gave in.

i gave in today.

to some happy little purple flowers. they just seemed to need some sunshine. and hopefully. they will bring it.

nothing like a pot of pansies. to signal spring. it's time to come.

creatures.

on a trip to the beach we always meet new friends.

some are prettier than others.

some harass us for food.


some are prickly.

some would make a good dinner.


some i'd rather not meet in the water.

and some are just our friends that we call. charlie. don't ask.

hello.

march. you made a grand entrance today. let's hope you leave like a lamb, too.

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.