Relax on Hutchinson Island (link here)

What a beautiful sunset while on the island!  Reminds you a little of the south seas, doesn't it?  This is just another great spot on the Treasure Coast.  I drove down to one of the beaches last week to see if any new larger shells had washed ashore but I was disappointed.  I sat and sifted through the tiny shells that were left there for sea glass but there was nothing worth bringing home.  It's still a relaxing past time.  The funniest thing is, as I was walking on the little pathway toward the beach from the parking lot, I spied these large green/brown objects! 

At first I couldn't imagine what they were, then it dawned on me:  they're coconuts!  How dumb am I?  But I've never seen coconuts like these before - just the small brown, hairy ones in the grocery store.  I picked up these 2 and brought them home.  I looked around for someone to ask if it was okay to take them, but there was no one.  They were lying on the ground, so I assumed it was okay.  You never know in a park if you can pick up things; even pine cones.

The beach was nearly empty, so I had it to myself.  Sometimes it's more fun if there are other sun worshipers to watch, though.  Don't you find yourself almost hypnotized by watching what people are doing? 

On the way back to the mainland, I stopped and took this photo at Fort Pierce Inlet.  It's a nice little area to have a picnic at tables there and watch boats from the Marina come in and out.  This is a busier area than the beach normally, but right now in early March, it's a little too early for crowds.  The Easter Holiday brings more people to all the beaches. 

Both of the areas shown above are along Seaway Drive on the Island.  There are numerous restaurants and other facilities, as well as condos and individual residences.  I'd love to live on either Orchid or Hutchinson Island. 

Take a Short Drive to Orchid Island (click link)

The weather has finally started to warm up here in Florida and that means I need to go to the beach and watch the waves for a while, walk in my barefeet in the soft sand and just let the sunshine feel warm on my skin.  This is why I had to retire here.  The extra long winter of 2010 has made this visit to the shore even more precious.  I went early in the morning, before everyone else decided to do the same thing.  The photo above is of Vero Beach in the area where I can walk for miles along the edge of the surf and look for sea glass or  small shells.  I've been looking for driftwood but haven't found any so far.  The photo below shows Ocean Drive with all it's marvelous shops selling clothing and accessories in tropical colors and pastels, as well as hundreds of souvenirs you would be proud to take home to friends and family.

Along various spots of Ocean Drive, are sculptures of brightly colored and patterned Loggerhead Turtles.  The Loggerheads are popular in this area and come ashore here to lay their eggs from late March through early September.  These turtles are an endangered species and are much loved and protected by the local residents.

Isn't this a feature that brings a smile to your face?  These sculptures also appear in front of various businesses throughout Vero Beach, such as the Main Library.

The Fresh Market - a New Store (Connect to store's website here)

I have my favorite shopping routine like everyone else, but once in a while I try out a new store to see what's up.  Today I drove to 21st Street in Vero Beach and went to The Fresh Market.  I'd been wondering if it was an organic, fresh fruit-vegetable place and it is, plus more.  I'm so glad I went.  Now I'm hooked.  It's lovely to walk into with the stacks of fresh produce, offering just about everything you hoped for: the usual Florida citrus, Spanish or Latino squashes, plantains, tamale corn husks, red and green peppers of all kinds, etc.  But for me the best part is the prepared foods section offering roasted chicken, small hams, pizzas, baby back ribs, pasta salads, side dishes, prepard fish - just wonderful for taking home for lunch or dinner.  They also have canned goods from different ethnic groups, fresh seafood and meats and a wonderful fresh sushi area and a deli, as well.  And let's talk about the fresh baked goods!  Oh my gosh!  Wonderful breads and rolls, cookies, cakes, desserts.  I wanted everything.  I stayed pretty well in control of myself and only bought a bag of Rosemary Sea Salt Rolls.  I had to have one right away, so I ate it in my car on the way home.  These would be great with pasta dishes, soup, salad or anyway you can think of. 

They are crunchy, salty on the outside while still soft and tasting mildly of rosemary on the inside.  Perfect!  This store is definitely on my grocery shopping list from now on.  By the way, the prices are comparable to other grocery stores.

This store also has special events, such as having a Chef come in and demonstrate cooking techniques.  I certainly can benefit from that!  I've marked my calendar.