Nø.2

Room with a view.

I can hardly believe our summer is almost coming to an end. Honestly, I am always about ready to move along to fall. It's been a wonderful summer at Riverside (my first long stay). We have had lots of company and a lot of new memories were made.

School starts in a little over a week. The hub and kid went back to Nashville yesterday. I stayed and am preparing (cleaning) the house in order to close her up. We'll be back in the fall, but I like to get most of the outside things put away. You never know who will come visiting (storms) while we're gone.

Can you believe it's August??!! Next thing you know, it'll be Christmas!

A View a Day Nø. 1

Perhaps this will make it easier for me to post.

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.

Riverside in Bloom

I've been doing this and doing that. Truly enjoying Riverside for the first time, appreciating the beauty like never before.

I've never had enough time to plant here. I'm normally only here for a mere week or two. It's been so wonderful. Kelly and Amy had saved some seed from a vine at Panini Pete's after I left several years' back.

I finally got the tiny seed planted. They popped up within a day!

Here is a couple of days' worth of sprouting. 

And then today, I transplanted them, only after a week or so. Fingers' crossed they survive!

Darlene found this little lady burying her eggs in her back yard. We had more spots, or so I thought, next to our house. Dar dug and dug, but nothing. I wanted baby turtles too!

 Dar's ducks.

My window box in the back yard seems to be doing better. Everything was in shock after I transplanted them.

Including the hibiscus. It really went down hill quick; but I'm happy to say, she looks good now.

 And here is a planting to remind me of Seymour, the snake Amy found in this spot several years back. Ew!

 My old ladder is filling out.

So, c'mon, walk this way. 

You're always welcome.

Hope this find you all well and enjoying the summertime.

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.

The Colors of Paris in Spring

Noooo, I'm not in Paris. You know I would have told you if I were going to Paris! These are photos from May of 2008 when the kid and I were visiting Raphael. As he says, "En Mai fait ce qu'il te plait" (In May, you do what you want). Which is exactly what we did. The teenager is, however, in Paris taking French courses for a month. Nothing like being immersed into the culture to learn a new language. Paris? Excusey-mwa.

Ahhhh, "shopping" in the Galleries Lafayette. When Raphael first told me we were staying very close to the Galleries, I thought he was talking about an art gallery.  I was quite pleased to find shopping galleries instead! The only shopping we did, however, was the purchase of this box of beautiful chocolates that looked more like pastels. They didn't last long.

Ahhhh, the main gallery was magnificent, to say the least. 

I pictured myself living in the corner penthouse in this building with marvelous views of the Eiffel Tower and the hustle bustle of Paris below. I think I could handle that, if I knew the language.

Ahhhh, springtime in Paris.

Vibrant colors surrounding your every turn.

And then there is Rennes in Brittany. This is where Raphael is from. It's absolutely beautiful, sigh.

And we will never forget Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy.

I can't wait for the teenager to see all of this, and more.

He even gets to stay with Raphael for a week after he is finished with his classes. This is going to be quite the experience for him!

I'm so proud.