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Tag: florida


blended, not stirred

15
January

florida coast

Isn’t it something how our beverages of choice change with the seasons?

walking the florida shore

The first thing we wanted to do on a recent girls’ trip to Florida was to sample the frozen drinks!  A mere matter of hours ago we had been in a snowstorm and SO cold…we hit Florida and, just like that, we were ready for the cold beverages!

strawberry drink

How wonderful to have our drink choice be the big decision of our day!

florida clouds

mother daughter slippers

orange frozen drink

It was fun while it lasted, but of course, once we are back in New England and single digit temps, it’s all hot cocoa, hot tea or coffee!

tea time

What is your favorite cold weather drink?

Thanks for stopping by!  Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Inspiration idea:  Tomorrow is the 126th birthday of The Breakers in Palm Beach.  Guests can enjoy a Tootsie Roll (created in 1896) martini or an Aged to Perfection cocktail in honor of the anniversary.  I say, buck the system and try one of these cool drinks this weekend!  Both use orange juice, so make up a fresh batch in advance!

1 comment » | inspiration, sand & sea

coquina

20
March

ocean side

Coquina is a new oceanfront restaurant set to a backdrop of the ocean breezes of Amelia Island, Florida.  While staying at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Coquina is a great place to order up local seafood and coastal dishes inspired by the island’s Spanish heritage.

private seating

This al fresco restaurant serves dinner under some beautiful coastal lighting (click here to see more) overlooking the resort’s dune-lined beaches. Coquina’s menu includes ceviche made from freshly caught fish and shareable tapas.  A full-bar overlooking the ocean is a great spot to order a signature cocktail.  (See some signature drinks by clicking here.)

indoor tables

cool seating poolside

One of the first to sit in this beautiful new spot with friends, I happened to be staying at the Ritz at the time Coquina opened, just this March.

firepit action

firepit

I hope you enjoyed these few photos of the new restaurant Coquina on today’s Friday field trip!

new seating

ritz bar

Thanks for stopping by!

seating inside pool

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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under the banyan tree

14
May

banyan tree

A tree covering three quarters of a mile in area?  Amazing!

That is what I thought when I saw my first banyan tree.  The first one I saw happened to be in Fort Myers, Florida – home of one of the largest banyan trees in the world!  If you have been to Hawaii or Calcutta, you may have seen one even larger!

banyan tree 9

banyan tree 11

The banyan tree is a Ficus.

The tree I saw was planted in the 1920’s by Thomas Edison and his colleagues Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone.  In 1927, the three men were concerned about America’s dependence on foreign rubber sources for its industrial enterprises. They formed the Edison Botanic Research Corporation (EBRC), and the following year, built a Laboratory in Fort Myers, which became the project’s international headquarters.

banyan tree 3

banyan tree 4

The trio were looking for a fast-growing natural source of rubber that could be grown in the United States.  The banyan tree was just one of more than 17,000 plant specimens that were tested during the project.  (Goldenrod was eventually selected as the most suitable plant.)

banyan tree 5

banyan tree 6

All the photos I’ve shared here are from the same single tree I visited on the grounds of Edison’s Botanic Research Laboratory in Florida!

banyan tree 10

banyan tree 8

I hope you all had an amazing Mother’s Day weekend.  Enjoy your week ahead!

banyan tree 7

banyan tree 13

Thanks for stopping by and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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dreaming of warmer days

11
January

waves in Naples FL

This time of year always makes me wish for warmer weather.  So, why not share some with you today on Friday field trip!

In Naples Florida

These photos were taken on my last visit to Naples, Florida.  I walked with some friends down the Naples pier and snapped these pics…it makes me warm just thinking about it!

visiting Naples, FL

blue skies in Naples, FL

Enjoy!

pier in Naples FLA

Have a wonderful weekend.  Thanks for stopping by!

mosiac turtle

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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an alligator encounter

17
March

alligator jaws pleasure in simple things blog

A recent work trip to Florida gave me the opportunity to see an alligator close up! I have been to Florida before, but never really got the chance to check one out.

The first one I saw in the wild looked like this:

alligator in the wild pleasure in simple things blog

Creepy looking, isn’t it?  Then, I got the chance to hear a little about alligators and their habits at a sanctuary from someone that actually handles the alligators…and, this was one of the monsters he handles!

a huge alligator pleasure in simple things blog

I found this guy really fascinating!  He looked so prehistoric!  Look at the surface of his body up close!

reptile skin pleasure in simple things blog

Now, look how ‘up close’ the handler got!

crazy alligator handler pleasure in simple things blog

open wide pleasure in simple things does naples

Yikes!  I would never get close to that one!  But, I did touch one of the smaller ones…of course it wasn’t possible for the one I touched to open his jaw the way the big one did!

I hope you enjoyed sharing my first alligator encounter on today’s Friday field trip!

touching an alligator pleasure in simple things blog

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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