At Home in Palm Beach

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

2016-01-23T16:52:00.002-05:00

For my birthday, I wanted to visit the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. It was the perfect day with my family.

The Morikami's mission is to provide authentic Japanese cultural experiences that entertain, educate and inspire. This Japanese garden is curated to educate visitors and features a number of gardens, flowing seamlessly from one to the next, from various eras in Japan's gardening culture. Wandering along the path brings a feeling of serenity and sense of well-being, especially with the wind running around in the bamboo trees you see just below. Ah. . . until the teenager wrinkles her nose at the heat and slow pace at which the mom is meandering. Ah well.

Please enjoy my photos from the lovely gardens.

Besides strolling in the gardens and taking photos, we enjoyed lunch in the Cornell Cafe. The servers were delightful and the food was fresh and delicious.

The aforementioned teenager perked up when we purchased some yummy Japanese candies from the gift shop.

Morikami Japanese Museum and Gardens
4000 Morikami Park Rd.
Delray Beach, FL 33446

Photos, Oops!

2014-07-21T12:51:00.002-04:00

Hey "At Home" friends. You might see some photo issues as you might realize as you peruse my blog. Please be patient and I'll fix them as soon as I have a chance. But for today, here are a few image to make you smile as you wait for the others to come back.

Cheers to all!

Why do boys get all the great clothes?

Pretty maids all in a row.
Now that's putting down some roots.

Cheers for you day!

Breakfast of Champions

2013-09-06T18:43:00.000-04:00

Most of you who know me, know that I joke about my personal "breakfast of champions..." Diet Coke with Splenda


{source}

But after the next few pictures, maybe we could all agree that hummingbirds are champions in their own right and watching them fight for their breakfast offers us a glimpse of something a bit more heroic than my version.

Here are a couple of crazy facts from birding.about.com...

The average ruby-throated hummer 3 grams. In comparison, a nickel weighs 4.5 grams.
A hummingbird’s wings beat between 50 and 200 flaps per second depending on the direction of flight and air conditions.
Hummingbirds do not suck nectar through their long bills, they lick it with fringed, forked tongues. (If you look really carefully, you can see one in the top picture, left hummer...cool.)
A hummingbird must consume approximately 1/2 of its weight in sugar daily, and the average hummingbird feeds 5-8 times per hour.
Despite their small size, hummingbirds are one of the most aggressive bird species (probably because they have to eat so much...)

Courageous little creatures. I have yet to see on in Palm Beach. Do they migrate through here?

Anyway, enjoy your day in the mountains or by the shore. Eli

Signs You Might Be: On a Mountain

2013-09-01T10:17:00.000-04:00

I guess I never realize the variety of road signs and other important informational stuff that one sees along the highways and bi-ways in the mountains and how different it is from what you find along the beach. I mean, it stands to reason, but I found it striking on summer vacay which included a lot of miles back to Colorado and the mountains. I found it interesting. I hope you will too.

A mountain is a big place and when one is riding up the lift or gondola and sliding on the snow, or hiking on a gravel trail, signage is important. Most of the rustic wooden signs are painted and have applied letters, like the one above. It's telling us that Avanti is Expert and Cold Feet is Easy. It sits on the mountain year round. But below, you'll find a corrugated plastic one that just has to make it through a summer or two.

It's hard to imagine that the following pic rests at the top of an expert run. The hill is dotted with tufts of green grass and colorful wild flowers. But when you stand at the top of it looking down in the winter, admiring the bright white slippery snow...it's a bit easier to comprehend.

The mountains though massive and courageous, have challenges. Pine beetles, a tiny invader, have become a huge problem for the Colorado mountain forests over the last 5-10 years. The tree below is marked with blue paint to designate it has been invaded. You can also see sap running down the left side and on the upper right, indicating the tree is not well.

It is devastating to see the hillside covered with dead trees as in this image.

{source}

And as we've all seen on the news for many summers, forest fires can decimate the land in a heartbeat. Well, imagine a lightening strike in the above picture...it doesn't take much of a spark.Next time I'll share some of the great beauty held in the mountains...

So, what do you choose? Winter skiing or boarding OR summer hiking or biking? Or I guess, you could choose them all.

