Driving Miss Daisy

                                                           The year is waning before our eyes , soon 2010 will be a memory and 2011 will be set before us . I rarely make new years resolutions , my last post is close to one as it gets , I have learned that I put enough pressure on myself to do better , be better , weigh less , spend less , too many shoulds , blah ,blah , blah . I just want to live free-er , not so many shoulds , be easier on myself , love myself a little more . God tells me that I am fearfully and wonderfully made , that I am His child and He will never let me be snatched away . It is my number one wish this new year that I trust Him more , He will sustain me , and what He has planned for my new year will be awesome ! So , no need to worry , or be anxious , just let Him be my driver , because He knows the way . God bless you this New Year .xxoo , Suz

s'mores

       I pray that you all had a wonderful Christmas day and that you slowed down to take it all in . We had an extra special day with our new son in law and daughter and various and sundry friends dropping by to share cheer and cookies with us . We felt blessed to have each other , a home , food on the table , our cup runneth over . I know that there are a lot of people out there who have nothing , no family or home , no hope . I wish we could reach out to every single one and give them a hug and tell them how much they are loved . My wish for the upcoming year is to reach out more , love more , hate no more , even those who are mean to us and despise us , live more , pray more , forgive more , just as I am forgiven , just be more . Yes , I do want more , more , more . Its just the more I want is more of how Jesus would have me be . And believe me , I need to be more ! God bless you today  Love in Christ , Suz

From our house to yours

          We are drawing near to that time when all the gifts are wrapped ( not yet ) , the dinner is planned , the candles are lit , all we can do now is sit back and experience the moment . I want to remember everything . Things that cannot be bought , or on a TV special , or things you can't find on a grand scale . I'm talking peacefulness , love for God our Father , gratitude for our Savior Jesus Christ , that kind of peace that transcends all understanding . The smiles of our loved ones , the tug on my heart missing the ones not here anymore , my sweet family gathered round and the dear friends that drop in . These are what the  heart remembers . May you have a blessed Christmas and remember , it is the most wonderful time of the year . xxxooo, Suz

the roost

You found me ! I've been hiding out here at home as often as I can . This is my library where I have my first sip  of coffee every day , where I peruse magazines and good books , and I have my daily devotional . It's quiet and cozy and when I go missing , this is the first place my pup and hubby find me . When I was growing up here , this was the rarely used living room , lovely but not very inviting .  My friends tease me and tell me it looks like I've moved to the beach , all my Florida art and seashells ,etc . I guess I brought Appalachicola to Bramble Hill instead . I hope you all are staying warm , here at the beach ...... I'm just fine and dandy . God bless you this week . Much love , Suz

Come on in , the hot chocolates fine !

                    
                                   It is so cold here in Northwest Florida ! Maybe not this white , but I can assure it may as well have snowed . We are experiencing freezing weather , not usual for this neck of the woods but then nothing has been usual about our weather this year . What do you like to do on cold days like this ? I like to curl up with a good book and stay in my jammies all day , or as our cousin Staci says , jommies .  My husband like to experiment with food..... we've had some interesting stews ! My pup likes to just stay underfoot , my foot to be exact . I hope you are having a cozy and warm week wherever you are ! xxxooo, Suz

Happy Week-end

I hope you are having a wonderful and warm week-end . Here is a little flower basket for you to enjoy , I just love these colors , I hope you do too . We are laying low and I am baking cookies and goodies for Christmas , hubby is sick with some bug , some gift wrapping needs to be addressed , but mostly just enjoying the moment . God Bless , Suz

Contemplating

                                                    After a busy week fraught with car problems , freezing conditons here in Northwest Florida , and so forth , I came home after Advent service at church and found warmth and coziness and a sweet husband waiting . After Elzabeth Edwards brave battle with cancer ended this week and our Pastor's new born undergoing heart surgery today I have no complaints . These are brave people who in the face of real problems look to the Lord and find their refuge in Him . I look around and count my many blessings , health , a home , a job , a family who loves ...... and most of all a Savior and a Heavenly father who knows and loves me . No , I can't complain , my cup runneth over . By the way , the Pastor's baby Eli came through the seven hour surgery fine . He is a tough little cookie .Have a blessed week .xxoo Suz

Love ,Love , Love

Love came down from heaven . Love so lovely , love devine . Love came down from heaven , the stars and angels gave the sign .

