Time Trip

Our ride to New Harmony was Sweet, a mere 2.5ish hours rather than 4.5 ish!  I 69, even though it felt that there were years of strife about it, is a nice ride in comparison to what was. 

 Our B & B for the night is lovely, it reminds me of the Victorian across the street from where I grew up,  though a big grander.  I love all the wood, the odd shaped rooms, the tall windows and the crazy Victorian wallpaper.  We got up this morning for breakfast and oops our electronics did not reconcile to the local time, so we were up an hour early.  The caretaker, Clarissa, had coffee ready though so we visited and waited for breakfast.  Which consisted of an egg soufflé, (utterly sinful) tater tots, a piece of sausage for me,  an apple muffin and OJ.

  After breakfast we drove around town and just looked and looked as I tried to remember from when Kathy, the kids and I came here almost 40 years ago.  We spied the restaurant for which we have dinner reservations, and Jodi scoped out where the concert is tonight.  (it is darned close!)

  I finally got hungry, but wanted something light.  I spied Cafe Main (SP), suggested it, JOdi agreed.

  Unfortunately we did not agree on the same thing and Jodi let me lead.  The look on Jodi’s face says it all!   They did not have soup, they did not have a cinnamon role, so I went with Pain Perdu ( my spelling as I was trying to make silk out of a sows ear so French Toast.  Pain Perdu simply means last bread and the French used their old bread for what we call French Toast. Delish however you spell it) Let’s just say this place is a regular greasy spoon and NOT a do over.  The place Jodi thought she agreed to, when I saw it, made me wish Jodi was not so agreeable!

Regardless we went and walked around the Roofless Church.  It is lovely and I think it would be very fun to attend a worship there, when it was warmer.    

Then we  walked the labyrinth, I told Jodi did she want the long way or the quick and dirty way, I messed up and thought that there were two entrances.  Regardless after the short way, we did the real one.  It is misty and 50 degrees so cool but not terrible, surely not as cold as it cold have been when I made plans.  We came back to the  A C Thomas house to rest before our big evening!  

We showed up to the Red Geranium at exactly 5 PM ( affording to my phone, I forgot!!) and they seated us without missing a beat. I had steak  with a yummy sauce, broccoli ( not the advertised Brussel sprouts) and a baked potato.   And of course a glass of wine.  Jodi had a baked potatoes.  It was good  They still had Christmas stuff up chic for a Valentine’s Day meas was a bit odd.  We cane back to the room and shortly walked to the venue for the concert and we arrived so early they wold not let us in te building for 20 minutes.  So we stood in the cool/cold and waited.   The concert was good as usual and Jodi got a  “You can do this hard thing” tee. She was pretty excited about that .  Off to breakfasts alone as she is sleeping in, after yesterday I don’t blame her. Ml

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!