Day Two Hundred Seventy Eight 2013

EVER LOVIN SATURDAY!






















A condo guy came and tied our balcony chairs and tables together this morning, but he didn’t put up the storm shutters. I’m taking that as a good sign that the storm has weakened. The weather was gorgeous today but really hot and humid. I think we all got a little red out there. The waves were still high and crashing into the shore. The surfer dudes were loving it. The beach chair guys set up the chairs/umbrellas so far inland that we were almost in the garage. This morning, we enjoyed playing in the pool where it was calm and the water was cold. This afternoon, the kids [big and small] enjoyed playing in the sand by the sea. I finished another book and took pictures of my toes in the sand. This evening, Elijah really wanted to eat at the Mellow Mushroom for supper, so we did. Right after we ordered, the lights went out. Everybody in there said, “Awww, man!” The electricity came back on, though, to delighted applause from all the patrons. We were devouring pizza when the lights went off again [“Awwww, man!” everyone groaned, especially those who didn’t have their pizza yet]. The electricity was off all up and down the strip, it seems [ours had gone out here at the condo, too, apparently ~ don’t know why]. Everybody had their cellphones lit up to eat by if you were lucky enough to have your meal already. It stayed off for quite some time, but we all applauded and yelled, “Yaaaay!” when it finally popped back on. Missed seeing the overtime in the Tennessee/Georgia game [and what a game it was!] but just as well since Tennessee lost by a field goal. Major bummer, but I love those charcoal gray uniforms. We dropped by the candy store, and the kids could not believe the massive display. Elijah was so overwhelmed by the choices, he couldn’t make a decision [he finally did]. Saturday at the beach ~ come and gone. Wish that storm would, too. Only not here.

“Roll on, deep and dark blue ocean, roll. Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain. Man marks the earth with ruin, but his control stops with the shore.”   ~Lord Byron

Day Two Hundred Seventy Six 2013

WAVE!

Red flag day at the beach ~ tropical storm and/or hurricane coming at us

The waves have been hard and fast, huge and relentless all day
  
The ocean is in turmoil and fascinating to watch ~ I took way too many pictures of the crashing waves today but I couldn’t help it

Things were calmer at the pool where Knox loves to hang out

Knox discovered the joy of the pool noodle ~ he had a great time floating around

We sat on the beach all afternoon and read and watched the crazy waves





I’m amazed these little stick-legged shore birds didn’t get washed out to sea




It was very warm today and we did enjoy plenty of blue sky but fierce wind ~ this is the only sunset picture I managed to take after the sky had already turned dark so it’s a bit blurry

We walked down to the Back Porch this evening and had dessert ~ Key Lime Pie for me and Kelly, cheesecake for Neil, and Kerry got this huge piece of orange cake with white chocolate frosting ~ tasted like sunshine on a plate ~ yum! The Kimbroughs climbed up in the big Adirondack chair outside the restaurant and posed for a family snapshot.

Neil and I got in the big chair, too [thanks for the picture, Kelly!]
My sweet niece Julia Foy is Sweet Sixteen today! We got to Face Time with her and wish her a long distance Happy Birthday which was great fun. Happy 16th, Julia!! We love you!!

Day Two Hundred Seventy Five 2013

“…I want to run the beach's length, because it never ends.”
~Deborah Ager

Sunshine was rare today. There is a developing tropical storm headed this way in the next day or two.

Blue and gray. Mostly gray today with rain. First day here that we didn’t sit on the beach at all.

We lazed around the pool instead and watched Knox splash.

Zero feet deep is perfect for him although he was fearless and waded out into the two and three feet part of the pool.

I think we found Nemo



He had more fun at the pool this morning than pint sized human beings should be allowed to have

This afternoon we spotted some dolphins feeding in the choppy waves ~ one of these days I’m going to see one jump up out of the water ~ Neil saw one the other day ~ I’m so jealous


We walked to a place on the beach called the Back Porch for supper [thanks for the pic, Kelly]

Neil was leaning out the window, watching the sun go down

The food here is most excellent


While we were eating we finally got to see some sunlight [thanks for the pic, Kelly]

We weren’t going to have dessert, but the server said they had Key Lime Pie and cheesecake ~ the Key Lime Pie was homemade but not the cheesecake, so Kelly and I decided to try their Key Lime Pie. The server also brought us a complimentary piece of cheesecake which was really nice. We all sampled the two, but the Key Lime Pie was the best ~ it tasted like Mom’s Lemon Ice Box Pie only made with key limes ~ heaven on a plate.

The sunset turned into something truly awesome after this gray rainy day [thanks again for the pic, Kelly~nice shot!] The stars are out tonight and there’s not much wind, but the waves are crazy fierce. Neil has been out there on the beach flying his night flyer RC plane. Tonight he came back in and said he couldn't get it to start ~ it landed in the water the other night and got some salt water in it which is not so good. Wonderful Wednesday at the beach even if you can't fly~