New year...

...new beginnings. This will be my last post on this blog. I am emerging from the protective and nurturing cocoon of NativeDave.com. Want to see my spread my wings? Join me at christyilfrey.blogspot.com.

Sweet endings, sweeter beginnings

2009, for the most part, has been a fine year. We have really settled into island life but still make time for our family and friends living "inland." David and I hit milestone birthdays this year, as did his mom and my dad. Sage turned 1 in January -- the most exciting milestone birthday! Like you, we have celebrated life's joys and lamented its woes. Also like you, we keep moving forward, welcoming blessings designed personally for each of us. It isn't perfect, but it's a good life. Here's to 2010, the new year of joy, love, happiness, patience, forgiveness, adventure and prosperity.

For me, 2010 will mark my return to writing, my passion. I hope you will join me on my journey...and please let me know your thoughts about my posts. Comments are always encouraged!

Blessings...Christy

OTB

People who live on The Island have an expression: OTB. It means "over the bridge", as in the rest of the world is over the bridge. People go OTB only reluctantly, because life out here is peaceful. We try to support our local businesses -- restaurants, especially -- before we go 'over there.'

I was only OTB for one day but I must admit it felt so good to come home. I had to eat at Padre Island Burger Company and take a ride down the beach as soon as we were island-side. Slept like a baby and felt a little groggy all day Sunday. Worked in the yard all day, Buffett on the stereo, a light warm breeze at my back. Sweet, sweet life.

More PINS pics

Indian Blanket, Gaillardia pulchella (top pic)

Shells about 20-mi down island

Folsom, Sage and David playing in the shells about 20-mi down island

PINS hike

Saturday we had a marvellous day outdoors. It was warm but the howling wind made the temp feel much cooler, so we all bundled up. Just inside Padre Is National Seashore there is a short (apx 3/4 mi) nature trail. Put Sage in the stroller, Folsom on the leash, and off we all went. Hiked directly into the wind -- eegads. Park Service did a controlled burn of the grassland surrounding the nature trail. Only a couple of species of plants have returned and are blooming, as of this post. Yellow-blooming Baptisia and Indian Blanket, mostly. Of course coastal Little Bluestem abounds.

After our hike we drove further into the park to Malaquite Beach Visitor Center. David attended a nature talk on the deck while Sage and I ate lunch. Folsom napped. After the talk an intro to birds class started up in the auditorium; I really wanted to attend. Sage preferred running around and screaming like any normal 14-mo-old would, so instead I watched her and giggled. She really has a great sense of humor. Two monarch butterflies flitted about -- she was mesmerized. For a solid 5 minutes she watched them flap their wings and soar upward and around, descending in a spiral near her feet. I have always felt we should encourage children to pursue their interests not ours. There is a book store at the visitor center and David and I decided to buy her a book on butterflies. But she found the book first! And carried it, and my credit card, to the register. So cute. Her first lesson about monetary transactions!

Of course, no outing would be complete without a trip to the beach. We left the visitor center and drove to the end of the road -- literally. Autos are allowed on the beach here, and after the 5-mi post, only 4x4 vehicles can make the trek. Tide had come in high so most of the sand was packed, meaning we could drive much faster and more smoothly than when the sand is powdery. Around the 20-mi post the shells became really deep and our truck began to sink. Good stopping point. Sage was snoozing by then. It was Folsom's turn to run around and play. David fished while Folsom swam and dug to China. I took out my binoculars and bird guides and kept an eye on Sage. I saw a Willett!

Sage woke up and played in the shells with me. We ended up spending about half the day exploring that part of the island. Lovely way to spend a Saturday...especially just moments from home.

Greetings from The Island

In case you haven't heard, we've moved! Us, our baby Sage, Folsom the Dog, the innards of our company -- everything. Everybody and everything now reside in Corpus Christi out on Padre Island. This blog, then, is the place to read all about our adventures here in this little beach town. We love it here!