A day in paradise.

Thanks to all of you who recognized my need to decompress a bit. But, I have to admit.... I decompressed MY way! That involves a book to the bookstore the first full day I was left alone, and a pile of books to dig through the next day. So, I turned on the tv, ordered a much too expensive movie for the room, and got busy.

By busy, I mean, I started writing down IDEAS for projects, classes, retreats, which I think would be fun. I took each book, wrote down the title, then listed teh pages and descriptions of each activity.

I ended up with about six pages of ideas!! This, to me, IS paradise. It's something I just never take the time to do (or HAVE the time to do), but that I feel is really valuable, and actually really inspiring and FUN!

And for any of you local folks, my next endeavor is to have kids art classes, beginning next week!! I will be calling it Camp Creative. It is a time for the kids to learn about being creative in all kinds of ways. We will be making simple jewelry, designing earrings, making mom and grandma a peral choker with a cute pearl cross pendant, and even a couple of canvases.

Suzy, you reading?! ! Proud of me?! I am just doing it!

I want the parents to feel they are getting their money's worth, so I will be guaranteeing at least 15 Christmas gifts, IF the kid decides to give things away and not keep them!! Ha.

Ok, so enough on that. Unless you are local and want to know more. Only have openings on Wednesdays right now. Mondays are full up!

So, after my day of inspiration, the boys returned from their day of golf, and we all went out to eat together.

It was a cool little spot called Mary Mahoney's. And I think it's been there since about 1930 or so.

It reminded me of Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans. And they gave us the whole top floor since our party was so big.

It was a really, really old building, and it had watermarks downstairs indicating levels inside the building during various natural disasters which had hit the coast.

For instance,

can you tell this is above the doorframe!? Mike, here, is on a stair, my friends.

The eye of the storm actually hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast, not New Orleans, as many may think. N.O. just had lots of damage and is heavily populated, so it got a lot of attention. the MS coast actually had whole cities wiped OUT!!

Oh wait, I was only about 200 years off!! That house was built in 1737. I was close!

And I find it kind of miraculous that the Patriarch was still standing. A 2000 year old tree!!

I'm gonna tell you, I love me some southern Oaks!! I had to leave when they were clearing our property for our house. I couldn't stand that they would be taking down trees that had so gloriously been growing for so many years!! We minimized the number of trees cut with the placement of our house.

Here's a little FYI.

So, basically, if you are ever in Biloxi, MS, I recommend this joint!! There were more famous people on the Wall of Fame than I could ever list. Ronald Reagan had a dish named after him.

And another thing, is that it was in walking distance from the Beau Revage... another MUST STAY in Biloxi!!

I'll be back tomorrow with Day One... I am kinda moving along backwards! Happy Tuesday.

MO