October? How did that happen?

Goodness! I can not believe it is already them middle of October. Where does time go? It was a beautiful day. Sun was out and it actually made it above 70 degrees. We have not seen that temperature for several weeks or longer. Anyway, I spent the day outside working in the yard. Managed to get all the grasses cut down and odds and ends cleaned up. I brought all the pillows and cushions inside, pulled weeds, pulled wilted annuals, raked and blew up leaves. I also scraped several boards on the fence and repainted them. In addition, I painted the new side window that was replaced on the front door. I am just making myself tired thinking of how much I got done today. It is a good feeling. I think I have about 2 hours of yard work done and then I can call it done for the winter. Let the snow begin!

Spent the last week week of September on the island. Had a great time. The house we stayed in was beautiful. It was a new place for us and I loved it. You can see from the pictures how beautiful it was. Spent the week reading, crabbing, fishing and collecting shells. Even managed to do our annual craft project. Makes my geechee heart sing! I got to spend two weeks on the island this year and another at the beach. Not a bad year!

Last year at this time we were in Italy. We are starting to shop for another Europe trip. We may aim for next spring instead of next fall because of work. I really want to hit Paris this time as well as Venice. We will see how it works out.

Hearts!

Goldendoodles.....

See these dogs? This is the type of dog I want. I have been looking and looking at dogs and the thing is that I do not want one that sheds. I have been there and done that and know I will not do it again. What type of dog is this? It is a minature goldendoodle. Bad thing is that they cost $1800. Crap! I, however, love the looks and color of this animal. I mean, how cute are they? But $1800? I can not believe it. I guess I need to start looking for another kind or just keep saving my quarters to get one!

Alas, the painters have once again failed to showed up! They were suppose to be here on Friday but that was a no show. So I assumed they would be here on Monday. Again, a no show. I am left to guessing games when they will come. I have not heard from the ceremic and carpet place, so I am assuming my order has not arrived yet. I would just like to get things painted before the carpet is laid! Again, how hard do you hound your brothers who also happen to be your painters?

We had a beautiful day today. I was off and spent the day in the convertible running real and imaginary errands. I hated to pull the car into the garage and end the day of running! I am trying to savor these special days before they are gone for the winter. I did take some pictures of things around the front and back yard. I want to save these before they get tossed for the winter. I also planted some "fall" stuff in the pots in the back yard for some color through early and late fall.

Still working on my bathroom and bedroom. Hopefully will have some pictures to post soon.

Have a great week!

Pretty pretty fabric and Pottery Barn!

So I spent the morning sewing, something I do not do on a regular basis. Like the last big project I did involved making a cape for my son for Halloween. That was like 20 years ago or so! Anyway, I made these pillows to go with my new bedroom quilt. I don't know if you can tell, but it is beautiful porcelin blue color that I just fell in love with at Pottery Barn. I then found this material that was just calling pick me, pick me! So I made these envelope style pillow cases. I also have a contrasting stripe material that goes with this material. It is also calling me to recover my window seat in the bathroom. Now if I could just get the painters here to tackle several rooms, I could get my new carpet and ceremic tile installed. Hard to complain too much when the painters are your brothers! Good things come to those who wait!

Hearts!

Sand on my floors.

Yes, we are back from the beach. I have managed to scrape together a small amount of sand from the trip to put on my kitchen floor for the next week or so. I will keep walking on it and scuffing it with my bare feet and then dream of being back at the beach. Then it will be time to come back to reality. I have only worked 5 days in the last 4 weeks and yes, it realize that is completely disgraceful. I also realize that you all are just jealous! But it is back to reality tomorrow. Unfortunately along with the sand, I brought a nasty bug back with me. Started with just a hoarse throat and it has now come full circle so that I coughing and bringing up some thick green yuck! I went to bed last night at 8:00 p.m. after driving the 14 hours to come home, and managed to drag myself out of bed at 8:00 a.m. Hopefully I am at the tailend of this bug because even though I have enjoyed the days off, the work is still being piled on my desk! Definately not what a GeeChee girl wants! Enjoy the pictures (thanks Bob!) as will I when my GeeChee heart needs a dose of beach!

Hearts!

Summer Fun!

Yes, it has been a while since I have posted, but you know how it is, life just gets in the way. I have been meaning to, planning to, hoping to but just never did add to this blog. But, I am at the beach now, so I have a moment and thought I would add a few pictures (thanks Bob!) It has been a great week here, so relaxing. I have done just about nothing all week but float in the pool on a noodle with my sister in law! What a great way to spend the week. I am however, in serious need of some serious beach time, so that is where I am headed next. A sand chair, a book and a lot of sunscreen makes for a great way to spend the morning! I even got a dose of my favorite Island yesterday and dinner at the Deli. Life does not get much sweeter than that!

Hearts!

