Still in Paradise.

We're still here...on Sanibel Island!

Enjoying the sun, beach, and warm weather.

 Jim has been fishing almost everyday from shore. He catches small fish, and releases them. He is having fun identifying the different fish he brings in.

 The beaches aren't real busy. But almost everyone is looking for shells. Today was the best day for finding different kinds of shells....LOTS of tiny ones to add to my collection!

 There were hoards of birds on the beach this afternoon. They came in for the waves of minnows that were moving along the shore line. You can see the minnows.....they are the dark patch close to shore, just behind the waves rolling in.

There were all kinds of shore birds, along with pelicans, and seagulls that would follow the little fish as they swam back and forth with the waves.

 You can see the shells scattered on the beach from the tide coming in and going out.... leaving these treasures on the sand for visitors to the island to gather and take home.
I love this place.
xo

Paradise...Sanibel Island

Here we are......at our favorite place on earth....Sanibel Island.

The weather has been wonderful, and the skies are as blue as the sea.

 Sitting on the beach, watching pelicans dive for fish, seeing dolphins come up to play, stingray drift by along the shore, and having an egret stand right next to us while we sat in the sun is all part of the experience here on the island.

 The sunsets are amazing, as most of you know, I'm sure.  Falling to sleep with the sliding door open to hear the waves crashing on the beach is like being in Heaven.

 The flowers.....I miss them back home this time of year. Seeing the gorgeous florals down here does my heart good!

 Being able to kayak is a real treat for me. Poor hubby got stuck with a two man hoagie, because I nabbed the kayak...lol. A couple of dolphins were playing while I was out in deeper water....it was exciting to see.  Getting in and out of the kayak is a bit more challenging in the surf, than it is at the lake back home....it's actually pretty comical.

 Of course, there are the shells!!! A hobby of mine, an obsession of mine..lol. I love the grey-blues, and the ones with orange stripes in them. As you can see, scallop shells are one of my favorites. Pure whites...LOVE!!  Whites with blush pinks...LOVE, LOVE!!! I look for the tiny shells for my fairy garden....all kinds.  We sprinkle shells on our beach at the lake for the grandkids to find in the summer.  This is just a few that I've found, so far.

We will probably do some shopping today. The wind is whipping the sand on the beach.
Of course, there is always the pool!!
Have a fun day!
Debbie
xoxo

Up and at 'um!!

I got out of this bed, and stayed out of it today.

This cold and flu won't keep me down any longer!

I will stop being a grouch, and consciously make the most of the rest of my day!

   After reading a few blog posts this morning, I realized that laying around all day won't help my mind, will and emotions get any better! Even though my body feels sickly, I don't have to feel that way emotionally.

    I can't get the time to turn off on my camera....it's wrong, and I don't like it on my photos....hopefully I will figure it out soon, lol.

    I visited a couple of new, to me, blogs today. I've seen them on IG, so I thought I would check them out. There are thousands of them out there, and I have been away from blogging for so long, catching up will take me until the end of winter!! Which will be a good thing, if you read my post from yesterday...hahaha.

    Monday will be back to school for me. Took Thursday and Friday off because of this cold/flu thing. The part-time teacher's aide position has been a full-time position for a month, because of people retiring at the holidays. I will be glad when my hours go back to part-time again.....hopefully soon.

  Our annual snow festival is this weekend here at the lake. It sounds like a hive of bees are buzzing around outside my door....it's actually all of the snowmobiles out on the lake going about 11,000 miles an hour. Not to worry, they will stop at about 3:00 a.m. zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Enjoy your Saturday!

Debbie

xo

Shouldn't winter be over?!

 Winter.....I am not a fan.  Living in the Upper/Lower part of Michigan was not the smartest choice ....ever. I am a warm weather person, and I need sunshine. The growing season up here is way too short...so having flower gardens is a sad hobby to have...living up here. The Mr. made a faux fireplace for me(so I could pretend to be warm during the long winter months here in the freezing north). We actually have a pellet stove, but I don't like it, because of all the soot it leaves all over the place!! I found this gorgeous insert recently at a wonderful shop in Howell. "Like Mother, Like Daughter" has the most unique pieces from Victorian buildings, and old churches, and buildings from down south(out of state). This awesome piece helps me to imagine myself sitting in front of a warm fire, crackling in the pretend fireplace on these frigid winter nights here on the "tundra".

                                                                              Thank goodness for my job at school!!  I would be so
        bored if I didn't have something to keep me busy during these long winter days!  I don't mean to
        complain. It's just that time of year again. Christmas is over, and the snow should be gone. The
        sun should be shining, and the temperature should be hovering around 72*.  I've been seeing 
        flowers all over on IG, and it makes me want to get outside!!!  but NOT in the snow!! in my
        kayak...on the water, wearing sunblock! instead of a snowsuit!!

                                                                           I cannot wait to go to Sanibel Island!!  My sister, and her husband are going with us this year. They have never been there!! How fun it will be!

                                                                                      The inside of the corner cupboard finally got
               painted....very recently!! I like it so much better than the coral color that was in there.

                                                                                     I also found a unique dining table at "Like 
                  Mother, Like Daughter" at Christmas-time. It is scalloped around the top, and has 
                  gorgeous wood scroll work on the pedestal, legs, and around the table/top edge.

                                                                           As you can see, pale colors are being added here
                  at the cottage.  I like the pale blues, pinks, and some aqua. I'm not sure what summer
                  will bring....I have stayed with mostly whites for quite awhile.

    I hope that where ever you are, you are happy, and enjoying life.....hot, cold, or something in between.  

I will go put on my big girl panties now, and get over this stinkin' winter weather!!

@#*&^ugh...

