winter walk on the beach

good afternoon dearest reader,

I'm less than 10 miles from the Atlantic Ocean & the most beautiful beach (Sunset Beach). I was out running errands last week & decided to swing by the beach for a walk. It was 50 degrees outside, Sunny & hardly any wind. When I arrived, there were about 10 cars in the parking lot. I walked for a while loving the solitude of the quiet beach, had a talk with God & my angels, enjoyed breathing in the crisp ocean air, soaking up the sun while searching the shoreline for little treasures. Here are some photos of the shells I gathered. Notice some of them are broken. I pick up shells that appeal to me even if they are broken. After all, no one is perfect right? and... because we have lots of seashells alongside the walkway that leads to our front door. Cool huh?

I hope you have a wonderful day.

part of our walkway, weeds & leaves need to be cleaned out...

new blog topic for 2010: Quotes & Lyrics . . .

good afternoon dear reader,

I hope 2010 is going well for you so far. For years I've wanted to start a collection of quotes and lyrics and have decided to do so here on my blog.

These quotes might be from famous people, family & friends, authors, etc. Lyrics will be from, where else, songwriters. lol

I saw this quote on FaceBook today and wanted to share it with you...this rings true for me & my 46 yrs of life experience with the exception of the trust part...I trust more people than just myself. I get hurt by being this way sometimes but that's how we learn right?

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when their right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes... good things fall apart so better things can fall together." — Marilyn Monroe

What do you think?

first post of the New Year

good morning darling reader,

Wow, 2010. Can you believe it? 10 years have passed since the Millenium Celebration. The New Year has brought some very cold weather to the Carolina Coast. It's about 15 degrees below normal (which is 57 degrees). brrrrrr I'm not used to temps in the 20s & 30s during the day with wind chill factor.

An art friend on Facebook said to me yesterday "If you live near the beach, you can't complain". He's right. We have a garden stone outside our front door that says "If you are lucky enough to live a the beach, you are lucky enough". lol

so dear reader, what's new with you? My inquiring mind wants to know... do tell ...

got any NewYears Eve Traditions? Party Plans? What did you do 10 yrs ago on the Millennium?

good evening dearest reader,

So I'm wondering...you know me & my inquiring mind....

Do you have any New Year's Eve Traditions? Any plans for NYE 2010? Did you do anything special when it was the New Millennium?

We have one tradition we have done since 1974. Our dear neighbors in NY shared it with us & we have done it ever since. At midnight, we open the back door to let the old year out & open the front door to let the new year in. Open the doors at the same time and leave them open for a minute or two before you close them. Cool huh? Let me know if you've heard of this or if you decide to make it one of your New Year's Eve traditions.

This year, Dawn & I are having both sets of our parents over for a small party. I bought some new games for us to play (the game of Things, Fact or Crap & Partini Mixers Fast & Fabulous). Yes there is a game called "Fact or Crap" & I can't wait to try it out. We're going to have some adult punch & some hot snacks like swedish meatballs & pigs in a blanket...probably some veggies & dip too.

As for the New Millennium, Dawn & I had a big party the next day at our townhouse in NY. We decided a party the day after might be better because everyone was worried computers around the world would fail at midnight...remember? Anyway, we had a house full of family & friends. It ended up being an all-day & into the night kinda party. We had a blast.

your turn...do tell.........

p.s. go here for some uber cool free blog buttons

♥ Merry Christmas ♥

hello dear reader,

Just a quick post to say....

I wish for you & yours a very Merry Christmas filled with light and love.

Happy Winter Solstice (Yule)

hello dearest reader,

Today is the shortest day & longest night. I've always liked the Winter Solstice (I like days that have something to do with Astronomy). I love the long nights of winter.

I wish you a Happy Winter Solstice. Do you have anything special you do today? Rituals? Traditions? What are your thoughts on the shortest day of 2009?

I just read something on a FaceBook post I'd like to share with you...
"Solstice means standing still sun. Reflect on the stillness of the day by cultivating stillness in yourself. Spend more time listening, watching and honoring the slower, quieter rhythm of the season..."

Isn't that beautiful? Namaste dear ones.

Are you feeling the stress of the Holidays? Tell me all about it...

good evening darling reader,

As I blogged about in a previous post, we no longer exchange gifts with each other on Christmas so there is no huge stress in my life right now. I'm not frazzled from shopping, wrapping, baking etc like I was for soo many years. D & I went shopping for a little bit today. People we rude & pushy...totally stressed out & looking exhaused. We just shrugged it off...after all, it is the weekened before Christmas.

This made me think of you, dear reader. Many of you are probably completely stressed out right now. I have a few suggestions....

• Don't worry about it all so much & remember, you can't buy love.
• Try not to spend more than you can afford because this will cause a Lot of stress when the credit card bills come in January.
• Take time out for yourself with a good book & a cup of tea, a bubble bath, a relaxing nap or listening to your favorite music.
• Spend time with your friends & loved ones and enjoy each others company. If the house is not 100% clean, so what. Give yourself a break, be casual about entertaining & sit back and enjoy your company.
• If you travel, Be Safe. Stay hydrated. Don't drive if the weather is bad or if you are tired. Your loved ones would rather see you a day late than see you hurt in a collision.
• If you are going to be around people stress you out & emit negative energy ask your Higher Power to surround you with protective light. Ignore the negative person(s) as best you can. Let things go. Take the high road & choose your battles wisely if you find you must have any kind of confrontation. Count to 10 (or to 100 if you have to) and concentrate on all the love & goodness in your life. Words can cut deeply & you can't take them back once they are spoken.
• If you have little ones, stay home on Christmas day. This is the time of your life where you should be in your home with your children. Don't feel guilty about it. Your loved ones should understand this. Let them come to visit the day before or after if they want to.
• Most of all, enjoy yourself and give yourself a big hug from me.

