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Beach Vacay 2025

This week I was surprised with an impromptu vacation at Crescent Beach.

LB has a friend who has been trying for some time to have us visit his beach condo.  Being the generous friend that he is, he provided his Summerhouse beach condo to us the first week of September from Thursday through Tuesday.

Summerhouse Beach & Racquet Club

I was a little hesitant to leave Elvis since he hasn’t been feeling well, but we made it work and thoroughly enjoyed our time away.

We arrived a little late on Friday and brought our things inside.  LB took several photos…

Once we were settled in we took a walk on the beach.  At the time I had only seen the beach at high tide.  I was concerned that Crescent Beach didn’t have much of a beach, but it would turn out to be better than I thought.

Then we went to dinner at the Elkhouse Eatery, which was a recommendation from LB’s friend.

 

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On Saturday we set out early to find a nice place on the beach.  The low tide provided plenty of space to choose a good spot.  We set up our chairs and umbrella and found that we pretty much had the place to ourselves.

There is no better beach than a private beach!

Unfortunately we stayed out in the sun too long and found that we were both a bit more pink than we wanted to be 🫠

In addition to the amenities on the grounds, there are several great places to go out to eat. On Saturday night we went to Taco Libre for dinner and on Sunday we enjoyed a breezy evening at Finn’s Beachside Pub.  Each of our dining out experiences get 5 stars.  The Summerhouse Beach & Racquet Club gets 5 stars too.

The condo was lovely, the beach was lovely, and each day of our vacation was lovely.

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Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

It’s Friday and I’m at home!

This past week was an exciting week and I have a few favorites that I’ve selected to share…

Last Friday LB and I headed to Captiva Island Inn for a vacation to celebrate my birthday

Favorite #ONE

Captiva Island

We made it in time to have dinner at our favorite local Mexican restaurant before catching the sunset!

Another restaurant on Captiva Island is the Mucky Duck which has been closed since the devastation that came to the island during the 2022 – 2024 hurricanes.

Many places are still in desperate need of repair.

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Favorite #TWO

Mudbugs

Mudbugs is an adorably decorated Cajun restaurant that we happened upon while touring nearby Sanibel Island.  We didn’t sample the crawfish, but LB was able to have his fill of oysters while I enjoyed blackened fish.  Also while exploring Sanibel, LB and I found several cute shops.

Favorite #THREE

Beach Daisy

a lovely little shop where I found a lovely little summer sweater and pendant.

Someday I will post an OOTD pic wearing this!  In the photo above, I’m sitting in bed surrounded by all of the birthday gifts LB presented to me on June 1st!  Speaking of birthday gifts…

Favorite #FOUR

Birthday Gifts

This is what I was awakened to.

When I got home, I laid everything out for a more impressive photo…

I’m spoiled forever!

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As we do nearly every year, LB and I attended one of our favorite concerts on Thursday

Favorite #FIVE

Happy Together

This year’s performance included the Cowsills, the Vogues, Gary Puckett, Little Anthony, Jay & the Americans, and, of course, music by the Turtles.

Just for fun I created a YouTube playlist that I’ve included below

I hope you enjoy!

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Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog!

Summer 2023 Vacation Day 3

I skipped right over summer 2023 Vacation Day #2 because ALL I DID that day was go to the ER, then come home and sit with my iced foot elevated.  My Aunt Sharon couldn’t have said it better… BUMMER.

On Monday

I regrouped and regained mental clarity.

To start the day off right, I got on the phone with the Insurance company to verify that the ER recommended Orthopedic doctor was within network. Then I called that office to make an appointment.  All this took only about an hour of my day so I’m not mad.  I mean, what else do you do on your summer vacation???  Afterward, I took the advice from a high school friend on social media who said “get pampered” [thank you Kim Stafford] and had LB make my breakfast.  A fried egg over easy on avocado toast.  He did an excellent job  for a man who never uses the stove.

After this I went shopping online.  Old Navy has a 50% off jeans and pants.

