Hello, If you enjoy the blogs and like the photo go check out the shells I pick up along the way. You might find some you would enjoy for yourself. Also have three windchimes to sale. Still working on the spring/ summer collections. Should have more art work and handcrafted items by the end of this month (Feb.) :) Thanks!

When our children were small my paternal grandmother passed away at the ripe old age of 86. She was a tremendous influence upon me. Having a profound effect upon my life as I was growing up. It was she who established within me the love, passion, and respect I have for nature through her uncanny ability to see the world with delight and wonder. Giving not only my heart its passion, my mind its clearity, but my soul its foundation of peace as well. 

On the day of her funeral our son, who at the time was around 4 yrs. old asked me, "Mommy, Is Granny with God?" I replied , "Yes, honey she is." He then asked, "But, where is God?" I took him by the shoulders and turned him to face toward the sun. Lifting his chin I asked him to close his eyes. "What do you feel?" I asked. "I feel warm." he answered. "That's God, son, filling you with his love. Do you feel the gentle breeze?" I asked. "Yes mommy, it tickles." he smiled. "That's God blowing a kiss upon your cheek." Then I asked, "Do you hear the birds?" He replied, "Yes, they are singing." "They sing for joy, because God loves you, son. Now, whenever you think of Granny just remember what I've showed you today. Because wherever God is, Granny is there too, and she loves you just as much." 

Although I may have issues and problems going on within my life at any given time. They are no less nor greater than the next souls. I only have to go to the beach (God's playground) and all my cares seem to float away. I splash along the edge of the waves. Dig my toes into the warmth of the soft sand, lift my face and arms to the sky, and dance in the wind. Realizing just how much I am loved. For if God cares enough to place each grain of sand, or a tiny presious shell. Then how much more does he care for me? I hope and pray that each of you  find the courage and strength to go to your special place and dance in the wind. 

  

In the state of Florida it is illegal to feed dolphins or other wildlife in the bays. This law was not so during my childhood of some 30 years ago. I often accompanied my father on fishing and shrimping expeditions in St. Joseph Bay. I loved the early mornings, the beautiful colors of a sunrise, watching as everything began to awaken to a new day. Shrimping is a hard often dirty wet job. Just the kind of thing a 10 year old tomboy girl would love.

Father would begin by lining his boat up parallel to the shore just past the sandbar. Slowly and gently he would let the net out. Some 25-50 feet depending upon what net he was using for the day. Two large doors made of wood, wrapped in metal, weighing from 25-50 pounds each, were used to weight the net down and pull it open so it would drag along the bottom of the sea bed. After several minutes, my father would haul in the catch. Lifting the net back onto the boat a few feet at a time. The load would gather, pooling in the bag at the end of the net. He would then lift this round heavy large ball shaped load onto the boat, pulling the rope that tied the bottom end together, causing the catch to spill out across a culling board.

It was my job to cull the catch, sorting the shrimp out amongst the other sea creatures that had gotten caught within the net. This was an important job, one that must be done quickly, so as to allow the creatures as little damage as possible. Throwing them back into the water quickly. It was not unusual to see all manner of creatures from starfish, angel fish, pen fish, needle fish, jellyfish, sea pods, mullet, crabs, stingrays, baby sharks, and flounder. There was always something new to discover. I was fascinated, eager to see what would come next.

Throughout this process it was quite common to have a pod of dolphins swimming along side our boat. Always looking for a handout. There was one particular dolphin who would always swim and greet us. We named him "Fuzzy Fin" because the tip of his dorsal fin was bent and had what appeared to be fuzz growing at the end. I always imagined him to be my personal bay playmate. The squeaking, clicking sounds "Fuzzy Fin" would make became our play talk. Swimming all around our boat, splashing, flipping his fins, slapping his tail, squirting water, making funny blow hole noises. All matter of behaviors just to get and our attention. He would come so close to the boat that I ran my fingers down his side and back. He loved the shrimp and fish I would feed him.

I imagined he had a sister just like me to play with and take on adventures. This joyous friendship between the dolphin and myself lasted for many years. I consider myself blessed to have had such a dear childhood friend of the bay. Dearest friend, I miss you.  

COURAGE: Picture this... a hot July day, my husband and I decided to take the kids, along with one of their best friends to St. Joseph Peninsula State Park for a day of sun and fun. Fishing and picnics are our passion during the summers. Six people, six fishing rods, floats, mask, and buckets for all. Everything one would need. It is the first fishing trip ever for the young man (best friend) who came along with us. He was so excited. My husband, the young man in question, and myself decided to wade about 25-30 yards off shore out to a sandbar. We were fishing for the BIG FISH!

Fear and Courage is coming face to face with a 7 foot Tiger Shark, whose head is as wide as my rear. Now folks, if you knew me, then you would understand the size dimensions. Let's just say it was one BIG HEAD! Here we were standing in a large school of bait fish, waist deep in water, on a sand bar, praying were not LUNCH. Then the miracle of just how Jesus walked on water flashes through my mind...could it have been he had a"Tiger" by the tail?

Wading through chest high water back to shore as fast as I could run. Realizing in tow is the 100 pound young man that I was dragging by one arm dangling clear out of the water. Praying the shark doesn't decide to take a bite right where it counts. Realizing to every one's amazement, that the young man I have just dragged to shore so unceremoniously has just caught his first fish! Not through the mouth, but through the side of the body. Doubtlessly from the force of the pull back to shore. That's the last time we let the children watch JAWS before we go to the beach!

Seagulls are an inquisitive, loud, funny bunch of shore birds. They are very protective of their own and most times fly away before one can get close to them. Usually they will sound a warning cry similar to a laughing sound, thus the name "laughing gull". This particular afternoon I was walking along the waters edge as always, gathering shells. I looked up to see what must have been several hundred seagulls all bunched together standing along the shore. I wanted to be a part of them, just to sit, to observe, enjoying their banter. Softly stepping forward, I began to speak to them as if they were neighbors. Saying,  "Hello", wishing them,  "Merry Christmas", asking, "May I visit for a while?" To my amazement they did not fly off, but began to encircle me as if I were part of their clan. The seagulls were so close to my legs I could feel the breath of their wings flapping, stirring around me. Quietening down, they busied themselves with the daily ritual of cleaning, feeding, and tending the young. I enjoyed spending Christmas with my Seagull family.