After taking the “kids” to Bird Island (just north of Robinson Island and visible from the bridge over the Perdido Pass) on Saturday and the Sugar Bowl on Sunday, we left dawgs and kids behind to anchor out from Johnson Beach on Memorial Day. It’s a short walk to the beach side (if you grew up walking to the south side of Ship Island) and we had our beach cart which transports everything automagically. After being fooled about shallow and deep spots by the dark algae on the bottom, we anchored the bow in 6+ feet of water and the stern in 4 feet (enough to protect the motor, but shallow enough to allow us to transport stuff to shore without swimming. In the process, I lost one boat shoe that floated off into deeper water, and so determined to give the other one to my brother David. Alas, the remaining one points the wrong way.

We walked to the other side. A couple on the west side of us followed shortly and stayed on the beach side for about 5 minutes. A family on the east side came over for about 20 minutes. Otherwise, it was deserted. On. Memorial. Day. A boat is a beautiful thang.

I only walked across the island to check on the boat once, and this was the view:

After we thoroughly enjoyed our picnic lunch and beverages on the beach side, we hiked back to have some watermelon while swinging on the anchor. The colors in this picture make it one of my favorites of the last week:

This is my Daddy and his two aunts, Gladys from San Diego, California and Bonnie from Richland, Mississippi.

Oh, Yeah, Tobi went on this little outing also!

Here is my sister, Santa Claus, and me:

Here’s my nephews Jonathan, Josh, and Jake (Carolyn’s boys) at Topisaw Creek, where my parents had a vacation home for a short time. It was a wonderful place.

This next one was taken at Aunt Ruby’s, out in the country somewhere near McComb. I’m not in the picture for some reason…

This is all the kids. The background looks like it was taken for church, but if so, Momma and Daddy would be in the pic too. I can’t really explain it. In age order, it’s Don, David, Phil, Carolyn, and me (sitting on Don’s knee).

This picture of Don, David, and Phil predates Carolyn and me.

At least we’re uploading pics by the score at my Flickr account.

Here’s Jack…can’t stop these kids from texting, even with family around…

Tobi’s mom abandoned her, so we took her out there to try to find someone to adopt her. She had a great time in the pond and really enjoyed a mudpack and facial treatment. She went into the water over her head.

Here are 3 of the Lawrence sisters, Liz, Mary Nell, and Carolyn:

Uncle Chris (left side of next photo) grew up out in Florence. Even though I consider him as family on the Lawrence side, he grew up with the Stevens out in Florence and has a lot of old stories about Johnny and his sisters.

I have no idea about the next pic:

This is Ginny, Martha, and Johnny:

This was the sacrificial lamb:

This is Brad’s friend, Joseph. Brad and Joseph were with Joseph’s family at Paul B. Johnson State Park this weekend. They stopped by on the way back and enjoyed the fantastic meal.

All the photos are on Flickr.

….pics are on Flickr.

Below is a picture taken last January: