Making a few changes

Well it has been two months since I was on board Anticipation and I must say I sure have missed her! Jimmy has made a few necessary trips to check on her while I was at work but quality time with her is quickly approaching and we are ready! The Suburban aka "The Beach Bus" was loaded down with a couple of DIY projects and we were on a mission!

The creamy leather sofa in the salon was nice to look at and great for storage but that is where it ended...we wanted a sleeper that was also comfy to sit and relax as we have "dinner and a movie" now and again. In our diligent search we discovered the convertibility of the futon. However, the search for comfort, function, and appeal proved to be a little challenging. We are quite pleased with the end result and I cannot believe that I failed to capture the process on camera!

Name change was the next project on the list...

Heat gun and plastic putty knife in hand & off with the old!

It was a tedious task but my Captain has great patience!

I could not resist capturing the beauty of the day while my dear Captain was hard at work! 

I wish this weather was here to stay...it was fabulous!

The planner that he is; Jimmy decided we should have a trial run at applying her name so here is the temporary version. Getting it on right was a challenge but now we know a few tricks to making application smooth and the final version is soon to come

Project day two has come to a close...let's tidy up a bit!

Ahh... nothing like a cold beer and a sunset after a day of work!

Wait! What happened to our sunset?!?!...as we watched the fog roll in.

It's a new day and the weather is perfect once again...our projects for the week are put to rest...time for a little cruise!

We are underway and I am at awe of the sky scape!

Returning to my childhood, I was searching out shapes in the clouds and found a slight resemblance to a duck! Well, maybe it looked more like a duck before I took the shot...lol

Looks like the dolphins are ready for Spring,

 they were very playful and plentiful.

Pelicans were plenty also... I love watching the

wild life!

Wow...is that another duck above the flag?!?!

Lots of activity going on...everyone is enjoying the beauty of the day!

The Gulf was calm enough to cruise around to see the beach from a different perspective!

Pelican doing a"Karate Kid" imitation!

Our 2 bedroom Gulf front condo in Harbour Place, unit 512...(it is available for rent on iTrip.net )

It's like having the best of two worlds and we love having friends and family over to enjoy time at the condo and cruising all in the same trip!

Feeding time!

It was nice to see all of the activity on the beach this early in the season. I hope this is indicative of a prosperous Summer for all!

Time to head back to the marina and things would not be the same if we didn't share the canal with a tug boat or two!

 I guess all good times must come to an end...so until next time sweet Anticipation!

...oh how difficult it is to leave her when the weather is this beautiful!

Ready for Spring time!

I was just thinking about the past couple of months and the time we have spent with family and friends at home through the Holidays. While we have enjoyed this time tremendously, I must admit we are missing our time with Anticipation and really look forward to Spring time and sunshine!

Jimmy has made a few short road trips for the necessary maintenance during my work week and to take care of a couple of small projects. We did sneak in a couple of days mid January when Joan & Mike arrived at the condo for the winter to enjoy a visit with them over lunch. We took Anticipation out for a short cruise the following day before heading home, and as short as it was we enjoyed being out with her once again.

Bring on the sunshine, we are ready to spend time with our family and friends on the water!

Until then I wish everyone Joy and Laughter overflowing!

Thanksgiving

We spent our second Thanksgiving in Orange Beach together with Reece & Scarlett. It was hard to fathom a year had gone by so quickly...returning to Fort McRee; the memories of our first trip here seemed to be created just yesterday.

We enjoyed a great Thanksgiving dinner and sunset spending time with family.

Reece & Scarlett... they are not only family but great friends as well!

Courtney & K K.. two fun & beautiful girls!

Satisfied and relaxed!

You gotta love that smile!

another beautiful Fort McRee sunset!

Jimmy & I shuttled everyone back to shore then returned to Fort McRee and anchored out for the night! It was a great night and the water tapped gently against Anticipation as we drifted off to sleep!

For those who know me well this next event will be difficult to believe. However, I promise to tell the truth!

