Hubby and I are down at our Florida condo for a few months, escaping the northern winter. Apparently, we picked a great year to snowbird! While the weather down in St Augustine has been uneven at best (40° one day, 70° the next), I know it has been better than what has been going on back home.
My brother came down this past weekend, so we went down to the beach where we watched the waves (it was extremely windy that day), he wrote a note to his girlfriend in the sand, and we watched a surfer catch some waves.
I hope these pictures warm you up a bit:
Beach foam! or sea foam is created by the agitation of seawater, particularly when it contains higher concentrations of dissolved organic matter derived from sources such as the offshore breakdown of algal blooms. These compounds can act as surfactants or foaming agents. As the seawater is churned by breaking waves in the surf zone adjacent to the shore, the presence of these surfactants under these turbulent conditions traps air, forming persistent bubbles that stick to each other through surface tension. Due to its low density and persistence, foam can be blown by strong on-shore winds from the beachface inland. (according to the wiki)
The ocean recedes leaving behind shells.
Shells on the beach!
I have no idea how far out this buoy was. To be quite honest, I never saw it. I was using my long-lens, merrily snapping pictures and this one came up in my downloaded picture file.
Told ya it was windy that day!
Surf’s up!
[slider id=’5413′ name=’St. Augustine Beach, February 2014′]
The surfer is a slideshow since there were so many pics – from his watching for a wave, finding one, riding it, to his leaving for the day. You’ll notice he is wearing a wetsuit. So were the other surfers that day. It wasn’t all that warm, and the wind made it feel even colder, not to mention how cold the ocean is right now.
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Marie says
Perfect year for Florida winter, I must agree. I suppose you’re getting some rain now which will become a snow event up in here in northeast TN. I’m far enough north that we usually miss the ice storms that will be hitting the Carolinas today. Has there been any talk about this winter hurting any of the Florida winter crops? I keep holding my breath, waiting to hear how food prices will go up for this unusual winter that keeps blasting the south.
Ann says
No rain, Marie. Believe me, we don’t need any rain down here! The first 10 days were beautiful, then it poured for a week. It has been lovely since Sunday, but overcast today.
I haven’t been to the Farmer’s market in two weeks (which is Wednesday, I need to go next week) to ask, so I really don’t know. Hubby hasn’t mentioned anything that may have been written in the newspaper. I will say that the week it rained, I was cold! I wore my winter coat the entire week (upper 30s, low 40s and rain is no fun). But, there was a lot of notice, and I didn’t hear anything about the citrus crops being harmed. I guess we will know in the next few weeks. Last year at this time was a LOT warmer than it is now.
Ann
Barbee says
Usually citrus is only harmed when it gets below freezing for several hours.
In a quick short freeze they can protect the fruit by turning on the sprinklers.
(They have that all figured out.)
Strawberries-that’s what suffers first.
Barbee says
Gawd I miss Miami
This winter is so awful! Was talking to some old guy the other day…
…he said this is a normal winter. The other ones (last 7 years) were abnormally warm.
UGH!
Gawd I miss Miami. When I win the lottery-I’ll be moving back.
Ann says
LOL Barbee. Back home there hasn’t been a “normal winter” in almost 15 years. And then an abnormally cold and snowy one hits to break that 15 year warmer, drier, spell. I can’t say I am missing it though.
Ann
Gail says
Born and raised in St. Augustine, and I don’t live that far away even now. It’s beautiful there. However, we bought a retirement place in North Carolina 🙂 We love going there as often as we can, starting in May though!!!
Ann says
Hope you enjoy it, Gail!
Ann
Barbee says
Pretty much the whole country retires in Florida…except Floridians… they retire in North Carolina.
(I think by now the entire state on NC is owned by Floridians)
Ann says
Oh I’m not sure I agree with that, Barbee. Raleigh is western New York south… I can’t tell you how many people I know that have relocated from upstate/western NY to the Raleigh area. It’s crazy.
Ann