I've been collecting seashells for as long as I can remember. From east to west, coast to coast, and shore to shore, I always find a treasure to keep, and adore.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Creating My Own Paradise, In Paradise

A direct quote from Wikipedia, "In paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness. Paradise is a place of contentment, but is not necessarily a land of luxury and idleness." I really like this statement. I think it speaks volumes.

In my quest to create tropical surroundings, I feel as if we have finally developed our own little paradise. In my home, and on my grounds, I truly feel at peace, content, happy, and prosperous in many ways.


This area grows more beautiful every day! We are always adding little touches, like the pavers in the center under the table...done! Mulch around the bananas, pineapples, and tomatoes, and my how they have grown since I took this pic a couple of weeks or so ago! It has been a work in progress for years, but really started coming together when the chain link came down, and the white vinyl fence went up.

We are currently working on a pathway from the front gate, thru the side yard between 2 garden areas, with 3 raised beds that hubby made for me. It's not quite finished, but a far cry from where it was, and certainly far better than the blank slate of a yard we started with. We barely had grass, and zero plants.

This area has a looooooong way to go, but progress is being made. I'm guessing maybe a couple more years til it's finished to what we are planning? It's still my Paradise. I'm at peace here playing in my gardens.

This little picket fence area is where my blueberry shrubs are growing! This area is now mulched in also, and looks so cute. The little fence was intended to keeps my furkids out of here...but the mulch and stone pathway is doing it, lol they hate it...or consider it off limits. Which is fine by me :)

The fish pond was moved when the fence changed....It's bigger than it looks, and we've done a little more with it. This was on the other side of the yard, but I still have my pond with waterfall by the front door.

Changes have been made in the front yard, too.


You can tell by these two photos that this was done around the end of January/beginning of Feb. Well, I can lol hubs is wearing long sleeves. Here in Paradise, we enjoy the cooler days as well :)

Hubby does the heavy lifting, and big jobs. I'm the designer, creator of art, and supervisor. I do get my hands in the dirt, I love to plant, and weeding isn't even so bad now that we've about got them under control (a layer of cardboard under the mulch. We tried landscape fabric, and Florida grew right through it!)

I am currently working on garden art. One piece at a time. And you know it's all going to be beachy, tropical, coastal, nautical, with seashells included here and there.

The only change directly in front of the house, and the front door area, was replacing the plants that did freeze, or got frostbitten. They looked terrible!

So, I'm starting over again, and will try to better protect these the next cold season. The others had gotten so big, and were just beautiful. And yes, we did plant the same plants!

I added this beautiful hibiscus about a month ago.


Check out the size of these flowers! And ignore the dog pee by the plant. That's why it was still wrapped in plastic. I know my boys...it was something new, out of place in the screen room. Boys will be boys! Even in Paradise lol.

Now it has a spot to call it's own. and a prettier pot to boot! And....the boys will leave it alone.

Something I've been wanting to do for a long time, like over a year, was to get the Waterlogue app for my Iphone. A couple of months ago I did!

I've had some fun with this!

I took this at the beach last year, when we were glamping in Crystal River. I used this to make my blog header, using the Waterlogue app.


Unfortunately for me, this Kings Crown was alive, so back he went in the water.
It was a really nice one too, look at the crown on it!!! One day I will find more :) I believe in good Karma. And it sure made a pretty blog header!

I'll try to keep a hold on my blogger cap this time. I have another laptop, so it should be better for me. I've been lost without my laptop, and the desktop computer just doesn't do it for me.


I do have a few choices, after all, and this is just a few of the hats I wear...errrr except the first one lol I left it there.

Welcome back to Paradise....

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

A Home Away From Home

First, I want to thank you all for stopping by! I meant to do it in my last post, but you know how absent minded I can be. Sorry, but I think it's getting worse lol. Old age I guess :)

Hubby and I have been talking about having a motor home for a few years. We always try to find a room with a kitchenette at the beach, so a motor home is perfect for us. We actually thought we wanted a Class C, but after looking at them, and the lack of space, we ended up getting a Class A Coach. It's not brand new, but is in great shape, with low miles. There's room for us, and our 3 fur kids! Which is one of the  reasons we got it :)





Can ya tell I took these from Hubby's Facebook? LOL

It's 34 ft long, not too big, not too small.