Clay Pot

So I spent Saturday working on the free Adirionak chairs that my friend Patti was able to score for me in my neighbor's driveway, that had FREE signs hanging from them. I painted them a delicious color called clay pot. They look and feel beautiful. See for yourself! And yes, I know the windmills look ridiculous, but they have managed to keep the robins from plopping their butts down and pooping all over my work of art! So they are going to stay. They have worked wonderful in keeping the birds from flying into the large glass windows on the back of the house, so I thought I would give them a try on the back of the chairs, and they work great! No more bird poop! It is the small successes in life that can make you happy! I have added a few more pictures of some of my plants. They are doing beautiful in the wet weather. So today I am thankful for paint called clay pot, windmills that keep birds from landing and pooping, flowers, dirt, sunshine and rain. I have much to be thankful for!

Hearts!

Things that can't help but make you smile!

So we were out last night with a couple of friends and in the parking lot of the place we ate and drank at, there was this van. Looking at it, you can not help but smile. It looks like someone had taken some white paint to create a canvas, and then just went to town painting this beautiful art on the van's body. It was great. Congratulations to its owners. It certainly looks like something that belongs in Haight Ashbury instead of here in Indiana. I loved it!

Hee Haw!

Today became brighter today; not that I am complaining about the day. It is beautiful and I ran all my errands in the convertible. You got to love that! Anyway, I digress....... The door bell rang and there stood the Fed Ex man with a signed delivery. Now I don't know about you, but I love getting anything from the Fed Ex man. It is even more exciting when you have no idea what someone has sent you! Anyway, I again digress. I tore open the package after I had signed and there were our CMA Fan Fest passes for our Nashville trip in June. WhoooHooooo! Now the funny thing is......we are not that big of country music fan....but we love music and we love spending time with my sister in law and brother and law...so tickets and a hotel room for 4 days in Nashville....you have a recipe for a good time! In about three weeks or so and we will be there. I am ready for a get away. When we come back from there, we head to Chicago for a Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood concert. Yes, our music taste can be all over the place, but it should be all fun! And of course, we will be traveling in the convertible! There is simply no other way to travel. And my brother in law and sister in law of the wind, will likewise be traveling in there brand new white convertible. Good times all around!

I need to count my blessings!

I was looking at pictures at my camera, and I know I was complaining about the freeze last night, but seeing this picture reminds me that things can be worse. This is the famous ice storm of December. Ok, I will take the freeze and I will quit complaining!

BRRRRRRR!

So what is the saying...it is OK to plant after Mother's Day? Well, Mother's Day has come and gone, but last night we had a stinking freeze warning! So I had to drag all my potted plants inside and cover the ones that were too big, with towels, so they would not freeze. And when I had to climb out of my nice warm bed this morning at 5:30 a.m., it was freezing cold in the bathroom. I even dug out the ceremic heater so I would not freeze to death getting ready to go to work. See, this is why I need to move south! So tonight, everything got carried outside and the dirt vacuumed up from my plants being inside. We will try again! Thought I would share my plants on the front porch. Also, my welcome sign by the front door.

Have a great night!

Liliacs

My liliac tree is in full bloom, so I thought I would share. It is as nice smelling as it is beautiful. If the breeze hits just right, the smell of liliacs waifes throught the house. I love it! Anyway, it will be beautiful for a week and then gone, so I wanted to perserve a picture of it while it is still beautiful! Enjoy!

Hard to Believe

Well, it has finally happened. After paying for 3 sets of orthodontia, 7 years of private high school, 24 years of private grade school and 14 years of college, our youngest of three, graduated from college!

I do not know where the time has gone. It just seemed like yesterday we were moving her into the dorms and praying that she would make it through the first semester. It has not been an easy 4 years, but she made it through and managed to get a full ride to grad school. I am very proud of her.

With no more tuition to pay, I am not sure what I will do with my money. I am going to assume that there might be some more travel plans in the future for me! Or maybe a vacation home at the beach! I can only dream!

Hearts!

SCORE!

My friend Patti came running in the yard yesterday, saying the neighbors down the street had put out a pair of Adirondack chairs out by the curb with a big FREE sign on them. Well, we skedaddle out butts right down there and after relaxing in them along the curb for a few minutes, we put them on our heads and headed for home. She said when she saw them that she knew they were made to be by my fire pit, so that is where we unloaded them. We sat down, shot the breeze and decided they were quite the find! Price being right and everything. A nice bright coat of a terra cotta color on them and they will be brilliant. What a great friend, you are Patti! Now we just need to burn that sign celebrating your 50th! LOL

Spring...where are you?

The picture of the pinwheel is because we have a crazy robin who beats itself against the window for hours on end. If you beat on the window, she or he flys away only to return to start all over again. The pinwheel seems to be doing the trick for now! Besides, it is fun to watch as the wind blows.

