Today
is our last full day on the island. It’s been a wonderful three months and although we feel strangely grief-stricken, we keep reminding ourselves of the numerous blessings we have enjoyed here; first of all, the TIME, so much time, three months! A trimester of island living.
The intense sun that soaked Vitamin D all the way into my bones, the salt water that relaxed my soul like being in the womb of God Himself. The birds, the alligator that came to visit, our new cat Penny, the kindness of strangers, the food, ice creams, walks, sleep, family, laughter, volleyball, books, reconnecting with my cousin Elisha, kitchen work, end of the day snuggles, happy mail from Kara, being able to trust the children back home to take care of things, and so much more.
YESTERDAY.
I wanted to blog in honor of this last day but there are so many photos that I’ve taken this summer and I really can’t decide which ones to share, so I thought I would just blog about yesterday, which began as most days do, with coffee in hand, and walking with my husband around our little neighborhood as he read out loud to me. After we were done, I decided to keep on going, and he went inside to work. The photo I posted is my favorite destination when I walk on the sidewalk (rather than the. beach). This house has the most amazingly enchanting garden taking up the entire front yard, and some of the side yards, too. I literally stop and gaze several times a week. The only person I have seen in the garden is a big middle aged man, usually smoking a cigarette, and a dog, too. There are potted plants everywhere you look, and garden tables and chairs. It is not so much what is there, it is the quantity of it all that makes a wondrous statement. I have a hard time keeping two hanging plates alive all summer, I marvel at the time it must take to keep all these plants watered in the southern heat of Georgia. However, there is plenty of shade in this garden, which is another thing I love, it’s sheltered by trees and plants, and on a corner of two streets. I JUST LOVE IT. I guess I would say this is the most inspirational real-life ordinary garden I’ve seen OTHER THAN MY PARENT’S gardens.
Once I walked back home, it was time to take our cat Peninsula (who is growing like a weed) to the vet for the rest of her kitten boosters. She also had been scratching so much that she had a sore on the back of her neck and a couple of bare patches on her neck. It turns out she has a flea allergy, so we dosed her good with “revolution” after we got home. Her appointment went well. I also ran into the post office (not with the car) and bought some beautiful stamps for my pen pal-ing. The stamps have fruit and vegetables on them in bright vibrant colors and are simply lovely. We ordered Starbucks drivethru (I had a matcha and she had a sandwich) and headed back to Jekyll Island, to home away from home.
Being the last few days here, I wanted to do as many outdoorsy things as I could so I went for a short bike ride to Horton Pond, parked, and went for a walk on the trail there.
I was a little skittish while I walked the edge of the pond, imagining alligators coming at me with their teeth, but I saw nothing, and only heard a slight rustling in the bushes, which I imagine was made by a smaller creature like a lizard, maybe. I kept on going. The trees were so tall, with Spanish moss and vines draping through them so prettily. I had to slap mosquitoes off my bare arms and legs now and then, and I found a small white feather. I saw mushrooms but I saw no insects (only felt them bite me).
I mean. Stop and praise God!
Looking at these photos makes me want to go do this walk again right this very minute but I have to make blueberry muffins to use up more kitchen stuff and I want to finish blogging, so maybe after. Maybe I’ll take warm muffins and go……..
After a million New England walks, I feel it magic to find palm trees in the woods.
I love having packing tape on the table next to my scrapbook. I use it to tape all sorts of things in the pages; a flat frog, shells, found pennies, and feathers, which is where this one ended up.
“When you die, I’m going to look at pictures and think ‘I had a crazy Mom.'” Seth, Aug. 14
Sarah and I had two outings yesterday. The vet, and then Pottery class. We made our objects last week and yesterday we went back to paint them. After such a busy morning, I sat down at 1 o’clock in front of my clay mushroom and painted it. I promptly felt waves of intense fatigue. I was so tired I did something I rarely do; or rather, I didn’t do what I normally always do. In other words, I took no photos.
Then, we walked to the cupcake shop, and the walk woke me up, or maybe it was the cupcakes.