I think this is my favorite time of the year . It's not the gifts or the hectic pace or the deluge of sentimentality that overwhelms us this season . I feel such a sense of peace and love that I know doesn't come from me , and I find my refuge there . Don't get me wrong , I get caught  up in all the trappings sometimes too but this year somethings different . I feel gratitude and great love for my family , our situations in life that point to anything but peaceful , but most of all to our Savior Jesus Christ , the annointed one ,  who came down from Heaven . He came so that we may live , for that I am eternally grateful . So lets pause during this season and thank God for the day when Divinity met Humanity , go spread the word . Love , Suz

Tuckered out

                      Too much turkey , too much fun , just too much ! This picture of my sweetie and our little man Boo Boo is a perfect picture of Thanksgiving contentment ! We celebrated at home , watched the parade and dozed off a little . I was in cooking gear for a day or two , my first turkey in 28 years , so I learned how to brine a turkey , make the cornbread dressing (  I couldn't find Mama's recipe so I had to wing it ) , the sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole are long time favorites , easy peasy , and thank you Mrs . Smith for the punkin pie ! All in all , it was a wonderful day and now ..... move over honey , its my time to nap ! xxxooo , Suz

wondering and wandering

                  Do you ever wonder when you pass by a house , what is life like in that home ,? Is it full of laughing , songs , good smells coming from the kitchen ? Is it a home where sadness and loneliness live , unwanted but present ? I think about that , some houses look loved , that is what makes it a home in my opinion , the evidence of a life in progress . It's everything from the books on the nightstand to the sweet smelling soap in the bath that tell where you are . As well as the pictures on the table , the chewed up toy that takes precedent in the only comfortable chair , the Bible out and ready to be read , sewing sitting in a basket waiting for a few free moments in the day . I am grateful to be where I am in this life , it is not worry free but it is the only one I've got and I plan on being present in it . Have a blessed week , don't forget to thank the Creator and his Son for for all that has been done for you . xxoo Suz

Hooty hoo

I love this poem , makes me want to drink hot chocolate and curl up on the sofa ! Have a blessed day .

poem by Rachel Field


xxoo Suz

 "  I like the Fall, the mist and all .  I like the hoot owl's lonely call ....and wailing sound of wind around. I like the gray November day and wet bare boughs that slowly sway ....... in the rain . I like to sit and  laugh at it and tend my cozy fire a bit.  I like the Fall , the wind and all .   "  

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feeling ruff

                             
                                                                    This isn't the best picture of my little man , but it describes how we have been sick at our house this week . Mopey , Dopey , and Coughy .I haven't been this sick in years and it just knocked me back , way back . When you're too sick to watch TV , too sick to eat , ya just want to waller on the sofa with a blanket and a sweet little dog and a box of  kleenex . Hope you have missed this badness going around and will be better soon . God Bless , Suz

daughters and mothers

 I am so proud of this darling lady , she is an amazing person . I think you should know that she cooks like a fiend and cares about the enviornment , can't keep her hands off of sweet babies , can down a guiness in no time flat , is married to her split - apart aka soul mate , loves a Christmas stocking more than the law should allow and always leads when she dances ...... she is wonderful !

This is me on the other hand , I drive like my grandma , I tend to dress a little older than I should , I love chocolate more than the law should allow , I am married to my split apart aka soul mate , I am cautious in traffic , and I too love little babies . We are what we are and love is the strongest bond . God made each of us fearfully and wonderfully and that is so cool . Have a blessed weekend !
xxoo Suz

I'm how old ?

