My honey planned a little overnight getaway to The Langley Inn on Whidbey Island.  We had a nice drive, a little ferry ride, and an awesome time.  The dinner was over the top! Many courses of exquisite food.  I am not kidding!!! I am still thinking of one of the three desserts we were served.  It was called "Blackberries on the side of a country road".  I would drive all over the country roads just for that dessert.  My oh my!

Langley Inn

Wisteria in the Northwest

My husband and Son built this Pergola & I love it!!
By the end of summer the wisteria will climb along the top,
and drape the structure. 

This Wisteria @ Watson's in Puyallup  is pretty creative!
They made a circular weave and placed on top a pole.
The wisteria is climbing all over.

This picture shows the weave from underneath!
Who thinks of these great ideas?

Photo's from my little secret garden tucked into an alcove in our back yard.  Our little green 1920's house is in town.  My husband planted the Arborvitae's for privacy.  He makes a fort wherever we live.  The Birdhouse was made by our friend George.

Snuck back to the Florida Gulf Coast

 Dolphin duo at Englewood Beach

Gasperilla Island

January we took a trip to Florida and fell in love with the Gulf Coast.  Our daughter, Stephanie, drove us out to Sanibel  & Captiva Islands and we had so much fun.
This last week I snuck back to the gulf coast.   This trip Stephanie,  the two little ones, and I  stayed a few nights at the South Seas Resort on Captiva.  We had a blast.  We went shelling at Blind Pass.  (will show my awesome shells later), we played in the pool, watched dolphins & pelicans, and found great little places to dine.   We laughed & played and enjoyed the warm weather and seacoast.  The combination of time with grand babes & Stephanie, the warm breeze,  feet in the sand, shelling, search of the best key lime pie, Tampa Ray spring training game,  Awana with grand daughter...... Awesome!!

Fabrics from the Sea

My mind keeps sneaking back to the Florida Keys.  I can feel the soft breeze, smell the salt air, & feel the sand beneath my feet.  Oh the Northwest rain....booohooo!  

Check out the Neptune & Oceana fabrics by Thomas Paul from Calico Corners.  I like the neutral beachy fabric of shells, turtles, octopus, and brown ticking.  This fabric would go with so many colors.  I am thinking pillows, curtains??

Hoping the fabric will keep my mind fresh with ocean breezes rather than the wet rain!!!

Kayla's Birthday

Today our our first grand child turns 11.  Yep, she's 11 today!  We called this morning to sing her Happy Birthday.
Papa's morning reading included  Proverbs 17:6:
Children's Children are a crown to the aged.       Soooo true!    Although I am not ready to concede being aged.
She is the leader of our little troop of six.  They all look up to her, follow her, and want to spend time with her.  She brings such joy to all of us.  Thank you Lord for Kayla.
Her blog is Kayla's funky closet!

This morning I was trying to capture why I love tulips with a picture.  They make me smile!  I noticed I captured the morning sun in the picture.  Giddy up!  Good morning sunshine!

I live in a little 1920's house with lots of character and limited wall space.  I have looked through the pages of a certain store  and coveted their storage cabinets.  None of them will fit my 45" walls, yep 45"s!  Yesterday I was at Costco and I found a look a like cabinet that is 39" wide.  Hallelujah!!!  I didn't buy one.  Stopped by 8 lil' hens on my way home & she told me to go back and get it.  She said don't think about it will be gone.  So I went back and bought it!  Soooo the cabinet fits on one of my little walls and the kicker is it was 1/3 the  cost.  This is when I do the happy dance!!!

Key Lime Pie, oh my!

Last week I discovered a love for key lime pie I didn't know I had.  So each evening I looked forward to the version of key lime pie the restaurant offered!  My personal favorite was Columbia's in St. Armond Circle.  There's had a sauce, I think it was mango.  By the way what a great town!
So my daughter Stephanie & I decided we would try our hand at making the pie.  My first attempt was yesterday.  I modified a recipe from  the Pioneer Woman.   It was tasty, but not like Columbia's!

Took a little trip

The Arbor Inn

Ariel is a great mix of old & new

The Inn Bakery

Silly me!  In my little mind Florida was either theme parks or neon & flashy!  Oh  was I pleased.  I am a water dog.....love pools, lakes, streams, & oceans, oh my.  The keys, the islands,  and the waterways are everywhere.  The beach's are beautiful!  Lots of shells!!!!  We visited Keys & Islands and quaint little towns.  My favorite little town was Boca Grande, not Boca Vista.  No sightings of Kramer or Jerry!  We walked to the beach, great little shops, and restaurants from the Arbor Inn.  The best was playing with our daughter, grand babes, and building memories!!!!

Dogs, chips, & soda's for lunch from Joey's on Sanibel Island

Gasparillas's golf course Boca Grande

Boca Grande

Manasota Beach 

The fluffed Nest, by my friend Treva

Each time I visit  my dearest long time friend, Treva, I am delighted with her ease of making things look so inviting.  I leave her home with my head spinning thinking of ways to incorporate some of her beautiful designs in my small way.  Well today I wasn't disappointed.  I dropped by and she wasn't home.  That was a downer!  I wrote a little note on her cute chalk board next to her door.   I turned around and really looked at her porch and thought to myself "how does she do it"?  I just smiled and took in everything.  I walked off the porch to leave and thought.......no!  Go back and take pictures.  No one will believe how great her porch looks unless they see for themselves.  So here are the pictures I took while Treva was out!  I hope you enjoy as much as I did and I hope she is o.k. with me sharing.

Brand New

Soooo Jeanna, my daughter, from Eight lil' hens has encouraged me to blog.   So here I am!  Honestly it was a challenge to download a template..... no I am not kiddin!  I did it!!!!hooopla.....drum roll......

I am excited to share my love of homes, my home,  friends homes, stores I find, new ideas in design, fun things to do with grand kids, oh and good wine! 

Last night we had two of our little chick a dees  visit for a bit.  We played many games, but the favorite by far was the bus ride on the stairs.  I am the bus driver, the kids sit on stairs....... the highlight is "Fat Albert"! My husband gets on bus & starts in with Fat Albert talk.....hey hey hey!  The grand kids start gigglin as soon as he gets on.  The big hit is when he falls out the back of the bus.  They roar with laughter.  We end evening trying to simmer all of us down with books!