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Exploring New Beaches

April 24, 2009 By Jeannie Greenwald 4 Comments

Last weekend we visited the beaches on Little Talbot Island and Big Talbot Island, Florida. We took the charmingly down home ferry from Mayport, across the St. John’s River and then drove a few miles north to Little Talbot Island. It was a beautiful day if a little chilly (not complaining) and it was fun to explore a beachscape different from our own. And the temperature didn’t matter to the kids who were completely invigorated by seeing a new beach. It’s true that they’re getting bored with our own neighborhood beach, lovely as it is. (Kids these days.)

When we got there it seemed as though we were truly someplace else.

The beaches of Little Talbot Island are sandy white. So lovely and wild. I felt like we were on vacation, not merely a few miles from home.

This:

necessitated this…

…before getting back into the car for a short drive north to Big Talbot Island. We only explored one small area; there’s much more to see and do. But we headed for the ‘trees beach’, as iPhone and I wanted to take some pictures of a different sort of coastline.

The approach to the beach was so lovely, with all sorts of trees whose species I do not know. Water oaks, perhaps, or live oaks, or some combo of the two. But I loved that they were large and glorious, with grand limbs and oh, so picturesque.

That’s the family, standing yonder on the bench.

The view from there to the beach below…

…was so enticing that I just had to brave the climb down an awkward sand path just wearing flip flops and clutching iPhone (and a soda), but it was worth it.

The kids ran and climbed these terrific, downed trees, while a few other people on the beach were surf fishing. It was quiet, about six o’clock on a Sunday evening.

They could have frolicked for much longer than we were able to stay. My daughter loves to climb a tree and rarely do we encounter a good climber. So she was enchanted. Never mind that the trees were horizontal. iPhone and I were struck by the photographic possibilities, especially because these trees were prone.

iPhone wanted to try out some of her apps on the following pictures:

The top picture is the original photo. The next image was shown in the Camera Bag app with the Lolo filter. The last picture uses the Helga filter from Camera Bag app.

This trio starts with the original image on the top. The second picture uses the Camera Bag app with the Helga filter. Finally, the last tree photo is shown using Camera Bag’s Lolo filter.

The next two photos show the original image first, with Lolo filter from Camera Bag app, second.

And finally, these last few photos were taken with no enhancements at all!

It was a fun way to explore the beauty of atlantic beachlife.

Little Talbot Island and Big Talbot Island, brought to you by your host, Atlantic Beachlifer and her trusty sidekick, iPhone.

Filed Under: Blog

Today

April 14, 2009 By Jeannie Greenwald 1 Comment

Hey, good times at Beachlife house this week as we’ve got our Michigan relatives visiting.

Relatives. It sounds so formal, doesn’t it, when really it’s anything but. She’s Marghie, my cousin-almost-sister and we’ve been soul sisters since…well, let’s just say a damned long time. She’s brought along her guy, Paul – her husband and baby daddy – and her baby, too. But a strange thing has happened, I tell you. Her baby grew and now he’s taller than she is. Come to think of it, my baby is taller than I am too and, worse, he doesn’t think I’m his hero anymore.

A couple of days ago I found some notes I’d written, with all manner of cute preschooler observations he’d made, including: “Mommy? If I didn’t have you, I wouldn’t have a hero.”

Now, sure, I know, as a reader you think, “whatever.” But to a mother, reading that sentence was very nearly a physical experience in that the words wrapped themselves around my heart and squeezed it, just a little.

I guess I’m going to have to work a little harder. My baby is a sophisticated almost-teen who now sees his mother for who she really is.

I’ll have to ask Marghie if her baby still idolizes her. As soul sisters, we were so lucky to have become moms within weeks of each other, to bright boys who, although quite different in temperament and style, seem to enjoy being together as much as we still do.

So we all hunkered down together in Beachlife house today watching the loose limbs and palm fronds hurtle from the bending trees as the winds tore through the coast and rain came down. Later I discovered another tree leaning dangerously down (it’s dead) but luckily this time it doesn’t threaten anyone’s house. Still, we have to call back the tree guys for another go round with chain saw. And goodbye to the Benjamins.

