tasting summer.

By Lori Schuster


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tasting summer.
03.10.08 (2:01 pm)   [edit]
I am sitting on the couch looking out over the intercoastal waterway.  Someone just mowed the grass in the yard and the scent is floating in through the window.  It is melding with the smell of my coffee and if heaven has a scent I imagine it will be a blend of ocean air, freshly mowed grass and coffee.

I don’t want to go home without taking summer with me.

Craig and I drove down to Florida last Monday.  We haven’t seen grass since at least December.  The snow was beginning to pile so high in Grand Haven that our already narrow street was closing in on us.

Craig’s daughter and son-in-law were good enough to put us up in their apartment in Pompano Beach.  Now, I am watching boats pass by and palm branches waving in the breeze.  I played nine holes of golf and had a few really pretty shots.  We drove to Key West on Friday where the temperatures hit 87 degrees and I got a sunburn just on the drive down.  We stayed at the Truman Guest House in a beautiful room right around the corner from the Duval Street.

We ate lunch at Mangoes, which is a great spot for people watching—and if there is a city with more interesting people than Key West I have yet to find it.  We wandered until I had blisters on both feet before heading to dinner at Blue Heaven—one of my favorite restaurants in the world—at least the little portion of the world that I’ve seen.  

The entire restaurant is in a large backyard. We sat at the large Tiki-type bar, listening to the folk type singer while waiting for our table.  Craig developed a little crush on the bartender and I developed a crush on a black gentleman in his mid 50s with dreadlocks down to his hips and a voice that sounded like butter, James Earl Jones and Barry White—butter.

After an hour we were seated.  All of the seating is out of doors…plastic tables with white linen table clothes and candles.  Cats wander at your feet—Key West is famous for having a lot of cats.

Our meals were both exquisite.  Craig got sea scallops that were the size of small hockey pucks and the sauce-- a butter and wine reduction was so incredible that I’m pretty sure I moaned out loud.  My dish was equally as amazing—lightly sautéed yellow snapper with a citrus beurre blanc.

Now we are back in Pompano where I am relaxing and working on my book.  In case you are wondering, my job sadly did not work out in Indiana.  It is a very long story but I am now happily back living in Grand Haven.  It is probably best that you don’t have an entry for me in your address book.

In two days we head north.  I almost wasn’t going to come down here and now I simply don’t want to leave.   The smell of heaven and a taste of summer.  It just doesn’t get any better than that.

 


posted by: fractalmom (reply)
post date: 03.10.08 (11:54 am)

i don't freakin blame you one bit. i often dream of just selling everything and moving to a beach somewhere. maybe some day i will just do it.



posted by: bawdy (reply)
post date: 03.10.08 (12:28 pm)

I am so jealous..I hate winter!!



posted by: Sissy (reply)
post date: 03.11.08 (9:01 am)

I guess thats nice if you like those sorts of things. For me being held hostage in my house by the snow for days at a time and watching my beautiful children fight so often that it reminds of the Tom and Jerry cartoons I used to watch on Saturday mornings. And hearing "we have no good food" 400 times in 30 minutes those are the memories that will be forever burned in my head. But to each his own.



posted by: mimi (reply)
post date: 03.12.08 (5:16 pm)

i lived there for 2 years! oh, even those of us in Florida but away from the coast dream of a few days on Pompano Beach! it is GAWGUS!!!! and you should be there when they have a festival on the beach! such fun i
have never had! xoxoxoxox



posted by: surrogate (reply)
post date: 03.16.08 (8:10 pm)

Missed ya by twelve days. Was RIGHT there at the end of the month in February.



posted by: judypatooote (reply)
post date: 03.18.08 (8:37 am)

I remember you talking about Blue Heaven years ago when you went there with you know who.....I think it would be a place I would really enjoy...I don't know if my friends are hep enough to go there, all but Diane....I'll have to ask her about going down there, for we are going to Fl. next year.....

I can't wait to read your book, and I must say, I think your Sissy should write a book too, for she always has the right funny words to say....my two daughters who are really characters...love, mumsy



posted by: docsavage (reply)
post date: 03.18.08 (11:16 am)

Ah, the smell of fresh cut grass brings back memories for Doc Savage. I had 23 yards to mow each summer by the time I was 12 years old. I was a mini-Donald Trump and my neighborhood's Lawn Care Mogul. Doc Savage: Godfather of Grass!



posted by: lorischuster (reply)
post date: 03.18.08 (6:29 pm)

Reply to: docsavage
dear Godfather of Grass: now I feel guilty...you were an ambitious youth--23 lawns at 12. I on the other hand...not so much. My dad paid me $15 to mow our yard. I in return paid my girlfriend $10 to mow my yard and kept $5 for myself. Not sure what that says. Fortunately I somehow grew up valuing hard work. Enjoyed your blog...you are extremely witty and no nonsense...appreciate both of those qualities. thanks for stopping by and reading my rather self indulgent post.



posted by: docsavage (reply)
post date: 03.18.08 (8:18 pm)

Reply to: lorischuster

Doc Savage wrote the book on "self-indulgent" ;-)




posted by: docsavage (reply)
post date: 03.18.08 (8:23 pm)

Reply to: lorischuster

...and, trust me, 23 lawns are a lot easier to mow when you are the fictional blog manisfestation of someone else's imagination!




posted by: Janell (reply)
post date: 03.20.08 (9:24 am)

I've never thought about it before, but I think you have the smell of heaven exactly right.



posted by: lorischuster (reply)
post date: 03.20.08 (3:03 pm)

Reply to: Janell
...well, it's only a guess but sounds like it could be...glad you agree. :)




posted by: lorischuster (reply)
post date: 03.20.08 (3:04 pm)

Reply to: Janell
...well, it's only a guess but sounds like it could be...glad you agree. :)




posted by: lorischuster (reply)
post date: 03.20.08 (3:05 pm)

Reply to: mimi
Actually mimi I thought about looking you up...because I would love to meet you. we didn't venture out too much other than Key West. His daughter lives there so maybe next time we can set something up! Hope things are alright with you.




posted by: lorischuster (reply)
post date: 03.20.08 (3:07 pm)

Reply to: bawdy
well...don't be too jealous, we're back home and I heard a possible 3"+ of snow. I've had a taste of golf and now...so sad.




posted by: mimi (reply)
post date: 03.20.08 (5:58 pm)

Reply to: lorischuster
i would absolutely LOVE it! be sure to let me know! when and where! i am there! meeting you! that would be great! xoxoxo



posted by: Mimi D. (reply)
post date: 04.01.08 (7:04 pm)

Hey Lori, Great to find your blogs again. Can't wait to catch up.

Mimi

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Grace, beauty, humor, strength.
Alison Haley Cloud
Nov. 16, 1987-March 1, 2005