My computer is fixed!!!! It's Christmas!!

                                                                               Hello.
It's been forever, it seems, since I've had a computer!  This thing has been in the computer repair shop for almost a month!! Ugh....I trust everyone has been busy with Christmas just a few days away.

           I have to pick up another kayak, and two gift certificates to buy, and my shopping will be finished!! There are presents to wrap yet....then food to buy....but that is on a different list.

      It feels cozy here at our lakehouse this holiday season. Lots of candles this year. The Christmas music is constantly playing, and the faux fireplaces are glowing, as well.

        I am enjoying insta-gram. There is a lot of inspiration there, and new people everyday!! I have been surprised by the number of people that are from Michigan on IG, and the shops and markets available to me....some that are within an hours drive from here!!

      I do miss blogging, however. I was happy to re-connect this Fall, and shortly after, this computer decided to take a huge dump!!!! Argh.......

        My teacher's aide position at school has been interesting. I enjoy it, most of the time. Some days, I wonder what in the world I was thinking about when I took the job!!  lol

        I found a shabby chic table for the dining room a couple of weeks ago at the most wonderful shop in Howell....the town where two of my daughter's live. It's called Like Mother, Like Daughter. They have unique pieces....LOTS of architectural pieces from churches, and old Victorian buildings. Huge mantles, and inserts. Pillars, cupboards, and gorgeous chandeliers. The color of the table I purchased is an amazing greenish-blue-ish-aqua-ish and white. It was used at the Emmy's!!!! The carvings on the pedestal and legs, and around the bottom rim of the table are truly gorgeous~.~.~.The top isn't round, but scalloped. Soooo unique.....the table and color....one of a kind.

       The bottle brush trees in the urns, and the pink votive cups(small ones on the left) were also purchased at Like Mother, Like Daughter. The Mister helped pay for the table as my Christmas gift. He is putting a finish on the top tonight to protect it from spills. Love, love, lovin' it!
Enjoy the rest of this week. Don't get over-stressed. Light some candles, and put on some Christmas music. Pour yourself a glass of wine, put your feet up, lay your head back, close your eyes, and imagine a babe laying in a manger...wrapped in swaddling clothes......the newborn King.
Rejoice, and be Glad.
xoxo

Good Changes....

Hello, and welcome.

It truly has been a beautiful Fall here at Lakehouse.

The weather has been warm, and the skies have been sunny.

That kept the roses blooming for quite a while, which kept me happy.

Rain was predicted for this week, so yesterday was spent outside....cleaning up the fairy garden, and bringing in all the yard décor.

We've gotten so much rain from last night into this morning, there are actually flood watches posted in the surrounding areas for today. I guess Mother Nature stored up all the moisture this Fall for this week!!!

The toile curtains from the dining room are now hanging in the living room. They look nice in there with the shabby French accents.

I purchased RA blush pink, shabby chic curtain panels for the dining room.

They are a nice fit with the Limoges dishes, French chairs and chandelier.

I like them as a back drop for the pale pink buffet, as well. 

Working at the elementary school has been a change for me.

Being a teacher's aide has been fun, and challenging.

Things are so different from when my girls were going to school!!

I am totally out of the loop!!

It has taken me a while to get to a place where I can just accept where I am in this chapter of my life.

My girls don't need me to take care of them like they used to....and that has been difficult for me.

Yet, that is what I prayed for as they were growing up. For them to find someone to be a good mate for them. Someone who would help take care of their needs, and love them unconditionally.

As the grand kids get older, they aren't as infatuated with me as when they were younger. They don't run into my arms when I arrive at their houses....like they did when they were little. They don't cry when I leave anymore.

I remember wanting to live closer to all of them...to the point of being severely depressed.
This past year, something changed.
I see them happy. I see them living their lives, and doing things that bring them joy.
When I visit them, I leave feeling uplifted.
I come home, unpack, and plan my week....working at school, kayaking, gardening, visiting with my best friend, baking and cooking for my husband, playing with my rabbits,  etc.
I still have purpose. God still has a plan for my life.
I am still a wife, mom, and grandma.
So.....even though some things change....they kind of stay the same.
Smooches.
Debbie
xoxo

If we can do nothing else....we can pray.

The weather this Summer wasn't the best. We didn't get a whole week of nice weather the entire season....except for this past week. It was sunny and very warm every day!!! Now that vacation time is over, and the kids are all back in school, it seems Summer has finally arrived.

I cannot complain, however. With all of the storms, and fires going on in other parts of the country, I will be thankful for whatever comes. The past week was glorious! it definitely felt good to be able to feel the sun and warmth on my face, and appreciate being where I am.

Still praying for those that have lost so much these past days and weeks.

"I pray for your healing, physically and emotionally. That you are able to recover your losses...and will emerge from these tragedies stronger than before."

As we change our décor, getting ready for the change in seasons and the upcoming holidays, lets remind each other to keep those struggling to rebuild their lives in our thoughts and prayers. 

If we can, in any way, help with donations of any kind....lets do that, too.

These people's plight won't end at the end of the week, or month, or even year.  It will be ongoing.....they will need our prayers and support for longer than just a season.

May I suggest a partner to pray with you for these situations, or possibly someone to be an accountability partner to be sure you are praying about these issues, so you don't forget? That's what I need.

I'm not trying to make anyone feel guilty with this post.

I just feel strongly in the power of prayer.....from past experience with serious illness....more than once!!

If we can do nothing else to help....we can pray.

A few people have probably already stopped reading this post by now...but for those that are still with me....God Bless You!!!

Enjoy this Autumn season everyone!

Thank you for stopping by the Lakehouse.

Love and Smooches.
Debbie
xoxo