March 2018 St Simons Island Trip

Off to Savannah !  Tuesday March 20th

We were picked up by our limo driver Craig.

We have used him in the past and he is a great guy.

Makes it so much easier to be dropped off.

He is also from the Bronx NY so he and
my hubby bond. HAH

Off to Newark Airport

We were taking a smaller plan to Savannah GA

It had 40 seats.  It was called a JET
Didn't quite know what to expect.

Well to board you go down the jetway then outside
and get on a bus.

The bus drives you across the parking lot to the plane.

You climb up the stairs and board the jet.

It had 1 row of 1 seat and 1 row of 2 seats. 

The aisle were small ~ barely fit down it. HAH

But it was a smooth flight and we arrived safely

We were so fortunate because even though

it was March 20th the first day of spring

NJ was expecting a snow storm.

We just made it out in time. The returning
flight to Newark when we landed in
Savannah was cancelled due to snow.

It has been a crazy Spring this year so far.

Arrived at the Savannah Airport
It is so pretty

We arrived around 5 pm so we headed to
dinner at the local Cracker Barrel.  

We scored a table right by the fire.

After dinner we checked into our

hotel and just crashed.

We were ready for an early drive

to St Simons in the morning.

Got up early had breakfast at

Cracker Barrel

then headed off to 

St Simons Island.
Wed March 21st

Our hotel was right near the

roundabout pretty central to town.
This roundabout can be a bit 
crazy but most folks yield and are
very considerate ~ 
Try putting this in New Jersey it would
be proceed at your own risk hah

Our hotel was lovely.  Hampton Inn

Always coffee which I love.

It was under some construction on the outside but

it didn't impact us.  

Had a real nice computer room

Gar and I visited it often 

I checked facebook HAH

We love shopping at Belk as we 

don't have one in NJ. Spent a lot of

time shopping. Picked up this cute
top, Clark sandals at a great price.
Jessica Simpson sun glasses.
Hubby did his share also.
Then we worried how we'd fit it
all back in the suitcases hah

I treated my self to this little fellow but mine reads St Simons Island

I keep him on my desk at work ~ he cheers me

We headed to dinner early so we could drive around the island
It is just so pretty.  We could see a lot of tree damage from
the hurricane in October.  I spoke with a local lady and
she said they barely had things fixed from the hurricane then
they had a very unusual ice storm. She said it rained for several
days so the trees were soaked. Then the temperature dropped 
to freezing and the trees iced over. She said you could hear
the branches breaking and dropping as you drove around.
It was sad to see so much damage.  But we also saw signs
of recover as many new baby trees were planted and we
saw the local folks watering them and taking care of the island.

They have a wonderful organization that takes great care
of the character of the island.

I wanted to find Eugenia Prices
grave as I have read her books
about St Simons Island

Our first night Gar had to go to his

absolute favorite restaurant.

Bennie's Red Barn

They have delicious food.

We try to never miss this place.
We both ordered the exact meal.
Of my gosh you can cut that
steak with a fork.

And we scored another
fireplace seat

Up early on Thursday March 22

to visit my Aunt Linda in

Jacksonville FL - it is 1 hour drive
from St Simons so it is nice to
have the chance to spend a little
time with her.

But first breakfast at Mallory Street
They have great grits ~ naturally hah

Aunt Linda, Me and Cousin Kim
Aunt Linda is a recent widow. Her dear husband 
Barry passed away a year ago from cancer.
He worked at the military ship yard and got sick from
mesothelioma.  Fortunately, I got to meet him on one
of our visits. He was a lovey man.  He worked so hard
and wanted to do so much to his home at the lake.
Since his passing Aunt Linda has been able to honor
his wishes and complete a lot of the projects they both
had dreamed about completing.  She has made the
home so cheerful  and lovely. 
Aunt Linda has two amazing decks. 
I know Barry would be so pleased. 

Aunt Linda lives right on a lake and has a lovely view.

This is my husband Gary, Cousin Kim and me.

They took a great photo of hubby and I

Aunt Linda has a ton of humming birds to her feeders

I love watching them.  But this visit we were too early. 
She also has a stray cat she has taken as her own.
Miss Kitty Girl  She is precious.  We did get a quick
view of her on the way out. She is shy.

After an afternoon visiting

we headed back to Georgia.

Dinner at another of our favorites

Barbara Jeans - this place has 
old time favorite type of foods.
Things you don't normally find
on a menu anymore.

Oh gosh the corn muffins and pumpkin

bread is awesome. And also jalapeno bread.

Squash Casserole this is one of 
my favorites. I order it every time.
Can't find this on menus anymore.

Ambrosia - reminds me of childhood

at my Methodist church pot lucks

You could always count on some 

Ambrosia from one of the dear 
ladies.  

And Gary waits every time we
visit for his She Crab Soup
Look how thick it is?  YUM
I am not a fan but Gary loves it.

