Last day on Jekyll.

Driftwood beach.

Mom, Dad, and I drove around and parked at one of the trails for a nice, long walk.  Cameras and binoculors ’round our necks.

ripples of clouds in the sky

ripples of sand under our toes

old trees left standing the way the wind blew as they grew

along the beach are huge fallen trees, like a nature playground

the roots upended and weathered by salt water and time

at times it seemed we could go no further, but there was always a way (under, around, through, over)

glittering ocean foam

drips and drops leaving perfect circles

 message in the sand; thinking of my love

parents

*****

path to the shops

I endeavored to find a little something for each child; a tiny harmonica, shark tooth necklace, books, little tokens, for them to know “Mama thought of you.”

baby palms

bamboo

lovely pottery shop

so much beauty in green and brown and pink

hanging spanish moss

last meal together before I had to go to the airport ~ with my dear Dad ~

the lovebirds

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I am home-sweet-home again and Jekyll was last week’s memory.  I had such a refreshing vacation; I came back moving and thinking much slower, a good indication to me that the trip away was needed for my well-being.   It was my second visit to this place, and I understand, now, why my parents keep going back.  If you go once, more than likely you will feel the need to return, and I miss it today.  There is a lot to do on Jekyll for activities, but it’s also a good place to relax in nature, too.  I hope to go with my family someday, I know they will love it, too.

click here for more information on JEKYLL ISLAND

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thought for today:

“This is my person, now indwell by the living Spirit of the living God.  I shall not permit it to be cramped and contaminated by exposing it to such dusty trivia as newspaper propaganda, pornography, cheap debasing literature, hours of low caliber television programs, or rubbish from the mass media.  Instead, God’s Spirit will lead me to expose myself to the finest art, literature, and music.  He will put me in situations where my mind can be improved and my soul stimulated with that which is beautiful and noble and lofty.  I can and will become a person of broad interests, noble aspirations, and enormous enthusiasm because I belong to Him and He wishes to put me out into wide fields of fruitful and useful endeavor ….”

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  John 10:10

Nothing is worth more than this day. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

We are at the end of day four and this is my last night here on Jekyll Island so I am a tiny bit sad.

I am a little sad, but mostly content, though, because we three are having such a great time….today was manicure and pedicure day for Mom and me.

Dad dropped us off at the Jekyll Island club and we walked around a little before we went to our appointment at the spa there.

There were tall stemmed poppies in bloom, bright orange and white ones, a feast for the eyes.

Mother in the poppies, looking like a poppy in her yellow sweater.

Spanish moss is so fascinating and pretty to look at~

three little birds

a quick little snack before our pampering–

Mom got a french mani and pedi and I got a regular mani and a polish change on the toes.  There was only one nail professional working so we sat through each other’s treatments.  It was quiet and nice and no one else was around but the owner and she was fun and easy to talk to.  The woman doing our nails was only 22, and calm and capable.  My polish was OPI’s “Miami Beet”  (such a fun name!)

After our nails dried and we met back up with Dad, we went to the Rah Bar on a pier by the water.  We had the most wonderful shrimp, I had a half pound of them with some red potatoes, and ice sweet tea.

Then we headed back to the club for dessert at the cafe.  They had Dad’s favorite black bottom muffins and because he had given us gifts, (as you will see in a moment) Mom and I bought him two muffins.  I had one, as well (a dense chocolate muffin with a little scoop of cheesecake topping and chocolate chips in the cake) and Mother had a big oatmeal cookie with dried cranberries.

See my pretty nails?

Mom and Dad swam in the hotel pool while I read my book and then the three of us got into the hot tub.

My handsome Dad wearing his new hat that he got for himself.

So when Dad met up with us at the spa he was carrying a bag.  He had gone shopping and of course we wanted to know right away what he had.  But he wouldn’t show us and told us to stop snooping and trying to know his business.  Once we got to the Rah Bar for our shrimp we were still curious and he said, “Oh all right, I’ll show you what I have.” and he pulled out a gift for each of us; a canvas bag with a soy candle inside.  He had chosen each thing carefully.

My bag is the one with the books and CS Lewis quote, and my candle is “Celtic Moonspice”.  I wonder if I’ll ever burn it.  Dad gave it to me!

I am currently watching American Idol, on the bed with Mom, while Dad is in the other room learning new drumming techniques on his computer.

Last night we were still out to dinner, but this evening we decided to stay in and have a light meal in the room.  It’s been a relaxing afternoon, we did our adventuring this morning by going back over the bridge to Brunswick for shopping.  Dad dropped Mom and I off and we meandered through places that we especially thought looked interesting~

I have to say that this was the most darling shop for little girl’s clothes, I could have dressed Sarah in a wardrobe entirely from this place.  I did come away with three dresses and a skirt, which I will do a post about at a later date, when Sarah can model them.

I went in and the owner said, “I would have stood in the window and posed for you!”  He saw me taking the picture.  We were also greeted by the dog, Mr Wriggles, who, after a silent hello, wandered away again.  The owner’s wife kept coughing but assured us she was on antibiotics.  Wouldn’t it be fun to own a nice little book shop with your significant other?

*cookbook all about biscuits and my bag of dresses for Sarah Joy*

We can now heartily recommend Arte Pizza on 1518 Newcastle Street in Brunswick, GA.  I had the house salad and a meatball sandwich, made with thick slices of meatball, lightly sauced with a wonderful tomato sauce, with a basil leaf.  It was served steaming hot on an artisan roll.

Dad met us back at the pizza place for lunch; he had two slices of cheese pizza (thin crust).

Mom had a caesar salad and a pasta dish.

We sat at a tall round table right by the window, on stools.  We were cozy, watching the traffic go by and enjoying our food.

Then, we had cupcakes for dessert.  (see why we needed a light dinner?)

we had wedding cake, ice cream sundae, and lemon ones

They were made by this lady, who has won awards for her cupcakes and isn’t shy to let people know that “God Did This”.  Wouldn’t it be nice to make a sign like that and hang it up in your house or around your child’s neck like a necklace?  I love it.

*****

ALSO:

we went out to the pool
read books
walked along the beach
watched a cooking show
drank coffee
what else?  I guess that’s about it.

I admit, I do miss my husband and children.  They are doing fine, though.  They adopted a new cat named Billy.