Off To The Beach...

Hi blog readers! :)

My family and I are leaving this morning for Florida to spend thanksgiving week with my grandmother. I hope to come back with a tan and a few seashells. :) While I'm gone, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! (Tip: Go light on the mashed potatoes and gravy - fill up on turkey and veg instead!) :D


On our trip, I will be taking my new iPod shuffle. In pink. :D

 The reason I had to get a new one was that my old iPod shuffle tragically got left in the pocket of the hoodie I wore to the gym, and drowned in the washing machine. *sniff!* :( Strangely, the earbuds still worked just fine, it was only the iPod that died. (?) Anyway, I loaded up my NEW iPod with all my favorite music and it's ready for the trip! I even got a little adapter so that you can plug the iPod's usb plug right into an electrical outlet to charge it! No need for a computer! (which is a good thing, because my grandmother does not have one) :D


And, I thought I'd share pictures of a little project I'd done recently...

I found this GORGEOUS old-fashioned frame with a collage mat inside it for 8.00 at Ross. (I love that place, it's like a huge yard-sale) I took it home, and waited for months trying to decide which 'perfect' photographs to print and put inside.

Then I saw a tutorial where a lady had filled a similar collage with neutral backgrounds in each picture hole with a single feather in each square. It looked pretty cool, and inspired me to work with what I had on hand... which was a lot of old greeting cards left over from birthdays and my graduation party in '09.

 I especially like the peach one in this corner - it says "God is crazy about you. He doesn't just like you a little, he doesn't just think you're sort of special - the God of the universe is head-over-heels, deeply, truly, forever-and-ever in love with you."

I even fixed some of them up. The "Love, Hugs, Laughter" card in the corner there used to say "Happy Birthday" across the top, which was nice but I didn't want it in my collage... so I covered the text with two pieces of paper and stuck a flower sticker in the corner for a little extra embellishment. :) Also, the black damask-patterned one in the center used to have a fancy "B" in the middle... but I don't have a B in my name... so I simply stuck a pretty sunflower sticker over it, and Voila! It was perfect collage material. :)

Hoping you have a very happy Thanksgiving,

A Trip to Venice

Today is a drippy, wet, gloomy November day, and in retaliation I am posting pictures of our sunny vacation at the beach! :D

*****All readers hoping for a short post, beware!*****

This is the baby blanket I was crocheting on the way there. I had finished all the blocks previously and was just turning in the ends and sewing them together on the trip. It is since completed, (I finished it on the drive home) but I don't have a picture yet of the completed afghan.
And here it is... the beach!!

Ahhhh. Can't you just smell the salt air and feel the breeze blowing through your hair and the sun on your face?

This is the ferry that takes you to the private beach that my Grandma is allowed access to because of the location she lives in. All the residents in her area and their families are allowed to visit this beach.

The weather was gorgeous while we were there, sunny with perfect temperatures of around 75 for the entire trip!

Mark is building a sand castle (and squinting in the sun as his photo-crazed sister tries to take his picture) and Steven is looking for shark's teeth along the shore.

The completed castle. Wow.

The first morning we were at the beach was quite windy and the boys had tons of fun tumbling about in the waves... click on this picture to see a larger version. I love their expressions!

Here are Mom and Dad on the ferry on the way back. (Mom was wearing my jacket because the wind was chilling her) We went back to my Grandma's house for lunch and then returned to the beach for a few hours in the afternoon.

And... me. Wearing my favorite sunglasses. ;) Daddy told me I'll always be a Florida Girl no matter where I live. :D After growing up in Florida and spending countless hours at the beach... it feels like home again when I get to visit. :)

Here are the boys on the ferry... I really like this picture of them. They're squinting in the sun but I think it turned out pretty well.

When we came back again that afternoon, the wind had picked up and the sand stung your legs when you took a step... that was one reason we didn't stay as long. I managed to get some great photos of the boys though!

Oh yeah.... the Beach Boys shot. Click on this... Mark's expression, especially, had me rolling with laughter...

Back at the house, we relaxed with Grandma on the lanai.

The next day, we drove around Venice and saw the sights. :)

Mama and I in the van... (note the fashionable sunglasses....lol)

(L to R) Steven, Me, and Mark at the jetty. Look how blue the sky is!

Sparkling water...

A friendly pelican...

Here are Mama and Daddy standing on the jetty...

Shore Birds hunting among the rocks...

On the way to Caspersen's beach I spotted a GIGANTIC Banyan tree and insisted on taking a picture. :)

Caspersen's beach is a different beach than my Grandma's private one and is one of the best places in the world for finding shark's teeth. We didn't find any there... but we did find some at my Grandma's beach! :D

Here's Grandma and a turtle...

I was fascinated with all the rocks along the water's edge!

Steven rock-hopped while Mark built yet another sand castle...

That afternoon we met with my Auntie Donna and took her to the ferry beach. While there I managed to get some great shots.

It was windy that day also, but not as much as the day before. Dad and the boys used the sifter to look for shark's teeth and shells in the surf.

I found some pretty seaweed.

That evening I got to hang with my fave cousin, Denise, when she and my Uncle Tom joined us and Aunt Donna for dinner at "Sharky's".

Denise and I

The next day, before we headed out, I got a picture of Grandma and the boys... :D They're now much taller then her.

Now, guess who tagged along on our vacation?
SURVIVORMAN! It's a family joke of ours that Survivorman (so named because we found him in the yard, surviving the elements) hides around the house. Mark and Steven and Daddy usually move him about when no one's looking, and you never know where you'll see him next! He stowed away on our trip this time.

The first thing he did was examine the case of shark's teeth in Grandma's living room. (That center one is larger than my hand!)

Then Survivorman met Brandy. (a replica of a wonderful dog my grandfather had years ago)

Survivorman stowed away in my purse when we went to Sharky's for dinner, (I think he even snitched some of my lobster) and while there, enjoyed the view of the sunset off the pier.

Then, the next day, it was time to leave.

Finally home, Survivorman discussed his adventures with his friends, Cammo-man and Igor.

Quote Survivorman - "You know, the beach really isn't all it's cracked up to be. I think I prefer the woods."

Well, be that as it may, Survivorman (and the rest of our family) sure had a wonderful weekend!