So, I placed an order…

SHOPPING.

It’s what I do.

Then, just after noon, LB helped me into the pool.

I stayed in the pool for 5 hours.

My backyard is the closest thing to vacation without going on vacation.

Who is the Lucky one???

Later in the afternoon, Mama walked over and joined me in the pool and shared some of her stories.  She is a fantastic story-teller.  I’ve told her that she needs a blog but I’m happy to post her memories here in my Mary’s Musings page.  One day I’ll get her cooperation.  Either that or she needs to tell her stories on YouTube.

After I successfully burnt myself to a crisp floating in the pool, LB helped me out and propped me up at the kitchen counter where I made two salads for dinner.  It wasn’t like anything we would’ve ordered from Middle Grounds in Treasure Island, but it hit the spot.

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And here is one last happy thought for Monday, vacation day 3…  0n FRIDAY… My last full day of walking upright without crutches, I got to hold this sweet little man.Y’all have GOT to be jealous!

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Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Summer Vacation 2023

As I mentioned in this post I started a new job in April.

After 9 weeks of training and 2 months with my new team, it is finally

Vacation Time!

Long awaited and much deserved.

All last week I was getting daily texts from LB that included a countdown to vacation.  We’ve been looking forward to our trip to Treasure Island near  St. Petersburg, FL. We had planned to leave on Sunday and spend a few days on the beach, relaxing in the sun.  Like this.

But first, yard-work.

On Saturday, my first official day of vacation, we spent time in the yard working: trimming hedges, weeding, etc.  I was outside for about 6 hours trying to clean up the yard and destroy my fingernails.

LB was still working in the front yard when I decided that I’d had enough and announced that I was going to get in the pool.  LB said he would wrap up what he was doing and join me shortly.

There was something invigorating

about that short swim.

I started thinking that LB would be coming to get in the pool and knowing him he would decide that instead he should be cleaning the pool.  Since I had a received a burst of energy, I decided to get out and grab the pool brush.  I walked all around the pool and swept the sides.  Then I stepped up on the hot tub and started working on that.  When I was finished, I gracefully stepped down.  As I watched my foot hit the pool deck, I realized that it wasn’t hitting flat, but turning inward, like when you “roll” an ankle.  Call me crazy if you want, but I think I heard something pop.  I thought I was going to pass out and throw up all at the same time.  Fortunately I was able to get to my phone and text “help” to LB.  After the initial sickening feeling I had experienced, there wasn’t much pain unless I tried to walk.  As I sat watching TV with LB and Elvis on Saturday night, I honestly thought it was not a break, and would be better by morning.

Well it wasn’t better by morning and we made a trip to the Baptist ER in Oakleaf.  Dr. Lim explained that it was a metatarsal fracture.

Yep I broke my foot.

This was a first for me.  I had never broken a bone in all my 57 years until Saturday, August 5th.

On Sunday morning the staff at Baptist Oakleaf fixed me up and sent me home in just over an hour.

I won’t be going to Treasure Island today.

And I’ll NEVER try to clean the pool again.

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Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Epcot Adventure

At first it was going to be The 25th Annual 2020 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival that Stephanie and Amanda wanted us to attend.  So LB bought tickets to EPCOT for November 13th.

Then it was decided that we should instead attend the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays on the Friday after Thanksgiving.  So LB changed our reservations and tickets.

On Friday morning, LB and I headed to Orlando to meet Stephanie and Amanda.

We met at the Pop Century Resort and took the new Skyliner to Epcot.  I am not a Disney park regular, like many in my family, so I left it up to my girls to show us the Disney ropes.  For starters, they suggested that I participate in the

Holiday Cookie Stroll

and then led us to the World Showplace where we enjoyed some Festival Favorites and picked up our first cookie.

Festival Favorites at the World Showplace

Gingerbread Cookie

It was at the world showplace where we began our day of eating tiny servings of International dishes.

It was great.