Cheers, Eli

Racing the Bridges

2013-04-22T21:13:00.000-04:00

When you live on an island, you deal with draw bridges and their openings...

Here in Palm Beach there are three that carry nearly 37,000 people back-and-forth every day:

The Southern Bridge to the south
The Royal Park Bridge in the middle
The Flagler Memorial Bridge to the north.

When we moved here we learned that people call them North Bridge, Middle Bridge and South Bridge. {How civilized.}

When deciding which bridge to use for any given outing, I want to employ my intuition for the drawbridges openings. Each drawbridge has the possibility of opening twice an hour when needed for boats to travel under them. So far, so good, right?

{source} North Bridge

So it makes sense to have the bridges at the top and bottom of the island, open at the top and bottom of the hour, right? Then have the middle bridge, open in the middle of those.

NOT!

The middle bridge opens at the top and bottom of the hour and the North and South bridges open at quarter past and quarter til. ARRRGH! Even after living here nearly 2 years, I still have to look at the time and stop to think which bridge might be opening. Sigh.

{source} Middle Bridge

So what happens if you get "caught" and you are in a hurry? I know, just leave one bridge's line of traffic and "race" to the other? Right?
Ummmm, NO! I doesn't work! (I know. I tried it. More than once...). Here's a tidbit. I recently I found out, the average time for a bridge opening is only 7 minutes.Now, I take deep breath, put the car in park and read something on my Nook, play a game on my phone or clean out the receipts in my purse. Ahhhhhhhh! I realize it may be the only 7 minutes I have to do nothing in a day.

{source} South or Southern Bridge

Another deep breath, look at the palm trees, water and sky and remember how thankful I am to be living here. I might even love those bridges a little bit more.

Want to learn more about the history of Palm Beach bridges? Click here.

Have a fab day. Eli

Life in the Fast Lane...or is that the slow lane?

2013-04-19T21:33:00.001-04:00

Driving in Southeast Florida is always a "treat." And by treat I mean something unexpected and fun, right? OK, maybe it is not always a treat. But after living here for nearly 2 years there are some traffic norms I have come to expect, even if I don't love them.

{source}

Slow Lane/Fast Lane
On most Highways, the slower traffic keeps right while speedier drivers enjoy a little freedom with the left hand lanes. Not so in South Florida. There seems to be some code, although I have not quite cracked it yet but everyone knows the fast lane is on the right. Maybe not the far right because that could end up being an exit lane but the next lane is it. So if you want to move it down the highway, don't bother with the far left lane. You'll get stuck behind some grandpa going 55 in the 65 in which most want to go 75...Did I say that out loud?

Pick a Lane
When turning at an intersection on Palm Beach, turning into any lane is quite acceptable. For example, I'm on a four lane road, let's say South Ocean, going south. I'm in the right lane turning right onto Royal Palm Way. It's clear. I turn into the center lane instead of turning into the right lane. What if someone coming north was trying to turn into that lane??? Well, turns out they wait 'cause they know I'm going to just pick any lane I want. CRAZY!!

U-turns are Not a Federal Offense
Florida is a great place for U-turns. Unlike Colorado where U-turns can get you into big trouble. Here, you can make them almost anywhere. I guess if we gave tickets to all the lost folks, we might not have such a great image with the tourists and retired individuals gawking at the ocean and scantily clad beach goers. So while the police ignore it, you MUST watch out while others do it.

Life is distracting to drivers here, I understand.

So, while you are out there on the road, be careful and learn from this Colorado turned Florida girl, u-turns are your friend.

Palm Beach Cheese Puffs

2013-02-02T14:47:00.001-05:00

One of the most delicous and delightful tastes I've discovered living in Palm Beach for the past year and a half: The appetizer affectionately known as Palm Beach Cheese Puffs!

Seriously! These little dollar coin-sized toasts topped with a magical mixture of cheese and who knows what else is one of the most delicious things I have ever "appetized." Is that a word? Probably not.

The taste is strong yet smooth, toasty and warm, savory and rich! and as far as I know, you can only get them in the Palm Beaches...so come on down and we'll get some!

