BEACHING IT

Hubby and I finally went on vacay!!!  And I sure needed it.  We have gone to St. Augustine for many years, but this year we decided to step outside our box and go someplace new…Amelia Island/Fernandina, FL.  It made for a shorter trip of about 2 ½ hours vs over 4 hrs. it took to get to St. Augustine.  And…we really liked it, maybe even better.

Our condo at AMELIA SOUTH CONDOMINIUMS was really nice and spacious with lots of beachy décor.  My only complaint was the size of the bathrooms and the poor lighting in them.  

However, the balcony and its view made up for any inconvenience.  We spent more time there than anywhere else.  The view was beautiful and the sound of the waves was soooooo peaceful and relaxing. 

Of course, we spent some time in the sand and sticking our feet in the surf.  My husband…who used to LOVE riding the waves…has decided if he goes out more than toe-deep there is a shark waiting to devour him!  

I didn’t do something this year that I have ALWAYS done…I didn’t pick up any shells!  Though it was hard for me to resist, I just left them behind for some other shell hunter to discover.  Every year I have brought home shells and then not done anything with them, other than one year when I gave each of my students a shell on the first day of school and asked them to write a story about it😊  

  

I did bring home this shell though...couldn't resist.  I've never seen this done with shells, only rocks.  Our little town went wild with the painted rocks for awhile.  Such a sweet way to spread some cheer in a world that needs more to smile about these days.

But we did see some cute creatures.  This crab was playing hide-and-seek with me for awhile, popping in and out of the hole he was digging.  And this tortoise was really getting around on the beach.  Two different people picked him up and toted him into the grasses on the dunes, but he would just come right back.  At one point he visited hubby and me and just decided to sit awhile under our chair…guess he was seeking some shade…or either he wanted to see if we were sharing some good gossip!

 The Fernandina downtown area is really interesting with lots of cute (and expensive) shops and good places to eat lunch or grab a scoop or two of ice cream. We ate great burgers in an old converted gas station called T-Ray’s.  Just like in old gas stations, the bathrooms were outside and you had to get a key to enter!!!  While we were there we ran into a couple from here that we know.  Seems like no matter where we go we see someone we know…guess that tells me we need to behave!

And, of course, we had to play tourist and take some silly pictures.

We did have a couple days that it rained, but you know what to do at the beach when it rains…right????  You go SHOPPING!!!  My husband is the best ever person to go shopping with.  Yes, lady’s, I am a lucky girl.  We shopped at a very nice store that I think is only in FL…Beall’s.  So excited to find a cute pair of Life Stride shoes on sale for only $18 (regular $60…SCORE!!!)  In GA we have Beall’s Outlets but they aren’t nearly as nice as the parent store.  Hubby also let me shop around in TUESDAY MORNING (swoon, swoon!) while he napped in the car😊

We stayed only a few days but it was so relaxing and I always love having some alone time with my soulmate.  

Unfortunately, we did have some unpleasant excitement when we got home and realized we had left something somewhat valuable in the condo!  I was in a panic, but LONG STORY SHORT…I was able to contact the condo manager and we had some friends who were still in Fernandina who went to the condo and retrieved our item for us.  WHEW!!!  So thankful to all of them for their help.  I was in a major tizzy…and GA girls know how to have rather elaborate tizzies!  I even had to take an anxiety pill.  All’s well that ends well.

On a less happy note, I found out this week that a very close and dear high school friend has brain cancer and her time she says is very limited.  I am heart broken…love her so much, but she has a great attitude about the whole situation.  Also learned this week that my 24-year old niece’s cancer has returned and surgery will be soon.  So if you are a praying person, we would really appreciate any prayers for my friend Joan and my niece Kala.  If you don’t pray, then could you please just send some good vibes.  

 Hope all of you have had time and opportunity for some summer vacation whether at the beach or somewhere else of your choice.  If so, I’d love to hear where you went.  Everybody needs some “away” time…away from the daily grind, the troubles and problems that we all have from time to time, and just time to relax and do only what you want to do when you want to do it!!!!  I love vacations😊

My Toes in the Water, My Feet in the Sand

My beach-loving husband and I just got back from a few days soaking up the Florida sun and relaxing to the sound of the ocean waves.  It was heaven!  (But hot as $#@%^!)

This was our view as we walked in the front door of the gorgeous condo that we rented…

And this is where we spent each morning with coffee in hand.

We have rented the same condo for many years, but this year it was unavailable when we scheduled our vacation.  I was worried that we wouldn’t find a place we liked as much, but this condo and location were absolutely fabulous.  We couldn’t have been more pleased.  (Well, we could have done without the 15 steep stairs we had to climb whenever we left or returned to the condo!)

Of course, we devoured great seafood each night, and I (as always) enjoyed my walks on the beach picking up shells.  Every year I say I won’t collect any more, but somehow I just can’t resist.  I have to bring home just a few.

Last summer granddaughter “M” and I placed quotes and scriptures inside individual shells and left them on doorsteps and in mailboxes of friends and neighbors.  Just a little “random act of kindness” to make someone smile.

My husband is my very best shopping partner (he is sooo patient), and we always stop at this charity-owned thrift store not far from the beach.  I bought this beautiful glass platter for $2.00!  I think that’s a bargain as the platter is very heavy glass with etched flowers.  I also got some craft supplies (including some scrapbook page protectors for 50 cents…they are $10.00 at Hobby Lobby!  Wish we had great thrift shops near me, but we don’t.)

It was a wonderful trip and I’m so thankful to have spent some special time with the very special man that I married.  We will be celebrating our 48^th anniversary next week!  

Now we are home and “back to the real world”.  I think I may have to sleep with my sound machine tonight, turned to the waves rushing onto the shore!  And dream of next year when once again I’ll have…”my toes in the water, my feet in the sand.”