Beach Babies

It brings such joy to my heart to watch Tatiana and Matilda Mae on the Beach!

Another Childhood Myrtle Beach Story

I have to go back a couple of days and talk about "Oliver's Lodge". This is a place (an old house) in Murell's Inlet where as a small child my Daddy would take us to eat. It began in 1910 as a boarding house with family style meals for the shrimpers and has survived all these years to become a legend. As a child we would make the trek all the down to in inlet (I always dreaded this as it took time away from the beach) AND I did not eat fish! But they have THE best hushpuppies in the entire world. The story is that from the first time (1955) we went to Oliver's Lodge is (according to my Mother) that I would eat all the hush puppies and then ask for more. By the time we left, I had my little pocket book full of these delicious hush puppies!!!! As we went back many years I learned to love seafood and I finally got to return and take Kenny. My surprise was the Will Allverez (my wonderful guitar player had made reservations and had a gift certificate for Kenny and I for my birthday. We enjoyed the meal (the best) and I enjoyed going back in time when Mother and Daddy and I (and Sugar too, the dog) would wait under the live oak trees with the hanging moss for 2 hours to get in. It's funny how something as child you thought interuputed your life has become one of your favorite memories. Just goes to show never let go of all the good times. PS> I did not fill my purse with hush puppies but we ate every one of them......

The Best of My Day

Everything and being 57!!!!!

Matilda says you are not getting this ball!

Our new clothes!!

The Pork Chop Dinner

Can you believe this!!!!!!

My 57th Birthday

I don't know where to even to begin - every day this week has been a birthday! But this morning I woke up to the sound of the ocean waves and puppy dog kisses and my soul mate and true love, Kenny. We had tea on the balcony and birthday cards and presents. So our day began by going to the Flea Market - yes, the Flea Market because our neighbor here had told us about a shop that had the cutest doggie vests so you KNOW we had to get Tatiana and Matilda one (pink hearts) and they are darling! You attach their leash to it and they are great. Then we went to the Italian Irish Festival in North Myrtle Beach and had some good food but it was hot so we decided to leave. Kenny took me shopping at the Tangor Outlet Mall for my birthday - he had me a great black leather bag this morning. I got 4 pairs of shoes (don't you love that!) and another great bag fron Wilson Leather - one of my favorite stores. We actually got Kenny 2 pairs of shoes last night and some Crocs today at the Flea Market. I finally got him in a pair of Crocs and he loves them! We were very tired so came back and took the babies back to the beach about 6 pm - it it so nice and really cooling down. We threw the ball and they ran and ran in their little pink suits! We came back up and got ready for my Birthday Dinner. We went to Emberto's in Liver River - what a great place! A four course dinner and the pork chops are unblieveable - we brought most of them home for tomorrow and maybe the next day! It was a wonderful romantic dinner on the water - a perfect ending to a perfect day and week. We are back now listening to the ocean again and I do have my leg elevated - my left leg has been swollen all week and we are not sure why. We are going to have a "beach day" tomorrow for our last full day here in Myrtle Beach. I have counted my blessings more than once today and I keep adding to the list. It has been a wonderful birthday!

Young at Heart

Everyone should do this on their 57th Birthday!!!!!

Myrtle Beach, SC

A WHOLE day at the beach

I did something I have not since I was in high school - now now, don't go thinking like that! I went swimming in the ocean and stayed on the beach all day! Kenny and took loungers and umbrella's and puppy's and set up camp on the beach! It took some time for Kenny to get the umbrella to stick in the sand and not blow away but he finally got it. We settled down with books and sun screen! I had the long leashes for the babies and we walked them and ran through the water. The water feels like a bathtub! They are having the time of their life and they could definitely be "beach babies". Kenny got Matilda's big purple ball and she tried to chase it but the wind was blowing it faster than any of us could run. We just sat and read and people watched and walked and chased sea gulls. I actually went in the ocean and swam around a bit and it was nice. Then later I watched the babies while Kenny went in for a dip. We stayed until late afternoon, came up and took a shower. That's when we noticed we didn't cover ALL over with the sun screen. We both have some sunburn (not bad) on parts of our body. We hung out here then drove to Little River for dinner on the deck of Crab Catchers. It was nice and good food. Came back and watched some TV - we were both worn out from the day at the beach but it was just wonderful.

