Flower Du Jour

A bit of color to enhance all of this black background

Local Favorites

This morning I thought I would take a moment to list a few, of what I think, are places in the area that are rather extraordinary. From restaurants to mechanics shops the one thing that I have found living in both the Lynn Haven and the Panama City Beach area is the people are overwhelming good natured.
Here are just a few:

Best Restaurant: For lunch on the water with great service and food:
J. Michaels (Be sure to ask for Rachel, she's wonderful!)

Best Restaurant on the water for drinks and local color:
The BoatYard

Best Restaurant: Steak and Seafood on a budget:
Triple J's (Great food and happy hour. The triple J special sirloin is one of our favorites.)

Old Fashioned Pharmacy:
Adams Pharmacy (This place reminds me of when I was growing up and mom would take us to the drug store. Lewis is a wonderful man that will help you with a smile. Located in Lynn Haven)

Auto Mechanic:
Hoffmans Auto Parts (Also in Lynn Haven. These guys actually rescued me when my battery died in the parking lot of a local restaurant 5 years ago. They were leaving after having eaten dinner, saw me stranded, went to their shop and returned with a new battery they installed. I've been going there ever since.)

I'll add more as time allows, these are just a few that stand out in my mind.

Dog Day Afternoon

When I die I would like to be reborn as a dog. Preferably one that lives at my house.
Dino, our yellow lab spend his days playing ball, swimming in the pool, chasing squirrels and giving hell to the cats across the canal. When not occupied with these activities, the rest of his day is spent sleeping comfortably on my bed.

Lazy Days of Summer...

This time of year is so difficult to stay focused and indoors. As I work on a website, try to pay bills or clean house the blue sky and crystal water in the pool keeps leading me astray. You need to be surrounded by water to live in Florida (in my humble opinion) just to survive. Our summers are hot and humid. The nights are wonderful for swimming in water that becomes warmer then the air outside.

Happy Birthday to Alex!

Alex and his girlfriend Sarah, 2006

18 years ago today I was in Winston Salem, N.C. and after 15+ hours of labor, gave birth to the most extraordinary baby!
I can't believe Alex turns 18 today....
I have to smile because he has always been and continues to be nothing short of a wonderful young man. I couldn't have asked for a better son.
Happy Birthday Alex!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beautiful Panama City Beach

I had an opportunity last week to preview one of the many condo's that are taking over our beaches here. I must admit as much as I have grown to despise all the concrete structures along HWY 98, the views they allow from an 11th floor balcony are quite extraordinary...

Summer in Panama City Beach

It has arrived! The hot and humid wonderful days of summer in Panama City Beach, Florida. Tourists flock by the thousands to partake in a week of what we locals take for granted every day (beautiful white beaches, turquoise water and fabulous offshore fishing!)
I dug up this old photo of Alex from right after we moved here 5 years ago from Orlando...

Some favorite places of ours to visit this time of year include: Spinnaker Beach Club (great food and views on the Gulf of Mexico), St. Andrews Park for relaxing on the beach and watching the boats come through the pass and rendevousing in the St.. Andrew Bay with the Power Squadron.

Happy 4th of July!!!

Having recently been out of pocket for almost 6 weeks (before and after surgery), I decided Todd and I should relax a bit and take the boat to St. Andrews Bay for the fireworks on the 4th of July. It was great! We met with 3 other groups of friends with boats and rafted together to eat, drink and celebrate. Todd adjusted my camera to the "firework" setting (very cool) and I fired away. The camera worked great, however, I need to work on my photography skills..........

For additional photos, vist the St. Andrew Bay Power Squadron Site