Until Next Year - MeMa's trip comes to an end

We all made it home safe and sound, after a quick detour out of town by the Lighthouse in Tybee.

And on our last night, the room echoed with laughter of the weekend's events and memories. Remembering I  had a Caramel Apple from River Street Sweets, I decided, while we were all snacking that night, that I better eat it now, rather than try to carry it home. The Caramel was soft and the apple very crisp which made for a very tasty treat, but extremely hard to hold onto. I needed better leverage than just the paper stick in the apple, so I found a "table knife" in the drawer and stabbed the top of the apple to counterbalance. There, much better - much better, that is, until everyone saw what I had done. We all laughed so hard, I almost choked  Here is one final picture. And what is enjoying life without being able to just totally laugh at yourself :)

Day 3 - A day at the Beach (at least for some of us)

Sleeping a little later this morning, we were all up around 6:15 a.m.  A quick breakfast for some of us, and Traci was out the door to the beach by 7:30 a.m.    I finished up some Ashford teaching messages to my students and around 9:00, Lynne, Kristi and I joined Traci on the sand.  It was much warmer today, even at 9:00 a.m. and felt like a perfect morning at the beach.   We were within comfortable walking distance from the pier ( the one from Miley Cirus movie, " The Last Song").   

Lots of surfer's and Paddleboarder's out this morning (that stayed all day). Traci and I ventured into the ocean about 11:00 a.m. and it was somewhat clearer today, so we went out and played in the waves - let me rephrase that, waves slapped us on the back several times :)  But it was fun, this is my playground and favorite past time. 

See, it's a bit clearer today

Back to the chairs, Susan joined us for a while on the beach. We took turns going up to the condo in shifts for lunch, then back to the beach. Let's see, some interesting sights and information:

A) Older Lady in what looked like a bikini, in a beach chair, she weighed about 300 lbs at least

B) A dolphin had killed a small shark, so the beach patrol went back out to bring in yet, another shark

C) We saw the twins of Savannah and Kayna on the beach -and they were playing together

After my lunch, I returned to the beach, I found Traci, Lynne and Kris, but where's the ocean? It was so far out now; very low tide! Several hundred yards out.  After baking a little longer, we all headed back in to the ocean (yes, I know they have been pulling sharks out, but the one today just floated up as dead, and I can see my feet today, sort of, so I'm ok).  It's my last hurrah in the waves for now, so I'm happy, happy, happy!  

SHARK!!!!

Some of our gang had shopped during the day, and found some very interesting signs, such as "Sometimes I laughed so hard, the tears ran down my leg".  We all laughed hard on that one over dinner.

Back to clean up for an early dinner, we walked to " Fannies on the Beach " for seafood.  Kristi texted  Kelsi and told her and she thought that was hilarious. Mema was going to eat popcorn shrimp, but they were out, so showed her Kayna behavior again, and just ordered her chicken fingers :)   I had crab legs and onion rings - Yum-O.  Lynne treated me to dinner for my Mother's Day dinner (because we had to rearrange our plans that week due to the flood in her house).  Thank you, Lynne!

 Dinner!

Afterwards, we took Mema up to the beach walkover and let her enjoy the view of the beach, then back in for one last night in the condo.  

Laura, Traci, Lynne, Kristi, and Catherine went for one last walk on the beach and just came back in, reporting that another shark was just caught.  Are we on the news, there, for so many shark sightings this weekend?  

Our theme this weekend -  just remember....

and we mean it :)

See everybody on Monday afternoon!

 

Going to Eat Butter - Day 2 Saturday

Early to rise, most of us woke up about 5:00 this morning (after Laura kicked the fan - LOL)! Coffee brewing, we scattered inside munching on breakfast, some sitting outside on the balcony, and just lounging around in the living room. Tybee is very crowded, but our street is quiet with a nice breeze, about 2 blocks from the beach.  At 9:00(ish) we loaded up in Traci's Van and Lynne's car and headed into Savannah: Destination: River Street.

