After our vacation in May, we decided to try living at the beach for a while, to see if we would like it. I know, you are thinking, what’s not to like? But as is sometimes the case, when you live in a place for a while, you take things for granted and the gulf may not be as transfixing as it is while on a short vacation and a walk in the sand not so inviting. We decided to move temporarily at the beginning of July, to see if we could tolerate the heat at this time of year. John’s partner on the State Patrol, David, and his winsome, lovely wife, Sandra, have rented us their condo on Panama City Beach with an understanding that we would try it for a year. We have a balcony overlooking the beach and gulf and one day is so different from the next. The tides change the sandbars; the sea life comes and goes, as do the sun worshipers. We have had scores of new neighbors and groups and each is unique.
The first group were the little league play-off teams. There is a walk-over Highway 98 from the parking garage and the main building and it was filled with static in the mornings as the teams and their parents left for their game. But in the afternoon, as we approached the walk-over, you could tell by the slumping shoulders and the dejected gait that these were the losers and the skipping and yelping and flushed faces were those of the winners.
When we realized that we didn’t have to rush to go swimming, or read on the beach or play golf, we got into a slow and laid back routine. As luck would have it, the fireworks display on the 4th of July was to be on the pier close to our building. We grilled and sat on our balcony and watched the show in comfort, without having to leave. We decided that night that this is where we want to be.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
More of Destin Vacay
Sorry to be so out of touch, but trying desparately to finish Daddy's scrapbook before Kittypalooza in August. Since Joe and company are coming from California, I wanted to have it ready for him to enjoy along with the rest of the Nix clan.
We had a wonderful time playing golf, shopping, sitting at AJ's watching the fishing boats come and go and then there was the visit from our dear friends from Bryson City, NC, Dana Smith and Linda Calhoun, who prepared a chilled soup of seafood and avacado and tomatoes, just to simply die for. After they left, we lunched on the leftovers which were better than the night before!!
We toured an apartment complex next to Regatta across US 98 between Destin and Seaside, which is a wonderful, secure, luxe place which fit in our budget and then on to David's condo in West PC that is 3 bedrooms and is completely furnished and has been offered to us to rent so that we can move to the beach and decide whether we might like it full time. Such an exciting opportunity and with the hottest months upon us, if we can love it in July and August, surely we can love it year round. But, we are keeping the Bolingbroke house. I have put so much in the gardens and flower beds that I am sad to let it go. We may just rent partially in FL and come back here during the hottest months from this time forward. We will just have to wait and see.
We had a wonderful time playing golf, shopping, sitting at AJ's watching the fishing boats come and go and then there was the visit from our dear friends from Bryson City, NC, Dana Smith and Linda Calhoun, who prepared a chilled soup of seafood and avacado and tomatoes, just to simply die for. After they left, we lunched on the leftovers which were better than the night before!!
We toured an apartment complex next to Regatta across US 98 between Destin and Seaside, which is a wonderful, secure, luxe place which fit in our budget and then on to David's condo in West PC that is 3 bedrooms and is completely furnished and has been offered to us to rent so that we can move to the beach and decide whether we might like it full time. Such an exciting opportunity and with the hottest months upon us, if we can love it in July and August, surely we can love it year round. But, we are keeping the Bolingbroke house. I have put so much in the gardens and flower beds that I am sad to let it go. We may just rent partially in FL and come back here during the hottest months from this time forward. We will just have to wait and see.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Destin Vacation
So, we left Bolingbroke around noon on Sunday, May 3, 2009 and made our way down to Blakely, Georgia where we encountered a roadway that was raised and on either side a swamp with water oaks with trunks like Cyprus and Spanish moss dripping from their branches. When we got to the Chattahoochie River, we were amazed at how clean the water was and how many folks have vacation homes on the banks. We then traveled around Dothan, AL and had no traffic troubles until we reached "Sadie's Flea Market" where people were swarming around the area with car trunks loaded with goodies and dashing out into the roadway! Holy Moly!
We arrived in Destin and our condo right before 5 central time and were able to meet the office staff before they went off duty. They are so laid back down there and the nice lady at the desk told us to not worry about a thing, go upstairs and get a cocktail and take care of business in the a.m. My kind of place! No fuss no muss.
