Beach

Just back from the beach again. It will be the last trip of the year for us and it makes me sad! After being on vacation in May, June, July and August, it is hard to accept the fact that we are home until sometime in February.

It was a wonderful week! We spent several hours every day just playing in the ocean because to sit on the beach was just so hot. It was wonderful! On top of that 2 of our adult children came with us and it was great to spend part of the week with them. Life is good!

Hearts!

I spent all last weekend working on a book for my daughter's 30th birthday. Her birthday is actually not until next May but a Groupon getting ready to expire made me get this done way early (which is a very rare thing for me!). Anyway, it was a wonderful trip down memory lane and I admit to shedding just a few tears as the wonderful memories came flooding back to me. What a sweetie and what a beautiful woman she has turned out to be. Love you baby girl with my whole heart!

Hearts!

Spring

Blizzard 2011

It is so sad to look outside and see my beach chairs literally covered in snow. After a night of howling wings, sleet and sideway snow we emerged today to a nice snow globe type of snow. We are in the process of digging out but the good news is that I got a snow day from work...not being paid but that is OK.

Oh, and did I mention, my youngest decided yesterday to drive back to school to Chicago right before the snow hit. My hair just keeps getting grayer because of her!

Hearts!

@X!# Kids

I have nothing left to say! Love them to death but I mean...really? Teaching life's lessons to your youngest is sure a hard and difficult thing to do. Sigh.....

Just a reminder...

Right now the snow is falling, it is freezing cold outside with the winds picking up. All extracurricular activities at schools are being cancelled. My geechee heart needs a reminder of the beach...so here it is....Enjoy!

Hearts!

Old pictures and New technology.

This is a picture that I managed to have from Christmas 1966. Everyone seems to be looking at something else but I seem to be looking right at whoever has the camera. Even back then I could never follow directions! There are only six of us there with two more sibling yet to be born. I am the one holding my little sister Elaine. I don't remember the picture, my nightgown or who even took the picture. I don't even really remember my parents having a camera but of course they must have. I look at the young girl and can not seem to get into my mind that it is me. What a wonderful old picture and thank goodness for new technology that we can save it.

Enough

Why is it that the hardest thing to do is the say "Enough!" to your child? Not even really a child but a young 23, almost 24 year old adult. The baby of the family who want to remain the baby when it is convenient but wants to make adult decisions when it suits her. Why is it painful to be the one who has to stand up and say enough, knowing that it is heart wrenching but it is for her own good. Baby girl...I love you with my whole heart...I am so proud of you and it breaks my heart to hear you say that you are a failure when you are anything but that. I love your spirit, your determination to be yourself and take on the whole world. But if you don't stop now and learn the lessons the world is trying to teach you, you can face a very uncertain future and sense of financial security. It has to stop now even if it means delaying your dreams. I am so very sorry........

Old Family Pictures

This is a family picture of my Dad's family when he was young. He is the nice looking boy at the end of the right with the time and double breasted suit. Right now, there is only one living...the youngest girl in the bonnet, my Aunt Nancy. Hard to believe that they are gone. My Aunt and Uncles were bigger than life when I was growing up. As a child, we were with them a lot, expecially my three uncles who never married. Those that did marry produced a ton of cousins for us and we were around them alot growing up. Wonderful memories!

Winter Sunrise

Caught the morning sunrise this morning. Don't get to see the sunrise much in the winter but there it was. Cold too...a mere 3 degrees with more snow in the forcast for tonight. BRRRR!! Enjoy the day and be thankful.......

Christmas

Christmas is just one week away. Here are several of my favorite Christmas things around my house.
The Santa is from the collection of my Uncle, Father Don a Catholic Priest. He kept a Christmas tree up in his apartment year round as well as his collection of Santas.
After he died, I selected this Santa from his collection.

The Nativity set is one my parents gave me back in 1976. I have not had it up for years, but decided this year to set it up instead of my large set that I usually set up.

The snowman lamp is a purchase from a craft show many years ago. It still brings a smile to my face every time I unpack it.

My Bird Girl also gets in to picture holding small Christmas trees. An of course, the Christmas tree with all of it's packages. Almost done shopping with just a few items left to wrap.

Merry Christmas!

Catching Up

So I am not sure how a whole year goes buy and I do not post. As you can see my geechee heart has had a great year. I was able to spend three weeks at the beach again this year. There is nothing that makes my heart sing louder than to be at the beach. Life keeps moving faster and faster. A whole year...I must do better.

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!