So the nephew picked up this box of beautiful looking clementines. They are just ok for me, nothing special, other than how beautiful they are to look at.

When the nephew tasted of the real fruit hanging from our trees, he decided to snub his fresh box of fruit. In fact, he announced this morning that the oranges from our trees are amazing after an early morning hike. He proclaimed with conviction as tho I needed convincing. I just smiled and said, “I’m so happy you are enjoying the fruit.” He wasn’t up early enough to know I already had 2 myself.

With plenty of fruit to go around, so much so that it’s rotting before we can get to it all.

It almost seems a shame that these beautiful guys are going to rot in the trash. If I didn’t know better, I would say this is a tasty box of fruit. But I know better, and the nephew will never buy another orange, so long as he is visiting with us.

It’s true, sometimes all you have to do is peel a little to learn a little.

Blessings – Debbie

Those were my words yesterday when I came face to face with the job I planned to do.

And that in and of itself is quite shocking. Is it old age that changed me? What is it that caused me to dump my job? I really don’t know. Even the hubs was shocked. I can’t begin to put a finger on it. But I do know this about me. It’s hard to press forward with anything when something else takes up residence on my plate. While I’m shocked I put my foot down, I’m happy I took the day to just breathe in peace and paradise.

So on a whim, I asked my nephew his thoughts on going to the beach. And within seconds, we were in the car with our noses pointed in the direction of the deep blue sea.

Upon arriving, we walked out to the end of this pier. And the only camera I had in tow was my trusty cell phone. In fact, my cell was the only thing I had on hand, as my nephew offered to drive. So I had no purse, car keys or anything to tie me down.

Right after I took this shot, he asked if we could walk all the way out there to the cliffs. Sure thing, was my reply.

It was a beautiful day to let go and reflect.

A portion of the pier at low-tide.

Nephew under the pier.

Under the pier

Looking back on how far we had already walked. In fact, this shot does not include where we started.

See the large building in this shot to the far right? Our start line was even further out than that.

Looking ahead, we really climbed over these rocks and made it past that curve (up ahead) and nearly to the end. We wanted to reach the tip, but the rock and hike proved to be a bit overwhelming the closer we got to the end. My nephew suggested we turn around, as I had a couple of close calls (slipping and nearly falling) so we did. He kept saying “step on the big rocks, they don’t move so much.” I must be a slow learner.

 From large rock to smaller rock, we made our way back.

I’m happy he was just as eager to get out of the house as me.

Soaking in the beauty

A journey begins with the first step, I’m glad we took that step.

Ah, finally back to a nice beach where he could slip off his shoes and socks.

From here, we walked another mile or two without having to deal with walking on rock.

He is really good at skipping rocks and I am really good at pulling out the cell phone to capture the moments.

The nephew mentioned staying until sunset or even having dinner at one of the restaurants dotted along the beach. But I could not find it in me to hang at the beach with him, when I wanted to spend the evening with the hubs. So we headed back home.

Surprisingly, the hubs called to see if I would be up for a dinner date last evening and could I be ready to meet up with him in 15 min. 15 min? Not a problem, I’ll be ready!

While sitting over dinner, the hubs asked “how was your day?” It was a fly by the seat of my pants kind of day, all the way down to my last min date with the hubs, and I loved every min of it. And then after dinner, he treated me to Cold Stone for our sweet tooth.

There are times when flying by the seat of our pants is freeing. The liberty to let ourselves go with the flow can be rewarding when we put our foot down and say I’m not doing it, not today.

Blessings – Debbie

It was one of those kind of days when I left the house early with coffee in tow.  As if that wasn’t enough, I hit the local coffee shop mid day.

I sat there with my cup of coffee and my phone in hand.

My phone was the only thing I had to take pix with, so I used it.

I quite like this shot of the waitress and the gentleman across the way.  She knew him by name and they seemed to enjoy each others company as he shared a bit with her about the movie he was watching.

It was a happy place.  And also my very first visit to this quaint little place.  I’m sure it will not be my last.

Yes, it’s the coffee that got me thru 4 different errands and I was back home by 3pm to get ready for our trip.

Hubby treated me to dinner so that we didn’t have to mess up the kitchen.

And the exciting news is this.  I have us all packed and ready to go.  Now if we can get some sleep, we’ll be doing good.

Cheers to fun things to look forward to!

Blessings – Debbie

Well here it is, already Tuesday.  And I really had to stop and think about what I did yesterday.  Ah yes, I remember.  I finished catching up on the blog from the weekend BBQ.  I also went food shopping in the afternoon.  Amongst catching up on a few things around the house.

Speaking of Tuesday thoughts, I was reminded again this week of how fast we forget the little things in life and sometimes even the big things.  It was that reminder that spoke to me and confirmed the joy I feel that I have over 6 years worth of blogging and pictures.  While this blog is just over a year old, my original blog was established Jan of 2006.  I hope to keep these thoughts and the chapters of life tucked away in this blog ’til I’m at least 100 years old.

With that, we’re moving right along on Tuesday.  I took this pic a little while ago.  It was taken out by the pool.  I especially love this little flowering bush, but even more so after I played with it in Lightroom.  Love that program, makes me happy.

So hubby has me thinking about what I want to do for my b-day (Thursday) this week.  I spent some time yesterday thinking about what I would like for dinner on my b-day and I think I came up with the place.  My chore today is to figure out where I would like to satisfy my b-day cake/sweet treat on my b-day.  Hubby made a great suggestion this morning.  After doing my research, this place happens to make – from scratch – one of, if not my very favorite cakes.  I’m pretty excited.