We arrived in Destin and our condo right before 5 central time and were able to meet the office staff before they went off duty. They are so laid back down there and the nice lady at the desk told us to not worry about a thing, go upstairs and get a cocktail and take care of business in the a.m. My kind of place! No fuss no muss.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
The Shack
I had several good recommendations for this book. As most of you know, I lost my only child in a car accident some almost 15 years ago, so I thought maybe this book would be a salvo, since the family which is at the heart of said book lost a child, not to an accident, but to a depraved seriel killer. The first third of the book rang so true, but when I got to the part about salvation, I shut it tight. I believe in God and I believe that my daughter made a very bad decision on the day she died, as she had made other bad decisions in her teen life. I do not believe that God was responsible for her death and I cannot be angry with him/her. My daughter was responsible for putting herself in the situation that caused her death. I can be a witness to this as in my young life I made several bad decisions that resulted in bad consequences. I tried to hammer this into my sweet Sandras's head. Action = Consequences. But as with a lot of teenagers, parents are stupid; they don't understand; ad nauseum.....I believe that God lives in each of us and that we are all connected. I believe that we are God's "hands" and that we should help each other. Especially those who are beleagured by scams, con men, shams, oppression, etc. I only wish that I could be the hands of God in more ways than I am. I truly believe that we, as humans, can relieve the suffering of those who are at a disadvantage and I encourage all of my friends to do the same. Love, Peace and Hey Free Love is not so bad if you are a young person and use a condom.....
More Flowers
So I took another picture of the roses as they unveiled their beauty and then the wisteria which I bought at a nursery to the chagrin of one of the patrons "who actually BUYS wisteria, it's such a pest?" But I prevailed and now realize that I have a dwarf wisteris with winsome clusters of flowers, not the huge grape sized bunches that I see alongside the highway. I read somewhere today that what you surround yourself in life is how you want life to be. Deep.....
Friday, April 24, 2009
April showers...
I have a rose bush that was forever attacked by the local deer population so I transplanted it closer to the house. However, the sweet, seductive scent of its blooms still attracted the deer. John found a deer repellent that has so far kept them at bay and I have two buds that are opening just fine. I felt that if they were left on the bush that their scent would be too tempting, so I cut them and brought them in. They smell delicious and the room is filled with their perfume and wanted to share with you their beauty.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Animal Sancturary
So I am listed with the National Wildlife Federation as an animal/bird safe house and provide feed for the creatures of the earth who reside in my neck of the woods. However, there are certain birds/animals who are greedy and try to spoil it for the rest of the guys. (Kinda like some humans we know, eh?) So we got out the BB gun this evening and every time the big ole blackbirds tried to horn in on the feeders and keep the others out (and I mean, all of the others, the hogs!) we shot at them and scared them off. We did no harm to them except to scare them for all you PETA folks. Honestly, I am trying to re-populate the planet with the truly endangered Blue Jays, who are so susceptible to bird flue and I have a pair in my mini-woods and who visit my feeders every day. But when the blackbirds and crows are around, nobody gets to eat until they empty the feeders! Grrr. Such are the bloodsuckers of human society. So, here I am with the BB gun and a mission. You may think I am bloodthirsty, but no, I only want to save the food for the more amenable birds thank you very much. Let someone else take care of the aggressive blackbirds and crows, who care not for the rest of their population.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Tarpon Springs/St. Pete Trip
I was a little anxious about driving down to Nancy’s by myself, but it was a Tuesday and traffic was light. I had been invited to accompany Nancy’s academy group on a cultural expedition to Tarpon Springs and St. Petersburg, Florida, spend Wednesday night there and then back home after visiting two museums on Thursday afternoon. I had no idea what to expect and John was to drive down on Friday for the weekend and golf with Michael. Before I left, John decided to take the Greyhound bus instead of driving his truck; said it would be an adventure and he could read his new book “Logan’s Storm” by Ken Wells, who writes about the backwater of the bayous of Louisiana.
