Taking a walk on the "Bluff"

Life in a Fish Camp

While out walking I stumbled upon this old, abandon

store. It is now used as a place to rest but it's for mainly for storage.

There are lots of rules if you want to use this particular dock

Horse Shoes....waiting for summer to begin

Lots of sitting is accomplished on the Bluff

A long necked bird just watchin' the day go by

A pavilion cleaned up and ready for spring

Don't touch that moss!!

Scarlet in her glory!!

Next time you find yourself down south underneath the live oak trees don't go touching the moss - it's filled with "red bugs" and they will eat you up alive! This is what I have been told and I'm just going to flat out believe it! I only have a little over a week left of my journey. How did it go so fast? I've been to so many places and I've seen so many things since I've arrived. I will certainly miss this place. I was up at the Boat Shid the other night and Greg, the owner, asked me how I was enjoying my stay - I replied "I'm having a good time, this is a wonderful little spot in the world." It made him smile hearing that "an outsider" liked it here in this out of the way place. I really like his wife, Becky and go up to the Shid to visit with her. She's about my age and just a nice person. She's a school teacher by day and a bar fly by night! Not really, Greg bought the bar about five years ago and she said if she wants to see her husband she has to come here to do it. She said it was a hard transition. They have three kids who are grown and gone and this is something Greg decided to do so they moved to Shellman Bluff and bought the Boat Shed. She's a far better women than I. I also like the bartender, Brenda - now she is a hardworking women. She paints houses during the day and now tends bar two nights week. She said that painting has been slow and she needed to pick up some extra cash so she started tending bar about a month ago. The painting business is picking back up and now she's finding herself working days and nights. Amazing.

Last night on the news it was all about a KKK event somewhere here in Georgia - they are protesting three things - Illegal immigration - specifically Latinos, the deficit and prayer in school. I myself found it to be a sad representation of the south. I was happy that it was a peaceful demonstration but it bothered me that something with so many bad memories and feelings would still be around today. And people bitch about the liberals! Enough of the politics - just wanted to give you a taste of Southern Georgia news.

I have spent over a month basically living in one room. A clothes basket full of clothes - four pair of shoes (ok five but i never got to wear one of the pairs!). Basic make up, a few hair products, some books, my computer and my knitting and guess what??? I love it! There is no housework to do because - no house. I have found that people are the same wherever you go. Most people want enough money not to have to worry about it, laughter, love and a cocktail or two along the way. People in the south are very friendly. Be it a big city or small town everyone says "hello" and "yes mam" and "no sir". The rest of states could learn something from that...

Now that the weather has warmed up and the sun is shining I get to sit on the dock everyday and watch the tide come in or go out. I see dolphins jumping and once in a while an otter. Fish are nipping at the top of the water all the time. It's peaceful and brings with it a feeling of calm and joy. Whether alone or with someone it's a nice place to be. I think I will come back next winter.

YOU MAY WONDER WHY.....

You may wonder why I'm not posting more stories on my blog - I'll tell you why - writing is hard work! It takes a lot of time and thought. It is much, much easier to sit, watch tv and knit!!!! BUT this week I will try to post something....

Sister has arrived!

I picked Peggy up at the Jacksonville airport Thursday - we had a full day! The only snag in an otherwise perfect mini-vacation is that for the first time in 20 years snow was in the forecast!! Peggy almost froze to death - she kept saying "I didn't bring any warm clothes. I have to wear this red sweater everyday because it's the only warm thing I have." Unfortunately for us the weather just keeps getting colder with more and more wicked, cold rain. Our first stop was Jekyll Island, a beautiful place. Even the dead of winter the beauty will take your breath away. We spent a good amount of time of the island and then headed to Darien to have a late lunch at the Purple Pickle. I gave her a pretty good tour of Darien and all Peggy kept saying was "darling" "Oh, this is so cute!" She enjoyed lunch and then we headed home. As we left Darien she began to notice that the surrounds were beginning to - I don't know - how should I say it? Deteriorate? I told her to sit back and enjoy the ride, and oh what a ride we had! By the time we got to Shellman Bluff she was damn near speechless. First I took her to see Paula's house which is on a golf course. It is a mansion and it is beautiful so are the rest of the houses in her neighborhood. She could not believe that these big, giant houses were nestled in among everything else she had witnessed. At that point I felt she was ready to experience my neighborhood. We left the "projects" got back on the hardtop and headed over to my neck of the woods. As we turned off the road into what appears to be a front yard Peg's mouth dropped open and she said, "Oh, My, God" "I could not have stayed here" deeper and deeper we went into the yard of neighbors. I laughed and said "Trust me you will love it before you leave". Soon enough we were at Lin and Jimmy's beautiful home on the river. You have to remember the south is experiencing the coldest weather they have had in 20 years - Peggy looked at the House and commented that it was pretty and then I parked and we came in. She loves the little cottage - it is cute and comfy and just nice place to be.

pictures of the cottage.....

