Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Storm's A-Brewin'!


Stormy Seas

Just off the coast, Tropical Storm Arthur is churning. This is making great waves for the surfers, who will surely be calling in "sick" to work today and tomorrow!

The storm had been off our coast on the weekend, much weaker at that point, but then moved down near south Florida. There, it was picked up by the Gulf Stream, where it now appears to be happily flowing northeastward. It's expected to be passing us tonight and heading toward the Carolinas, where it'll probably have winds strong enough to qualify it as Hurricane Arthur.

With the land jutting inward to the west along this stretch of Atlantic Ocean coastline and the Gulf Stream remaining northeasterly bound farther away from us, we don't typically get direct strikes from hurricanes. The storms are drawn into the warmer waters of the Gulf Stream and remain in it, well off our coast. Economic development folks, when pitching companies on relocating to this area, have been known to refer to this as the "recurvature effect." In south Florida, the Gulf Stream is much closer to shore, so they tend to get the brunt of storms more often.

While it may put a damper on the over-eager folks already starting to set off fireworks in Neptune Beach, the storm shouldn't impact our actual July 4 festivities, as it'll be well north of us by then.

Thanks for another great sunrise photo, Harriet!

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Anybody Lose a Bird?


If you've lost your cockatiel in the area, someone's found him! One of the great things about living in a small town is this type of community spirit.

Friday, May 16, 2014

50s in May?!


Yes, it's mid-May, and yes, our low temperature this morning was in the 50s! It's been more in the 70s at night lately, which is typical for this time of year. But the cold front pictured above moved through Neptune Beach yesterday and brought our temps down to sweater weather again. This weekend is supposed to be gorgeous, with highs back in the 70s - perfect weather for the annual Dancin' in the Street festival!

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Gray Day in mid-May


Is it really already May 15? Hard to believe it, but we've already had a few days in the 90s here. It's going to be a long, hot summer.

But today we have a rainy forecast that will bring through a cool front, making the temps perfect for this weekend's Dancin' in the Street festival! And leave it to Harriet to find that one bright spot in this morning's clouds in her sunrise photo showing a couple of local surfers hitting the waves early!

Monday, May 5, 2014

Tequila Sunrise


It's Cinco de Mayo, so is it any wonder that Neptune Beach's eastern horizon today looks like a tequila sunrise? Thanks for the great shot, Harriet!

Thursday, May 1, 2014

First of May


Toward the end of April, we've had temperatures around 90 and afternoon thundershowers; already feels like summer! Looking at a long, hot time this year. But the mornings are still beautiful!

Monday, April 28, 2014

All In One


Today's sunrise photo from Harriet is a composition that tells several tales about Neptune Beach.

First noticeable is the lifeguard chair. Our three beaches cities here each have volunteer lifesaving corps. The American Red Cross Volunteer Lifesaving Corps in Jacksonville Beach was founded in 1912. It was called "Pablo Beach" back then.

You'll also notice a seabird flying over the ocean, just above the chair. One of my favorite things to see while walking the beach is our seabirds. I always remember the gulls, pelicans, and sandpipers from childhood, but it was only after returning as an adult that I recall seeing the black-headed terns at the beach. Now I've noticed several other types of birds I'd never seen before.

If you look closely, in addition to the footprints of morning beach-walkers you'll also see some tire tracks in the sand just beyond the lifeguard chair. Those may be from the city's trash collection truck, but could also have been made by a four-wheeler operated by the Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol. During nesting season, they patrol the beach each morning looking for signs of new sea turtle nests. Three species of endangered sea turtles lay their eggs on our beaches.

When found, a nest will be surrounded with stakes and orange tape so as not to be disturbed by anyone. People and businesses along the oceanfront are also asked to shield their lights so that the hatchlings don't get confused when they emerge, and will head in the direction of the surf instead of out onto the roadways to get squished by cars.

So great job, Harriet, of telling a few tales of our city all in one shot!

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Opening of the Beaches


Harriet's sunrise photo this Sunday morning foretells a hot one! No sea breeze yet, and today is shaping up to be the hottest day of the year so far. It's also the day for the Opening of the Beaches parade down in Jacksonville Beach. Hopefully everybody wears plenty of sunscreen!

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Calm as a Lake


Thanks to Harriet, here's another lovely sunrise photo. Today the Atlantic Ocean looks as calm as a lake. A bit of tranquility to start your busy day!

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Finally, A Sunrise!


After several days of blustery clouds and chilly drizzle, it looks like today is going to be beautiful! Thanks again, Harriet, for getting up and out this early to take a lovely sunrise pic.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Good Friday Sunrise

Good Friday in Neptune Beach

Today is Good Friday on the Christian calendar, a name I've never totally understood for the day on which Christ was crucified. Rain's in the forecast, but this morning's sky was so beautiful I just had to post this pic. If a red sky at morning is a sailor's warning, is a pink sky only a mild warning? Have a great Good Friday, and if you're on the sea, keep your guard up.

Thanks, Harriet, for taking these pix every morning!

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Goodbye, Privacy

Goodbye, Privacy

I've been feeling the ground shake and watching the big animal-like machine chew up the house behind me. So when I left for my part-time job this morning, the photo above was the view out my back window. When I came home in the afternoon, it looked like this:


I was remembering Mr. Owens, who lived there with his wife since before we moved into this house, and how he used to grow grapes, oranges, and grapefruit in his yard when I was a little girl. All gone now.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Is It An Earthquake?!

Is It An Earthquake?

So I was sitting here this afternoon, working, when I felt the ground shake. Remembering the recent quake that shook my cousins up in Georgia, I wondered if we were having another!

But then it kept happening. My cats were also freaking out, and it sounded like heavy equipment. And it sounded nearby! Walking into the den, I noticed a huge yellow machine over the back hedges, and it looked for all the world like it was taking down the house behind me! Sure enough, when I walked around the block to find a group of my neighbors watching, this was the view of the nice one-story brick house with the barrel-tile roof that used to stand there. There was a sign on the front of the lot saying something about a custom home going up on the lot. My neighbors across the street checked Sunday's paper and found that it had recently sold for a lot more than my property is valued by the tax assessor...I guess my assessment will be going up this year!

That house was solidly built, had survived many hurricanes and near-misses with them, and was always kept up nicely by the older couple who lived there. I remember them as being older from the time we'd moved into this house when I was 8, and their grandson was actually one of my classmates in school. It's a shame to see it go, but I guess everybody wants only the new these days. Here's hoping that the replacement is an attractive addition to the neighborhood!

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Beautiful Sunday Morning!

Sunday Sunrise in Neptune Beach

Harriet captured this beautiful pre-sunrise pic just as her phone was dying! The weather's supposed to be gorgeous today, warm (but not too warm) and sunny. Great day for a little pre-St. Paddy's Day celebrating!

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Sunrise, March 15

Sunrise in Neptune Beach

I haven't posted to this blog in ages. That's mainly because I have little time to actually get down to the beach lately, since all I seem do is work.

Luckily, I have a friend - who also happens to be our mayor - and she goes down onto the beach every morning to photograph the ocean at sunrise. She posts her wonderful photos to Facebook, and has given me permission to use them here on this blog. So when I get time, I'll be posting Harriet's beautiful sunrise photos on this blog.

Doesn't solve my original purpose of encouraging me to get down onto the beach and walk daily, but at least people who may want to follow this blog will have something beautiful to look at each day! Today's a gorgeous, sunny, early spring day here in Neptune Beach. It's the Ides of March. And this is how it began. Enjoy!