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

Athen, Greece

Not only did we visit Italy and Turkey, but also Greece. First stop was of course Athens. The first picture show us at the top of the Acropolis. I show this to show you how far up we had to climb to reach the top. It was a hike. The second shows you the The western side of the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens. It is undergoing restoration so there were acutal workers working there which of course limited access. Anyway, it was pretty awesome having seen it so many times in pictures and then actually standing there looking at it. It was also very cool because we went up in the early morning and there were not many people around by the time we made it up. As we were leaving, was passed huge crowds coming up. Anway, it was great! Enjoy!

Not only did we go to Italy, but we also went to Istanbul! I had to keep saying to myself that I was IN INSTANBUL TURKEY on the continent of ASIA! I just could not believe that I had made it all the way there. It was so interesting. The call to prayer that went out all over the city from the many mosques made the hair on my arms stand up. Very eerie and beautiful at the same time!

The first picture is of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Very beautiful and also interesting. Again, I could not believe that an island girl at heart was standing in the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.

It has been a difficult time adjusting to be back from our travels. I have lost interest in work at the moment. Not a good thing. I need to keep working so we can keep traveling!

Have a great night. More pictures to follow!

Hearts,

L

Positano, Italy

We are back from Italy! All I can say is that it was fantastic! Pictures and words can not describe how wonderful the whole experience was. Pictures is just one of so many beautiful places we visited. This is Positano, Italy. It is literally built into the side of the hills. Walking is up steep inclines. No wonder there are no fat people in Italy! Anyway, after I go through pictures, I will post them here for you all to see.

Chow!