Sing Me a Song, Steve Earle, Steve Earle

Thank goodness, I was paying attention. If I had blinked, we woulda missed it. We only had three-days' notice!

Horrid photos--haven't quite figured out the new Sony for live-music shots. 

Obviously.

Despite the faux pas with my little camera, I'm feeling pretty good about hearing and seeing the man play live. I think Jack White has something when he says to leave your cameras and phones at home. Fiddling about with technology definitely takes away from the show. Oh well. Will continue to bring my camera if I'm allowed. It's in the blood. Still, it irks me that I didn't get one good shot. 

 I'm not so happy about seeing this guy showing up at Riverside's front door either. 

Ugh.

Labels: Alabama, Cameras, Hurricanes, Music, Riverside

Lantana

Ahhhhh, summatime.

Labels: Alabama, Flowers, Riverside

When the Living's Easy

First, allow me to apologize for the span of my absence. When you're surrounded by such beauty, the last thing you want to be doing is sitting at the computer. Am I right?

We have been celebrating life and enjoying one another, friends and family alike. It has now quieted down for a bit until our next wave; so the hub and I are practicing as "empty nesters" for the first time. We're playing house once more.

The teenager was able to come down south for July 4th after his big move back to Washington, DC just after graduation. Such an exciting time for him. You remember getting out of school and looking for your "real" first job, your first apartment? I think back to that time as one of my favorite memories "growing up." Roughing it--apartment poor--for that first year or so. I wouldn't change a thing. Anyhoo, we're as proud as punch. He has a place on Capitol Hill and is actually looking into an internship up there. Well, it's up to his generation to get the ball rolling with some positive changes in this country. More power to him. I'm so proud. And then he goes and finds a job as a waiter on weekends at a restaurant around the corner from his apartment. Whaaa? The kid has never worked in a restaurant in all his short years. So proud. Did I say that already? He's hanging a lot with my brother Jim, which gives me great joy and also turns me green with ENVY! Miss my brutha. But he and Jacq are coming down soon. Yay!!! Love my Jacq--and my brother! Cannot wait.

 

The kid is SO enjoying being out of high school. Again, I remember that feeling SO well, as if it were yesterday. FREEDOM! He's been back and forth to Riverside, all adult like. My baby is growing up. Sniffle. Well good for him. Much like me, he doesn't open up to many people. All of a sudden, he has a great group of friends. That brings a smile to my face.

The hub is in heaven. His "office" is a great spot under the house where he conducts his business and does his studies most of the day. Can it get any better? He deserves it. He's worked hard during his career. Now, he is getting the respect he has always deserved. My hero. So proud of all my men.

Riverside is as lovely as ever. Such a happy house.  It exudes happiness and love. She has given a lot wonderful memories to so many folks over the years, especially our little unit. 

We have been enjoying friends visiting and spending time with our riversorry friends and neighbors who are here all year round. It doesn't take me long to get into riversorry mode, believe me.

Dean and Darlene took us for an early-morning "breakfast" cruise out to Weeks Bay Sunday. It was absolutely breathtaking. Besides having breakfast, we were on a mission to see dolphin. And we did! There was a pod of at least four very large adults and three or more youngins. The little ones would stick their tails straight out of the water and then spiral downwards. It was precious to watch--until a group of about five or six kayaks and canoes tried to get right up on them. Poor boo's.

Ahhhhhh summertime. Hope some wonderful summer memories are being made in your neck of the woods. 

Cheers!

Labels:  Alabama, Brother Jim, Darlene, Hub, Jacq, Kid, Riverside, Weeks Bay

Good Food, Good Drink, Good Friends, Good Love

 Cheers to dirty dishes in the sink!

And fries fried in duck fat at Hopjack's in Pensacola. Uh huh, ya wonder why I've gained over 5 pounds since arriving at Riverside in May? Read on, my friends.

What's better than cooking up some syrupy sweetness with local blueberries, a little butta and Gran Gala? Only the waffles you pour it over!

Opened the deep freeze and found a skull staring back at me. And . . . on top of some Gulf shrimp and beside Petron. Goodness!

 Friends over for a delish LA Boil. Mmmmmm.

Another trip to Pensacola for lunch at McGuire's, a must if you're in the area.

Not that I quite know what a New Orleans Sno-Ball is, but they are the shaved-ice variety (rather than the crunchy crushed ice) --and good.

Oooopsy, the last of the Gosling's. Hard to find in these parts. Guess a trip back to Bermuda is in order?