Best of My Day: Feeling like a kid again riding the waves!!

Vacation

Ah, the view from the Balcony. It is wonderful and we are starting to really relax. It was pretty hot yesterday so we decided to drive into Myrtle Beach and go "exploring". I had to drive by where they tore down the Pavillion on the Grand Strand. This was a very important childhood memory and it was kinda sad to see an empty lot. The amusement park where my mother and daddy and me with Sugar (our dog) rode the ferris wheel in 1955 and Sugar peed on mother's lap! Can you believe they let a dog ride the ferris wheel? Ah, the good ole days where dogs could go anywhere. As I grew up at the Pavillion which was also THE place to hang out. Real Live Music where you could go in and see the show at 14 years old! Of course, no booze but you felt really grown up. The snow cones, skee ball and baseball flipper machines for 10 cents! But Eureka, one place still remains - Peaches Corner with the best footlong hotdogs in the world! You would spend all day on the beach - get really hungry and run up in your bathing suit and get a hotdog! Kenny and I got a table right on the boardwalk - well, we were the only customers there - and ordered our dog and onion rings! I even called my Mother and told here where we where! They were great and I could close my eyes and picture my childhood again. A very lovely thought. So, here we are with our "Dogs" . I can't get my pictures to go where I want them too - Dang.... Anyway, the condo is wonderful and Tatiana found her "Peek - Boo - Hole and she can watch the beach and bark at all the people. She doesn't want to share her hole with Matilda! After we drove the Grand Strand we headed back home and stopped at the Outlet Malls. I got to pick out one B/D present and we got Kenny at new belt. On to the grocery and bought shrimp for our dinner. We are enjoying the tomato's soooo much that Mother got us. Came home for Tea Time and Mother's Coconut Cake - Yum... Walk on the beach then make dinner of boiled shrimp and salad -double Yum. Watched a little TV then at Midnight we took the beach chairs down to the beach to sit. The moon is almost full - I think tonight it will be - No one on the beach but us and Tatiana and Matilda had a ball! Ran and Ran and dug holes in the sand - rolled on their backs -all this after I had brushed and fixed their hair! It was such a joy to watch them. Then Kenny was trying to fix my beach chair and dumped me on the ground!!! It is such a wonder to sit and watch the ocean at night and powerful. There is such a serenity about it and this is what we needed. I feel all the stress draining from my body. Today it's a stay at home on the beach day and take a book on the beach! See ya tomorrow!

Best of My Day: Eating a footlong hotdog at the same place I ate my first one in 1955!!! And watching Tatiana and Matilda run free on the beach at Midnight.

Myrtle Beach South Carolina

After a great weekend at Beluga (Saturday night Birthday Celebration) we went to Mother and Daddy's yesterday and had a Another Birthday Celebration on Sunday night. See, my birthday is sept 29th and Mother's is Oct 1st. Only one day between - Poor Daddy! She had a wonderful dinner of Filet, Smashed Baked Potatoes, Asapargus Casserole and the best sliced tomato salad and bread. I could not eat even half of my steak it was so big. Now, Mr. KT ate everything!! Then she had me a coconut cake with "57" on it! It was SOOOO good. We had such a wonderful evening and my Aunt Ben came over too. Mother and I had presents which is always fun except my card said "Do Not Open until Sept. 29th"!!! HA - I know there is money in there! My Daddy felt so good and that makes my heart sing and he did go back to the Doc this morning and he told him the MRI showed everything was fine and he would see him in 4 months. Thank you God... I got a good night sleep finally and up and ready to get on the road at 8:30! Of course, I was the only one up! Kenny had eggs and my left over "Fillet" for breakfast! We got on the road about 10:30 (after a stop at Burger King for me (Ham Crossiant) - I have to up a few hours before I can eat! It was a nice trip and only took about 4 hours. We arrived and the condo is great. But the greatest part is the balconey overlooking the ocean - we have the door open and listening to the waves right now! Great breeze and very comfortable. We're on the 3rd floor and no elevator but that's ok because the view is worth it. We took the girls on the beach and they are going to love this trip! We went to a local grocery and got a few things. I forget to say mother went up to Beechwood Farms and got us a 25 lb box of tomatos! We had BLT's tonight and yum yum. Another walk on the Beach and tomorrow will be the first real whole day of vacation! Will post pics later but for now - WE'RE ON THE BEACH!!!!!!

