Between our two residences, it seems Al and I always have a list of projects that need to be tackled. Neither of us are complaining, we both enjoy getting things accomplished (maybe not so much during the doing but definitely when we can enjoy the fruits of our labor).

The important thing is to make sure we have some fun along the way. I think we do a pretty good job balancing work and play. A couple Saturdays ago, we transformed a section of his front yard before catching a Bradenton Marauders Baseball game.

The ballpark was celebrating Margaritaville night (with live music and Hawaiian shirts) and the weather was perfect for a ball game. We had a great time (even though the Marauders managed to find multiple ways to lose the game). At one point, I even caught a player carrying off a base (pretty sure that’s NOT what the manager meant when he told him to steal a base).

Sunday afternoon we wandered out to Jiggs Landing, a little slice of old Florida located on the north shore of Evers Reservoir. The outpost offers fishing, canoeing, lake/river tours, and even has rental cabins for overnight stays. The best part? They have live music every day, three hours before sunset.

The property, which is owned and operated by Manatee County, is surrounded by large housing developments. But, if you look south across the water and focus on the trees, you can slide back in time and enjoy a relaxing afternoon.

One life, right? Might as well make the most of it!

In case the longer days and warmer temperatures down here weren’t enough signs that Summer is on the way, the migration of Greenies along our coast should clue you in.

The Atlantic thread herring (Opisthonema oglinum) is a small, distinctive fish identified by black tips on its caudal fin but mainly by the blueish green color on its back (hence the common name).

As Greenbacks head into peak breeding season they are schooling in shallow, nearshore waters much to the delight of anglers (who catch them for bait) and hungry birds. It wasn’t just the usual pelicans and terns taking advantage of the buffet, joining the fray were also gulls and crows.

A few weeks ago, Al and I joined friends for a lovely afternoon at the Sarasota Polo Club’s Hawaiian day. Even though I had a tenuous polo connection as a child, this was my first time attending an actual match.

Growing up, my childhood home was essentially the animal equivalent of the Island of Misfit Toys. Over the years my parents took in hundreds of animals, most notably: 100 Desert Tortoises (dislocated by urban sprawl), a pregnant ewe, male calves from a local dairy (for obvious reasons), abandoned puppies, stray cats, one loud-mouthed parrot, and even a young one-eyed polo pony (he’d lost it as a foal and therefore, wasn’t suited for the game he’d been bred for).

Pony isn’t an accurate descriptor since these Thoroughbreds, while on the smaller side for horses (generally 15-16 hands), are incredible athletes. I still don’t fully understand the game but it was exciting to watch the players and their ponies charge up and down the field.

It was an enjoyable way to spend the day and yes, I remembered the advice from Pretty Woman and made sure to “avoid the steaming divot” during the divot stomp!

This handsome boy and his family stopped by the store where I’m working this afternoon. He took some time out of his busy day to smell the flowers.

I think there’s a lesson for all of us here…

I met Smithy and his owner at the jetty tonight. It was his first trip to the sandy shore and he certainly seemed to be enjoying it. The sunset is usually the showstopper out there but tonight, all the attention was on our colorful, feathered friend. And he knew it, cheeky little bugger!

…are why I moved here (definitely one of my better decisions). Just look at those colors!

My friend Amber and I came across this beautiful scene while walking the beach tonight. What a lovely way to end the day!

Even though I’ve lived here for four years now, I still have a long list of Florida places to explore. Solomon’s Castle was one of the unique and quirky places I’ve wanted to visit.

So, last month Al and I drove east into central Florida. The roads narrowed and curved the further we went, at one point we even lost cell phone coverage. Thankfully, there are still some undeveloped areas in the middle of this state.

The story of this roadside oddity began back in the early 1970s when Howard Solomon bought 40 acres of rural land in Hardee County. Unfortunately, the young New Yorker had been duped into buying flood prone acreage along Horse Creek.

Undeterred, Howard decided to make the best of his $350 investment by building on the high ground. A creative man, he decided the best way was up and hence, a castle was born. As Howard said, “Every man’s home is his castle, and now my castle can be my home.”

The finished structure is a 65′ tall, 12,000 square foot castle replete with turrets, bell tower, 80 stained-glass windows, wrought iron portcullis, and even two knights in armor at the door. It was made even more eye-catching when Howard covered the exterior with discarded metal printing plates from the Wauchula Herald-Advocate. His creation shines like a coat of armor!

Howard was clearly a resourceful man. He considered himself “the DaVinci of debris, the Rembrandt of reclamation, the wizard of odds and ends, and the savior of salvage.” Once his neighbors learned this they started dropping off random items for him (besides, back then the county didn’t have a landfill).

I have some equally talented family members who possess that rare vision to create something out of nothing. I remain in awe of all these artists.

We didn’t have time to join an official tour but we still had a great time wandering the grounds. Life even imitated art when a gopher tortoise crossed our path, not far from Howard’s sculpture of one.

We capped off our afternoon with a quick bite from the onsite Boat in the Moat cafe. Remember that flooding issue? Howard had dredged a small drainage around his castle, to move water away from his masterpiece. The process created a moat, so Howard was inspired to build a replica of a Portuguese galleon.

By the 1980s visitors began stopping by to admire Howard’s handiwork. As visitation grew, the family started giving tours and repurposed the boat into a small restaurant that offered light meals. Though Howard passed away in 2016, his daughter and other family members are still welcoming visitors to the property.

We wrapped up our visit with a snack and a beer while sitting under the massive oak trees while listening to live music. Such a relaxing way to spend the day!