This year for Christmas I decided to give my family a different kind of gift. A mini-vacation at Hilton Head.



It turned out to be a wonderful idea and I still feel the calm and restorative energy when I think of it.



We arrived late on a Friday evening, driving from West Central Georgia. The family traveled in two vehicles. My son and daughter in law live about 60 miles from me. It would have been out of the way from them to come to my home first.


We had reserved a lovely three bedroom condo at Surfwatch. It was absolutely beautiful. My two granddaughters loved the mini-vacation. The twelve year old enjoyed the pool and walking on the beach. The baby was more impressed with the pool.


We keep the baby while my son and daughter in law took a walk on the beach, the two girls enjoyed a dip in the salt water pool.




I was up first on Sunday morning and walked down to the beach for the sunrise. I'd checked the time of sunrise Saturday night and was there at the specified time. I was there, the sun wasn't, or at least it wasn't visible! That was disappointing, but the two young men on their surf/buggy boards riding the waves were a good diversion.



I walked on the beach alone for almost an hour, when I headed back to the condo, I met my hubby coming to look for me! I'm not usually out of his sight for that long and he'd become worried.



It was a wonderful trip. It would have been nicer if it had been sunny, but the island is beautiful even in the rain.





Just what I needed a quiet walk on the beach and time with my family. I've decided this should be a family tradition.

Can you tell that I've got cabin fever? It's beginning to feel like spring here in Georgia. The Pear trees are breaking out into buds and will be snowy white in a few more days. School is winding its way toward Spring Break and Scarlet is thinking of escape. Can't you tell? My mind goes a wandering to the two lovely Mediterranean cruises my daughter and I have taken. I would so love to go again, but the unrest in the world lets me know it's not going to happen this summer. So I have my memories and my pictures. The cruise ships to the right are at anchor off the island of Santorini. Below is a picture of a canal in Venice. Everyone will recognize the view of the Parthenon.

Here again is a view of Santorini from the ship. Below is a gorgeous view of Mykonos.

This is a port in Tunisia. The cruise lines have removed this port from their schedules. Perhaps we were wise to admire it from on the ship rather than going ashore. I hope you enjoy my little mini vacation, this is all I'm likely to enjoy this summer. The flower cart reminds me of spring and that brings me back to the beginning of my little ramble. Some where when the spring breaks through!