Sister time, peace and almost full moon

Pensacola Beach, Florida last Thursday, just before sunset, on a walk with my sisters during our annual "sister time." 

We stayed at a condo that overlooked Sabine Bay, this was just minutes after the beach walk.  It was lovely to watch the sunset with the girls.  I titled this photo, "Peace."

On Friday evening, we stepped outside a restaurant in Gulf Breeze to this view of the almost full moon overlooking the city of Pensacola.  It was a lovely time together.

I figured I should post at least once in August.  Baby bird update (see post from July 16):  I went by the hardware store garden center a few weeks ago to check on the baby birds.  They had indeed put a "not for sale" sign on it and had enjoyed listening for the sweet chirps coming from the nest on high.  Thankfully, the mom wasn't put off by the nest going on a little car journey.  The garden center manager lifted the plant down to show me the empty nest.  I wish those fledgling birds would visit my porch.

Good Things Happened - the beach, the cake and the dog

My annual trip to Pensacola last weekend to celebrate two precious little boys' birthdays, included a first stop at the beach last Friday for Gulf shrimp and gazing at the white sandy beach and shopping with my sister.  There are pelicans on the poles in the water if you can see them.

The view from the back bar window of Peg Leg Pete's restaurant.  It would be fun to live on that intracoastal waterway, I think, and paddle along in the water in the middle of the day.

The joint birthday party for my three-year-old and five-year-old great-nephews had a pirate theme.  The next door neighbor made this spectacular cake.  There was a water slide in the back yard and all the wee ones had fun.  No one talked like a pirate.  :)

The living room looked like Christmas morning in the aftermath of the party.  Hank, amid the presents, is one of the most loving and sweet dogs I have ever met and he never forgets his Aunt Lynn.

Thank you so much for coming by.  I have missed some of your blog posts, but plan to catch up.  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Off to the beach, birthday boys and fun in the sun

- You'd have to click to enlarge to see the Pensacola Beach sign, which I love for its retro look and the marlin at the top.  We were headed to the beach area for brunch on Sunday.

- It was a warm, breezy day at the beach.  I love the white sand of Pensacola Beach. 

- But the real reason for the visit was to celebrate the birthdays of two precious boys.  Their cousin Kloie made this paper "Happy Birthday" crown for them to share at their party on Saturday.  Cute.

- The very patient and loving Hank, having a rest, after a full day of fun in the sun.  The best part of the weekend was being surrounded by family.

Gulf breeze...

I'm off to be with family in Pensacola, Florida this weekend - it's my two great nephews' birthdays (they were born the same week, but two years apart.)  I'll see you when I get back and will hopefully have photos as nice as this one when I return.

Happy weekend, y'all!

Summer fruit, the gulf coast and looking forward

- I felt a little pang at the grocery store last night, when the only blueberries were outrageously expensive, which means summer fruit is on the wane.  I should have stockpiled more in the freezer!  A Whole Foods employee told me once to stick them in the freezer in the plastic container they usually come in (unwashed) - and wash them after they are thawed.  They are slightly softer after being frozen, but still good.  I have loved the Georgia peaches and the blueberries from anywhere! 

- The birds were loving that grass (if you click to enlarge, you can see more birds in the lower left corner.)  Photo taken of the wharf area of Pensacola Bay, Florida, in August 2014.  That's where I'll be for a long weekend, starting tomorrow.  Two little boys (my great nephews) are having birthday parties - one on Saturday and one on Sunday.  I'm so looking forward to being with my family.

 

- I'm sure my sister and I will go to Joe Patti's World Famous Seafood Market on Monday, during our ramble.  This is one of their fishing boats, docked next to the market - which is amazing.  There seem to be endless cases of fresh seafood.  I like this photo and made it extra large because it shows off that nice big boat and that beautiful blue sky.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, my friends.

Farmer's market, string band and other cool stuff

- The Palafox Market, in downtown Pensacola last Saturday, was full of fresh produce for sale, as well as other local goods: jewelry, crafts, jams, baked goods and such.  I bought some fig preserves from a purveyor of preserves, jams and jellies.  The jar contains whole figs, which reminds me of how my grandmother used to make them.

-This family band was singing "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" when we walked by.  I loved the name of their band, "String Farm."  Perfect for a farmers' market, eh?

- That is historic Christ Church in the background - founded in 1764 - and the internet says it is the oldest church building in Florida.  I love the Spanish influence of the architecture.  And I suppose if I had a cool red car like that, I'd drive it around on Saturday, too.

- A fourth thing - there are decorated pelicans everywhere in the downtown area.  This intersection had a pelican tribute to each of the armed services.  I liked the Coast Guard pelican the most, because he is wearing a life vest.  The art project "Pelicans in Paradise" is sponsored by the local newspaper.

Most of all - I loved having family time.  It was truly lovely.

Morning coffee, in the spirit and heading south

- My head is still in the mountains, drinking coffee by the river.  I was just having one of those "this time last week..." moments.  But I just had some coffee from home at my office desk and that was good, too.  Love that candle thingie my sister has on the kitchen counter.  It warms the two candles (in glass holders) inside and lights up beautifully. 

- At the condos, newest neighbor Alicia, a very nice, and a bit shy woman, got in the spirit of all the flower planting and put this pot of climbing Bougainvillea beside her front door.  It's trailing up nicely already.

- The last time I visited Pensacola, Florida, in mid-August 2014,  I experienced a moment of pure happiness that my sister was driving so I could gaze at the waters of Pensacola Bay, while going over the bridge to the beach area.  I snapped this photo to commemorate - I knew it would come in handy one day.  That's where I'm headed later today to be with family for the weekend.  I'm so excited!

May your weekend be filled with good things!

Trains and more trains, like a floating carnival and yum

- Monroe's second birthday party in Pensacola, Florida on Saturday had a train theme.  It's a six hour drive from Atlanta for me, but it was totally worth it - especially later in the evening when he called me "Aunt Wynnie."  His mom used to call me Aunt Wynn when she was a wee toddler, too, and later, when she could manage the L sound better, it changed to Aunt Lynnie.  She still calls me that.  Full circle. 

- A Sunday night stop at the Port of Pensacola yielded the astounding sight of this enormous ship - called Deep Blue.  I didn't get the entire ship in the photo, so clicking on this link yields better images.  It looks like a floating carnival from a distance, but in fact the 677 foot ship is the world's largest purpose-built ultra deepwater pipelay and subsea construction vessel.  It's in port for maintenance before it moves on.

 

- And then we moved on to dinner at my favorite restaurant on beautiful Pensacola Bay - The Fish House.  I ended up having fried Gulf shrimp twice over the weekend, but the shrimp here were steller - pecan crusted.  And I acted like a tourist and got a drink in a take-home commemorative glass.  :)

More photos on Friday - I had a lovely time.