Sea Shells

Inside each twisting shell,
Will a tiny creature dwell,
And when its life is done,
The shell is ours, what fun!
All that's left to do at last,
Is walk the beach, find it fast,
For others with the same desire,
Scour the sand, and never tire.
The perfect shell, lucky catch
Nothing else could ever match,
Our finding at the tidal stream,
The collector's hope and
sheller's dream.


Poem taken from Florida's Fabulous Seashells: and Other Seashore Life, by Winston Williams, copyright 1988 by World Publications, page 1,poet not named.

Birds! Everywhere You Look, BIRDS!

The birds here on North Captiva are numerous and photogenic. I have been having some phenomenal luck getting good shots of all sorts of birds---flying, fishing, eating, nesting and running away from waves on the beach. Yesterday Nola and I were practically mugged by three brown pelicans, two full grown adults and one who is a first year (I can tell by the plumage---just like in the book we have!). Ibis, little green herons (reportedly very shy but you couldn't prove it by me), little blue heron, willots, sand pipers, osprey, cormorants and all sorts of gulls are everywhere! If I can figure out what these birdies are, a real birder would be going crazy!

Not much shelling got done today. There was a real storm surge and the tide was pretty high. Most of the good shelling was under water for most of the day, at least the times we were on the beach. No complaints, though. I suspect we may have a bumper crop tomorrow!

SERPENTS IN PARADISE

Okay, anyone who knows me, even a little bit, knows I have this problem with 'nakes. I don't even like to type the whole word....Anyway, rather like that great aunt you have who abhors cats and is immediately covered with any feline within six miles once she sits down for a visit, I seem to be a Pied Piper for 'nakes. In Nepal I saw not one, but TWO varieties of cobras. That's right, cobras. I have seen a krait----in downtown Kathmandu. Rattlesnakes beyond count. Garter 'nakes abound at my weekend place and are always scaring the liver out of me. It now appears that Paradise (aka North Captiva Island) is teeming with indigo 'nakes.

I saw my first indigo 'nake within hours of arrival. Sped, and I do mean sped, across the road in front of my golf cart. And this morning there was on UNDER THE HOUSE, right where I was walking BAREFOOT. (Need I point out I will not be doing THAT AGAIN???) I should also point out that the houses here are elevated so you can walk and drive around under the house. No doubt for hurricane damage control. Hurricane Charlie did a lot of damage here.

So, okay, I try and deal with my fear. I made, forced myself, to go to a 'Nake Farm in Thailand and actually touched a cobra (that was being firmly held by a handler----and yes, it was insane of me to do so and I will NEVER do that again, EVER!), with my index finger, on purpose. I try to remember that 'nakes serve a valuable purpose and occupy an important niche in the ecology of habitat. They eat rats, for example. But, still.....they are 'nakes and they scare the liver out of me.

I got online and read about indigo snakes. The poor things are endangered. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW063

If these very speedy, very endangered non-venomous scary 'nakes don't stay away from me, I might not survive my visit to Paradise. I mean it. They scare the liver out of me!

And, yes, Dear Reader, I am immensely grateful it wasn't a coral snake, or a rattler or even a cottonmouth. Thank you, God!

The images of the indigo snake are not mne but copied from Google.

More Bliss

Another day in Paradise. We are getting tanned and we are getting more shells that either of us really knows what to do with and I'm a very exhausted but happy camper. We walked about ten miles today, waaaaaay down to the "State Land," as the south side of the island is locally known. I didn't notice that the shelling was that much better down there and it sure is a long, long way to carry back all your loot, so I think tomorrow we may well stay a little closer to home.

If you sit down, even to just have a drink of water or to riffle through a mound of shells, the gulls immediately think you are eating and they start arriving, shouting for a hand out. "Feed meeeeee....feed meeeeeeee!" No. We did not feed them. We did not. We did, however, guard our package of Ritz crackers carefully!I have to admit that I am not very well educated about birds and I am especially ill educated about Eastern US birds....so I don't know exactly what sort these hungry fellas might be....but they are pretty and they are numerous and they are LOUD.

North Captiva Island

Bliss. Bliss.

And more bliss.

Life Lesson

For the last month or so I have been mulling over one of those little lessons life has to teach us. As you might well know, in January my darling Annie had a very difficult birth and was extremely lucky to have survived the experience. It turned out perfectly and Annie, once again, walked through fire and came out on the other side in fine health and with a bouncing baby boy to show for all her trouble. But there was a very dark time there, for all of us....I was taking care of little Alex and worrying about Annie and Chris and the new baby and what if....what if....what if. (http://ccn.aacnjournals.org/cgi/content/full/24/4/54)

I didn't have the time, or frankly, the energy to really think through all the consequences of the situation. I put all my worries into a "box" in my head and firmly put the lid on. Once we knew Annie was going to come home and that her kidneys were very likely to return to full function, there wasn't much point in opening that "box" while I was so busy with helping take care of the baby and Alex, and after a while, Annie, too. I didn't want to look at all those what ifs too closely. Late in January I had to return home for a few days as I had some commitments that I had to fulfill. As I was waiting for my flight at the San Diego airport I let that "box" open and allowed myself a bit of a wallow, a mini pity party, and I feeling mighty sorry for myself. VERY sorry for myself.....poor me.

