Home from Surfside

Lydia and I have said goodbye to Surfside and are on the way home.  Hello Mr. Austin.

On the way down, we decided that the return trip would take away our Buc-ee's virginity.  Yep, that's right.  Neither of us have been to one yet.  Today is the day.

We take the Madisonville exit and voila -- it's right there.  In we go.  Oh, it's lunch time too.

First things first.  I've heard they have the cleanest restrooms and it's true along with them being super huge, but what I hadn't been told was about all the pictures lining the walls as you enter and the cute signs right before the turn.  I adore these.

We decide to go our separate ways and as Lydia heads to the grocery end of the store, I go the other way.  I'm checking it all out as quick as I can and know I am missing a ton, but a few things do manage to catch my eye and are deemed picture worthy.

These signs may show up in future emails for group posts.

Surfside Beach Retreat #2

We are now in the second half of day 7 and our numbers are increasing again.

Our first-timer, Gilley has joined in and is followed up by a carload of four more.

I love that before they have barely arrived, Stephanie is heading for the beach to get her feet in the water.  YES!  Setting up can always happen, but we're at the BEACH!

There is a group of tweeners heading out for their afternoon walk and as I watch from the deck, Stephanie just joins right in -- padding around with her shoes in her hand.

A Day At The Beach - Clue 3

Hello there!  Week 3 is upon us and you will find that it's almost a repeat of last week.  Yep - more Birds in the Air variation units.  Same bat channel, different bat colors.  I didn't time the cutting part of this, but started sewing the entire clue at around noon and was totally finished by 3 and that included photographing and writing as I went.  You've got this!

AS ALWAYS:  PLEASE READ ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CLUE BEFORE STARTING.

To start:  Cut 32 - 2 1/2" squares from EACH of colors 4 and 5 (medium and dark blue)

Surfside Beach Retreat - Tweeners

It is day 5 at Surfside and some of the Group 1 people have left.  Two more are leaving tomorrow morning so we still have a full house, but it's much more laid back.  No one is racing around preparing meals and play is all around.  At one point, I am talking to Debi in the kitchen and I walk into my room for a split second and return to an empty kitchen.  After asking all around the room as to whether she went outside, no one claims to have seen her.  I start walking back towards my room and hear this faint knock.  Okaaaay.  It happens again and I stealthily follow it.  I'm sure to anyone else this would have looked super crazy but no one was paying any attention at all.  Finally, I come to a stop outside the pantry door and open it.  There she stands with her finger to her mouth going, "Shhhh."  I'm trying so hard not to laugh but I close the door and go looking for someone to pull a prank on.  I know --- Sharron.   I ask her to get me something from the closet but she gives me this really weird look and say, "There isn't anything in there that I can reach that you can't.  I smell a rat."  Well, dang it anyway.  Without giving anything away, a few minutes later Maria walks in and I ask the same question saying it's on the top shelf and that I need help.  This time it works because she is actually taller than me.  (Note to self:  remember this type of stuff when messing with people.)  She goes to the door and opens it.  Debi is standing there and say, "I needed a plate."  In reality --- it's a good place to escape and take a chill pill now and then.

Surfside Beach Retreat #1

Waiting a whole year for an event to take place requires patience, patience, and more patience with this year requiring an extra dose.  Houston has been hit with an unbelievable hurricane leaving thousands homeless and a large portion of the city underwater.  There have been moments where we were not sure that our annual beach retreat would even take place.  It is a go but we have a bit of guilt at having something so wonderful take place while others are struggling intensely.  We will be boosting their economy so in a small way we are helping by being there.  Surfside Beach was spared but according to the rental property manager, the town is rather quiet.  We will be a burst of energy to the area in more ways than one and this crazy redhead can't wait to hear the ocean.  We're not sure we can even get in the water, but it really doesn't matter - honest.

A Day At The Beach - Clue 2

Welcome to week two.  Did you survive the strings?  Or opt out?  Either way, this week is fun.  The colors get to come out and we get to start to feel the beach as it washes around our feet.  In the picture above, spot the sand, a shade of sky, and the green of the water.  Those are being played with during this clue.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO READ ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CLUE BEFORE STARTING.

First up is Unit 2 -- keep it labeled as such from here on.  It is a variation on the Bird in the Air block and you will need 64 of these.

A Day At The Beach - Clue 1

I've got tingles all over.  It's time for another mystery and I have to tell you, this one has been fun to work on and yet challenged my mathematical skills a bit.  Fortunately, I did all that just to make it go smoother for ya'll.   Yes, yes --- pretty proud of myself here.

As many of you know, I am a beach person.  Few places (perhaps the mountains) make me happier than hearing the sound of the ocean while watching the water and feeling the sea breeze on my face.  Science has been trying to figure this out for years.  In fact, Wallace J. Nichols writes, "We are inspired by water - hearing it, smelling it in the air, playing in it, walking next to it, painting it, surfing, swimming or fishing in it, writing about it, photographing it, and creating lasting memories along it's edge.  Indeed, throughout history, you see our deep connection to water described in art, literature, and poetry.  'In the water I am beautiful,' admitted Kurt Vonnegut.  Water can give us energy, whether it is hydraulic, hydration, the tonic effect of cold water splashed on the face, or the mental refreshment that comes from the gentle, rhythmic sensation of hearing waves lapping a shore.  Immersion in warm water has been used for millennia to restore the body as well as the mind.  Water drives many of our decisions - from the seafood we eat, to our most romantic moments, and from where we live, to the sports we enjoy, and the ways we vacation and relax.  'Water is something that humanity has cherished since the beginning of history, and it means something different to everyone,' writes archaeologist Brian Fagan.  We know instinctively that being by water makes us healthier, happier, reduces stress, and brings us peace."