Another busy summer has come and gone. Emily's trip to Japan, Girl Scout camp, and visitors filled our days and left us wondering where the time went. Norma came to see us from Arizona, and, at the same time, Pat, Carol, and Raben Reeves were here from Mobile. They were all treated to the delights of summer in Oregon, a welcome respite from the heat of their home states this time of year.
We, however, weren't so smart. We took our annual trip to Mobile in late July/early August, at the height of heat and humidity. With everything else we had going on, that was the only time we could ft it in. We were able to make the best of it by staying at a motel with a pool and planning trips to the beach where we could cool off in the water. A necessity, for sure, that time of year!
We had plenty of time with family. Daddy celebrated his birthday a few days after our arrival. We got lots of family members together and had dinner - and entertainment! - at a local hibachi restaurant. Our chef was quite the performer!
Back at the house, we had birthday cake, and enjoyed visiting with family.
It was fun to watch the cousins having fun together, especially now that they're almost all grown up. It's a different dynamic than when there were little kids interspersed. They don't see each other often enough.
Larry and the girls spent some time tooling around Mobile, strolling around downtown, and catching the latest IMAX movie at the Exploreum. I spent most of my time hanging out at the house with Mama, Daddy, and the cats.
Mama and Daddy are having a lot of work done to the house, and it was fun to see the way the kitchen has shaped up, as well as new paint everywhere and new carpet. Things are looking good! Larry, as usual, helped with a few repairs, and Sarah put privacy film on the windows by the front door. Both did a lovely job!
Mama decided to go through her cedar chest while we were there, and Emily had a blast trying on vintage clothing from back in Nana's day.
We found a very fashionable lounging outfit straight from the 60's.
The highlights, though, were the robe from her trousseau, and a gown Daddy bought for her while on leave from the army, purchased solely on the basis of sex appeal.
We had some yummy seafood one night at Tacky Jack's and Emily spent a lot of time mugging for the camera. She's such a shy soul...
Susan had the family over for dinner one night. She always does a lovely job entertaining my whole family, and it's a perfect opportunity not only for us to see each other, but for for our mothers to have a visit, as well.
In addition to seeing family, we got some beach time in, too. Since the Reeves family spent a few days with us in Portland, they invited us to spend some time with them at Mullet Point. This was the first time Sarah and Emily spent any time on Mobile Bay, so it was a totally new experience for them. We spent a lot of time on the wharf and in the water.
They went out on the boat and went tubing and kneeboarding.
Larry and Emily went kayaking.
When Larry wasn't geocaching with the girls, he even allowed himself to relax a bit!
While on land, Emily and Rascal bonded big time! He's a very patient dog!
I spent my time reading, enjoying the water and the birds, and visiting with Pat and Carol.
Just couldn't get enough of the view!
The Reeves were marvelous hosts. In addition to sharing their bay house with us, we went into Fairhope one morning for breakfast and shopping. It's been a while since I've wandered around Fairhope, and it has that same feel I always enjoyed. Many of the tried and true shops are still there, while new ones (at least to me) have popped up, as well. We spent a lot of time at Page and Pallette, and Carol and I found an olive oil shop where we both made purchases. And dinner one night at a sushi restaurant in Fairhope was artfully prepared and quite deelish!
We also spent some time at Dauphin Island. Talk about opposite water experiences. The bay is calm, peaceful, relaxing. The Gulf is relaxing, too, but constantly in motion, with powerful waves cresting and crashing on the shore nonstop. I really feel like we had the best of both worlds!
Tom and Susan were the consummate hosts, as always.
We visited, played games, spent some time playing in the surf, skim boarding (that would be Emily), and getting sunburned (that would be Sarah). Tom and Ruth Ann were both able to join us at one time or another, and Emily enjoyed sharing her pictures from Japan.
Again, I enjoyed the scenery, and just being away from it all.
I think we all appreciated the time to just relax and be together after a very busy summer!
One night, Larry got it into his head to launch some hot air balloons from the back deck of the house. He'd come prepared with a dozen or so paper balloons with paraffin blocks that are hooked into the bottom of the balloons and lit. The hot air then fills the balloons, which, when let go at just the right moment, sail away into the night sky. At least that's the concept.
Larry and Tom, scientists and engineers that they are, were really into this. The original idea was to launch the balloons from the beach on the Sound. But it was determined that, even though there was a slight breeze, it wasn't enough to matter, and launching them from the deck, over the tops of surrounding homes, would be just fine.
Some of us were nervous about catching surrounding houses on fire from airborne ignited fuel sources. And, if the truth be told, we had some dicey moments. It all worked out in the end, but, if there were a next time, I'd opt for open water. It was exciting!
While there, I got a call for a long-term substitute teaching position in first grade to start the year. So, once we were back home, I had a whole week to recover from our trip before unexpectedly going to work. Sure am glad we had such a nice, relaxing getaway!
