Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I'm enjoying a role reversal today as the guest vs the vacation rental manager as I'm with a group of friends here in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Renting a home from Doug Brindley and the Brindley Vacation Rental Company www.brindleybeach.com here in Corolla, NC where the wild horses run on the beaches.

We're cookin' up a storm and eating like kings and queens. So far some of the yummy food has included Buffalo Chicken Dip, Tres Leches Cake ( recipes.com then search tres leches cake- I promise you, you'll want to try this cake!) and Creme Brulee French Toast ( epicurious.com and search creme brulee french toast). And this doesn't even include the main meal today of turkey which btw- we are brining using a recipe from Martha Stewart ( www.marthastewart.com and search brine a turkey)

The centerpiece today is so wonderful- one of our friends , Pam who is a school teacher- brought her homemade turkey head that you attach to a pineapple. I don't know if any of the rest of you grew up with the same decor, but our family sure did! In fact, I know my sister is using hers today on her pineapple for the table centerpiece.

The other picture is NOT our table but a beautiful example of what can be done so simply with some cut branches and clear glass vases.

I have very much to be thankful for this year and wish all of you a wonderful day. And a very big thank you for allowing me to have a business where I can be so happy and and do exactly what I was born to do. Welcoming guests to my island paradise!

Mermaid sightings at Old Love Cottage!

Yep, a new cottage and mermaid has popped up already! This blond hand carved mermaid is from a local artist and now lives happily ever after at Old Love Cottage. The outside of the cottage is hot pink but the inside of the cottage is cool shades of blues and grays. Relaxing, lovely and calm....

This cottage has been completely restored by Jane Coslick and the new home owners have re done the inside with their own touches. I know you all will enjoy!

UGA VII dies...

This is so sad! Just last week I shared about meeting Sonny ( owner of UGA the Georgia bulldog) while watching the space shuttle. Then.... on Thursday of last week, poor UGA dies of a heart attack at only the age of 4. We know how many of you are fans of Georgia and we send our condolences... also will keep all on the update on the new puppy.

The Last Song movie poster

Hot off the Facebook fan site- The Last Song's official movie poster and marketing piece. Yes, I'm afraid you all will be sick of me going on and on about this, but I just can't believe how beautiful Tybee looks in this movie! I was down at the very south end of the island this afternoon looking at low tide, the moon pools and how glorious the beach is in the fall. The Adams Cottage which had a starring role in the movie is all quiet again and you'd never know it was the movie star it was all summer. The view is still the same, overlooking the beach, sea oats and of course the ocean. Isn't this poster great?

Finally- the real thing ( not the bootleg copy) The Last Song Trailer!!!

I thought Hallie was my only in the field Blog correspondent but Michael is running a close 2nd! Hot off the YouTube website ( thank you Mr. B) is THE MOVIE TRAILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just because our movie friends have left the island and even though we love Robert Redford he just doesn't seem to hang around Tybee as much as Miley did, the movie is still moving forward with the process of becoming a blockbuster film. They are busy back in Hollywood crafting all those days of shooting into a movie that will make you cry.

Watch the trailer and like those fans of the Twighlight Saga are doing ( which btw- I love the books and will also be in line to watch New Moon ) be prepared to line up next spring to see our movie!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi-RXyEpRY8

To my shuttle friends who watched on Monday and those who couldn't make it- you can follow NASA and learn all about the shuttle launches on their twitter, or you can check www.nasa.gov and they list the times and days. I will also tweet about the next launch as well. Remember- the shuttle is no longer going to be used starting sometime next year for space travel, so enjoy the launches while we can!

The Space Shuttle and Sonny Seiler- a typical Monday on Tybee

My new favorite reality TV show is not The Real Housewives of Orange County or Dancing with the Stars like many of you probably believe. It's NASA TV. And there was a live performance and I had front row seats today- even if those seats were actually 400 miles away.

2:28PM was the take off time from Cape Canaveral and I headed down on my trusty beach bike to the south end of the island to watch the show. What fun- a beautiful day today- warm and sunny and there at the south end was Stephen Palmer from Tybee Island Wedding, Jan Elliott- realtor on Tybee and Fran who rents Doodlebug Cottage from us every fall and winter. Steve had the NASA app on his Iphone ( isn't technology amazing) and precisely at take off, we saw the plum of smoke and then the trail of smoke as the Shuttle took off and headed to space. We were all just awe struck! Not as incredible as the evening launch, but still pretty spectacular.

We saw a couple walking on the board walk, and we assumed they were there to watch the launch. But it was just two Savannah locals out enjoying the day. I realized it was Sonny Seiler - local celebrity, owner of UGA the Bulldog and the lawyer for Jim Williams of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Fame. We spoke, we all posed for pictures and then we all commented on how beautiful the day was. Just another day in paradise!

My kayaking launching pad

Last night on the way back to my cottage, I drove down my favorite street on Tybee- Venetian. We have three cottages there- Doodlebug, Tybee Tides and Sunset Cove - each one more unique then the next, but each has one thing in common- the amazing sunsets over the Horse Pen Creek Salt Marsh leading out to the Back River.

With daylight savings time, I still get caught off guard with how early dark arrives and I keep forgetting that sunset is so early. While driving, I literally stopped in the street when I made the turn where 12th Street becomes Venetian. The sky was so incredible with the streaks of reds and gold and the clouds reflecting the colors. The marsh and water shimmered and glowed. I walked down to "my" kayak launching pad scene of so many terrific kayaking trips with Suzanne and other assorted friends. I'd take these pictures this summer so I could remember how warm the air and water is during the summer. I'm always amazing at how we have 4 seasons here on the island. Not dramatic temperature shifts like up North or in the Midwest, but still cold enough for jackets, jeans and sweaters . This is the dock and dock house where I went out last night to watch the sunset. I'll take my camera next time to record the beauty! Enjoy!