Bob the Mailman, Part 2

I wrote about our mail carrier Bob previously. He's a good guy, with a great sense of humor. If he sees us outside sometimes he brings the mail up and chats for a minute. If we hear the truck, John or I will walk out to grab the mail and say hello. In our chats we've covered local politics, parenting issues, school choice, shopping for homecoming gowns for his daughter (she graduated from KWHS this past June), and lots more.

Bob knows the girls, of course, and they think he's a celebrity when we run into him at Publix. He truly IS a local celebrity. Just ask any of the customers on the route he delivered for the last 20 or so years, or those he worked with heading up the annual food drive, and probably lots of other things that I don't even know about.

Two weeks ago Bob walked up to hand me the little note I show in the photo. He said 'I can barely talk about it....see you tomorrow.' His recent knee surgery didn't deliver as promised and Bob will be taking on a route 'up the Keys' as we say here, just a few miles out of Key West near Baby's Coffee. Less walking and less climbing in and out of the truck. Much less stress on a painful knee until he can get that straightened out with the orthopedists.

'Everybody tells me there aren't any people up the Keys. You'll only see them on Saturday,' said Bob. I told him he will be chatting up the iguanas sunning themselves along the roads, and he probably will. I'm hoping what's good for Bob's knee won't be too hard on his soul since he is the true definition of a 'people person.'

On Friday afternoon, I told the girls it was Bob the Mailman's last day so they needed to come out and say something to him. I didn't tell them what to say or coach them in any way. I think he got a little teary when he saw all four of us standing by the mail box, but I know he appreciated it. Mari said 'You're the best! Good luck!' and Josie summed it up perfectly with 'You are an EPIC mailman!'

So good luck to Bob on his new route. I'll bet it isn't too long until the iguanas start gathering when they hear the mail truck's distinctive rumble, just like we did. See you at Publix.

Weekend in Miami

This past weekend was the first time we stayed in the city of Miami, heading north from Key West for some shopping and off-island fun. We usually head to Broward County for retail therapy....Aventura, Hallandale, or Fort Lauderdale. All those stores we miss from home, in suburban areas that really could be in Maryland or any place else, except for the palm trees. This weekend gave me a little taste of the 'glitz' I often miss from traveling to large cities. We all enjoyed it.

We stayed at the Conrad hotel in Miami's financial district, a sea of high rises surrounded by Biscayne Bay. The view from our suite on the 22nd floor was amazing! It reminded me of our stay at the Conrad in Battery Park in Manhattan a few summers ago....replace the Biscayne Bay with the Hudson River, switch Goldman Sach's with Chase.

In Battery Park, there are many families living in the neighborhood high rises, so the waterfront park and local restaurants are dotted with kids. On Brickell Avenue (our address in Miami), things were definitely geared to well-heeled adults. And soccer fans. We watched Peru v Venezuela while we ate some delicious Mexican food near the hotel. On our walk back, the girls posed in front of the many 'step and repeats' (those backdrops listing sponsors of special events) in front of restaurants and bars we passed. I saw the highest heels ever on some gorgeous Latinas.....how do you walk in those things? And the valet parking (something I will never understand about South Florida) was in full swing, with the best cars placed curbside for all to see. I'm talking Rolls Royce and Maclaren.

The staff at the Conrad may have looked like the staff in New York in uniform and grace, but this hotel had a Latin flair that befits a luxury hotel in the city called 'the gateway to South America.' My girls became instant celebrities upon check in. Everyone assumes they speak Spanish (they don't.....yet!) but after the first conversation the staff was enchanted. Lots of special treatment, which they completely loved. At check out Mari told the concierge 'You did a great job and this is a WONDERFUL hotel. 'Bye!'

High rises and Biscayne Bay. That is the causeway to Key Biscayne in the background.

Square One

I never dined at Square One under the previous owners, so I can't compare the 'new' restaurant with the 'old.'  Regardless, I have become a big fan of what they are doing there right now. 

The setting is nice, to start. Square One is located in Duval Square, between Simonton and Duval streets. It is quiet, definitely away from the crowds, but with just enough bustle to feel special. Origami and New York Pasta Garden are neighbors, and all three establishments have generous outdoor seating. The inside of Square One is quite striking, but I love to dine al fresco whenever possible.

