First day home- and I'm out of sorts.

As you know Cadence died just a few days before I went out of town. I missed the funeral and the gathering afterwards, so there's a part of me that still needs closure. In one way it's as if my trip to Charleston simply put my grief on hold...even though there were moments (like the day of the funeral) when deep saddness erupted in the midst of what was otherwise a joyful week.

All day I've wanted to blog but couldn't find the words. I kept stumbling, mentally, over a dark brooding feeling- and couldn't put my finger on what it was until just a little while ago.

I want to share my photos and funny stories about the family reunion, but there's a cloud over my heart. However, I'm going to press on~

One highlight of my trip to Charleston was getting to meet fellow blogger Greg and his family. He was gracious enough to invite us to his home and then show us around his greenhouse and then the Irvin Winery.

We had a great time and appreciated Greg and Diane being willing to meet us and show us around.

After the winery Tim and I and the kids went to the Charleston Tea Plantation, the "only" tea plantation in the US. We learned all about the tea plants- from how they're harvested to the final process of putting those little leaves in paper bags! There was a giant green (copper) frog on the front porch and I just couldn't resist giving him a little smooch!

He didn't turn into a Prince or anything...but I don't suppose he would have anyway- seeing how I'm not a Princess! :) And, Tim would have been peeved about having an extra dude hanging around. ;)

The purpose of the Charleston trip though was a family reunion, with 32 0f us splitting 2 houses, sharing meals, group cooking/shopping, talking, beaching, and lots of laughing.

I have never eaten so well in all my life! Everything was prepared by hand... We had Mexican food one night, Beef Brisket with black beans and rice, a low country boil (corn, sausages, and shrimp simmered in a big pot outside...MMMM!), an old fashioned cook out with hot dogs, hamburgers, dips, and all the fixings, breakfast casseroles, pork chop biscuits, shrimp grits, bacon, eggs...Oh! It was ALL GOOD!

(Aunt Helen, me, and my Aunt Carmen)

I know some of you (Mantissa :) expressed concern about spending a whole week with extended family, and yes, there were moments when we had a few rough patches...folks not seeing eye to eye on certain things, but for the most part we all got along remarkably well. They are good people and I am honored to belong to them, and they to me.

Our last day at the beach was overcast, but the water was heavenly! There was almost no undertow and the waves were gentle swells which was a pleasure to swim and float and play in!

Apparently the JELLYFISH thought so too! One of them, with long tendrils, floated past my right leg and decided to hug me (or something!) Dear God in heaven...what pain!!! Suddenly it felt as if my leg were on fire- and I was doing all I could to get out of the water. The swelling and red marks were wrapped around from the side of my calf just above the ankle and up the front of my shin to just below the knee.

If you are ever stung by a jellyfish, this is what you should do-

*Rub a handful of sand on the site immediately. This makes it feel better for a few minutes (and I think it helps scrub out some of the poison and any barbs still in the skin. )

*Rinse off the site with clean fresh water and then soak the affected skin in VINEGAR for 20 to 30 minutes. I soaked a wash cloth with vinegar and sat in the tub.

*Then apply a paste of meat tenderizer, water, and baking soda to the skin and let it sit for another 10 to 15 minutes.

*Lastly, and I thought this would really hurt, but it didn't, apply shaving cream and SHAVE the area. The razor will pull out any remaining barbs and it scrapes the poison out of the skin.

I will never go to the beach again without Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Meat Tenderizer. As many times as I've been swimming in the ocean I've never had an encounter like this one...never been stung or bitten (except for tiny fish nibbles) by anything in the water until now. I was in serious pain for the better part of the evening although the treatment listed above lessened the pain by about 50%. My leg is still marked up from the encounter, but the pain was mostly gone by the following morning.

The next thing I'll post will be the interview by our beloved Scary Monster. I'll be by your place for a visit very soon- I've got loads of catching up to do!

:)