The Salty Dog

                                            
                                            November 30, 2016

Here we were heading into Nashville during our snowbird trek from Northern Michigan toward the Gulf of Mexico. We left Boyne City, MI. on November 29, stayed over night at the Baymont Inn in Kokomo, IN. The next day we drove through Indianapolis and Nashville to just north of Birmingham, AL. to the Quality Inn in Cullman, AL. (Sorry for the boring details, but this blog is a record keeper for me). The next day our drive was short getting us into Gulf Shores, AL. early enough to get the keys to our rented condo and unpacking our overloaded car before Joe's 5 :00 PM Happy Hour!

We were originally schedule to go back to the condo we rented  the prior winter at Emerald Greens, but because we no longer had Mallery, our beloved dog, Joe wanted to get a beach condo instead. Beach condo's are far and few between for pet owners. We picked this condo out from VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owners). After narrowing down to two condo's we had our daughter go in person and give us her opinion. This is the view as we entered the front door of the condo. This dresser came in handy, as the one dresser in the bedroom was too small for both of us, beside the full size closet in the bedroom. You never know what kind of weather you will get in the winter at Gulf Shores, so you need every season of clothing. I clean out the drawers and put in new contact paper in both dressers, before I put my cloths in them. Did I ever mention I can be a bit anal!

This coat rack in the entry hallway was a life saver for us and full all winter long.

The first door to the right from the entry door went

 into our bedroom. There was a queen size bed which is what Joe and I are use to.

I brought in our car on top of a ton of other things from home, this small side table and stool for my makeup set up. At my age, a make up table is a must, as my eyes are too weak to put any makeup on without a magnifying mirror. It sat in front of a window which gave me the much needed natural light for best make up application. From pictures during our condo search, I could tell I needed a plan of action, for the 3 months we were going to be snowbirds.

This was my TV in the evening's. (Joe and  I don't see eye to eye on TV show's, plus I tried all winter, to go to bed between 9:00 and 10:00 because I usually spend at least 2 hours during the night awake. I have been still struggling adjusting my hormones to find the magic dose) Grrrr!

When you come out of our bedroom, the bathroom was the first door to the right. When I looked at condo pctures, plenty of storage was key. You wouldn't believe how many condo have no storage above the toilet.

 or drawers in the vanity. Most condo's are set up for 1 to 2 day stays, and maximum a week.

Outside the bathroom were the bunks, perfect for the grand kids. The bunks were close enough that I could hear them at night if someone got scared or  they were horsing around.

Behind the bunks was the stacked washer and dryer. The smaller washer and dryer was not a problem for me because I usually do small loads anyway.

View of hall of bunks, and doors to our bed room and entry door.

The kitchen was tight but workable.

We had brought a few of our favorite kitchen tools as we didn't know what the kitchen was supplied with. I had to do some  moving of things around to get our stuff in, but I also like to wipe down the inside of cabinets and threw some of the dishes in the dishwasher. Most renters never eat in and dishes can get dusty after sitting all spring, summer, and fall. The owners should really give us a discount because I pretty much do a deep cleaning when I first arrive for the winter. Did the same last winter at Emerald Greens Condo.

This was our pantry for food supply. Very minimal, but at least it didn't have tons of extra kitchen bowl, glass ware, dishes or what not that ends up in the pantry because the owners don't take the time to get rid of old left over kitchen stuff as they buy new stuff. And believe me, there is no place to put this extra stuff. When your condo is 600 sq feet, every inch is accountable for something.

But this is what it was all about for Joe and I. THE VIEW!

This was my chair for this snowbird girl. A recliner for me.

And I did "Love" the decorating. Just my style. I felt so at home for the 3 months we were there.

The owner have a dog, and I am sure he is salty when coming off the beach.

The space is tight, so table and chairs or bar stools? Good choice we think. They could have got rid of the recliner and then there would have been space for the bar stools, but the recliner was defiantly our choice.

On the other side of  the living room was Joe's recliner and the couch. The couch never really got used and it isn't a hide-a-bed. A hide-a bed would be nice so I could have all three of my grand kids spend the night at once. Though Joe say's the 3 of  them at once is too much for this condo, which is probably true. The couch was comfortable, clean and nice looking.

