A Cup of Memories

If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; if you are depressed, it will cheer you; if you are excited it will calm you. 
- William Ewart Gladstone

Apparently tea is a beverage for all seasons and all reasons. My Mom would drink hot tea year round, any time of the day, while I prefer iced tea. When I was a kid, she and I would make ourselves lunch on a warmish winter day and take it outside to eat. We would find a sheltered place in the sun, usually next to the house behind a big bush and sit and eat. I remember she would fill a jar with a lid with hot tea instead of using a cup. Those were good times.

Does a cup of tea conjure up any memories for you?



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Another Rainy Day

A pleasant smile is the wisest comment, always interpreted favorably and rarely misquoted. - Robert Brault

Being at the beach always puts a smile on my face, so on this rainy November day, I look back, remember and smile. The gull in this picture is getting his smile on, too.



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Sky On Fire

Never waste any amount of time doing anything important when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under.  - C. Joybell C.

Take a moment and relax to a beautiful sunset and the sounds of the waves gently lapping at the shoreline.



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Fall Is Upon Us

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. 

― L.M. Montgomery

There is as much beauty in one simple leaf as on a whole mountainside.

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A New Season

Oh how we love pumpkin season. You did know this gourd-ish squash has its own season, right? Winter, Spring, Summer, Pumpkin.... We anxiously anticipate it every year. -Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer, October 2010

Hawks Pumpkin Patch

Move over roses - everything is coming up pumpkins! It goes beyond pies, muffins and lattes. There are pumpkin spice marshmallows, English muffins, bagels, cream cheese and yogurt, but it doesn't stop there. There is even a pumpkin spice kahlua. Want more pumpkin? Check out this list of foods for the pumpkin season.


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Nature's Way

I go to nature to be soothed and healed, 

and to have my senses put in order. - John Burroughs

Nature affords us the simple pleasures that relax and soothe us, and make all right with our world again. Whether we gaze out over the ocean, hike a wooded trail or while away shady hours beneath an old oak tree, nature brings us back in touch with ourselves.




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Shine On!

I wish I was a glow worm,

A glow worm's never glum.

'Cos how can you be grumpy

When the sun shines out your bum!

- Unknown

Have a safe and happy Labor Day!

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Walk With Me

The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul - Robert Wyland

St. Augustine Beach, June 2015

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Who Are You?

Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is

 no one alive who is you-er than you! - Dr. Seuss

Well said, Dr. Seuss. You otter just be yourself.  Go on, revel in your you-ness.

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Being Yourself

The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are. 

- Joseph Campbell

Don't waste it trying to be someone else. Just be the best you that you can be.

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The Slow Lane

I regret less the road not taken than my all-fired hurry along the road I took. - Robert Brault

It's not so much which road you take, as what you do on the way. It is like taking the Interstate in an effort to get where you're going fast versus taking some back roads and just enjoying the ride. 

Sometimes life is better in the slow lane, so no matter which one of life's roads you're on, take time to appreciate the journey.



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It's Your Life

Sometimes I lie awake at night and I ask, "Is life a multiple choice test or is it a true or false test?"...Then a voice comes to me out of the dark and says, "We hate to tell you this but life is a thousand word essay. ― Charles M. Schulz

Life is not a series questions and even if it was, they could not be answered with a simple Yes or No, or choosing by A, B, or C. 

Life is a series of events and experiences that cannot be expressed in monosyllables or by filling in the blanks. Lives well lived can produce not only thousand word essays, but literally fill volumes.

It's your life to live and your story to tell.






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The Little Elf

I met a little Elf-man, once,

Down where the lilies blow.

I asked him why he was so small, 

And why he didn't grow.

He slightly frowned, and with his eye

He looked me through and through.

"I'm quite as big for me," said he,

"As you are big for you."

- John Kendrick Bangs

Don't judge people by what you expect them to be. Give them a chance to be who they are and maybe both your lives will be richer.

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Nobody's Perfect

A good garden may have some weeds. - Thomas Fuller

You weed your garden today and tomorrow you find you still have weeds. Our imperfections are like weeds. We will never be free of them. Not to worry, nobody is perfect and just as we still get a good crop from our garden in spite of the weeds, and we can be good, productive people in spite of our imperfections.

Let's accept each other, flaws and all, and watch our garden flourish.




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Watching the Waves

My connection to the earth is reinforced 

through the rhythm of the waves. - Mike Dolan

St. Augustine Beach, June 2015

I often refer to this as recharging my internal batteries. To sit and gaze at the ocean relaxes both body and soul. Maybe it is the rhythm of the waves, or the layers of sand, water and sky, or the life-sustaining power of the ocean. Whatever the cause, the effect is the same.



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St. Augustine Highlights

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. - St. Augustine

St. Augustine is the nation's oldest city, founded by the Spanish in 1565, and named after the Catholic saint, St. Augustine. Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles named the area thusly since land was sighted on the day of the feast celebrating St. Augustine.

