Blue morning, giving thanks and family time

A little catching up to do - I haven't posted in almost a month!  Going backwards, starting with last Saturday morning.

Last Saturday morning - 7:30am - the view from my front door.  A blue morning in a winter wonderland.  We are not accustomed to snow in Georgia.  I can't think of the last time it snowed.  It was glorious while it lasted. 

 It was already melting in the afternoon, once the temps rose.  Snowmen were everywhere, but my favorite was this little one on the table in front of Five Guys.

Not to worry - I was sitting completely still when I snapped this photo on Friday afternoon, during the harrowing ride home.  Georgians don't know how to drive on snow, y'all.  It took me two hours to go 20 miles, but it was lovely to get a fire going and have a little sofa nap later.  AND to wake up to that blue morning the next day.

Thanksgiving Day was spent in Fayetteville, Georgia at my cousin's house and the extended family.  Because my immediate family was coming together from Atlanta, Virginia, Florida and Mexico, we stayed at a hotel the night before.  I didn't realize how starved I was for family time until we were all together.  Favorite moment:  a smiling older couple from Detroit, Michigan were also staying at the hotel and just before they got on the elevator to go up to their room, they spontaneously jitterbugged for several seconds.  We applauded.  It was that kind of fun night.

 My cousin's home has lots of space, indoors and out, for the 40+ family gathered together in Thanksgiving.  We convoyed to my sister and brother-in-law's farm in northern Florida on Thanksgiving afternoon.

Thanksgiving crafts by two great-nieces on Friday morning. 

And all the little ones got a tractor ride on Saturday, before everyone drove away.  A lovely few days.

Next week - holiday magic.

Good sport, rise and shine and soaking it in

The extended Thanksgiving holiday in northern Florida was beautiful and warm.  The sunflowers are from the crop in the lower fields and my great niece Kloie made the Thanksgiving card, using her hand.  I love that kids still do that!  The round, green cylinder on the right is the birthday hat she made for my brother-in-law, who was a good sport and wore it in the restaurant, where we celebrated his birthday the evening before Thanksgiving.  Passing wait staff said, "Happy Birthday, Pepaw!" as they passed. 

The sun rising and shining through the Live Oaks on Thanksgiving morning.  

My sister got the idea for this structure for swings via Pinterest and had it built.  We christened the new brick fire pit in the center on Saturday night by toasting marshmallows over it.  The night sky was so beautiful that I could actually see the stars (something that gets lost in the city skies where I live.)

It made nephew Curtis smile that I was walking around snapping photos with my phone on Sunday morning, right before departure.  I was soaking up the beauty, I said.  And I was trying to get his dog Hank in the photo - there he is in the background.  Hank loves roaming this property - it's like a giant vacation for him - being on the farm.

Off to the beach, birthday boys and fun in the sun

- You'd have to click to enlarge to see the Pensacola Beach sign, which I love for its retro look and the marlin at the top.  We were headed to the beach area for brunch on Sunday.

- It was a warm, breezy day at the beach.  I love the white sand of Pensacola Beach. 

- But the real reason for the visit was to celebrate the birthdays of two precious boys.  Their cousin Kloie made this paper "Happy Birthday" crown for them to share at their party on Saturday.  Cute.

- The very patient and loving Hank, having a rest, after a full day of fun in the sun.  The best part of the weekend was being surrounded by family.

Steam engine, snoozing and they're on a roll

More good things from Christmas Day in northern Florida...

 - My sister and I were traveling from one farm to another on a Christmas Day visit, when we passed this steam engine displayed in Madison, Florida.  I love to read historical markers, so we pulled over.  It was used for cotton and peanut processing until 1919.  Cotton and peanuts are still the major crops in that area.

 - Hank, watching over my sister and brother-in-law's house in Monticello, Florida.  He loves to visit the grandparents here, so he can roam freely or just sleep on the porch. 