Before

After (After that is a plate with crumbs)

Leave it to the Leaves for Bougainvillea

2013-01-25T21:06:00.004-05:00

Bougainvillea

It's a vine. It's a climber. It's evergreen in wet climates. It's beautiful but it's barely a flower!

What?

Seriously, one of the most beautiful flora around these parts is all about the leaves or "bracts." Jeepers, who knew?! So what is a Bract?

According to Britannica online a bract is a "small, leaflike structure often positioned beneath a flower or inflorescence. What are often taken to be the petals of flowers are sometimes bracts." The article points to the colorful poinsettia and dogwood as popular culprits.

Here in Florida, it's most notably the Bougainvillea!

The actual flower has a diameter smaller than a dime.

Those of us who grew up elsewhere just thought that the magnificent magenta set against the deep evergreen of the vine was a beautiful flower. Not so! It is simply a cluster of leaves.

So, let's hear it for the leaf. Enjoy!

Theory or Razor-tivity

2012-10-05T21:33:00.002-04:00

It's fall. In Colorado

that means you start layering, wearing jeans, maybe throwing on a sweater in the evenings. Your wardrobe begins to show off rich fall colors, gem tones and if you are civilized, you put away or flip flops until next summer.

{source}

You venture outside, breath in the cool, crisp air and watch the golden leaves fall from the trees. Then you remember, besides Starbucks bringing back your favorite pumpkin latte, you have one other fall bonus, you can take a few days off shaving your legs. I mean, you won't be showing them off as much.

It's fall. In Florida

that means you continue wearing your Jack Rogers, maybe opting for a slightly richer color like platinum instead of the darling pink of summer. You look longingly into the bright sky and wonder when the days will come when the mercury will dip below 75 degrees. You know these days are payment for all the love the coast will give back during the mid-winter glory.

Right now, though, you pine for the life of a mountain girl who can just cover her legs with cute pants, maybe jeans even and actually stop shaving her legs. I mean, no one ever sees their legs anyway.

In a way, I've lived both lives and that's how I formulated the theory of "razor-tivity".

Undoubtedly you've heard of the theory of relativity...something about time and space folding in on itself blah-de-blah, black hole, yada, yada...watch the Big Bang Theory if you don't know what I'm talking about.

So, here goes, Eli's Theory or Razortivity

Every razor is designed to only cut a certain length of hair. That is the constant. What is relative is the number of times it cuts to get to that total length...but let me tell you, when it is done (and it knows) it starts pulling your hair.

Here's how this works.

In Colorado, during the cold months when mountain women don't shave (I've met a few), the razor cuts long pieces of hair infrequently, when the total length of the average strand cut is equal to three inches...the razor starts to pull and it must be replaced. So you get maybe 8 shaves over the winter and it's time for a new one.

In Florida, however, winter months are filled with showing off legs (darned it). So getting to the three inches takes the same time but nearly 45 shaves before it starts pulling.

I really would have thought you could use the razor 45 times in either place but NOT SO!

Stupid thing is smarter than it looks.

Mountain Meanings and Nautical Nuances

2012-09-06T16:30:00.001-04:00

I have now lived in Palm Beach for a year. I noticed some words that are used differently in the salty life than in the snowy life. I have put together a small list of terms to help anyone transitioning between the two environments. Just remember, this is all in fun and is taken from my own perceptions and certainly not from Webster's.

