next ocean

It just felt so dang good to be back in California. Does everyone experience this high from where they grew up, or is it merely a huge bonus to be from California. Northern California no less!

I felt it immediately in the air as we stepped off the plane. You don't forget the weather.

Nostalgic, yes..but equally great to be with the boys there.

crafts vs NCAA basketball

$1 plastic animals from Target + Martha Stewart glitter.

Wild Lime

I enlisted the help of the menfolk.

Yankee fever !!

Denver just becomes ONE with the seashore.

This guy was just cruising around a restaurant we went to. They have attached a flashlight to his shell so they can find him at night. Pretty content fellow.

ok, this is at about 7:30 in the morning. serious shellers they have brought shovels and are digging into mounds that the tide has washed in. Don't even Try to take their spot !!

This was part of one days haul. I take it back to the room, wash them, and then lay them out in categories. This is an ocd dream activity. I went off my meds to heighten the experience. (that is a tiny joke)

The man who makes all of this possible..thanks dear :)

We were looking truly thin, tan and darling in florida !

Just returned from spring break in Captiva, Florida. An absolutely lovely little island with the distinction of being the best shelling in American waters. It is a sport/obsession/career of a certain following thats for sure ! Problem is that the sterotype of said followers is a 50+ year old, plump woman. Undoubtably one who likes to knit or craft if she isn't on the beach. Hmmmmm. So be it... I LOVE it too much to give it up.

Darling little town Captiva. it is so tiny that at points one can see both sides of the water lapping up on shores. You rent bikes upon arrival and use that as your main transportation. Owners have named their seashore cottages..."Seas the Day", "Paradise Found", "Idle Speed", "Moon Watch", "Sea Oats", "Endless Summer", "Living on the Edge", "Shell Seekers", and "Mermaid Place" to name only a few.

We saw Osprey and dolphins and pelicans,rabbits and a bonnet head shark. We watched the sunset every night.

But boys will be boys, and we also watched every available March Madness game ( and then discussed it in detail after the game) I don't know why I said "we". I just zone out. But I Did enjoy the Yankees game we saw in Tampa ...the grapefruit league don't you know !! Harrison is batty nut crackers over the Yankees and this was a THRILL for him. Kevin got us amazing seats and a wonderful day was had by all.

MARCH MADNESS

Here is Jane in her matching Mimi peasant shirt. Is she THE cutest ?!

Just went to our first baseball game of the season. Cubs vs the A's...cactus league. Felt so Good to walk back into a stadium..smell the hotdogs, hear the beer hawkers, see all the old timers on mobile oxygen tanks, women in tank tops with already solid tans. Yeah, baseball in arizona. I wore my Detroit tigers shirt. We pulled the boys out of school early for it..that is legal here. We sat right behind the cubs dugout (similar to the seats in the LaVell Edwards stadium.) Harr got a ball from the cubs pitcher. I started a new book. It was a good day.

Kerriann showed me how to look up my number 1 played song on my ipad. It was Donna Summers "dim all the lights". I mean, yes I do really like to work out to it..but number one?! Kerriann Could be wrong. I think I have grown up a lot music wise from my Donna days. So she plugged in , what was number 2. Oh dear, Mary J Blige " Family Affair" came up. Maybe this is a pattern/problem/cry for help.

The Arizona Biltmore is Awesome

hawaii time

Kerriann and her 24/7 gang. She went all the way over to hawaii for a new experience, and hangs out with 3 other lone peak graduates. But she didn't do stuff with any of them during her high school years...so,technically, this is a new experience. Darling kids!

It didn't just rain, it Poured. But I love the rain..and it felt wonderful.

Chelsie flew in from utah and joined us. We had Much fun showing her all our favorite spots, things to do and food. She ate like a champ!! Good to have her along.

Not only rain, but wicked pisser storms and waves. This is at sharks cove and those are waves not clouds crashing right behind the cove. It was awesome!!

BYU Hawaii has one of the most gorgeous settings for a university. I am a huge fan.

Sadly, no picture of Nick Ord but we did see him. I am a huge fan of him too. That boy is a keeper! Leaving Kerriann-after way too short a visit- was HARD. This long distance stuff isn't getting Any easier. Aloha and mahalo.

February 2nd

Kevin got me 4 citrus trees...my own grove..too much fun.

I didn't see a groundhog this morning, But I Did see a coyote. Pretty cool.

This is whats blooming in our yard today.

Nice to see a colorful February.