What a change from morning to evening!
We had an early lunch so I knew I’d need a snack today. Afternoon hunger cure – I told you I’d have one bar!
We went on a wonderful beach walk for about an hour this afternoon. I really think there is no happier place on earth than on a beach listening to the waves.
Just in time for another gorgeous sunset!
Larbs + Matt! (This photo is dedicated to Candace, Matt’s mom, who’s been following our vacation from Maryland!)
Mom and Dad with the sunset as it sank into the sea
I Bring You Guest Blogger: Matt Allen
As an avid reader and die hard enthusiast of KathEats, I literally jumped at the opportunity to guest blog. While I lack the natural kitchen creativity and ingredient ingenuity that pours out of Kath’s pores, I know a good meal when I taste one. We (those of us who are left on the island) stumbled across such a meal on our last night. In an effort to keep that vacation feeling alive, we decided to meander over to the River Pilot Cafe, a comfortable ten minute walk from our accommodations.
We continued to emphasize the holiday season by beginning our meals with the winter seasonal offering of Mr. Samuel Adams (I’m pretty sure Kath enjoyed this little piece of Boston – the Sam Seasonal – so much that she was sipping off of other family member’s beers after she finished her personal pint!).
Kath and I also agreed that there is nothing more pleasant than a restaurant that offers a variety of bread offerings immediately upon being seated. Pictured are her halves of cornbread and a biscuit.
While I feel obliged to mention Kath’s creamy, yet surprisingly crustaceous She Crab Soup accompanied by a house salad with a Chardonnay vinaigrette, the star of the show happened to be my shrimp and grits..
The shrimp and grits decided not to smile for the camera (a.k.a. was not very photogenic), but you have to imagine the subtle flavors of the grilled mushrooms and andouille sausage flirting with the steamed shrimp, which was served over a deep fried grit cake. The hint of lemon complemented the rather soothing and saucy base. While I’m not all that familiar with the nutritional value of the dish, it was a marvelous way to end a fantastic vacation!
Kath Back
Great recap, Matt!! I have to say, his shrimp and grits were the star of the dinner 🙂 (Along with the Sam Adams!) We started the evening with a mild cocktail hour where I had a Perrier and some nuts –
Matt was right, I did love that Sam Adams Seasonal!! I shared a pint with my mom and had half of this extra one brought to our table by the awesome server –
My She Crab was incredible – just creamy enough to be creamy but not too rich. With lots of crab! Could have used a bit more sherry though 😉 I also enjoyed 4/5 crackers.
My salad was simple and sufficient.
And I couldn’t resist an extra bite of cornbread muffin or two!
After returning home (and 2 after-dinner mints) I enjoyed a nice session of lunar yoga followed by a bubble bath and I can’t WAIT to read my new book in bed!!
For complicated reasons, I had to switch rooms for this final night so I have this awesome bed in the Captain’s Quarters all to myself! I do miss my own Captain, who called to report he made it home safely and has already done a load of laundry 😉 I’m excited to join him back in our humble home tomorrow evening.
The sun. Has gone. To bed and so must I.
Such lovely recap photos!! Love what you wrote in the sand 😀
Wow that is quite the bed to have all to yourself! It looks so comfy!
Looks like an awesome vacation! All the pictures on the beach are beautiful…and I love the writing in the sand!
Great Vacation Kath! Food looks amazing!
zesty
Wow looks like your having an amazing time. Those pictures are beautiful! Enjoy your last day there ;-D
What a great vacation! Love the last photo!
What a fun post!!
I loved the katheats.com that you wrote in the sand 😀
Angela
http://www.ohsheglows.com
I love the beach photos!
Yum! Sam Adams winter brew is one of my favorites!
looks like a great vacation! Im jealous of the weather!
Kelly Turner
http://www.everygymsnightmare.com
That was a beautiful post. I love the beach and those photo’s were breathtaking. Sam Adams seasonal is sooo good . I put 1/2 bottle in my jerk turkey chili I made tonight for dinner the other half in my belly 🙂
Ahhh *Sigh, I watched The Sound of Music last night with my mommy and her best n her daughter (my best!)… Amaaazing.
My Grammy actually goes to the mountains ev. winter with that family!
Cute sand art, lovely eats, delicious looking cashew bar, and gorgeous sunset photos!
Great family beach photos. I would have gone for the shrimp & grits. Love that combo. Good choice Matt!
I absolutely love your blog for it’s elegant simplicity. After seeing photos of you, your home, etc. it seems that you truly do live an elegant, simple (and I mean this in the best way possible) life. Kudos to you for making it look so chic and easy. Glad you enjoyed your vacay!
Love this post and wish I was at the beach too! Great guest post!
A local movie theater had a singalong show of Sound of Music this weekend… 😀
Great post! What a relaxing vacation!
It all sounds so perfect. I am in desperate need of a vacation!
Your pictures are beautiful and I LOVE THE TITLE of this post! 🙂
GORGEOUS photos, Kath! Everything is beautiful.
Great guest post!!
Loove The Sound of Music references! It’s my fav. musical of all time.
And I had that SAME bar for my afternoon snack. I love the big chunks of cashews! Have safe travels home.
What beutiful pictures! Looks like you had a wonderful family vacation at the beach!
I think this post is one of your best, Kath. I love the photo of shells on sand with shadows cast upon them. Beautiful!
Wishing you safe travels back home…
Gorgeous pictures. Also, the shrimps and grits look great!
Your vacation looks great. Love all the photo’s.
I can’t believe how much exercise you all got in on a vacation, that is so inspiring.
Great pics! I love she crab soup – I had it for the first time at our dinner the night we got married – I was in heaven!
Nice guest post too! 😀
The Sound of Music is my favorite musical….I love that you quoted it! 🙂 Now the song is totally in my head!
The guest blog was fantastic to read. Extraordinarily well written.
this was a great post!!! i love the pictures… and the guest blog post.. it was awesome!
Missed my daily dose of oatmeal this morning! ;p
Hi, Kath …
I know you’re busy and it looks like you had a great holiday, but I have a question if you get minute.
My husband gave me a Polar heart rate monitor for Christmas and I used it today for the first time. I loved it, but it told me that my target heart rate is between 133 and 155 BPM, I think. (I am about 5’2” and 117 lbs). The entire time I was working out, I was above that. (I spent 30 min on the elliptical, 10 on the stairmaster and 5 doing an incline treadmill walk). My average heart rate, it told me, was 168 and my highest was 191.
I’ve been exercising like this for a year, always my hardest, and I thought I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. Now I am not so sure. But I don’t want to gain weight by decreasing the intensity of my workouts. Any thoughts?
I checked your FAQs and googled healthy heart rates, but thought I’d ask anyway. Sorry for such a long question.
Thanks. I appreciate your help!
Oooh! Such lovely photos – of everything! Those sunset are unbelievably beautiful – fun! Nice guest post Matt 🙂
Amanda ,
Thanks so much – I love all things elegant and simple so that’s my biggest goal for the blog’s feel.
Carrie H,
Work that heart! The higher your HR, the more calories you burn. You’re not in any danger unless a doctor has told you not to elevate your heart rate (or you’re doing some extremely strenuous exercise). So really, the higher the better in terms of fitness and calories burned. (Don’t hold me liable for that though!)
Kath
Thanks, Kath. That is kinda what I thought anyway …
Glad you are home safe! Enjoy your morning oats.