A day for my almost but not quite kids. ( AKA CHildren of the Heart)

Yesterday was pretty chill, we ent to the kids place to for breakfast, Nancy and Stephanie cooked.  Then we came back and lazed around, I painted and we gabbed.  

The kids came back over here about 2:30 pooled, gabbed, and grazed until we went to the beach for sunset. 

 Dean had Kathy in two containers, one for each kid.  They were not real sure about it, the legality of it, and I think also the doing of it.  I don’t think it was as joyous for them as it was for me.  And it was, it felt like I was putting her everywhere, in the ocean, in the sand, in the air; not saying good bye but au revoir. Hopefully they had some healing, closure and a bit of peace.  

Regardless we got some amazing family pics.  

We had agreed to eat fair food for dinner, I had cocoanut shrimp and it was good but by then it was so dark that I had a mouthful or tow of shell, icky phew!.  

This morning we got up to the bad news that the elevator is not working and to get there great views we were NOT on the second floor.  After breakfast of left overs Dean and I walked down to the sand castles again.

They are still working on them!  This last one is a total revision!  It was this:  

before.  I went to the grocery for ingredients for dinner and then hoofed it up the 4 flights of stairs with my groceries in a back pak!  Oh MY!

Encore, Encore

We took advantage of our possession of a car to hit up the French Bakery again.  I had a cafe au lait and a torsades du chocolat today and it was yummy.  The person behind the counter let me practice today too, though it was a different person.  Dean had the Pre Fix (Formula) breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast.  No Pancake thingy today.We then toured down to St Pete beach so I could lay eyes on the don Cesar. 

 We traveled by the El Sirata, that was fun it has gained in size. A LOT.  It was fun to look at the houses and I honestly didn’t remember the tip of St Pete’s beach as it is.  

After  gassing up and turning in the car we came back had a bite of lunch and I painted a whole.  Later the kids came over and Stephanie and Wes had a Pre Thanksgiving Christmas present for Dean!  Pretty exciting stuff!  

KAthy wold be thrilled!

Van AKA little Oscar decided to take a nap. 

Stephanie, Wes, Dean and I went over to have a progress view of the Sand Castles.  

It was fun to see more done, more added and have some context for them.

Dean and I went to the beach at sunset and scattered some of Kathy’s ashes. 

 I hope that someday, who ever scatters my ashes has the same feeling that I did of love, joy in a well lived life and release.  It felt pretty healing to me.  

Later we met up with Stephanie and Wes at Gia’s again ( I think Dean has spied a steak on the menu before) and I had angel hair pasta and sausage with marinara and a bit of Alfredo.

Dean and I walked back after a bit of shopping.  Shower :( and bed!

Practicing French in Treasure Island

Yesterday we rented a car and drove up the coast, we frittered the day away carseeing!  Dean even managed to work it so we were at the top of a bridge for sunset!  

Dinner was at sort of a dive that I found on Trip Advisor looking for seafood, Ricks Reef.  It was good.  I had shrimp, potatoes and coleslaw with pineapple, which sounds , not so good, but it was delish.   

Today we got up and went to a French Bakery I spied yesterday!  It was very fun as I went in messing with the guy, speaking in French and guess what!  I got to practice my French!  I had an Almond Croissant and coffee

and Dean had a “Breakfast Formula with eggs, bacon, some thing they call potatoes but it was sort of a savory pancake and toast.  

We came back and went to the Publix so I could fix some dinner this evening.  After putting up the food we went back to the beach to see the progress of the Masion du Sable ( Sand Castle in French  since it is a French day).

  Some were being added some were in continued progress and a few seemed to be complete.

There certainly is a push to get the booths set up for commerce!   

The knitter in me certainly likes this one!

I spent the afternoon painting  and preparing dinner.  Nancy, Kevin and Little Oscar came and they all went down to the pool while I piddled in the kitchen.  

Dinner was pork in a sage marinade, creamed spinach, smashed potatoes (or as I learned last night “Bistro Potatoes”), a baguette, and salad. 

 After dinner we did the obligatory Sunset trip and Van had his first bites of sand.

  He seemed to like it!  

It is a peaceful evening on the inlet!

Early Days

The morning dawned bright and lovely over the balcony  in the bedroom!  We found my ‘Community” coffee yesterday in the Publix and I had a great cup of coffee, Dean had a

Diet Coke.  Kevin, Nancy and Little Oscar showed up and we all walked on the beach.  

It was nice, mid 70s sunny.  Little Oscar was not so sure about the ocean, and i have to admit it was pretty nippy!  

We had lunch at Sloppy Joe’s on the beach.  Dean had the Sloppy Joe and said it was not so hot for a restaurant of that name.  (I told him Kathy MIller’s sloppy Joe is AMAZING!) After we came back and I painted the afternoon away and had a little Josh and Fritos.  Dean and I just got back from a second perusal of the progress of the sculptures and a sunset. 

 We can not figure out the imagery of the two pieces with a cross, and wooden people.  One fellow suggested that they were puppets but still the meaning eludes me.  Hopefully we will get to talk to the artist and become enlightened.  My mind can go all kinds of ways with it, but I want to know that the artist intended.

There is a Dali museum here a ( in St Pete) and this one piece is like a sandcastle abstract to me, FULL of imagery as you walk around it. I think dinner is going to be Italian,  I’ll report on that tomorrow.