I arrived at Nancy’s at about 4:00 in the afternoon and we had good visit and hearty supper and off to bed early. We were to meet the tour bus at 7:30 or so and we needed to get up early so as not to miss the bus. We were both excited and as Nancy was co-chair of the event, she needed to be there early to make sure all was well and of course it was because Betty, who is the chair, has planned many of these trips and makes the effort to visit all venues and restaurants before scheduling the tour. She wants to make sure everyone has a good time and enjoys the trip. She is the hostess with the mostest, I must say.
Off we went without a hitch and our driver, Daryl, was on his game. We arrived in Tarpon Springs right before lunchtime and I was just floored! Tarpon Springs is a Greek community and I felt as thought I were in Greece, as all of the people there were either from Greece, or of Greece descent. We lunched at Hellas and were attended by the most efficient waiters that I have ever experienced. They all are bilingual and took care of us 35 folks as if it were an everyday occurrence (well, it might be, after all, an everyday occurrence)! The meal was fabulous and the restaurant had big glass storefronts that were thrown open as the day was a perfect 70 something, but would be closed during the winter and the heat of the summer. A bakery was attached and if you needed to use the restrooms, you had to walk through there to where they were located. At the back of the bakery stood a long wooden table and benches where 5 or 6 older Greek men were arguing in Greek and making all sorts of hand gestures! Nancy commented that maybe it was for real or maybe staged for the tourists! Too funny!
So after we were stuffed at lunch and shared a taste of Baklava, we strolled to the pier and awaited to aboard a tour boat that would take us down the river to the Gulf of Mexico. It was just beautiful. The homes that face the river vary from decades old cabins to McMansions. We were informed that along with the sponge divers (??) there are a couple of yacht builders who work and reside there. We spotted an osprey in her nest and dolphins dancing alongside the boat. We learned that the water in the Gulf at that point is very shallow and actually the sponge divers and deep sea fishermen have to go out 100 miles to deep water!
After we returned to shore and returned to the bus, it was about 4 pm so we made a beeline to the hotel in St. Petersburg because it was Wednesday and on Wednesday’s the Hampton Inn has a “Managers” Reception with heavy hors d’ oeuvres, beer , wine, cheese and fruit. All complimentary. Well with this group, free is very good and some even commented that we should stay at the hotel and drink their liquor and eat their food instead of going to dinner. All in fun, you know. It was very nice and we got to schmooze a little and I got to know a couple of Nancy’s cool friends. I must say that they are all interesting and have strong opinions about a variety of subjects and I thoroughly enjoyed talking with them.
I need to back up the truck right here and tell you that the area where the Hampton Inn that we stayed in is located, is on the Yacht Basin that leads out into Tampa Bay and you cross one street and there is a huge park with two Banyan trees growing there. What an unusual tree. It grows vines down from the branches to the ground and they take root and merge with the trunk of the tree! It makes for a very unusual appearance and reminded me of alien trees from outer space! The area is comprised of Museums, restaurants and other tourist attractions, but no office buildings. There were a couple of high rise condo units there and some under construction. The view of Tampa Bay there is awesome, so we surmised that the area is much sought after by wealthy buyers. We learned that St. Petersburg was and is a winter retreat for the very rich and has been for as long as there have been wealthy folk in the U.S.
We walked the 3 blocks for our dinner at a restaurant that serves food from Great Britain as well as India, during the time that Great Britain occupied and claimed India as a province. So along with Shepherd’s Pie, there were offerings of Tabboulah and Curried Chicken. The food was delicious and everyone had a good time. After we got through with dinner, we all walked back to the Hotel and said goodnight!
On Thursday morning we all got up and had a wonderful breakfast that was also complimentary. Since it was still March, it is considered the “high” season down there, so a complimentary breakfast and cocktail hour the night before made the cost of the room more palatable.
