Catching Up

Severe technical difficulties have prevented me from blogging for the past several days but I assure you that we're fine here on Amelia Island. Time to catch up on the view from my walks... We were a little bit below average temperature wise last week but it was still pleasant enough for the morning canine meetings.
It was quite pleasant again by the weekend and the farmers' market folks did very well if this attendance after it closed was any indication.
The warmth continued for some great shorts and shopping weather, the kind that we experience most of the year.
I recently found out that Mike and Sherri from the tobacco and guitar shop are taking over the bar next door that used to be Carolyn's. I'm told that they'll be running it as a pub, as opposed to overflow tobacco and guitar space so I'll let you know when it reopens.
And it's not a good week unless we had a great ladies group stay with us and this week was no exception with this group of friends who have stayed in contact since they were little girls in Gainesville. They're spread out around the country now but we had the good fortune of being their reunion spot this go 'round. It was a treat to have them with us.

More Clouds

But still no rain. And our temperatures are back to normal - in the upper 70's moving toward 80. Quite acceptable.

Not a Volcano

Just a cloudy sunset over an island in the Amelia River between us and the mainland.

Simple But Perfect

My friend Pam's porch has always been one of my favorites: nice door, pretty wreath, bright paint, comfortable rocker, potted plant. Just out of the frame to the left is a swing that's the icing in the porch. Love it.

Nice Day to Ride a Bike

Or a hog.

Arrrrrrrrrr

Him's keepin' an eye out - and a hand - for the trusty patrons of the Palace Saloon, the oldest operating bar in Florida. The likes of the Carnegies, the Rockefellers and friends have sat at this bar since the 1800's. Faith Hill even filmed a video here. Maybe he's waiting for her to come back.

We Treasure Our Trees

So much so that when it's time to put in a sidewalk or a road we'll just go around the tree. Good policy.

Ahhhh Dogwoods

Always one of my favorites.

Happy St. Patty's Day

Ghosts All Gone

This home is built on the site of what used to be the creepiest stop on the ghost tour for the carriage horses. I won't spoil the story for you (you'll have to take the carriage tour) but, suffice it to say, the horses were pretty antsy in front of this house or more accurately, the former house. When the antebellum property changed hands a couple of years ago the new owner wanted to make several changes to the house that - though a seriously debated sequence of events - caused the house to fail and it was lost. While the new house is quite lovely and has the same layout as the historic home, the ghosts are missing. The carriage horses can stand in front of it all day now without so much as a twitch. Just sayin'.

Crop O' Titleists

I love living in a place where people express their interests on their sleeves, or - in this case - on their porch. Or maybe it's just drought tolerant planting. Works for me either way.

She's a Beauty

As most of you blog "regulars" know, I'm a sucker for a pretty porch. It's pretty much all I can do to keep myself moving forward when I get into the Silk Stocking District here. Every house - and porch - is more magnificent than the last and it's a real treat to stroll through on a sunny day and take in the beauty and history. It's been said that - back in the 1800's - if you couldn't afford silk stockings, you couldn't afford to live there. I wonder what today's equivalent would be.

Gerhardt's Birdhouses

Gerhardt Thamm, local prominent citizen, actor, author and artist, allowed me to interrupt his quiet time on his back patio to steal a peek at his birdhouse collection. This isn't even half of it. He and his son have made all of these beauties. We've always known that he's led a very interesting life but he just keeps adding pages every day. He sure knows how to grab life.

A Fish Out of Water

Or a half fish out of water. I think that this mermaid has the right idea about life. May we all achieve "serenity now".

Mad Hatter Innkeepers

We're all getting ready for our Mad Hatter Tea Party and Tour of Inns on Saturday, May 9th - the day before Mothers Day. We had our monthly bed and breakfast association meeting today and decided to demo the tour idea. It should be lots of fun. We want to see lots of creativity in these hats: garden hats, red hat lady hats, homemade whatevers, Viking helmets, you name it... anything fun. I think we can all use a little bit of fun right now. Bring Mom out for the weekend, she'll love it.

Everybody's Irish...

...when it gets close to St. Patty's Day. These guys are in the window of Christmas on the River on Centre Street. I suppose we could start an Irish-themed Christmas tree at the inn. And why not; I'm seventy five percent Irish anyway. You'll just have to come to the Holiday Cookie Tour to find out if we put one up.

Chocolate Merger

Chocolate Soup, a pottery painting place in town, has been located in a little place on Third Street for the last couple of years. Just this month, they've moved in with the Suzi Snak and Stuff, a cacophony of new and old fashioned candy, snacks and lots o' chocolate. Painting pottery amid the aisles of the candy shop; what more could you ask for?

Outside Kinda Day

At sunny and 75, today was the day to compete for a seat on any restaurant patio for a very pleasant lunch. Or a leisurely drink. Or people watching on a bench. It was great. And much more of same predicted all week. Ahhhh.

Tired of These Yet?

I hope not because I don't think that I'll ever get my fill of island sunsets. Featured nightly - come on down.

Sea Oats

The sea oats keep the soil in place, which keeps the sand in place, which keeps the dunes in place which keeps the island in place in the event of flooding tides. Please don't pick the sea oats (or walk on the dunes).

Pelican Meeting

Only two dissenters. Motion carries. Tuesday meetings will resume in their prior location behind the Quit Wishin' Let's Go Fishin' charter boat.

New Fuel Pumps at the Marina

Now that's some pretty excitin' stuff right there! I'm sure that they're more energy efficient and cleaner, etc, but they look to me like they could probably dipense ice, cash and a can of Coke. I'll check when they're hooked up.

No Snow Here

Really not trying to rub it in but I just thought that all of you folks up north (even in Atlanta) might appreciate some clear skies and calming sunsets. Come on down - sunny skies are predicted all week. Our guests from Michigan and Canada are loving it.