	Mountain Definition	Beach Definition
Berm	A pile of snow	A pile of sand
Coast	To drift on a bicycle, without pedaling, down a mountain pass at high speeds	Where the ocean meets the land
Clutch	A really cute purse	80-120 sea turtle eggs laid in a hole by a mama turtle in the middle of the night
Feeder Bands	Catering companies working with musical touring groups	The outer most rings of nasty weather from tropical storms. These babies can dump lots of rain and I guess, they feed the storms
Glory Hole	A reference to a place in a river in which the fish of a lifetime can be caught by fly fishing	A box in the boat, hinged to open on top, where ropes and tools are kept
Ground Scatter	The stuff on trees that turns brown in autumn and then falls to the ground	Images on a boat’s radar that are meaningless
Guarded Beach	Security Guards on Beaches? What?	Life Guards keep beach goers safe from marine life, rip currents and hopefully their own dumb selves
Heave	What happens when you drink too much alcohol at high altitude	The vertical rise and fall of a wave
Slip	Made of silk, it is a piece of clothing worn under a dress so the static electricity doesn’t make the skirt cling and people don’t see your underwear	Made of wood, it is where you park your boat so people can get on and off and so it doesn’t drift off into the ocean
Spaghetti Models	Super thin fashion models OR The plates of display pasta you see at the Eat-a-Lot Corral	Lines shown on the Ocean’s map to attempt to predict a storm’s track
Storm Surge	The mass exodus to the mountains before a big winter storm hits the mountains OR the propensity to call in sick when the ski conditions are perfect	The advancing winds and water levels of a tropical storm or hurricane. Strongest in high tide and is often the most dangerous part of the storm
Wax	A substance placed on the bottom of skis to make them faster on the snow	(I had to look this one up) A substance placed on the top of a surfboard so the surfer doesn't fall off

I'm sure I missed a few. If you have a classic one (or one you just made up today) leave a comment...I'd love to hear it. See you soon, Eli

For more information check out The Nautical Dictionary, The Glossary of Rock, Ice and Mountain Climbing and for a really different set of vocabulary, a list of Snowboarder Tricks.

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Jack-in-the-box!

2012-08-27T14:32:00.001-04:00

Ever seen one of these? Of course you have. If you grew up some time in the 70's or 80's you might even remember this exact one. Funny thing about Jack-in-the-Box is that: Some people love'em. Some people hate'em.

You know, you turn the handle, it plays a little tune and at some point, the scary little clown comes popping up sending an adrenaline rush through your entire body.

Well, in Colorado, at altitude, we don't need no stinkin' Jack-in-the-Boxes, 'cause we got PILLSBURY!!

Those impossible cans of yumminess. Ok, so just like a Jack, you hold on to the paper handle, turn the can and although there may not be any music, the scary little biscuits come popping out with a mini explosion, sending an adrenaline rush through your entire body.

Guess what? That has not once happened to me at Sea Level. I'm waiting. I'm waiting, and NO POP!

I've had to take matters into my own hands. Looks something like this:

After you hold the foil-icious paper and twist the can, lay it on the cutting board and give the seam a whack with a wooden spoon...problem solved with control.

Next time you are out west, go to the mountains and go big with your adrenaline rushes: Pillsbury!

13 Year Ice Cream Cake

2012-07-17T12:23:00.000-04:00

Well, my daughter just turned 13 and I know she loves ice cream cakes. She let me know "especially ones from DQ!" I couldn't just let that lie...let DQ show me up. This cake was 13 years in the making.

I spent an hour on Pinterest looking for inspiration and found some inspiring ice cream concoctions. You can look here if you want to see my "yummy" board.

In then end, though, I winged it! I thought you might enjoy checking out the process. First, I knew it needed to be peanut butter and caramel for the feature flavors.

Crust (I love how this turned out...a bit soft...even when frozen...easy to eat that way.)
2 Cups mini oreos
1/4 Cup peanut butter
1/3 stick of butter, chilled
Add Oreos to a food processor and turn to crumbs. Add 1/4 Cup peanut butter and chilled butter and process until combined. It will be fairly soft. Throw it in a spring form pan that you've sprayed with a bit of food release such as Pam.

Layer 1

Add 1/2 Quart of Dulce de Leche ice cream or similar flavor to the cake. I like to use a rectangular ice cream and "slice" it with my spade to get thin pieces to add to the layers.
Chop 30 small caramel filled chocolates and add to the cake.

Freeze for 2 hours

Layer 2
Add 1/2 Quart vanilla ice cream.
Add peanut butter onto top (I used a no-stir, natural peanut butter that was at room temperature).

Spread the peanut butter. It may mix with the ice cream, which is ok...

Chop 25 small peanut butter cups and add them to layer.

Freeze for 2 hours

Layer 3
Add the final layer of vanilla ice cream and pour caramel sauce on top.
Freeze for 2 hours or more.

Before you serve it, remove from the freezer for 10-15 minutes. Place the cake on a serving plate and take off the spring form side. Depending on how thick the caramel is, it will run down the sides...yummy.

