~Florida~

Love having my head in the clouds

Above Photo courtesy of Caroline

..Oh My..A few years back..above.

Photo courtesy of Caroline~

Below..more of a few years back...the only ones I was able to find here now that my blog is ghosted~

Mowgli years ago..♥

The 3 amigos years ago.

Oli and Max yrs ago.

Max years ago.

That face yrs ago:)
Baby teeth.

Catch of the day!

Caught and released~

The mailboxes..all shapes and sizes:)Same with homes..a small area of cute and humble..a  million..estates~This mailbox has http://linda-keaveney.blogspot.com/  Linda's name on it I am sure.
The beach..her flip flops..:)

A new necklace..a treasure chest that holds a shark's tooth~

My daughter's pretty young hands:)

I loved watching them play~Diamonds sparkling on the water..sailboats going by..footballs on the beach~

The sunsets on the Gulf are amazing.

My fave pic♥ Caroline took it:)

It's very difficult to pull off a great surprise..someone can usually let the cat slip out of the bag as they say..I have let the cat slip out of the bag many times:)

But a few times..I have been so surprised!
My fiftieth..my girls had a surprise party..never expected a thing..and my 60th..at our family gathering..they had set up a live music stage in their living room:)

Heartfelt lovely surprises..

Oh and this summer when all the boys wore those cute Tropical shirts:):)

But one surprise..I think is the show stopper.

We recently  had the opportunity  to  go to Florida..


Getting back to this surprise..we were on our own this year..
about 10 days in..on a chilly grey Fl Sunday ..close to dinnertime..Jacques and I were inside..out of the corner of my eye..
I saw three tall boys walk by the side window..3 tall Littles!
Unbeknownst to us..  their family had totally surprised us by driving down for the week.
I grabbed my face with both hands and repeatedly said "OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD"~
This is all on video..lol.
They filmed the homecoming;)
My voice is soo annoying.

They had a beautiful weather week..and we all had a beautiful week.
The climate reminds me of Provence..not the way of life..not one iota.  But those blue skies!And the warmth on your face..and the very windy days can remind me of Le Mistral on the beach.
Not inland.

And the people we know here are special.
No one has a fancy house or clothes..here.
We all live in the same accomodations..
Most have rental cars:)
So no fancy schmancy.
Our plates said:" California"~
No one's grass is greener..
No one has a prettier garden.
One common ground it seems is that many of us are creatures of habit.And we laugh at our habits.

They can tell the time when we leave the beach for lunch;)
They know how far our daily walks are.
They know we eat every meal at home.
They know I like to paint and take pictures.
They are so nice to our Littles..
I know about their children and grandchildren.

This is the place on earth I actually mingle with people I have come to know.
Apart from family at home.




The boys swam..fished..collected fish..played football..racketball..waterball..
They are loving..polite..chraming beautiful boys.
And funny..The whole family..:)

Unforgettable for us.Grateful they drive all that way..♥4 days of driving for 5 days of beach.

We only had 2 days of extremely SLIGHT red tide..
It surely is the sunshine state.
Saw dolphins..

But see that seagull pic?
That was a few yrs ago..we used to see flocks of them.
Not one flock..to be seen..and hardly any to see on their own.
Where have all the seagulls gone?
Erosion is also a big thing..




For years..I loved taking the family pics..I am delegating now:)
I can't match the quality of my daughter's phone:)
I did BUY a phone..:) FINALLY..lol
And it takes pics;)
But not like these;)Hers~
And..she's got an EYE~


Some pics..above..for my reinstated humble blog..getting back in le swing of things:)

My friend Brenda on the beach one day~
And a pic she took for me one night in town~

Trust me when I say..time flies~♥

I need to put this back in my blog..so it's going here..

Yrs ago..makes my heart happy.

Watching them on the beach..I could look back through my mind's eye..and see them as infants..toddlers.. Littles and now teens and tweens..

I know this is not possible for every family.
Distance..time..so many variables.
Some are on their own..with no family.

We all have yearnings I think..some are more vocal about them..
Wishes for loved ones long gone..health..success..happiness..family..great friends..
we all look over from time to time..and wish.

I hesitate to write about about things like this..but then..it wouldn't be me.

Our 4 littles never..if ever.. leave my mind;)

I hope some of the pics will make you smile..
Don't mistake Oli's little face for anything but being funny.
the boys are so loving ♥
Never in one million years would I ever have guessed that boys could be so affectionate.
I need that LOL.
I enjoy feeling loved.

My friend Brenda had her wedding anni there..25 yrs..they married there..I left a shell and a  single hibiscus  bloom on their patio table..gifts are humble here..so Oli knew..it was their anni.
The next day he asked Brenda:" So,..yesterday was your wedding day?  Was it good for you?"
She liked that.:)

I spent many moments looking out onto the Gulf of Mexico watching the waves..the diamonds..reflecting on so many things..
Mostly.. wishing health and comfort for everyone..not feeling particularly grand at this moment.
♥
We never ever know what someone is going through.
Masks are well worn by habituals.

Some get colds and the world knows..some suffer intolerable things in silence.
And that's ok..we're all so different.

♥



See you soon for Christmas Chatter....