It is a beautiful day today. The sun is shining...low 60's. Now on Monday, it was had to drive to work because of the hard snow that was falling. This is exactly why I hate spring....it constantly teases you! Drives me crazy...which is why I need to live somewhere that is warm 365 days of the year. Enjoy the picture of my flowers blooming!

Have a great day!

Hearts,

L

Sea Turtles!

As promised, some pictures of the amazing turtles who are currently in residence at the Charleston, SC Sea Turtle Hospital. The tour was amazing and the gal who took us incredible. I so want to be a Turtle Lady who prowl the beach early in the morning looking for turtle tracks. My geechee heart just sings!

Hearts,

L

Sand on my floors.

Back from the beach. It was a great week. I had brought work with me and had every intention to get it done, but come Friday afternoon I realized that I had been too busy to even get it done. Now too busy....doing nothing? I guess I had perfected the idea of doing nothing that somehow the week flew by so fast. It was great. Did go to the Sea Turtle hospital in Charleston. Way cool. I will post pictures soon....after I get out of the habit of doing nothing! Now I need to sweep the sand off the kitchen floor from my sandals. Well maybe not.....I can pretend to be back at the ocean!

Hearts!

Watching the sun set over the salt march

Our neighbor's new trees that were planted


The house we will stay in next fall with 4 other couples. It is a new house for our group.

All Saint Academy. On of my favorite houses on the beach!

I am sitting out here on the back screen porch, watching the sun as it glints off the salt marsh. Right now the tide is still coming in. I can tell this because the in the salt marsh has very fine ripples on its surface as it flows from left to right. Soon it will come to a complete standstill as the tide starts to flow out. You have to be very quiet and watchful to see this happen. There seems to be a momentary pause and then the small ripples change directions as the current changes and the tides goes back out. It is something that happens a least twice a day but something probably very few people ever actually notice. My plan is to sit and watch it happen. What an ambitious evening I have planned.

Hearts.

L

The sun at last!

After several days of clouds, cool weather and rain, the sun came out yesterday. There was not a cloud in the sky! Does it really get much better than this? The ocean waves are crashing, kids are playing in the mud in the creek, gulls are calling, the sun is shining! I love days like today. Highs are suppose to be in the 70's. Not bad for a South Carolina morning. Pictures as I had promised!

Ok, I had a very urgent need to get back to the beach this week. Somehow, if I go for several months, the call of the ocean rings loud in my ears and I simply need to get back there. So we went surfing on the web last Sunday for airline tickets. Score! Got some great price tickets. Called Monday to the realty company and my darling asked for a good last minute deal and score! So as I write this, we are in an ocean front house that sits only feet from the rolling surf. Rockers on the front porch, a hammock in the corner. If the rain would stop, it would be heaven. I get my ocean fix and all is right with the world! I will be out and about tomorrow with my camera and will post pictures tomorrow. I promise!

Heart!

Siena, Italy and Jockey Shorts

Here is one of my favorite pictures from our trip to Italy. This was taken inside the walled city of Sienna. I love the old building and the fact that someone hung their jockey shorts out the window on the clothes line. The fact that they are so artfully arrange with one pair of shorts on one end and the other pair on the other side to balance the arrangements is just priceless. When I was living in Indy, I took a folklore class and the discussion was the art of hanging laundry. The premise was that women are naturally artistic and find ways to express that art in everyday living. If the only way they can express the artist within themselves, is by hanging laudry, then they will do it! This to me is true art and I know that I have never looked at hanging laundry the same way. I hope you don't either! You would fully understand if you could see the number of pictures of hanging laundry I took in Italy, Turkey and Greece.

Hearts,

L

Home!

I am stuck at home while my laundry room is being tiled and I am bored. When you are working during the day, you realize that when you are stuck at home, there is really no one to talk to! All your friends are likewise working so there is really no one to even call. I am missing lunch with my mom and sisters since Joe the tile guy is still here. He has to now grout the tile and then should be gone. I have attached photos my of ungrouted tile. Now I hate to be picky, but why in the world would he set tile that has to be cut against the wall that you see when you walk into the room. The whole pieces of tiles are where the washer and dryer will be set and which no one will see. I just didn't have the heart to say this to him after he already had it all laid out. An then what the heck do I know? I don't set tile for a living. I work in the OR. I am assuming that this is simply the way it is done. Don't question me in the OR, and I won't question you when you lay tile!

Now seven weeks after I hit a deer with my baby, I should be getting my car back. It has been problem after problem of getting parts to fix it. It is a one year old vehicle for goodness sakes. Part should not be a problem! Good thing we have not yet sold our van. Son #1 has another of our cars as we waits for tires. Yes, I know we have too many cars but at times like this, I am glad we do. Now if Joe the tile guy would get done, I could get out of here!

I am reading a book given to me by my brother in law. It is about a man living in Rome for a year. Makes me realize how much I want to go back to Italy! I promise to post more wonderful pictures later!

Hearts,

L