                         Today is brought to you by the letter S . Yesterday was my 51st birthday and I enjoyed every minute . Lulu made me this decadent flourless chocolate cake , recipe from Real Simple this month , and it was devine ! She is quite the baker . I got phone calls from sweet friends in Memphis and here in Florida and enjoyed catching up with good people . Life does not have to be complicated or over the top for me to enjoy , its the little things like a kind word , a cup of hot coffee shared with someone , looking up at the starry sky with my honey , or simply hugging a sweet child in my Sunday School class . These are the best times that life has to offer . God bless you and keep you .xxoo Suz                                    

tradition

                                                                   Looking at this picture should make me want to lose 50 pounds but what I see when I ponder this is how fortunate I have been in this life .As I prepare a meal for my new in laws and bride and groom I am filled with so much nostalgia . This is the kitchen that I grew up in , where I lost my sweet mother and brother soon after . This is where I let Lulu and my husband make the biggest mess ever baking Christmas cookies and they were so funny and happy . This is where I have had graduation parties , for me and later my Lulu , this is home . It is more than a place to lay my head , it is my nest . I hope as my chick leaves the nest she will have learned to love home and more importantly , the people who abide in it . God has been gracious and loving to me and mine , I praise his holy name . xxoo Suz

bliss

                                                                                Another pic of Lu and Nathan and flower baby , Piper . It was a very simple affair with a pumpkin cheesecake for the wedding cake and pulled pork requested by the bride . Sorry we didn't have time to invite anyone , I was lucky to be there ! Until next time xxoo

something is afoot

                                     
                                                    This past Sunday , my beautiful daughter Lulu got married to the man of her dreams , Nathan Ortolono . The bride and groom were radiant and so happy and we had a sweet day with friends and family . I can't believe that my little girl is now a grown woman with many exciting plans for she and Nathan . I know God will richly bless them and they will be happy . Champagne anyone !!!

what a brilliant ending !

                                                                As the summer comes to a close and we say goodbye to the lazy , hot days and hello to Fall , we recount the highlights of the season . First , may I say the fireflies were incredible , I have a canopy road I drive down each evening to go home , its called Firefly Lane ( to me anyway ) . Second , the morning glories were glorious , and still are for now . Third , we watched  a drive in movie at our neighbors yard just like this one . Fourth , I painted and painted to my hearts content , lots of art was good for my soul , very creative summer ! Fifth , we gained a new pastor and wife and little boy that has stolen our hearts , the Russows . Sixth , I perfected French toast , yummy . Last but not least , I got to go to Apalchicola several times with friends and family and got to celebrate my friend Arlene's birthday there . It has been good , God has been good to us , I am thankful for all his blessings . Hope your day is filled with His awesomeness xxxooo , Susanne

Houston , we have a problem

                              Sorry , no picture here . My computer died last week during a lightening storm and I lost everything . I am trying not to be sad about all the pictures I lost but ........ life is like that . Anyway summer is ebbing away and I still have summer things to do , like eating ice cream in a cone , reading a good summer book and  buying a great pink lip gloss , hey .... it will still be hot in October here I can get away with it . Anyway I hope to be up and running soon with my blog with pics . Have a blessed week , Susanne

dreamin' of an escape

                                                   
                                        Ok ,who wants to go to France and have fresh croissants and baguettes with a bottle of a local wine or two ? Any takers ? When I am day dreaming , I go to places like this . This is a cottage someone rents out in the Normandy countryside and it looks devine ! It is simply outfitted with a country kitchen , a bed stacked with down duvets and white linens , and a claw foot tub that the lady of the house could soak all day in . Now , back to that bottle of wine .......... Happy Summering , Susanne

twinkle , twinkle little star

                            
                                                  Summer just isn't summer till you drink a mojito , go barefoot ..... a lot , gather up sea shells , ride a bike somewhere ( don't look at me , I'm just the writer here ) ! Grill out burgers , wear flip flops from the dollar store , sleep on crisp cotton sheets ( on top of ) , read some great books , read some bad books , and just be .........                           Summerizing and just being , Susanne

summertime , where the living is easy ....

                                                           Ok , I know it is blazing hot in Florida right now and all I want to do is look at the water and have a cool drink in hand  ,  this scene is on the French coast and I love all the baubles and colors . I'm such a magpie , I am easily distracted by shiny things . Wherever you are , stay cool , kick back do some enjoying of life ! xxoo , Susanne

burnin" peepholes

                                              What are you doing with your summer evenings ? I hope you are having as much fun as we are ! " In my backyard they burn peep holes in the night and take snapshots of my house " .
Happy Summer . xxoo  Susanne

feelin' groovy

                                                  I love this picture of Lulu , this is a woman who knows her mind and has since she was knee high to a grasshopper . She is audacious , mindful , optimstic , loves the gilmore girls ( as does her mama ) and just completely herself . I love it ! Though it doesn't come without some hard times , try just being yourself and see what the world has to say about it . But I say  Bravo , to a person that I call my friend and my daughter , but  most important ...... a groovy lady .

