We Are Home Safe and ????Sound???

We are home!

Yes, we made it home safe and I guess sound. We really didn't want to come home, and if the invitation is extended next year, we are going again. Maybe we should start planing and plan to come visit all you all in Florida!!! I have never seen the Atlantic ocean, in fact, that is the first time I have really seen the ocean and got to enjoy it. In years past I have seen the Pacific, but did not get to play in it or walk the beach. So I don't really count that one. We did a quick drive by you might say. I just can not get over the sounds, the sights, and of course the smells of that wonderful place.

After spending our four solid days with my aunt and uncle some of the most memorable events were first off the time with my family. I didn't have to share them with anybody and I loved that. Then the next would be getting up in the mornings and watching the sunrise with my aunt who is a morning person. We would sit and watch the sun pop up and talk about how quickly it happens. Talk about the colors we would see, talk about the waves coming in, it was just so nice to sit and talk and watch the world start its day.

Next on my list was getting on the "Red Touring Train" and seeing the town. Oh that was so nice to get on the little tram/train thing and they would drive us around town to see all the different sights. Of course it was accompanied with an explanation of the sights, the history is just incredible. But of course being the oldest city in the United States would have a LOT of history. The buildings just amaze me. How did they have the skills, the talents and the means to create such grand buildings in that time period? How could it be done? Then we parked in Old Towne and walked to see different things. Of course there are lots of little quaint shops along the way that I had to stop and visit. I did not buy a lot of trinkets surprisingly. But my uncle took us to this little bread shop that the ladies make fresh home made bread and goodies each day. They were already closed when we got there but the lady looked up and saw Uncle Jerry so she came right over to him. Need some bread she asked, and she had a few held back and we took a couple home to enjoy. Oh my goodness. This little tiny old building held her goods for sale and the bread is baked in another little building not connected to her shop. The old boards and old fire place inside, the pots and the tables, it all is just so neat. I wish you could see inside my head and see the picture that is there.

We drove south along the beach front for a few miles one day to go visit the old fort. Fort Matanza. We got on a ferry and rode the short distance to the fort where we were greeted by one man dressed in the time period. With his heavy wool coat and big hat, the musket had to be heavy, he told us the history of the fort and time period. We stayed long enough to look around the fort that was not bigger than a minute.

The weather the whole time we were there was very nice. One day it was foggy all day long. But that day we stayed home and played dominoes all day. My aunt is a very good cook, and really so is uncle Jerry. We always had food and plenty of it to eat on. We would go out to eat at very nice restaurants and bring home the left overs, then add a few other items to it to feast on when home. Soup and home made bread, vegetable fresh from the farmers market, and fruits. Oh my goodness. There was a banana cake and ice cream, just so much for us to enjoy. I just can not tell you enough how much we enjoyed our time there. I will post pictures, but I will tell you right now, the pictures are just NOTHING, nothing compared to what the reality of the trip was. I just can't get over seeing water and the horizon for as far as I could see. The clouds that were dark and angry, yet touched with pink hues from the sun. They made some of the prettiest pictures. The birds everywhere, flying, landing, squawking. White birds, black birds, little ones, big ones. The dogs on the beach with their owners. Some on leash,some not. Some that would mind and others that once they got lose ran and ran and ran. Some would run into the water, others would just run and jump and run back to their owners only to ran away again when the owner would reach out to clip on the leash. Oh we laughed. This dog ran round and round his truck as his owner stood there just trying to catch that dog. This went on for minutes and minutes I still laugh thinking about it. He finally got in his truck and just drove away. The dog ran happily ahead of him. We don't know if he ever caught that dog or not!!! There was a huge black Newfoundland dog. Oh I loved that dog. He was so beautiful (and so big!). This was such a nice vacation. I put it right up there with our trip to Alaska. And I will tell you, if I did not have three big babies at home waiting on me, I think I could very easily take this vacation every year and maybe be gone even longer. We need to rent a dog friendly beach house somewhere.....if anyone knows of one, call me! I am planning next years vacation right now!

So for now, I will close, I will post some pictures tomorrow maybe. But we have slept off and on all day today. I have read every one's postings, didn't comment, but I have at least caught up on everyone. Hope everyone is well, and I will talk to you each soon!

THANK YOU AUNT PEGGY AND UNCLE JERRY!!!!!