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Along the panhandle… Carabelle…

November 24, 2014 / Molly / 0 Comments

Picnic on the beach or train for D-Day? Before these cool retro picnic pavilions were here, this was the spot for D-Day training back in 1943.

When arrested in Carabelle…

Amen! Amendment 1 PASSES!!!

November 5, 2014 / Molly / 0 Comments

I live in paradise. On one end of my street is the Atlantic Ocean, and on the other end is the Indian River Lagoon. When my husband and I had our son, I was myopic in where I wanted to raise our family – right here on this speck of land between the ocean and the river.

Having the ability to raise my son on the water is an education in and of itself for him. And we are playing in or near the water nearly daily. For the safety of my son, however, we never go in the lagoon.

NEVER.

If it isn’t the sewage leaks, then it is the dead dolphins and manatees that give me pause.

The passing of Florida’s Water and Land Conservation Amendment in last night’s election has great significance to me. But it should be monumental for every Floridian because this water and land are finite.

Those who opposed the amendment – those who built the stucco home development paradoxically named something like “Pelican Preserve” on the land where wetlands were mitigated – you can now thank us who voted yes to Amendment 1 for your clean water.

In 2006, I made this image of a sea nettle jellyfish from a bridge over Lemon Bay. Hopefully all waterways in Florida will benefit from the passing of Amendment 1.

Written & photographed by Molly Dempsey

Cabbage Key – no shirt, no shoes, no car… just paradise

October 7, 2014 / Molly / 1 Comment

The words “you can’t get there by car” scream a challenge to me.

Cabbage Key is a little, 100-acre island located off the southwest coast of Florida, and the only way to get there is by boat. You should also be aware this resort doesn’t come with turndown service… or a pool… or any visible staff for that matter.

It’s more of a word-of-mouth place, rather than a buy-a-T-shirt place. Could there be anything better???

There are only a few cottages for rent on Cabbage Key, and having your own dock means even less of a chance of running into neighbors.

Depending on the time of day, the Cabbage Key Restaurant (its only eatery) is as packed with day-trippers off their boats for lunch as it is with dollar bills. Or, as is shown in this image, it is as quiet as the island, with only a few customers left for the night.

Best day job ever…

Legend holds that Jimmy Buffett cut his teeth playing in the restaurant’s bar, even inspiring “Cheeseburger in Paradise.” But what’s even cooler is the fact the restaurant isÂ perched atop an ancient Calusa Indian shell mound, making it the highest point in the area. This confirms that the Indians wanted us to fall on our drunk asses as we left the restaurant that would one day be perched atop their hard work… I kid… if you fall, it is probably the fault of the Cabbage Creepers. The restaurant’s signature drink makes you wobbly.