Weekend Coffee Share...Come Sit with Me

It's another week of Weekend Coffee Share. I always love everyone's posts. Are you like me and try to visit everyone? It doesn't always happen but I try. I have loved getting to know different bloggers and I figure if they take the time to write a post, I'll find the time to visit, even if it's a week later. I truly enjoy what you all share and I often learn so much. 

Check out all the other posts on Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. I'm off to go visit some now. #weekendcoffeeshare.

If we were having coffee we'd probably talk about:

The weather: We are in Florida this week and it's been hot. Thankfully it's not as humid as it has been other times we've visited here, but it's still too hot for me. I'm tired of sweating. We are here until Sunday. It looks like the weather at home is going to be nice when we return, in the 70's and low 80's. I'll take that. 

What we're thinking about: We've been in Florida the past week...I've thought a lot about how amazing the people on the gulf coast came through the hurricane last fall. While here, we spoke to several business owners and they are so resilient. Because my husband is in the disaster restoration business he likes observing and talking to people. They shared stories of how people came together to help, how businesses donated equipment to other businesses. So much depended on them getting back up and going as soon as possible. It was also sad to see those homes and businesses that are still in a state of disrepair, closed down because they just couldn't make a comeback or do what was necessary to get back in their homes. 

What we're thankful for: I am thankful for where we live. That the lack of catastrophic weather events are very rare, though we do have wildfires and some areas of flooding, it is not often devastating to homes and businesses. 

Around the house: I got all the coconut mulch spread out around the blueberries. The blossoms are plentiful and the bees are busy. I'm looking forward to some great berries this year. I'll have to share a photo next week of the area. I should have taken pictures of the stages of the mulch. It comes in hard packed blocks and expands as water is added. We went to a home and garden show last week and I came home with a few tomato plants and what is called a flowering maple (Chinese Lantern)...it is considered more of a delicate perennial and in our area would need to be brought inside during colder months. The photo I'm sharing is from online. Mine is small but I'm hoping it does well. the gal said they grow fast. I see them at the Farmers market and they've always caught my eye so I just decided to go ahead and get one. I'm hoping when I get back, all the plants are alive...our friend is watering so we'll see. 

We're working on getting bids for a garage/apartment. Yikes the cost is kind of crazy, but we really need to get something built..it may just be a garage. OR we may do an airbnb or long term/short term rental with the apartment. We'll see.  

I have some areas that need weeding and I'll probably do that when I get back. I love going on trips, but there's always stuff that needs to be done when you get back...I will need to grocery shop and I'm considering doing a grocery pick up for necessities, otherwise I'll go Tuesday. 

For the love of food: We've enjoyed some great food while we've been here in Florida. One thing I enjoy doing when traveling is eating new places and new things. I do not want Starbucks for coffee, or a chain restaurant (unless it's exclusive to an area). We usually ask the advice of locals. 

Our first night here, we got in a little later and decided to just eat at one of the spots onsite where the condo we rented was. We had fried calamari which was really good. I had a grouper with mushroom risotto and veggies. Hubby had steak, a mashed potato and something else. I didn't care for how the grouper was cooked, and the veggies were meh, but everything else was good. 

Calamari with marinara sauce, parmesan cheese shavings and peppers. 

What else have we eaten....

Hush Puppies and Fried catfish from The Lazy Gator! Really good. 

Alligator bites with  voodoo sauce (mayo, siracha and I can't remember the other ingredient). They were tender and full of flavor as was the sauce. 

We stopped at an Italian deli and store on Anna Maria Island and I had to try a cannoli. I was not disappointed. Vinny's was such a fun stop. We spoke to the owner for a bit about his history and also how they came back from the hurricane last fall.

In Clearwater beach we visited The Salty Crab and had grouper tacos and carribean street corn. 

I tried malasada donuts from Bad A$$ Coffee of Hawaii. They were good. 

The ice cream from Ice & Cream was super good. Oh my, and made locally. 

Wednesday we arrived in Tampa and stopped at Armature Works which is a very cool spot filled with small eateries, spaces to meet and an outside area to relax and hang out. I was so hot after our walk I decided I needed a smoothie bowl. So good!

Oh, I picked up these goodies at the Italian deli to bring home. 

Did I find coffee? Why yes, yes I did!

I got a honey lavender latte at Foxi coffee which is in the Fox Mercantile, which I'll talk about a little later in the post. It passed. So good!

My coffee from Bad A$$ Coffee...this was a macadamia white mocha. Again, really good. 

While in St. Petersburg (Florida), we stopped at Paradeco and I got another honey Lavender latte. 

As we headed out of Ruskin on Wednesday morning we stopped at Ebe's Cuban Cafe where I decided to try a S'more latte. It was good, but it was sweet, and I like sweet. Ha!

The rest of the time since being in Tampa we've just eaten here at the conference, though I've had a few coffees at the hotel coffee kiosk where they serve Illy coffee. They've been good. We did go out to eat on Wednesday at the American Social Restaurant. No photos, but I had a really good crispy goat cheese salad. I also had a drink called a Fifth and Lavender ( tito’s handmade vodka, lemon, lavender, lychee, q club soda) that was really good. I always ask them to go light on the vodka.

Friday night we ate at another Tampa restaurant. The calamari appetizer was great. My drink and meal was underwhelming. It was geared more towards sushi and they had other options so I got a smash burger, but it wasn't that great. Everyone who had the sushi loved it. We ended with walking about 15 minutes to get ice cream at Chill Bros and that was worth the walk. 

For the love of reading:  In April I finished 4 books. I haven't started anything new since last weeks update. I have of course added a few books to my TBR. 

What we're watching or listening to: I've listened to some podcasts and am almost done with the audio book I've been listening to (shared that one last week). I think I have 2 hours left. I should be able to finish it on the flight home. Today at my hubby's conference I went and listened to some speakers from the company and also the keynote speaker, James Lawrence, known as The Iron Cowboy. WOW. What a fascinating journey he has taken. I'm hoping to listen to his book or at least read it.He did 50 ironman races, in 50 states in 50 days..then he set out and did 100 consecutive ironmans in 100 days. There is an amazon prime documentary about him and he has one or two books. He had so many great nuggets to share. 

Favorite quote: A few quotes I enjoyed from the conference this morning...some great nuggets to chew on. 

"If everything is important, then nothing is" 

"Every journey has a humble beginning"

"Make the bully in your head your buddy...learn to communicate with it"

"Next time you think you can't do something, remember, the human spirit has no limits". 

Favorite photo(s): 

Me outside The Fox Mercantile....continued below. 

Random or not so random things:

I have followed the IG page Arrows and bow for a few years. Ashley Petrone and her husband Dino live on Anna Maria Island and own The Fox Mercantile, Foxi Coffee and the Joi Inn. They've also written a book and now have a podcast. I've always thought it would be fun to visit the shop, but also knew that probably wasn't going to happen....we really had no reason to visit that side of Florida. UNTIL my hubby said their yearly company conference was in Tampa and would I want to go? We'd go three days early and do some things on our own. I got on google maps to see what was around Tampa....I realized how close we'd be so I jumped at the chance. Now, to my hubby, visiting one "mercantile" is like visiting any other...but to me, it was a fun chance to see in person something I follow online. It was fun. Now, I was irritated because I had every intention of taking a few pictures inside and a video and failed to do so...I guess I could just say I was living in the moment right? 

It's been a great week and I'll share some more things next time we post which will be the 16th. I am very ready to get back home to the PNW weather and scene. 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin