Father's Day Weekend, Our Stable and the Feathered Guest

Sea Breezes What in our world is going on this Father's Day weekend? Harold and I went to the pool on Saturday and had a lot of fun. We became children for a couple of hours and swam laps, went down the slide and tossed a ball in the water. After the pool found us buying a Father's Day present of a new coffee bean grinder for my coffee loving husband. We had dinner at a new hamburger joint in Brunswick and headed home to feed, what H affectionately calls "the stable." We are grand dog sitting. Toby, the 14 plus year old Doxie, and Riley, the grand dog Doxie, are photographed sharing Toby's bed. Riley is shown sharing a moment with Sappy the new cat. Trooper, the old mutt, is asleep in a freshly dug hole as of this writing and refused to be photographed. This leads me to today's surprise. I was out in the yard spray painting some wicker and H called out to announce there was a homing pigeon on the front porch. Yeah, right! Well, there was a homing pigeon on the front porch and he is still there! He has a band on his leg, which we haven't gotten close enough to examine. I put some bird seed out for him and some fresh water. He feasted on both and is now asleep under the bench on the porch. Did God direct this beautiful bird to our porch for rest and refreshment? We have been sitting on the porch just enjoying his presence and admiring the lovely pink and green feathers on his breast that glow in the sunlight. How often do we get the gift of a feathered visitor? How long will he stay? I don't know, but this tired and hungry bird came to us today and reminded me that our Lord appears in all forms of His creation. We were honored to be able to feed, water and provide rest and shelter for this friendly and beautiful bird today. In return, he glided off the porch, wings spread wide and gave us an air show as he maneuvered through the live oak limbs, landing gracefully back on the porch railing. How magical that our Lord whispers and guides his birds to safety and shelter. They listen to their creator. Shouldn't we, His children, be quiet, still and listen to our creator also? This is a lesson I learned today. I am sure that this is going to be a wonderful summer for me for lesson learning. I will be sure to share them all with you. "Be still and know that I am God." Enjoy the pictures of our feathered guest and the rest of our stable.

Sapelo Island, Soul Feeding and Swimming Lessons

Sea BreezesI am back from Sapelo Island, but I think I left my heart and spirit there. Three days and two nights on a hauntingly beautiful, remote and mystical island fed my soul as Psalms says a panting deer drinks and refreshes from the stream. Added to my soul feeding were roaring laughter, more golf cart rides around the island than I can count, deserted beaches strolled and shelled, history tours in an old school bus, bike rides to the light house, fried chicken picnics, island discovering and poking around, deer spotting at all hours of the day and night, fresh homemade cookies and lemonade on the buffet all day, a bell gracefully rung for meals in the mansion"s formal dining room, dining on delicious food in the formal dining room "wearing sunscreen, bug spray and our bathing suits like underwear under shorts and tees, reading books in the solarium, or chatting with our kitchen staff of five....oh my. Lovely, lovely. We explored old shell ruins from the island"s native inhabitants over 4000 years old, we explored old tabby ruins dating from 1820, we had wonderful history tours, saw a painted bunting, egrets, great blue herons, learned the history of the J. R. Reynolds Mansion, and made plans to return next year. Fun, fun, fun. We learned the art of seineing, casting a hundred foot net in the surf holding the ends of the poles to catch whatever in the ocean. That was a blast. The ferry ride over and back was a wonderful treat. After I was home a day, Katie and Kennedy came for three days and we went to St. Simons beach. We are so tan, we look like dirt. Even the baby has tan lines! This summer vacation is exhausting and I am loving every minute. I spent the afternoon on the beach again. Tomorrow finds me in Statesboro. Friends are having a baby shower for Katie and baby brother to be, and she is so excited. She and family are off to Amelia Island for a week of vacation, so I will come back with grand dog Riley. Riley meeting our new cat, Sappy should be fun. Enjoy some pictures from Sapelo Island. I took a lot of pictures and I met new friends on Sapelo, and they offered us a dock for our boat and a place to stay when we take the boat over. I also volunteered to teach swimming lessons to the island children, so I will be going back over a lot this summer. May found me fulfilling a long dream of getting my WSI, Red Cross Water Safety Instructor certification. It was a grueling course, but I did it and can now teach all levels of swimming from parent child aquatics to master's level swimming. I even passed the 25 meter distance on the butterfly stroke! So, if you want to, just do it as the ad says. And yes that is me in a swimsuit. The best thing about me at my age, is I do not care, I will not let 57 stop me from having fun or sharing my experiences. Enjoy, I will share more in the near future.

Summertime and I'll Be On Island Time

Sea BreezesSummertime for me started today. Today was our last day of teacher planning....and now the best part of being a teacher..SUMMER! I have always loved summer. Summer is sun, sand, ocean, pools, ice cream, shade, lazy, children, play, hammocks, lemonade, swings, watermelon, picnics and....VACATION! In the morning on the outgoing tide, I and 22 other teacher friends board the ferry to Sapelo Island which is here in McIntosh County. It is accesible only by boat. The ferry leaves from Meridian, about 10 miles from our house. I am so excited. I have never been to Sapelo, and I am a lover of islands. The island has a rich history. Google some history, you will be enchanted by what you read. We are staying at "The Reynolds Mansion", the former home of R.J. Reynolds, the last owner of Sapelo. The mansion was restored in 1926, it was the former plantation home. We will have island tours, ghost crab hunts on Nannygoat Beach, which is pictured here, bicycle rides around the island, bird watching, beachcombing, hammock hanging out, fried chicken picnics and wicker rocker sitting. I am all packed. I have my flip flops, camera, bug spray, binoculors and sunglasses... if I forget anything else, I am out of luck as this island sells nothing. So if I don't post for three days, hey, I am on island time. I'll be the fool sitting on the sand writing poetry, taking pictures, reading a book, collecting shells, sunning, birdwatching, dolphin watching and chatting with friends. Have a great week. Sapelo Island here I come!

