Happily married 55 years, retired baby boomer, mother of 2, grandmother of 4, traveler, Georgia Bulldog fan, Air Force Brat, avid reader, amateur photographer, gardener, ovarian cancer survivor, blogger. Every day is a gift!
Five years ago we were wandering around Alaska in our RV. As we traveled I was always on the lookout for wildlife and we saw plenty of it.
Along with the many land and sea animals, I enjoyed seeing the birds. The Bald Eagles were my favorite and there were more Bald Eagles than I’ve ever seen anywhere else. We saw them perched in trees, soaring overhead, and even in a nest in front of the Homer Post office. The most unusual sighting was seeing one fly right beside the truck as we drove along the Homer Spit. I was so busy watching him keep up with us that I didn’t get a chance to take his picture!
Bald Eagle on Ninilchik BeachBald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AKBald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AKBald Eagle in the Lynn Canal between Haines and JuneauBald Eagle in tree beside Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn CanalMama and Baby Eagles in HomerEagle soaring over bluff at Russian Orthadox Church in NinilchikWe spotted this pair of Bald Eagles as we cruised by on a wildlife and glacier cruise from Valdez
Most of the flower beds around our house are planted with drought tolerant plants that can survive the summer heat here in coastal Georgia. On the summers we take off on an RV trip I don’t have to worry too much about these established plants back home.
When we are home for the summer, I like to plant a butterfly garden. This year I added new milkweed, a butterfly bush, zinnias, black eyed susans, purple coneflower, and Mexican Sunflower to attract the hummingbirds and butterflies. With all these blooms I enjoy having cut flowers from the garden.
Black Eyed SusansCut Flowers from the garden
In addition to my flowers I had a small crop of basil, jalapeño peppers and cherry tomatoes. The peppers are still producing but the tomatoes and basil are gone.
Bounty from my little garden
Earlier in the summer we weren’t getting very many butterflies but lately the Gulf Fritillarys and Swallowtails have been visiting the garden regularly.
During our travels around America we have been known to venture out of our way to visit a lighthouse. In honor of National Lighthouse Day (August 7) I put together a collection of some of my lighthouse photos.
East Coast Lighthouses from Maine to Florida
Portland Head Light, ME
Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse, ME
West Quaddy Light is located on the easternmost point in the U. , MES.
Ten Pound Island Lighthouse, Gloucester, MA
Ocracoke Lighthouse, NC
Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina
Bodie Island Lighthouse, NC
Haig Point, SC
The Hunting Island, SC Lighthouse is the only lighthouse in South Carolina which is open to the public
Tybee Island Lighthouse, GA
Cockspur Lighthouse, GA
St. Simons Lighthouse, GA
Cape Florida Lighthouse, FL
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, FL
Sand Key Lighthouse, FL
Key West Lighthouse, FL
Ft. Jefferson Lighthouse, FL FL
Gulf Coast Lighthouses
Mobile Bay Lighthouse, AL
Pensacola Lighthouse
Cape San Blas Lighthouse, FL
Point Bolivar Lighthouse, FL
St George Lighthouse, FL
Great Lakes Lighthouses
Split Rock Lighthouse on Minnesota’s North Shore
Cheboygan Crib Light, MI
Muskegon Lighthouse. MI
Round Island Light, MI
Round Island Passage Ligh, MIt
Old Mackinac Point, MI
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, Door County Peninsula, WI
Sherwood Point Lighthouse, Door County Peninsula, WI
Baileys Harbor Lower Range Light is no longer in use, WI
Cana Island Light, WI
Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse, NY
Pacific Coast Lighthouses
Cabrillo National Monument, California.
Point-Loma in Cabrillo National Monument, CA
Looking Down at a lighthouse
Kilauea Point Lighthouse on Kauai, HI
Haceata Head Lighthouse, OR
Umpqua Lighthouse, OR
Yaquina Head Lighthouse, OR
Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, OR
New Dungeness Lighthouse, WA
Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, WA
North Head Light, WA
Alaska Lighthouse
Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn Canal in Alaska
It’s summer in the Peach State and that means fresh, sweet, juicy Georgia peaches.
Peach season always reminds me of my Dad. After he retired from the Air Force in the 1970’s, he and my Mom moved to a farm in middle Georgia. In addition to their summer garden they had a small peach and apple orchard. When the peaches were ripe Dad would call and we would drive the 200 miles to their house to pick some peaches. I can still remember the sweetness of the peach and the sticky juice running down my hands as I stood in the orchard eating a peach that moments before still been had on the tree.
These days I have to be content with buying peaches at a local produce stand. On a recent road trip we stopped at James and the Giant Peach Stand in Ellabell for some fresh Georgia peaches. As soon as we arrived at home I tasted one and them and then made a fresh peach cobbler for dessert. Another night I blended up some Peach Daiquiris.
Georgia Peaches from Ellabell, Georgia
Peach Cobbler made with fresh Georgia peaches
Peach Daiquiri with fresh Georgia peaches
Another Georgia summer treat is the Vidalia Onion. The Vidalia Onion was named the Official State Vegetable of Georgia in 1990. They cannot be sold until the Georgia Ag Commissioner chooses a Pack date, usually in April. The season continues through August of each year. These sweet onions are only grown in a few South Georgia counties. Tomato and Vidalia onion pie is one of my favorite summer side dishes.
Vidalia Onions
It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato – Lewis Grizard
The best tomatoes in the world are home grown tomatoes. If you grow your own, you know what I’m talking about. I’ve never been successful growing slicing tomatoes so I buy “Davis Killer Tomatoes” from my favorite produce stand, Davis Produce in Savannah. On a sweltering summer day there is nothing better for lunch than a tomato sandwich. Sliced bread (traditionally white bread but these days I use multi-grain or wheat), mayonnaise (preferably Dukes), and sliced tomatoes with salt and pepper. That’s it! Deliciousness!
Tomato Sandwich
A favorite southern summer snack is boiled peanuts. I love sitting around the table with friends and family, a cold drink and a bowl of boiled Georgia peanuts.
Boiled Peanuts
Georgia is known for other produce the rest of the year. Did you know that the state of Georgia is one of the top blueberry producing states in the country? I look forward every spring to blueberry season. As soon as they were ready this year I bought a flat from a friend’s sister who owns an organic blueberry farm.
Georgia grown blueberries
Are you hungry yet for some Georgia goodness? I’ve never shared a recipe on my blog before but here is my favorite cobbler recipe.
Easy Fruit Cobbler
1 stick unsalted butter (use real butter)
1 cup self rising flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
3 – 5 peeled and sliced peaches or 1 container blueberries + 1 TB sugar
Preheat oven to 350. Place the fruit in a bowl and mix with the 1 TB sugar. Set aside.
Put the butter in a 9×9 inch square baking pan (I use metal but a glass pan will work). Place the pan in the oven to melt butter.
While butter is melting, in another bowl mix the flour, sugar, and milk. Batter will be thin and milky.
When butter is melted, remove from oven and pour in the batter. Spoon fruit over batter. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes to 1 hour. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
A perfect ending to any day is watching a beautiful sunset.
Sunset at Campfire Lodgings in Asheville, NCSunset at Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse at Golden Hill State Park, NYKey West Sunset, FloridaSunset at Dungeness Harbor, WashingtonSunset on West Point Lake, GeorgiaSunset over the Gulf of Mexico, Topsail Hill State Park, FLSunset over Lake Chicot, ArkansasSunset from Mackinaw City, MISunset at Flamingo Campground, Everglades National Park, FLCape Disappointment, Washington
Wandering Dawgs 