Every Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am until 3 pm is brunch. You'll find the best of both breakfast and lunch, of course, from tried-and-true favorites to some things to make your meal extra special. I'd say starting the day with a flight of crafted Bloody Mary's is pretty special. At Square One you get four - The Red (zesty with horseradish and Sriracha), The Green (tangy with tomatillo, kiwi and wasabi), The Orange (made with carrot, beet, and orange juices), and The Fisherman (clam juice, Old Bay, and white peppercorn-infused vodka).  Ending your brunch with their Coffee and Donuts dessert is just downright decadent. Dunking housemade donut holes into rich mocha pudding and whipped cream? Yes, please.

Crafted cocktails are important at Square One, so definitely spend some time with the drink menu before placing your order. Then check out the dinner menu with its unique mix of plates large and small, appetizers and entrees, a little Asian (pot stickers), French (tartines), and Italian (carpaccios). The restaurant is now under the same ownership as Banana Cafe and The Cafe, so you will see symbols identifying their classic dishes including several vegan and vegetarian choices.

Recently I celebrated my birthday there with my husband. We started with Banana Cafe's delicious French onion soup and The Cafe's outstanding  Cream of Tomato with cheddar croutons.  Next up, pork pot stickers in pineapple-hoisin sauce and the wild mushroom tartine, with a pile of delicious wild mushrooms, braised cipollini onions, fresh herbs, and fontina cheese on thick toasted bread. Next came one of the evening's small plate specials - roasted prawns in a sauce of lime juice, smoked paprika, and cherry tomatoes. Probably one of the most delicious dishes I've had in Key West. For the entree, we shared the grouper special. Impeccably fresh fish with mascarpone polenta and a flavorful sauce...just wonderful. 

No room for dessert that night, but I did want to try the house red sangria before heading home. So glad I did! The best I've ever tasted, with tiny chunks of watermelon and orange.  I look forward to going back to Square One, for more sangria and to try the rest of the interesting menu.

The roasted prawns special....so good!

Nine days and counting...

We've got nine days of school left here in KW. This year it completely snuck up on me. Switching schools in mid-March made everything seem new again and eliminated that awful 'end of year mom' syndrome that has fueled many a humorous blog post. You've seen them - a photo of the perfectly dressed child with every possible school supply and a healthy, nutritious lunch in hand in late August vs the kid with bed head and a bag of microwave popcorn in the first week of June.


I'm glad we skipped that syndrome this year, because not only does it send the wrong message to the girls, it always left me feeling guilty. I could have done better, even if I didn't really feel like it. And the last thing we moms need is something else to feel guilty about, right?

So after a flurry of end of year events and activities, we will have that 'school's out!' joy, but in all honesty, that is when the real work begins. No, I don't have to make sure we have clean uniforms and snacks/homework/permission slips/filled water bottles in each backpack every morning, but I do have to make sure the girls don't turn into 'summer zombies' by doing nothing but watching television and playing electronics all day.

I am very thankful that the girls' school has summer camp every week through mid-August. We have lived here just long enough that neither of them was looking forward to the day camps we have done previously. And not only will they get out of the house and stay on a routine, they will both receive tutoring to get ready for the next school year.

Of course, summer does need some of those lazy, hazy, crazy days that the old song talks about, so we won't be at camp EVERY week. We have made a list of things they want to do here on the island, and they are already excited for our annual trek up north.

Summer is one of our favorite times of year here in Key West because it is quiet, very quiet. Yes, it's hot, but the quiet wins out. There is a tropical feeling in the air that makes me smile. And smiling is always good.

The Cupcakes

Last week I asked the girls what they wanted to do for Mother's Day on Sunday. Josie didn't have a preference. Mari wanted to cook something special together, so I let her pull some of my cookbooks off the shelf and search for the perfect thing. She found it - Dr. Pepper cupcakes from one of the Pioneer Woman's books.

Mari LOVES Dr. Pepper. She is only allowed to have it if we dine out, so I think part of the reason she chose the recipe was that a bottle of her favorite soda was in the list of ingredients. But as we sat down to make a shopping list, I started wondering how much she would really like these cupcakes. Prunes and dried cherries? Ginger, allspice, and cardamom?

Mari's mind was set, so off to Publix we went. Who knew a jar of Spice Islands Cardamom is $10 bucks? Island life. I set everything on the counter near my key lime green Kitchen Aid mixer to wait for our baking adventure.

At maybe 6:30 Sunday morning, Mari burst in my bedroom with 'HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY CAN WE MAKE THE DR PEPPER CUPCAKES NOW????" No, after some breakfast and church, sweetie.