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Je Suis Sous Chef

April 13, 2009 By Jeannie Greenwald 4 Comments

I bow to the greatness of my eleven and a half year old daughter and gladly serve her in the kitchen.

She handles the place with competence. She needs very little supervision.

She made Easter brunch, she did.

She buttered and cubed all 14 slices of bread, beat eggs, milk and spices, and measured quantities of cheese. I put it all in the casserole and refrigerated. Yesss!

She made her cute ‘bunny salad’ and I took a picture of it. Yesss!

She made, from scratch, her Grandma’s cheesecake…and I ate it. Yesss!

The only thing I did was bake the Tilapia, which came with a yummy, pecan and breadcrumbs topping. She watched, because, as we all know…she’ll do it the next time.

Lily rocks the kitchen!

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Not Sure…

April 13, 2009 By Jeannie Greenwald Leave a Comment

What I bring to this already crowded blogosphere?

I’m not creative. I don’t sew, and if I did, it would certainly never occur to me to fashion cute girls’ skirts from funky beach towels. And if I were, ever to do that, these certain girls would certainly not deign to wear them, however cute they may be.

I don’t offer classes in anything.

I would never, ever think to make budget knitting needles out of wooden spoons from the dollar store, with a handy husband to whittle them just so. (She knows I’m referring to her, and I have nothing but – sigh – admiration for her prodigious talent and energy); This, a spur-of-the-moment educational and fun rainy day activity – all while on vacation. It makes me tired just thinking about it.

I don’t make cute labels or do any crafts with my kids. I do occasionally go to a craft store and buy craft items (so many opportunities that it’s alluring, but in reality I’m left looking, bewildered, at the contents of the bag, feel overwhelmed and put them in a drawer.

I don’t have an etsy shop. I’ve never made anything in my life that I am proud of…well, no. I have created dish gardens that I think are fine enough to show you:

I thought they were lovely enough to gift, so I did. And kept a few for us, too. Okay, so I do like gardening.

I don’t cook, or create jewelry or write reviews. I don’t paint.

However I did recently wield a can of black spray paint with satisfying results:

Repurposed a formerly blue frame into this black one. Was so proud of my mad spray painting skills. So proud, in fact, that I went in search of other objects that might benefit from a little black, and found this boring formerly white starfish. Ah, such “adventure” in this modern beachlife home. Hey, no smirking.

As tickled as I am with my results they are hardly something fresh or new (except, of course, to me, and, well, isn’t that the point?).

So I continue to cast about for my creative niche. And while it will probably never be something original enough to offer to a wider audience I’m learning to accept that if it makes me happy then that’s okay too. It’s what I’d tell my own kids…I guess I miss my own mom for no matter how old I’d get, she’d have been there with her encouragement. And for so long I didn’t really listen…but down deep, I think I heard.

And so. While I’m no _________ (i-could-fill-in-the-blank-with-two-dozen-blog-names-at-least-but-it-would-seem-like-pandering), I’ll be who I am. Your host of Atlantic Beachlife who will continue to bring you the finest of her kindergarten artwork while living in The Finest Beach Town on Florida’s First Coast.

I leave you with ‘my Peeps’, and another of Easter’s sweeter moments:

(app: Picolo with ‘sharpen’ and ‘posterize’ filters)

(no filter, just caramel oozing from a Cadbury egg. Mmm.)

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Incongruent

April 12, 2009 By Jeannie Greenwald Leave a Comment

Tonight I walked to the beach. I was logy from my long nap, and trying to shake off images of the house that wasn’t mine. (See prior post.) It was evening already, rather windy with clouds, chilly. I wore my favorite, lemon-colored wind breaker, possibly for the last time since our beachlife heat and humidity is starting to make its annual debut. But for tonight it was refreshingly cool and just what I needed to snap out of the lethargy. I was half-heartedly thinking about an iPhone photography challenge issued by the iPhoneography blogger: Take a picture of what Easter means to you, and use one or more of iPhone’s photo apps to create something unique.