Cover with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel. ENJOY! We sure did!!!

Ingredients
2 Cups mini oreos
1/2 Cup peanut butter
1/3 stick of butter, chilled
1/2 Quart of Dolce de Leche ice cream
1 Quart vanilla ice cream
30 small caramel filled chocolates
25 small peanut butter cups
Small jar of caramel sauce
Whipped Cream

Some Beach Time

2012-02-29T13:36:00.001-05:00

What a blast! Over President's Day weekend, we had some friends visit from Colorado. It was wonderful showing them snippets of the Island, sharing our favorite restaurants and just catching up. But the tour de force was beach time!!! We took our buds over to the Breakers Beach.

The kids had a blast frolicking in the water while we had ice cold margaritas! The photos seem to ring of what I "classically" imagine as crowded upscale commercial beach...and evidence of a holiday weekend. Do enjoy the tour. If you come visit, maybe we'll go there too!!

Hope you have a great day and "don't forget the sunscreen."

A pink-cheeked sun-drenched girl.

Goodbye, old friend

2012-02-12T22:00:00.000-05:00

There is an over one hundred year old Coral tree that stands between the Rectory and The Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach. It is a stunning old anchor that separates the two places and marks the entrance to the lovely Cluett Memorial Gardens just north of the Rectory. We are saying good-bye to it over the next three days.

as viewed from my craft room, through the screen

It's hard to express my feelings about this loss. It is a necessity at this point as the tree is diseased and damaged and could come down in any kind of storm. But it seems such a sheltering presence that even though we've only been under its branches since June, it is affecting my profoundly. So I wanted to share a few images of it with you and share some of its delight and astounding stature. Enjoy!

Good night, dear friend!

To read more about this remarkable tree, click here!

Palm Beach Bucket List

2012-02-08T09:19:00.001-05:00

Here are a few things that I have done here, that I would not do in Colorado

Played in the surf, had dinner outside in January, not "scraped a car" all winter, watched flowers bloom all year, ate lunch at the Breakers, dined on the beach as the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean, worshiped at one of the most beautiful Gothic churches on the East Coast: Bethesda-by-the-Sea, witnessed shaped topiaries outside of Disney or Vegas, gone to charity balls, met celebrities, ate an entirely shelled lobster that rested on an ice block sculpture, fed coy fish in the church garden, walked on the beach any time many times, purchased great stuff at the best consignment store in the world the Church Mouse, visited the Norton Museum of Art, valeted at the grocery store {ok, I never really did that, but I could if I wanted to...}

My Palm Beach Bucket List

Visit Flagler museum, eat a mango fresh from the tree, dance under the stars at the Everglades Club, wear a Lilly, make an astonishing key lime pie, meet more celebrities, find the best burger around, go to Zumba, walk over the middle bridge, take photos at the Four Arts sculpture garden, ride the Diva Duck, take an art class at the Armory, witness nesting mama turtles and hatching babies, write an article for The Palm Beacher or other regional publication, get a good picture in the Shiny Sheet and I'm sure there are more...

But more than anything I always want to be real and be thankful!!

See you soon, Eli

On Transitions

2012-02-04T21:47:00.003-05:00

{source}

Transitions!

I'm not talking those cool eyeglasses

that turn darker to meet the

sunshine-in-your-eyes needs...

Nope, I'm talking moving,

making new friends,

worshiping in a new church,

starting at a new school,

finding a job,

buying a car,

getting the dog settled...

...are you tired yet? I am.

Sure we are doing it in

paradise but it is still exhausting.

Moving from Colorado was only cross-country but sometimes it feels like a foreign country. Let me show you what I mean:

· People dress differently. "Palm Beach Casual" is not like any casual I've ever experienced but I'm figuring it out.

Cropped pants and tunics. Perfect.
Add some pink and green and you are really on it.
Check out that cutie on the right.

· It's expensive to eat, shop and entertain, yourself or others.

{source}

· You can walk almost anywhere. (Not that people actually do it here, but you can.)

· The language is a bit different. Raise your hand if you know what these are: Jack Rogers, feeder bands, clutch, spaghetti model.
Raise the other one if you know the difference between Sequin and Sprinkles.

