Just a little longer....

I've seen Robins, Red winged Blackbirds, and heard the doves cooing. 

I keep telling myself to think Spring.

It's time.

Time for warmth, and sunshine.

Time for green grass, and buds to appear.

When I open my door, 

this is what I keep seeing.

As I am typing this, I hear a flock of geese flying over.

Spring and Summer are MY months!! 

Being outside in the sunshine, and warmth brings joy to my soul.

I am trying to be patient.

Getting things done inside keeps me busy....but......

the desire to use pretty summer table ware is difficult to put off.

I am anxious for the markets, and greenhouses to open.

Sipping ice cold tea, and lemonade out on the dock while watching the grandkids play in the water is a favorite Summer past-time.

Whipping up a big country style breakfast for summer-time guests is another favorite thing for me to do.

I so look forward to the change from this cold, snowy season to the warmth of Spring, and the heat of Summer!

With it comes tending to the gardens, sitting in the sunshine, having oodles of company for Summer get-togethers, kayaking, long days spent out on the water, and fun evenings around the campfire.

Sigh........Just a little longer I keep telling myself. Be patient, just a little longer.

Think Spring.

Debbie

xxoo

The snow is melting, but the water is still stiff!!!

The snow here at the lake is melting, but the water is still stiff!!

The night time temps are still dropping down into the single digits, so there will be no kayaking for a bit, yet.

That means no gardening, yet.

Getting things done inside will keep me busy until it warms up enough to be outside for any length of time.

I found these shutters taken from an old plantation home in southern Florida, recently. They were painted white, but underneath they had the same  blueish/green paint that my dining room table is wearing.

After distressing the shutters, I put them in the dining room doorway....LOVE!

These OLD shutters have been "hanging" around for a while.

I could never find just the right spot for them here at the cottage....until today.

I helped The Mister put them up over the kitchen sink, and viola!!!  LOVE.

They were a nasty mustardy color when I purchased them. I painted them white, and distressed them. They are wearing their original vintage hardware, which adds to their uniqueness.

Open or closed, they add a little bit of a shabby/beach vibe to the kitchen...which warms this girl's (that lives in a romantic cottage at the lake) heart.

Since returning from Sanibel Island, I decided it was time to decorate for Spring/Easter.

Since my bunny pillow is on the iron crib, I moved the colored mercury eggs to the living room.

Giving the space a bit of a welcome to the change in seasons.

Adding vines with some tiny flowers also helped give the room a nod to Spring.....

and welcomes the Easter holiday.

The past few days have been beautiful here at the Lakehouse. Gorgeous blue skies, with no clouds, and light winds. The temps are still cold, but tolerable. The doves are cooing, and the Redwinged Blackbirds are singing out their mating calls.  The setting sun is moving farther north in the western  sky.  Just a few patches of snow, and thinning ice brings the hope of the coming Spring.

Have a happy week!

Debbie

xo  

Back from Sanibel Island, and waiting for Spring.

We're back from Sanibel Island. Back from the sand, the sun, and the warmth. Reality set in as soon as I saw the snow, and felt the blast of cold air. The distinct feeling of sadness washed over me as we traveled farther and farther north...away from the island paradise I love so much.

 I brought home shells, and memories of the time spent by the sea.

 and LOTS of photos of the amazing sunsets....

 Filling the cottage with treasures found on the beaches warms my heart and soul.
I always bring back plenty of shells to scatter on our beach for the grandkids to find when they stay here in the summer-time.

I found a few nice things for summer while shopping on the island with my sister.

 My obsession with shells is a little over the top.

 I absolutely love this piece of a shell I found after a windy, high tide day.

 The mister found these two alphabet shells for me.

I found the mermaid signs at Posh...as well as the cute white, ruffled top in a previous picture. If you are ever in Venice, you HAVE to visit Posh!! it's amazing!!

I am so looking forward to Spring. The warmth and sunshine, and sun dancing off the water like sparkling diamonds as I look out our bedroom window will be glorious!! 
It might not be Sanibel Island, but Summer here at our cottage is the next best thing. 
The grandkids finding seashells on the beach, playing in the water, and enjoying the sunshine is a joy  like no other.
As I wait, I will remember the warmth of the southern beaches, as I surround myself with all the treasures from the sea.
Have a happy day.
Debbie
xxoo

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...