                                                    A picture is worth a thousand words . Recently we had to take out some big trees that were diseased and one of them happened to be a tree that held up Lulu's childhood swing . This is no ordinary swing , it was her first swing put up by my brother Daniel for her to wile away the days at her grandmothers house ( which is where we have lived for 12+ years ) . He was getting ready to go into the marines and for some reason it was important to put up a swing for a little freckled , smiley faced girl to play on while he was gone . It was a sad day when I told Lu that the trees had to come down and she immediately disapeared . This is where I found her , paying homage to a tree that had given her much joy when she was a little girl and to an uncle that loved her enough . Since she grew up we have howled at the squirrels that would take a running leap and swing on Lu's swing , hysterical ! Every once in awhile the little kids next door would be found swinging on the old tree , so glad . We are glad to have had it in our yard and maybe one day when I have some little ones around here , I can put up a little swing for them too. Have a blessed day ! xxoo Susanne

where does your flag fly ?

                                                                My summertime theme would not be complete without discussing where you like to go to unwind and hangout . My places have varied over the years . Sometimes it has been in a swing on my mama's back porch , it has been up in a tree when I was muuucccchhhh younger , it has been on the back patio under the arbor , these are the places where I read good books , talk on the telephone to a friend , and just hang out . This is a shot of the Owl Cafe at the coast where I love to go and just be . I worry about its future with the oil situation in the gulf and all the oyster men and shrimpers who have made a living from its waters for generations . It will change our world here in Florida for years to come , so I relish every moment of this place and will continue to fly my flag here as much as I can . Until the next time , Happy Summering ! xxoo Susanne

                                                 Summertime means lightning bugs, frogs singing you good nite , candlelit alfresco suppers on the patio , a good beach read , and as Buddy from Downtown Books demonstrates .... a litte cat nap or two thrown in . I feel so totally relaxed after a busy day yesterday, much like Buddy . A training session at my gym with a  thin little wisp of a girl who could probably whip a wrestler into shape , then a little beauty time at the salon  trying to coax my curly hair into a do , then to end the day , a yoga retreat at a neat place nearby , a evening of solitude but not alone , eating a wonderfully fresh salad supper and journaling . I feel like I have been on a 2 week vacation . I plan on the 4 day retreat at St George Island this fall , but for now .......... a nap will have to do . Happy Summering ! Susanne

enjoying your summer

                        How to enjoy your summer ........ walk barefoot in the grass , watch a beautiful sunset with someone you adore , drink mojitos with  freshly picked mint , take naps on those freshly aired out sheets , paint your toenails pale pink , make a cobbler with whatever is in season ..... I like a pineapple and blueberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream !  Listen to Nikko Case , Jack Johnson , Sara Evans music , and of course the Beach Boys , wear men's shirts with the sleeves rolled up and find some bright espadrilles or pastel keds for summer , I love that you can wash them . Take time to look around you and find 5 things you are grateful for today . Until next time .......... Susanne

how to enjoy your summer

                          
                                                          I have been gone for ages and I am glad to be back. So much has happened and I will take the time to fill in another day , but for now ..... how to enyoy the upcoming summer . Don't spend so much time inside , try to go outside as much as possible and breathe in some fresh air . I want to put an old fashioned clothesline so I can cut down on electricity and let my linens and clothes smell fresh and outdoorsy . Read some good books , my favorite haunt for good books is Downtown Books  in Apalachicola and The Bookshelf in Thomasville . Not tons of books , but what they have is incredible ! So , do some armchair traveling . Eat as fresh and local as you can , I love nothing better than a BLT with some homegrown basil thrown in........ to die for ! Learn some new way to excercise your body and mind , yoga  is on my agenda this summer , gonna stretch my body and  my brain . Well for today thats it but will have more ideas in the next weeks counting down to a blissful and lovely summer . Love n Christ .xxoo  Susanne                           

