Aloe There!

I got this big aloe vera plant for just $5 a few days ago. Some of the shoots were browning from too much sun at the nursery, but after just a few days indoors, it really started greening up nicely. Soon I hope to repot it, divide it and have a few more aloes. 

 

Andy Bowie Park

Since coming here, I have had my eye out for the park where I played with my youngest son and my grandkids 20 years ago, but I hadn't seen it. Well, today I did, when I finally checked out Andy Bowie Park. To be honest, I found Andy Bowie Park and, in fact, the beachside of the whole northern end of the business district to be rather weathered and worn . . .  and somewhat neglected. 

The playground area was only a few years old when we were here for the first time. It really drove home how very long ago that was. 

Good memories.

 

The Dunes in Watercolor

 

Just a little watercolor I did of the dunes this past week. I hope to do more soon. 

And a couple of strawberries. Just because.

The Meatball Cafe

 

My "splurge" to-go meal for this week was a place I've been wanting to try out for awhile - "The Meatball Cafe." Every time I drive by, I wonder why they chose the name? Is it a cafe that features every type of meatball anyone could ever imagine? 

Well, no, it is actually just a very nice Italian restaurant with amazing food. I spent at least 20 minutes going over the menu, trying to decide what to get. I wanted to try everything, but I settled on the Mortadella Panini, minus the mortadella, which looks too much like bologna for my liking, and with a side salad instead of the homemade fries. But it still had spinach, mushrooms, ricotta, and mozarella - and it my taste buds don't deceive me, homemade Ciabatta - and it was amazing. Simply delicious. 

Now I can't wait to try the lasagna, the spaghetti and meatballs, the pizza, and more. I rarely eat in restaurants - usually just this once-a-month treat - but I will have to make an exception for this one, because I don't think I can wait another month to try something else or have that panini again. Mmmm. 

P.S. There is also a beautiful outdoor seating area behind all that garden-covered lattice work, which I might enjoy the next time I come.

Potato Pancakes For Supper

 
One of my all-time favorites for supper - potato pancakes with sour cream. Sometimes I get ambitious and make bacon with them, but not tonight. Just a couple of grated potatoes, salt, and a large egg fried up in a little almond oil. Other oils or bacon grease will do nicely too, but the almond oil makes them nice and crispy. 

There are a lot of ways to make potatoes pancakes. Some people use mashed potatoes, some use flour. I just like to keep them simple. Once in a while I add some grated carrots or some chopped kale. But no matter what, it's a nice simple meal.

They're also nice for when money's tight, as you can fry up an awful lot of potatoes with a bag of potatoes and a dozen eggs. 

The Ginga Leopard

 

As I reached the Jetties today, a great ship was rolling in. I believe I have seen it here before, from a distance, but today I got a closer look. 

The vessel's name is the Ginga Leopard. When I got home I looked it up, and to my surprise, I found that vessel's like these can be tracked by anyone on www.vesselfinder.com. I could see that the Ginga Leopard was an oil tanker headed to Brownsville, and hailed from Panama. It is even possible to track the journey of the Ginga Leopard and other such vessels on a map, which would make a really cool school project. 

The Rolling Sea

 

Today I went down to the Jetties, but this time I had my new water shoes (which are basically elastic slippers with a rubber sole), so I felt relatively safe in walking further out on the big, rock barrier. Someday I may walk all the way to the end, where I have been told there are sometimes sea turtles and dolphins to be seen, but, for now  . . .  baby steps.

But I did see an amazing view of the business district/hotels, etc, all lined up along the beach. And I did see some really cool blue-and-white waves rolling in along the edge of the barrier. And, of course, an egret, some really cool pelican dives, and plenty of sunshine.

Gnocchi, Anyone?

 

I really never imagined I would be a fan of gnocchi, as I don't usually care for potatoes and pasta together, or even potatoes and bread in the same meal. For example, I like my mom's old hamburger soup recipe made with either potatoes or macaroni, but not both. I can eat a dinner roll with a meal that includes potatoes, but I definitely cannot put potatoes on bread, as my younger brothers used to do. Blah. 

But several months back, I changed my mind about gnocchi when I was treated to a gnocchi dish at my son's home. His wife, Natalie, had made a really hearty soup featuring some type of sausage and gnocchi, and it was so good. I decided that I would go ahead and give gnocchi a try. 

I was a little leary when I saw all the cautionary warnings about how difficult it is to get it right, but I didn't find it difficult at all, and they turned out just right. And even a small recipe makes so much, I was able to throw some in the freezer for another time. 

My soup was made with equal parts chicken stock and cream, with chicken and salsa verde. I also added fresh poblano juice and a little sweet red pepper juice, along with garlic, onions, and sea salt. the fresh juices really make a difference, in my book. Anyway, it was very yummy. 

Mother and Child Silhouette on the Beach

 

I have always loved mother-and-child photos, and so I really love this photo of a mother and child on the beach at sunrise. A nicely silhouetted pair, before the gentle rays of sunshine. 

Of course, our resident egret tried to steal the show. I think he is feeling left out since I haven't been walking with him for a while. Whenever I did try to walk with him, he would always play hard to get, but now that I am finding other fascinations and no longer following him around with my camera, I think he's feeling a bit left out. 

Sunrise at Isla Blanca Park

 

Another beautiful sunrise at Isla Blanca Park. 

Moon Jellies

 

I am learning that moon jellies, which have been washing up on the shore in droves lately, dry out very quickly once they are out of the water. They are high in fatty acids, so the birds and other predators like to feast on them. Most of the ones I see are sort of wilting away, but every once in a while I see one that must have just been left, poor things. I wish there was something that could be done to get them back in the water, but I don't think that's done, so I will just leave it alone. 

Off to the Dunes

Today I went driving north of the city of South Padre Island, as I often do, especially when I'm feeling a little down, and every time I tell myself I should stop to take pictures. Well, today I actually did it. I actually went driving here for the specific purpose of taking some pictures of the dunes, especially the really sandy ones. 

Another thing that happens to me when I go out here - It puts me in mind of "Sarah Plain and Tall," and how she missed the sea and missed having a dune to play on, as she had done as a child. When Caleb says woefully that they do not have a dune, his dad pipes in and says, "Yes, we do." And they head to the barn where he proclaims the giant haystack their dune, and they begin to jump and play, sliding down their "dune."  

Every time I drive down here, I start thinking "We have a dune." 

Well, today I went home and watched "Sarah Plain and Tall." After being here six months, I can understand why she would miss the sea so much, although, personally, I am so glad to be in a warm-weather beach climate like that of South Padre Island. 

Jetty to the Sunrise

 

What a lovely start to any week! I love this shot of the jetty stretching out toward the sunrise. The colors blend so nicely, and the natural look of the rock structure looks so good against the water. Just part of many wonders this day would bring. 

Sunday Morning Farmers Market

 

The farmers market on South Padre Island is possibly the best I have ever been to, keeping in mind that I only go to smaller ones, as I can't generally handle the crowds at the big-city markets. It definitely has a superb location, and there are vendors selling everything from fresh, organic vegetables to kombucha and sprouts and raw cacao and live plants and kettle corn and baked goods. They also have live music. I will definitely be going every Sunday morning I can, as long as they are open.

Last week I took home veggies, sprouts, and ground cacao and this week I bought more veggies and sprouts and some kombucha salad dressing, some homemade salsa, and a huge bag of Texas ruby red grapefruit, brought in from the Grapevine orchard, not far from where I live. 

 

The kombucha dressing was very good on the farmers market salad I had for supper.