Wonderful Tomato Salad

Thick Slice Tomato - Beef Steak are the best
Layer slice red onions
Feta Cheese (with tomato and basil is good)
Top with sliced Black Olived
Drizzle Dressing of Olive Oil, Red Wine Vinegar and Oregano

Best of My Day: First sight of the ocean!!!

Bath Day

Now we're ready for the beach!!!!!!!

4 more days!!!!u

I started packing today - of course!! I'll probably repack several times and take too much - I always do. And I actually starting cleaning out my "stage clothes" closet and discarding old outfits. I've been needing to do this for a long time. It's still too warm really get out winter clothes but a few fall ones need to come out now. It was another beautiful day and the girls chased birds and a little squirel the back yard. I'm still tired from the cold and still taking meds. Tomorrow it's back to Physical Therapy and get the van washed and cleaned up. The girls know something is up because I'm packing too early to go to Columbus! That's about all the news so bye-bye......

Best of my Day: Fried chicken, rice and gravey, english peas and the LAST wonderful tastey tomato from my garden!

Eight Week Check-up

I saw Dr. Ansari today and he says I'm doing great but not done! Six to eight more weeks of physical therapy and still no painting until 12 weeks post-op. That's 4 more weeks and that is driving me crazy! I can paint flat on a table and I've done a few cigar boxes but really wanting to get back to canvas. I've come this far so I don't want to mess it up. In the meantime I'm getting over my cold but it was a hard weekend. I worked really hard and over sang so I can't talk today! But we're so happy this week that nothing will bring us down. Kenny and I and Matilda Mae and Tatiana are leaving on Sunday for that much needed vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC. First, on Sunday to Greeenville to my Mom and Dad's (we will be celebrating mine and mother's birthday) then leave their house on Monday. I can't wait just to get there and sit on that balcony and hear the waves! We have NO plans - just relax and walk on the beach and relax - did I say that already! The good news here in Atlanta is our low temps tonight are going to 55 degree's. About time! It's still in the 80's in the day time but fall is coming around at last. I thought August would never end and then it took half of September to cool down too! I've got a lot to do this week and back to physical therapy on Wednesday but we're counting down the days! Yeah!!!!

Best of my Day: Finding a really "Softie" nightgown with a $40 price tag on it and got it for $3.58 from Goodwill!!!! Packing it for the beach!

Oh Boy

Just when my arm feels like I can do something I get a sinus infection and bronchitis! Went to the Doctor today and now on anti-biotics and congestion meds. I at least got some really good cough syrup because after I sing this weekend I'll need it. I've been pretty miserable this week but at least I have another to get over this before we leave for vacation. I was so tired after getting back from the Doc so Kenny went and got my meds and chinese food. The wonton soup was so good and just what I needed. And Tatiana and Matilda just think we live in the big bed now. Between the surgery and now the cold it seems like I've been in bed all summer. The good news is that it is cooler and we are suposed to get lots of rain tomorrow - yeah. There is another storm in the Atlantic so I do hope it doesn't hit Myrtle Beach while we are there!! Kenny and I and the girls really need this vacation bad. It's been a hell of a year and I'm ready for it. My Dad feels much better and I'm grateful for that too. He goes back to the Doc next Monday and we will see what he has to say. Daddy says he won't do surgery but I just have to wait and see what they recommend before we deal with that. Kenny is working on a good case which we need because we also need a newer van. I just hope "Rudolph" will take us on vacation without breaking down. I'm looking forward to the cooler weather this weekend and hope the meds kick in so I won't feel like shit. I gotta work both nights so I probably won't even have a voice left when it's over. It's xanax time and hopefully some good sleep tonight.

Best of My Day: Playing with Tatiana and Matilda Mae under the sheets! They love that.....

