Charleston/Savannah trip
Kevin and I spent a long weekend in Charleston/Savannah.
We left the house early Friday morning, and drove up to St. Augustine. We stopped at the San Sebastian winery and bought a few cases of wine. After all, we were meeting my Austrian family in Charleston, and needed to make sure we had plenty of wine to make it though a few days! We had lunch at our favourite restaurant there, Caps (http://www.capsonthewater.com/), and then forged on to Charleston.
We made it in by about 7:30 pm or so. We stayed at our cousin Karen Becker's beach house on Sullivan's Island. What a beautiful home! The house easily can be featured in House Beautiful. After settling in, we then went out for dinner. We had amazing soft shelled crabs at a local restaurant, Long Island Cafe. We then went back "home", and tested the wine, just to make sure it was OK to offer to the family the following evening. It also was amazing.
The view from the rooftop was unbelievable!
The next morning we were up early to spend the morning in downtown Charleston. What a beautiful city!
We then met Kevin's cousins Terri and Dennis for lunch at
Poe's, which was on
Sullivan's Island. Kevin had not seen this cousin in almost 25 years! We ended up spending the afternoon at their home, and were treated to a boat ride up and along the bay. Great fun!
We then spent the evening with my family. I had not seen my sister Sabine and her husband, Marcus in 18 years - they were in from Austria. Sabine and Marcus haven't changed a bit!
My brother Chris, his wife Margaret, my nephew Tommy, and my niece Monica, brought them to Charleston on vacation. I was so sorry that Samantha was not able to make this trip! What a reunion!
And, it is always fun to see Chris and Margaret. I still cannot get over how tall Tommy has gotten! Monica is all grown up, too, and is quite a beautiful young lady. It was great to see them all!
We spent Sunday together, on the beach, in downtown Charleston, and then back at Chris and Margaret's place, and before we knew it, the day was gone.
We left Charleston early Monday morning, and headed to Savannah - another beautiful southern city. Spent the afternoon on a guided tour, then headed home.
We made it back home by about 10:30 pm or so. Lots of driving, but well worth the trip!
Trip down Memory Lane
Kevin and I took a road trip to the West Coast of Florida last week, specifically Clearwater, St Petersburg, Madeira Beach, Redington Beach and Marco Island. I was very excited, as I hadn't been in this neck of the woods for years! Kevin and I actually honeymooned at the Holiday Inn in Madeira Beach almost 30 years ago . Sadly, the hotel was torn down and replaced with a hi-rise condo building. I was very eager to see the house my family vacationed at every year for 20+ years when I was a young girl, but had to call my mother to get the exact address. We drove by it a few times before I realized this was the house! I was disappointed that this trip did not rekindle all the amazing times shared in that house.
Now, don't get me wrong - the house is beautiful, and what a location! Right on the Gulf of Mexico! My mother says the family that owned it sold it a few years back for only a mere $650,000. What a buy.
I found myself in unfamiliar territory. No landmarks. A totally new area.
I know, I know...
It has been a while since I last posted.
I've been working a lot....
....and playing a lot!
I have been busy. My new business is taking up A LOT of my time. It's kinda crazy....my contract with Barnes&Noble.com is actually through a company, Arise, and our hours are released to all 200 CSRs every Thursday through the Arise website. It's like fighting with a swarm of vultures, trying to grab as many hours (or 1/2 hour shifts) as possible. It only takes SECONDS after the hours are released before they are all gone! So you literally have to be ready, set and GO!! the second the hours are released. I have been fortunate that I have been able to grab 40 hours a week, but it is a half an hour here, and hour there. I find myself in front of the computer from 8 am each morning sometimes as late as 11 pm at night.
In between these crazy shifts, I have been playing in my yard.
I have absolutely fallen in love with Bougainvillea. As you
can see, there is still mulching to be done!!
Sean helped put in the new garden on the side yard
The purple flowers under the window are the ones Taylor liked so much on her last visit, so you KNOW we had to get some of those!!
Kevin and I have spent each weekend digging, planting, pruning, and mulching. I LOVE the way our yard looks! For those of you that saw our landscaping before, please enjoy the new transformation!
Those of you who know Kevin, he LOVES to show off his mango and orange trees...
So, excuse me for not keeping up to date....
I promise to keep you all updated now that (hopefully) I'm back in the swing of things!!
