The Memory Bee

December 25, 2011

It was a very merry Christmas celebrating family, love, and Jesus' birthday!

Rebecca gave me this beautiful ornament... she doesn't know about choosing a word for the year and that my word for this year was "peace." How cool is that and a perfect way to remember it!

I got concerned during the day that we weren't hearing from Brandon and Alicia and were missing them so much since they are in Kuwait, but they finally were able to come online (from Starbucks on their base) and Skype with us.

It was the best ending to a really good day! I've so much to be thankful for... I feel like I got all the gifts!!

December 24, 2011

Catching up on my December posts! I just couldn't do it on Christmas!

We had a yummy Christmas Eve brunch with my parents and opened presents before heading to the airport to fly home. We're so thankful for them and the time together! I love flying out over the Gulf of Mexico and seeing familiar sights below. This is Sarasota and the bridges to St. Armands Circle and Lido Key. The dark green wooded area on the left is where we kayaked the day before in the mangrove tunnels.

Here you can see Anna Maria Island below. This shot is great because it shows the entire island from tip to tip and shows how narrow most of it is!

It was so good to get home and head straight over to the Russells' house for our Christmas Eve celebration with them!

The next two pictures cracked me up... check out Chelsea's face!

It's tough to have scrapbooker moms! Too many photos???

Rebecca was able to join us after some time with her family. We love having her with us this year... it helps fill the hole left by not having Brandon and Alicia home for Christmas!

Aren't they cute?!!

Keith and Chelsea too!

December 23, 2011

Today we went on an adventure... kayaking through the mangrove tunnels off Lido Key in Sarasota Bay. It was our first time ever in a kayak and we loved it! It was so easy and relaxing and beautiful!

The couple that owns Biotica EcoTours love what they do and shared that love with us! I highly recommend them if you are looking for something really fun to do!

On the way there we made a stop at the Bargain Barn again... today I again spent less than $10 and got some good stuff!

I love the color and shape of this lamp... don't you love that cloth cord? I think it will need a little electrical work!

2 cute little bowls and a bone china English cup and saucer for 50 cents...

The book of stitches is pretty cool with lots of stitching and embroidery ideas. I also love this little book called God Calling by Two Listeners... it was published in England in 1953. It has meaningful daily meditations... the two ladies that wrote it wanted to stay anonymous so they just called themselves two listeners who listened when God called.

We're heading home tomorrow and will be home by evening to celebrate Christmas Eve. We'll be sad to leave the sunshine and my parents but so thankful for this get-away and time to relax!

December 22, 2011

The biggest decisions of our days are to choose where to eat and where to go to the beach! It's tough but we're managing! Today we had breakfast at the Riverside Cafe at the marina on the Manatee River. Each day is just as gorgeous as the day before! We have had the most perfect weather... so thankful for that!

Then we went on to our spot on the beach on Anna Maria. The wind makes it too hard to look for shells but makes it just the perfect temperature for laying out and reading and resting.

For dinner we went to downtown Sarasota to the Two Senoritas Mexican Restaurant and then walked around and people-watched and window-shopped. A perfect ending to a perfect day!

December 21, 2011

We visited the GW Bargain Barn again today and didn't find as many goodies as the first day. The "treasure" I found is right up there with my "KISS" boots!

Isn't she a beauty? LOL! Someone has taken the time to crochet this lovely outfit for Miss Piggy along with crocheted white underwear! I just couldn't resist for 50 cents. My parents are also acquiring a lovely assortment of musical stuffed animals including this pig that plays "Jingle Bells" while walking and snorting and this squirrel that plays "I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas."

After lunch at Five Guys, Dave and I headed back to the beach for a few hours. We found our spot out of the wind (nice, warm wind, but still...) We split a cinamon roll and Ginny's and Jane's and then sent Dave to jail and finally watched the sun set at Bean Point and the northernmost point of Anna Maria Island. The waves were crashing together from the Gulf and the Bay... wild and beautiful!

After dinner (does ice cream at Sweetberries count for dinner?) we went to see the Christmas lights display is along the riverfront in downtown Bradenton. Pretty!

Are you finding time to do anything fun as we count down to Christmas day?

December 20, 2011

Today was a delightful day! It started at Goodwill (no treasures at this stop) and ended at the International Mall in Tampa with the day at the beach in between. Talk about extremes!

It was windy so we set up our chairs behind a grassy little sand dune and it was just perfect! I worked on my Christmas cards (better late than never?) and took a little nap. I'm very thankful for this break!

We had lunch at my favorite place... The Sandbar... I love eating with my toes in the sand. Just heavenly!

And then the mall... I think the beach is much prettier!

December 19, 2011

My husband didn't believe there were Amish people in Sarasota so we took him to the Amish area and stopped at Yoder's Amish Restaurant for a "little" piece of pie to save for dessert after lunch. It's just so funny to see them riding their bicycles in the traffic of a city with their flowing beards and plain clothing. Many of them are "snowbirds" that come to Florida for the winter just like everyone else.

Then we headed to St. Armands Circle to eat at the Columbia Restaurant, one of our favorites! I love sitting at a table at the railing and watching the people stroll by.

You know what "they" say... another day, another beach... so this time we went to Whitney Beach at the northern end of Longboat Key. This is one of our favorite beaches but today there were lots of dead fish and birds... very strange! We spent the afternoon watching the wildlife... the birds and dolphin and more birds. We even saw a model shoot. Never a dull moment!

and another beautiful sunset!

We ventured back to St. Armands Circle to see the Christmas lights on. So pretty!

But my favorite thing of all was Santa on his Harley with three sweet little doggies!

Somebody is enjoying life!!

December 18, 2011

Dave and I made the drive over the beautiful sunshine bridge to St. Petersburg and stopped to watch the windsurfers along the way. Looks kind of like fun! Then we had a delicious breakfast downtown at Cassis. Just a perfect Sunday morning!

It was great to be back at Whim So Doodle! I taught the class that I taught at Tinsel Trading Company in NYC... it was fun to see the creative ideas that the students were coming up with as they worked on their frames. I have just a few last extra kits that I'll list in my online store soon along with just ONE extra Christmas album kit. I'll have everyone's pictures in the sidebar soon too.

After class we headed over to Ft. DeSoto Park to the beach to watch the sunset. Soo gorgeous!

(I love the silhouette against the sunset of this Mennonite family with the ladies in their dresses.)

December 17, 2011

Another day of sunshine! We started the day admiring the hibiscus... as big as plates on the bushes outside my parents' house!

We had breakfast at the beach... seriously one of the best things in the world, I think!

Dave and my dad enjoyed their "all you can eat pancakes and sausage," while I enjoyed my veggie omelet!

The ladies at the next table were enjoying a game of Mahjong!

We spent a couple hours relaxing on the beach and searching for shells (didn't find any good ones today.)

Then we had Sweetberries ice cream for our other meal of the day. It's a rough life! :)

I took pictures of the goodies I found at the GW Bargain Barn yesterday...

Love the book of Pawky Scottish Readings!

Also love the walnut mouse and the sleigh made from a section of an egg carton and the darling little handmade mittens. How about Santa's clothesline?

Or this sweet Christmas girl?

I love the colors in this little painting (it's about 8x10".) And I thought this purse was cute... the label inside says "L.J. Simone New York, Genuine Leather."

The most expensive thing I bought was $1 (for the purse and the painting.) Mostly 10 cents though! Pretty good stuff, huh?!!

December 16, 2011

My day in photos...

And we're thanking God for bringing Brandon safely to Kuwait! No words can express how thankful I am for all your prayers and encouragement!!