Just the Two of Us - Nov 2-3

Thursday, November 2

The morning again started too cold and windy for a beach walk.  I had some ripe bananas and everything else on hand for banana bread, so that was my morning project, along with working on this blog, catching up the days that were too full for reflection.

I didn't have a loaf pan, so I baked in a square corningware dish

After lunch, we went for a walk at the Catman Rd Trail just off 180 in Orange Beach.  OBA  offers a number of walking and biking trails, both boardwalks and inland trails.  We walked in and out for a total of 1.5 miles of flat paved walkway.

Catman Rd Trail

For supper, I used the last of the Joe Patti Shrimp to make my favorite Charleston Shrimp Gravy over grits - my version of Shrimp & Grits. It was sooo good!

Shrimp & Grits

For the past few days I have been reading "Sustaining and Disrupting."  I finished it today.  It is has very good lessons for our church as we confront who we will be in the future. Pastor Linda and I have discussed the need to update our vision for Trinity and this book would be very helpful for leaders.  I don't know how many others will be willing to engage in the discussion.  I conceived of the 2030 Project, a visioning and strategic planning project to address the questions of who/what/where do we want to be in 2030 (the vision) and how do we get there (the strategy).

Friday, November 3

The weather is getting better every day.  Today I wanted to go to the park where I've seen the pitcher plants and go again to Fisherman's Corner for lunch.  We left late morning on this quest.  Tarklin Bayou Preserve State Park is less than 15 in Florida, so we headed east.  The Park is known for being the home of four species of endangered pitcher plants as well as other rare and endangered plants.  We enjoyed seeing and photographing the white-topped pitcher plants in the bog midway along the Bayou Trail.  The trail, a combination of pavement and boardwalk was about 1.5 miles in and out. It terminates at the Tarklin Bayou Bay which empties into Perdido Bay.

We were ready for a delicious lunch after our hike and Fisherman's Corner did not disappoint.  I had the Fried Gumbo Salad again and Bill has a Fried Oyster Po-Boy on Gambino Italian Bread, a New Orleans favorite.

The day wasn't done yet! After lunch, we stopped at the Perdido Seafood Market next door and bought 2 pounds of shrimp, most to eat and some for bait.  We also got a loaf of Gambino bread.  

Back at the condo, the afternoon was perfect for the beach - not too hot, not too windy, just right!  About 4:30 we carried a couple of chairs and fishing gear down to the beach.  We stayed until sunset. Not much happened at first, but finally, Bill got some bites and caught a double of whiting.  (He was using a double hook surf rig).  A little later he got a big bite, but lost it right at the edge of the surf before we got a good look.  It was probably a sting-ray.  

It was a lovely day, start to finish!  At the end is my beach poem for today.

I am much happier than I look!

The Next One

Fisherman and Farmer
Hope and expectation
For the next cast
For the next crop
For the next big one
that won't get away

Hope and expectation

Just the Two of Us - Oct 31 - Nov 1

 Tuesday, Oct 31

Trisha had packed everything while were we at the museum on Monday.  David was up by 6 to pack the car.  The family pulled away at 6:30 am and made it home around 5 pm.  

It was a cold and windy day so we didn't even leave the condo.  We spent the day with housecleaning (minor), laundry, reading and resting.  I started reading the book "Sustaining While Disrupting - The Challenge of Congregational Innovation," written by F. Douglas Powe, Jr. and Lovett H. Weems, Jr.  Pastor Linda preached from this a couple of weeks ago and I was intrigued.  It could potentially be a valuable resource for us at Trinity.

Lunch was left-over tacos.  For supper, I pan-sauteed a flounder fillet and make a sauce of the small amount of leftover Shrimp Alfredo, served over reheated pasta.  A salad completed our left-over meal.  While here, Owen had a lot of Latin homework to catch up.  I learned that the Latin word reliquary means remains or that left behind.   So we had a reliquary meal!  Since our days will be quieter with no grandchildren to record, I will resort to posting more meal photos. 

Wednesday, Nov 1

We faced another chilly and very windy day, not suitable for even walking on the beach, although a few intrepid beachcombers made the effort.  After a quiet morning we went shopping in the afternoon.  We drove to the Bookstore in Gulf Shores (no purchase) and on to the outlet mall in Foley.  I usually like to check out the Vanity Fair outlet.  Unfortunately, it is not more and the store sells on Wrangler and Lee. I didn't buy anything there, either.  We drove back through Gulf Shores and along the beach road.  It looked very nice out, but remained very windy and cool.  Last stop was Rouse's market in Orange Beach.  That is now our go-to grocery - nicer than Walmart and not as pricey as Publix.  Supper was another reliquary meal - left-overs of hamburger steak, mashed potatoes and broccoli with the addition of brown gravy.  