Sometimes we have an amazing view of the ocean! This is just a little way above Flagler, in Beverly Beach. 


This is a really nice spot in Crystal River. It's 4 miles to the beach from here. We will be using the canal that runs through the park to take us to the bay for scalloping this summer. We've reserved our spot for the entire season (for the weekends). We are so excited! 


Of course, men LOVE gadgets, so hubby bought this fancy navigation, full color back up camera (besides the black & white it came with) radio, CD/DVD player. And whatever else it does. Oh yeah! It's blue tooth and plays our iPods and iPhones. Our son in law came over and installed it. 

You know I had to put my personal beachy touch to it to make it really feel like home!

This comforter covered in coral and shells makes me very happy! And it's white! Which means when we have the fur kids with us, we keep the bedroom door closed to keep them off the bed. A set of Egyptian cotton sheets make us feel right at home :)
I've already done away with the black pillows. They had some red on the other side. They did not make me happy. I'm looking for accent pillows, and I'm still looking for something to hang in the big blank space over the bed. Finding these will make me happy, too :)

I've hung some starfish, and put some shells and things on little shelves, but I'll have to show you the rest of the inside after I take more pictures. Hubby is getting ready to lay some cool wood looking flooring. It's what they are using in motor homes these days, and we do so hate carpet. It's on order and should be here any day. I know he's excited to play with that and get it done! I'm pretty excited to see it, too!



Friday, May 2, 2014

One Proud Momma


I am so sorry to leave ya'll hanging! It has been very busy around here!

My middle daughter Laci had her 30th birthday on the 30th :) I'm feeling quite old now lol


She wanted an ice cream cake, and this is it. It was really good! 


You only turn 30 once, and it's an opportunity to go all out with a full blown birthday party! 

The very next day, my baby girl Shae, graduated from UCF with her bachelors degree!!!

So very proud of this girl! She did it all on her own! WTG Shae!!!! xoxo



This was the day she introduced us to her boyfriend, at lunch before the graduation ceremony.


We like him! Aren't they cute?!?!

Hubby has more pics on his phone, like the one of both of us with her. I somehow didn't get one. That's ok I'll steal it later from his Facebook :P

So now that the important things are over and done with, I am free to blog away!

One of the first things on my crafting agenda is making new cushions for my wicker furniture. I ordered them last year, they were on back order so long that Home Depot cancelled the order :( which leaves me to taking mine apart, and making a pattern to make my own damn cushions! It may take awhile, but I'm determined. Even if I've never done this before. Wish me luck!

I'll see you soon with updates of some kind....you never know what I could be getting myself into lol!

Happy weekend!!!
XO

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Breaking the Block

I don't think it's a big secret that I've had severe Bloggers Block. I'm wanting to break that block! I miss my blog, and I miss you guys. 

I've had a lot going on with my health, and because of that I've been eating much healthier. It has really made a difference in how I feel :)
Poached eggs on fresh baby spinach. This is to die for! 

Egg Beaters, crimini mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and baby spinach. YUM! 

Sockeye Salmon, asperagus oven roasted with garlic & olive oil, and acorn squash :P

Another version of my egg beater scramble but with more mushrooms. 

Now I wish I had more pics of foods I've made! 
I really blew it Easter weekend. I even had dessert. TWICE IN ONE DAY :(
Ah well, I'm back to saying no to processed foods, and sometimes you NEED a piece of pie! Or TWO! 

Despite going rounds with my autoimmune stuff, I have a great life! I've been lounging around my own little Paradise Cove we're creating. I love my home :) 

I have a new craft room! My youngest daughter (my derby girl) moved into her own place, so her room has been transformed! 



I love, love, love, my purple craft room!!!

Laci came over and made some vinyl wall art for me with her Silouette Cameo!

And she made some cute nail art vinyl stickers for me! 

All sea and beach related of course ;)

We took a trip recently and saw SNOW! 

But that's another post ;)

And we bought a motor home...so we can take our fur kids with us everywhere.


But that's another post, too! 

I'm so glad it's spring, and I'm so looking forward to some beach and shelling time! 

Is it spring for you? 
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