view from a fish eye

                                                                      I know this is an unusual shot , but I just love it . It is an abandoned house on St. George Island , in dire need of paint and love . If I had lots of money in the bank I may get used to living on an island . We are headed to the regatta at the coast today and should get some good shots. I hope your day is a wonderful one and would you be happy on an island ? Let me know.xxoo Susanne
                                                                       

in the dirt

    Sorry , no pictures because a missing charger for my camera . I feel naked with out pictures, but here goes. I have been working in the garden for the past couple of weeks and am enjoying the close commune with  God's beautiful creation . I have planted 5 oakleaf hydrangeas , a bunch of impatiens , some blue eyed grass and lots of seeds . The seeds are my favorite because you have to wait , no instant gratification , just plant and see ! I hopefully will see zinnias , cosmos , nastursiams ( wow , that spelling ) and caladiums . When I'm not in the garden , I have been cutting out a new quilt , with soft bleached out beach colors . I was inspired by a recent trip to the coast via Hwy 98 . Saw the seaside towns of Gratin , Alys beach , Seaside and Watercolor . I hate all the crowds but loved the old cottages , palmettos , beach towels hanging out and flipflops everywhere I looked . So hence my seaside quilt . Well , I hope your days are beautiful and if you get a moment, go outside , breathe in deep and thank God for his artistry .xxoo, Susanne

one of my peeps

                                         I hope everyone had a great Easter . After an early Sunrise service , my family gathered around for a great dinner and visiting . I look forward to these holidays , the time spent with my family is very important to me . They are my tribe and I need face time with each of them . The older and wiser I get the more I know that belonging to a group of people who care,  falls in the same catagory as food, water and shelter, and having a faith . I am particulary fond of these folks , they make me smile ! Have a great day . xxoo Susanne

' For where I am , so you shall also be "

         
                                              I can't believe it is already spring ! It was a holiday filled with wonderment when I was growing up . Coloring eggs , Easter baskets , getting a new dress ,gloves and shoes and then the day arrived and after church the family would head to Torreya park and down by a creek the eggs would be hidden and found , a tin foil wrapped egg would be the prize egg and a picnic would ensue . They were wonderful times and I hope my daughter Lu has good memories like mine . These days I look at Easter totally different , I bask in a different light ...... it is the love of a Father who gave up his son so I may have eternal life and the precious Savior who finally whispered , " It is done " as he gave up his spirit . I am humbled and awed by this , such love ! The exhilaration of finding the tin foil wrapped egg , well .... it's nothing compared to finding the precious gift that God gave us , the gift of Jesus . May God bless your Easter and may you find your prize too! xxoo  Susanne

excuse me , is there anything by Jim Fowler or Jack Hannah ?

                                                               " Sometimes I just sits and reads, and sometimes I just sits ." I love this picture of Buddy who lives at Downtown Books in Apalachicola . He , like myself , loves to hang out in book stores . My friends tease me that when I go missing , and it is often , they know they can find me at the local bookstore here in town . My daughter , Lu , is the same , we love books !  I think it is all the possibilities and the armchair travel that reading provides that is the draw for me . I am simply amazed when people tell me they don't read for enjoyment ..... WHAT ! Anyway , it is the best get away on a cold , rainy , dreary day ...... and if you need to find me , I'll be at Books-a-million , or Barnes and Noble , or Borders or................ xxoo , Susanne

room with a view

                                              As long as I can remember, I've loved going to the beach. The smell of salty air and suntan lotion is permantley etched in my brain . I grew up going to this island , and my mom and daughter and I would make pilgrimages all summer to sit in the sand , drink ice cold lemonade , read magazines and talk about things that were on our minds . For some reason it was easier at the beach , maybe there were limited distractions , but all three generations could connect on the same level . Those were days I would not trade for the world . My mother is gone now , but my daughter still loves to go with her friends , and me......... I'm happy to sit with my coffee and watch the water sometimes from a view like this and be happy to be alive . God bless your day , xxoo Susanne

what new fabrics ?