I borrowed a little quote from a blogger (found here) who recently moved from the US to the UK. Do you think these phases are accurate?

Honeymoon Phase – “Everything is new and interesting.”

Rejection Phase – “Everything is new and sucks.”

Regression Phase – “Everything back home was wonderful & much better than this.”

Recovery Phase - “Everything is going to be okay and I am content.”

{It sounds very similar to stages of grief...}

I don't think I could say I'm in one specific phase but each day brings adventures and a variety of feelings. Most days I lounge around in "Recovery" but occasionally I need to visit one of the previous phases.

Isn't that just the way life is...

See you soon, Eli

Island Thoughts Deux

2012-01-26T22:16:00.000-05:00

Meeting People

Meeting someone means never having to say, "Nice to meet you." Instead you say, "Nice to see you." I'm sure glad for this because it can be a bit embarrassing when you say, "Nice to meet you," and the person you're "meeting" says, "Oh, we've already met." (eyebrows raised like you should remember.) Let me tell you...I the few short months I've been here, I've met a thousand-billion fabulous people and it's really hard to keep track.

Questionable?

People in Palm Beach have led very diverse lives with varying occupations, just don't ever ask what someone does for a living. 'Cause maybe they don't really need to work and we don't want to make them say, "Nothing." Try this question when you are at a cocktail party: "Come here often?" (OK, just kidding) Ask about recent books read, favorite local haunts and favorite places traveled! Usually safe subjects.

Island Flair

If you haven't noticed yet. Island colors are bright, fun and bold, just like the plants and animals...how about some nice pink and green to go on that Lilly Pulitzer shift dress!!

Thanks for sharing another great day! See you around~
Eli

Palm Beach Island Thoughts

2012-01-22T15:16:00.001-05:00

It is an Island

When we first announced to friends from Denver that we were moving to Palm Beach, they would often respond, "Oh, I know West Palm Beach." They didn't know there about the actual island. I'd say, "Actually, it's just Palm Beach. It's an Island." To which I received a puzzled stare.

But it's no wonder that people wouldn't know about it since there are no signs (ANYWHERE) announcing its presence. Plenty of signage for West Palm Beach, Downtown and a few for the scenic A1A. I've even seen a sign for "the beaches"... but no mention of Palm Beach {If you live here, did you ever notice?}
Check out a bit of the A1A in Palm Beach:

{source}

Geography

Palm Beach Islanders have a variety of sayings. My favorite has to deal with geography: things are either "on island" or "off island". Let me share some examples of how this might be used:

Nearly all summer, grocery shoppers use any number of Publix grocery stores "off island," but now, we have a bright, shiny new one "on island" to replace an older one. (I love it!)
There is one Starbucks "on island" {It took me 2 months to find because it is hidden} and probably billions "off island."
HB goes "on island" to Palm Beach Day Academy. {Called the Day School, if you're old school.}
There are only a few people who grew up "on island" and still live here. Somehow I've met them all.

Boar's Head Visited

2012-01-07T20:19:00.002-05:00

The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea

presents the 35th Annual

Boar's Head and
Yule Log Festival

Sunday, January 8 at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m

Come celebrate the triumph of good vs. evil, light over dark, the victory of the Christ Child over sin.
This spectacular drama features over 150 members of the church working together to bring the legend of the boar's head to life through music and drama.

So what IS the legend of the boar's head? It seems a scholar was studying a book of Aristotle in the forest one day when suddenly, he was confronted by an angry wild boar. Having no other weapon, the resourceful Oxonian rammed his book down the throat of the animal causing his death. "That night the boar's head, finely dressed and garnished, was borne in procession to the dining room, accompanied by carolers singing in honor of the King of bliss." [source]

Since before we arrived at Bethesda, members of the church and community extolled the spectacle of the festival and regaled us with stories and history of the pageant.

Today was my first peak into the "behind-the-scenes" preparations, and finally, after months of anticipation, participating as a guest to witness the ceremony and tradition. I thought I'd share a few images of what it takes to put it all together, hoping that you might be swayed to come witness it for yourself.

The Walk Through!

Chef prepares to feed the cast and crew. YUMMY!