Void of ideas as usual, that didn’t stop me from snapping images that appealed to me. I walked across the boardwalk at 20th Street, to “my” beach and then I saw it: two old, dead, brown Christmas trees.

Had someone just cast them out to dune’s edge? (Such litterers, in this neighborhood – surely not!) They were not there on Friday. Could they have ridden in on the tide and been left behind? (From where?). So, ladies and gentlemen, I give you my Easter image:

Twin Pines on Easter Sunday

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The Dream

April 12, 2009 By Jeannie Greenwald 3 Comments

I never thought I actually had a recurring dream, but you know what? I do. I realized it recently when some friends were talking about similar dreams and I remembered that I had been having this dream, in different variations, for a long time.

It happened again this afternoon, during a delicious nap. It’s a good dream. I’m in my house, which of course, is not my real life house, but in the dream, it’s mine.

Then for some reason, I start to discover new rooms in the house. Wonderful rooms, spaces that are everything I’ve ever wanted. I’m not talking about home design magazine dream spaces with all the accoutrements; just…rooms. Another living room. More bedrooms. A whole other wing that I’d forgotten existed. Today I found another common space/living room and a bedroom, office and attached bathroom! And with this discovery comes a slow realization that this is my house and these rooms are exactly what I need. It’s an extremely pleasurable dream.

In the dream I’m planning on moving a certain child to this newfound spare bedroom and am delighting in being able to use this wonderful living room with its curved wall. I tell you, it was great.

Then I slowly awoke to people talking about how our power was off. What?

Then my daughter asked if I’d had any dreams and I said no, but then immediately remembered this ‘house’ dream and started thinking about its recurring theme in my dreams over the past few years. I don’t know what to make of it except that I’m always yearning to renovate, and wishing we had another bedroom and bathroom for both our kids, and for our frequent visitors. And perhaps it’s precisely because we have company on the way that this wish is flitting about my subconscious.

Trying to be grateful for what we do have is hard work!

Filed Under: Blog

Drive-by Media

April 6, 2009 By Jeannie Greenwald Leave a Comment

Lots of interest in William Morgan houses, so here are two that are for sale. Another drive-by photographic moment from your Atlantic Beachlife blogger:

This is his famous Dune House, taken from a moving car, awkwardly grasping iPhone. Of course there was a car behind me so no time to snap a better photo but curious readers could scroll back and see my post about this house of a few months ago.

If you’re intrigued by the notion of living underground, rent the house! They just listed it for rent the other day. This house is actually a duplex. For lots of wonderful photos of this unique living space go to Realtor.com and start by entering our zip code: 32233 and go from there. Since it’s oceanfront it’ll be at the higher end of the price point…

Another William Morgan-designed residence also for sale. This one not for rent; can also be viewed at Realtor.com – same zip code.

Perhaps we’ll be neighbors? Bring: Beachlife attitude. Flip flops. Checkbook. (Yeah. They’re expensive.)

Brought to you by your drive-by host, Atlantic Beachlife.

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Same Place Different Days (Same Picture Different Apps)

April 5, 2009 By Jeannie Greenwald Leave a Comment

On Wednesday and Thursday mornings for sure, and sometimes, other mornings too, I drive past the place where two towns meet.

Atlantic Boulevard divides them and the Atlantic Ocean is their natural eastern boundary. Atlantic Beach begins on the north side of the street and Neptune Beach is to the south. They meet in the middle and share the kernel of community – restaurants and shops – that make up the shared Town Center. Like many drivers, I like to circle the roundabout for my morning view of another day just beginning over the ocean. There’s talk amongst the citizens and politicians of our two communities about a proposed sculpture that would occupy the focal point within the roundabout. I love art and would ordinarily support this if the towns’ coffers can afford it and that, of course, opens up another discussion about needs and wants that I’ll leave to them. I’ll add, however, that I’m not fond of the sculpture over at Atlantic Beach City Hall. I just don’t…love it.

