More Beach - Day 2

This is the view from the balcony.   Lots of coffee drunk, lots of conversation, and lots of soaking up the sounds and smells of the ocean. 

Pictures of Graysen from the babysitting session.

This was her first time being away from her parents, and it went so well.  We played, walked, talked, watched ceiling fans, did almost 20 seconds of Tummy Time and a little Boppy time.  She took her bottle well after Mimi realized there was a flat piece of plastic in the nipple keeping the milk from coming out.  We both kept on the same clothes the whole time, so that speaks well for the way things went.  No crying and little fretting.  The worst thing that happened was when I had my first cup of coffee and didn't realize I had mislabeled the salt and sugar containers. 

The fishermen had a wonderful time.  I don't think it could have been better except for the sunscreen to have actually worked.  They came back with sunglasses faces and burned arms and legs.  It was worth it though.  Fish caught were redfish, Spanish mackerel, red snapper, grouper, sheepshead, speckled trout, and flounder.

Mike likes to mention that he took command of the boat immediately but allowed Captain Tyler to have some input.  Pictures below.  It couldn't have been a more perfect morning.

Finally Here

The long-awaited and meticulously planned vist of Graysen to Alabama is in progress.  It's really hard to do it justice with just a blog entry because it has been so wonderful so far.  Just a dream.  I know I can't go back and capture everything because I'll get interrupted and end up with nothing.

This is the 3rd time I've attempted this.  I either get interrupted or the internet connecton will fail or something.  I'm going to go ahead and do this in spurts so I'll have a little bit to remember.  Mike has most of the pictures, especially the ones from Montgomery, and he hasn't shared them, so this is just what I've managed to capture.

So working backwards.  I'm getting the honor of babysitting this morning while Mike, Emily, and Ryan go fishing.  They left at some too-early hour this morning.  It's 10:50 now, and Emily texted me that she's having fun and catching so many fish.  I asked about how Ryan is liking it but didn't get an answer yet.  I don't have to ask about Mike.  I KNOW he is enjoying it.

Debby is on her way now to spend a few days.  Can't wait for her to get here.

Some pictures from last night and this morning.

Stopping in Flomaton for gas.  Two girls soaking up the sunshine.

My traveling companion.  I got to sit in the back seat and enjoy watching this sweet girl.

And marveling at the perfect little feet and hands.

Mike went on to the condo http://www.condosgulfcoast.com/bc2d.html and the rest of us went in search of crawfish to take back.

Quaint little place somewhere in Pensacola.  I was in the back seat entertaining Graysen and just riding along so I don't know where this was or the name of it.

This was supper for Mike and me.

We have to go eat shrimp and oysters now, so I'll get as many pictures as possible on before we have to leave and write more later.

We never remember to take pictures until we have all our stuff spread out.  The kitchen was very roomy with plenty of storage and cooking space.

This is the main bedroom that looks out on the water.

 Graysen spent a lot of happy time in her little cradle on the deck - huge deck - watching her pinwheel spin and listening to the ocean.

 Okay, my pictures didn't load, and I went to bed, so I'll try again later. 

April Activity - Part 1

Finally getting around to posting those pictures from several days ago. 

I usually say fall is my favorite time of the year, but when April arrives, it always makes me glad to be alive.  Mike's kept the yard nice all winter, and cleaned the flower beds, and now it's paying off. 

I think this purple verbena was planted as an annual, but it made it through the warmish winter and is prettier than last year.  Maybe I luckily bought a perennial variety.  It sure does brighten up the corner of the front bed.

The Lenten rose was brought from Washington this time last year and had a pretty rough trip back.  Mike babied it through the winter, and now it looks healthy.  We'll have to wait and see if it rewards him with that distinctive burgundy flower.

The amaryllis is ready to bloom.  When I wake up, it probably will have.

This front bed has always been damp and moldy, but Mike got rid of all the lava rock and put in some new topsoil.  It still holds water after a rain, but it's looking okay right now.  We'll see if this red verbena is as hardy as the purple. 

Mike hates the azaleas at this house because they were neglected and straggly, but they've done their best to impress this year.

I planted some zinnia seeds in the side bed by the fence.  A few have their first sets of leaves.  I'm just going to ignore them and see what they do.

The front door!  There is a story that deserves before and after pictures, but I don't have time to look through all my pictures and find an old one.  This door has been an eyesore for years - a pretty nice door if you like the oval glass style.  But the weather had almost destroyed the finish, and it was really kind of sad.  We debated painting it, staining it, or just getting a new door.  Several times during the process, I looked longingly at new doors in Home Depot.  But the wait was worth it and the mess was worth it, although it offended Mama every time she went out the front door.

I was assured every piece was absolutely necessary to the transformation of this door.

I'll have to find out what kind of paint Mike found, but he is willing to do a commercial for them if anyone ever needs one.  It's a non-drip paint that is perfect for vertical surfaces - when you don't want to take a heavy door off the hinges and put it on sawhorses on the front porch and leave the house exposed to the elements and nearly kill two people lifting it back onto the hinges.  Ask us how we know this.

So yesterday was the unveiling, complete with removal of all equipment and placement of geraniums.

I think it is beautiful.  Oh, new door handles and locks.  I will NOT be invited to help with the installation of door hardware in the future. 

Mama says she sees people from her window walking down the sidewalk and staring at the front porch.  She sees admiration and awe.  We see people who wondered what in the heck was happening for the last month out there and what the final outcome would be. 

I'm typing before getting up this morning, and I'll be back with more projects and excitement about the events this week.

I'm adding this picture too.  I've had this plate rack and plates in the dining room for 5 years waiting until I decided on a paint color.  It may be another 5 years, so I delegated this to Mike yesterday and got it done.  Catching him on an up cycle is the key.  Have I mentioned that we're getting a new patio in May?  Been waiting a long time for that too, and we'll have before, during, and after pictures of that.

So here's the plate rack that I bought in Meridian but don't remember hanging in Greensboro or Columbus.  I may have but don't remember doing it.

Can't go with a picture of Graysen.  Giggling with excitement at coming to Alabama day after tomorrow.

Here's the guest room ready for the arrival of her majesty and parents.  Thanks to sweet friends, Nick and Amanda, we have her sleeping and feeding arrangements taken care of.  I had the swing already (and a stroller), and we ordered the changing pad (which she also likes to sleep in) and the car seat base.  Not to mention lots of diapers, wipes, and, of course, toys and new clothes.  I hope it's warm enough to swim since she has 2 swimsuits, but it's pretty chilly this morning.

Adding this from Tuesday.