Cedar Waxwing Day

Every year about this time we get migratory flocks of birds that stop by the inn for a few hours and strip every berry on the property (okay, just the holly bushes and trees) before moving onto their next island stop north. We usually have at least 25 different species of birds completely covering the property in true Hitchcockian fashion - kind of like a little UN festival in our yard. Today, however, it was just the Cedar Waxwings who got the jump on the rest of the bird world in a unified front and stripped us clean leaving nothing for their slower brethren who are sure to follow. I'm concerned that a) there is a rift in Birdworld and that they're taking on an isolationist stance and b) everyone else will show up later and we'll get a bad review on TripAdvisor because we have no food for them. I guess I'll go get some bird feed. They are returning guests after all.

Fantastic Fudge Babies

I'm sorry that I didn't have time to go inside to inquire as to the parents of these twins born to someone associated with
Fantastic Fudge on Centre Street. I'll let you know when I get the details on these baby boys but I know I join everyone else in town by wishing them well.

Sunshine Tomorrow

Here it comes - on the end of the clouds that brought us a nice full day of rain. No complaints here; we've needed it. And besides, I wouldn't dare complain about anything weather-related here while our friends up north really have the market cornered on things to complain about. Nope - happy as a clam down here in Florida with flowers, pretty sunsets and Restaurant Week.

100 Years of Marriage

We were privileged to have two couples in the house today who are celebrating their respective 50th anniversaries. Mr. and Mrs. Greene, on the left, came in from Santa Barbara for the occasion and Mr. and Mrs. English stopped in on their way to Savannah.
This evening the whole Greene clan got spiffed up for the celebration, toasted the milestone with a bottle of champagne and headed to Beech Street Grill to continue the festivities. We're honored that both couples were with us for such a wonderful occasion. We know that their families are proud. Bill and I are equally fortunate to have parents whose marriages have withstood the test of time. My parents were married 56 years before my mother passed away and Bill's parents will celebrate their 62nd anniversary this June. How lucky indeed.

Bye Bye BOA

So this used to be the Bank of America building on Centre Street but after they closed the branch late last year, local businessman, Don Shaw, purchased it with the intent to open a family friendly restaurant in its place. It hasn't happened yet but we're all enthusiastic about the prospect because most of our restaurants in town are higher end - wonderful, but a little out of reach for some families. Don, the owner of Books Plus Bookstore in town, always does everything well so we're sure that this will be a success as well.

Fairbanks on a Stick

Or... Fairbanks made from a stick. Second from right, you can see a nice wooden replica of our house by a company called the Cat's Meow. There's always a cat featured somewhere in the piece. They've done replicas of several buildings in town including St. Peter's church - second from left - and the Bailey House, which seems to be bookending the group. If you'd like one, you can get it at Southern Touch on Centre Street.

Divine Divinity?

Not sure what kind it is but that sure is a nice looking hunk o' fudge on the slab at Fantastic Fudge on Centre Street. It's a tough window to walk by with views like this every day. I usually manage...by crossing the street.

Valentines' Trees

Good re-use of Christmas window displays.

Blue Skies for Pirates' Eyes

Even when our temperatures are unseasonably cool, as they are now, the blue sunny skies tend to make you feel a whole lot better about the day. We get good long stretches of these in the winter time. And if it warms up just a little bit the flowers blast right open. In fact, we've got azaleas, Carolina jasmine and hibiscus open in the yard right now.

Even on Cold Days

The sunsets are still nice. Which is nice because today was really cold. We had our first freeze in five winters. In fact, the power grids were out of practice and we lost power a couple of times this morning. Brrrrrr.

The Trouble With Photos

Is that they're just so darn hard to load sometimes. I've been having trouble for the past few days - hence, no blog posts - but I thought that I'd break tradition and do a post with just words. Hopefully, that will change tomorrow and I'll be back in the photoblog business. The temperatures have been all over the place for the last week, as they can be in the winter, but today was really nice and got up to almost 70. We're expecting a bit of a roller coaster ride over the next week but we still haven't hit freezing even though the predictions were for about 22 degrees one night last week. The forecasts for this area are so frequently wrong that we just take our best guess. We haven't had a freeze in four winters.

We've got a great new event coming up the last week of the month: the first, hopefully annual, Restaurant Week. We've always had such good restaurants here that ours show up on Jacksonville's top 25 lists. Now we'll have an opportunity to showcase them. There are some good values to be had as well. Hope you can make it. Also on the culinary front,Beech Street Grill has added a very popular Sunday brunch to their list of offerings. You should definitely check that out while you're here.

Here's to my bandwidth being back upto speed tomorrow!

Valentines' Window

Several of these are popping up around town. The Romance Season is upon us. For those of you who don't know - and are so inclined - we've recently added an elopement package to our romantic offerings at Fairbanks House. Can't afford that big wedding but still want your special day to be romantic for the two of you? We've got you covered.

For Our Friends Up North...

...who could probably use a little bit of color right about now. These pansies on Centre Street should do the trick. Stay warm, guys. And if you can't, come here.

Art on a Stick

Copper has always been my favorite member of the Periodic Table of Elements. And to have it dancing on a stick available to put in my garden is almost too much joy to bear. Seriously, I like this piece (available at Front and Centre).

Mood-Buster Hats

Now don't these hats just bring back the happy?

Post-Christmas Bargains

Still to be had in the shops on Centre Street. I'll be avoiding these particular decorations because they look like they're decorated with big red and green peanut M&M's. Pretty, but too tempting. Come to think of it, I see M&M's in things the way that other people see faces in clouds.

It's Still Available

Many of you will remember this golf cart for a child from one of my earlier posts. If you're interested... the price has dropped by $200. You're on your own for getting your child to exercise.

Before

Sometime in the not too distant future, this section of our waterfront will look very, very different. There are several plans that have been offered with varying degrees of development but you can rest assured that - regardless of the choice - things will look very different than they do now. We hope that those in charge choose wisely.

Fernandina Eye Candy

I so much enjoy looking through shop windows and visiting with folks on the street that I sometimes forget to look at the buildings themselves. We really do have a movie-set of a town here. I mean, I know that, but I just forget to step back and look up sometimes.

Clash of the Seasons

You've gotta love Christmas wreaths and geraniums out at the same time.

Nice Mantels

We had the privilege of being invited to a gathering at our friend and neighbor's, artist Eileen Shannon Moore, owner of Eileen's Art and Antiques. As you would expect, Eileen's house is simply gorgeous but I was particularly struck by the mantels.
Eileen manages to keep the Victorian while bringing on the funk. It's a great combination as only an artist of her calibre could achieve.

Bye-Bye Christmas

As is the tradition at Fairbanks House, we've left our lights burning through tonight, "Little Christmas". The decorations will start to come down tomorrow but it will take us a little bit to complete this monster task so you've still got time to see them if you'd like to get a quick getaway in to start the year. This has certainly been a fun holiday season here; we hope that yours was too.