BEACH!

Here are pictures from our first day at the beach. The kids were ecstatic! Brooks wasn't sure about any of it... let me see... the sand bothered his toes; he didn't like the water - it was too cold; he didn't want to build a castle... :) We did end up buying a big truck (Brooks named 'Little Rudy') at the Goodwill and he really loved playing in the sand with it. 99 cent great investment.

Kate was fearless - as always. She just inhaled everything. She was ready to hit the ocean, didn't care that the waves hit her in the face, and loved digging holes in the sand.

Many people have told me that Brooks will get better. We will see. All I can think is, "Wow. Swimming class is going to be VERY interesting next year."

Quilts, quilts, quilts

Here are some of the loveliest quilts I have ever seen. My mother has loved quilts all her life, and is a fine seamstress who can make beautiful quilts of her own! I took these pics partly to show her, and partly because I just appreciated the beauty!



From a small antique store in Florida. This quilt was so soft - like a baby blanket. The work was exquisite.

This one was OK. The best at this shop (in Miramar).

This quilt was labeled a Sunbonnet Sue. I had never seen this version of that pattern. My grandmother made a quilt with her grandmother - a Sunbonnet Sue - but it doesn't look like this one. This quilt was in Dothan.

This is my favorite. I love the colors and the patterns. It was in Dothan also. The edges were in much worse shape than the center. but, I loved it!

Antiques and rainbows

After church on Sunday night, there was the most beautiful rainbow. It was full - all the way across. It stayed for quite a while! I was lucky to have my camera with us from our trip, and this was the best picture that we got.

On our way to the beach we stopped by some antique malls/flea markets in Dothan. I got a new window pane to go in my bathroom (to display more pictures...) and my treat was this beautiful tray. It is French, and according to the mall it dates to the mid 1800's. I just loved it - with the horses and the dog running ahead. Plus, the colors work perfectly with my kitchen.

Below that is an oil of a spaniel. I love the impressionistic look of it. There were several more there also.

Did I say that antiques were my passion? :)

Aaahhhh....

OK, so I love this new layout! :)

The best antique shop for glass

Downtown Montavello, there was a antique store. Well, of course we had to stop there! :) This owner had the most impressive collection of glassware, crystal and china I have ever seen. It was almost overwhelming.

But, to my great surprise, there it was...

My punch bowl.

I have been looking for this particular punch bowl for 2 years now. No one has it. It is a Fostoria bowl in the cubist pattern. I had seen it in person once, and that was at a church shower. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it.

I also couldn't believe my ears when I heard the price. $495.00. He'd give me a deal at $425.00.

So I had to leave it there. But, I took a picture of it the next day so I could remember it. Can you see it through the window?

Rick and Brooke met us for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory on Sat night. I ate the Firecracker Salmon appetizer. It is my favorite. We ate outside, partly because of the enormous crowds, and partly because I LOVE to eat outside. The weather was great and the company was better.

Our B&B getaway

The McKibbon House

Located in Montavello, this home was built in 1900. It has been completely restored. Our room had a claw foot tub in the room itself, and it was beautiful. The original owner owned a lumber mill as well as rental properties in Montavello. As you can imagine, he had beautiful woodwork done for his home.

Our breakfast that morning was:

egg and cheese omelets
fresh fruit (cantaloupe and honeydew)
sausage
bacon
homemade biscuits
orange juice
coffee




Our room with the tub!

Dining room

Look at that ceiling! The attention to detail is everywhere.

The current owner's piano, not original to the home. Isn't it breathtaking?

Day 1 of my adventure

I am going to do this in reverse order, because it's aggravating to go backwards. So, if anyone stops by later on, it's all backwards!
And, I may bore you with more details than you want to read, but this is more for my remembrance...

The Saturday before we were to leave for the beach, Scott arranged me a surprise birthday party. Unknown to me, I believe that everyone in Montgomery and a few surrounding states knew of this... :) It was a blast. I was incredibly surprised! Dr. Brooks faked an emergency at the clinic and asked me to come help. I flew there from Prattville and ran into the clinic, only to be surprised by co-workers, my parents, Leah and Mrs. Tuttle.

{insert soap box here} - having a summer birthday meant that I never celebrated my day at school. This was so special to me for Scott to do this. But, the surprises didn't stop there...

Scott told me that he was going to take me shopping. Mom said that she would watch the kids for the afternoon, and we took off. Only for me to find out that Scott had booked a bed and breakfast for us to spend the night. He had the dogs at the clinic, our suitcases packed, and we headed straight there. I was blown away! We love older homes and hadn't been to a B&B in many years. The one we stayed at was in Montavello - the McKibbon House. It was just beautiful.

That afternoon we went to a local antique store and then to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.




A view of the house from the outside.