 After parking, we looked for steps to down to the Riverfront, and the first set we found was about 20 steps, concrete, literally Straight down - very little slant, uh, no, not happening.  Lynne and Traci found another set a few yards back, much better. When we got to the bottom, we found a small alley to connect us to the Riverwalk.

We window-shopped and walked, I could smell it. I was getting close, and finally I looked up and saw it - the big red canopy to River Street Sweets :) it's been 6 long years, it is so  good to be back. And we were greeted at the door with this wonderful man that handed us fresh made praline samples. Susan was in love, mmm, me too - I looked around the store and then I had my order set, went to the register and came out with a pretty red bag (and yummy stuff inside).

and my favorite bridge (NOT)!!!!

We shopped some more and then found an elevator to get us all up to the top (no steps, please).  We walked the 4 short blocks to "The Lady and Sons" restaurant (Paula Deen's), but we were very early, so we did a little more window-shopping. We stumbled into a Cupcake Bakery, that looked like a replica from the movie " Operation Cupcake" with Dean Cain. They looked sooo good, and Laura and I had our sights set on the Elvis Cupcake (Banana bread, peanut butter, bacon bits, and creme cheese). We decided we would wait and come back after lunch, and this would be our dessert.   Ok - on to Paula's, to eat butter.

We were still early, so we looked around the Paula Deen store for a while and made our Christmas Card photo with Paula and Michael (or a reasonable facsimile) :)

Merry Christmas, Ya'll !

Finally, time for lunch.  Jackie, Traci, Susan, Catherine, and Laura got the buffet, Lynne got Shrimp-n-grits, Kristi got soup and chicken salad sandwich, Mema got a HUGE chicken pot pie, and I got Bobby's "Not My Mama's Cooking"  Garlic and Black Pepper Sauteed Shrimp!

 It was so yummy, and Traci got so excited at the Black Eyed Peas and the BBQ Ribs that I just had to get a picture, ok Traci - move your glass out of the way of the food, so I can snap a picture.... oops, Lynne's water right onto Traci's plate...

OOPS!

ok - Traci rushed to refill her plate and for a few minutes, the laughter and the loudness became silence.  Not for long though. Dessert came with the buffet, for those that had it, so we all unanimously decided to pass on the cupcakes, even the Elvis one.

Back at the condo, it was beach time. Traci, Catherine, Laura, Lynne, Kristi and I went to the beach for about two and a half (2.5) hours, and talked while sitting or laying out in the sun. The water was warmer than it had been on Spring Break in Daytona (April), but still a bit chilly.  A few of the girls walked down to the water with me (low tide - water was very far out), but no one wanted to get in very far - Where's my beach buddies, Kelsi, Lauryn, Kayna and Savannah, when I need them?   Ok - Laura walked in with me!  Very muddy and murky looking, not inviting at all to me, so I didn't stay in long. Yesterday, while at the beach,  Traci and Laura saw a couple of small sharks that had been caught at the end of the pier and told us about them, so walking around in water that looked like Lake Allatoona was a little scary for me.  Back to the beach chairs.

Dinner tonight, very simple, in the condo - Peanut butter Sandwiches, Ham and Turkey Sandwiches and Popcorn. We walked around the shops around our condo and then back to just chill, talk, and play a few games.

For those of you wondering, yes, Mema is keeping up with all of us. She had a power nap earlier today, and went on our evening walk with us. Lot's of strange people here (maybe at every beach) and Canadians (inside joke), but it's a very safe and relaxing little part of the island we are on.... lovin it.

Tomorrow - I have no idea.  Traci is headed to the beach at 7:30, she has a date with some sand.  I'm tyring to keep my Willie Robertson Vacation Commander personality under control and just chill :) If I feel it coming on, I do have my Duck Commander T-shirt I can throw on and feel right at home, so I'm good :)   Mema is about to dose off in the chair and it's been a long time since we've all felt so relaxed.  It's been a great day!

