Showing posts with label blessings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blessings. Show all posts

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas from Destin!







Merry Christmas from Destin! We've had a busy week or so. Spent a lovely afternoon at Eden Plantation and Gardens. Unfortunately no relation! As you can see, it is a beautiful antebellum mansion fit for Natchez in Port Washington, FL just up the road from Destin. The sunset is over East Pass in Destin. They are finally starting to dredge the Harbor so the boats can get out.
We are having fun in between wind and rain! The weather this December has been the worst that anyone can recall down here. It hasn't stopped us much. We've still been out and about. A few movies, lots of eating out, a little shopping, a little work for me, lots of reading for Woody. I've spent more time on facebook than updating my blog, but hey...the important people are my facebook friends! If you aren't on facebook, you should try it. It's great to keep in touch with family and people and old friends you haven't thought about in years and some you don't even remember!! besides...isn't if fun facebooking that you just got a shot in your butt? Yes..I'm officially sick and you know how I hate doctors. Woody finally hog tied me and made me go...he was right, although I hate to admit it. This is my first non-annual get my prescriptions refilled visit in years!
As I reflect on 2009, I must thank Marsha and Karen and The Oncology Group for my semi-return to the work force. I have been able to stay intellectually engaged and buy some toys. When you retire, you hoard your money because you don't know how long you'll live. The issue is: spend for fun now and then become a burden to your kids OR watch your pennies now and leave it all to the kids when you die sooner than expected. While I love my kids, they have to earn their own way now and not depend on mom and dad! Tee Hee!! I still love it that my retirement plan was based on taking my savings and dividing it by the number of years I expected to live. I didn't depend on Wall Street and in retrospect that was a good thing. We may not have millions plural, but we are having a million dollars worth of fun in retirement! Spending the winter in Destin, cruising to Canada, going to my first Nascar race at Bristol, gambling in Cherokee and Vegas, and finally going to the Jack Daniels brewery are just some of the highlights of 2009. I'm not bragging, just sharing my blessings! The Lord has blessed us with good health and sufficient wealth to do fun things!
So as we wrap up 2009 and get ready for the pot luck Christmas dinner in the trailer park tomorrow (yes I know it's an RV resort right on the beach next to million dollar mansions, but it sounds better to say trailer park!), Woody and I wish you Merry Christmas, love enough to share, sufficient wealth to meet your needs, and world peace! Life is good! Celebrate it through all the ups and downs and may you be more up than down in 2010!

Saturday, September 1, 2007

The Old Florida...Apalachicola

We're finishing up our two months in Florida by spending a few days in Apalachicola, Florida www.apalachicolabay.org It's marvelous. For those of you who remember Destin just after it started to evolve...that's where Apalachicola is now. It's main industry is fishing/oysters...with an increasing number of tourists. The historic downtown is full of antique shops and shops with unique gifts that you just can't live without. One of my favorite places is Lane Autrey's Photography Gallery. www.laneautrey.com She has some incredible images and several made me really jealous! We bought Ginny a cast iron skillet so she can learn to make southern cornbread! Libby is finally getting a deviled egg plate..my old one...I found a great dark green carnival glass one that matches my Portmerion! I also picked up a blue carnival glass bowl that may go on eBay...I really like it though! Also got two little three leaf clover bowls...the shamrocks didn't help the Irish today! We got crushed by GA Tech! Oh well...watched the game at Papa Joe's on the river...fabulous oysters, shrimp and the best key lime pie north of Terry's in Davie, FL! www.papajoesoysterbar.com

It's incredible to be retired and free to roam! I thank God daily for my many blessings...not sure what I did to deserve such a great life! I guess our random acts of kindness continue to pay off...we may not be churchy, but we try to walk the walk!

Riley, our granddaughter, caught a foot long fish today with her fishing wand from Wal-Mart that Mimi bought her! Unfortunately, Dad decided he needed bait more than having it mounted for her bedroom wall! At least he told her she had to send it back to the sea...glad she didn't realize what he meant! Jen caught a hammerhead shark! Should have told her to filet it and saute it in real butter and lemon pepper...tasty! Our fishmonger from Florida told us that recipe...works on any fish. I guess shark is shark, hammerhead or otherwise!

Libby is off riding her four wheeler that Led gave her for her birthday...I'm not sure what happened...four wheeler, bass fisherperson, cubs fan...at least she still likes to shop! She's happier than I've ever seen her! Molly is moving this weekend...she got a big promotion at work and is really excited about commissions! Yeah...she's the new material girl and I'm the hippie now!!! Talk about role reversal! You go girl!

We should be home in a few days unless we find someplace fun to stop and visit! We do love this lifestyle but really miss all of you!