1st Bike Ride of the Season

 

The sun was shining and that was all we needed to load up the bikes and hit the towpath!

We have an easy 10-mile round trip path we like to ride; well, it's easy mid-season. It takes a bit of adapting to sitting on a bike for that many miles the start of every season. Yes, I may have a comfy Cloud 9 seat on my bike, but it still hurt to stand up after 10 miles.

Spring is so beautiful! The grass so green, wildflowers along the path, with patches of daffodils that popped up randomly. 

The part of the towpath we ride for an easy 10-miles is lovely with a river on one side and a brook on the other. In the brook are trees that have fallen over peppered with turtles. It's really the cutest thing!! 

Many were gathered two by two resting against one another, while the others were lined up together. In one section there were at least 15 of all sizes. We always stop to admire them.

We also stop at a 1/2 way destination for ice cream! I say, you know your old when you see two small cones are $4.50 each and we chose to split a large cone (with just as much ice cream) for $6.50. Splitting a medium would be more than enough for us both. We go with frozen yogurt.

I love being in nature and I love biking. It's hours of great conversation, listening to the birds, appreciating nature, exercise together, and much needed vitamin D. 

He Thinks Of Me

 

Storm clouds were rolling in and I made a cup of coffee and went outside to sit on the front porch. I can hear the thunder in the distance, and I found it a perfect way to end my day.

Admiring my tulips in bloom I glance at the spot in the flower bed where flowers lived last summer from my grandson, Rowan. He thought of me at the store and insisted he buy me flowers. I was careful to point out all summer when he would come over how healthy and well, they were doing and how much I loved them.

Smiling at this memory, it hit me how much he thinks of me. 

On FaceTime calls when they were in Florida for 7-weeks, he took the phone and showed me all over the house and outside wanting to spend time talking. I love hearing his thoughts and what's important to his heart. 

He colored me this photo and brought it to me on Sunday.

When he was here on Sunday, as they were leaving, he looked and pointed that the flowers he had bought me are no longer there. I will find the same kind of flower and plant some this year, so he notices them every time he comes over.

I love him and I love so much that he thinks of me. 

He is such a handsome little boy! I love his adventurous spirit, his love of all things outdoors and pure boy behaviors, and I love his tenderness when Amelia was a newborn. His beautiful icy blue eyes and the way his face lights up when he is excited telling me something, and his quiet shyness when he's being shy around others and keeps close by my side. 

He's patient and never seems to mind when I kiss his sweet little cheeks and the top of his soft blond little head. 

He is such a joy, such a blessing! They all are. 

Grammy's Snack Shack

 

My memories of walking into my Mimi's house as a little girl was walking through the sliding glass doors, her in her chair telling us there's pop in the frig and cookies in the cookie jar. That metal cookie jar was always filled with some yummy cookies, we assumed was there just for us.

My grandbabies walk through the door and get swooped up with hugs and kisses and they go in three directions: up the stairs to the grandkids bedroom/playroom, pull out the bottom freezer drawer, or the pantry.

The bottom drawer freezer is ideal for grandbabies and honestly, I'd have it no other way. They know that there is a drawer inside the freezer full of treats for them! Ice cream bars, Uncrustables, sausage/pancake sticks, popsicles, ice cream, etc. They have ease of access to get to it and I love their beloved familiarity. 

Then, there is Grammy's Snack Shack nestled away in their own section of my pantry, is a basket filled with different kinds of treats, with the walls surrounding the basket covered with their artwork. 

I love their excitement and I love that they know where everything is, that they can help themselves.

Yes, when they arrive, they act like they haven't eaten all day, to which my daughter always swears they have. I laugh because I know all too well! 

I get so much joy finding something yummy I can put in their basket, excited to see their surprise. 

In my home, they get loads of snuggles and kisses, and sweets. 

It's the beauty of being a Grammy. 

Gorgeous Key West

 

The view was stunning as we flew over the many, many islands that make up the Florida Keys. Flying into Key West was ideal, we arrived sharing one suitcase and no need of a rental car. We were on island time.

Settled into our resort hotel, this photo was my first glimpse of the beach as we walked over the boardwalk. As I breathed in the air, I pulled out my phone to capture this most beautiful first look!

The sun was HOT! The smell of the ocean refreshing, the sound of the waves calming, and laying on that beach was the very moment I had dreamed of planning this vacation.

ALL of Key West is absolutely incredible! Rich in history, this very colorful and diverse southern tip of America, has a vibe all of its own. Truly on island time, slow down, eat, drink, soak up the sunshine, enjoy an excursion, dine outside on gorgeous patios and quaint outdoor restaurants, there is fresh seafood and fruity cocktail drinks to enjoy every direction you look.

We rode the trolley, a must do! There is no way of knowing all the history without riding around with a tour guide pointing and telling stories of its fabulous history. Plus, if you want to hop off, a trolley comes by every 15 minutes. It's a great form of transportation. 

We chose a catamaran Sunset Cruise with live music, open bar, and passed hors d'oeuvres. It made for a lovely evening being on water and as the sun dropped within minutes there were shouts of applause. Well done, God! 

Key Lime every day!! Frozen chocolate covered key lime pie on a stick, Strawberry key lime pie, key lime cookies, key lime sorbet, key lime cocktails, key lime jelly, and key lime white chocolate bars. I was in key lime heaven!

