Sunday, March 6, 2022

A Sunday At The Beach


Today was a different sort of Sunday. Jessie and Vergil had taken their little boys down to a nearby beach called Mashes Sands. The same one they generally go to and the one where my header picture was taken. Today Mr. Moon wanted to take one of his boats down there as he'd recently had some engine work done on it and he wanted to give it a test run. 
More on that later.
BUT, here's what the sky and the water looked like today. Just blue as it could possibly have been and I thought about the last time we went down there and a huge storm rolled in making the sky look like the angriest bruise you can imagine. Not today though. 

The boys were very, very happy to see us and part of that was because they knew we were bringing cookies. But I don't think it was entirely the cookies. As soon as we pulled up in the boat, the boys waded to where we were tied up to that dock and asked if they could take a ride in the boat and could their parents stay at the beach so they could ride with just Mer and Bop?
As delightful as this idea was, boats make me anxious. I'm not worried I'm going to drown. It's just that I've been in so many boats that have broken down or gotten grounded or just been some kind of pain in the ass. Not to mention that I have another connection with boats that involves my stepfather and we need not say more about THAT.

So I wasn't too wild about the idea and Vergil ended up going on a little ride with them which was fine and then they anchored up and fished for awhile. 


Jessie Girl and I spent a few lovely hours just catching up. So much to catch up on. Her work, family stuff, stuff going on here. I love having children who are my best friends. 

The little guys had a wonderful time. 


They rolled in the sand and waded in the water and jumped in the water and although they did not catch any fish, they were happy to just be on the boat, in the water, with their grandfather. 

So it was a lovely day although it became apparent that the boat has a few problems that will have to be worked on which in my experience is what is always happening with boats. Always. 
And yet, I do have to admit that my husband has transported me many, many miles in boats and never once have we been even close to tragedy. Or even dire danger. 
So there you go. 

We are home and I am heating up leftover shrimp étouffée which was amazingly delicious last night. Mr. Moon bought live shrimp on our way over to the coast as bait and we brought the ones home that he didn't use. They are tiny but obviously fresh and wild-caught. Glen headed them and I peeled them and gently and lovingly and respectfully sautéed them in garlic and butter and I will add them to the étouffée. 



North Florida goodness. 
The ones too small to peel will go to the chickens who will love them with all their little chicken-dinosaur hearts. 

Love...Ms. Moon

30 comments:

  1. B.O.A.T

    bust out another thousand.....

    xxalainaxx

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    1. Never heard that one but too true. I have heard that the definition of a boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into. But they sure make my man happy.

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  2. What a lovely day. Blue, blue sky.

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    1. It was so blue, Joanne. It would have made your heart happy to see it.

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  3. We are pretty much surrounded by water- the sound and the lakes. I am not keen on boats or fishing and the water up here is too cold to swim in. So, yes, I am with you! The photo of the boys is so BOY! darling!

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    1. I do love the water and I love to get in it but I'm not as in love with boats as some people are.
      Levon seems to be in a bootie stage. He loves to stick his out. He does have a cute one.

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  4. What a great life those boys have! I'm with you on boats. Or rather off them. Not a water person, in or on it.

    Sounds like a heavenly day for you.

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    1. I am a water person but I am always doubtful around boats.
      I told the boys yesterday that they are so very lucky. They live in two of the most beautiful states in the country- Florida and North Carolina. Of course I am equating green with beauty which is sort of my standard.

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  5. Those shrimp look glorious. And your grandsons crack me up.

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  6. I would lovingly saute them in garlic and butter and pop them straight into my mouth! Yum! I would love days at the beach with little kids, they get so much fun out of everything. Sadly, none in my family enjoy the beach as my brother and I did when we were children. The only part they like is the fish'n'chips.

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    1. Nothing wrong with fish and chips or shrimp and hushpuppies either. But I do love the beach. My whole family does. I'm glad!

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  7. A fabulous Moon Sunday and fresh shrimp?? Be still my heart...

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  8. Chicken-dinosaur hearts - the perfect description of our little velociraptors!

    Kids and water - what a great day!

    Chris from Boise

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    1. They are small velociraptors, aren't they? In so many ways.
      It was a very fine day.

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  9. A fine day! Being out on the water in a boat is one of favorite things in life, just as long as I am not cold.

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    1. Being cold on a boat is miserable, isn't it? And I've been there before.
      It's also not too fun when the seas are rough. That's when I start getting a little worried. I've never gotten seasick though. Not once.

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  10. A lovely day at your special place - down by the shore. That term "étouffée" sounds quite posh. I just looked it up. The French verb étouffer means to smother or hush up. I guess a belly full of good food hushes most of us up for a while.

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    1. Yep. "Smother". So basically, shrimp étouffée is shrimp smothered in delicious sauce. Those were some leftovers we were happy to eat.

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  11. What an intensely blue sky. I have my own boat story involving a conked motor out in Galveston Bay, Marc and I stuck out there with two little ones slowly drifting into the intercoastal canal. A passing sailboat picked up me and the kids. Marc chose to stay with the boat for whatever stupid reason. It was nearing night by the time we got back and called the Coast Guard. They found the boat but he wasn't on it and finally about 2 AM they found him wading through the shallows of the bay heading for shore. The idiot jumped out with a floaty cushion (no life jacket) when it got dark thinking he could swim back when the boat entered the ICW, afraid some big ship was going to hit him.

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    1. All I can think of to say in response to this is, "Oh Jesus." What a horrible experience. Marc wasn't really thinking that whole situation through, was he?

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  12. LOVE the picture of August and Levon! Hilarious! That sky is indeed a mesmerizing blue. Somehow it never occurred to me to eat bait shrimp, but why not? I wonder why people don't do it more often? Surely they're cheaper than supermarket shrimp.

    I could happily live the rest of my life without getting on a boat in open water.

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    1. Those boys crack me up.
      Some of the bait shrimp, like I said, were too tiny for me to want to peel. But the ones I did were absolutely delicious. And yes, cheaper than supermarket shrimp.

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  13. Looks like a beautiful day! What a great adventure for your little men. I have always felt cautious around water and boats, tho. I imagine all of the critters lurking below me waiting to snap at me!
    My daughter came to visit yesterday and we had such fun talking of old memories and new adventures. What a treat to have her living closer to me now.

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    1. Well, yes. I too have an active imagination when it comes to what might be lurking in the water beneath me and around me. Which is a bit weird since I've never been bitten by anything in the water except tiny minnows who nibble on toes. Still...

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    2. And I am so glad your daughter is near enough for more visits now!

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  14. That shrimp does indeed look fabulous. But I can't believe you guys are at the beach/in the water!!! I had to scrape my car windscreen this morning!

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    1. Well, that's Florida for you. While you were scraping your windscreen, we were putting on sunscreen. Sort of crazy, huh?

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  15. I'm willing to wager that the time spent with Jessie on the beach was everything. It is a lovely thing to have birthed such friends, such soul mates.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.