see ya.

so we said good-bye to our vacation yesterday. but before we left.

we headed out to the beach one last time.


somebody. had to bring pillow to say goodbye. too.


i had to leave somethings behind, too.


you see. they didn't fit. they didn't fit in the suitcase. so they stayed behind. on the beach. for someone else to pick up and enjoy.

over.

time to head back.

to reality.

to the snow.

and the cold.

i hear it's 11 degrees at home right now. but it's rainy here today. so i suppose it's a good enough time to say good-bye.

shells. shells.

you know. the shells on sanibel. are insane. absolutely insane. you can't walk a foot without stumbling over some beautiful perfect shell.


i love getting up early and going shelling here. people are stooped over, picking up shells. putting them in their bucket or bag. i've been out with little two and m-i-l. and by myself. it's a solitary kind of routine. there's not much talking. just looking. and ooh and aahing.


it's a good way to start a morning. and end a day.

the life.

this is the life. i watched this couple for several hours. today. well. didn't watch. but they were right in front of us on the beach. sitting in their chairs. whiling the day away.

in the sunshine.

enjoying the surf.

and the birds.

picking up shells.

reading.

talking.

enjoying life.

i hope this is us someday.

red.

have you ever seen a prettier shade of red? how gorgeous is this little flower?

birds of a feather.

flock together.

just another.

day on the beach.


how i could get used to this.

throwing coconuts in the surf.


surfing.



and sunshine. lots of sunshine.

busy. busy.

this. is what i'm up to today.


what about you?

ahh.

we're spending a week away.

from the cold.

the ick.

the snow.

the ice.

and when we left. this am. at 4:30. yes. 4:30.

the good thing about traveling that early? some (some only) tend to fall asleep in flight...


but anyway. it was cold and snowy.

and this. is what we arrived to.


can this really be the same country? is that fair? that some live with this?

getting ready.

i'm spending the day packing. and cleaning. and running errands. and more errands.

if there is anything a bit less fun than packing i'd like to know what it is. packing for one is easy. packing for one plus two littles is a challenge.

suitcases. backpacks. treats, snacks, colors, movies, ipods. homework. do we have everything? i'm certain we don't. too much to carry on? to much to check? blankets? lovies?

but this. this is a vacation. and we will survive.

2 days.

until we're enjoying some this.

a cold day.

a warm pot of oatmeal on a cold day. will spring ever decide to visit us? i hope so.

steel cut oatmeal courtesy of alton brown.
Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 cup steel cut oats
• 3 cups boiling water
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon low-fat buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• pecans
  
• strawberries
  

Directions

In a large saucepot, melt the butter and add the oats. Stir for 2 minutes to toast. Add the boiling water and reduce heat to a simmer. Keep at a low simmer for 25 minutes, without stirring.

Combine the milk and half of the buttermilk with the oatmeal. Stir gently to combine and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Spoon into a serving bowl and top with remaining buttermilk, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

i skipped the cinnamon and instead toasted some pecans and topped our bowls with a sprinkling of brown sugar, pecans and strawberries.

a good way. to start a cold day.

so. not. counting.

happy birthday to me.

shopping.

and lunch with a friend.

a yummy dinner with family and friends.

and. cake... and presents.

there must always be cake.

i do.

it was a cold day.

i mean cold.

but we headed out to the park today. by an icy lake with snow flakes swirling in the air.

to photograph a wedding.

here's a sneak peak for the bride.


congratulations.

stringing.

so. my valentine's this year?

hand sewn. well. ok. i stitched them on the machine.

but i did cut out all of the hearts. from scraps of fabric. i hate to throw anything away. you never know what it will come in handy for.

so here are the details:

cut out hearts - the more imperfect the better.

using heavy card stock - i cut mine to be 4x6 or you could buy blank cards at michaels or another craft store - layout your design. my hearts were meant to look like they were hanging on a clothes line.

start sewing. i used a pink thread and just stitched across the middle in one line to make the clothes line. leave longish lines of thread hanging off the sides.

then stamp your cards. i used a very simple message. be mine. that i stamped off-center above the hearts. i used a stamp that i got at the office supply store and was just text. no frills here. i guess i was into simplicity this year. and then we signed the bottoms. super simple.

i'm yours.

happy valentine's day!

a sneak peak.

a little peak at my valentines this year...

hearts and cupids.

before the big event today, i was off to little one's valentine's day party day.

there were lots of hearts.

candy races.

and cheers.

popping in.

hope you can stop by. the goodies are amazing out here...

busy. busy.

i've been very busy. hope you can stop by and check out what i've been working on this weekend! should be lots of fun.

white.

isn't it funny? how things come and go. did i like these vases a year ago? six months ago?

i would walk by them. never even glance their way. and now. when i see them.

i beeline their way.

i think they look especially pretty against the green. too bad that green is short-lived. but more to come on that in another post.

beauties.

i have been into collecting old pretty plates for a long time. a long time.

and this week. i have been thrifting alot. really. a lot.

and lots of treasures have been discovered. lots.

among them. these pretty little plates.



to add to the stash. don't tell the husband. he doesn't always get it.

visions.

of the days ahead.

mismatched.

some days are just like that.

me. too.

he wants to take pictures too.



i think he's a tad young for a nikon. but maybe next year.

hearts.

i'm working on some valentine's today. not these. no these were from the past. and i can't show you this years. because they're a secret. first up is our creative group on saturday and we're trading them. and well. no peaks. but i really like the way they're turning out. and maybe. if you're lucky. you'll get one in the mail. or on your doorstep.

grumble.

that. old ground hog. saw his shadow today. meaning. supposedly. six more weeks. of winter. he can just go crawl back into his hole. if you ask me. but you know what? he's only been right 39% of the time. and if i remember correctly. that is not significantly significant.

good.

february.

this month. is all about. hearts.

and dreams.

and happy birthdays.

and vacations.

sigh. it's just going to be such a happy month. it's february!