On to the photos. All taken from the inside of the car:

iPhone* camera using natural light and no app., one morning last week.

Just this morning, natural light with no enhancements.

This was taken one morning last week, with natural light and no enhancements. The following shots are the same picture, using different apps.

(*all pictures taken using iPhone camera until further notice…)

Obviously it’s been fun using the applications I’ve procured from the App Store which makes my non-camera bearable for use. But I really long for the macro function, and a bit of a telephoto lens.

I’d love to know a) if you like the images altered by the apps and b) what type of camera you have and do you like it?

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A Rainy Day in Atlantic Beach, Florida – or – April Showers Bring May Flowers

April 1, 2009 By Jeannie Greenwald Leave a Comment

A Rainy Day in Atlantic Beach, Florida

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Oh, that sweet phrase reminds me of my mom. She was born in April, I in May. Living in Michigan, that phrase really meant something. But here in Florida, beachlife means flowers all year round.

Enjoyed the rain today. Nothing leaked, either, which made it even cozier inside.

Happy April Fool’s Day!

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"I Am Too A Camera," iPhone Protests

March 30, 2009 By Jeannie Greenwald 3 Comments

“Not really,” she said, “I mean, you’ll do in a pinch, but where’s the functionality?”

“Have you seen these pictures?” iPhone retorted.

“Seen them? I took them,” she explained.

“And yes, I’ll give you that from time to time you do good work,” she continued, “But I have to hold you very steady. And the light has to be just right. If anyone or anything moves, forget it. You blur. The images are not sharp in low light.”

“Hmph,” iPhone gave her its back.

“Oh come on,” she said, “Don’t play like that. I use you; I took you to the beach tonight, didn’t i?”

iPhone gave her the silent treatment.

“Please,” she said, keeping her voice even, “you’re a phone, really. They don’t call you iCamera, do they?”

“And you don’t even have a macro function,” she muttered just loud enough for iPhone to hear.

“Fine!” iPhone yelled, “I dare you to post the pictures you took tonight! They are really good! I’m as good as any camera buried inside a phone and if I were free, I could be even better! Go ahead and post them and see if anyone likes them.” iPhone was breathing heavy, righteous with indignation and hurt feelings. “You’ve only taken hundreds and hundreds of pictures with me since we’ve met. That’s more than most people take in a year.” iPhone tried hard not to cry.

“All right, okay, calm down,” she gave in, “it’s not that I don’t like you, I do. I just miss having a real camera-“

“I am a real camera,” iPhone interrupted angrily now.

“Look. You’re a camera, okay? What I mean is…I miss my camera. I miss my Canon, with its lenses. I haven’t used that one since digital photography took over. Then the little point-and-shoot, the Elph. It was a fine little camera, but it broke down, ” she spoke carefully, wanting to explain, and soothe iPhone’s feelings, but also to establish some photographic boundaries for the future. iPhone needed to understand where it stood in the overall scheme of cameras. Just because it was her primary camera at the moment didn’t mean it’d be that way forever. At least…she hoped not.

“You do take better pictures than I thought you would,” she admitted, “and with the fun apps I’ve added, it’s true that I’ve had a good time manipulating the images.”

iPhone was listening, she could tell. Quietly, still licking its wounds.

“I want you to know that I’ll always appreciate you. I’ll keep you in my purse for everyday picture-taking,” she tried to sound upbeat. “You’ll come shopping with me and will take pictures of me trying on clothes so I can see what I really look like – haven’t we had fun doing that? And, yes,” she began to speak faster as she sensed iPhone becoming impatient with her little speech, “…yes, I will still take you to the beach. I promise. But you have to understand that if I do get a camera – no, okay, sorry, another camera, that I’ll want to spend time with it, and go out photographing, and you’ll come, you will, but honestly, you’ll be coming along as my phone then, and not as my camera,” she finished, finally, and exhaled.

“Just so we’re clear,” she added.

“Fine,” said iPhone resignedly, “just shut up and post the pictures, then, will you?”