Satisfying comfort food for a chilly night.

We can't see a full sunset from the condo deck, but still get a beautiful evening sky.

Grands Galore - Oct 30

 Monday, October 30

We started the day as usual with a trek to the beach.  We didn't start as early today, though.  Nevertheless, I did catch the sunrise!  After beach and pool time and another remora (sharksucker) we had an early lunch and David and I took the kids to the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola.  We do that almost every year.  John is old enough now to enjoy the experience.  All the kids had a good time.  I've been many times and I always enjoy it.  We were back mid-afternoon with plenty of time left for beach-going.  People sometimes ask what all we do when we come down here.  The answer is simple: go to the beach and sometimes fish. Occasionally, we even catch a fish or two.  On this trip we haven't caught many.  A couple of remora, a few whiting and a couple of jacks.  And of course, the big one that got away!  Sunday night supper was hamburger steaks, twice-baked mashed potatoes and broccoli.  It is not what I consider a beach meal, but everyone enjoyed it and Bill and I will get to enjoy it again in a day or two.

Morning:

As the days went by, the kids got braver in the water, but not too daring.

Lots of time and energy was devoted to making the elaborate "boxes" or "rooms."

Mid-day:  Pensacola Naval Air Museum

The museum has added two large movie theater size screens near the entrance that show a fighter jet flying in over Pensacola sound on approach and another showing the take-off and landing of the plane.  Photo opp!

It is tradition and mandatory to take a picture underneath the "shark plane."

Blue Angels up close.  We had a real formation fly-by at the beach this morning!

Owen and John trying the controls.  I don't they missed a single plane cockpit that was open for climbing.

Allison and Evangeline were equally enthusiastic about climbing aboard.

Afternoon:

Last time at the beach and another fish on the line.

David had lots of help reeling it in.

Another remora!  We had lots of fun, but no significant fish were caught.  Not for lack of trying, though.

Grands Galore - Oct 29

Sunday, Oct 29

The pattern is set: early morning surf fishing and beach time.  Then pool time.  Then in for lunch (left-over tacos or sandwiches) and quiet time.  Back to the beach later in the afternoon for more fishing and playing and pool time.  A beautiful Sabbath.

My reflection while watching the waves:

Sunday at the beach
communion with family and nature
Worshipping the God
of all creation

For organ and hymn, I hear
waves crashing,
birds calling
children's laughter.

For scripture, I read
the sky and wind.
For a spoken word, I have
family conversation,

Shalom.

 

Grands Galore - Oct 28

 Saturday, Oct 28

This morning David, Owen and Bill got out to the beach to see the sunrise and throw out fishing lines.  From our deck we can almost see both the sunrise and sunset.    It went back in the surf.  The whole crew soon joined the sand moving operation.  Kids and I walked a lot and collected a few shells.  The day again included time at the indoor pool. turkey and roast beef sandwiches or leftover made lunch.  Tacos and football were planned for dinner.

Sunrise views from the condo deck:

Looking out over the pool and the pass waiting for the sun.

Still waiting, beautiful sky is brightening

Fishermen at sunrise

The sun finally shows itself. 7:02 am

Beach fun:

Fishing hard

Alway count on a blue heron being nearby

We enjoyed a nice surf

The fishermen and their joint effort catch of the day

Jack or Pompano

Moving more sand, with help from another kid on the beach

Too busy to pose

Sunset from the boardwalk, going up to to fix supper

Grands Galore - Oct 27

Friday, Oct 27

Friday started with watching the sun rise from our deck and getting to the beach soon after for a walk to the jetties.  Breakfast was self-serve.  We came in for pancake brunch and much needed rest.  We were back to the beach from 4 pm until sunset.  More steps logged and more shells collected. Lots of sand was move from one spot to another today! Each beach excursion ended with play time at the indoor pool.  The Shrimp Alfredo from last night was so plentiful that we had enough for left-over with the addition of one flounder filet to share. Kids had turkey/cheese quesadillas.

Allison

John David

Allison 

Family conversation

Allison and Evangeline

Owen and John David

This is what happens when you let your big brother bury you in the sand.

Little Mermaid Allison