It's beautiful seeing all the boats and fishing boats in the water. Seafood is such big business and we ate and enjoyed food every day. Not seafood, but the Fried Avocado Street Taco photo below was sensational!!  

Smoked Fish Dip is a popular appetizer eaten with fresh veggies and breads. So delicious!! Crab dip, clam chowder, corn chowder, cocoanut shrimp, mahi mahi, fish tacos, conch fritters, fried plantains, we grazed all day. 

Imagine, my joy, when I heard someone share that the author Judy Blume of the very book's I read in my youth lives on the island, owns a bookstore on the island, and works every day!! It felt like Christmas morning as we walked into her bookstore and there, she was putting books away on a shelf. If you didn't know, you'd never know. The whole scene was so ordinary, she is in her late 80's, dressed very understated, and nothing there tells you it's her store. I selected one of her adult books, spoke with her for a moment and got her autograph. At one point, I know I had happy tears in my eyes. 

Sunshine and 80's, gorgeous beach, that iconic Southernmost Point, fabulous restaurants, live music everywhere, rich in history, and incredible Duval Street. 

Margaritaville Beach Resort had all the Jimmy Buffet vibes and yes, we absolutely ate a cheeseburger in paradise!! 

Until next time Key West, much love!

Eye of the Tiger

 

I had Amelia for the afternoon when she took her first climb to stairs! I believe it all began at swim lessons earlier that day when one of the tasks was to learn to crawl out of the pool in an Army crawl fashion. She took her skills and applied them to the stairs.

At first, I watched to see what she would do on the 2nd step. Then, I got behind her so she wouldn't fall back. When she made it 1/2 way up the steps, I started to videotape her to send to her mommy & daddy.

As she got close to the top, Papa David, was cheering her on!!

"Good girl! A little further! Come on sugar! Almost there! Don't give up! Don't give up! Almost up! [friendly growl] Eye of the tiger!! Eye of the tiger! Finish up strong! Finish up strong! YES! You did it!" He swoops her up, holds her in the air and kisses her cheek.

Brooke & Alex arrived minutes after and when I told her she just climbed the stairs, Brooke said, "No she didn't." I proudly shared she did AND we have a video!

Left attended grandchildren will be loved, spoiled, and quite possibly taught new tricks!  

And Then There Were Four

 

Mariah and I were having a Momma + Daughter date night in a cozy cafe, both of us drinking Honeybush tea with extra honey, when she bent down and held up the sweetest little onesie...

And then there were four 

There are such special moments of realization forever etched in life where your brain registers that life is about to significantly change, that immediately triggers your heart, that goes straight to happy tears, all in less than 2 seconds! My sweet girl is pregnant!!

To tell the kids, they did a photo shoot on the beach in Florida. Here they are holding up the ultrasound photos. What a wonderful moment and I so love that the kids are running towards them. They Face Timed me from the beach, I wanted them to be able to tell me, too, "mOmMy'S gOinG tO hAvE a bAbY!"

How blessed I am with extraordinary grandchildren! My Sofia is 6 years old, Rowan is 4 years, Claire is 2 years, Amelia (Brooke's) is 1 year old, and another one arriving in October. Each so unique with different personalities and wonderful qualities. 

Sofia with her brown hair and brown eyes and the mini-me of her momma, is so sweet, so funny, incredibly loving, smart as can be, nurturing, and feels emotions so deeply. I love conversations with her. 

Rowan is all boy!! Frog holding, arrow shooting, chicken chasing, working with his daddy and building things. I love to hear him talk and I smile when he shares stories with me. He's the one who sticks close by me at all times with snuggles. 

Claire, looking like an angel with icy blue eyes, blond hair, and kissable lips, the quiet one, is matter of fact, unapologetically herself! If she did it, she claims it! She's funny and doesn't take anything off her older siblings. 

Amelia is cute as a button, fabulous smile, on the go on the verge of walking, independent, with bright blue eyes, bows in her thick head of hair, 50% Brooke/50% Alex, crazy over the moon over Papa (my dad), loves to clap, laugh, and a little fish in water. 

It is indescribable how wonderful my little descendants are to my soul, and another is on the way!

Thank you, Lord! 

Hello March

 

Did I just blink through winter and see daffodils starting to bloom? This January and February were quite possibly the fastest winter months on record. Hello March!

Ahh, it's almost vacation and we are looking forward to the changes in latitudes and changes in attitudes in beautiful Key West! 

We got the sweetest compliment from my Mariah. She is at a training in Florida and her instructor was talking about a 60-year old woman in fabulous shape, when Mariah pulled a photo on her phone of David and I on the beach last year. David is 61 with a rock hard 6 pack stomach and me, well, I'm still able to pull off bikini's at going on 54 years old. That said, guess who is knows a beach vacation is approaching? This girl!!! 

Nothing says Keto, intermittent fasting, lots of water, and exercise like a beach vacation. 

We are Carribean Life (tv show) junkies in winter months. My husband wants to buy a house in the Carribean when we officially retire for a snowbird lifestyle. Me, the thought of constant sunshine, outdoor adventures, fresh seafood and fruit sounds divine. 

In the meantime, I am working on a base tan so I can spend my days in sunny Key West.

I got my toes in the water, a~~ in the sand

Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand

Life is good today

Life is good today