Diary of the Day

The sun didn't rise without the clouds trying hard to obscure it's brightness and the clouds won for a while.  Above the thick layer of clouds the sky started to brighten and turned everything pink. The lone heron walked down the beach hoping against hope that a fisherman would arrive and provide an easy meal.

 When that didn't happen the heron walked over to a man's chair and checked out the soft sided cooler sitting there for the taking. 

 When the man saw the thief stealing his bait, the heron was chased off.

In the picture below the sun was just rising out of the water as the heron was rising into the sky.

Not long after another younger heron arrived and this one was much more timid. 

As the sun climbed higher that pink turned into gold. I'm glad I walked down the beach to see that beautiful sight.

I walked over to Taunya's condo to make some breakfast. Most of the group staying there had already eaten and were getting ready to head out for a walk. Amy and I left for Claude and Carole Lipscomb's ranch a little after 9:00 am and had such a nice visit with 77 year old Claude. He raises blue roan Ranch bred Quarter horses and registered Texas Long Horned cattle. He gave us the grand tour while introducing us to his amazing animals, told us how he got started and stories of the farm. We really enjoyed being there and listening to him.

If you would like to read about our morning there click HERE. We left there after 11:00 am stopped at Walmart to pick up a loaf of bread, some fruit and to fill the gas tank on the van. The kids were playing by the pool when we got back. The picture below was taken from the balcony of Ben and Taunya's condo. They have such a nice view of the pool from the back and a decent view of the gulf from the side. 

 After the groceries were put away I went down to join them.

At 4:00 pm the girls brought the van over to the condo Amy and I are staying, picked us up and we drove to the Original Oyster House for an early dinner.  We all ordered the salad bar and a cup of either gumbo or clam chowder as it was only a $1.00 more. That was a mistake. None of us enjoy the taste of gumbo (we have never had it but thought we ought to taste it) and the clam chowder was terribly spicy and in our minds not edible. Amy ordered alligator bites and we also ordered chicken strips to go with the salads.  The salad bar was good.  After dinner we let the little kids walk the board walk around the restaurant.

We had a fun but long day. Tomorrow Taunya and Abe leave us. They are flying home to Texas.