Beautiful Beaches

 There is nothing quite as calming as walking in sand. I don't know why it just is.

 I don't know this child but he was so happy on his board had to take a little picture of him.

 Isn't it lovely? Perfect day there was a breeze and it wasn't too hot mid eighties. Sigh....

 ADORABLE beach house just filled our eyes with beautiful sights.

 Love the cape cod and craftsman styles the best.

 Even the grass in the dunes made me happy!

 What a glorious day!

 I will lift up mine eyes to the hills! and Praise my God for His handiwork.

 ok silly yes but cruiser bikes mean all things beachy to me, so very Santa Cruz.

 GORGEOUS I'd like to stay a week yes please.

 Great place for Italian eats, they specialize in pizza I had eggplant Parmesan it was good.

 Just too cute another beachy little place.

 A lot of these I just snapped while driving by.

 Such a cute window display.

 Part of a shopping area only around beaches are there street gardens....love it!

 More bikes! Cute signs can you tell that I liked EVERYTHING?

 Went back for a better shot of the pond. Squatting is a better angle but I have to work myself up to the idea.

 Cuteness overload. I would have liked one of those shell hanging thingies but not for $25.

and to leave with you a bit of beach wisdom.  Enjoy.

Coming Home

 I have been gone for two that is 2 weeks and I came home to flowers! Is that all I had to do? Just leave for awhile?

 Everything changed a lot. Spring here is like that. One day it's bare and a few weeks of sun and rain and wowzas you have a garden again.

 My house looked gigantic. It looked like home too.....sigh.

M

 The irises are blooming. They are a bit droopy this morning because we had a thunder storm last night.
I know that from the severe weather alert warning on my cell phone that happened last night while I was in a coma. Driving 12 hours will guarantee you a good nights sleep. I didn't even get up once to go to the bathroom. My bed felt great. I slept on a temperpedic in Florida not shabby at all but there is nothing like your own bed.

 Hi dogs, good morning. I brought them back home made dog biscuits from a farmers market in Atlantic Beach. As soon as Axel saw me he started beggin for a cookie. They know I
 am a sucker for a cookie. "Cookie cookie for youuuuuu". Whoofda.

 A little worse for the wear. It is also too sunny right now so my pictures are not as colorful as they can be with softer light.

 Full bloom.

 Tomato in a pot and it has little maters on it. I just planted that puppy 2 weeks ago.

 Ummmmmm be it ever so humble there is no place like home.

 Dark purple cherry tomato seedlings from heirloom seeds.

A few herbs that got happy while I was gone. I could however get very used to Florida!
Talk about some insanely beautiful places!!!!!! So here is a little taste of what is to come.
Everyone has been so tired of winter so here is a little summer fun for you. There is nothing quite like the beach and sand dunes, to lift ones spirits.

Well the shopping can be fun too.

The scenery was enough for me to really get some bliss going on. Enjoy.

Technological Limitations

I left my HDMI cord in Mississippi. I bought a 16G chip and have been shooting pics like a photo nut on triple shots of espresso. Camera out the car window, camera on the ground shooting up, camera held high over head, camera pointing straight up to the sky. Click click click set on shoot fast action, just going for broke. Light this way, light that way, morning light, evening light, I have the fever.

I've been so busy this last year. To busy to blog, to busy to snap pictures and this trip; even though prompted by sorrow, has been just the ticket to get my creative side awake. It's sad to me that mama had to die, and Susie had to lie in bed and weep because she had taken care of her for 12 years. When you are a caregiver it consumes your life and your world becomes small and often overwhelming. But God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Mama's death made me take time for Susie and in doing that my own heart is getting rejuvenated. It's like this, "the cook always eats".

We have been riding around and laughing. We went to the beach today and walked on the sand. I would have stayed out there until I got a 3rd degree burn but we made it quick. Susie has photo sensitivity and  can't be out long. I was wearing my slimming suit and a wrap. We were the only "white" people out there among the Florida tanned. Their was a young couple and she looked 9 months pregnant, tan as a little brown berry and sunning her baby belly, adorable!!! Made me want to be a midwife. I want a job. It would be just awesome to live in a little coastal beach town again. My daughter and I could run a great little gift shop she has the magic for that. The air smells so good and the breezes are heavenly, it's hot but no mosquitoes.
 I may design a head to toe mosquito net suit for myself, those things may steal my sanity yet; it's CLOSE! Just the thought of those blood suckers makes me want to run screaming. You see? It's time for mama to move and bring everyone along to a nice new place with breezes and fun things to do. Because southern summers are going to make me a nut case, a certifiable nut case and I don't want to experience shock treatments.

I have so many stories to tell you and pictures to share but it all has to wait till I go back to my land locked southern home. That is quite all right it is nice to have something to look forward to. What are you looking forward to, anything wonderful? Any breezes blowing your way?

Morning Reflections of Goodness

Another morning in Florida. I woke up first and did something I rarely take the time to do. I went into my picture files and watched slideshows. It was so enjoyable, it reminded me of my grandmother rereading her treasured saved cards from friends; which I am also guilty of sentiment can be genetic.

Lots of my files are from our trip to Texas last year. When my computer crashed I lost a lot of files. Susie and I went over to San Marcos day before yesterday and I LEFT MY CAMERA AT THE HOUSE---WAILING and wringing hands over all the fabulous missed shots of exquisite sights. We will remedy that this week. I won't be leaving my camera behind again.

Until then some favorite pics from the past.

It's been a year since my niece married and this little darling girl was so adorable in the wedding. My niece has known and loved her from infancy so she was excited about the wedding.

A tender moment between Pa and his girl. Weddings last into the evening and we were all feeling the love. Last year we were all together in Texas for Easter and for some ranching fun.

Love me some sissy-in-law, always wanted a sister and don't give a hoot if it's an in-law she is all mine. Talk about fun, and charming, and knowledgeable.

Like how to just kick back and enjoy the moment anywhere! Pure joy she is a Marlboro woman, pure country and laughter.

How my brother got her is pure mystery. I hope he blesses the Lord every day of his married life for finding this woman. She brings him nothing but goodness and blessing. You know how we are we can ignore the good and focus on minor irritations and forget the blessings our mates bring to us.

 My hunny is in love with this porch. The view is incredible.

1000 acres of just sky and land. Being there makes me sing at the top of my lungs. Being in wide open empty spaces like this brings joy to my soul in an unspeakable way, no words; just loud happy singing. Praises to the creator of this amazing land, and requests for rain as the drought is serious.

This is my happy place on the ranch. I would like to live here when I am a little old widow lady. I'll need to learn to shoot rattlers and rats but still it's so cute I think that is a small price to pay.

Country wisdom abounds....

and the beauty of life, God's incredible creatures and the sweetness of a baby looking for some ninny.

it was a feast of the best type, no caloric intake just pure soul food.

Friends, family, horses, dogs, fun, laughter, songs, and sweetness. My first introduction to a black cur hound dog.

and now I own one and she would be in hog heaven at that ranch. Maybe one day we can return and she can visit too.

OR they can come south and visit us we have country lands too. I wish we could share some rain. We have so much and they are so dry. It makes me think. We have so much of life and love, food, homes, clothing, joy; in our gratitude for all these gifts do we spill over into those who are dry? That is my prayer that living waters would so fill me that I cannot help but spill joy and hope into others. Like singing in the wide open spaces. Sharing the hope that lies within me. We don't need to share drop by drippy drop but like fire hoses of gushing waters. We are green trees planted by waters full and lush and able to stand.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. Psalm 143