Off to the Museum of Fine Art after breakfast and I must tell you that the High in Atlanta pales in comparison. They have in their permanent collection the “Red Poppy” by Georgia O’Keefe, TWO original Claude Monets, a Paul Gaugin and another prominent artist of the day whose name escapes me but whose portrait of a young woman almost looked like a photograph and she just had a dewy glow about her. The Museum of Fine Art has exhibits that span many thousands of years B.C. to the present and are displayed in different rooms. The oldest piece they have is a marble figure about a foot tall and it appears to be a male with an elongated head! Just like the crystal skull from “Indiana Jones”! So that led to much conversation about the “missing” years in history. A period where there is no record of any kind, either art, the written word or artifacts. One of the ladies on the tour knew all about it. I must try to do some research in that area, as the Chinese, the Egyptians, the Incas, Aztecs and Mayans all had developed the same sorts of tools at the same time and were totally unaware of each other. Very provocative stuff, this.
We went to the Italian Market for lunch and oh my, the stuff they had from Italy is to die for. This is a huge warehouse/grocery store/restaurant with samplings of wine, olives, sauces, pastas, etc. including an indoor gourmet lunch bar. An actual bar like from a bar where you can order all manner of sandwiches and soups on the spot.
Outdoors in back is a covered patio with overhead fans and quick service. You get your own drink and since we called ahead and placed our order (sandwiches for 35 takes a little time to prepare). It was so good. Betty really knows how to find the good food! Healthy and not junk.
After lunch we then went to the Salvador Dali museum. The only one. It holds all of his work that is not in private hands. There was a couple who wintered in St. Pete who admired Salvador in the early days and who hung out with him when they were in Spain. He also hung out with the likes of Picaso and is known for his surrealist subject matter. The American couple collected a large portion of his works and opened the museum for all the see. The docent who escorted us through the paintings has been studying Dali for over 20 years!!! She pointed out the messages he was sending through his work and explained his growing up and actually that he was a prodigy and that during that period, artists felt they couldn’t paint another landscape or portrait better that artists who preceded them, so they struck out on a different tack and painted their feelings through surreal images. Really. Really. Too Cool. I recommend to anyone who appreciates art to try to get to St. Pete just for this museum.
So we were culturalized to the max and headed back home and met with some heavy rain, which no one complained about as we all need it.
What a wonderful trip and I thank Nancy for inviting me!
I arrived at Nancy’s at about 4:00 in the afternoon and we had good visit and hearty supper and off to bed early. We were to meet the tour bus at 7:30 or so and we needed to get up early so as not to miss the bus. We were both excited and as Nancy was co-chair of the event, she needed to be there early to make sure all was well and of course it was because Betty, who is the chair, has planned many of these trips and makes the effort to visit all venues and restaurants before scheduling the tour. She wants to make sure everyone has a good time and enjoys the trip. She is the hostess with the mostest, I must say.
Off we went without a hitch and our driver, Daryl, was on his game. We arrived in Tarpon Springs right before lunchtime and I was just floored! Tarpon Springs is a Greek community and I felt as thought I were in Greece, as all of the people there were either from Greece, or of Greece descent. We lunched at Hellas and were attended by the most efficient waiters that I have ever experienced. They all are bilingual and took care of us 35 folks as if it were an everyday occurrence (well, it might be, after all, an everyday occurrence)! The meal was fabulous and the restaurant had big glass storefronts that were thrown open as the day was a perfect 70 something, but would be closed during the winter and the heat of the summer. A bakery was attached and if you needed to use the restrooms, you had to walk through there to where they were located. At the back of the bakery stood a long wooden table and benches where 5 or 6 older Greek men were arguing in Greek and making all sorts of hand gestures! Nancy commented that maybe it was for real or maybe staged for the tourists! Too funny!
So after we were stuffed at lunch and shared a taste of Baklava, we strolled to the pier and awaited to aboard a tour boat that would take us down the river to the Gulf of Mexico. It was just beautiful. The homes that face the river vary from decades old cabins to McMansions. We were informed that along with the sponge divers (??) there are a couple of yacht builders who work and reside there. We spotted an osprey in her nest and dolphins dancing alongside the boat. We learned that the water in the Gulf at that point is very shallow and actually the sponge divers and deep sea fishermen have to go out 100 miles to deep water!
