Mama Diaries

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Question of the Month and Grill Master

Sorry for being a little remiss about being here. I've been busy with my kids. They'll be back in school next week, so hopefully I'll find a little more time to blog and visit everybody.


It is time for the Question of the Month hosted by Michael D'Agostino.




This month's question is, "What is the best beach you've ever visited?"


I've been to a lot of beaches. I used to live in Florida, and I was a SCUBA diving instructor. I haven't been to all beaches, of course, but I'd have to say my favorite is one that my family and I used to visit when I was a kid in Florida. It's called Bellaire Bluffs, and it's on the gulf coast in Pinellas  county. I loved going there in the evening just before sunset, and chasing fiddler crabs as they scurried in and out of their holes. Then we'd fish. We always caught these things called grunt. Nobody liked to eat them, except me. Maybe it was all the butter my mom used to cook them.


Anyway, what I liked about that beach, was that there was usually nobody there. We had the place to ourselves. And the sunsets were gorgeous. When the tide went out, there was a little island that would pop up. My brother and I would swim out to it, and we'd always find lots of snails in conch shells. It was so cool.


I looked online to see if I could find some pictures of it. There was one on Wikipedia. It's not great, but you can kind of get an idea of what the sunset and beach is like.




 Do you have a favorite beach?


Now for the story:


I recently celebrated a birthday. (Thanks to everyone who wished me happy birthday on Facebook!) My twelve-year-old son decided he was going to make me a special birthday lunch . . . on the grill. He had never used the grill before, so this was going to be a rite of passage.


His dad showed him how to turn on the grill, and then left him to do the grilling. Bubba planned to make brats. He put them on the grill when it was time, and then let them cook. And cook. About fifteen minutes later, the boy ran into the house, yelling, "Hey, I need a little help here!"


My husband went out to investigate. One of the brats was on fire. Fortunately, it wasn't completely out of control, and the rest of the food was fine.


When Bubba came back into the house with a plate of barbecued brats, he had a big grin on his face. "My face is red, and my hands are burned, but I made good food! I'm a grill master!"


Grill Master indeed!

45 comments:

  1. Not bad for his first attempt.
    Belated happy birthday!
    An empty beach sounds best.

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  2. I'm sure Bootsie was happy with the burnt one

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    Replies
    1. Bootsy was a smart cat. He stayed away from the grill.

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  3. Hi, Sherry!

    I didn't know you lived in Florida! I lived in Pinellas County when I first came to the Sunshine State in 1984 and hit all of the Pinellas beaches over the years. Maybe we ran into each other and never even knew it! Mrs. Shady's daughter and her family live near Bellaire Bluffs. I would have to agree with you that a secluded beach away from all the tourist crowds like you find on Clearwater Beach, Treasure Island, SPB and Pass-A-Grille is my idea of a good time.

    I'm surprised Bubba chose brats for his first cookout experience. He should have made the family Bubba Burgers! :)

    Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Sherry!

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    1. I was there from 1976 - 1980. We missed each other. I haven't been to Bellaire Bluffs since I was a kid. I suspect a lot has changed!

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  4. Empty beach would be grand indeed. haha not a bad first attempt at all. Hope you had a happy birthday.

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  5. I've never met a beach I didn't love, but I think the most beautiful one I've ever seen was in Hawaii, when my husband and I met there for R&R in 1970. It was on the island of Oahu, and if I remember right, it was called something like Hanama Bay. The water was a glorious crystal blue-green, and so clear you could actually look out over the water and see the coral and sea creatures while standing on the beach!

    Your Bubba is a good boy. Who knows? This could be the start of something BIG. Maybe some day, he'll win a grilling competition on the Food network.

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    Replies
    1. Sounds like a beautiful beach! Maybe someday I'll get to see it in person.

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  6. I've lived in FL almost my whole life and I can barely swim. haha I think it's neat that you were a SCUBA instructor. You should write a children's book about SCUBA diving and what it's like underwater. :)

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    1. That's a good idea. I'll definitely consider it.

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  7. Wow, Sherrie. It sounds like a magical place.

    Yikes. I don't think I'd be letting that boy near a grill for any reason in the near future. Happy late birthday!

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    1. He's a male. He's got the grilling gene, so I don't think I'll be able to keep him away from the grill for long.

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  8. That sounds like my kind of beach, no one else around. My boys are in their 20s and I still don't trust them around the grill.

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    1. Grills can be dangerous if you're not careful!

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  9. Way to cook, Bubba! What a sweet birthday gift. I like quiet beaches, and butter does indeed make everything better.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Quiet beaches are the best. I wish I had one of those where I live!

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  10. What a lovely thought from your son for your birthday. He really has a kind heart. Belated birthday wishes to you also.
    Yvonne.

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  11. Happy belated birthday. Sounds like Bubba did awesome on his first try grilling - he's truly a grill master. A beach to yourself sounds wonderful.

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    1. Much better than all those crowded touristy ones.

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  12. LOL! So funny! He will learn by practice and he has a good start. Food always tastes better when made with love. Happy birthday brat--the best. :)

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    1. He definitely made the brats with lots of love!

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  13. I love his confidence. :) So glad you got a special dinner prepared for you for your birthday. Sounds like a great birthday!
    ~Jess

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  14. Happy birthday.
    You should find a grilling show to show him. He might become an expert!

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    Replies
    1. He certainly enjoys cooking shows. I think that's why he likes making food any time he can.

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  15. I'm impressed with your Scuba past. I am not sure what would be my favorite beach. Maybe Masonboro Island in NC or a little nook between Tennnessee and Muir Beach north of SF where there is a hot spring at low tides.

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    1. I don't know of either of those. Muir Beach sounds familiar, though. We might have been around there on our last visit to California.

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  16. How sweet that he wanted to make you the meal... I think if I cooked those they would go on fire too... lol

    Enjoy your summer with you kids, I am spending more time with Valentina now that she is back from camp. I am only blogging when she is out, having a bath or sleeping... xox

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    1. It's better to spend time with your kids than to be on the computer.

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  17. Awesome that he wanted to do special for you!

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  18. What a lovely memory of Bellaire Bluffs! No wonder it's your favorite beach...

    And how sweet of Bubba to make you a birthday lunch! Glad his first attempt at grilling didn't result in too many mishaps...

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  19. Sounds like a great birthday and a rite of passage for Bubba!

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  20. Wow. That beach does sound amazing, and the photo is gorgeous, too. I don't know that I have a favorite beach, but I'm definitely a fan of Pacific beaches as opposed to Atlantic ones. I just love the fog, and the rocks, and the tide pools, and the way the waves crash. We were in California this summer, and just writing this makes me want to go back again.

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    1. Pacific beaches are beautiful. It's too bad the water is so cold. Those beaches are ones where you look but don't touch. ;)

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  21. How lovely.

    I adore the sea, if not altogether the sand. My favourite beach is probably Bamburgh not only for how clean it is but also for its wonderfully romantic historic castle.

    http://www.nnouk.com/bamburgh-castle-and-village-northumberland.shtml#

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    1. Cleaning sand off yourself and your belonging after a visit to the beach isn't exactly fun. But it is nice to hear the sound of the surf and seagulls.

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  22. That sounds like an amazing beach :). I love all many of the beaches in Langkawi, some on uninhabited islands. Wonderful sand, blue waters and lovely parrot fish!

    Damyanti

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