Costumes, hair and make up. Come see it all!

It's Not Christmas Without...

2011-12-23T21:57:00.001-05:00

Snow?
No...
Peanut Brittle

My mom makes the best peanut brittle. Growing up we had a batch nearly every year. As she put together the seven-ingredient recipe, it was the moment when the peanuts actually start roasting in the sugary syrup, that the spirit of the season sank into my soul.

When I started my own family, I asked my mom to teach me her recipe and we spent several years making countless batches to share with family and friends. Since we moved to Palm Beach this June, I'll have to make the batches on my own. I made 8 this year and for the most part, it was the same here as it was living at 5,280 feet. As a little Christmas gift to you, here is the recipe. Please enjoy the visual even if you can't smell it. Merry Christmas!!

In a large pan, heat on medium high heat the following:
1 Cup Light Karo Syrup
1 Cup Water
2 Cups Sugar

Heat, stirring occasionally, until the syrup spins a thread. While it is cooking, take a moment to stir together a teaspoon of baking soda and 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Set aside.

Do not rush this step, if you add the peanuts too early your "brittle"--won't be. {"Peanut Soggy" is not very good.} When it's ready, stir in 1-1/2 Cups raw peanuts.

Cook, enjoying the emanating fragrance. The candy will slowly turn to a light amber color.

At this point, work quickly, add 1 Tablespoon of butter and stir until melted. Remove from heat and add the vanilla/soda mixture. {I re-mix the concoction quickly before adding or the soda settles on the bottom and stays.}

Pour out onto a large cookie sheet that has been thickly buttered.

Allow to cool and harden. Break apart and enjoy!

No matter where you spend your holiday--on an island, on a mountain or in a field of waving wheat, that you will enjoy the traditions that help you recall all the season means to you.

And for those of you who live hear, I hope to see you at Bethesda tomorrow for Christmas Eve Service.

Accumulation, Part II: Tropics Defined

2011-12-11T22:14:00.001-05:00

Now that I live in Palm Beach, I've discovered what accumulation means here {at least what I have noticed}: how deep the piles of overgrown greens, palms and other natural products are.

It astonished me after five months, seeing bushes bloom numerous times. Back in Colorado, many bushes bring out their splendor in the spring or summer but only once.

Blooming tree in the front of the house with a hungry visitor

Early on in my time here, I began to notice piles of green debris in neighborhoods. These piles, comprised of clipped hedge leaves, fallen palm fronds, discarded limbs and dried bits of flora, piled up at the end of driveways all over the island.

Around our block, these piles magically disappeared on Thursday afternoons.
I mean, I know it's a magical place here but that is going a bit far. On the other hand, I wouldn't put it past the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County to make middle-of-the-night round ups.

After weeks of wondering, I finally saw the claw along with his truck and gentlemen who made the magic happen.

Apparently this crew is out on the Island five days a week to keep the accumulation cleared away...all year.

Smiling! I think he couldn't imagine why I was taking these pictures.

What I want to know? Where does it all go when the truck is full? Feel free to comment if you know.

Thanks and see you next time, Eli

Accumulation, Part I: Mountain Defined

2011-12-10T21:14:00.001-05:00

Growing up in Colorado, accumulation meant one thing: how deep the snow is! Over many years I've experienced the gamut, from a dusting to the St. Patrick's day Blizzard of 2003. HB was small enough that the mounds of fallen flakes would have covered her head. Here we are sitting in it {pink cheeks and noses included}.

March Blizzard of 2003

The city was shut down for several days. It was dreamy.
I met people walking down normally busy streets that were eerily silent, pristine white and void of traffic. I saw gigantic pine trees topple with the weight of dense snow and frozen, injured roots. We cooked chili and warm cornbread and basically stayed inside for three days. This trash can shows what 2 feet of the white stuff looks like.

Every several years, the skies open up and the snowflakes, quiet, beautiful and harmless on their own decide to gang up for a serious party and BAM! It happens again: furious flakes and flurries.

December 2006

So, how do you get rid of all this mess/beauty?

Snow plows by the Colorado Department of Transportation, these bad boys can kick some serious drifts!

