A Few Holiday Pictures - Nov-Dec 2025

From David' family Thanksgiving

At the Brocks, Nov 

Before Christmas Christmas and Birthdays with the Whitaker's and the Matzeks

Christmas Christmas

Christmas Baby!

November in Orange Beach

 Saturday, November 15

Today is the funeral service for James (Jim) Anderson at Trinity.  I sent a few words that Pastor Barbara will share during the service.  Bill and I are in Orange Beach.

We arrived at Phoenix East 2, Unit 2094 on Thursday afternoon.  We left home Wednesday at 1 pm after a busy morning and drove as far as Prattville just north of Montgomery.  We took the Pensacola route off I-59 so we could stop at Joe Patti's.  I stocked up with 3 pounds of shrimp, 16 oz each of crab meat and oysters and a nice red snapper filet.  Next stop was lunch at Fisherman's Corner, a favorite cafe in Perdido Key.  I had one of their specialities, an amazing fried gumbo salad - fried shrimp, fried oysters, fried clams and fried okra served on a generous bed of lettuce.  Their delightful plantation dressing was served on the side.  Bill had perfectly fried catfish plate.

We like our 2BR condo, especially the master BR on the beach side.  We were soon on the beach with chairs and umbrellas.  We went for a walk and stayed for sunset which comes before 5 pm.

For supper, I baked the snapper and added a deconstructed crab cake topping.  It was served with pasta and sauted spinach.  There was enough fish left from the large filet for Friday's supper.

Friday (Nov 14) was devoted to the beach.  After breakfast, we went down for a walk and a couple of hours of beach time.  Leftovers from yesterday's lunch for today.  Afternoon, repeat the pattern.  No fishing, no children, no crowds, no clouds. Just quiet surf and cool sun. Supper was leftover snapper and baked baby potatoes with an appetizer of crawfish dip from Perdido Seafood Market and a few oyster, raw and fried with cocktail sauce.  Caesar Salad completed the meal.

Saturday (Nov 15) morning began early with a foggy sunrise as seen from our balcony. I spent a quiet early hour reading.  I wanted to preview a new Advent study for our SS class. "Advent in Four Words" is co-authored by four UMC Bishops, including our own Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett and retired Bishop Ken Carder, formerly from East Tennesseee.  I think we will like this study and sent a message to our class members about it.  Time for reading and reflection is an important aspect of my beach time.

For breakfast, eggs scrambled with crabmeat (again!). What a treat! Seafood at every meal is an important feature of my beach vacation.  There is not much to do (thankfully!) other than cook, eat, read, sleep and just be on the beach. 

Before going down, I made some crab cake patties to chill.  After a couple of blissful hours of beach time, we went up for lunch of crab cake po-boys.

Clear sky, sun, surf and a light breeze called for more afternoon beach time.  So far, for each beach session I have enjoyed a walk to the jetty, which is almost 1/2 mile round trip.

Tonight's supper was quite a production starting with Oysters Rockefeller with a twist.  I didn't have shells for the traditional presentation and I had only a few oysters left, so in a small baking dish I made a bed of the spinach mixture, nestled the oysters on top and topped with cracker crumbs and parmesan.  Baked the the oysters were done.  I'll make it like this again!  Fried shrimp, leftover baked baby potatoes, and a Caesar salad complete a fabulous meal.

We heard from David today. Their family is having a back yard camp-out this weekend.

Sunday, November 16

I continue to enjoy the quiet mornings with the sound of the surf and mabe a gentle breeze coming through the open balcony door. Fog quickly gave way to clear sunny skies and the breeze picked up significantly.  We decided against taking the umbrella and chairs to the beach today because of the wind.  Instead, we sat on dry sand for a little while before and after our walk.  Getting up and down was not pretty, but we managed.  Hopefully, no one was filming! Bill joined me for a walk to the jetty. There we were gifted a visit from a Great Blue Heron and it became my bird of the day.  Each day, I have posted a bird photo each day.

Bill suggeted we go to Zeke's Marina for lunch.  We have lunched there on almost every trip for many years. The cafe layout was different with most seating under a permanent tent on the dock.  I had fried calamari and Bill had a burger.  Both were excellent and the atmosphere was very pleasant.

Another beach walk and quiet time completed our beach day.  Sometime along the way, watching the coming and going of the tide, dolphins, people and birds, a haiku took shape. Sitting or walking, I enjoy the peace of just being one with all creation.

Now I'm beach busy
Watching ebb, flow, creation
In constant motion.

In the condo this morning, I listened to a meaningful conversation between two of my favorite writers/thinkers/historians. Heather Cox Richardson (Letters From an American)  shares a progressive take on current eventsfrom a perspective of American History which informs me daily. Diana Butler Bass is a theologian and religious historian (The Cottage) gives a different perspective on the weekly lectionary scriptures which I follow.  The conversation was centered around DBB's new book, "A Beautiful Year," a collection of 52 essays following the liturgical calendar.  They begin by discussing different perspective on time.  https://www.youtube.com/live/JDysBx_wIHc?si=V_HRanxOSMxP2dm2  I recently purchased the book and may use the introduction as my SS lesson this week leading into Advent.  I shared the video with Laura, Claire, Amanda and Melanie and got a nice response from Claire.  Maybe this will open opportunities for further conversations.

I also dipped into Connie Green's newest book of poetry, "Nameless as the Minnows." Her poems recounting and re-imagining childhood memories and her life on the far are eloquent and evocative, speaking deeply to me.

