Adventures! – Page 3 – The Barefoot Mermaid

All my life I have risen with the sun to scour the beach for turtle tracks and capture the sunrise in photographs. One morning during our most recent trip I took Em with me. It was special to do this with her since I have the fondest memories of going out in the early light with daddy and Grandmama. Sharing this with her I had all the feels. I had been hoping for a spectacular sunrise and some turtle tracks to share with her. Well God and some Lowcountry magic delivered. Not only did we stumble directly upon the first set of tracks while walking onto the beach from our car we saw two more crawls that day. One false crawl, one destroyed nest and one that was relocated to safer grounds, so she was able to see all types. And the sunrise was spectacular.

Continue reading “Loggerhead Love” →

All my life I have risen with the sun to scour the beach for turtle tracks and capture the sunrise in photographs. One morning during our most recent trip I took Em with me. It was special to do this with her since I have the fondest memories of going out in the early light with daddy and Grandmama. Sharing this with her I had all the feels. I may have even teared up some. I had been hoping for a spectacular sunrise and some turtle tracks to share with her. Well God and some Lowcountry magic delivered. Not only did we stumble directly upon the first set of tracks while walking onto the beach from our car we saw two more crawls that day. One false crawl, one destroyed nest and one that was relocated to safer grounds, so she was able to see all types. And the sunrise was spectacular. Continue reading “Loggerhead Love” →

This week Ryan and I took a break from unpacking and went to the zoo with this sweet baby. We also bought wands for her princess party. She just couldn’t quite understand why we had to save them!

I think this is the first time in our zoo adventures that we saw this big guy.

Mine and ems favorite animal of course! Don’t tell nana!
I can’t wait til later this week when the work days are done. Alyssa will be home! Will will attend his senior prom and Claire will graduate from Alabama. What a year (or part of a quickly disappearing one) we have ahead of us!

Wow! What month! And how blessed are we!

December and continuing on into January was a month full of family and love! AtJust the way it should be! Jane, Em and I started the month off at zoo light safari.
Em had a blast playing in the “snow”!
Candace and her lovely assistance took some beautiful engagement picture for me and Ryan. Ryan was a wonderful sport through the afternoon process!

I love the cobblestone in this picture. I can’t wait to see the rest!
After that weekend, Emilee and I went home then to Fairhope with Claire, Grnny, Cthy, and the boys.

Em even let all the boys hold her!
After that fun it was time to go home so I could put in a few days at work before the real Christmas fun began!

Ryan and I had a blast on my first cruise! Our trip was old news to Ryan as it was his eleventh or so cruise! We had three days at sea because Hurricane Sandy our stop in Princess Cay was cancelled. It was nice to have an extra sea day to relax and enjoy the boat. We enjoyed the thermal spa on board Ruby Princess. The gentle sauna with the heated tile seats felt heavenly. Monday and Tuesday we relaxed around the boat. Reading by the pool, walking around the deck 7 track, spending the evening in the thermal suite, attending the comedian shows, taking siestas and of course eating!

Chocolate pastries and fresh pineapple were some of my favorites.

Another meal on the cruise was a fruit paradise. Mango lassi, chilled tropical fruit soup and a fruit tart made for a delicious festive meal!

Lighting from a storm at sea one night.

Our first stop was St. Maarten. We rented a Jeep with another couple and drove around the entire island, snorkeled in three locations, found a French bakery and shopped in the downtown Philipsburg area. Whew!

The bakery.

Our first snorkeling stop Orient Bay. Here the water was a bit cloudy so we played in the water a bit.

The second snorkeling stop Coralita beach included many star fish and sea urchins.

We also walked across an inlet to a national preserve. A little island made of rock and coral. Someone had created an alter from coral at the top. We also stumbled upon a geocache international style!

Our third stop was Dawn Beach. Here was we were able to see some fish while dodging the jellies!

Finally, we returned to town to enjoy the shopping, culture and an ice cold coke! Downtown with the ship in the background.

A few of the views while driving around St. Maarten/St. Martin.

Our second stop was St. Thomas. This was my favorite of our destinations. Here we walked from port to Charlotte Amalie. First we grabbed a drink at a local deli and got the locals opinion on was to do. Next we set off on a walking tour.

Passing the first building used as a hotel for tourist and the church.

We also climbed the 99 steps (actually 103 steps) for the tour of Blackbeard’s tower, the rum factory, the first house with the kitchen inside the house, and the amber museum.

Blackbeard’s tower.

View from Blackbeard’s tower.

The amber waterfall.

Next we did a little shopping downtown. Then we took a cab to coral world. They had a shark tank, sting ray tank, turtle pools, reef tank, and an under water building to view the reef in the ocean.

The reef tank

Shark during feeding time

Turtles in the recovery pool

Lionfish, the poisonous fish invading the Caribbean

Beautiful!

The famous Magen’s bay in the Caribbean Sea

Finally we returned to the cruise ship after a very busy day!

Our third and final stop was Grand Turk. Here we visited the lighthouse, attempted to snorkel, then walked through town and back to the cruise ship.

Grand Turk

The Grand Turk lighthouse. Apparently the people on the island used to dim the light so that the ships would wreck. They then offered to help rescue the ships for money or plunder them.