Day 8: Bleedin', hush puppies and fort fun

On Saturday, Allen cut his finger pretty badly... and bled all over the place. The weather was pretty poor... Rain was threatening, which was great news for our native Gulf Coast friends... They're about 12 inches under on rainfall, or some ridiculous figure. So, we headed out to Fort Morgan, thinking Allen might have fun crawling around the catacombs. He had a bit of fun, but wasn't thinking much about his own safety, as usual. He would have walked right off the concrete battlements, if given a choice.

We had lunch at Sunplace Else II, on the Fort Morgan Road... perhaps for the last time. Good food... or was it? Emilyn and I got very sick that night.

Allen's bad (?) boo-boo, and more

Day 7: Land's end, and general silliness

On Friday, we headed out to the Gulf Islands National Seashore, at the extreme eastern end of Perdido Key. This is an area of no development that was scoured by Hurricane Ivan. It's bouncing back quite nicely, but it still feels like the ends of the Earth. And the wind was howling, and the surf was raging. So Allen didn't feel much like playing. But he did manage to find someone's old drink bottle -- and a seashell of his very own! He gave it to me, so I keep it at my desk now.

At Perdido Key, and more

Day 6: Best day at the beach

I packed a lot of camera time in on Thursday. And who wouldn't, with such cute, happy subjects!

The surf was just right for our little explorers, and Allen made the most of it. His funniest trick was running up to each wave, timing it just right, then dropping down on his butt and yelling, "Plop!" (Which sounded more like "Pah!") Then he'd laugh uproariously.

We also went to the Orange Beach Waterfront Park, had the best shrimp ever at the original Doc's Seafood Shack and went with Cap'n Bill and the gang on a dolphin cruise.

Low tide, dorsal fins and more

Jennie's Book Chat: "Innocent in Death"

I told you that Nora Roberts really cranks 'em out! This one was already out by the time I finished the last one, around Valentine's Day. But I saved it for the beach. Nothing like reading trashy thrillers at the beach!

This one was a little disturbing, though... An 11-year-old sociopath. A sick concept. It wouldn't be too fun to realize you'd given birth to a monster.

But the whole Eve-Roarke dynamic was fun... His old flame comes back -- the only one who dumped him. This gives Eve fits. But, as usual, all was right at the end. You wouldn't want anything else from your beach read!

Day 5: The Little Zoo That Could

Knowing Allen's predilection for "enn-mah" (animals!), we headed to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. It's A&E's "Little Zoo That Could." Hurricane Ivan really raked that place, but it looks nice now, and Allen and the rest of us got to see plenty of creatures.

We also spent some time that day with our normal beach-ly pursuits... Surf and seafood! Check it out!

At the Gulf Coast Zoo, and more