Best part of holiday. . .

Playing games. Lia particularly loves games and is extremely adept to strategising. She is a thinker and planner.

Always a treat watching them open presents

Thid is one serious game of stategy and she can take on anybody--and wins handily. Something so annoying to be beaten handily by your 9 year old Granddaughter!!

Cooking and eating, and cooking and eating--over and over. . .

The weather has not been great so haven't enjoyed much time outdoors. Cold and today rain, wind and dreary skies. At least it is rain and not snow--but the kids would prefer snow for snowmen!

Christmas in Indiana

Again we left the RV behind, this time in Montgomery Alabama, and drove the car to Bloomington--8 hour drive.  Pouring rain when we started out and but soon drove thru the weather front and just cruised the rest of the way. But as we got farther north we were in typical midwest winter cold. But it's Christmas!!  Doug and Tammy also driving in from New Jersey. Was an even longer driving day for them.

We booked a vacation rental house to accommodate our three families outside of Bloomington. Best part is that it was entirely decorated for Christmas.

Steph and Tammy cooking, and Steph did our "Christmas" dinner to a T!  One thing we all do well is eat.

We celebrated Doug's birthday.  Looks like he had quite a bonfire of candles. 

Breakfast for the early risers

We are out in the country, nobody close. Indiana has nice sunrises also.

Moved again to Montgomery, Alabama

Sweet RV park in nice location.

Alabama State Capitol. Lots of Civil Rights history is this city.

Dr Martin Luther King served as pastor of this church until 1960 just down the street from the Capitol.

Another museum that I would have enjoyed seeing. It's the National Monument to Peace and Justice.

And more Christmas lights at the Montgomery Zoo.

Out Exploring

Day out just driving the coast hiway to see what showed up. Enjoyed seeing Biloxi. Another city that brings back memories. We lived here for a year in 1968 when Will was stationed here in the Air Force at Keesler AFB. Then returned to Keesler in 1971 for some training. NOTHING is the same, of course after 50 years, plus hurricanes (Camille in late 60's, Katrina is the big one) and all the big casinos changed the landscape dramatically. The neighborhood that we lived in doesn't even exist anymore but it was fun trying to figure out where it use to be.

one of the big fishing piers that got taken out just a month ago when hurricane Sally blew thru makes a nice group of individual pedistals for the birds.

a Memorial to lives lost in Katrina. The top of the monument is the high water mark.

I really wanted to visit this place but it was closed as most things are these days. It's the George Ohr museum. He's a potter that lived and worked here in Biloxi in early 1900's and in

recognition of his innovative experimentation with modern clay forms from 1880–1910, some consider him a precursor to the American Abstract-Expressionism movement.  Never appreciated in his lifetime, not until the 1960's did his work really became of interest. He was dubbed 'the mad potter of Biloxi." The museum that houses his life and work was designed by Frank Ghery which is notable in itself.

oh, and had to slip this wonderful picture in of Aeri and Lia.  They are growing up way too fast. I love this picture!!

Gautier, Mississippi

We left Florida and started our venture West. Stopped not far across the Alabama border into Mississippi in boyous country at Gautier. We are at a camp on the Singing River. It is scenic, as all the Gulf Coast is but it is winter.  Which means brown is a dominant color, birding is sparse at best and nature's colors are muted. We just have to look a little harder to see what is here. And it IS here.

Mockingbirds never let us down. Always around and singing.

Great looks at a Merlin. Not something we see easily in Arizona.

We drove back into Alabama and visited Bellengrath Garden one more time--this time during daylight hours. Might think there isn't much to appreciate this time of year but that is not the case. Rose garden bare of blooms, Fall Mum show long over but those flower beds transformed into the next season, replanted with a gazillion bedding plants. 65 acres of plantings, forests, boyous, lawns, specialty gardens, water features, a grand historic home. . .It was all built by the founder of Coca-Cola and his wife over something like 40 years beginning as a fishing camp in early 1900's. And Christmas Pointsetias everywhere. It is truly one of America's premier Gardens.

The one perennial still blooming was the many varieties of Camillias.

In the Oriental garden. The Koi  obviously know people mean food. Sorry, our pockets were empty but they still follow.

Gotta know I like this place a lot.

Beach Walks

We have enjoyed lots of long leisurely walks on the beach. Today we were practically the only ones out there. Have to admit it was a cold wind but we had our winter coats on and sun was bright, tide was low and sea shell picking was great. Even saw dolphins off shore.

Setting sun slipped out from behind a dark cloud on its way to another dramatic sunset. A big barge silhouetted in the sun rays.

DeFuniak Springs, Florida

Our destination was to catch the Christmas lights at DeFuniak Springs this evening but we went a little early to hike a portion of the Florida State Trail

Odd little puffs of moss all over forest floor. 

The lighting was in a city park that went all the way around a spring fed lake. At 5 pm every night of the Christmas season they block all roads leading to the park except the one that follows the lakeshore. Then for a nominal fee you can drive around the lake to enjoy the gazillion lights. You are suppose to turn your car radio to a certain frequency to hear Christmas music to accompany the lights. I liked it a lot.

Found a Gulf Coast Potter

Holly Hill Pottery is located in the little community of Holly not far--out in the country. Saw a little notice in the visitor center and was curious to find it. And what a find. Brenda Stokes and her husband and son have had a business on their quaint (cluttered) property for 40 years and as thier showroom/gallery attest, they are quite prolific. Will and I were only ones visiting this day so we had lots of time to chat. She was a delight.

What was most interesting was their commitment to wood fire. They invited a master kiln builder to build a huge traditional wood fire kiln and now invite the local clay community to collectively participate in an annual firing. These are not simple to pull off successfully and takes days to complete. From loading, to stoking the fire, constant tending, it can't be left unattended. So it ends up a party. But the distinct glazed finish from a wood fire is beautiful and so worth the effort. Next one coming up in February and will be their 15th annual.

These "soup and crackers" bowls are not wood fired but still great. I thought they were just funky enough and quite useful. Maybe I will try to copy the idea. (I am always taking pictures of ideas to bring back, but rarly actually carry through)

This Blue Heron was fearless as we walked right by him on a beach walk. 

We Moved down the Beach

We're spending the second week here at a different RV park down the beach a couple of miles. Still in Navarre, same coast, different RV park. First one was fine but this one has a nicer setting with our site right on the water.

This one also has a great fishing/walking pier that is especially fun to be be on at night. The park is all lot up.

A hike on the Juniper Trail in Blackwater State Forest was interesting. Especially through the wetlands.

Laundromats are a pain traveling. This one is certainly right in the modern age. No more scrounging looking for quarters for the pay machines. Just slide your credit card. How easy is that?

The lights from the condos on the barrier island from our pier.