Sunday, June 24, 2012

The Welcoming Committee

My Old Friends welcomed me home
with great fanfare.

The Bleeding Hearts
were the first to greet me.


The Queen of My Gardens
The Red, Red Rose
 commanded every one's attention.


The Hydrangeas,
 The Popcorn Of My Garden
Showed their fluffy white heads.

The Lupines,
Reached for The Sky.
Hello Pink Roses,
The Butterfly Welcoming Committee


The Fireworks of the garden,
The Lily,
wrapped up my Wonderful Welcome.




There is no place like home!

Enjoy!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

A Father That Will Be Very Missed

This Father's Day is different from all the others:


Today a very special friend
 is facing this Fathers Day without her Father.

Her loss is so recent.
Today is the First Day without her Father in her Life.

Very few people have the relationship this special friend had with her Father.

Their relationship was the GOLD STANDARD.

I am one of the fortunate ones that still has her father to wish
"Happy Father's Day"
 making this day more appreciated than ever.


I am at a loss for helping this friend.

I wish I could make it easier.
I am and will be there for her.

 Her youngest daughter is our God Daughter.
I am and will be there for her.

I am not experienced at such things.
I welcome your thoughts.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
to all the Daddies,
 here on earth and in Heaven.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Circle Of Life On the Beach

Another delay...
we were ready to head north on Tuesday morning,
as they say "the best laid plans...were changed.

My husband woke up on Monday morning
had a cup of coffee, looked at me and
asked "is it warm in here", response  "no".
It was downhill from there...the flu bug had taken charge,

Okay I am not going into details but according to my husband
No one has ever been this sick.  REALLY.
Okay I going to stop there because if I get it I don't want this to be used against me:)

SO CHANGE OF PLANS.
Off to the Beach


All I wanted to do is to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.
Trying to escape the dreaded "bug".
(I did take my cell phone just in case he really needed me)

So I joined all the other beach people (NO ONE)
with my trusty Aussie, Kix,
and we were breathing the fresh SEA air.

We took advantage of our BONUS beach time.
Lots of swimming and exercise.

We also counted 14 set of tracks that looked like this.


Can you guess what they are???

I have to admit I was clueless the first couple of times I encountered this scene.

Every night this time of year SEA TURTLES come ashore and lay their eggs.

They lumber out of the sea at high tide,
dig a huge hole, drop their eggs and bury them past the high tide mark.

The tire tracks are from the Turtle Patrol.  Each morning every nest is
recorded, date and location.  Unfortunately turtle eggs are a delicacy in some cultures.
After the next high tide you would never know they were there.

I worried that Kix would find the nest and dig up the eggs,
NEVER, EVER has this happened.
For some reason the dogs can not smell them, Kix had never even taken a second look
when trotting right over a nest.

I am told the eggs will sit in the sand, incubate and hatch sometime in late summer. 

THE MOST AMAZING FACT IS THAT THE TURTLES THAT HATCH ON THIS
BEACH WILL RETURN TO LAY THEIR EGGS ON THE SAME BEACH, EVERY YEAR
FOR DECADES TO COME.
Some of the turtles travel as far as 2,000 miles
in the meantime.
(Information via turtles that are equipped
with tracking instruments)


Our little community is very "Turtle Minded"


When you go to the beach you are always reminded the beach belongs to the Sea Turtles.

Starting March 1st to October 31 all lights from the houses on the beach must be blacked out so not to confuse the turtles when nesting or hatching.


They rehab any Sea Turtles that are injured in the area.
It is all run by volunteers and they are passionate.



This is Zoe, you can adopt her and keep updated on her progress via the web
 and then a tracking device when she is healthy enough to be released.
I think this would be a fabulous gift for a young person.




I have even designed some of my bracelets in honor of the Sea Turtle.


I have so enjoyed learning about the Sea Turtle

However today I was reminded of the CIRCLE OF LIFE
This afternoon this male Green Sea Turtle washed ashore.
The volunteers from the Marine Life Center in Juno were called
they arrived almost like 911 responders. 
Unfortunately it was too late for this turtle.
The Marine Life Center documented as much as they could
and returned him to the sea.

They sprayed painted his shell fluorescent pink.
This was to alert boaters and anyone that found him that he was "accounted" for.

Credit: Pinterest Picture

I find some strange comfort in thinking
 that perhaps he returned to where he was hatched to
complete the CIRCLE.


 My husband is on the mend,
he has his sense of humor back,
always a good sign

So now I am tapping my Red Rudy Toes hoping to be home soon.

Enjoy!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Why Am I Still In Florida?

When I arrived in Florida last November I was so excited!
The year before we had rented a little beach house but this
year we purchased a house in the same neighborhood.

I have spent the last couple of months
making it mine.

I had a blank canvas.
I had a new theme to work with.
 Coastal!



I have always wanted to decorate "beachy"
 but seashells in snowy Michigan just seems a little silly.


I planted a Cocktail Tree.

(get this...it has lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit all from the same tree)

I went all out!
Scouring consignment shops for a little bit of this and that.


I transformed some old urns,
 that my Mom was throwing away, into side tables.


I painted them with a Martha Stewart textured paint
that reminded me of sand


I added a little "bling" to the base.


Then I finished the inside to display shells.


While my husband was out fishing (not catching:)
I was creating a little trophy fish all my own.

But the story takes a twist.
The reason we are still in Florida
 is that we are getting
our little house ready to sell.

Even I didn't see that one coming.

My husband found his Florida "dream home".
(He is a Real Estate Junkie)
I wouldn't even go look at it for months.
Then right before we were to leave the owner
drastically reduced the price.
I finally gave in and went to see it...
and darn it I really liked it.
So...we have decided to sell our little house.

The house I made mine now will be someone elses.


All my little personal touches are being packed away
and I am busy making our house look cute but not too personal.

So I am in sunny Florida
 until we have everything "wrapped up".
Not a bad place to be but...
still missing Michigan.



Hopefully it will sell soon.

I'll sleep a little better when all is done.
Enjoy!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Purple Passion

Yesterday I walked out in my yard to water my plants
and I was greeted by a wonderful surprise.
 I planted a tiny little vine last fall.
For a couple of months nothing really grew and then...

I believe a little boy named Jack
 visited my garden.


My little vine grew and grew, almost out of control.
It produced lush green leaves,
tiny fingers reaching out to grab onto anything they could find.


It covered my outside shower like a cloak of green velvet


The Mandelvillas bloomed like crazy.


My pergola was decorated in flowers.

But...my little vine remained only green

and then...

the wonderful surprise!


Passion Flowers


Purple magic!!!!!

I am fascinated by their beauty.

I believe Mother Nature was truly
 passionate
when she created this beauty.

Enjoy!

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