the long way home...

When you no longer have weekends filled with twelve activities you need to transport kids to, the days stretch long... and wonderful. We have been practicing for our empty nest, trying to fill the days with simple adventures. Some weekends we win, and others... we waste away, which still actually may be a win.

Cam's flight back to school in June was out of an airport about an hour away. We decided not to head straight home and make a little adventure of our day. Thank you Google, for showing us a fun little spot we could explore on the way home.

Matlacha. Until about six months ago, I thought it was pronounced just as it appears. I was wrong, and laughed at myself when I found out - because of course I hear its name on the news! Mat-la-shey. Huh. A thousand stories matched up in my mind.

We wound our way along the narrow roads and then finally across the bridge to the little bright island of Matlacha. Our first stop was a little fudge shop, and it turned out to be a great first stop. A little friendly conversation with the shop owner provided all we needed to know...

I love the scenic route... especially when it includes ice cream. Our only disappointment was that the art garden at Leoma Lovegrove's gallery was closed for the summer! I guess that means we'll have to return...