Monday, January 12, 2009

My Weekend Trip

Sally at Smiling Sally is hosting Blue Monday. Please visit her for lots more blue!

This weekend I went on a 'girls getaway' trip. This blue picture is a clue...can you guess where I went and what this is?


I bet you guessed the beach! We went to Orange Beach to be exact and stayed in this house. The blue creature in the picture is a jellyfish that was washed up on the beach. They were everywhere!
The house has 8 bedrooms and 7 baths and belongs to 9 families. My friend Beth is a member of one of the families. They divide the time among the families, and each one gets 5 weeks per year at the 'cabin' as they often call it.
You are probably thinking, doesn't look like a cabin to me! And it sure isn't. This picture below is a picture of what the original cabin looked like before Hurricane Ivan came along.


I've been friends with Beth for many years, and visited the house in the picture lots of times. After Ivan, the house was severely damaged and they had an opportunity to buy the yellow house for a wonderful price. It was right next door and the property has been sold to build a condo. So, they bought it and moved it several feet, and now have this fantastic beach house that rents for about 7,000 per week during the prime tourist season. Beth and her family plan to rent their week this summer to recoup some of their investment, so it may be awhile before we are all invited back!

Since I'm linking this to Blue Monday, here's a house next door. No one was there this weekend, and Beth says it is often vacant!So, if I haven't visited you in a few days, you know why! I'll get back around in a day or so!

Thanks for stopping by!

35 comments:

April said...

Hi Diane,

That is Orange Beach in Alabama, right? If so, I love that place! In fact, we may go there for our summer family vacation this year! Amazing beach houses! What better place to be than right on the beach???

Anonymous said...

How nice to have this place to vacation. The blue house next door is great, too! Happy blue to you!

Sue said...

I know EXACTLY where this is. I love it!!! It is really close to a condo that we own time share. Orange Beach is my favorite beach. I know you had a wonderful time.

Shell in your Pocket said...

What is that blue thing in the first picture???
-sandy toe

Darlene said...

That looks like a fabulous place to stay on the beach....It is a good thing you are friends with them cause otherwise it would be a bit expensive...whew!

SmilingSally said...

I visited Orange Beach once; what a gorgeous place with the view of the Gulf. You're smart to have a friend like this one! I never realized that jellyfish were so blue! BTW: the chairs on the balcony are blue too. Happy Blue Monday.

southerninspiration said...

I've been to Orange Beach, too! What a fun way to spend a weekend! And I NEVER knew jelly fish were so blue!! Oh my goodness!
Thanks for sharing!

Suzanne

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

What a great vacation home.

Cami @ Creating Myself said...

I'm amazed that that blue thing is a jellyfish. The color is beautiful? Did it make you wanna take it home w/ you to display somewhere?

Anonymous said...

Hi Diane! Oh, what a pretty place and the sand looks like snow!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia :)

Lorrie said...

What a great getaway Diane. The beach is my favorite place to vacation. I have never seen a blue jellyfish like that--what a color it is!

Joanna said...

How awesome! If I didn't live at the beach, a beach house is where I'd want to stay..They are far better than hotels/motels and condos.

Lois Christensen said...

How beautiful! Must be wonderful staying so on the ocean in a beautiful house! I have never seen a blue jellyfish! I must live a very sheltered life! Enjoyed the pictures!

akawest said...

That is some cabin!!! It is always nice to read of fun vacations. I hope you get to spend more time there.

Belinda said...

What a wonderful place for a vacation home! And the jellyfish is extraordinarily beautiful...wow, what amazing colors in this fella!

Bo said...

Hi Diane...what a great girls' getaway for you...would you believe this the first time I've ever seen a jellyfish? It is a beautiful color of blue, but a strange little creature too. ;-) Bo

The Quintessential Magpie said...

I'm glad you had fun, I'm glad you didn't get stung by that blue jellyfish, but most of all I'm glad you're BACK! We missed you!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Southern Lady said...

What a wonderful weekend getaway house, Diane. I know you loved every minute of it.

I, too, have never seen a blue jellyfish ... in fact, I don't think I've ever seen a jellyfish at all ... lol. The blue one is beautiful.

Welcome back ... you were missed!

Sincerely,

Janie

Sweetie said...

I actually did not know that was a blue jelly fish!! Lucky you - sounds like you had a wonderful time. Happy Blue Monday!
Sweetie

Anonymous said...

DIANE,I WILL BE POSTING TOMORROW....ANN

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

I have never seen a jellyfish that color. It's really pretty, but I hate jelly fish! How great to get to go to the beach with the "girls" for a weekend. I know that was fun. When I do that, I don't get any rest though. I come back exhausted from staying up all night. laurie

LADY JANE said...

Mother nature always makes the most BEAUTIFUL blues,,,hmmm...and I need a vacation! Looks fun!

nikkicrumpet said...

Well that sounds like fun!! A nice trip to the beach wouldn't work here...It's too darn cold!!!!!!!! Have a great time!

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Happy Blue Monday! Love your blue jellyfish...wow...don;t think I have seen one sooo blue!

Anonymous said...

I've never seen a blue jellyfish! My kids would love it! Thanks for all the beautiful beach photos! It looks so relaxing!

southerninspiration said...

Hey Diane,
I'm thinking the Cathedral Luminary will be really cute at Easter with some eggs and birds or chicks in it!!! Thanks for your visit today!

Suzanne

Missy Wertz said...

Oh nice 'cabin'! Many blue jelly fish washing up right now. Guess it is that time of year. Hope that you are having a wonderful time.

Ivan was pretty rough. It came all the way up here. I have a crack in my side walk from Ivan. Much needed rain though.

Happy Blue Monday!

Anonymous said...

Hi Diane
What a great post. Isn't that interesting that the 9 families would share the home and have a great investment like that. Thats quite a few nice weeks they each get too. It sounds like you had a good time.
I didn't know there were blue jellyfish...I thought they were just "made up".
hope you've had a great day
Judi

Dixie said...

beautiful pics... I love the beach in the off-season, when the tourist are gone an dI can just breathe in the wet salty air! thanks for evoking the memory!

Dixie

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

What fabulous houses Diane! I have a friend who owns a rental home on the Outer Banks in NC. She's invited us a a few times but I haven't ahd a chance to go for a weekend as yet --hopefully this year!

My daughter has the flu so I've been AWOL from my blog helping her the past few days. Guess the flu shot didn't help her this year poor kid.

Hugs, Pat

Jules from "The Roost" said...

Both places are awesome. Aren't girl weekends the best! :)

The Muse said...

Ah...surf...sand....

Ahhhhhhhhh

surf....sand.....

Ahhhhhhhh

what?oh yeah..blue monday, right! right! love the post :)

Enjoy family time and stay safe!

Anonymous said...

Happy Blue Monday! Beach houses down your way are HUGE! And so pretty, too :o)

Victoria

bloggin' Chrystal said...

WOW! We head to Gulf Shores every summer for our little family time. Perhaps we should think about buying one with other families too. There's just nothing like the ocean to me.

Anonymous said...

How wonderful to vacation there. Both "cabins" are simply wonderful..I would love it there.:). Happy belated Blue Monday and have a wonderful week.