Monday, April 30, 2012

Invisable



I was looking throught some old shots and came accross this one. Love it!

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Ahhhhh... Sunshine

Woke up to a day as gloomy as gloomy can be.
Had to find some sunshine.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Fickle

Ahhhhhh!!!
I was too warm last week and now I am complaining about the cold. Had to put shoes on!!!
A priceless free pedicure going to waste!


Obviously this is not the powdery white sand of South Florida but the course pink sand of Bermuda.
Artistic license. The picture tells the story!!

I think I'll go back to Bermuda sometime this year.
Nice thing is the high season there is summer and it's not too far away.
Very relaxing place.

My goal in the next few years is to get back to Grenada and Carriacou. If you want a true caribbean experience this is the place to go.
The Grenadines seem to be visted more by Europeans and South Americans than North Americans and I could never figure that part out. It is amazing there!
I think maybe the difference is that the northern part of the eastern Caribbean is all about beaches and tourism and no doubt there are some beautiful places there. I love the BVI, but down in the Grenadines it is more about nature.The people are more self suffcient, there is agriculture, rain forest and the feeling like you are walking next to and old soul.

Okay... I'm rambling, don't know how I got on this subject. Must miss the beach!
And I was thinking about the Caribbean when I was in Florida. The beaches aren't lined with big monster hotels in the Carib. I think that's why I ended up choosing Naples. Less big monster hotels.


Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Naples

Hands down this is my choice for our event.
Naples Bay Resort is a small boutique style resort with very nice high end ammenties at a reasonable price.
It has all the things we need.

Nice marina with boat rentals and water taxi

Not too far from the beach

Interesting local wildlife

Sunday, April 22, 2012

St Petersburg

The Marriott Vinoy was a beautiful refurbished old hotel in downtown St Petersburg. They treated me royally with free dinner and a pedicure. Forgot to take a toe picture. Did take a picture of my fav food!

Can you get sick from eating too many clams and mussels?
I need a recipe for the white wine sauce

Lobby Vinoy St Pete
Restful

Oasis

Nearby was a nice beach and park.

Perfect

This beach was like a huge sandbar, fun for birdwatching.

As I look at these shots I can see the huge difference in the ones taken with the Power Shot and the ones take with the Canon EOS. Big diff. Think I need a newer Power Shot for the quick stuff.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

His Gift

There is not a pattern, shape or color an artist can think or dream of that nature has not already created.

Nuff said...

Florida

Wow... I was planning to post every day from Florida and my laptop went kaput the first night. So here are some pictures from my trip to preview hotels for our January event.
Four hotels in four days. Not too bad, but I am tired. Lots of walking.
Funny thing is when I left here it was in the 60's so I took a poncho sweater and wore flip flops. Trying to travel with a small bag so I didn't want that extra pair of shoes. I have to say I did really well with the planning and packing. Anyway... Last night I was standing in O'Hare Airport waiting for my cabbie with a sweater and flip flops in 40 deg weather. Okay what part of this sounds like Chicago weather? 80 deg in March or 40 degrees on April 20th? If you picked both you are CORRECT!

St Petes Beach

Loews Don Cesar
Looks like a lovely view and was, except, right below this balcony were three powerful compressor units
with fans that sounded like jet engines.

My favorite part
This was a beautiful beach but the area surrounding left much to be desired.
Day one done!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Wool Gathering

I moved a few years ago. (actually I ran away)  Downsized bigtime. I got rid of so much stuff as I went from 3000 sq ft to just about 1000 sq ft with no regrets. The nice thing about my lessor square footage is that it is open and bright and not cramped at all. The layout is perfect, I love it! Now and then I will wonder "Do I still have that whatsamathingy?"  Well... I'm not going up in the garage attic to look for it!

The moral of this story is... the stuff in the attic has to go!

This all came to mind today when I was getting ready to pack for Florida and took stock of my small walk in closet. It is not a pretty sight!! More than 50% of what's in there has to go too. I need room for my three new pairs of flip flops!!
This will be my next project. The purpose and objecteive is to keep it lean and easy to clean.

I wouldn't dare put a picture of the closet here!
Just use your imagination.

Ready Set Go



I think this should cover it!
Must have pedicure!

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Treasures

I found this little carved owl in a nursery a while back. Loved her so much I kept her inside on a shelf near my kitchen sink. Then her friends showed up. Hmmmmm?


I would have never thought of taking this picture had it not been for the light from the sunset giving this such and erie glow. Nature is amazing!

Okay... I'm off to shop, will be in sunny Florida on Monday and need a new pair of flip flops!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Frost


We had frost this morning. No real surprise for this time of year but since it has been warm since early March the chill was noticeable. I can't wait... another week or two and I can fill the flower pots.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Office Pet

I would love to bring my Abby here to see the fish tank. Just not sure if that's a good idea. She loves a ride in the car going 5 MPH in the subdivision so she can look out the window and see the geese and birds, but she hates the carrier.

This is Zoe, our little clown fish.


I got to thinking today about all the nice things my employer does for us... for me. This fish tank is just one of those things. I feel blessed to be on the receiving end of his generosity.

Monday, April 9, 2012

His Glory


I didnt take this picture today but it is how I feel today. I love springtime!

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Happy Easter!

I got a head start! No pun intended... yeah right, honk honk!!


Enough of this goofyness, I have cooking to do.
Joy to eveyone who reads this.
Have a Blessed Easter!

Great Thrift Shop Find

I'm not sure if this is genuine, don't know much about glass. Doesn't seem to look like anything Kosta Boda I see online. But it is definately hand blown and very pretty for $3.00.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Intervention!! Please...

Okay... I have this big box of tubes of mini M&M's in my office. I'm handing these out to employee's children so they can eat the M&M's and then fill the tube with quarters and bring the quarters to the Feed My Starving Children Event in May.
The tube holds about $10... I am $20.00 in already!!! Get this off my desk!!!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Starving Children

I am helping to organize fundraising for a charitable event the company I work for is sponsoring.  A worthy cause for sure.
Part of our culture and core values here is to give back and endevor to impact the lives of those less fortunate. What we do is put up the funds to sponsor this event at a local school and have volunteers come to combine the ingredients and pack the food. Then we pray, put the cartons on pallets and load them into a trailer. All headed for Africa, Central America and Haiti. I can send a link if your interested.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Nice Day



Temperature in the 70's, nice to visit the pond outside the office.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Random Accident?

I'd like to put a web cam in the house to see what really goes on when I'm not home.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Antiquing

Was awakened by thunder this morning. Early! The noise didn't wake me, it was the shaking of the house. That had to be close.

Went antiquing yesterday up in Richmond IL. Ended up in the Paws shop and bought Abby a new basket. The proprietress of the shop tested my purrchase for cat worthy-ness and gave it a tails up.

Five beautiful cats in this interesting shop, all curled up in baskets.
Big cats in small baskets, small cats in big baskets. Go figure?

Natasha making sure the basket is just right!

Happy Kitty
Basket and a heat vent, how good can life get.