A Little Somethin' Somethin'

Remember on Tuesday when I mentioned my badge reels needed a little somethin' somethin'?

Welllllllll I worked on them, and although they are far from perfect, and need some touch ups, I did give them a little somethin'.

Some seashells and alligator gar scales made some cute flowers. The red ones resemble poinsettias :)

I do have a miss spot....okay, 2 miss spots where I need to go over and apply a touch more triple thick. And my gar scales flecked a couple of specks onto the shell. They really are much cuter in person. I'll be much more careful the next time I work with dyed gar scales!

I have some larger gar scales, and some smaller one's too. They certainly do have a Christmasy look to them. I bought them back in June or July at the shell shop in Treasure Island not having a clue what I would do with them. Maybe a clue, but not much of one :P I also wanted the green, but they were out. I really need the green!

My poinsettia is starting to turn!

I took these pics of it last week, and was looking at it yesterday between my comings and goings, and the bracts are getting larger, and darker! I'll have to get some new pics this weekend.

The bracts of my bougainvillea are amazing this year, as is the entire plant!

This is the biggest and prettiest it's ever been. I have a hard time believing that this was once in a hanging pot in my screenroom.....but I assure you, it was!

I am always amazed with nature, and the beauty that surrounds me :D

This weekend I am taking some time to relax and play!

Have a great weekend!

Goofing Off

Okay, so I really should be working on my barrette display., and double checking my list, right?
yes I should!  But I really just want a few minutes to chill, and say hi to you all....and show ya some things.

Like...Danni asked to see one of my shell barrettes in my hair...and I'm pretty sure Kim asked me a long time ago. Last Friday or Saturday when hubby was getting the boat ready, I was outside trying (failing) to take a pic of the back of my head. He came over and took it for me :)

I'll try to get a pic each time I wear one of them, or do a different style with my shell barrettes. I'll see if we can get one of the full length, too. It's getting pretty long!

While outside, I noticed some plants blooming.

This is a type of Ginger Lily, called a Pinecone Lily. It's also called a shampoo lily, or shampoo plant. This is where awapuhi comes from! You know, that amazing smelling Paul Mitchel shampoo. I haven't bought it for years, but I used to.

This is what they look like when they first start to bloom, before they turn red.

Such a pretty little flower!

One day last week, it must have been Saturday morning...maybe? Hubby had me come out and see the mushrooms growing in the front flower bed by the pond.

When Shae changed her room, her gargoyles went in the flower bed. I think they look cool here...

especially with those mushrooms making it look all medieval forest-y.

We've had some good rains this year, and my poinsettia is about as high as an elephants eye!

Maybe THIS year will be the year I get my family picture in front of it in full bloom. (I say this every year!) Fingers crossed for NO FREEZES before then. It still has a couple of months to grow, too!

Okay, it's back to work! The more I do BEFORE Friday, the less I have to do ON Friday to be ready Saturday!

It's nice to take a breather once in a while :D

A Tropical Christmas

What is Christmas like in Florida?

A magical tropical place full of sunshine and blooms!

I'll be back soon with an inside tour!

Del