High Drama Sunset Clouds

I arrived at the riverfront just a little too late tonight to catch a good shot of the setting sun - which is surprising because several of us who were looking skyward were running to get there because we could see what was shaping up - so I turned around to see this spectacular reflection in the clouds.  Just one more reason to love this island.

Fairbanks House - Amelia Island

The Diary of Preston Plummer

Tonight is the last night of filming on Amelia Island for the cast and crew of The Diary of Preston Plummer, an independent film that's been evolving on the island over the last three weeks - and it's ending with a party scene in the house next door.  When the location manager told us that they would be busing in 40 - 60 college age individuals for the "party" scene, we got a little nervous.  I have to say that they've been incredibly quiet and professional.  I'm told that they film the scene in almost complete silence except for the two actors in dialogue at the time, and then the rest of the soundtrack is added later.  I believe them.  They've just arrived with a 300 watt bulb for us to put in our bathroom window to light the final scene that they'll be shooting because it will take place in our driveway... in the wee hours of the morning.  Our bathroom is lit up like an airport but we're closing the door and going to bed.  Rumer Willis and Trevor Morgan, we'll just have to meet you some other time.  Gosh, I sure hope that none of the cats show up as photo bombs in the scene.

Fairbanks House - Amelia Island

The Lilliputian Huts Are Back

We usually get a pretty good crop of mushrooms this time of year, but with all of the evening showers that we've been getting over the last week, there are some pretty impressive crops popping up.  The conditions are just about perfect right now and I have to say that this is the best one that I've seen.

Fairbanks House - Amelia Island

The Shaggy Dog?

This is either a Disney character or a friendly bear enjoying a nice ride through Fernandina.  Either way, he seems to be enjoying the nice island breeze through his window.  Maybe he's in town for the big Amelia Island Great Southern Tailgate Coo-Off this weekend.  I've smelled a few bbq practice rounds wafting on the breeze this week.  If you've got some flexibility in your schedule, this is going to be a geat event and you should try to attend.  There are something like 40 - 50 teams signed up and lots of entertainment to accompany the cooking.  Yum.

Fairbanks House - Amelia Island

Oh I Love a Rainy Night

We finally seem to be getting into our evening summer thunderstorm pattern.  I'm trying to ignore the fact that we're two weeks from Labor Day and the "summer" is almost over and just be grateful for the rain that we're getting now.  Everyone's lawns look pretty sad:  so sad that the Florida Times Union did an article about it in the Sunday paper yesterday.  We had a winter about which we will not speak that killed half of everyone's yards followed by a summer of uncharacteristic heat and drought.  That combo has been working on killing the replacement landscape, including our new sod.  Even if things are surviving, nothing is thriving.  And there aren't as many blooms as we're used to either (but there are still plenty).  Oh sure, it's hot and dry everywhere in the summertime but we don't usually get this many consecutive days over 90 around here.  Lots of you have had so many days over 100 degrees this year that you'd be thrilled with 90's so we can put that in perspective too.  We've been here for thirteen years and our thermometer has never registered 100 degrees.  And, yes, it works.  They're calling for 80's all this week so we'll enjoy the rain and the lower temperatures.  I hope that you all get some of the same.

Fairbanks House - Amelia Island

Beautiful Clouds

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky. ~Rabindranath Tagore


Fairbanks House - Amelia Island

Fernandina Construction Boom

In addition to several restaurants being added onto or spruced up, there are houses that are actually being built in the Historic District.  This one right here, on Ash Street, seemed to go up overnight.  It's always nice to see any sign of economic recovery, but it's particulary nice to see it close to home.

Fairbanks House - Amelia Island

Our Neighborhood Red-Tailed Hawk

We have a very large and very old oak tree out in front of Fairbanks House that was hit by lightning several years ago and was subsequently left with a naked limb.  It's been like that for several years but doesn't seem to be showing signs of coming down anytime soon.  So, by night, two owls take up residence and, by day, this red-tailed hawk moves in.  Between the three birds of prey and the stray, feral and claimed cats that hang around the block, we're fairly rodent free around here.  It couldn't have worked out better if we'd planned it.  Just another green method of pest control.

Fairbanks House - Amelia Island

Jazz Jam at Indigo Alley

Bill and I dropped in to the Tuesday night jazz jam at Indigo Alley last night.  It's a small place but there were quite a few musicians - including a great singer - that showed up, and they managed to sound as if they'd been playing together forever.  Indigo Alley has music just about every night and it's a great place to have a few drinks and listen to some really, really good music, as well as enjoy some pretty good artwork by the locals.  Mike and Sherry have really done a nice job with creating a laid back venue with some nice entertainment and some gosh darn good beer selections.  And all of this is less than a 10 minute stroll from Fairbanks House.  Just the way we like it.

Fairbanks House - Amelia Island

The Shops at Amelia Island Plantation

We're really fortunate to have lots of good shopping on the island: in the Historic District, at the consignment shops and at the resorts.  We frequently send our guests down to Amelia Island Plantation because they've got a nice collections of interesting shops, a spa and a good deli (and ice cream shop!).  And it's a lovely, serene setting for shopping or getting a nice massage at the Spa.  I can't tell you how many Chico's bags have been found in guest rooms after checkout but I can tell you that very few of them have been small.

Fairbanks House - Amelia Island