Jimmy woke during the night and quietly left the state room careful not to wake me...a few hours later he returned to bed and snuggled in...not anything unusual you might say. We drifted into a wonderful sleep once again...then, just before daybreak the most remarkable thing happened....I was lying in bed wide awake! Unable to sleep, I slipped out of bed, slipped on something warm, grabbed the camera and went out to watch the sunrise! Now that is incredible...me watching the sunrise, the Queen of sleeping in!!!

I didn't realize how much activity goes on so early in the day! It looks like this bird caught "the big one". There were so many Cranes, Pelicans, & Seagulls hunting & fishing I was amazed watching them swoop and dive for the catch.

Ahh...so that is what a sunrise looks like!

Later in the morning we took the dinghy for a ride and pulled onto shore for a walk on the beach. It was breathtaking to realize that the only footprints in the sand were the ones we were making! So peaceful...so intimate...so refreshing!

some sort of sea urchin fluttering along the calm waters edge

         Do jellyfish sting if they are washed ashore?

what a gorgeous morning!

            Peace and contentment...feels so good!

The love of my life!



We have so many things to be thankful for in our lives! While we are not without the little everyday challenges; we are blessed with unconditional and unlimited love for one another; we have great friends and a wonderful family and we are building magnificent memories!

We hope everyone enjoy their Thanksgiving as much as we did!

Weekend with the Remkes'

November 7 - 13

It was another great week in the Bower life! The combination of cruising with Anticipation, time at the condo, and great friends made for a wonderful week. The drive over was peaceful and the Suburban was jam packed as usual. Tuesday was a day for accomplishments, new anchor chain was installed, a little housekeeping was done, a bit of decor adjustment and all is well!

We were finally in town (Orange Beach) for one of the wine dinners put on by local restaurant owners. This one was at Zen Restaurant on the corner of Hwy 161 and Perdido Beach Blvd. We met a couple in the parking lot; Busha & Dave...turns out Busha babysits for the restaurant owners and one of the chefs. What a character! We shared a dinner table with them and laughed the entire time! Dinner was fine, wine was great, and the laughter was priceless! The wine dinner concept was interesting and I look forward to doing it again sometime. Check out Villaggio Grille, Ginny Lane Bar & Grill, Zen Restaurant, and Elli Bistro on line for dates and details, they usually have something happening every month!

We made the move from Anticipation to the condo Thursday afternoon and my wonderful husband sent me out with the camera to capture God's artwork as he unloaded the car! This shot is one of my favorites, it truly depicts the peacefulness we experience when we spend time at our home away from home.

It's Friday!!! With great friends aboard we took Anticipation out for a short run to the new Tacky Jacks accross from Lulu's for an array of appetizers and a couple of Rum drinks :-)

The wait staff at Tacky Jacks use duck tape and markers to create their name tags...we just had to get in on that action!

Meet Bob & Beverly Bacardi...aka Kell & Shelley Remkes

Here we are incognito as Rachel & Robert Rum....Can you see where this day is going?

Back on board for a little cruise!

As usual, I enjoy the natural beauty of our waterways

My handsome captain and wonderful guests

Cruising with the Remkes'

Back to the condo...refill the Rum drinks for a beach walk at sunset...photo time!

I am exrtremely grateful to be spend my life with this amazing man!

Great smile Kell! Nothing like a little Rum to loosen you up! lol

Love those seagulls! However, beware not to feed them if you are planning to lay out in peace!

I will never grow tired of the beautiful sunsets, I am in awe every day!

Amazing sunset.... Amazing couple!

Saturday

It was difficult to top our Friday with the Remkes' but we really enjoyed another day of cruising! Dolphin cruisers attract lots of action! I have to wonder if they feed them in order to get the dolphins to follow... this boat must have had 8-10 dolphins swimming behind it. I was lucky enough to snap at just the right moment to capture one jumping!

Always a tug boat and barge or two in the area!

Looks like someone will be bringing dinner home!

To Kell & Shelley...we always enjoy your company & look forward to more cruising with you guys!