Home again, home again, jiggity jig

Aaaaahhhh, good to stretch the legs.  I just drove 6 hours from Atlanta back to Sandestin without stopping.  I really should stop and stretch and move about, as it is healthy for so many reasons, but once I'm on the road, I just want to keep going until I reach my destination.  And there aren't any great places to stop from Atlanta to the Panhandle (through Alabama.)  The drive is easy and pretty, but nowhere fantastic to stop.  So...............

I'm home.  It's q-u-i-e-t.  Ahhhh.  I know I'm gettin' old when after about a week with my son and his lovely family, I have had about all I can take of the kids' TV shows, dog barking, kids' volume voices (kids do yell, scream and shout you know...whether in fun and laughter or tears and squabbling....)  It pains me to think I can't block out noise like I used to when I was younger and I dearly, dearly love visiting Pat, Kate, Madison and Cayden.  But I guess that's just the way it is now. 

I am getting o-l-d.  Period.

But I feel so grateful for my son, his wife and my grandchildren!  They are so good to me when I'm there and I always have fun.  So many memories of good times.  And tomorrow I will miss them already.

From 2007, but the only one I have of them all together on this computer's hard drive:

Easter 2010

The weather here in Atlanta has been warmer than where I am wintering in Florida!  What the heck is going on with our climate?  We had low 80's for the last three days.  But it makes for a wonderful Easter Weekend, as you can see!  (Click photos to enlarge)

Bear wants to join the fun (look behind glass door)

At the Ballet

In Atlanta with my son's family and arrived in time to capture a few moments of Madison's ballet class.  No tap today, because we are practicing for the May recital.  And our new aqua ballet costumes are "beeeyouuuteeful!"  (To be displayed in May photos of the performance)

Click to enlarge (although my focus isn't the greatest)

Listening to the teacher (Madison in pigtails)

Dancing Darlings

Found 'em

Ok, Noreen, I took your advice and went searching this afternoon.  By car.  I'm such a great detective.  Happened to notice a TV van alongside the back of The Crystal Beach Hotel or Inn at Crystal Beach, whatever, can't remember the exact name.  So I parked and went into their lobby, faking like I was interested in their restaurant and looking for a take-out menu.  (As if anyone would've cared that I was looking for the Weather Channel's setup.....)

And yup, there it was/is.  Right on the back veranda, right on the beach, just the way it appears on camera (TV camera, that is.)

So here are your photos, of course minus Stephanie Abrams, Mike Bettes and the whole crew, because it was about 4PM and they shoot their live show from before dawn until 11AM.  (Wonder where they stay?  Hmmmmm....)

(Click photos to enlarge)

My "clue" that they were here (but I saw it from behind, not this angle)

And there it sits, just like on TV!

Seen from the beach where they did the "sand angels."

Outside eating area next to the veranda

Scenes of the City

Here are some outstanding scenes of my city, Chicago.

C H I C A G O

The Weather Channel in Destin!

Wow!  I turned on TWC like I do most mornings (musta missed the news of this, though) and lo and behold there they are, Stephanie Abrams and Mike Bettes, broadcasting from the Emerald Coast! 

One of my Canadian snowbird friends, already returned to the North, emailed me asking why I didn't go down, photograph them, and put it on the blog.  Now why didn't I think of that?!

However, it's a good thing I searched the web first and found these photos, as I would never have been able to figure out what hotel or condominium deck they are shooting from....the beach goes for miles, so I could've walked myself to death searching.

So I'll just cleverly repost the photos they posted on Facebook.

(Click to enlarge photos)

Abrams and Bettes with Harbormaster Greg

Guess they went fishing the first day here...Destin does make this boast:

Bettes' grouper and Abrams' chocolate porgy (don't ask me...that's what it said on Facebook)

On Day 2, they set up before daybreak...

And start before the sun even rises....

Posing with the staff from Another Broken Egg, one of my regular breakfast places.  Guess they bring them breakfast before shooting.

Part of today's show, making snow, um, I mean sand angels.

I guess this week's show is focusing on spring at the beaches.  So we'll be seeing more of them.  Stay tuned for more.....

Which Is Healthier?

Question

Multigrain vs. whole grain:  Which is healthier?  I'm trying to eat a healthy diet. Is multigrain the same thing as whole grain?  Which is the healthier choice?

Answer from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.

Multigrain and whole grain are not interchangeable terms. Whole grain means that all parts of the grain kernel — the bran, germ and endosperm — are used. In contrast, multigrain means that a food contains more than one type of grain; it doesn't tell you whether they're whole or refined grains, or a mix of both.

Whole-grain foods are a healthy choice because they contain nutrients, fiber and other healthy plant compounds found naturally in the grain. Look for products that list the first ingredient as "whole grain," "whole wheat" or "whole oats." Healthy adults should eat at least three 1-ounce equivalents of whole grains a day as part of a balanced diet.

(from Mayo Clinic's website)