After leaving the USS Alabama, we first went back to the hotel in Mobile for real showers and free breakfast, but then began making our way down to Orange Beach. And for I think the first time since our Honeymoon, Magan and I stopped at Lamberts "Home of the Throwed Roll" for lunch. The line was long, but we knew it would be, so we shopped the souvenir store while we waited for our time inside. For me, I actually looked at the menu also, and when I saw meatloaf, I stopped looking. Later when we got to the table, Magan was still in "talky" mode, and finally realized that the menu was available to look at and select...but we missed the window of server time. So we think our server went outside for a while to count butterflies.
But it was no problem, because we had time to catch our first "throwed rolls", and with some apple butter and sorghum, we were doing all right. The legend of the "throwed rolls" at Lambert's Cafe originated in 1976 when the restaurant was too crowded to pass rolls by hand to a customer in the back. The customer yelled, "Throw the darn thing," and one of the owners, Norm Lambert, started tossing the hot rolls to customers, a tradition that has continued ever since. The practice is a key part of the dining experience, and servers are skilled at throwing the rolls across the dining room.
How did this all start? On March 13, 1942, Earl and Agnes Lambert with 14 cents between them, borrowed $1500.00 from Tish Jones and with 5 employees opened for business in a small building on South Main Street. It consisted of a 9 stool counter and 8 tables for a total seating capacity of 41 people. Their policy of serving vegetables, meat and dessert was immediately established. These were trying years for everyone, World War II and severe rationing made restaurant operation extremely difficult. The war years were greeted with many meatless days and supplies of all kinds were in short supply - - but somehow and someway they were able to hang on.
Well, Lamberts is doing very well today, with a 1 hour wait when we arrived and when we left. But recognizing how much we talked about the food and the fun time we had here, that made us all realize that it is still a pretty special place. Sorry Magan, I should have got you that "Norm throwing rolls" ornament you wanted, but I just did not think it would be that great.
We finally made it down to the beach, where our hotel was directly across the street, but on this weekend, they had a large craft fair and live music and it was just crazy busy. But we threw the keys to the valet, and had no plans to leave until the following afternoon. As soon as we could get dressed, we made our way down to the beach (After a quick side trip to Alvin's Island for magan some sandals). And with the complimentary chairs and umbrella, Magan was set for the day, while me and the girls went to play in the water.
I know want to take these girls back, because they were nothing but giggles, laughter, and screams of terror at the little fish swimming at our feet. We even watched a large school of fish swim by jumping out of the water periodically. The water was crystal clear, so we all also starting collecting shells. Magan tried to relax, but the fair nearby and the guy singing old hits was loud and distracted her from the relaxation she wanted. When the fair was finally over at 5PM, and the sounds dwindled down to only the waves crashing along the shore, it was also time for the chair and umbrellas to be put up, so she moved back down closer to the beach on a towel.
We stayed until sunset, knowing we only had a few short hours of beachtime, then made our way up to the hotel pool for a little while. Magan and Belle decided to go on up to the room, while Ruby enjoyed the pool for a bit longer. I reminded them as they left..."We are in room 544". So then they got to the elevator, and Mom asked Belle "What floor did Dad say we were on?" Neither remembered, but they both remembered hearing "4". So I was told later that these girls had a fun time laughing as they went checking our hotel key on several doors on the 4th floor, before finally finding my hotel key in the beach bag with the actual number "544" written on it.
Magan called downstairs to get some towels for the room, then later as Belle was in the bathroom getting washed off, Magan heard me and Ruby come up from the pool and knock on the door. So Magan decided to scare Ruby and opened the door quickly and yelled "WHAT DO YOU WANT"? But it was not Ruby, it was a young guy staring wide eyed back at this crazy lady screaming at him. He quickly handed over the towels he had brought up, when Magan finally said "Ohhhh Nooo". The next part cracks me up because I am sure in her head she was completely confused at what words you say after this, but she tried a few of them and they came out as "I am sorry, You are welcome". Fortunately the guy smiled and laughed recognizing something was just not right with this crazy lady. Magan said that Belle had heard this whole encounter, and was also dying laughing in the bathroom.
Ruby and I did arrive shortly afterwards. We had a ton of doordash chinese that night, along with the Lamberts that Ruby did not want to go to waste. I do remember Ruby cackling after telling me and Belle that her "Blanket smells like ship", then watching me and Belle's eyes go wide till we finally understood what she actually said. Since we had a couple of rooms at the hotel, the girls got to watch a movie, while Magan and I got to watch one of our shows, so it was a nice evening at the beach. That night, Magan apparently couldnt sleep because of a blue light on the smoke detector. Have asleep stumbling thru the hotel room, I found a small towel and placed it onto the light. But apparently it worked, our princess could finally sleep with the "blue light pea" blocked.
I don't have the clout at Hilton that we typically have at Marriot, but were able to get a 12 noon checkout time. So after an amazing breakfast, we made our way back to the beach for more ocean, shells and relaxation on the chairs. I am told that that is part of the fascination with the beach is the relaxation, but also still not comfortable relaxing with the girls out there on their own...plus who else is going to let the waves crash into us letting them laugh at me when in covers my head and I have snot on my beard afterwards. Oh well, I will take that role any day.
Our adventure home had some fun stops at the Conecuh store and Priesters Pecans. At the conecuh store, we got our picture with the famous pig, then shopped around. Ruby got the cutest little bracelet with an R on it, and she will remember that it lasted 1 week before it broke the next week at school. Belle will remember her dad laughing so hard when she reached to grab a cookie in one of the displays, and BOOM, slammed her hand directly into glass. Haha, even her cutie pouty face did not stop me giggling at that BOOM. And Priesters gave us one last stop for some amazing coffee, ice cream for the girls, and some fudge for mom. Ever since our return, Ruby and I have been having some discussions about our next beach adventure. I think she is even selling her shell earings with plans to help contribute to the hotel costs. I love all my girls, and so glad to have had this fun time at the beach!
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