SILVER SUNDAY FROM THE BAY

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This is my first time for Silver Sunday. What a fun idea for a party! Thank you to our hostess, Beth.




Since I'm blogging from my beach house this week, I don't have an abundance of silver to show you. But, I do have these candle sticks that I think are so very representative of my current locale!

PINK SATURDAY FROM THE BAY HOUSE

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Looking around for inspiration for Pink Saturday, I realized something. I have very little pink here at the Bay house!

COOKING AT THE BAY

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My husband (Mr. HHF) is a very talented cook and loves doing it, so over the last ten years he has taken over that responsibility---much to the delight of my taste buds, and much to the distress of my figure. When we're at the Bay, he often cooks three meals a day, everything very fresh and made from scratch. I'll warn you that this post isn't about tablescapes! Hey, he catches the food, he cleans it, he cooks it...you can't ask for everything!

BREAKFAST ON THE PORCH

Unfortunately, you can't see the crab meat, from our own traps, that he put in the scrambled eggs. And, by the way, what happened to the grits? Anything else madam? Butter, jelly and more coffee, please!

LUNCH ON THE PORCH

Mr. HHF threw his shrimp net a few times, off the side of the wharf, and pulled in these shrimp. Can you believe it? He brought them into the kitchen, boiled them, peeled and de-veined them, made the fish-shaped corn muffins (from scratch!) and then we ate. After a nice glass of wine ( or maybe two---I'm on vacation) I had a good nap!

DINNER IN THE HOUSE
(Braves game on TV!)

You guessed it! He went out in his boat, on the Bay, and caught these speckled trout---our favorite fish! He broiled them with lemon juice and real butter and topped them off with capers. A stuffed potato and fresh steamed broccoli. (I helped!)

AND, THE PIECE DE RESISTANCE...

Mint chocolate chip ice cream---my favorite dessert!

MORNINGS ON THE PORCH

75 degrees is just about perfect for me!


The Bay is full of blue crabs. Checking our crab traps for the daily "head count" is a favorite activity. But, not before a big mug of hot coffee and some peaceful time staring out at the water.




Meet some of my early-morning visitors!


The Blue Heron and the Brown Pelican


Porch ceilings in the South are traditionally painted blue to keep the "haints" away!

I love wind chimes! Since it's frequently breezy, if not downright windy, here on the Bay, our wind chimes get a real workout. They usually don't last very long! I buy lots of sets of bamboo chimes---my favorite. I love the sound they make, so pleasant and peaceful. I think I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night just to listen for their sound.





These old jasmine vines climb up two stories to wrap around the porch. They twist and turn and are actually embedded between the boards in the porch floor. I love their sweet fragrance.


It's 5-o'clock somewhere!




$10 at Bed, Bath & Beyond!

A VISIT TO "SWEET HOME ALABAMA"

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With Spring finally here, I've moved my blogging to the beach. So, for the next several days, I'll be taking you on the "nickel tour" of our home on the Alabama Gulf Coast. We bought our house on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay almost seven years ago. The first change we made was the exterior color. It had previously been painted flamingo pinkish-orange with bright aqua trim.



The next change was creating an allee (a French word, referring to a planned walkway or promenade) of palm trees on either side of the driveway. We also planted a small selection of fruit trees---Mayer lemon, Key lime, and Satsuma.

We found this wonderful sailfish at a local arts and crafts show.


Sorry, but I'm not sure what this flower is!



The next order of business was to replace the lawn, between the house and the Bay with a white, sandy beach. Years ago, the beach ran all along the Bay, but over time it eroded in certain places, to be replaced with sea walls and bulkheads. So, we made our own beach!




Give me water, sand and palms and I'm in heaven!



The driftwood garden!

Tomorrow, I'll show you the porch. It's where I spend all my happiest hours. First thing in the morning, you'll find me out here with my coffee, watching the early morning gulls and pelicans, and if we're lucky a dolphin-sighting!

Hope you'll come back tomorrow as our tour continues!