- When I asked niece Abby what I could get great nephew Monroe for Christmas, she said he loves PAW Patrol.  They are cartoon characters from a show of the same name on Nick, Jr. network, who go on high stakes rescue missions and solve problems through teamwork.  I like that, so I got Monroe the action figure set for a gift.  Chase, Skye, Marshall and Zuma are represented here - Rubble and Rocky were around somewhere, probably solving problems.  We all smiled when Monroe opened his present and shouted out the PAW Patrol slogan:  "No job too big, no pup is too small!!!" 

Crazy punch bowl, framed rug and fuzzy vest

My sister Jo and I have long made a fun game of pointing out things in shops, prior to Christmas, that we are going to get each other for Christmas - tongue in cheek, of course.  And since we aren't together as often as we'd like, here are three photos I've texted to her with no message and her response.  :)

- She said, "What IS that???"  A crazy punch bowl, I think.

 - She replied that she could hang that in her dining room.  A framed Last Supper rug - amazing that someone thought to make that.

 - I sent this with the message, "I crack myself up!"  She replied, "You are too funny!"  Me, "That's going to look so good on you!"  One year another relative gave her a sweater with a fuzzy neck like that and she felt she had to wear it at least once.  :)

She was frantically wrapping all of the Christmas presents last Friday, in anticipation of the grandsons visiting - she needed to have all of her time to be with them.  She asked in the same text message if I remembered all those trips down to be with them on Christmas Eve and that I sat on the floor with her in a closed room and helped to finish wrapping all the presents.  That happened year after year - I thought it was fun.  She said that was a good memory and that, "You are the best sister ever!"  I replied - "No - you are!"  

Farmer's market, string band and other cool stuff

- The Palafox Market, in downtown Pensacola last Saturday, was full of fresh produce for sale, as well as other local goods: jewelry, crafts, jams, baked goods and such.  I bought some fig preserves from a purveyor of preserves, jams and jellies.  The jar contains whole figs, which reminds me of how my grandmother used to make them.

-This family band was singing "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" when we walked by.  I loved the name of their band, "String Farm."  Perfect for a farmers' market, eh?

- That is historic Christ Church in the background - founded in 1764 - and the internet says it is the oldest church building in Florida.  I love the Spanish influence of the architecture.  And I suppose if I had a cool red car like that, I'd drive it around on Saturday, too.

- A fourth thing - there are decorated pelicans everywhere in the downtown area.  This intersection had a pelican tribute to each of the armed services.  I liked the Coast Guard pelican the most, because he is wearing a life vest.  The art project "Pelicans in Paradise" is sponsored by the local newspaper.

Most of all - I loved having family time.  It was truly lovely.

Baby Beluga, no ferris wheel for me and fire on the mountain

- Scene from the shark exhibit at Georgia Aquarium.  Sister, niece and I were there on Friday afternoon.  I like how the sun rays are coming down into the water from the skylight - a docent said that is natural light.  We also loved seeing the pregnant Beluga whale, Maris.  A friend was there on Saturday and said that exhibit was closed because the staff was readying the tank for the impending birth, which happened appropriately enough, on Mothers Day.

- No one would ride the SkyView ferris wheel with me - there it is in the distance.  Sigh.  I am going to rally some friends to go at night.  My first Bell System job in Atlanta, way back when I was in my early 20s, was inside the Equitable building - the black building there on the left. 

- And later Saturday night - there was the laser show/fireworks display at Stone Mountain Park.  Niece took this photo - I labeled it "Fire on the Mountain" after that old Marshall Tucker Band song.  In all the years I have lived in Atlanta, this is the first time I've attended this.  I can cross that off my bucket list now.  :)

Funniest moment - niece laughing when I fished in my purse while driving, after a pollen related sneezing attack and came up with a clean tissue.  Niece says her mom and I are two peas in a pod.  We always have tissues, etc.  Oh - the millennial generation!  She also didn't want a wine glass, opting for a red solo cup (I keep those on hand for picnics.)  I loved their visit, can you tell?