I am about to give up on reading Jon Meacham's biography of Andrew Jackson. It is interesting, well-written and surprisingly pertinent to today's political atmosphere.  However, it is very detailed.  The same is true of "1929" by Andrew Ross Sorkin.  It is excellent and relevant but very detailed.  Non-fiction can be challenging.

Every day has ended with a beautiful glowing orange sunset, the same but different each day. Sunset comes early, before 5 pm.

Tonight's meal was shrimp and crabmeat alfredo over angel hair pasta with a side of petite green peas.

Nov 17

I love the sight of pelicans in flight.

Ruddy Turnstones

Nov 18

Sunrise over the pass - Good-bye, Orange Beach

Fabulous Fall Creek Falls Fun 2025

 Friday, October 4

The RV was packed and ready to leave at 10 am.  The challenge had been to plan, shop and pack enough food for 10 people from Friday supper through Sunday lunch.

We got to the park in good time and were able to get an early check-in to Lakeside Villa #21.  It was a long stairway down and then along the row to our cabin on the end. Lots of steps to unload, but we got it done and had our lunch on the deck.  

David's family arrived about 2 pm and the fun began with fishing off the deck.  Allison and Evangeline were the most persistent fisher-girls, but Owen got into it too.  The fun intensified when Laura and Mike arrived at 3 with bicyles and kayaks. Everyone who wanted a turn paddling got a chance, even me.  It had been a couple of years since I've been kayaking and I enjoyed it immensely.  Laura and I paddled around the bend past the villas and realized that a whole new section of the lake opened that we had never seen.

I took great pleasure in watching the children (young and old) having fun together.  I remember my Mother expressing that same feeling when our children were young. John's favorite activity was exploring with Undle Mike the woods and end of the cove near the cabin.  All four kids enjoyed doing that.

The gluten-free scones - pumpkin, pumpkin with butterscotch chips and blueberry were a big hit for snacking.

Fishing, bike riding, skating, kayaking... we were all pretty worn out by dark.  I made tacos for supper and the older kids played their board game after.

Saturday, October 5

Allison, Evangeline and Davide were up to greet the sunrise.  I turned the oven on early to bake the biscuits.  Sausage, eggs and scones completed breakfast. Of course, fishing started early, too.  After breakfast, the gang was ready to tackle the hike down to the base of the falls, so they loaded up and drove over.  Bill and I left about an hour later to meet them on their return.  We all hiked around the rim of the canyon and across the swinging bridge to the Nature Center.  Laura and Mike continued the look back to the Fall to get the vehicles. We took some time to go explore the Nature Center. Then David's gang trekked down to the base of the Cascades to get their feeet wet in the cold creek water.

Mike picked us up in the RV and by the time we got back to the cabin everyone was more than ready for lunch - ham, turkey or roast beef sandwiches.  A rest was in order for the grown-ups, but it didn't last long.

At 3, all five girls took off for a trail ride, something Laura and I have always wanted to do but never got the chance. Bill and John drove to the stable to witness all of us mounting up.  I managed with a bit of help to get on and off without embarassment. Horse lovers Allison and Evangeline were very excited about the change to really ride a horse. It was Evangeline's first time, but Allison had a little exerience at horse camp a couple of years ago. Even Trisha decided to go along.  The ride was a peaceful slow walk, single file, along a wooded trail, about 2.5 miles, a little less than an hour. My hipbone hurt every step of the way, but it was more than worth it to share this experience with my granddaughters.

While the girls were riding horses, David and Owen rode their bikes to the Falls and back. The bike path winds along the lake from the lodge to the dam, then takes a shortcut through the woods to the top of the Falls. 

Meanwhile, back at the cabin, Mike and John explored more of the woods and walked along the trail past the villas and around the bend where Laura & I had kayaked. 

More fishing and kayaking before supper - What a day!

Supper was a pasta bar with gluten-free and regular spaghetti noodles, aflfredo sauce or red marinara, with groung beef or sauteed shrimp topping, and cheese of course.  There was also a little salad for those who wanted it.  More games and early bedtime for some of us.

Sunday, October 6

Another sunrise morning for our early birds, but the rest of us took our time getting started. Breakfast was the same as Saturday and by 10 the gang was ready for some pickle-ball. Trisha skipped this outing, but Bill and I went along to watch, but since there were not benches, we soon decided to walk to the camp store.  David picked us up there after they were done.  Bikes had been loaded in anticipation of another ride.  So back across the dam vehicles were parked and bikes unloaded for the ride back to the cabin. Bill and I chose to walk the bike trail around the lake.  David, Owen and Mike rode back to bet the vehicles and David picked us up at the lodge, saving us the uphill climb to the cabin. 

Lunch was also a repeat. There was still a little time for more fishing and/or kayaking and/or exploring before it was time to load up and leave for Missouri.  Laura and Mike stayed longer and had one more paddle around the lake before it was time for them to be on the road.

I surely got quiet!

As the sun went down, Bill and I celebrated by sitting on the deck as the sun went down. with cheese and crackers, Prosecco and beer. Being with our adult children and grandchildren, sharing their fun and watching them play outdoors and enjoying nature, brought me great joy.  It was a priceless weekend.

Our checkout was not until Tuesday morning, so we anticipated a quiet and restful day on Monday.

Complete Photo Album, including pictures from David, Trisha, Mike and Laura. https://photos.app.goo.gl/EawfD9j2sSykwFV68