Monday, August 3, 2009

Monday Memories

This is the longest I have gone without blogging since I started last fall, and I NEED to be back! So today I am jumping in, playing the memory game with Gayle at Planet M Files . . .

Isn’t it interesting how quickly summer passes and how fast those wonderful moments become memories?

We made it to the beach the beginning of July. The first couple days were cloudy and rainy but perfect!

When we left for the beach, we were not sure whether we were staying three days or more. We stayed more. We were there Tuesday thru Saturday and we rested. We had no idea how tired we were until we got there. We slept. We did not think about home, and we did not think or talk shop.

Will and I hung out at the house with his mom or on the beach with the boys. Made a couple trips to Lowes to add some storage and make some repairs on the house. The pace though was what we needed – beach time. We skipped the boat this time and we skipped scalloping. Took the peaceful road with this trip.





The waves were intense and gave the boys a run for their money. They tried surfing, but that was not a very successful venture. They mainly skim boarded . . .




And took their chances at staying upright, while battling the waves.

The clouds and rain finally moved out and let way to plenty of sunshine.




It is interesting how we can go to the same place every year and yet can still find something new to experience.

Where we go is Mexico Beach, what use to be a small fishing town on the Gulf of Mexico that has suddenly been inundated with Condo’s. In that stretch is also Port St. Joe and Cape San Blas. I noticed in a local brochure that Cape San Blas now has a light house you can tour/climb. We took advantage of the sunny day and headed over to check it out.

We stopped for Gatorades and breakfast bars in Port St. Joe. We missed the lighthouse turn off, so stopped in St. Joe state park to snack.

Guess what though? I left the bag with the bars at the store!!

We retraced our steps and found the lighthouse. Now this lighthouse was not exactly what I had conjured up in my mind. I suppose I was picturing the ones on the Atlantic coast. The ones with the little attached house . . .



We checked out the little museum. Real little! Paid the $5 per person and climbed those stairs.

The paying $5 per person to climb the stairs gave us a new perspective on the cost of the Disney World tickets!

But the view was breathtaking!




Lots of shells were found on this trip too!


And my favorites, the sand dollars (they were not alive)



Our last afternoon, Will was fishing off the beach, - and caught a flounder! He tried for a while longer, but not another one to be caught that day. It was perfect though for the two of us. We brought it back along with the scallops that were gathered by my sister in law and had a nice dinner after Demolition D and The Man left to spend the next week with their dad.


We had a great time and I am so ready to go back for a weekend!

6 comments:

Puna said...

Wow, I used to live in Panama City! I love that area, the beaches are so beautiful. I'm sure it's changed quite a bit already. Your photos are lovely and yes, I go to the same place every year also. There's something very sentimental about that!

Jane In The Jungle said...

Sooooo glad you're back inbloggyland, you've been missed.
I'm getting homesich for the beach. Greg and I used to go to Carabelle alot pre-kids, sigh.....

Finding Pam said...

Lovely photos of your vacation. I hope that you are rested and renewed.

Welcome back.

FancyHorse said...

Beautiful pictures! I love the beach. Years ago, when we were staying in crowded Panama City Beach we went for a drive and found quiet, sleepy little Mexico Beach. I'm sorry to hear it's been built up, but I guess it was inevitable.
Welcome back!

Gayle said...

That looks like the perfect vacation! How beautiful it is! I have never been on a beach that had sand dollars, or scallops. I would so love to visit that area of our country some day!

Thank you for joining Monday Memories!

TJ said...

Great pictures. We go to South Padre Island but it's not a beautiful as the one in your pictures.