Day Two Hundred Eighty Seven 2013

“My favorite word is 'pumpkin.' You are a pumpkin. Or you are not. I am.”
~Harrison E. Salisbury

My grandpeeps, Shelby and Elijah, are in their second week of Fall Break and spent the day with me. It was a gorgeous sunny cool Autumn day to spend some time outside. We decided it was a good idea to go pumpkin shopping this afternoon.

The kids said these pumpkins were as big as boulders, and they were. We all wanted one but figured we’d better stick with the smaller ones.

Elijah got the biggest kick out of all the funky looking squashes and gourds.

Shelby fell in love with the baby sized pumpkins.

I’m always attracted to the gnarly ones like these but I didn’t get one. They looked like they were covered in peanut shells.

I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.
~Henry David Thoreau

Shelby had to own this butt shaped pumpkin. We had a good laugh over this one.

Here’s what we ended up taking home. They’re going back later with their mom to pick out a big carving pumpkin. For now, they chose the little baby pumpkins, and Elijah got a couple of gourds he really liked [the one with the long neck he picked out for his mom]. The large pumpkin on the right is mine ~ it was a neat tear drop shape. Also got a weird looking gourd and a couple of tiny pumpkins. Good times in the pumpkin patch with my peeps.

Day Two Hundred Eighty 2013

If there is a heaven for me, I'm sure it has a beach attached to it.
~Jimmy Buffett

Can you tell it’s Fall Break at the beach? This group ordered twelve chairs together. I think maybe it’s time for us to go home.

Woke up to a chilly blue sky Autumn day.

The red flag finally came down ~ yellow flag went back up

The dolphins had everyone’s attention this morning as they swam back and forth looking for breakfast

The water was perfectly clear, all green and blue and warm ~ no seaweed ~ Holly, Jerry, Shelby and Elijah rode the waves which were gentle compared to the past week or so







Not a cloud in that perfect October blue sky

The dolphins were so much fun to watch ~ I’m so happy I got to see them


Beach bums






Knox joined us late this afternoon ~ he was running around faster than my lens shutter could snap his picture



Elijah has been after us to play Monopoly ~ he and Shelby and Neil and I got a game going ~ two hours later we called it a draw because nobody was trading any property and we were going in circles ~ but Shelby ended up with the most money, so she was declared the winner. The Myers family is heading back home in the morning ~ they didn’t get to stay very long but enjoyed the time they did have while they were here ~ Vacation is winding down ………

Day Two Hundred Seventy Seven 2013

The sea was angry that day, my friends - like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli. ~George Costanza,  Seinfeld ~ The Marine Biologist (1994)















Tropical storm/hurricane warnings for Destin Saturday night/Sunday probably all day. The sea is angry, indeed. The beach chair/umbrella guy got everything set up this morning, then kept having to move it all backwards and away from the surging tide which washed underneath and past our chairs, soaking towels and beach bags and everything in its path. The sky was blue and it was sunny hot and humid and we sat on the beach, reading and watching the angry waves crashing and rolling and splattering, eroding the beach with each surge. Kelly saw a big sea turtle in the waves this afternoon. The ‘don’t-even-think-about-swimming-in-this’ red flag was flapping its warning, but people did venture in, and this evening we saw surfers riding the waves and getting thrown off their boards, but they went back for more. The place we’re staying has notified everyone that they are going to put up the storm shutters tomorrow. They took down the umbrellas at the pool this morning and are stowing away anything that will go flying in high winds. I think Karen is supposed to arrive sometime Saturday evening/night. Daughter Holly, son in law Jerry and grandpeeps Shelby and Elijah arrived safely tonight around eight o’clock, tired but glad to be here in spite of the impending storm. Tonight, the tide is creeping closer to the condos. Neil and I are on the first floor above the garage. I hope we don’t get washed out to sea. We may have to hole up in Kelly and Kerry’s place on the eleventh floor. Sounds like fun, yes? No. Maybe. I hope it fizzles out, but in case it doesn't, wish us luck and keep us in your prayers for safe passage through the storm.

 



Day Two Hundred Eighty Three 2012

Grandpeeps Shelby and Elijah are on fall break this week and spent the day with me. The day started out with the first frost in our area, too cold to go outside, so we spent most of the day being slugs, until the sun took some of the chill off this afternoon. And a beautiful blue sky October day it was—perfect for batting the ball around and swinging on the backyard swing.