So dear reader, tell me...how things are going for you?

new Jewelry just listed on Etsy - priced $4 to $12

good afternoon dearest reader,



I just wanted to let you know I listed a necklace & 5 bracelets...priced $4 to $12. Some items have gemstones, others vintage beads. Please take a moment to go check it out here.

As my blog follower, I'll give you Free Shipping on ANY purchase from my Etsy shop for the month of December. Just add in notes to seller the code "BloggerFollower" when you make a purchase.

I hope you have a wonderful day.

What is Your Reason for the Season ?

blessings to you darling reader,

I'd like to start this post by saying I respect your thoughts & beliefs regarding any Higher Power you believe in or not believe in. I stand firm that there is no right or wrong when it comes to spirituality. It's a personal choice as to what is true for your soul.

For me, Jesus is the Reason for the Season. I cringe at all the commercial-ism of Christmas. I admit, for many years I was totally caught up in the overspending, gift giving frenzy. Stressed out baking, crafting, buying, wrapping...totally frazzled...feeling the pressure & spending money I didn't have....I guess you've probably been there too.

When we moved to NC, our families decided that we are not celebrating Christmas with gifts. I am very grateful we have everything we Need. (Praise the Lord) We get together on Christmas day & enjoy each other's company, remembering Jesus is the Reason for the Season. (We don't have any little ones in our immediate family anymore but if we did, I'm sure we'd give them presents).

We now make Our birthdays a big deal. We get together for dinner & shower the birthday "baby" with gifts. These birthday parties are sooo much fun & I love the idea of celebrating the birth & life of our loved ones on their special day.

How do you feel about all the pressure & stress of the Holiday Season? do tell, I'd like to know...

Have you ever gone shopping with a "Celebrity"? I have....

good afternoon darling reader,

I'm wondering...have you ever gone shopping with a "Celebrity"? I have...let me explain...

We sometimes take Elvis out with us & have a dog carriage for him. (I've posted some pics below). It zippers up so he can not get out. Whenever we bring Elvis out in the stroller it's like we are out shopping with a celebrity. Some of the comments we get are...

• "oh there's a dog in there, I thought it was your baby !". my reply is " he IS my baby" :)


• "Look there's a puppy in there" (usually said Loud)


• "He's soo cute/adorable/darling/sweet/" etc...you get the idea


• "What's his name?" my reply "Elvis Lee" that sets off a whole bunch of responses and usually one or two "Elvis is in the building" or "Elvis is leaving the building". A lady working at the local ACE hardware store said "Elvis is in the building" over the loudspeaker the other day when we arrived. It's tooo funny.

People almost always call over the people they are shopping with & shop employees call over coworkers to show them the "cute dog" in a stroller. If we happen upon someone who "met" Elvis in another store most times they will come over & say "Hi Elvis" and "oohh" & "aahh" over him again.

Our little Elvis Lee attracts practically everyone in a 12' radius. This happens when we bring him to the beach too...or when we take him out for walks in the neighborhood. Neighbors shout "Hey Elvis" and as an afterthought say "oh yeah, hi" to us.

I've resigned myself to the fact that my sweet dog is a charasmatic little guy that attracts attention wherever he goes while I barely get noticed. I'm okay with that. I love him with all my heart & I'm happy to let people pet him, get kisses from him & shower him with compliments. He's like a Celebrity in the dog world which I guess makes me a celebrity Mommy. lol

The outlet malls around here are wonderful about shopping with a dog. We've got Tanger Outlets, Broadway at the Beach, Barefoot Landing etc...all fabulous outdoor malls & the stores welcome dogs as long as they are in a stroller. Indoor malls, grocery stores, Walmart, Dollar Stores etc - none of them will allow a dog stroller in their establishments.

so tell me...have YOU shopped with a "Celebrity"?


the stroller showing off his cuteness


getting bored & yawning stretching his legs


new fountain at Tanger501

Success at Arts & Crafts Show

hello dearest reader,

I just wanted to give you an update & share a few photos. My Mother & I did very well at the Arts & Crafts show last Saturday at our local Elks Lodge. She sold about 1/2 of the items she brought. I sold about 1/3 of mine, however I brought a lot more than she did. We were thrilled with our sales.

Here are a few blurry cell phone photos of our 2 tables. Mother & I grouped the jewelry by color so our items were mixed on the tables.


Have you done any Holiday Shows? Did you sell well? Got any coming up soon? I'm interested to know...so...tell me all about it.

I Carry Your Heart With Me

Hello dear reader,

This is one of my favorite poems by ee cummings. It was quoted on a TV show last night (Brothers & Sisters) and I wanted to share it with you this morning.

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)

I am never without it (anywhereI go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet )

I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)