                                                                      See this ? It keeps me up at night , it makes my blood race , it makes me spend my milk  money ....... it's beautiful fabrics . Of course working with gorgeous home dec fabrics for over 20 years has not helped , now I'm on to the quilting realm . My projects outnumber my time to spend quilting and crafting but no matter , its been the best therapy for me and I get a heirloom quilt or pot holder to boot !!! Hope your creative juices are flowing today , and the best thing about these small , colorful parcels is that my husband doesn't notice that they are stacking up , until he notices we are eating beanie weenies .....again .xxxooo  Susanne

the aftermath

                                                           Ok , this is just plain embarrassing . I went toe to claw with an Alaskan King crab and well ....... you can see the aftermath . It wasn't pretty . I wowed the Husband and friend who witnessed it , they were stunned . All I can say is........... pass the butter sauce ! Much love to you , Susanne

Great things He hath done

              " It's not what you look at that matters , its what you see "  Henry David  Thoreau

  I took a long walk the other day and saw the world through different eyes . I had just found out that a dear friend's father was found with three cancerous tumors on the base of his brain . Things haven't been sounding good and this dear family is trying to hold it all together and trying to just be there . We all are holding our breath to find out what happens next , so I got out for fresh air and a little prayer . All that I had on my mind was possible death , hard decisions , big tears rolling down the face of this dear family ........ but on that walk , all I could see around me was life , the earth's birthing pains , God's gentle hand in creating . In Ecclesiastes , Solomon talks about life and for everything there is a season , the giving and taking , the cycles of life and death , the laughter and tears , the time to labor and a time to rest . God in his infinite wisdom and mercy has thought of everything , no stone left unturned . All I know is that I would rather Him make the decisions , His will be done , even though I don't understand why . He created the stars and the starfish and the wild violets that are peeking out in perfect timing , I put my trust in Him . In Love,  Susanne
                                         

another day in paradise

                                                                      To me , this is paradise . I have sat on this porch on Bay Ave. in Apalachicola for many years . It has been the scene of much wine drinking , book reading , breakfast eating and many good talks with dear friends . You can see the bay from this porch and I love to watch the water turn from gray to gray blue to amethyst . At night if I couldn't sleep ( maybe too much wine ! ) you can see what looked like hundreds of shrimp boats out there with their lights twinkling on the water ....... just beautiful . I consider this welcoming porch to be my friend , I always enjoy coming back to visit . Till next time-  Susanne

the call of the siren

I just got back from a much needed vacation to the beautiful Gulf Coast . It was still very chilly but so clear and so beautiful ! While there I had to visit my favorite place in the world , Apalachicola . The t-shirts say " A quaint drinking village with a fishing problem " , but I call it wonderful . It is a small town  with much history ,  some real characters and  beautiful old homes such as this one .  It is famous for its delicious oysters , and we did partake .... ! It is a place to go to remember what "Old Florida " was like where  palmettos and palms cohabitate with sandy pines . and people look you in the eye and say hello . I love the slow pace and the very southern feel  there that I grew up with and the fact that many artists flock there to be inspired and to just get away from it all . I go there for inspiration myself  , see new and old things ...... and the soft shell crab sandwiches don't hurt !  Until next time - Susanne

hello March !

                                                      The weather is beautiful and sunny here in N.W. Florida and has got me wanting to play outside badly , but obligations keep me in . The week-end was exciting with a bridal shower for my co- worker Krista , work , another wonderful meal by my husband and friend Rick , helping my daughter LuLu move the last of her apartment to a truck ....... did I miss anything ? So now I am having the second cup of java of  the day and need to get up and rock and roll . I wish I could be outside today , I love March . We moved into my childhood home over 10 years ago  in March and my mother's yard was so incredibly beautiful . There are camellias , dogwoods , snowdrops , azaleas , and later came the hydrangeas. I love to mix in shrimp plants, palms , herbs and philodendrons into the mix. When I see all this beauty in nature I have to give thanks to our Creator , we are so richly blessed . I hope to be at the coast this week-end and hope your week is a wonderful one , xxoo Susanne

baby its cold outside !