Our next stop was the Yukon Holiday Kitchen at the Canada Pavilion where we picked up our

Peppermint Pinwheel Cookie

For some reason the girls did not want this cookie and asked for permission to swap it for two of another.  I haven’t tasted it yet, but I think it is kinda cute.

Stop number three was the Bavaria Holiday Kitchen at the Germany Pavilion where we collected our

          Linzer Cookie

Cookie number four was at the American Holiday Table at the America Pavilion

Chocolate Crinkle Cookie

Later that day, after enjoying a few of EPCOT’s attractions, we stopped to purchase our fifth Cookie Stroll cookie at the L’Chaim Holiday Kitchen [between the Morocco and France Pavilions]; the

Black-and-White Cookie

LB doesn’t know it yet, but I’ve already eaten this cookie.  Yep… all by myself.

The L’Chaim Holiday Kitchen was the last cookie stroll stop and was also my favorite dining spot.  There was a tiny pastrami sandwich and potato latkes topped with smoked salmon. 

The prize cookie was the

Minnie Peppermint Cookie

at the Holiday Sweets and Treats, where Amanda got her favorite chocolate peppermint shake.TINY chocolate peppermint shake.

To house my expensive collectible cookies, I purchased this cutie collectible containerwith the help of Amanda’s season-ticket-holder-discount.

Our EPCOT Adventure was a fun day and I would definitely recommend the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays event.

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This post is proof that you can blog about anything.

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Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Fall 2020 Vacation

Every October LB and I head out to do some leaf looking and waterfall hunting.  This year we invited Mama to come along.  When I first mentioned this to her, she seemed intrigued, but she told me “I’ll pray about it”.  I don’t know if she remembered to pray about it, but a week after that discussion she announced that she had contracted COVID.  Tuesday I reminded her that this was vacation week and she told me she wasn’t up to it.  Also, she is still in quarantine and will be testing again on the 22nd.

On Wednesday LB and I pulled out of our driveway to begin our annual fall adventure.  LB has been working hurricane recovery overtime for the last 2 months and he was chomping at the bit to go.  So off we went!

As I have previously mentioned, a trip to the mountains would not be complete without a stop at Classy Crossroads in Macclenny, FL.

They carry men’s clothing now.LB is a good sport.

We stopped at Classy Crossroads on Wednesday around noon.  After about an hour and a half of shopping, we continued west, stopping only for gas.

By 8 PM when we arrived at Fajita Grill in Dawsonville, I was starving.  I’m not sure if Mama would have appreciated skipping lunch, but that is typical for us.  We sat at the table and took pics of each other taking pics.After a sufficient supply of fajitas, LB and I made our way to Amicalola Falls State Park.It is a beautiful place.

The view from our room was lovely.

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On our 2nd day of fall 2020 vacation LB and I left Amicalola Falls and headed to Dahlonega.  We walked around the Main Street town square and visited several shops before we  headed for Helen GA.

It had been a long time since we were in Helen.

Nothing has changed.  If you were there five years ago, you’ve already seen it.

But in Yonah (White County, GA) at the Elkmont Valley resort, our friends Wayne and Laurie were waiting to welcome us to their mountain home.  As luck would have it, they were in GA this week and set aside some time to spend with us.

We enjoyed a lovely evening catching up, then went back to our suite at the Holiday Inn Express.  It was a strange but comfortable room and I was able to sleep soundly knowing my sister was taking care of Elvis.

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On vacation day #3 LB and I stood looking over the Chattahoochee River while trying to decide what we wanted to do for our last full day away.  Selfie Time

We began with a stop at Alexander’s in Blairsville where we picked up a few Christmas presents.  After we had spent an adequate amount of cash we headed to Highlands, NC for our annual zigzag through the mountains, appreciating leaves and waterfalls, riding white-knuckled and praying to make it safely to our destination.

