Family Vacation

 

Group photo minus the Weaver Hickerson family on our vacation Summer 2014.

 

Clay was in Savannah for work this week so we had loaded up the truck and hitched up the camper before he left to make it easier on me to head out and pick him up.  The dogs and I caught up with Clay off the interstate in Statesboro and kept trucking.

 

Lily enjoyed riding in Clay's seat but quickly got put in the back seat.

 

Killer was cool as a cucumber sitting on Clay's folded up cooler and smiling with her head cocked almost the entire trip.

 

We arrived around 7:30 to Faver-Dykes State Park  and got set up in site #21 which would be our new home for the next 4 days.  We had read online that ticks would be a problem so we made certain to treat the dogs prior to the trip and stocked up on bug spray.  We were pleased that although the sites are fairly close the trees and vines made each site seem more private.

 

We drove down to the dock to see where we would go kayaking later in the stay and what a gorgeous view on Pellicer Creek.

 

Our site was large and shady and included 30amp and water hookup, there was a dump station by the bathhouse.  We did end up with a lot of sand in the camper, it is difficult to keep it out especially with 2 doggies in and out.

 

During the day Clay and I would head over the Palm Coast and hang out with the family.  Little Norah is growing so fast and it was great to get to see her!  

 

We kidnapped mom a few times for outings.

 

We tried paddleboarding for our first outing.  We rented them at Tropical Kayaks and headed out onto the inter-coastal waterway.  Mom and I were paddleboarding and Clay had his kayak and amusement watching us.  We both took a tumble in the first couple of minutes but got back up and each time was easier.

 

We had a great time, but it is definitely a work out!  I can see a paddleboard purchase in my future.  Not sure how that will work on our river trips but would be great for lake paddling.

 

On the way back to the campground we stopped at Princess Place Preserve at the suggestion of the lady from Tropical Kayaks. This place was fascinating, there were no tours offered that day but we peeked in the windows and walked the grounds.  We saw the nation's first in-ground swimming pool feed by and artesian spring which was still spilling water over the sides.

 

Clay tried to pump us some "unsafe for drinking" water at the youth campground in Faver-Dykes park but he only got brown water to come out.

 

I got to frolic in the ocean in front of the family condo in Palm Coast.  

 

Johannah and Scott taking a walk down the beach at sunset.

 

We met everyone in Flagler Beach after dinner and went down the pier with Mema.  She got to see some fishermen catch a baby shark that mom held and a jellyfish getting swept along by the waves.  We also scoped out the beach since it was listed as a dog friendly one and we planned on taking the pooches there in the morning.

One of the most fun outings was kayaking on Pellicer Creek. We headed out with a sprinkle which was cooling and welcome.  Clay went fishing from his boat and caught a catfish and redfish, both too small to keep but good enough to make him happy.  Mom and I kayaked up into some of the marshy areas looking at egrets and  crabs.  These "grasshoppers" kept hopping out of the reeds and one landed in the boat and we realized the "grasshoppers" were shrimp.  Who knew shrimp jumped?

We even saw a couple of alligators which is why Lily wasn't able to go with us.  We can't keep Lily in the boat so we have to leave her at home where there are gators in the water.

 

Peaceful!

 

We got up our last morning and took the dogs to Flagler Beach.  Several blocks either was from the piers the beach is dog friendly.  Unfortunately, there aren't any water hoses or spigots to wash the sand off before getting back in the vehicle so we learned to bring a gallon of fresh water next time. 

 

Lily had a blast, she chased her fancy ball around and I even let her off the leash to chase it.  Shhh...don't tell.  She was so happy.  We went out into the water and let her swim she hopped over waves and body-surfed like a champ.  Killer wasn't as thrilled but she settled down sitting in the surf with Clay.  We wore the dogs out and headed back to break down camp.  We got sprinkled on again while packing up which at least kept it cool.  We headed out and took the leisurely drive home up A1A.  

Long Weekend

 

Last Weekend Clay and I took a long weekend trip up to the mountains in northeast Ga.  

 

While we were there I took advantage of having some time off and got my hair cut for the year.  I got some bangs and layers to try something different.  The salon is really neat, it is in and old gas/service station.