Welcome to Sappy

Sea BreezesWe have a new member of our family. Her name is Sapelo, Sappy for short, and she is a small, incredibly sweet and beautiful tri-color apricot....cat. I went to the Humane Shelter yesterday cat shopping. Maybe I should back up. Our yard has moles. I told my husband that, he didn't seem to care. Then the moles found his garden, and he said, go get a cat. So Friday after school I went cat shopping and cat praying. I have never been cat shopping before, hence the praying part. They have a cat room which is more like a plush cat hotel. This is a no kill shelter I find out and the staff is caring and helpful, the facility is spotless and the animals are happy and well-cared for. I soon was greeted by cats of all shapes and sizes. I heard a well placed meow calling me. I looked over and sitting on a stool was a feline lady with huge eyes flirting with me. It was love at first sight. Sappy went home with me, and we love her. She is to live on the screened porch for two weeks before letting her in the yard. She has already put the two old fart dogs in their places with a few well timed hisses. Will she be a good moler? I expect she will live up to the challenge. In the meantime, our family is one furry friend larger. It feels great to open our lives and love to an animal who needs a home. The best part is we needed her. Welcome Sappy to our menagerie.

We Are Thankful

Sea Breezes
Assist us mercifully, Oh Lord, in these our supplications and prayers, and dispose the way of thy servants towards the attainment of everlasting salvation; that, among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be defended by thy gracious and ready help; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Book of Common Prayer

God was and is indeed our defender and ready help this past Sunday. Storms came through our area and brought tornadoes. We are fine and are thankful. A tornado touched down less than a mile from our home. Our county has been declared a disaster area. Many people suffered losses of homes and businesses. I share this prayer with you as a reminder that our God is gracious and always at our side, ready to defend us against everything in this mortal life we all live. He is our only constant. Call on Him before you begin each day and thank Him as you close your eyes in sleep.

It Is Spring and I Have A Fever

Sea BreezesSpring visited the coast the weekend and stopped for a couple of days here in McIntosh County. She got a little weepy on Saturday afternoon and shed a few showers of tears, but that only made the green happier and brighter. Spring brought with her lovely soft breezes, singing birds and blue skies. Uhmmm, a delicious guest. I have spring fever. Last week we hauled newly delivered compost to the garden. Saturday morning we scurried to the local nursery open house and came home with a ton of plants to slip into our beds. I spent most of Saturday covered with dirt, sweat and a smile on my face as I dug and planted. Clumps of shade loving bright pink impatiens have found a home in the beds by the front porch being watched over by towering azaleas and bright green wild fern. The new swing got a showy new bed of pink begonias fighting for attention. The arbor over the swing is dazzling with sweet confederate jasmine springing to life with bright white flowers that will bloom most of the summer and sweetly scent and shade the grand baby swinging spot. Then there is the front porch. Ah, the front porch.Two new hanging pots of pink vining begonia have each found a spot at either end of the front porch. Last week I visited my favorite outdoor furniture store, the Salvation Army, and found three pieces of black distressed wicker for under $40. Of course, it was difficult to get in the convertible, but I always manage. I had a perfect spot on the front porch, and I do love a bargain. So this weekend was fun. Harold got the garden planted, and I worked on the rest of the yard. Did I mention the three bright blue plumbago plants that I planted by the front fence? Oh, they are lovely and will fill out and bloom well into the fall. I have spring fever, and it will only get worse.Enjoy the pictures of my front porch wicker deal, the confederate jasmine climbing beside our wrought iron table, and the pink faces of the begonias talking sweetly to the grand baby swing.It's going to be a great spring here on the coast!

They Finally Came

Sea BreezesThey finally came. Well, not they, one did. A lovely bright red cardinal.Let me back up.Last summer we hung a bird feeder out in the front yard. I put some great birdfood in the feeder. Hey, I would have eaten it, fruits and seeds. Not one bird showed up,nary a one. I have consulted bird experts. They wag their heads. Where do we live, they ask. In the country, I reply. Birds like the country. Do we have trees, they ask. Oh, yeah, six giant live oaks in the front yard, I reply. Do you have cats, they ask? No cats, I reply. Do you have close noisy neighbors, they ask. Uh, no, we live on an acre and a half corner lot with no one behind or beside, I reply. Dogs, they ask. Two old fat fart dogs who only move fast when dinner is announced, I reply. Don't know what your problem is, the bird experts conclude. So, months go by, and no feathered diners at the feeder. So this weekend, we simply moved the feeder. I sat on the front porch and waited. Saturday afternoon he finally came. Mr. Cardinal took his place at our birdfeeder and enjoyed our buffet. No others feathered friends came, but we are hopeful. Mr. Cardinal will surely tell his friends about the new eating establisment in the neighborhood. It all goes back to the old adage, location, location, location. We moved the feeder and they, well he, came.