.

Yes, a pirate! and I can prove it! I took a photo, and he even gave me a gold coin  🙂

His words: “I started walking on the beach dressed as a pirate this summer to get some exercise as well as share my love for history and most importantly to bring some smiles and magic to the beach.”

And he does bring a lot of smiles.  🙂

He made it!

25 Friday Jul 2025

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This morning I saw another baby turtle making its way to the ocean.

It is really amazing that they are able to make it against all odds.

My video making actions is still a struggle, but it is very hard to record those little guys.  They move faster than they look, plus I am trying not to get too close to them, and had just taken a fall.

It was 6am, still dark and all of a sudden I spot this little guy going towards the sand bar the tides created. I realized he would fall, which he did and landed on his back. I fell as I stepped on the sand bank to go down to him. By the time I got up he had turned himself over and was on his way.

All is well that ends well!

Sunset Bliss

24 Thursday Jul 2025

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I love my sunset bike rides.  Before returning home I normally sit at a bench by the river and spend some time doing some or all of the following:

  • Watching the creatures, such as dolphins, jumping fishes or the birds diving to catch them
  • Calling my sister and catching up 
  • Reading my fellow blogger’s posts
  • Playing a game of buraco on the phone (buraco is a Brazilian card game)
  • Watching people doing yoga (free class on Thursdays, I may join in the future)
  • Composing a mental gratitude list.  I have so much to be grateful for
  • Nothing (this is very hard for me, but I do attempt it)

Here is heaven:

Shoes, eyewear and turtles

22 Tuesday Jul 2025

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I have a shoe problem.  In the beginning I was walking on the beach barefoot, but I had all sorts of pain in my knees and my hips.  I looked into some water shoes, but haven’t found any that provided the support I want and need.  Water sandals didn’t work either, they let the sand in and it becomes uncomfortable, also my foot slides in them, so there is no support.  I also need high tops so that sand doesn’t get in them.

For the moment I have been walking in sketchers tennis shoes. They are good, but I don’t want to get them wet, so I have been walking mostly on the dry soft sand, instead of closer to the water.  I am still in search of the perfect beach walking shoes.

Today I found myself walking much closer to the water because of some sand banks the tide has created.  It is interesting to see how the ocean and tides behave during the different seasons.  Michael is a surfer so I am hearing more than I care to know about how the waves are behaving on a daily basis.

I feel bad for the turtles.  In some areas they cannot go over the sand wall that has been created.  Look at the tracks in the picture below.  They were headed to the sand to lay their eggs, but had to abort the mission and return to the ocean.  

All I found today were items returned by the ocean.  They all looked like they had spent a night in the ocean and returned in the morning.  I am guessing the ocean is tired of eyewear.

I saw another baby turtle, but unfortunately it was dead.  I think a crab had tried to grab its legs.  I am amazed that some of them are able to make it to the water, with all the obstacles and predators.

A blessed week to all!

I wrote the above yesterday, but didn’t have the chance to edit and post it.  I don’t have time to do it today either, but decided to post it anyway or it will never be done.

I have a financial audit, and also the final answer letter to the NFA findings both due on Thursday, July 24th.  I am giving myself Friday off, if those are finished and there is no follow up questions.

Briefly, today I saw 2 turtles going back to the ocean.  I didn’t take pictures. The first one it was still dark out and I didn’t want do anything to disturb it.  The second one, there were already too many people watching it.

I found goggles again, a couple of shovels and a t-shirt, plus assorted bottle caps and straws.

Sorry about typos. I hope everyone has a blessed day!  May you see all the blessings in your life!

Getting busy living

16 Wednesday Jul 2025

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I am still here, just the usual busyness.

I went to NY for a couple of weeks to pack some more of my stuff.  At the moment, I only have some of my mom’s paintings and mosaic materials left there.

I thought I would be going back to NY more often, but that is not the case.  I rather try to develop a routine here.

Another 2 weeks of routine here, and we are off to ski in Chile.  I am so excited about that!! From there we will be spending a couple of months in Brazil to help out with my aging parents.

The audit my company is going through it is coming to an end.  It has taken 6 months.  I just need to write a couple of pages of answers to their findings, and a couple of late requests, but I am so relieved that this is final.  Hopefully it will be more than a couple of years until they return again. 

 I am still walking on the beach in the mornings and bicycle riding along the river in the afternoons.

I am not sure why, but I haven’t really been finding a lot on the beach, not even garbage.  Perhaps:

  • Someone is getting up earlier than I do and cleans up the beach. I go to walk at 6am.
  • There has been a lot less people on the beach. Less people, less garbage.
  • People are becoming better about picking up after themselves. I wish!!

I still continue to see turtles laying their eggs.  I just look from a distance.  I want to give them their space.   It is a long nesting season for the 3 types of turtles we have here: green turtle, leatherback and the loggerhead.

I have only seen 1 baby so far.  By the prints on the sand, it looked like he was just late leaving the nest.

Clearly by the video I could never be a videographer 😊. In my defense, I was far away so it was not that simple.

I hope you are having an amazing summer (or winter depending in what hemisphere you are). 

Blessings!