King of New York

This week we have been getting back into our schedule after our week on St. George Island.  That involved some of our extracurricular activities such as piano, Cub Scouts and dance. 

 They are working hard on this year's recital.

Let's Go Fly A Kite....

So, what do you do when it is your last full day of vacation?

You are steps from the beach.

It is a bit of a chilly day.

It is a bit of a windy day.

Fly a kite of course!!

And that is exactly what we did this morning.

 Like I said previously, it was a little on the nippy side today, so the beach was deserted.

 One lone umbrella making a stand against the wind.

 Just in case you missed it the first time, here it is again!

 Love the waves.

 Here is the butterfly kite in action.

 A few seconds later.

 Not long after this shot, Jim did a marvelous, and extremely graceful, fall backwards in an attempt to keep the kite in the air.  Alas, it was all in vain.

 Afterwards, Sam and I went for a swim and played a little swimming pool basketball.

According to Sam, he scored 1, 999 points and I scored -  0.

I think not.

We explored the island a bit.  Climbed the lighthouse.

Apparently, it is frowned upon to stomp up the lighthouse steps.

Jim said it was a good thing I wasn't there.   There might have been some words spoken between the anti-foot stomping police and me if I had been.

I said, no, I would have just joined in on the stomping being the rebel that I am.

I think foot stomping is a lot like jumping in puddles.

Sometimes, you just have to do it.

The first and only unfriendly person we have met all week.

We drove back to  Apalachicola to buy another print to go with the ones we purchased the other day.  Fate was not on our side and he had just closed the store for the day 20 minutes prior.  So, we made a few laps around the business district looking for ceiling fans.

Blue Parrot for an early dinner.

 Sam must have been extra hungry, he had a corn dog in both hands.

 He drank his water and lemonade at the same time as well, I just wasn't quick enough to get a picture of that! 

 Jim ate his food the normal way.

Good seafood! 

We made one last stop at Aunt Ebby's Ice-cream so Jim and Sam could get milkshakes.

It is tradition that all Lightning games need to be watched while drinking a chocolate milkshake.

That was exactly how the night was spent.  Watching ice hockey.

Somebody lost a tooth on the ice and Sam wanted to know if the tooth fairy was going to visit them.

Love the beach and will miss it when we go home tomorrow.  

Sigh.

Mayberry

Yesterday was an extremely quiet day.

Despite liberal, frequent application of sunblock on Monday, Sam and I managed to get just enough sunburn to make us miserable.

Parts of Sam's back and arms glowed in the dark.

Me? My lower legs and feet. 

My face was quite red, but, my legs and feet. 

Aloe is our friend.

We did manage to drag ourselves to Aunt Ebby's Ice-Cream shop.

Ice-cream is also our friend.

Today was extremely overcast and had the forecast of rain.

We decided to head off to the town of Apalachicola.

It was on my list of things to do if we had a morning to kill.  It was worth the short drive.

We spent a lovely time wandering around Apalachicola - Oyster capitol of the world.

Every shop we went it had fantastic customer service.  Everyone was friendly and went out of their way to help.  They were patient with Sam's never ending questions about fans...and light bulbs don't even ask.  If a fan wasn't turned on, it was by the time we had left the store.

We ate lunch at "The Owl Cafe."  Delicious.

Here is a smattering of a few of the shops that we explored may have spent a few dollars

Could have spent hours in here.

They had a table set up with checkers outside.  Jim and Sam spent some time there while I perused the goods.

 

We stopped at Oysterbones to get a treat for Blue, the big golden dog.

Look at this picture closely and you will figure out why we initially went into Richard Bickel's photography studio.

Right in the center.

At the top.

Yep, the ceiling fan.

We actually got to meet Richard Bickel and talk to him about his work.

Sam spoke to him about ceiling fans.

Fantastic work and some of it will now grace the walls of our home.

Spent a little time in here as well.

Sam told them all about his dog Blue.  They told Sam that next time he should bring Blue to see them. They turned on all the ceiling fans for Sam and patiently told him that 2 of the fans needed to stay off or they would knock all the fishing rods off the wall.

Sam bought a big yellow shovel with his tooth fairy money so he could dig huge holes on the beach.

 There were several of these interesting planters placed along one side of the street.
Waste not want not.

The original Sponge Bob Square Pants.
This handsome fellow was sitting outside one of the stores.  Sam had just purchased a large sea shell so he could listen to the sounds of the ocean whenever he wants.

We checked out a few more stores and then headed back to St. George Island.

We have had a wonderful trip so far.  We have never been in this neck of the woods before and didn't really know what to expect.  Everyone that we have come in contact with, in every shop, every restaurant, have been the friendliest and most understanding of just about anywhere we have travelled.  Nothing is to much trouble and they are all absolutely wonderful to Samuel.  They turn on fans, explain how something works, answer his endless questions and laugh at his bad jokes.

After a swim we went to the Blue Parrot for dinner.

 It was a rainy late afternoon and evening.

But, that didn't spoil view.

Waiting for our food.

Sam thoroughly recommends their corn dogs.

And, of course, there is always the fan of all fans to sit under.

Sam doesn't ask for this one to be turned on.

He understands that we would all be swept up in the current and blown out to sea.

Have I told you how much I love the beach??

Off to eat some Key Lime pie.

Toes in the Water...

This quote about sums up the day

Jim had to go to Tallahassee to take care of some Tasman Services business.

Sam and I lugged our beach stuff down to the beach and that is pretty much where we stayed all day.

Don't look closely at my feet!

They are a little worse for wear hoofing it up and down the beach for miles and miles...

and miles.  Well, maybe I exaggerate a little.

The view of our cottage from the beach.

Our staked out little piece of beach.

Lots of fishermen on the beach.

Sam getting ready to use the boogie board.

Sam played and swam hard.
I knew he was tired when he suggested that we go back to the cottage.
This has never happened before!!
Despite my diligence in applying sunscreen, we both are fairly sunburned.
Made a short trip for ice-cream, aloe and pizza.
All either tasted or felt good!
Sam just got into bed, again, well before his usual bedtime.
Just love the beach!