Another thing I’ve been researching this week is dance shoes.  I hope to score a pair this week as we’re really looking forward to some private ballroom dance lessons this weekend.  May I add that I can’t wait to West Coast to Mustang Sally?  That’s our very favorite West Coast song to dance to.  Can’t wait to add some new fun moves, should be fun!  Have I mentioned I’m looking forward to Mustang Sal…Oh right, I think you got the point already.

The phone rang a while ago, it was my mom.  She’s on a train from NC down to FL.  She rode up there with my pop to celebrate my nephew’s graduation and she’s bringing the train home as my pop has several more places to go before he can get back home.  She took the train so that she can put another experience under her belt.  She’s cool like that and I look forward to hearing all about her adventure.

Now that I’ve shared a few thoughts, I hope to continue to keep the blog alive with the things that matter most.  Be looking for the little things as they deserve to be remembered too.

Blessings – Debbie

Good afternoon!  I hope your day is moving along in a nice direction.

We had an amazing morning.  Of course we don’t remember much about it as we got to sleep in.  It’s the sleep that was so good for us and I can’t think of a better way to wake up, than being fully rested.

Hubby ended up having to go into work for a few hours.  So I filled in the time by giving myself a pedicure.

Last evening was when I stripped the old polish and prepared my toes for a fresh polish today.

This is the polish I picked up at the grocery store yesterday.  I’ve had such a desire for this kind of green lately.  Only it looked prettier in the bottle.

Is it growing on me?  Do I need a little shade darker?  For whatever reason, it really is starting to grow on me.  A friend suggested a pretty white flower on the big toe.  I think that would make everything better.

After I finished polishing, I ran over to the grocery to redeem a $10 coupon before it expires this weekend.

And in a few min, I’ll be firing up the grill as we have another chicken prepared for the rotisserie.  I have dinner on the brain and I can’t wait!

Cheers to Friday!

Blessings – Debbie

I did a whole lot of sitting while having my car all done up nice and pretty for our date this evening.

The car was washed and the tires are all nice and shiny.  The oil was changed.  Actually, the change was a little overdue and I figured today was as good a day as any to go ahead and get that done.

But you know what always gets me?  It always gets me that the guys changing the oil always try to rake me over the coals.  ALWAYS!  Never fails.  They always find some sort of filter that is dirty and needs changing.  It’s always something.  And I hate the word always but in this case, it never fails.

So today, before they even opened the hood, I mean right off the bat when the guy wrote down the mileage, he told me something or other that I needed to have done.  My response “My husband only wants the $24.00 oil change this time.”  So away he went to get down to business.

As if I didn’t already make myself clear, in he came with two more things that needed to be done.  He said “miss, I know your husband is trying to save on the cost of the oil change, but you really need ___________ and ___________ done.”  I can’t even remember what he said, totally over my head.  But I could have predicted that.  My kind reply  “If you would sir, please make a note of everything on the bill so that I can have my husband look into it.”  Man I’m getting good.  That was easy and I don’t have to sit there making one excuse after another.  And now I have his remarks on the bill so hubby can really check into it.  There is no way on earth I would remember everything they try to shove down my throat.  Not a chance.

The best part of the whole thing is this.  I got to share on the blog the thing that gets me every time at the oil place.  Now I feel I’ve been to group therapy and didn’t have to pay a dime.  I feel better already.

And now my friends, the car is all nice and pretty with a fresh oil change and a full tank of gas.  This means we’re ready to go on a fun date tonight!  Now it’s time for me to think about getting myself ready for a fun night on the town.

Blessings – Debbie

For decades, I’ve had an ongoing battle carrying a purse on my shoulder.  I’ve tried to keep them as small as possible and they are not to exceed 3 or 4 pounds.

Oh the many days of going out with hubby and informing him that I’m leaving my bag at home.  I have a thing with lugging around any amount of weight on my shoulders for long periods of time.  There are countless times while out with him that I could really use my phone to reach him.  I may be over in the gardening department of Home Depot while he’s off looking at manly things.  Or sidetracked looking at pretty things while he’s focused on his list.  It’s those times I/we could really use the phone instead of hunting for each other.  Then is when I regret not bringing my purse.

Then there was today when I was off to the mall (with my 3 pound purse) to make a return and pick up a couple of things.  And it dawned on me (again) that both of my shoulders were hurting.   As I continued to switch my purse from left shoulder to right shoulder, I remind myself why I always try to wiggle out of taking my purse anywhere.  And then it came to me, clear as day – I need a clutch purse!

As I made my purchase, I clutched my bag as though my life and shoulders depended on it.

Why I never thought of this before now, I’ll never know.  This little dandy has one zipper on top with two compartments in the middle.  The front has a little snap compartment…

…and the back comes equipped with a zipper compartment.

This was such a joyful moment for me.  This little gem has plenty of room for car keys, cell phone, plastic cards and a little lip stick.  Would you believe I ripped into the bag (in my car) before I left the mall?  I did!  I ripped the price tags off, emptied the paper from it and filled it right there on the spot.  I could not have been happier.  Our very first outing together was to the grocery store.  We really hit it off!

I can almost guarantee one thing.  I don’t think I’ll ever ~ ever ~ ever carry another purse (on my shoulder) again.  Those days are gone.

This little thing made my day…

Blessings – Debbie