After we returned to shore and returned to the bus, it was about 4 pm so we made a beeline to the hotel in St. Petersburg because it was Wednesday and on Wednesday’s the Hampton Inn has a “Managers” Reception with heavy hors d’ oeuvres, beer , wine, cheese and fruit. All complimentary. Well with this group, free is very good and some even commented that we should stay at the hotel and drink their liquor and eat their food instead of going to dinner. All in fun, you know. It was very nice and we got to schmooze a little and I got to know a couple of Nancy’s cool friends. I must say that they are all interesting and have strong opinions about a variety of subjects and I thoroughly enjoyed talking with them.
I need to back up the truck right here and tell you that the area where the Hampton Inn that we stayed in is located, is on the Yacht Basin that leads out into Tampa Bay and you cross one street and there is a huge park with two Banyan trees growing there. What an unusual tree. It grows vines down from the branches to the ground and they take root and merge with the trunk of the tree! It makes for a very unusual appearance and reminded me of alien trees from outer space! The area is comprised of Museums, restaurants and other tourist attractions, but no office buildings. There were a couple of high rise condo units there and some under construction. The view of Tampa Bay there is awesome, so we surmised that the area is much sought after by wealthy buyers. We learned that St. Petersburg was and is a winter retreat for the very rich and has been for as long as there have been wealthy folk in the U.S.
We walked the 3 blocks for our dinner at a restaurant that serves food from Great Britain as well as India, during the time that Great Britain occupied and claimed India as a province. So along with Shepherd’s Pie, there were offerings of Tabboulah and Curried Chicken. The food was delicious and everyone had a good time. After we got through with dinner, we all walked back to the Hotel and said goodnight!
On Thursday morning we all got up and had a wonderful breakfast that was also complimentary. Since it was still March, it is considered the “high” season down there, so a complimentary breakfast and cocktail hour the night before made the cost of the room more palatable.
Off to the Museum of Fine Art after breakfast and I must tell you that the High in Atlanta pales in comparison. They have in their permanent collection the “Red Poppy” by Georgia O’Keefe, TWO original Claude Monets, a Paul Gaugin and another prominent artist of the day whose name escapes me but whose portrait of a young woman almost looked like a photograph and she just had a dewy glow about her. The Museum of Fine Art has exhibits that span many thousands of years B.C. to the present and are displayed in different rooms. The oldest piece they have is a marble figure about a foot tall and it appears to be a male with an elongated head! Just like the crystal skull from “Indiana Jones”! So that led to much conversation about the “missing” years in history. A period where there is no record of any kind, either art, the written word or artifacts. One of the ladies on the tour knew all about it. I must try to do some research in that area, as the Chinese, the Egyptians, the Incas, Aztecs and Mayans all had developed the same sorts of tools at the same time and were totally unaware of each other. Very provocative stuff, this.
We went to the Italian Market for lunch and oh my, the stuff they had from Italy is to die for. This is a huge warehouse/grocery store/restaurant with samplings of wine, olives, sauces, pastas, etc. including an indoor gourmet lunch bar. An actual bar like from a bar where you can order all manner of sandwiches and soups on the spot.
Outdoors in back is a covered patio with overhead fans and quick service. You get your own drink and since we called ahead and placed our order (sandwiches for 35 takes a little time to prepare). It was so good. Betty really knows how to find the good food! Healthy and not junk.
After lunch we then went to the Salvador Dali museum. The only one. It holds all of his work that is not in private hands. There was a couple who wintered in St. Pete who admired Salvador in the early days and who hung out with him when they were in Spain. He also hung out with the likes of Picaso and is known for his surrealist subject matter. The American couple collected a large portion of his works and opened the museum for all the see. The docent who escorted us through the paintings has been studying Dali for over 20 years!!! She pointed out the messages he was sending through his work and explained his growing up and actually that he was a prodigy and that during that period, artists felt they couldn’t paint another landscape or portrait better that artists who preceded them, so they struck out on a different tack and painted their feelings through surreal images. Really. Really. Too Cool. I recommend to anyone who appreciates art to try to get to St. Pete just for this museum.
So we were culturalized to the max and headed back home and met with some heavy rain, which no one complained about as we all need it.
What a wonderful trip and I thank Nancy for inviting me!
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