Our Visit to Cedar Key

So I'm back from my trip to Florida to visit my cousin Anna (Annie to me).  It was a great visit. She and her husband are clammers on the Gulf. They have a great set up and a retiree of the MD Department of Natural Resources, I was anxious to see their operation.

The weather wasn't cooperating though. It was blowing the 2 days we were to go out and I couldn't take my 85 year old father on that boat. I'd have been okay but I was worried about him slipping on the boat in the blowing spray. We did get to see the workshop where they repair and assemble the nets and the boat. Mike explained the process to me and they even sent a text message to me with a video showing some of their on water work.

Dad loves clams and each night he was able to have fresh clams. He was happy as a clam! LOL Annie and Mike live off the land and the sea. One night we had a ham from a wild pig they raised, fresh clams they harvested that day and greens from their garden. It was awesome.

One of the nights we went to dinner at the Island Room at Cedar Key which is owned by their friends Gina and Peter Stefani. It was beautiful. The food was awesome and the service was as well. I had the Linguini Alle Vongole which is Cedar Key Littleneck clams sauteed in wine, olive oil, garlic and fresh herbs. .  And I have got to tell you, the linguini was homemade & to die for!  If you are ever in that neck of the woods, check it out. http://www.islandroom.com/

Dad was ready to move down there. He loved the area and the people (especially Annie & Mike-Mike was so good with him).  It did him good to be away. Over the past couple years as my mother's health declined, she didn't want to travel anymore. He is a very social person and was so excited to be going to see Annie. Our next trip? May to see my cousins, Cece, Toots & Liz in Virginia Beach. Stay tuned for our adventures!.

Tomorrow is the Big Day!

Annie (L) and Me (R). I always stood out with my Italian Cousins.

My cousin Annie and I were so close when we were young. She was the little sister I never had but always wanted.  As she got older she moved away and we had not seen each other in years.

Then one day she found me on the internet from my Fotki photo web page. I had a bunch of old family photos in it. We would occasionally email each other. Then came Facebook and it all changed. Suddenly we could share photos and talk in real time. We found our other cousins and could talk with them and play games together.

We had a cousin reunion and spent some time talking and sharing old stories and laughs.
It was wonderful.

But the most wonderful thing is that tomorrow, Dad and I are flying down to Cedar Key Florida to spend 5 days with her and her husband. It will be so good to spend quality time with my little sister/cousin.

Dad needs this trip (and me too). He has been away from his family for quite a while. Mom got more and more antisocial as she aged and had health problems and she never wanted to go anywhere...no trips locally, let alone out of state. Dad is so excited. Annie has planned an awesome couple of days for us. But aside from fishing, clamming and seafood, the best part of this is spending time with her.