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On smaller streets and some long driveways, the following boy toy removal system can be found.

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Then there's the two wheel version. Don't be deceived by its size. These can pack some serious power.

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And finally, the grocery store special, break your back, snow shovel.

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So, if it comes down, is cold, sticks and accumulates better get some good tools to make a path through it.

Next time, I'll be sharing "Accumulation, Tropics Defined"
Until then, Eli

Build a Bridge and...

2011-12-04T17:37:00.001-05:00

December 5, 2011, 10:30am, begins the reconstruction of the Flagler Memorial Bridge, affectionately called as the North Bridge.

It is one of three bridge that link Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, over the Intercoastal Water Way.

From December 5 through 16, the bridge will have one lane closed from 10:30am to 3:30pm. You'll want to plan extra time to cross and remember to factor in extra time for draw bridge openings which can happen any hour, at quarter past and quarter til.

I thought I'd share some photos of the North Bridge's current beauty. What will happen to these lovely accessories once the new bridge is built?

One interesting bit is that the old bridge, after being completely removed, will be recycled as "a structure within an existing artificial reef site in the ocean just to the southeast of Lake Worth Inlet." (source)

So enjoy; tomorrow they may be gone...

Can you see a small, yellow "heart"?

Thanks for joining me today. Until next time, Eli

No More "what's your sign" It's "What's Your Plate?"

2011-11-17T08:50:00.001-05:00

Growing up in Colorado, we had one license plate. Green mountains with white background...

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Sure, you could customize it with some quippy letters and numbers to actually "mean" something but a solitary image ruled the roads. Recently, the state inverted the design. There are lots of varieties of this plate which tout your university, colonial status or others but the central design of white mountains with a colored background is the way it is.

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When I arrived in Florida, I saw dozens and dozens of plate designs, beginning with the most common:

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Then the list explodes with Universities, Armed Forces and causes. Last month I kept a list of all the different license plates I saw. I think you'll be astounded at the giant diversity and each is designed completely differently. Here goes:

Agriculture
Air Forces
Aquatics
Challenger Columbia
Choose Life
Disabled Veteran
Discover Florida's Oceans
End Breast Cancer
Endless Summer
Family First
Family Values
Fish Florida
Florida A&M University
Florida Panthers
Florida State University
Florida Whales
The Gator Nation
Go Fishing
Golf Capital of the World
Helping Sea Turtles Survive
Florida Panthers
Miami Heat
Hospice: Each Day is a Gift
Imagine
Indian River Lagoon
Miami Dolphins
Play Tennis
Police Athletic League
Protect Children
Protect our Reefs
Protect the Panther
Protect Wild Dolphins
Salute Firefighters
Salute Veterans
Save our Seas
Save the Manatees
Share the Road
Sportsman’s Natural Land Trust
State of the Arts
State Wildflower
Stetson University
Stop Heart Disease
Support Education
Support Families
Support Law Enforcement
Support Soccer
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
United we Stand
University of Central Florida
US Army
US Navy
US Paratroopers

I found this fab link to a gallery on the Orlando Sentinel website. It has images of 114 specialty plates. Cool! They also have a link that includes news on license plates.

On a final note, if you are curious about vintage plates, like I am, check out this site: PlateShack.

While you are out on the road, check out the over 100 funky images on the license plates in Florida...

Until next time, Eli

Color-fall Palm Beach

2011-11-13T13:25:00.001-05:00

Being from Colorado and living on old city streets full of rugged deciduous trees and near hillsides packed with a banquet hall of quaking aspen trees, I delight in the colors of fall and the cooler weather that goes with it.

In the Rocky Mounatins, it brings with it their "Season", Ski Season!

Believe it or not, several ski areas are already open: Wolf Creek, Arapaho Basin, Loveland, Copper Mountain and Winter Park {30 minutes from where I grew up}. If you want to know how good the snow is, check out the Snow Report.

Living in Florida, as you might imagine, is a little different. I just shared a post about The Season in Palm Beach but what about the signs of fall here. I can tell you...they are everywhere, you just have to pay attention to see its beauty. Let me help you, below are a number of "Color-fall" images from Palm Beach.

Thanks for visiting today and Happy Fall!
Until next time, Eli