                           I don't want to get up ! It's cold outside here in northwest Florida . I think I'll just stay in the bed , have a cup of coffee or two while I catch up on some reading . Maybe I'll plug in a Nick and Nora movie ( the hubby loves the oldies too ) ! Or I could get out that  new book on simplifying our lives that I threw in the already full magazine basket ...... what to do , what to do ....... ? Maybe I should finish one of the several quilting projects that are happening in the craft room ..... maybe not . That is the deliciousness of a day off , the possibilities . Maybe I'll roll over and dream a little more , hope your day is wonderful too.xxoo Susanne

color therapy

     " I go to nature to be soothed and healed , and to have my senses put in order ".    John Burroughs

                                We have a wonderful garden center here in town that is a pure delight to visit . I run into everyone I know when I go , we all go for the same thing ......... inspiration . The fragrance of these flowers is downright heady and the colors are breathtaking  and I must have ! They have areas that feature bamboo clumps and ponds that take you to the orient , spiral topiaries and garden areas that you could swear you were in Europe , personally I love the fountains and I have seen people bring their brown bag lunches , just to sit and soak it all in. When I am blocked on whatever creative project I am working on , I come here....... to be reinspired , refreshed and reminded that God is the master Creator , and He is an artist ! Gotta go and plant something .....xxxooo Susanne

watch out Emeril !

I came home Sunday afternoon , after a day of church , shopping and a photography session , to the aroma of something delicious wafting out of the kitchen . Imagine my surprise to see my husband and good friend Rick cooking up their catch from a fishing trip the previous day. Now these men look like your regular  good ole southern boys , but when they get in the kitchen ..... watch out ! Rick is Greek and a wonderful cook , he was baking a fish wrapped in phyllo and some sort of clam dish baking in a shell . My sweetie was blackening the redfish and serving it with a freshly made mango salsa . Top it off with cheese grits , a fresh baguette , and a fruit salad made by yours truly ....... wow , it was delish ! Wish you could have been there ! It only took an hour to clean up all the dirty dishes...... but who's counting ! Till next time ,  Susanne

art saves lives

" I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way ..... things I had no words for ".  Georgia O'keefe  

                             I have enjoyed art ever since I can remember . My earliest memory was at the Seven Seas restaurant in Panama City . I remember looking up from our table , I was probably only 5 or 6 and seeing the most beautiful thing hanging on the wall ...... a painting ! I was mesmerized and very impressed . Color and pattern keep my creative thing going , be it painting , pottery, fabrics , you name it . That would explain the crafting supplies I keep in two rooms ....... I can't help it . After the loss of two family members last year my life took a turn I was not fully prepared for ....... I journaled , I cried , and then I started painting. It didn't matter what the subject , as long as there was lots of color and movement . I then discovered quilting and I have fallen in love with that . It may be something different next month,  but as long as I am creatiing I am becoming myself again . God isn't finished with me yet ! Till next time.xxoo Susanne

Is it Spring yet ?

                              " Just living is not enough . One must have sunshine , freedom , and a liitle flower"
                                 Hans Christian Anderson

                               I hope you all had a wonderful Valentines Day . Mine was spent outside gardening in the beautiful , sunny weather , a rare thing in February I can assure you ! It made me start thinking about the Spring and all the things I want to do in the yard . With all my shade I have a lot of hydrangeas . My favorite is the Oakleaf with its big , white frowsy blooms.....may do more of those . I also have the long blooming ones that were still blooming in November , very soft shades of blue , pink , bridal white that has a hint of pink..... very pretty . The Lace Cap variety is very dainty and pretty , one year I had close to 100 blooms on one bush , it was unreal . But this is a far- off dream , for now I will have to be content with my coral pink Gerbera Daisies from the Fresh Market and keep planning my summer yard . Have a great day . xxoo  Susanne

on a summers day

                  
                     I love this picture of my brothers and I at Mexico Beach years ago. The brother on the right , Daniel , passed away year ago today . He was a warm, funny, loving person and he is missed by everyone who knew him . Life is precious and fleeting and you have to relish every moment, good and bad, because ...that is life . I keep this picture of brothers flying kites on a beautiful summer day where I can see it daily to remind me of the sweet things in life. Hope your day is sweet and blessed and don't forget to tell your family that  you love them . xxxooo Susanne