Beauty of the beach..............

Why images of the beach today? When it's still cold and windy, snuggling by the hearth seems much more appropriate on the last day of February. Where did February go by the way?

Yesterday I was getting a pedicure, just relaxing as the massage rollers in the chair crept around my back doing something which hopefully is good for old bones. As an angel named Kim scrubbed my feet with sweet smelling salts, my mind drifted away to the beach. Walking in the sand is certainly as good if not better for feet than a pedicure.......and you get scenery with it, beautiful ocean views with waves and pelicans, shells and sandpipers.

If you grew up at the shore as I did, going to the beach was part of everyday life.............you took a left out of school instead of a right toward home, and ended up on the sand looking across the blue bay toward the English Channel and France. Really didn't matter whether it was an early Summer afternoon or a cold, wet Winter day........it was always a perfect beach to a child's eyes.

I love the beach, and my feet do too. I'm past those days of lying in the sun, or eating soggy sandwiches scattered with sand. I love to kick off my sandals and walk along the shore, stopping to gather shells, dip my toes in the cold water where the foam rolls in frothy rills, feel the gritty sand smoothing my soles and heels....................Nature's pedicure, the best.

All images taken at North Carolina's Atlantic Beach ~ looking toward home across the pond.

I promised a winner today....................

......................and it is Sarah, whose delightful blog Hyacinths For The Soul always makes me breathe in deeply hoping to get a whiff of the hyacinths' beautiful perfume. Blue ones are my favorite. My DH dug down deep in the silver jug and pulled out Sarah's name.

Each of you should be the winner because you care enough to take time to read my blog even after three long years! I try not to be repetitious or boring. I like to share photos of the lovely things of life I notice on an ordinary day, or perhaps while on a trip to a new and exciting place. My camera has become my good friend, I do not venture far without it these days.

Thanks for sharing my three year blogging anniversary. Perhaps this year I'll get to meet more of you in person, always fun. I hope to keep things going, sharing lots of pretty things from the local antiques emporiums, thrift shops, flea markets. With warmer weather coming I know I'll be relying on Mother Nature to provide lots of color photos after this often white Winter. Then I'll share my African safari trip with you when I return in late May............that will be a wonderful experience and I hope to have really great photos to show you.

Congratulations Sarah - please e-mail your address and I'll pop your little parcel in the mail next week.

Giveaway time almost here....

Don't forget.....................I'll be drawing the name of the winner of my little anniversary (three years - 800 posts) giveaway gift tomorrow. Please leave a comment on my February 18 post if you would like your name added.

Into Africa

Wow, what a welcoming committee this would be. Told you there will be lots of cats. Just not domesticated, cuddly, purring kitties who climb in your lap asking to have their ears scratched!

As for why a measly 26 pounds baggage allowance and no wheeled suitcases?

I may be flying all comfy and spoiled rotten in Business Class on the long hauls, but once in Africa these are the tiny puddle jumpers I'll be squeezing into to fly to the safari camps. That duffel bag (along with those of the other three gals, remember, we will be the inseparable Four Broads Abroad) has to fit into somewhere on that toy plane - well it looks toy-like next to those huge cats, don't you think?

However, as Paula says, I won't be nervous because I'll be too busy looking out and taking photos of everything we fly over!

Flying over Africa......................nobody could ever forget the scenes from the movie Out of Africa when Denys Finch-Hatton takes Karen up in his open plane and they fly over the amazing landscape of Kenya. I'm re-reading the book, must be at least the fourth time, and you just know I'll be renting the movie again soon.

Other African movies watched recently -----

• I Dreamed of Africa
• Nowhere in Africa
• Heat of the Sun
• Flame Trees of Thika
• Botswana: In the Footsteps

If you know of any others I would enjoy, please share titles and I'll get them from Netflix!

Shots and Silver..............

Last week, on leaving the International Travelers Health Clinic with arms like pin cushions and costly prescriptions written for formidable sounding drugs to combat Malaria and Typhoid Fever in Africa, I decided I needed to do something pleasant to take my mind off all the bad things that could happen on safari!

Nearby, the Thieves Market Antique Mall was calling my name so I headed there. I found some little shiny treasures, but was overwhelmed by the feeling that many people renting spaces to sell their antiques and vintage treasures are really hurting......financially. I overheard a couple of dealers saying how poor their sales are this month. Many booths were reducing items as much as 50%.......red sale stickers were rampant.

The sweet $4 mirror has a stained cardboard back and no way to hang it but I immediately saw as a stand for a container of flowers..................so I bought a bunch of white roses and placed them in a silver jug on the dining room table, which is also my desk!


On a shelf in a corner of the same booth, I noticed the pair of silver plated tea boxes hallmarked Cheltenham & Company. England, with a unicorn etched on each lid. I can see these holding much more than tea. Already slightly tarnished, with copper showing through, the cut corners and roped detail along the edges made these a great buy at just $21 the pair.

Also in the booth were some interesting silver flatware odds and ends. I found another fish knife for my collection, also the tiny demitasse spoon in the silver basket holding acorns, each just $1.

Later my arms really ached but my little treasures were not heavy to carry home.

Do you find shopping relaxing when you're having a stressful day? What do you shop for? Clothes, shoes, items for your home, gifts for others, food?

Madeira

The loveliness of Nature often turns harsh. Storms batter stone and rock. Meandering rivers become deadly torrents.




This weekend's loss of many lives, terrible injuries, and devastation from the horrendous flooding in Funchal, capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira, hit home here! We have very dear friends who live part of the year on the island. Knowing they went there before Christmas, we weren't sure if they had returned to their Welsh home yet. Today I was relieved when they answered their phone in Wales having returned there just one week ago. As far as they know, their Funchal home and family members are OK.

You can read the history of Madeira here. This is being called the worst tragedy in a century on this beautiful island.

News reports state that the infrastructure of Funchal is decimated from the tons of mud, boulders and torrents of water which came down from the hillsides and were carried through the city. It's feared many people were swept away into the ocean.

As the death toll rises, please pray for the people who have lost their loved ones, homes, businesses, and for the many who are suffering from severe injuries. Madeira is a popular Winter resort for Europeans so many of the injured are most likely from other countries.

Weathered stone images taken in Apt, Provence 2008

The Common Cold

Don't you just hate feeling under the weather?

UNDER THE WEATHER - a British phrase of course, was used on sailing ships. When a crew member was ill he was confined below deck out of the weather, so it was said he was "under the weather".

How can a simple head cold turn into a raging river.........streaming, dripping, running, watering.....................

................swallowing spoonfuls of bad tasting stuff, sucking on lozenges to combat the throat prickles, dabbing teary eyes, drippy, itchy sore nose, and sneezing nonstop-----------again, again and again!!!!!

Hand me another box of tissues please---------does that make two or three boxes just since yesterday? Make me another hot drink. I'm heading back to bed with a good book and a long afternoon nap.