Not allergy but a BAD Cold

I don't think this is allergy - just a late summer cold - the worst kind! I am miserable but at the housekeepers came so the house is clean and I got all the laundry done. Make a wonderful Cream of Mushroom Soup tonight and that made me feel better. And I did paint a little on some boxes today so it wasn't a total loss. It's suposed to get cooler here by the weekend so I'm looking forward to that. Now, I've got PT Wednesday and Friday and a regular Doctor appt. on Thursday so there goes my week! I can get through anything the next two weeks knowing we are going on vacation AND it will be my 57h birthday! Yeah....I just love birthdays because it's your very own special day. Now, I just Kenny doesn't get this cold too. I'm going to try and get as much rest as possible because I know that is what it really takes to get over it. So, I'm going to lie back in bed and read my murder mystery!!

Best of My Day: A clean house and I didn't have to do it!!!!

Allergy or Bad Cold?

I don't know which one it is by I am miserable. My head stopped up today and wow - it hit me like a ton of bricks. I actually went to bed at 7:30 PM and have slept until now - 12:30 am - I hope I can go back to sleep tonight. We had a nice weekend in Columbus at Belloo's and had fun cooking with the guys at the "Compound". We have the new private fence up (with barbed wire) hence "The Compound" and it feels much safer now. And I love the deck on the cottage. Several of us "girls" celebrated our birthdays this weekend and it was fun. I got some lovely gifts and girly stuff to take on our vacation. Speaking of, we will be hearing the ocean from our balcony two weeks from tonight - oh, it is going to be soooooo nice. Kenny and I are long overdue for this kind of rest and I know the girls will enjoy it too. Another milestone this weekend - I performed for the first time without my sling - YEAH - WHOOPEE - I really feel like I am healing even though it still hurts and I have several more weeks of Physical Therapy. I just have to be careful and keep up the excersises. And after we get back from vacation I plan to jump back into my artwork. I haven't painted all summer and I'm so ready to "create". I'm going to try and get more sleep now - thank god for xanax! The great pic is Kenny and Brock (Pat's son in Columbus).

Physical Therapy - All Better!

OK, so I went to PT and they said I just over used my arm - no damage and I actually felt better when I left. I just still have to go really slow. I did get some errands done today and got Birthday Gifts for friends in Columbus. I made 3 File Envelopes last night - haven't made those in a few years and almost forgot how! I got my "Fall" fingernail polish and I'm loving it - now if the weather will just co-operate. I also made a huge casserole for all the guys in the band and packed for Columbus. I am really starting to count down the days until we leave for Myrtle Beach! And good news today, my Daddy is better and had a cat scan today. He goes back to the Doc in a couple of weeks. That makes me feel a lot better. I still hope I can get up there for a couple of days next week. Mother mailed me the newspaper article but I haven't gotten it yet and I can't post it because it's a PDF file and I don't know how to do it! Well, it's off to Columbus and play at Belloo's this weekend.....

Best of My Day - Finding a great pair of Brand New Shoes from Nine West at Goodwill for $4.87! Great platform high heels in Brown Patten Leather - this is for Christy!!!! Actually I think Christy is the only one who reads this anyway!!! I love ya....

When will the pain go away!!!!

I know my shoulder is better and all I did was sew a little today and boy does it hurt now. I just put some ice on it and took a motrin. Oh, I did bathe and groom the girls yesterday. Oh well, it's back to physical therapy tomorrow so maybe it will feel better after that. We had a nice Labor Day weekend but a boring week so far. I feel like I've been bored all summer. And it's also depressing not being able to do things. The good thing is we're three weeks away from vacation - Myrtle Beach here we come. I made the girls some very long leashes today for the beach. We have to keep little Miss Matilda on one because she will run far far away! My Dad is having some health problems and of course I'm worried about him. They are doing a cat scan tomorow and he feels a little better. I'm going to try and go up next week even if it's just overnight. It scares me so bad to realize my Daddy is 94 years old. I really want him to live to be 100!!! My Mother takes such good care of him and she is almost 83 so that is amazing. I guess I'm just having a little pity party right now but I'll bounce back soon I hope.

Best of My Day: Making File Envelopes for my three friends Birthdays. Even though it hurt I have not sewed in a long time and I enjoyed it.