
always in our minds and hearts.
Christmas was pool side and on the tennis court... very non-traditional! But Santa still found us. Thanks to all our family and friends who sent cards and gifts... especially the edible ones! Sampson loved his "Elmo Replacement" Auntie Wee. Dogs do smile!
We picked her up at the Punta Gorda airport Wednesday afternoon and headed straight to the beach to get some sand in our toes. The birds put on a show just for Kate and sunset was on time and spectacular. Dinner at McCabe's Irish Pub off 5th Street (I "procured" a supply of monogrammed cocktail napkins for you, Tim). So good to have her here. She slept 12 hours for the past 2 nights. Poor working girl is all worn out. Muma Luv will take care of that.
We need a bumper sicker on our van that says "We stop for Rainbows..." Big double above the Sanabel Captiva Causeway... Connie gets wicked excited....



Art and Carol invited us up for dinner and a boat ride. I had no idea that Art was into boating in such a "BIG" way. Who knew? We had a great day and can't thank them enough for the wonderful hospitality.
Sunset at Clam Pass. 85 degrees. We hear from family and friends that Maine got socked! And this morning it was 1 degree in Skowhegan. December is a tough month in many ways, but being in this warm and healing place makes it much easier.
Coincidences? Ya think....?
Nice trip down the East coast of Florida with stops in Jekyl Island, Amelia Island and Saint Augustine. Saint Augustine was charming, all decorated for Christmas. Felt very old world. Took the back roads to Naples through Florida farm country. Reminded us of Belize... especially the prison complex and the orange trees.
Found a wonderful place in Naples, called Unity Church. Very embracing. Wonderful music, overlooking a pond, butterflies, flowers... a really peaceful place. It made us think of what Christmas has become in our materialistic society and of what it is really supposed to be about. We hope our friends and family can find the joy of the season and avoid the frenzied rush.
Starting to pack up and disengage from this beautiful spot. If this month on Saint Simons Island is in any way a foretelling of what is to come, we can't wait. It has been relaxing, refreshing and revealing. ( how's that for alliteration Katie, my English major daughter...)



Delightful evening with new friends Jay and Mimi. Shrimp parmigiana gumbo (wow...) at Jay's (awesome beach house) with Scott and Dianne. Sam and Lu enjoyed Shorty, a dachshund, hound mix.
65 degrees and mild winds on Thursday afternoon. East Beach was busy with activity. Families walking off the turkey and sweet "pahtaaytas", lots of dogs of every kind (even another Malteese... General Lee was his name. He was really attracted to Lulu. Sam was having none of that...), football games, elaborate kites.
by glen:
So, when I showed up back at home with a bucket full of Sea Trout fillets, I was a little disappointed that Connie refused to let me cook them in the house. (smart girl...). But there's more than one way to skin a cat (fish). I set up my small camping stove on the back deck, Connie cooked up some rice and we had a "Cajin fish fry" (Steve says the secret is in the coating and "Golden Dipt" is the best... he was right!) Wicked good!
"Fresh, steamed oysters... wild-caught shrimp and coastal fare from leading Golden Isles restaurants... a Low Country Boil". That's what the poster advertising the benefit event for the St. Simons Island Land Trust promised.
by Connie:
by glen:
Went with Glen to have the oil changed and made friends with a couple guys who just "luuuuved us all to pieces". They must have "luuuved" Glen too, but he was acting pretty uncomfortable. Especially when they invited him to come over to hot tub with them. 


That'll do..
Sam & Lu

Here we go again... I am having a very tough time keeping track of my water dish these days.
Everything else in the house was given away, thrown away or moved to the storage unit. (They like their "second home" as they call it; actually put pictures on the walls and hung wind chimes. Connie and Glen are a couple of crazy chickens. Well, you'll see...)