“GOD DID THIS”, a simple sign in this small humble cupcake shop, moves me, and makes me think I should have it hanging in my house, on my heart, on this blog, tattooed on my arm………..
We ordered pizza to take home to our boys.
We walked to the library while it baked.
We walked back.
We held hands.
We drove home reading stories.
Sarah read them, I listened.
We drove home in thunderous rain.
It was 4 o’clock. For the rest of the day I relaxed, and that was the end of
YESTERDAY.
Good to be Home 
It doesn’t matter what you blog about…I always enjoy them. 🙂 I can imagine that leaving is bittersweet. What a blessing to have had so much time there on the island…a dream.
The trail by the pond is beautiful. Though I’ve visited the East Coast on my hike of the AT, I’ve never actually been to the beach on the east coast. I’m surprised at the pines so close to the beach. At Galveston (my beach while growing up) there are no ‘woods’ and almost no tall trees except for palms.
I love that you notice and even marvel at the things in nature. One thing I have learned from you is to savor the ‘moments’ and small, seemingly ordinary things in life…like a feather, mushroom or rock. Not crazy. 🙂
Praying for safe travels on your way home.
Hi! Question, did you get my last lengthy letter? I wrote about family and memories and some other things as well? I’m wondering bc I had said in the letter than you didn’t have to send me The Artist’s Way bc I already had it. But I got the book today (THANK YOU), and it made me kinda worry about the letter and if you received it. I’m glad I have the second copy bc I will leave this one here. Thank you for the prayers for our safety. We leave early in the morning.
Yes. I did receive your letter, and I responded to it and put it in the mail a couple of days ago. Monday, in fact. I think the mail is REALLY slow these days. I don’t remember when I sent that book, but I’m thinking it was at least a week ago, if not longer. I sent it a soon as I finished it. I sent it shortly after I sent the letter telling you I was going to send it (before I received your long letter.)
I’m glad you will leave it there. I think you mentioned you had a ‘Little Free Library’ there, and it would give me so much happiness to think that my book went into one of those libraries since you can’t use it. (Unless you want two copies.) I have always loved the idea of them. If we didn’t live out in the sticks, I’d have one in my front yard. 🙂 I’ve even thought of doing it anyway.
…or….give it to someone you think might like to have it.
I asked Bud if he remembers when we mailed it off. We went into the town closest to us, and we had breakfast in a little cafe, so that triggered his memory. He thinks we sent it about a month ago! Looking at the calendar, I think it was around July 30th at the very least.That’s crazy slow!
Guess what? Your letter came TODAY! It was sooooo good. I loved the decorations on each page. I cried a a few tears (good ones). Writing you back! Thank you!
Oh good! I was worried about how long it would take to get to your home if it missed you before you left. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
Love your post and the stories about some of your favorite things! I love the fence around that corner garden and I’m so happy you have a little girl to enjoy life with. I was my Mama’s baby and we had fun together ♥️ so sorry you have to leave the beach but you have had a wonderful long visit! We hope to go to JI again one of these days and maybe you’ll be there, and we’ll pass you walking on the beach or maybe in the cupcake shop! Safe travels back home.
Thank you, and that would be wonderful! :). I often tell Sarah that I’m thankful that I have her. You know, those heart-swelling moments.
Sounds like a great day, and an absolutely wonderful summer. It looks just beautiful there!
That does look like a magic garden. I too, would stop and soak it in. I hope your trip north is uneventful and return home is homey.
Here in the UK yesterday we travelled down to the seaside on the south coast of England to a place called Margate. An art gallery there was showing the exhibition ‘We Will Walk: Art and Resistance in the American South’. We went primarily to see the Gee’s Bend quilts which formed part of the exhibition but equally interesting was a whole section on yard art. It immediately made me think of this post and your photo of that spectacularly busy yard!
I love that!!! thank you so much for telling me, I didn’t know it was a “thing” with a name! Yard art!
I haven’t been around to read your blog in quite awhile and I really missed it. So much going on and working from home takes a lot of my time. I am glad to be back as you soothe my heart with your words. Blessings to you and your beautiful family!