To make a very long story short (or at least shorter) these cupcakes were one of the most labor intensive recipes I've made in a long while, and Mari took one bite of the finished product and suggested we share them 'with others.' John said he liked them, but I notice there are still 17 of the 18 made in the refrigerator. I thought they were fine....more like a British gingerbread or steamed pudding. Or something.

Maybe the whole situation was really a metaphor for life as a mother. We do a lot of things for the joy of our children, and that is what matters, even if we would like to be doing just about anything else at that moment. Baking (or cleaning or crafting or painting etc) with kids is so much messier than doing it yourself, but resisting the urge to say 'let me pour it' is worth getting the mop out later. And finally, it isn't about the end result. It's about the time spent doing something together. Which is what kids really want the most sometimes.

So. Who wants a Dr. Pepper cupcake? Only 17 left. :)

Maryland Ties. And Chickens.

I lived in Maryland for more than 20 years before moving to Key West. It was hard for me to watch the recent events in Baltimore. I've never seen rioting and unrest that close to a place I have lived. It made me feel vulnerable, even though I am living in a very different place, because the roots of such tumult aren't limited to 'certain' cities. It could happen in any place. Any town or city with a division of any kind.

I reached out to a few friends who live in and around Baltimore and asked for their thoughts on recent events. I got a few tirades that surprised me. It is definitely difficult to talk about without getting political. I also got some thoughtful responses that showed me just how deeply every citizen of Charm City was affected.

After some thought, I told a friend there that my blog post couldn't do justice to such a complicated, politically charged string of events, and I joked that most of my readers would probably prefer a post on 'chickens and island life' instead of a novice attempt at social commentary. His response also surprised me. 'I think we could all use some posts about chickens. Seriously.'

So here goes. A little slice of island life. With lots of love for my friends in Baltimore behind it.

It's warm and lovely on the island of Key West on this May morning. I saw bouganvillea of every shade while driving the girls the short distance to school. We did our 'dog count' - we saw 6 dogs being walked in a few blocks, not counting the guy who walks 4 corgis....he is separate for some reason Josie maintains. On the way home I saw the vendors setting up the Green Market in Bayview Park, getting ready for the 9 am opening. Looking forward to heading over there this morning myself. The array of tropical fruits always makes me smile, even though I wouldn't know what to do with most of them. I also saw the blue waters of the Bight before I turned onto George Street. I didn't get far before I had to stop for a mama chicken and four or five 'nuggets' (as they are called here) to cross the street in front of me. And when I parked my Jeep in front of the house I saw my nemesis Big Daddy, the large colorful rooster who frequently brings love dates to my front yard. He was watching over things from the safety of a neighbor's yard. And I'm glad, since I'd prefer another cup of coffee before having to chase him with the broom this morning. I think I'll go have that right now. Happy Thursday.

You Are Here

When you visit a large office complex, shopping mall, or amusement park for the first time it's always helpful to find that big map with the 'YOU ARE HERE' dot to get your bearings. This is where you are RIGHT NOW. Now how can you get to the doctor, store, or ride you are looking for?

I was thinking about that 'YOU ARE HERE' dot the other day while I was driving around the island running errands. Some groceries from Publix, a deposit at the bank, and some fresh herb plants from the nursery at Home Depot. Loading the car and then unloading it in front of my house, just like everyone does, in every city and town all over the country. But why do I feel differently doing those things here, in Key West, than I did when I ran the same errands in Maryland? It hit me that I am happiest when I remember where I AM.

I get to see the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico, palm trees, blue skies and sunshine while I am out and about doing those things that we all need to do to run a household. When I drop the girls off at school the scent of the gardenia blooms from the bushes at the entrance really just amazes me....heady and tropical, with flowers as big as my fist. Charming Conch houses and cottages line the streets as I cut through mid-town back home each morning. I love not leaving 'town' to get the girls to and from school. It has made me appreciate the island in a new way. If I want a coffee, it's Sandy's not Dunkin' Donuts....why would I drive the whole way out there?

The photos below show the Florida Keys. Separate from mainland Florida in more ways than one, small land masses connected by many bridges. After driving those bridges for three hours you get to Key West. We are far away from the mainland. Closer to Cuba than Miami. A small island surrounded by the bluest waters. Just being here is a gift, in my opinion. It's not perfect (no place is perfect) but it is unique and beautiful. It's where I AM. RIGHT NOW.