I bought myself a sandwich since I had a lot of time before the flight was called and as it was nearly noon, most of the available tables at the concession area were pretty full. I saw a nice looking lady, maybe 15 or 20 years my senior, sitting by herself at a two person table. I had noticed this lady at the TSA screening area as she was very well dressed and looked nice. I approached her and asked if I might join her and she was very gracious and welcoming, indicating I should sit down and share the table. We spoke about generalities in a friendly manner for several minutes and then, in response to something she had said, I asked her if she'd been in San Diego on holiday or business? She paused and looked me in the eye, long and hard.

"Neither. I just buried my daughter."

It happened that last October her daughter was diagnosed with brain cancer and the poor woman only lived 84 days after the diagnosis. Her last few weeks were very, very hard, I learned from her grieving mother. The daughter was only 40 and left a 13-year-old child of her own.

This lady proceeded to tell me how hard it was to sit by her daughter's bedside and watch the disease ravage her precious child and how she was just able to tell her little girl that it was okay to leave, it was okay to rest, she could just relax and let go. (How do you do that?) She told me, with tears in her eyes, that she entrusted her child to God's love.

She then swallowed a few times, used her napkin to dry her eyes and told me that she now had to go home and get on with living, as it would not honor her daughter if she allowed the grief and loss to overwhelm her. She had to get up each morning and love life and rejoice in each breath she took.

And then she old me she'd also lost her husband of 53 years last May.

I was wallowing in what ifs?

Life lessons sometimes smack you upside the head like a two-by. I needed that lesson and I hope I've learned it.

My Annie is fine. My Ian is fine. My family is SO lucky and SO blessed and I am SO grateful.

To that dear lady at the San Diego airport, I send you my heart-felt sympathy and many, many thank yous for showing me a better way to handle worry, grief and pain. She was, damn it, truly noble. She was beautiful in her determination to honor her daughter's life by living her life to the fullest extent possible.

I am humbled.

Grant Creek Weekend

This has been a weekend of discovery for me. My new camera is amazing and takes photos I never dreamed I would be able to take. And it's so easy! Sometimes you get just the right tool for what you are attempting to do and just the right tool for your skill level, and that's what this new camera is for me---the perfect tool at the perfect time. And the weather cooperated, too. Friday afternoon there was the most amazing rainbow, the brightest double rainbow I have ever seen. I took many photographs of it and the light show lasted a very long time.I also spent quite a bit of time this weekend working on the current journal I have for the Sensual Journey round robin that Deb Denton is hosting. The journal I have now has the theme of "Intimations of Immortality," apparently taken from a poem by William Wordsworth. I am, sadly, unfamiliar with the poem but we have been asked to "explore your senses and share with me that thing (or things) which exist in this world which are truly magical to you." Naturally, I have gone for water, sea life---wet and wonderful things. There is, and has been and always will be, something truly magical for me about being in the water (or even near the water). I am never happier than when I am snorkeling. I love the feel of the water as it glides over my skin, the play of light refracted through the watery lens, the underwater life that abounds and, especially, the silence---where my own breathing and heart beat are loud and any other sounds are muffled. I always fully expect to catch a glimpse of a mermaid or some fantastic fish.

Nonie and I leave for Florida next Friday morning. Really early. We will spend Friday night near the airport in Fort Meyer and then transfer to North Captiva on Saturday, with a stop first at the grocery store where our order will (hopefully!) be "boat bagged" and ready for us to pick it up. We will take Island Girl to the island and will be settled in well by this time next week. I am so ready for this break! Two weeks making art, taking pictures, snorkeling, shelling and just generally turning beach bum sounds like heaven to me. I can't wait!

Update on Ian

Ian is now just over one month old. He is thriving. At his check up the other day he weighed 11 pounds 6 ounces. Born at 8 pounds 15 on the 14th of January, I'd call that a significant weight gain....and, oh, by the way, he rolls over. Really. He has done it for his mother a number of times but he also rolled over for the pediatrician at his check up. I guess he doesn't really care that he shouldn't be rolling over for at least a couple of months.

I think he rolls over because there is no flat side to the boy---he's all rounded. Round things roll over....