Even in the midst of a pandemic, the shops at Highlands were full.  There were several shops that we visited but only one that I feel I must mention

Spoiled Rotten

It was at this shop that we foundYes that’s right… Krazy Larry Pants.LB wouldn’t be satisfied until I tried them on.Impressive.

No I did not purchase these.

After a long day of sightseeing and shopping, LB and I were tired.  But there was no place to go.  LB had not made reservations for our last night.  We sat in the car for an hour while he searched for a hotel.  We both agreed that Mama would not have enjoyed this.

While it was absolutely necessary that we get away, it was a crazy fall vacation.  When we returned home on Saturday evening, it felt like another vacation would be needed to recover from the vacation.

I’m thankful for the adventure and grateful for the time away.

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Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Thank You Ma’am

Didn’t your Mama teach you to say “yes, ma’am” and “no, ma’am”?

We were at the Treasure Island Resort on the morning of my birthday.  Hoping for eggs Benedict (my favorite), LB and I made our way to the BRGR restaurant.

(this is the view from our suite)

Walking in, we saw a sign that read:

“Please seat yourself”

LB and I thought that, under the [COVID19] circumstances, we should sit outside.

There was only one other couple in the entire restaurant, and they were also outside.  We looked for a small table, but there was only one, and it was right next to the other couple, and did not seem to be an adequate 6 feet away.

So we chose a larger table… a table for six.

A female server emerged and asked if we were expecting others to join us.  I answered, “no, it is just the two of us”.  With no words, she waved her arm and motioned for us to move, as she pointed to the smaller table and declared that the tables we had chosen were meant for a larger group.

Bewildered, LB and I followed as she put us right next to the other couple.  This interaction was the first clue that we were to be waited on by someone who is completely lacking in ‘social skills’.  Neither one of us liked the way this was handled, but being that I do not deal well with conflict, and it was my birthday… no argument was given.

She brought our coffee and she took our order.

LB ordered the frittata sandwich.  He mispronounced the word frittata, she abruptly corrected him, but brought him his order. Eggs Benedict was not on the menu, but my breakfast was excellent!  Kudos to the chef!

I had a bacon, cheddar, onion, and spinach omelette…

that came with a loaf of bread.

As our server patrolled through the outdoor dining area [checking on ALL TWO of her tables], she would occasionally stop to ask if anything was needed.  If she provided LB with a coffee refill, or anything, he would respond as any southern gentleman does, with a friendly “Thank you ma’am”.  Each time she replied. When she replied, she would do so quietly, and beneath a mask.  I wasn’t sure, but it sounded like she said the word ‘BRANDY’.

It wasn’t until LB got the check that we saw that the server’s name was BRANDI and he realized she had indeed been correcting him when he would say, “thank you, ma’am”.

I had picked up on this a little earlier, but said nothing because

I wasn’t sure that I was really hearing what I was hearing.

Brandi brought our requested take out boxes and we filled them with half of our breakfast and left the BRGR restaurant that morning.  Brandi was rewarded with a good tip, but in my opinion should have been rewarded with a “can I speak with your manager?”

When LB and I discussed this as we left the restaurant, he was [for lack of a better expression] BLOWN AWAY that he had apparently offended this young woman.

LB and I later discussed my thoughts on being called “ma’am”.  I told him that although I’ve never confronted anyone, it does make me feel old.  Albeit, I understand the use of yes ma’am, no ma’am, thank you ma’am.

If you want to thank me, and you say,

“thank you ma’am”

I’m okay with that.

  LB had no idea that this was ‘a thing’ until he googled “Thank you ma’am offends”.

In the article he shared, the writer, Kelly Kazik concludes, maybe we should not be offended by this (manners are a good thing after-all).

Although the Treasure Island Resort was beyond impressive, unfortunately, the resort’s only restaurant left us feeling a little disconcerted.

We wouldn’t go back to the BRGR restaurant during our 2020 stay at the Treasure Island Resort, but we did enjoy the other half of our breakfast, in our suite, the following day.

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Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

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