Bermuda, Part III: Guns, Forts, Death and Dying

 I'm in a hurry, but desperate to get some more Bermuda pictures out there, so here's a post that's light on the prose and heavy on the photos. While in Bermuda, we learned that because of its strategic location, Bermuda has played a very important part in all the wars in the last couple hundred years. There are many fortifications, military bases, canons, and artillery stations that have been active for centuries. There are also many beautiful cemeteries (well, everything in Bermuda is beautiful!).
So, without further ado...

Babies, candy, all things sweet

Been doing lots of fun stuff lately, so here's a hodge-podge recap for you.
My dear friend Esti finally had her baby! (ok I guess her hubby helped). I got to meet her last week, here are a few favorite shots...introducing Audrey Leah
Oooh, first I must show you the adorable hat her friend made for her (does it get any sweeter?)

And I of course gave in to my deepest secret inner desire...and got her a gift from my all-time favorite baby store, Janie & Jack

Just look at how they package their gifts...any store that does this, deserves to charge $25.00 for a onesie :)
 Look at this perfect little doll-face

Congratulations Esti and Ovi, you did it!!

Check out these cool new coasters I got at my favorite store in the world.

I think they look quite cute next to my  little tea-pot/lamp/flower pot combo. Too bad we don't have any furniture nice enough that it needs to be protected from messy drinks.

Last week my mother-in-law brought me to this amazing chocolate lounge. The interior was amazing - all things shabby-chic, with tons of beautiful chocolates and candies mixed in.

Oh yes, and...cupcakes too

I believe we practiced amazing self-restraint - didn't buy a single thing!
My husband is reading on the couch as I post this, and he just commented "That's a lot of pictures". Oh baby, I'm just getting started.
Speaking of babies...my sisters and I met up in Ann Arbor yesterday with some more of my great long-lost, out-of-town friends, Kate and Jon (no, not plus eight). We got to meet their two beautiful sons, Graham (2.5yrs) and Elliot (only 3 months). Here are a few shots

Oh, those soulful eyes full of the wisdom of three months.
He was checking me out...and then his mama caught his attention and brought on the smiles

(I love his little natural baby mohawk)
Graham was quite the imaginative little man. He showed me his two little baby chickens (or were they turtles?) Baby and Cranky.

This was, of course, after he went decimated his second outfit for the day. Turns out mud can be quite irresistible to a two year old.
 The aftermath:

Graham loved my sister's pretty vintage purse with the "oh so golden" tassel

And of course Hannah and I had to take our turns cuddling with Elliot

Some sweet chubby little baby feet

And my favorite of the family shots...I love it when family shots capture great expressions and family dynamics

Goodbye Shaw family, it was so great to see y'all!!

And now I leave you, with a great shot of Sammy...this is his, "Seriously, are you taking another picture of me with that stupid crazy-looking flash thing?" face. Oh, I love those green eyes.

Fun,fun,fun

Well, I guess the day started off a little bit less than fun. Spent the morning at a place I've been spending far too much time this year...

This building

This office

Staring at these chairs

Another month, another lab draw...we'll see what happens.
But then on to bigger and better, and definitely more FUN things...I had an hour to kill before picking up my great friend Casey visiting from Baltimore!! I hung out at the Oasis near the airport, and was delighted to find they had an Auntie Anne's. I have a definite weakness for those luscious, soft, buttery, decadent pretzels..mmmm

And so I sat, watching the cars go by, contemplating the deeper meaning of life, as I reveled in the delicious salty goodness.

Mmmm....I need not say more...

Casey and I went for lunch at a Lebanese restaurant. Quite a treat.

Filafel, hummus, tabulah. yum!

And Turkish coffee for dessert...which tasted way better because it was served in tiny, beautiful little coffee mugs.

And there's my awesome friend. Thanks for coming Case, I had a blast!!

Bermuda: Part II

Our little guest cottage was just perfect. Very sunny, cozy, AIR-CONDITIONED!, and thoughtfully supplied with everything a tourist could desire.

Our gracious hosts, Mike and Debi, did a great job. They even left us champagne and beautiful fresh, exotic homegrown flowers. (Notice cute kitchenette in background)

They were kind enough to take us shopping in a nearby town. Had to get used to driving on the 'wrong' side of the road with the driver on the 'wrong' side of the car!

Also getting used to seeing scooters everywhere. So cool.
Oh yes, and teeny tiny little smart cars everywhere as well. So European.

Mike convinced me to splurge on some fresh Bermuda Wahoo (gotta try some great fish, we're on an island!)

And then Mike and Debi proceeded to cook us an amazingly gourmet dinner. Mike whipped up some concoction to coat the fish with before grilling (wouldn't share his recipe. boo.)

Our gracious hosts chopped and diced and scrubbed and boiled...

While their beloved labs observed all the commotion with eager anticipation. (Teddy and Abby, respectively)

(Abby was just recovering from a tumor removal surgery. What a sport.)

And while they cooked, Kyle and I merely relaxed, sipping the delicious champagne they had so thoughtfully bought us in honor of our 5th anniversary. Thanks so much you guys!

And the finished product. Which, if you can believe it, actually tasted about 50 times better than it appears in this photo (Wild rice pilaf, seared wahoo steaks with lemon-mayo marinade, grilled baby mushrooms and zuchinni slices)

Perhaps it was because of the steady sipping of fine white wine and champagne all evening...
Perhaps it was the wonderful company, helping us to celebrate our first night on this amazing island...
Perhaps it was that we were outside, the night beautifully balmy, the scent of exotic blooms surrounding us, the gorgeous view of the sun setting over the water...
Perhaps it was the warm glow of the candelight...

Whatever it was...it was definitely a night I will never forget. Thank you Mike and Debi!