Great News in Our Family

Saturday and Sunday                                                                                      Most Recent Posts:
December 19 & 20, 2015                                                                                  Days of Wind and Preparation
Long Key State Park                                                                                         Historic Key West Walking Tour
Layton, Florida

 

 

SATURDAY

Carrie arrives in Key West Airport at 12:01 today.  It takes about an hour and a half to drive the 67 miles there from Long Key because of the traffic, the two lane highway and the low speed limits on sections of the road.

 

We set out early so we will have time to stop by the Key West Bakery to check it out for those Solstice Morning treats that are a family tradition.

They do not disappoint and Key West turns out to be the best of the bakeries we have sampled thus far.  We’re up to three now.  I know it’s a difficult job testing bakeries but we’re up to it.

 

 

 

 

We check out the restaurant across the street for a possible lunch venue but the seating outside is limited and the noise from the street just doesn’t suit.  We still have some time left so we just stroll around Key West which always has interesting things to notice.

 

This is my very favorite address.

 

 

 

Too funny – I guess it’s wishful thinking in Key West.  Have they forgotten about shoveling?

 

 

Not Santa exactly.  Could he be the gingerbread man given the house he’s holding?  You really never do know what you will see in Key West. 

 

 

Then it is time to head to the airport.  The “Conch Republic Airport” is a small little thing where you exit the American Eagle and other planes onto the runway and walk directly into this little building which is the baggage claim.  The “terminal” isn’t much bigger but it’s on the second floor and you walk down steps to the runway to board your plane.

 

 

They have a great little model railway set up in the terminal for the holiday season.

 

 

 

And then, here she comes walking through the door.  I always heave a big sigh of relief when I see her safely on the ground and here with us.  Notice anything in this picture??

 

 

 

 

Carrie had to get up at 4:45 am in order to be at the BWI airport by 5:30 am for her 7:00 flight here.  Although she wisely brought snacks, she’s more than ready for lunch once we get her bag.  Normally she only brings a carry on and that was true this time as well except that when she boarded the flight to Key West there was no more room in the overhead bins so her bag had to be checked.  Thus we have to wait at the baggage carousels.

We take her to El Meson de Pepe which we liked a great deal when we were here one of our previous Wednesdays.  It’s a delicious lunch, we have Jose as our very funny excellent waiter and are entertained by the Cuban music from a baby shower happening across the way.

Back to the car for the long drive home.  When we arrive, I set Carrie up with one of the Santa hats. She, of course looks fantastic in it.  Minnie would be proud.   I should have gotten a picture of all 3 of us in our hats.  Next time.

 

 

We take a walk along the ocean front.  She says it looks like a big lake without the waves she’s used to on the Atlantic.

 

 

 

 

After dinner we three play dominoes.  Luck still eludes me.  David wins 4 of the 7 games, Carrie wins 3 and I lose every single one.  Apparently I’d better give up this game.  This is about the 3rd time in a row I’ve lost and lost and lost.  They sure look like they’re having fun.

 

 

 

If you haven’t guessed the great news by now, this picture will make it clear.  I asked Carrie to pose for this earlier in the day so I could use how lovely she looks to announce that we will be grandparents in May.  Carrie and Matthew are expecting a baby.  We are all really excited.  We wish Matthew could have been here with us but he is back in Maryland working at a new job.  He’s a wonderful son-in-law to share his wife with us for some holiday time.

 

CONGRATULATIONS CARRIE AND MATTHEW!!!   We love you both!

 

 

 

 

SUNDAY

 

On Sunday we’re up and out for the sunrise which gets blocked behind what seem to be the endless clouds.  Even though, the wind is again 20+ mph it’s a lovely temperature and we sit in the “front yard” watching the water and the water birds. 

 

 

 

At one point, a parade of willets passes by.   I take back what I’ve said before about the night heron being the most common bird here.  It’s definitely the willets.

 

 

 

We have breakfast on the picnic table in spite of the wind but Carrie needs her hoody to keep warm while David is in a short sleeve shirt.   It’s a great breakfast view despite the clouds.

 

 

 

We set up this picture of the 3 of us at breakfast that turns out to look like a line up. Talk about posed, too funny!!

 

 

Wildlife is everywhere I look.  Even on the back of the mirror on my bike which is parked under the bedroom slide.  Sure hope he doesn’t hang around and sing out over night.

 

 

It is Carrie’s understanding that you cannot bring wrapped presents in your carry on luggage without risk that they will all be unwrapped and opened by TSA.  So she needs to spend some time today wrapping the gifts she’s bought and when she’s finished she puts them under the tree to add to the festive feeling.  Pooh approves.

 

 

 

Once the wrapping is taken care Carrie and I take a walk down the beach.   Along the way we see the beautiful pink blossoms of the Cat’s Claw.  They smell wonderful.

 

 

 

The more times I walk this beach, the more impressed I am with the beauty of the coral.  There are so many types of coral that I’m not even going to try to identify these but their “art work” is fascinating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We finish off our day with a round of the Birding Game and finally I manage to win something.

 

At this point I’m only two days behind on the blog and the next post will be about our Solstice Eve but the day itself is almost over in real time so I want to say I hope you had  a Joyous Solstice on the shortest day and longest night of the year.  We are certainly happy to celebrate the sun’s return and the lengthening of the days.   However slowly they lengthen, that is the direction they are going now as dark gives way to light.  A new Solar Year has begun.  We’re really looking forward to it and the new addition to our family with which we will be blessed.