Eclipse

What are the odds that there would be a lunar eclipse the very night that I received my new Nikon D80 Digital camera with the 70mm - 300mm lens? The very same day???? Well, the moon and earth, er.....well, pardon the pun but the universe decided that I should have the opportunity to try to take photos of this celestial event in a dark alley with no time to read the instruction book and not much idea of what to push, how to set the controls or even what I was doing! All in all, I think I got some decent shots and I am extremely pleased with the camera. Just in time for my trip to Florida! My DH is an indulgent soul and has gifted me with this wonderful camera for my birthday. I have been yearning for one ever since I went to the Galapagos Islands last year. Three of the people on my ship had the same camera and I guess you could say I have had camera envy ever since.

Nonie has some of her canvases hung at the Walnut Street Coffee Shop and today was the "opening." The art looks very, very nice and Nonie had some people quite interested in her work already. I hope she makes many sales and does really well. I am quite envious of her recent successes, but I will also be the first one to admit that she has been working hard on her art and has amasses quite a few items to show and/or sell. I, on the other had, have not! So, here's to Nonie! Great success and many sales! And should fame and fortune smile on you, m'dear, keep me in mind as your official photographer, please.

Finished at Last

I am very happy to report that I have finally gotten both my 4 by 4 Fatbook pages and my ATCs for the swap hosted by Bee Shay for ArtFest finished and mailed off. Whew! What a relief it was to have both of those packages off and away, and then to hear that both had arrived safely. It hung over my head while I was south with Annie and family that the deadlines were fast approaching. I did manage to finish the little teddy bears for the ATCs while I was with them. (Finding time for sitting and cutting out and assembling things when taking care of a two-year-old and a newborn isn't easy! How soon we forget just how much energy the little ones suck out of their caregiver each day.) I came home last weekend exhausted. I am now getting caught up on my sleep, if not my chores.

I am happy with the ATCs. I like the little bear and had fun "designing" her clothes. The name, of course, comes from Teesha and Tracy Moore, hence TT Teddy. The theme for ArtFest this year is 'A Walk in the Woods' and for some odd reason all I could think of was that old song, The Teddy Bears' Picnic. That's where the idea for the teddy bear paper doll came from, I think....maybe not. The inner working of my mind is a scary, scary place and not one I really want to poke around in too much or too often.

Little TT should be well prepared for the journaling party down at the beach on Thursday night.

It was nice to arrive home to weather I associate with winter, rather than the 70 degree plus weather I left in San Diego. (Annie and I took Alex to LegoLand on Saturday and it was hot!) There have been two hummingbirds hanging around in the front yard in the flowering quince and I got lucky and got a shot of one of them the other day. He actually (she?) sat still for me. I can see that spring will come again as the crocus are coming up fast and the daffodils are pushing their way out of the ground, too. The early primroses are all beginning to bloom and the hellebores are all blooming, too. I am especially fond of a white one I got at the Flower and Garden show last year. I love the way the berries look when they are dripping with rain. The garden smells lush right now, full of promise. I am getting excited about having a vegetable garden agan this year as I don't have any long trips planned for the summer months. I have missed all my varieties of lettuce and the taste of home grown tomatoes. I think I'll try a few pumpkins this year, too. Maybe I will be able to provide Emma and siblings with their own Jack O'Lantern come October.

Limbo

I am stuck at the San Jose airport, waiting for a flight to Seattle. I left San Diego early this afternoon for a short trip home, to recharge my emotional batteries, pay bills, cuddle my cats, see my friends, kiss my DH and mail my ArtFest ATCs and Fatbook pages. I will return to Annie and Family on Wednesday for another week or two of helping out where I can. But, in the meantiime, I am in limbo at the San Jose airport. It was one of those nightmarish travel scenarios....I watched the flight move from "On Time" to delayed by an hour to delayed by two hours to delayed by three hours. I'm almost afraid to go look at the departure board any more for fear it will say, "See Agent." I want to GO HOME. I want to sleep in my own bed! I want my house for a day or two. I have nothng personal against San Jose or their aiirport, but I don't want to be here!!!!!!!!

Waaaaaaaaah!

Gee, I think, maybe, that I have been spending a lot of my time with a crankypants two-year-old and a newborn. I am so tired. I haven't been this tired since my babies were little, a long, long, long, long, LONG time ago. I love getting up for the middle of the night feedings with Ian. I love to cuddle his warm little body close and give him his bottle and listen to his little piggy noises while he sucks down another 4+ ounces of formula. I love to see him looking up at me, studying me as if to say, "Well. That's a grandma, huh?" I love it. But am I tired! You really do need to be young to be a parent, and I am not young any more. (And tonight I feel like 763 years and counting!)

I need to go home, close my bedroom door and have a good cry.

I am so grateful for the outcome of my daughter's illness. I am so very grateful for my beautiful new grandson. I am so grateful for my family and my life and even for my weariness.

