Going Home To Bama

I could write for hours about this trip; no maybe days. I won't overload you know with words, but would like to confess that I am ashamed and sad that it took me so long to do it. It had been more than 11 years since I went home for a visit other than a funeral and really longer on a decent length trip.

Tonight I will just upload the photos so that all my friends and other family can enjoy them.

 Family

 

Andrew, Camella, Cynthia (my dad's cousin) and Virginia (my 2nd cousin).

 

 

Three generations looking at old photos.

 

 Althea taking photos.

 

Cooking on the deck.

 

My Uncle Putman (dad's brother), me, Virginia, my Aunt Barbara (dad's niece) and Andrew.

 



 

Cousins.

Connie, Barbara, Cynthia, Virginia,Camella

Uncle Putman in the back.

 



 

Ann Brown, my beautiful cousin.

 

And her husband, Bud Brown.

 

And his younger brother John Brown.

 

 





Doing Stuff

Papa explaining fishing scissors to Althea.

 

Lake Smith

Julie, Andrew and Althea at Great Grandma and Grandpa Barton's grave.

Union Chapel

 

 

Althea at her Great Great Great Grandparents Grave

 

 

Things and Places

 

Daffodils at Smith Lake House.

 

Daffodils

 

Althea at Posey's Hardware.

 

Althea and Papa.

 

A trip to Jasper just ain't done until you stop

at Posey's Hardware.

 

Andrew and Julie

 

Frank looking for a rock for me.

 

My hubby getting me a gift for the yard!

Alligator Point Photos

Sunrise on the bay. Alligator Point.

 

 

Sunrise hitting the beach gave it a warm pink glow.

 

 

Thunderstorm rolling in over the bay.

 

The beach after a storm.

 

 

Driftwood trees.

 

 Sea turtle at the Gulf Specium Marine Lab in Panacea.

 

 

Flower blooming outside the lab.

 

 

 

Little shop outside of Carrabelle.

 

Boardwalk at Bald Point State Park.

 

 

Ghost crab.

 

 

Laughing Gull at Carrabelle Beach.

 

 

The Road Less Traveled: Alligator Point

It has been a mere two weeks since we packed up to leave Alligator Point, but it feels like a lifetime... when I began to look for a small, remote place to spend Summer vacation with my grandchildren I had no idea of the things to come.

Alligator Point sits out in the Gulf about and hour south of Tallahasse FL and an hour east of Apalachicola. I had never heard of it, but the beach looked great and the prices even better. Having spent my early childhood living on nearby St. Joe Beach I knew the area and looked forward to being in Florida far from the crowds of tourist and bright lights!

We fell in love with the little house on Fiesta Drive called Viola House and after the first two days we were all pros and climbing the stairs and waiting on the landing for someone to open up the door. Early mornings were spent out on the deck breathing in the fresh salt and air and being suprised at the Dolphins coming into the bay to play!

Mid week brought us a scare as our granddaughter, Dorie decided to see Tallahassee first by car and then via ambulance as we sought out emergency medical care for what turned out to be pnemonia. She was in better spirits than we adults, especially with her mommy and daddy not being with us. After a couple of days she was back to her old self except for a lingering cough which she still has.

The little private beach behind the house brought us hours of fun as we chased first Fiddler Crabs and then Ghost and Blues at night by flash light. Althea, the three year old could have spent the rest of vacation right there, but we finally pulled her away and spent a few days exploring nearby sights such as The World's Smallest Police Station in Carrabelle and Wakulla Springs in Wakulla. The water at the Springs was refreshing I was told, as Frank and I stayed on shore and watched the youngsters play as we ate icecream cones and toured the old inn and the grounds.

We spent half a day in Apalachicola doing some window shopping and picking up a few things, I could have spent a million had a won the lottery at the Tin Shed, a mangirie of nautical items both old and new! We had a fun photo fest with the pirate statues and both Becki and I grabbed a few items to add to our decor.

We didn't eat out but once while on vacation as we tried to stick to the theme of old school vacations without all the glitz and stress that so many suffer through in todays fast paced world. The wait to eat out on Saturday was worth it I might say. Having read about Spring Creek in Southern Living, I was looking forward to taking my family to a local place that served local food... Frank and Andy both ordered Quail, fried up and served with cheese grits they did look good but I ordered a seafood platter so I could try the fried Mullet and see if it was as good as I remembered in my 54 year old mind... it was!

Less than a week after our vacation ended, tropical storm Debby visited this area and many suffered the loss of homes and business and thousands ended up with damage. All the turtle nests weree destroyed by rising surf and even the road to the point was washed away. I pray that things soon return to normal for the area and look forward to taking another trip in the near future.

Alligator Point on Dwellable

Up Stairs Down Stairs - I'll Take the Elevator

I'm not much on climbing stairs, or mountains heck not even the bleachers at the football game. It's not the climbing part that bothers me, its the view from the top and the trip down!

As a long sufferer of vertigo you won't find me off the ground much of the time; however I have made several treks skyward this year with the help of my loving and understanding family.

Back in late winter as I was visiting my son Andrew and his wife Julie in Alabama we took a trip by The Vulcan that has stood guard over Birmingham for generations. As a young child we always drove by on our way home for family reunions or vacations and Andrew and Julie thought I'd enjoy seeing its new home and the museum. They were wonderful.

When I found out there was an elevator that took you too the top with a short bridge I thought okay I'll give it a shot... noone told me it was open gridwork and although I did cross over it I wasn't too happy doing so.

Andrew and Julie

The Vulcan tower and the elevator with bridge.

Skyline of Birmingham AL

The bridge we had to cross and the Vulcan with sun behind.

My next trip skyward was not so bad and I am proud to say I made it half way up the 129 steps of the Saint Simon Georgia lighthouse before the heat of Summer and the fear of climbing any higher grounded me on the second landing... I didn't mind waiting for the rest of my family to make the climb as I had a beautiful view and a some what cool breeze through the small window.

When Dorie (who climbed all the way up and down on her own) came out of the door she told me her legs felt "weird", I bet they did....

The Saint Simon Light

Saint Simon Georgia

View from first landing... so I climbed some more.

View from second landing... my resting place.

Dorie and Althea in front of the light.