Travel Day (Friday Night)

Travel Day (Friday Night)

After a frenzied and busy day at work, Lynne, Kristi, and I loaded up and finally left about 4:00 p.m.  Traffic was horrendous, Friday afternoon and a holiday weekend – in Atlanta…. We might as well as just settle in and realize this is going to take a long, long, long-long, long time (in the words of Harrison Ford).  The traffic finally opened up around Lovejoy and we decided to stop in Macon for dinner at Chick-filet. I spent a whopping $3.72 on a kids meal with an ice cream dessert included.  So far, so good, on the budget. 

We drove through Savannah onto Hwy 80 and officially now, we are on the road to the beach.   The moon at 9:45 p.m. Friday night was bright, full, and perfectly round, seeming to sit right over the ocean we began seeing on both sides of the narrow road we were traveling. High tide, and the water seemed to be hugging the highway with gentle waves sloshing, and no guard rails; Lynne was not happy! Truly, if you were not paying attention, veering off into the Atlantic could be a real possibility.

We made it safely into the more developed town of Tybee, and began to look for our condo, and Duneside.  It was dark, very dark, and the street signs were small white posts from the ground with faded ink.  The street running between the different condo’s is literally like an alley, and after three times ‘round the block, we found our street, but could not see any building names/addresses.  We called Jackie and Laura and stepping out on the balcony, they directed us into the garage.  Home, at last J

We sat up until about Midnight and heard stories from the rest of the gang that had enjoyed the afternoon here.  Mema, Susan, Jackie, Traci, Laura, and Catherine had arrived about 4:30 p.m.  We laughed and giggled and finally decided it was time for bed.

Susan and Mema shared a room, Jackie and Catherine, the second room and  Kristi, Laura and I took the third room.  Traci and Lynne opted for the pull out sofa in the living room.  On the top bunk, Laura, was inches from the ceiling fan, and sent a thundering sound through the room early on Sat morning, when she kicked it with her foot. No injuries so far though, so besides a little noise, everybody is fine.

Night J  

MEMA'S GIRLS TRIP - MAY 2013

In March of 2013, Mema (Dot Cooke) went on her first cruise, joined by her 2 daughters and 1 granddaughter. Afterward, she came home with the inspiration that all of her daughters and granddaughters take a long weekend for a  "girls" trip. Yep, she meant daughter-in-law too, so I'm included too :)

So we are off to Tybee Island, Ga. (1/2 way for the Georgia girls and the Florida girl) for a long weekend at the beach and in the surrounding Savannah area. We have a 3 bedroom Condo reserved and we are all sooo ready to just "be there".  Leaving Friday, so just 5 more days.  Lot's of washing clothes, packing, and getting children through their last week of school before we head out.

Let's get you all acquainted with our group:

MeMa  - The family matriarch and the inspiration for this trip. She's everyone's Mema that meets her and we are all looking forward to spoiling her rotten this weekend. Loves to read and visit with her family, always, and to cook for us ( but none of that this weekend - this is our down time).

Susan - Daughter of MeMa - mother of Traci.
Jackie - Daughter of MeMa - mother of Laura
Penni -  Daughter-in-law  (married to MeMa's favorite son) - mother of Lynne and Kristi
Laura -  Granddaughter of MeMa (from Florida), daughter of Jackie
Traci -   Granddaughter of MeMa, daughter of Susan
Lynne - Granddaughter of MeMa, daughter of Penni
Kristi -  Granddaughter of MeMa, daughter or Penni
Catherine - Granddaughter-in-law of MeMa, married to One of MeMa's favorite grandsons and daughter-
                   in-law of Jackie.

That's the players this week in our unfolding story! 9 girls all together for the weekend  - What fun!  I'm sure there will be plenty to write about.
Hope you'll join us here for our travel adventure!
More on Friday, from the beach

Mema's Girls  (Just Nana - no Bop)