Reflections of the Night Sky

The sunset over the Matanzas River is reflected in the skies over the Atlantic...truly magnificent.

I have been living here for the past three months... 

and will be leaving in a couple of weeks.

The thing about the sea...it truly has helped me get back to being "ME". 

Before the Storm

Storm clouds were forming...closing up the sun-filled sky. 

It was a truly amazing sight!

ONE MORE CHECK ON THE BUCKET LIST... TURTLES HATCHING

I FINALLY SAW BABY LOGGERHEAD TURTLES HATCH! 

Well, actually, I missed the hatching, but at sunrise, I saw the Turtle Patrol emptying the nest so they could count the hatched eggs... We found 4 little hatchings still in the nest. With gloved hands, the rescuers picked them up, placed then in a cooler, for transport.

The Turtle Patrol dug out the nest, counted the hatched eggs (over 100!), and the "spacers" (unhatched, probably unfertilized eggs), then replaced everything back into the nest and covered it back up. It was a fascinating process...

Empty shells...

"Spacers"

We released the babies onto the damp sand, near the surf, where they quickly headed for the waves, and floated away...

TURTLE HATCHING...CHECK!

TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN!

TIME FLIES...when you're having fun.

I don't know where the time has gone. My last post was in MAY!!!

What have I done since then???

     End of May - traveled to Miami Beach with MacDaddy. I love when I can tag along! We stayed in the W Hotel, right on Miami Beach. We had a beautiful suite with a wonderful view of the ocean and the city of Miami.  I love going to south Florida! It's so much fun getting into the car and exploring on my own. There are great restaurants, incredible shopping and interesting museums. (It's a shame that MacDaddy has to work and cannot explore with me.)

   
   
     June was filled with lots of granddaughter days. Eva and I had "Shammy Tuesdays (and many Thursdays). These days were full of excursions to visit Greatma, visits to The Fresh Market ("to get some peanut butter"), and playtime and clothes at Stellie Bellies. And, of course, we made up songs for each adventure. Gosh, I miss these days!

Miss Eva certainly has style! She's wearing Auburn pajamas with her tutu and princess crown.

    July (my birthday), MacDaddy took me to Vero Beach and the cutest boutique hotel...owned by Gloria Estefan....the Casa d'Este. We also had a great visit with dear friends...and new friends. It was a great way to spend my birthday...and the 4th of July.

     In early August, MacDaddy had another meeting in Orlando, at the Gaylord. While he worked, I hung out with our son, Music Guy. He and his friend joined me at the hotel for dinner and exploring the massive atrium (we got lost!) The next day, he took me to several of his favorite haunts. It was so much fun!!!

(This was in the atrium...and they even had feeding times for the guests to see.)

     The rest of July and part of August was spent packing up our home of 20+ years. I tossed and donated at least 20 carloads of stuff...and still filled a huge dumpster, a moving van, and a gigantic storage unit. It was a well orchestrated (HA!) move of storing our belongings and packing our cars for a temporary move to St. Augustine. We moved into our condo on Aug. 16 and will stay until November...and maybe longer. This is a great opportunity for us to see if we like living here...

     Now I wake to this every day...

     And I'm loving every minute! Our son, Drummer Boy, and his beautiful wife, Kate, spent 9 days with us. Boy did we have fun! And our other sons, WineGuy, his beautiful wife, Julie, and Miss Eva, Music Guy and his friend, CS, all joined us for Labor Day weekend...and the first Auburn football game. WDE!

     Now it's back to work...for MacDaddy. And relax and regroup time...and hopefully, painting... for me. I'll also be searching for a new place for us to hang our hats...back in Clearwater. Or maybe we'll stay in St. A. 

Time will tell...it's a new adventure!

Ahhhhhhhh........

What a wonderful couple of weeks...

This was the view through our bedroom window...what a way to begin a vacation!

Just steps from our patio...the boardwalk to the sea. 

Each morning, we were greeted with a different sky scene...always beautiful...always a gift!

We were even treated with TWO complete rainbows...an incredible sight!

The beach was really crowded....

And the waves were PERFECT for surfing and body-surfing.

(See the shrimp boat trawling behind the waves? We ate fresh shrimp 

almost every day!)

There are not a lot of shells on this beach...but those I found were GORGEOUS!

Sunsets were colorful over the marsh...

On our last morning...the sea was saying goodbye until next time...

I really hated to leave!

I came back refreshed and inspired.
Now it's time to paint!

“The waves of the sea, Help me get back to me.”

--Jill Davis

Jane

I am posting with Outdoor Wednesday.

CRESCENT BEACH...and a PAINTING GIVEAWAY!

There is nothing more soothing to my soul than the sounds and scents of the ocean.


Luckily, living in Florida, the ocean is just a short drive away...


Although I live on the Gulf of Mexico, my sanctuary is a small strip of beach on the Atlantic Ocean, just south of St. Augustine...it's called Crescent Beach.

I first discovered this beautiful beach when my brother owned a condo here...
Shortly after my family moved back to Florida, Big Brother asked me why I never used his condo. Of course, I asked, "Condo? Where is it?"


That very first trip began my love affair with this beautiful beach...

Not only did I fall in love with it, so did all my boys. When given the opportunity to choose vacations, every one of them asked to return to Crescent, year after year...even after my brother sold the condo. 

There is something special about this place...

Perhaps it's the wide, flat beach...perfect for skim-

boarding...

Maybe it's the waves...usually good for surfing... or for riding boogie boards... or for body surfing...

Maybe it's the beauty of the natural dunes...the sea oats waving in the warm (or freezing) breeze...

Maybe it's the wildlife that lives along the shore...in the dunes...in the bird sanctuary that abuts the shore...or the dolphins frolicking in the waves...

Or it might be the surf-fishing...at least that's what my husband loves...

Whatever it is that draws me, it's one of the few places I have found where I truly RELAX...

I sit here
...sometimes with my sketchbook and pencils
...sometimes with my Bible
...sometimes
...just with myself...and I dream.

I get back in touch with ME...

It's my sanctuary...

In honor of World Ocean's Day, I am giving away one of my original crab paintings...The winner will receive her/his choice of one of these three...

 This is one of my "bling" crabs...custom designed with YOU in mind...This lady is toting a Chanel shopping bag, wearing pearls, shiny silver bracelets, and a huge diamond ring. It was designed as a gift for a lady who truly loves BLING and shopping! And it began a whole line of crabbies! It's done on a flat canvas board (can be framed), measuring 6" x 8". The winner can choose her/his own colors and choice of bling... 

 This is "Blue Crab". A kaleidescope of colors defines this more traditional lovely. (It's about as traditional as I get!) The cerulean blue continues onto all sides...She measures 8" x 10" and is ready to hang...

"The Patriotic Crab" has a lot of personality and is a perfect summer painting. Many of my customers have several "holiday" paintings which they switch out for each season...This one is July 4th, Memorial Day, and Labor Day, all rolled into one...It's painted on a 9" x 12",  flat board canvas and can be framed...or just propped up on a stand. 

To enter this drawing, all you have to do is leave me a comment, telling me what love about the ocean...and which painting you would choose to win. Tell others about my giveaway (and leave me a separate comment), and I'll give you a second chance to win! The drawing will be held early next week...post your comments, soon!

(This giveaway is limited to US and Canada...sorry to all my other international friends.)

I am linking with Shellbelle...for World Ocean's Day and Susan for Outdoor Wednesday. Come join the party!!!


Head to the beach...even if it's only in your mind!
Jane