Flora

Pictures from my phone of interesting plants I have found:

These purple flowers grow on a vine and are blooming currently. I also spotted these in Orlando and any help figuring out what they are would be greatly appreciated. I want these in my yard if they are not invasive/chokers.

My neighbor has these gigantic pitcher plants which also grow on a vine. I always seem to kill pitcher plants which are native to Florida. These do not seem to be a native species, but are amazing none the less.

I found these flowers when I was hiking in Sanibel Island. They grow in wetland areas and look like a grass. I could not find them on the wetland plants list and don't know what they are called.

I never knew artichokes bloom. I am assuming they open up like this in the Florida heat and are unable to be grown here for eating, since that is what happens to brussel sprouts. Exposure to severe heat and sunshine keeps a lot of things from forming a heart. (Jordan)

Obviously not a plant but one of my favorite phone photos I have taken and wanted to share.

P.S.-Anonymous, I appreciate your offers but I think I will pass on that. I also appreciate the entertainment.

Impossible Project

Yes I bought a Polaroid camera at a thrift store, and then I bought insanely expensive film to fill it with. However the film is a little different than other insanely expensive film because it is test film, made from Polaroid's last standing instant film manufacturing plant. This plant was about to be closed as well forever when a couple of people bought the machines and remaining materials and started "The Impossible Project"

It is a nice story and you can read about it here as well as waste your own money. Hah here are a few of the standouts:

As you can see this film is extremely picky about lighting. I took a bunch of throw away pictures that are not even worth scanning. I love film because of the anticipation and the fact that every photo is so deliberate as to not waste. I only got a digital camera 2 years ago and started out shooting film, but as much as I love it it is a pain in the ass.

Anticipation leads to disappointment mixed with a tinge of satisfaction

Postcard to child self

You might have heard about this Arcade Fire interactive video but if not check it out. This is my postcard I wrote to my past self:

Summer?

Fall is on its way. I know it is hard to tell with the temperatures barely dipping below 90 degrees but being born in Florida you can tell the difference between 95 with 100% humidity and 85 with 80% humidity. The evenings are almost porch worthy again and it is pleasant in the shade (with a sea breeze). I love the next few months of Florida weather. Perfectly comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt but still beach weather (no wetsuits yet).

I am not ready for fall yet though, no pumpkin recipes, no cinnamon broom sticks. I just want to relish in this last month of summer. My first summer in St. Augustine has been awesome and my bathing suit has gotten plenty of use. Summer review:

No amount of time at the lake is enough for Cody. This is where he sits for hours when we go out.

Waterproof camera Christmas present finally getting some use.

Plenty of Jordan time this summer (could always use more)

Welcome to North Florida where we deep fry everything hah.

Early morning fishing

Too bad this is only thing we caught (bastard broke the pliers)

Plenty of dolphin all summer

Cat and Taylor (and 5th wheel Reuben) are a pretty awesome bonus of St. Augustine. Boating trips, kayak and dock usage and Stogie's? Yes Please!

Learned that I should follow my gut and not go out when it seems like a bad idea. Thankfully I made it back to the creek after paddling backwards for 45 min.

More fishing!

Deciding on dinner makes Jordan want to rip her hair out with all the indecisiveness

A little surfing ( no pics from the good days because we were both too busy surfing)

The annual summer body (easy to get in shape when you are at the beach all the time)

Bad ass 4th of July sunset

Scalloping on a busy picked over weekend

Still a super good time though

Got my first Columbia shirt for all the boating and fishing summer entailed (Working on becoming a full on good ole boy psssh)

Single fin and bonzer in progress

Red fish honey hole?

Single fin finished

Bio-luminescence kayak tour

I highly recommend going out in Mosquito Lagoon at night between September and March to see the bio-luminescence. It was one of the craziest things I've ever seen.

It has been a great summer so far!

Around town

When I was on vacation I realized what a pain it was to lug my huge camera around, and was reminded of how simple iPhone photos are by Andrew. I felt the need to photograph all the cool stuff I live by.

I was having lunch with my friend the other day who works for the city of St. Augustine. He has been working on a road construction project in Downtown and was telling me about the staff archaeologist. While they were digging up the street he found a burial from Colonial times. I did not make it in time to see the burial before it was exhumed but it put into perspective just how old everything is in St. Augustine. I mean there is a full time archaeologist in the city, and I think I need to have a beer with him hah. Here are some pictures from this week.

My favorite lot in the whole city.

Famous lighthouse

Transportation

Cody keeping me company under my desk while I work