autumn at the gulf coast

my mother and i took a long weekend trip to the coast last weekend. it was the first

time i had been back since the oil spill had come ashore in june. my beautiful gulf coast looked exactly the way it did when i left. the waves were intense, but the skies were sparkly and calm. i can breathe so much better at the beach.

my mother and i talked about how women seem drawn to the shores of the sea. i think it's because they see something familiar in the rituals of the tides. it reminds them of themselves.

and we became heroes! we saved a baby sea turtle from a sure death in the clutches of a seagull. because of the recent full moon, i felt sure this turtle was a new hatchling making it's way to the sea and was interrupted by a pecking gull.

we set it back into the water and watched it tumble,

wave after wave. finally, it gained control of it's tiny legs and started to swim out to sea. i'd like to think it made it. but there is the oil to contend with out there...

chicken tacos for supper one night in the tradition of El Agave, one of my favorite restaurants. lots of cilantro, onion, and fresh

lime make these out of this world!

after my grandmother died, my mother, aunt, adrian and i headed down to the beach house for some time of rest and reflection.  it was so nice to spend the time together and remember my beautiful grandma billie.  my mom and her sister had such a great time with adrian.  it's amazing what only a couple of days can do...

sweet found bird.  i think it must have flown into our garage door.  it is a beautiful unripe banana yellow/green.  not really sure what kind.  my mother has a bird book.  maybe i'll look it up.