Had an unexpected pocket of fun. Plans to celebrate Candy’s birthday took a different turn when Ryan and MG asked for help tasting wines to serve at The Bank in Clinton. 

Mary Grace and I put together a birthday lunch to accompany the effort. 

We gave it our best effort. 

It was a lovely day. 

Now all we have to pick is glassware. 

Only one kind of daffodil bloomed this year. 

Candy and I tried the new Wasabi for lunch. Tuesday is noodle day! It was so good. We met the chef and she told us the broth takes hours to make. 

Trip 35 part 2

Breakfast in downtown Bay St Louis

Enjoyed the front porch. Dang the food was good and the coffee was great. 

Took a walk on the pier across the street and found out how serious the black gnat situation was. Had to run back to the car for cover. 

Ed wanted to try a local favorite that was a seafood market with a little lunch spot inside. 

These two ladies were in the back frying up what you wanted. The onion rings were great. 

Out front a pelican celebrated Mardis Gras. 

The black gnats made us refigure our plans. We decided on the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum Biloxi. 

It was so good. Lens from lighthouse. 

Lots of plaques to read. 

This room with old sailboat was gorgeous. 

Great views of the bridge to Ocean Springs. 

Hit a few antique shops back in Bay St Louis 

Bev and I have tradition of exchanging creepy doll pictures. 

Day winding down. Great weather 

A perfect martini at 200 North Beach. 

A mound of seafood. Catfish, oysters, shrimp and a little calamari for good measure. Oh and a little blob of coleslaw. We split it thank goodness. So good. 

Beautiful end. 

Had to go back to Mockingbird for breakfast. That coffee!!

Got sausage and hash browns this time. 

Sat by someone else’s take on Gyotaku. Loved how she used multi colored paint. She also wrapped her fabric around a board I should have bought it. Headed home to start the next 35!

Trip 35

Headed south this morning and ended up in Gulfport for lunch. 

We left rain behind to find sunshine at Felix’s. 

What better way to start that 1/2 oyster poboy and gumbo 

Stopped at the visitor center for info. 

That evening we settled in to the patio at Cuz’s in downtown Bay St. Louis. Finally figured out why none of the locals were enjoying the unexpected warm weather....biting black gnats. 

Grabbed our drinks and headed inside for the crawfish special. It was as good as it looks 

Back to the Hollywood hotel room for great sunset from our room. 

As I headed out yesterday I grabbed this book I’ve had awhile. Thought it would be relevant. I knew a lot about Walter Anderson but had never read this whole book. It is so sad how often artistic genius goes hand in hand with mental illness. 

The book consists of drawings and daily logs kept during the 40ish years he spent on and off the island. He felt compelled to capture or “realize” the subjects he saw. 

Found some of my old notes and visuals tucked in the pages from when I taught the relevance and similarities between Anderson and M.C. Escher. They both found beauty in the repeating patterns in nature. I was a pretty good teacher. 

Woke up to more great weather. 

Sweets and destruction

Destruction first. Recent storm crashed our deck. Ed’s chair was ok, just toppled. 

Been needing new deck boards anyway. 

Not the historical picnic table! How many birthday’s were celebrated here?

35th wedding anniversary. 

Ed got me a jade necklace because that is the gift for 35. 

Of course Valentine’s Day follows quickly. Bought everyone some Campbell’s bakery cookies just like my mom used to do for us. I ate 3 in the car that day to honor the tradition. 

Made a deal with Ryan that if I did flowers for him, he would prepare our meal. Those tulips !

Here is what he greeted Mary Grace with 

He sent me home with spices all ready to go. 

Didn’t get pics of all of it but it was steak with crab sauce, redfish, sautéed veggies and molten lava cakes. I think I got the best end of the deal 

Next post will be about our trip. Off we go.