We are blessed with long stretches of protected waterfront on the Gulf Coast.

Miles and miles of stark white beaches, dotted with dunes and grasses, then accented with the varying shades of the green Gulf is what draws people to our beautiful, little corner of the world.

On the north coast of Florida we have a mild winter, which is welcome after the hot, humid days of July and August. A few cold days will put the golden sea oats to rest while the green grasses turn brown. The air is drier and the large cumulus clouds of winter are rare, often replaced by lighter, airier formations.

One will find far fewer people walking the beaches during the cooler months.

The solitude is welcome. The simplistic beauty of sand and sky, the limited palette of white, blue and brown, the gently roaming lines of the unmarked dunes leave me spellbound, relishing an ordinary moment in time.