The Gulf Front patio had 2 reclining chairs.

and 2 lounging chaise. In the afternoon, these were the chairs to get some Vitamin B. The other two were the morning Vitamin B chairs. If you were too busy in the morning, then the afternoon loungers were waiting to help. (Of course if there was sun).

I don't know if you have noticed, but pictures always make things look further away. The gulf waters were much more close then this picture shows.

Three floors down, we had the pool below. Unfortunately the pool was not heated.

And of course the hot tub!

Two to three time a week around 10:00 
am the Blue Angels would go right past our condo during December and January. To get a picture of them was almost impossible. You always heard them after they had gone by. Joe and I would run out to the deck every time, and it sounded like they were coming, but they had gone by already. We could watch them in the distance do their loop d-loops, or plunges, but to far for pictures. We never tired of them! Where they went in February we don't know, but they are scheduled for shows all over the USA from March to November. 
We paid about $400 less a month for this beach front 1 bedroom/ 1 bathroom condo, compared to the 2 bedroom/ 2 bathroom condo last year that was located 4 miles inland, with a free golf course out your back door. But for Joe and I, the beach was just what the Dr ordered. The Salty Dog Condo gave me comfort with all the doggie decor, though sad at times also.

Last Days In Boyne City 2016

                                                            October 29, 2016

No more dock, no more shore station, no more boating!

Joe watching TV in his garage/soon to be small but nice man cave. Joe had started to demo some things in the garage.

One of our neighbors had invited us to join her and her husband, and her husband's sister and husband at a new restaurant in town, "7 Monks". Sorry the picture is so bad, the lighting was low in the entryway.

We met Robbi  (in front row, across from Joe) as she was walking down the street. I heard a "Hey I like your house in yellow" as I was sweeping our deck. I looked up and yelled back, " Thank you". Then it dawned on me, I needed to put my broom down and walked down the front yard to the fence and introduce myself. I can get so intense in what I am doing, that I forget to be polite. After talking to her for a few minute, we found out she and her husband lived just down the street in another yellow house. She was headed home to go kayaking and asked if I would like to go too. I jumped at the chance and told her I would be down to her house in 10 minutes! It was a beautiful calm evening, perfect to explore our lake. Sometimes it pays to be spontaneous.

By the 1st of November, our trees on the lake were turning their beautiful golden yellow. I love watching them turn this brilliant, before they drop their leaves.

Joe and I never do the fire camp thing,

except when someone invites us over.

Our part time next door neighbors were up for the weekend, and Larry is an excellent fire builder.

The next day we did another hike at Avalanche Mountain.

A lot of leaves cover the trail!

Part of the trail is very hilly. It's hard to photograph hills, but I am at the top and Joe is way at the bottom of this hill.

                                                   November 8, 2016

We couldn't leave Michigan until we had voted for our new President! Especially being first time Michigan voters.

After the election, Robbie was back to her lake property on a sewing marathon with her sister Sue. She invited us over for a victory celebration. Here Joe and her Sue held up the quilt, Sue had been working on for a while. There were 14 Michigan lighthouses and the Mighty Mackinaw Bridge. Joe and I were really impressed with her quilt!

The rest of the month of November was spent shopping for bathroom sinks, lights, flooring, and etc. Haven't we done this before!

Joe did some of the mudroom and airplane (small) bathroom demo. Here you can see just how small the bathroom was, with the wall and door removed. He also removed a closet to make the bathroom larger.

Joe took off all the trim to try to save us some money. He would have done more, but he was unsure what needed to be left.

A few days before we headed south, Tom showed up to do the rest of the demo.

The new window was completed in the cabin section of our home, All we need now is a light to be installed above the game table.

Have you ever seen black squirrels? I had never seen them until we moved to Michigan.

On November 20, we woke up to a few snow flakes.

                                                    

By that evening, we had our first snow fall.

Joe went out to do his favorite thing. Later he came in and told me he had fallen on the ice. I asked him why he had not put on the ice grippers I had bought him many years prior and had saved in case we had a home in snow again someday.

Joe suffered with side and arm pain for 2 1/2 months after that fall. He said he will put those gripper on from now on.

The garage door in Joe's man cave has window and wall now. We cover the furniture before it's time to go.

The maple and bitch trees have lost all their leave. The weeping willow is the last to drop it's leaves.

                                                 

On November 29, we headed south for Gulf Shores, Alabama I felt very sad leaving my Mallery. This was our first road trip without her.