Friday March 23rd

Great breakfast at Palmer's.
They have great food.
Always a wait because it is so popular.
They have the best tasting bacon.
Has a maple flavor.  Their grits are
also awesome. 

We wanted to go to the movies today.
A couple of good Christian movies we
wanted to see. 

They have a theater in Brunswick GA at

the mall where Belk is  ~ so more shopping

and then movie.  Since it was a Friday
afternoon almost all of the fellow movie
goers were seniors hah  Almost all 
women.  Gary was almost the only man
in the whole theater.  Finally 2 other men
came in - Gary was happy hah

Oh gosh we enjoyed this

movie - great testimony of hope, forgiveness

and God's faithfulness. Not too mention
what an amazing song.

After the movie we went for a drink at a
place we never miss in Brunswick GA

Daddy's Cates ~ its in the historic downtown area
I always get frozen coffee and Gar gets frozen fruit like
mango or strawberry. It doesn't disappoint.

After coffee we walked a bit around the historical area.
We like to see if any progress has been made on some of 
the closed stores etc  We did see quite a few new places.

They have a real pretty park in the middle with a fountain.
So I took a rest and Gar continued to explore. I chatted
with a dear elderly lady out for some exercise. 
Folks are so friendly. 

Then we headed to the Methodist Retreat Grounds.

We love it there. We stayed there a few times on
our travels.  In fact one of our trips when Gar and I were
still dating as "friends" we stayed here.
It is where Gary surprised me and told me he wanted
our relationship to move forward to a couple and not
just friends. I was delighted and it has always been
a special place for us.

Pretty Chapel

Prayer Garden

Inside the chapel

We saw a little friend HA
A green anole ~ fast little guys
Hard to get the photo.

The grounds are just so beautiful

Out on this little gazebo is where
Gary told me he wanted to move
forward our relationship.
Such lovely memories xoxo

(now we are married almost 

 11 years time goes so fast )

There is nothing like these Georgia oaks

This is the causeway that gets 
you from Brunswick to St Simons.
This view is from the retreat center

Dinner on Friday was another favorite
place BlackWater Grill ~ we first
tried this place because Guy Fieri
visited years ago and gave it a thumbs up

It was my turn to enjoy my favorite
stew.  Brunswick Stew
It is so delicious.  Has a little bit to it.
I could eat 14 bowls HAH

Gar's favorite - Low Country Boil

I had their shrimp so good 

Saturday, March 24th our last full day in
St Simons we were going to drive down to
Saint Marys. Its a sweet town about 45
minutes south almost to the Florida border.
We stayed overnight there once so we
could ride the board to Cumberland Island.
That was quite an adventure.

After a quick breakfast at Palmer's we took
a walk down at the beach front. Last time
we visited I saw this:

I promised next time we visited I
would bring a rock and contribute.
So I added this one:

By the time we arrived back my
rock was gone.  Trusting that the
person who took it will be blessed !

The shore is so pretty

We had a couple of friends 
two pelicans. They were staying
real close to the fishermen
hoping to steal some I think hah
I got a kick out of them. They
had yellow fuzzy hair on their 
heads.  They are pretty big too
a little intimidating. 

It was a sunny pretty day

Then it was time to head off to
Saint Marys.  

Having a little snap chat fun on
the drive HAH

Here is Gar at Saint Marys
They had a lot of construction
along the waterfront still from
the hurricane. 

This one is for my friend Patty
who loves turtles. These little
turtles were all along the walkway.

Gar took in a few farmers markets
while I waited in the car.
The "no see ums" were biting me
big time.  UGH I hate them.
They never bite Gar.
( I suffered for 7 days with itching
when I got back from those buggers)

Back to St Simons.
We decided to try a new place for dinner.
Iguanas Seafood

I was so glad we did.  After a delicious dinner
they had an ice cream bar. I am all about the
ice cream.  I had a cup of chocolate with
sprinkles and M and M's 

It was a cool looking place inside also

They had great food.
The scallops were huge.

Sunday, March 25th

Up early and heading to church
So we decided to eat at the hotel
They had a great spread for Continental.
One of the best I remember. 

We visited this church last time and loved it
When we retire Lord willing this will be our
new church home.  All in Gods timing : )

The grounds are just beautiful
Here's my promise keeper heading
in to Worship.  Love him xoxo

Beautiful sanctuary.

We took communion 

It was a blessed service

After church it was a drive back to

Savannah for an early flight home

early early early Monday AM

One more trip to Cracker Barrel for dinner.

Flight left at 6 am - landed in 

Newark NJ

and Craig was right on time to pick us up

Sad when vacation is over

but not so bad when you get greeted by 

our boys.  

 

This boy could not wait for me

to come home.

He jumped in my suitcase the

minute I opened it up. 

Mom you will never go away without

me again !

It was a blessed trip.

We can't wait to go back