Of course, a trip to the Fish River grill is always in order.

Oooopsy, the last of the BB Stoli. Great with lemonade. 

Mom's green beans, cooked for hours. Even made her creamed corn. Stick a fork in me and call me done!

But, then there's the jaunt to Mississippi that found us at Mary Mahoney's with Mississippi Mud Pie and MM's goodness in a bowl. No, it's not grits and gravy. That be bread pudding with whiskey sauce! Bring it on baby! "More?" you say.

Oh yes, of course there is. One must never miss a chocolate merengue pie from Sweetie Pies in Gulf Shores. Well, someone couldn't wait, obviously! Reminds me of my dad with a spoon. There was always a piece of something missing whatever was being served. When it was, whatever it was, put out for everyone else to enjoy, there'd be a big ol' hunk taken out! Poor mom. ha!

The sweetest local watermelon you'll ever sink your teeth into, right here.

And the last frozen glass of the best margarita made North of the Rio Grande (and thus no more Petron). Thank YOU N&P! I think some shopping at the local ABC store is in order before the next batch of friends arrive!)

Local wild brown Gulf shrimp with my "Key West" recipe.  

Marinate in orange and lime juice--grill with orange marmelade, butter and some spices.) Voila! More great-googly moogly deliciousness!

 Clams? Why yes--several varieties, in fact.

 A special white wine broth for those babies? Sure, don't mind if I do, says Dean.

 Salad by Dar. LuLu has nothing, I mean nothing, over Dar!

A drive into Mobile for ribs and Q at the Brick Pit. I can see why Man vs. Food tried it out! PS Banana Pudding--TO DIE FOR! (Sorry momma.)

And a new fave from TX. Mr. Parker brought this bottle down from Nashvegas to try, knowing I'm a vodka-drinking-fool at times. He--the afore-mentioned friend--turned into Riverside's resident bartender for the weekend of the 4th. Holy moly, great memories. Those I can remember anyhows.

What's next??? More poundage, I'm sure.
More fun, oh yea.
More love??? You BETCHYA!

You only live once, maybe.

Why not make it a good one.

Father's Day at The Grand Hotel

We took the hub to the Grand Hotel (the Marriott) in Point Clear for brunch. The food was fabo, but ya know what? The place is like a fortress. We pulled up to the "guard house" (I'm serious) and told "the guard"we were going to the brunch; and he told us we had to turn around and park across the street--I suppose only hotel guests can park close. He did say that he would send a "shuttle" (golf cart) to pick us up. Well, it was hot, as it is down south in the summertime, duh; and rather than waiting, we just walked over to the main building. 

Yea, this is about how we looked by the time we got there. Ooooof. Even after we got seated, the waitress was less-than-enthusiastic about waiting on us. Ugh. I so hate that.

So, needless to say, it was the first and probably last time we'll go there. I am so unimpressed with pretentiousness.  

Regardless,  I think the hub had a very nice Father's Day. We love him so.

Yesterday and Today

Boo boo central. (don't look below if you're squeamish)

Yep, that be my knee.  {small rant ON}  And it's all because of Walmart.  I despise Walmart.  I avoid Walmart like the plague.  Of course, I have been in them.  Several times, in fact.  But between yesterday and today, I've hit four in total. {small rant OFF} Hmmmmm.  Why does my blood look so pink?  Wonder if that's a good thing or a bad thing.  Will have to Google it.

Ok, the reason why we had to hit so many Walmart's is this thing.  A dehumidifier.  I scanned Consumer Reports to see which was best for our "problem."  I may, or may not, have mentioned it; but we had a leak back in May from a water filter in the infamous kitchen.  We were lucky enough to catch it early on, but we still  lost about 8 square feet of ceiling/dry wall in mom's kitchen below.  Long story short, I think we may have some mold.  I began wondering if this could be the cause of my recent horrific allergies.  Consumer Reports rated this model high.  Problem was, it is only sold at Walmarts'.  And only some Walmart's.  The above wound came from parking lot No. 3 @Walmart.  Evil grin.

 

Some good did come from it.  We found a wonderful bbq joint.  Not really a joint, per se, it was really very nice. 

 JimnNicks.   

They have places in both Tennessee and Alabama.  So, aren't we lucky?

 The hub's platter!

 And then my, sniffle, smoked turkey samwhich.  But, it was wonderful in all honesty.

Then home to some wonderful afternoon thunder storms (which I will miss if we move).  I played around a little in the kitchen. 

I'm thinking the air is already a tiny bit better.  Fingers' crossed.