A view of the court yard that joins the three houses

The gate that gets you into the court yard

The only bush blooming in the court yard but isn't it pretty?

Upon entering the gate you enter the court yard

The dog washing station!

Caroline in the kitchen

this is what you see when you walk in the door

preparing dinner

My spot

Scarlet's "spot"

A vase that Caroline bought for me

in Savannah....

A Friday Night Jump Up

Eddie, Lin & Robert

enjoying the Jump Up

Eddie, Lin & Meegan

Jimmy

As best I can tell a Jump Up is another word for having your friends to dinner. Lin & Jimmy hosted a jump up Friday night. The food was great and the company even better. It was an evening of cocktails, laughs and southern charm. As I indicated Jimmy & Lin were the hosts. Guests included Meegan a transplant from upstate New York - Meegan recently had a home built here and is in the process of migrating south. Her other half, a gentleman that goes by the name of Mac will join her when he retires. Eddie and Dee spend their winters here at Shellman Bluff and call a small town in Massachusetts their home. I'm told they have a nice boat that has hosted its share of river parties. When they aren't on the river they are riding their Harley's all over south Georgia. The last guest was a gentleman by the name of Robert Corham, an author that hails from Atlanta. Robert has a retreat at Harris Neck where all of his many books come to life.

A Night Out

I'm just now starting to think "what have I done? why am I here?" Did I do this to avoid the St. Louis winter? Did I really think I would write a book? Monday and Tuesday were cloudy, rainy days and I spent a lot of time thinking about this "adventure"I'm on. I decided that I had no earthy idea what I was looking for and I didn't think this thing through. I should have listened to Beav when she said "Did it ever dawn on you to rent the place for two weeks and see if you like it? Then if you do - go back and stay six weeks?" Now that was a good idea, but ....If I can't go all in then I'm not interested. So here I am in my little cottage in the woods of Georgia.

Yesterday I took Miss Scarlet to St. Simon's Island and let her run on the beach. The we drove around and looked at all of the cottages and shops. Next it was off to Darien and the Purple Pickle for lunch. Last stop - home. I wanted to make sure I had enough time for a little nap before going out with the girls. Paula (Lin's friend) invited Lin and I to her house for soup and salad and then we went to Hunters for a few games of Left, Right, Center. I promise that soon, very soon I will post pictures. Paula's house was b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. LRC was a lot of fun because I won one of the games! $33! And all of the people could not have been nicer or friendlier. I think they were so excited to see someone new. Everyone knows everyone else. Anyway I might be closer to scratching something else off of my bucket list. If you know me - you know my dream has always been to go sailing. Last night I met a man U-Be (Uncle Billy) and he has a sail boat and said he would take me out sailing. Then I was talking to Gerald (think Barracks Guy) and he said that for as long as Billy has had that sail boat "he ain't never seen it out". So we'll see what happens but I know I am going to get a ride on a sail boat sometime during this trip. The weather is pretty crappy for boating right now but hopefully that will change next week. Paula also won a game of LRC - so two of us went home with a win. We all had pretty much to drink but home is less that 5 mins away. Of course they are the darkest roads I have ever driven in my life. Those creepy moss trees are everywhere - they are like a scary story to me. After arriving home I look out at the river and see a bright orange quarter moon hanging low in the sky and reflecting on the water. It was amazing. I ran inside got Scarlet and walked down to the dock. By the time I got out there the moon had moved behind clouds but the river was still magnificent. So I stayed out there for awhile just enjoying it. One really nice thing about being here is that you feel so safe. Lin keeps the keys in the golf cart so that whenever i want to use it it's available. Half the time I never lock my car or the house.

This evening Jimmy and I are going to the Boat Shed (Shid) for a burger. They have some excellent burgers. Then I'll burrow in for the night and watch all of my favorite shows! Tomorrow night Lin is having a Jump Up - we will be ordering from Speeds and eating at her house. Hopefully one of these days the sun will shine and I'll be able to hang out down at the river. I'm wondering - should I start fishing?