I am also sorry to burden any of you who might be reading this with my little airport irritations and my whining about being tired, but this seems as good a place as any to vent. And you, kind reader, shoud go do something intersting/fun/useful/else. I will, too.....Thanks for listening.

Welcome Ian Christopher!

On Monday, January 14th, Ian Christopher entered the world, weighing in at 8 pounds 15 ounces and measuring 20 inches long. He has his father's long, double-jointed fingers and eyes we think (hope!) will be brown. He has dimples! He is perfect and adorable and very, very mellow. I am not a doting grandmother...I am NOT! All these things are true. You'll see...just wait until I have ability to upload photos. You'll see! He really, truly is perfect.

My daughter has had an unexpected and severe problem with labor and delivery and still is in the hospital. While it is taking much longer than any of us would like for her to get well enough to be released, at least we are comforted knowing that she is getting better daily and expected to make a full recovery. I have told her firmly that she needs to stop scaring her mother. It's not nice.

Ian's big sister, Alex, is rather blaise about the new addition to the family. She will obligingly give his head a kiss when asked, but really is much more interested in watching Dora the Explorer on TV or playing Play Doh. Poor Alex is missing her Mommy very much, as are we all.

I will be in California for the next several weeks, helping out as much as I can.

New Year

I came back from California just in time to turn around and head up to Grant Creek for the holiday weekend. I love being at the cabin for the new year. It's peaceful and cozy and I can go to bed at 10:30 and not feel like a party pooper! I will readily admit that my party days are long over. (And I don't miss them, either.) I worked on my 4 x 4 fatbook pages for the ArtFest swap and also on the ATCs for the ArtFest ATC book that Bee hosts each year. I have to get them both done and sent off my February 1st, so the imputess is certainly there!

We had snow at the cabin. Not a lot, not enough to even make us stay put, but snow. For once I could really enjoy it, and I did. It was so pretty falling down in huge, fluffy flakes but so very wet that I knew that the first car to pass over the road would cause it all to melt away---which it did. I made soup and baked bread, watched movies, worked on my art swaps and had a lazy, lovely New Year holiday weekend.....

.....and then last Friday I turned around and went back to the cabin and did it all over again! More snow, too, but not the kind that lasts.

I leave for San Diego very early on Sunday morning and will be away for two weeks. I am heading south to be there for my daughter as she is to be delivering her new baby, a boy. I will take care of the "big" sister (who is two) while Mom is in the hospital. Chris will be with Annie for most of her hospital stay. Alex and I will hold down the fort. I am sure there will be lots of coloring, trips to the park, Play Doh and books to be read. I am really looking forward to my trip to welcome the first grandson, but I suspect that I'll be getting little sleep for the next few weeks! Well, what's a grandma for?

Jen and I saw this balloon one day just before Christmas while we were out shopping. We chased the balloon all over the place, trying to find a good spot for photo or two. Finally we roared into a drug store parking lot that had a great view of the balloon with the moon in the background. I was pleased that while we were snapping away a big, black pick up truck roared into the lot, came screeching up to were we were parked, slammed into a parkng slot and the door flew open and another photographer leaped out to take his own shots

I was lucky enough to get one of LK Ludwig's Snow Jollies. I had LK send it to San Diego so I could enjoy it during the Christmas holiday while I was down there. We all enjoyed it! My little jolly has the sweetest expression and personality. I put her (It? Him?) in the branches of Annie's tree for this portrait.

The biggest personal happening in this new year is my decision that the 2008 season will be my last on the board of the art festival. Once I get through June, I will be resigning my position on the board, with great regret, to have more time to be able to help Kellie with the forthcoming twins. I know that she will need lots of help next year, both with the new additions and with Emma, and I think I need to be there for them all. I will have given the festival three years and for now, anyway, that's going to have to be enough. Perhaps I'll go back in a few years when the twins are older and life more settled. (Is life ever settled? Would I want it to be?)

Double Vision

My son and daughter-in-law had their first ultrasound appointment today after finding out that they were expecting and guess what???? TWINS! We are being blessed with twins in the family (although I am not sure that Emma will see this as a blessing---imagine now hard it will be to go from being The One, The Only to one of three....). We are all exceedingly happy for Don and Kellie. We are, to be honest, also exceedingly grateful it's only two and not three!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Fa la la!

I am in the San Diego area at my daughter's for the Christmas holiday. I arrived yesterday and have now spent a happy day with Annie and Alex (Chris was at work) and got to see Jen for a little while this evening. DH is arriving late tonight, as he had to work today, too. Except for Don, Kellie and Emma, we will all be together and it's bliss. Having the family mostly together is what I want most for Christmas each year, and while a very important few are unable to be here, they are celebrating a special holiday, too, as they got their Christmas wish. My life is blessed.

Happy Christmas to all, and to each a good night.