Ebb Tide...long...

Love that song..it is so romantic to me..I was very young when the Righteous Brothers made it so popular..and I was very unpopular..with the boys at that age..
I remember a few of the girls I was friendly with being about 2 years older than I was..and they were very popular with the boys..slimmer..prettier..older..
Yet..it struck a chord that lasted with me..still now:-) Go take a little listen..~

..

Seems funny posting a summery little entry in December..when we have already had snow here..
But we had the opportunity to drive to Florida..(27hrs).. this year..and much to our great pleasure..one of our daughters..her husband and 3 boys came for a 1 week stay..
They too drove for all that time w/ an 8 yr old..6 and 4..Troopers!!I loved it.
Romance of a different nature..:-)
Our eldest daughter has come too with Noah..but she is a teacher and cannot get away..she loved it too:)

It was lovely..

It's so nice seeing the days through children's eyes..  their joy at everything is intoxicating.
They were in the water every day..even after they caught stingrays.. shark.. catfish..bluefish..
Some days the water was like the carribean..so clear and calm and pristine..see through to your toes..
And a few others..

Quite rugged..a different kind of beauty.

The area where we stay.  ...up the beach further away... there has been work done on the public boardwalk..wonderful work..and many  benches..  in memory of..
This one caught my spirit..I have left out the name of the person..but what a lovely tribute..

Loving words as I do..these had to be shared~ The sea affects all of us in different ways..usually..deeply.

It is no surprise that sun sand and sea can elicit such joy in children..!:)

                                                                     

                                                               Our very own Mowgli~

 My Baywatch Boys~

The fun..nana is in trying to eat the bubbles after we have blown them~

One night..  Max got a new shirt and tie:) And wanted to be our waiter for the night..(best waiter ever).. he was so agreeable to having a photo shoot with me  :)

Be still my heart..
I am certain you do not want to see all 25 I took of him.. and he had jumped out of the shower w/out combing his hair..:)(I wish I could jump out of the shower and not comb my hair..:)..)..He is my fashionista grandson..the artist..He is 6..

                                                           
                                                          Our lovely waiter~


Thank you Florida.. a lovely state..friendly people..
No kidding..the grocery stores nearest to us.. Publix..  the staff was extraordinarily nice.
Every shop..courteous..friendly..
Walking the beach to the right of us..where mansions of a sort sit along the shores..
I..walking along after a stormy day..looking quite like a hobbit..collecting shells and sea urchins..was asked by one of the owners of such a great home..you hit the mother load today..would you like me to get you a bag?
How nice was that?
Thank you dear sir sitting on the shore of your beautiful home to ask a perfect stranger if she needed a bag for her treasures...
Friends we see ..from Massachusetts..Germany..Pennsylvania....Ontario...New Jersey..Cincinnata:) Wisconsin...
Michigan..Carmel...New York..Long Island..
Walks on the beach every morning..  were spirited with small talks with everyone we know and like and see:)
Everybody has a story..
Be kind..  as..

You never know what someone is going through:).

Beach people.. are pretty great people..Actually..very great people.A melting pot..



With our family..We found shells and shark's teeth.. A turtle walking the beach..heart stones.. Sea urchins...shared meals..walked the beach ..played Go Fish..(how appropriate..) swam..fished..did puzzles.. watched High School Musical twice..painted T Shirts..blew huge bubbles.. fired off torpedo balloons..walked the beach to the Tam Tam festival at night ..played Heads Up.. at night on the beach..painted..bought bait..ate the bluefish..made castles....sent off secret messages..combed each others hair...saw 2 weddings..  old friends....gorgeous dolphins.. met a photographer who paddle boarded with her beautiful family right in front of us..so cute..the dolphins decided to play with them..what a show we witnessed..found a starfish..ready for QC.. as it was already..well you know..  and a bit misfit..like I am.. some shells to measure flour and sugar thanks to Mary Pat..Discovered  a new cookbook thanks to Mary~Ann....A great new strain of garlic..thanks to M~A and D:)
Watched a Dolphin's Tale  (so good)..that Morgan Freeman..his voice..his presence..Ashley and Harry..the kids so cute..That one we saw after the children left so we will watch with them at home..
Found a sea sponge..followed the egrets and sandpipers..chased the gulls..read several books and magazines..knit a small neckwarmer~

Tried painting..

That poor woman to the left:)

I painted Bravo cards..  and my 2 lipsticks..NYC..:)

and Apple Polish by Revlon.. last yr I was looking everywhere for it..my daughter said..mom they probably discontinued it 10 yrs ago..

So EBAY..through her came through..

Anyone else wear Apple Polish on occasion? Or Revlon Red like my mom?:)

My perfume..  some views..some beach people..

Made a new dinner courtesy of Linda~

I was fortunate that my friend on the beach grows garlic and had given us a bulb..It was sooo good:)

The chicken is garlicky w/ parsley and lemon..

And I tried a new bread recipe..

And a new scone recipe..

The Chicken and the Scones are worth repeating..

Thec scones are from Katrina...

I have a few fave scone recipes..like the pom ones..  But I would not hesitate to use this recipe with  poms:)

I took a few photos..but here is confession time..our kitchen in our rented hideaway..the counter is 2 x 3 ft..my rolling pin ...an empty wine bottle..the fridge is miniature and the oven is off..and miniature..way off..and I have very little ingredients..

I do buy flour..sugar.. sour cream..baking powder etc..

so I figured I had what was half necessary to try Katrina's recipe:)  Missing?  Real OJ..I had the Pulp 

Tropicana in the fridge..oj rind..and cranberries.. we had no dried fruits.. but Raisin Bran cereal..LOL..

... in front of the sea..nothing material counts:)

So we scooped out a handful of the raisins and added..still delish..so imagine w/ real OJ..  real rind and cranberries..

I am sure you can see why there are no photos..

But do make Linda's Chicken and Katrina's scones..Both Keepers~

Thank you!

Smiling Oli~Divaish glasses..do you see J and I:-) ?

Oli..you make me smile out loud..always..inside out.

Love that face..all of them..all 4 alphabet boys..

I am keeping all this inside me in reserve..for the long winter ahead~
I will remember every hibiscus..bougainvillea..etc..bouquet I picked every morning for our outdoor patio table..and so much more.

Thanksgiving day in Florida..

We were graced with such beauty..
I had to capture the sound~
We were treated to the music of the waves..and a near deserted beach~

Listen..Reminds me of Rod McKuen and The Sea~

I guess now I should concentrate on Christmas :)  Don't let my words fool you..I started preparations before we left:)some..


P.S..By some fluke..one wrong press of a key..  because I uploaded a video to YOUTUBE..I am with Google +..(I don't want to..it complicates everything..) Anyone know how I can just get back to how I was without the +..and yet still save all my pics in Picasa etc?