Our destination.
It had been many years since I had been to St. Augustine, and then we were merely passing through on our way to Daytona. I was pretty excited to get to spend time exploring the city and basking on the beach...well I don't actually bask anymore, but still it was great to hang out and watch the waves.

Our traveling companions, with my hubby in the back.
Everything in Twos - two couples, two cars, two kids (theirs) and two condos. Ashley and I had been looking forward to the day when we could all vacation together. This year it became a reality.

The gang

Where we stayed.
Pier Point South Condos at St. Augustine Beach on Anastasia Island. Our unit came with everything we needed, including beach towels and chairs. A big thank you to the thoughtful owners for such a well-provisioned condo.

Pier Point South Condos

What we did.
We struggled with high temperatures and high humidity so to see more of the city with less effort, we took the Old Town Trolley tour. You paid one price for three days of rides, getting on and off as much as you like. Our first stop was the St. Augustine Distillery. We all agreed that a tour, free tasting and A/C would be a welcome break from the heat.

After a brief tour of the distillery, we were taken to the tasting room. There we were treated to a Florida Mule made from their own vodka, and their version of a gin and tonic, again made from their gin. Everyone was offered a sample of both the gin and vodka neat. This was my first distillery tour and spirits tasting.

St. Augustine Distillery

On another day we toured the San Sebastian Winery. We arrived in time for the tasting that was just starting. We were given our choice of two wines on each round and we decided I would take one and hubby the other so we could both taste each wine. The first two were a dry white made from several of Florida's hybrid grapes and a dry red described as full-bodied, but I felt it was rather light. These were the driest of the wines offered. There were several made from their Native Muscadine grape, which were sweeter. Lastly we were served cream sherry and port styled wines.

San Sebastian Winery

We climbed the St. Augustine lighthouse which is 165 feet tall with 219 steps to reach the circular walkway around the tower just below the lens. This tower was constructed in 1874 and was automated in 1955.

St. Augustine Lighthouse

The view from the top was fantastic in all directions from the Atlantic to historical St. Augustine.

At the top - all 219 steps.

No trip involving water would be complete without a boat ride. We cruised the scenic waterways of St. Augustine aboard the Victory III. Visitors have been cruising these waters since the early 1900s seeing such sights as the Bridge of Lions and the St. Augustine Lighthouse.

The bridge of Lions

Scenic Cruise

Where we ate.
A unanimous favorite was the Conch House restaurant. Fish tacos, fish and grits, blackened Wahoo and fried shrimp were among some of the entrees we ordered. We also sampled conch fritters, gator bites and hot wings. We sat at large picnic tables beneath thatched huts overlooking the marina. As we enjoyed our lunch, we watched wading birds fishing for theirs.

In the hut at the Conch House

The Conch House - a view from above.

The Sunset Grille, about a block from our condo, served up tasty fare as well. We shared fish sandwiches and fish and chips outside on several evenings.

Sunset Grille

Other places we ate at along the beach were Antonio's for pizza, Rita's for Italian ice (the mango was delicious), The Salt Life, and Little Margie's. In town we had breakfast at The Bunnery, and lunch at the Ice Plant (next to the distillery).

Stay tuned for my manatee adventure!



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Friendship

Let’s swear each with our pinky

We’ll be the best of friends

Until we are old and wrinkly!

Good friends and good times make memories for a lifetime.

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On Photography

The negative is the equivalent of the composer's score, and the print the performance. - Ansel Adams

While many of our pictures are in digital format today, there is still the relation between composer and the performer. Our cameras are the instrument, we are the composer and the images are the collaboration and the star of the show.

There are many different reasons for taking pictures. Some photographers spent thousands of dollars and as many hours looking for just the right shot, catching the light and trying to capture what their eyes behold.

I like to capture moments to relive them later. Memories of what we saw can fade with time, but when we see the pictures, they come alive again. It matters not whether it was the perfect shot or the highest quality, it triggers the senses.

Sometimes it is not what you are photographing as much as it is the feeling you get from looking at it. Something as simple as the way the light hits a tree, or plays with the shadows. I've been taking pictures since I was a kid, and this is only something I've learned in the last few years. 

There are many wonderful photographers who share their work online, and the one who has inspired me the most is the talented lady at The Smitten Image. I used to try and get as much into a picture as possible and now I know that sometimes less is more. Thanks Hilary!

These were all taken with my Canon Powershot SD1200.



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Quote of the Week

Always when judging

Who people are,
Remember to footnote
The words "So Far."

- Robert Brault

We are all constantly changing, evolving and becoming who we are meant to become. However, we are not there yet, and during our journey we may hit a few bumps along the way. Let's give each other the benefit of not judging an unfinished work of art.

Pictured is our sweet Sophie, and at the ripe old age of 9, she is still evolving. She was always a quiet cat but having been an only cat for more than six months she is now talking more...a lot more.

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Quote of the Week

Laughter is like a windshield wiper, it doesn't stop the rain but allows us to keep going. - Anonymous

Laughter just may be nature's best medicine...good for the mind, body and spirit. Never mind the rain - bring some laughter into your life and see how far you can go.



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