 

Ok, so you can't tell at all in this picture that I got my hair cut.  We were mostly lazy, reading books, watching movies, and sitting around enjoying the view and the fallish weather.  I did go hiking on Saturday.  Lily and I did about 8 miles in the Warwoman WMA.  I tried to drive up into the WMA to park but my car started sliding back down the gravel road and my brakes locked up forcing me to pull my emergency brake and back down the road to park at the bottom.

 

Just to the left of the parking area off Tuckaluge Creek road was this creek  with lots of great sitting rocks.  We didn't go to it until we finished our hike and I took my shoes off and soaked my legs in the chilly water which felt wonderful.

 

We kept hiking and hiking on the gravel roads of the WMA looking for a great lookout spot but with all the leaves on the trees there never was a good vantage points to look out to the other mountains.  I want to try this again in the winter because I bet the views will be spectacular.

 

Lily was a happy camper!   I thought she would be tired after we got finished but I was WRONG!  She was just getting started and continued to run around and wanted to play the rest of the day until the sun started to go down.

Lily Pad's New Playtoy

Sarah brought Nemo over and Lily thinks that he is her new playtoy, but Nemo does not approve and he showed her who is boss.

Lemon Cake

 

I tried a new Pinterest recipe today for a Lemon Blossom Cake.  Clay is having some work folks over for dinner tonight I needed to try out a cake to take to my job next Thursday so I baked this beauty.  I mixed 2 parts of the recipe by covering the bottom layer with the glaze and then icing the cake also.  I haven't gotten to try it yet, waiting on everyone to get here tonight, so I will have to update this post later.

 

I took this picture after I glazed the first layer.  The glaze was a little thin and too runny, I think I may have added too much lemon juice.

 

 

I brought in some gardenia blossoms and butterfly bush blossoms to bring some garden beauty inside.

 

We aren't really sure if the bees are going to be ok.  We did a hive inspection 3 days ago and didn't see any larvae or eggs.  There were plenty of bees and lots of honey and pollen, we also saw what looked to be a queen cell and lots of drone bees coming and going.  We are wondering if our queen has died and they have made another one, we will have to wait and see.  I looked at the outside of the hive today and there were lots of bees coming and going and there were bees in the super we added on top but they have not filled out any of the new frames.

 

Our magnolia tree grew a blossom this year, we have GOT to get this baby in the yard  in the fall.  

 

Lily Pad on the Ocmulgee

 

We took Lily on the river today for her first kayak trip.  We had no idea what to expect and we were surprised at how she behaved.  She was very excited looking at the water while we prepared.

 
"Can we go?  Can we go?"

 
I carefully packed my iphone in a ziplock bag that I kept in the dry box, so most of the pictures I got were fuzzy from the bag to be safe.  Lily did not like that Clay and I were in separate boats, she whined every time the boats would get more than a few feet apart.  Then she would dive in start swimming to the other boat.  She LOVED swimming!  She loved it so much that sometimes she would dive into the water and swim ahead of the boats just swimming and swimming.  

 
We had decided to run a section of the Ocmulgee that we had already kayaked so we knew what to expect.  Killer went with us last October on this same stretch.  We put in at Hwy 83 and took out at Juliette Dam.  The river was really high today after a week of on/off rain and rain last night too.  The height listed at Dames Ferry was 5.7ft and the cubic ft/second was up to about 6,000.   Lily did escape one time conveniently onto the island we are planning on camping on soon.  She got tangled in some thorns but I got her loose and off the island and back in the boat, much to her chagrin.

 

Lily finally settled down in Clay's boat on the last 3/4 mile or so of the total 4.2 mile stretch.  Prior to this calmness the only time she sat still is when I had a slim Jim and pack of peanuts open and she sat in front of me on the boat staring me down.

What Happened this Week

 

Clay got himself a bicycle, he had been eyeing it for a while and he finally got it this week.

 

I tried a new recipe from Pinterest again this week. 

Oven Roasted Salmon with Parmesan-Mayo Crust

But, I the salmon at the store didn't look great so I used rainbow trout and Asiago cheese was on sale so I subbed that for the Parmesan.  

Clay made delicious mashed rutabagas with splenda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, heavy cream, margarine, honey, and raisins.

I also made a hodgepodge Macaroni Salad with: cucumber, green peas, grilled corn, tomato, shredded zucchini, green onion, feta cheese, avocado, a little mayo, salt/pepper, and a packet of dry Italian dressing mix.

 

Lily just ate a bunch of dirt.