Little White Wagon???

After another lengthy absence, I am filled with trepidation about jumping back into the blog pool. Strange that I would feel so anxious, when this outlet has provided me with nothing but encouragement, friendship and a safe place for me to share...well, bits and pieces of everything. Still, I feel as if I must maintain an upbeat, lighthearted facade so as not to dump a bucket of rainwater on anyone who stumbles across this part of my world. I think I'll test the waters with my little toe and share that, because of impulsive choices I have made during the last few months, I find myself in a place of deep emotional and spiritual (dare I say it?) despair. Aside from not being able to eat or sleep regularly, my health is fine...so I'm grateful to not have to add "physical" to my list of woes. Much as I'd love to be able to point fingers elsewhere, I have to own the bad decisions I've made and start tackling the debris. Prayer is, of course, the best place to start. I must confess, however, I feel as if God is shaking his head woefully, whispering "You're on your own with this one, Little Girl. I sent you all the warning flags I could muster".

So, where does the little white wagon fit in to this? During one of my recent run-aways to the beach, it was parked under a tree by walkway over the sand dunes. I'd never seen a little white wagon. Red? Sure...plenty of them! This white one captured my attention...sitting there painted the "wrong" color, waiting to be filled...put to use, not sure what direction she would be pulled in, rusty & peeling, but still steady on her wheels.

Hands...Feet...Sand

My second favorite thing about the beach...the smell of the salt air, the beach roses and the marsh grass take top position...is the feel of the sand. There is something indescribably soothing about sifting dry sand through your fingers or feeling the waves bury your feet by the water's edge.

A Little R&R

To say that the last few weeks (months) have been hectic/ chaotic/ stressful is an understatement. Last Wednesday, my baby girl and I set out in search of some tranquility. There is one place, on earth, where I am 100% assured of recapturing serenity: the beach, in Old Lyme, CT, where I spent summers from my conception through my early adult years. I threw several bags in the CRV, grabbed the puppy and her crate and off we went, to spend a few days at Edge Lea. My aunt was gracious enough to welcome us, into her home, for this impromptu visit. Caroline and I spent two days relaxing and recharging our batteries. I took tons of pictures, so there will be more posts to follow, but wanted to share some of my favorites from the beach. Sidenote: I still haven't figured out how to stagger photographs & text (Dagnabit), so the pictures will have to speak for themselves.

100th POST SURPRISE!

I've been counting and recounting the number of posts I've written because I just can't believe this is my 100th! This has got to be the epitome of "time flies when you're having fun". When my sister, the "other" Kim, of Savannah Gourmet, first suggested I start a blog, my intention was simply to keep a running record of all of the ludicrous, bizarre, unbelievable things that could only happen to me. While there has been a bit of that, my blog has evolved into the place where all of the wacky, eclectic components of my personality (and my life) converge to paint a picture of my world. The coloring is definitely outside of the lines...and sometimes goes right off the paper!
This journey has been amazing, though. I can look back and see where I've wandered off the beaten path and, all along the way, there was one (or more) of you to 1.) walk alongside of me or 2.) gently pull me back onto the trail. Odd though it may seem, to "outsiders", the friendships I have formed with my blog-buddies are as significant as any I have formed in my "real" life. What astounds me, on a daily basis, is how intertwined our lives become and how familiar we are with the details of each others daily routines.
I'm so grateful, to each and every one of you, who has reached out to me and allowed me to be a small part of your world!
Now for the give-away part: initially, it was my plan to assemble (what I'd hoped would be) a wonderful collection of my handmade creations for the winner. This afternoon, I switched gears a bit. Yes, the give-away does include some handmade goodies, but the "theme" is: "These are a few of my favorite things". For those of you who don't know me well enough yet, here are some hints...
I love...the beach, fairy tales, all things Victorian, whimsical sillies, girly bath products, jewelry, photographs, accessories, things that simplify my chaotic life, miniatures, sparkles, comfy cozies...and surprises! So, that's what I'm going to do: surprise the winner with some of my favorite things, which will, hopefully, be some of her favorite things. Please leave a comment, if you would like to be entered, and one of my kids will randomly choose a name on Monday. Why Monday? Why not?