Trip Journal

We recently returned from a wonderful vacation to Savannah, Georgia. We stayed with my sweet sister, brother-in-law and my tiny niece and nephew. Here are some quick thoughts, paintings and photographs from a beautiful trip:

The Marsh, 4×4 watercolor pencil

Thursday afternoon, June 27
Off on our trip, driving down I-20 packed in the jeep. Kids in a tight row behind me. Ready to throw off worries, enjoy life together, feel the free air of the coast. Listening to Cake and smiling at my husband. Enjoying the forward motion of escape.

Friday, June 28
Slow morning with kids and coffee, then off to the beach. An hour of sand pelting, hair flying, blowing wind & waves; guarding baby with a skim board, found relief in a tidal pool. Ended day around the table, warm meal with family & laughs.

Saturday, June 29
Brunched by rows of moss covered trees, then strolled down an uncrowded River Street, finding pirates, barges & fresh pralines. Afternoon on the dock, rain visits the marsh & children play, while Daddys catch blue crabs, too small to eat. Babies waddling in puffy life vests, munching animal crackers & getting into mischief.

Rain on the Dock, 4×4 watercolor pencil

Sunday, June 30
Morning on a sunny beach, jumping & splashing in the waves, handfuls of sand, before a shower sent lines of soaking beach goers heading towards cars. Shrimp poboys & limeade from a roadside stand & afternoon rests. Evening ice cream and stroll to a Savannah square, listening to a violin player & watching touring horses clop by.

Monday, July 1
Morning plans changed for rest, pre-lunch stroll down the bluff, pulling a red wagon along the marsh under canopies of tangled live oaks and Spanish moss. Searching for oyster shells & fiddler crabs and enjoying the cool breeze and silence. Rain interrupts and a hopeful, foolhardy adventure to the beach begins, lightning and clouds paving the way. Admiring the stormy sea through the windshield, watching surfers unload their boards. Tacky beach store, choosing toys, then off to the lighthouse to look up through the drizzle at the glowing top in the gray sky. Day closes with quesadillas and takeout margaritas, busy children put to bed.

Tuesday, July 2
After babies’ naps, outnumbered by small ones, went hunting pirates & candy on River Street. The full crew decked out in paper menu hats lunched at Pirate’s House, then raced the rain for special sweets. Errands, walks and a breezy evening.

Tybee Island, 4×4 watercolor pencil

Wednesday, July 3
Packed off for one more day on the beach, easy parking, sunshine & breeze. Little boy in scuba gear heading down the boardwalk ready for the waves. 3 hours of playing, splashing, castle building and hole digging. Joyful afternoon arrival of grandparents calls for a golden walk along the Bluff, 5 kids in tow, then a table full of family & a low country boil.

Thursday, July 4
Jarred awake with baby cries, stumbled toward coffee & a chipper, leaf-blowing sister. Shed bad mood in time for French toast breakfast, rib smoking, baby pool splashing, 4th of July munching. Attempted walk, but time goes fast & we rest, talk & eat instead. Standing in the kitchen laughing till bedtime. Good food, good family, good life.

Friday, July 5
After coffee, pound cake, car packing, & hugs, waved & honked goodbye to the assembled group on the driveway, already missing them. Expecting hours of rain, we instead met dramatic clouds and easy roads all the way to Birmingham. The clean smell of home, greetings from the lonely cat, bags toted indoors…ah, home sweet home.

Tybee Island Lighthouse, 2×4 watercolor pencil