Seashells and a She-Crab?

A Favorite Seashell Quote

"It is, perhaps, a more fortunate destiny

to have a taste for collecting shells

than to be born a millionaire."

Robert Louis Stevenson

Seashell Shot Taken at Beverly Beach After a Storm

(Notice the crab at top left of photo)

Raindrops & Roses, Cheesecake & Cherries

I opened my door this morning to find fog! And raindrops!

when I had hoped for sunshine.

Ah!  But there were roses and bird songs!

So I added a cup of tea

and a plate of cheesecake and cherries

and made my own sunshine

in my heart.

Family Treasure Alert

Family Treasure Alert

You will find this treasure among my books someday.

Please make a note to keep it ~ for it was Grandma Staub's favorite book,

and it is definitely a favorite of mine.

The storyline is riveting and the strength of character the heroine portrays
was once so common.

My Little Grandma

 Grandma and Grandpa Staub
at their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary Celebration
They were married on April 27, 1904 in Washington, PA

Even When I'm Not Looking...

Met my friend, Barbara, for lunch yesterday. 
After a fine meal, I followed her in my car

as we drove to Michael's with our 50 per cent-off coupons in hand.

And, lo!  On the way, several ducks and sea gulls appeared ~ calling to me!

Or so it seemed.

They preened and posed and paraded around,

just as if they were waiting for me to emerge with my camera.

What could I do?

Having my camera with me, I went back for a photo shoot.
(Note ~ I didn't say they were beautiful ~ just cooperative!)

Carla wants to know where my "avian obsession" came from

and worries it might be "contagious!"

Serenity Tree Reminder

I want this tree to remind me that serenity is a choice.

Mom and I were at a restaurant today.

She had a hankering for pancakes with strawberries 
and whipped cream.

The waitress was young and as it was the second time 

she had waited on us recently, 
we knew that she was not especially fast.  

We placed our orders and then, we waited. 

And we waited.  And we waited some more.

Finally, another waitress saw us looking around 
and came over to explain.

She said that our waitress was "having a melt-down."

Then we saw a table of several adults who got up and walked out without eating, making loud comments on their way.

A few minutes later our waitress walked by, 
red-eyed and sad-faced.

(Our food, however, was still missing in action).

Eventually, the manager brought our food out.  
And everything was cold.

Cold pancakes.  Cold eggs.  Cold toast.  Cold hash browns.

But all I could see were the eyes of that young waitress.

And then I asked myself, "What if that little waitress 
was one of my granddaughters?"

It was then that this foreign thought came to me:

"I may have cold food, but I need not have a cold heart, too."

And that is how God spoke to my heart this morning.  

It had to be Him.  Such an attitude is not second-nature for me.

P. S.

We thanked our waitress, verbally, for her service, 
and then we left a larger tip than usual.
Her sad eyes lit up.

It made me feel good to know that it was within our power 
to make her day a little better.
I'm going to print out a copy of my "Serenity Tree"

 and place it in my wallet.
I hope it will help me to recall this morning's events
the next time things don't go perfectly.
I know that I'll need to be reminded again
that serenity is a choice.
As is kindness.

(Photo taken at Eagle Landing Golf Course - 22 March 2011)

My Husband's Thoughtfulness Includes Wild Turkeys

Allen is prone to tell people I have 800 pictures of birds on my computer.

He exaggerates - a bit.

In spite of that, he offered, last night, to drive me around the golf course

in search of wild turkeys.

He'd been seeing them lately and, knowing my heart, volunteered to 

escort me around the course after his golf game.

(He also works there one day a week, so they granted us permission).

These birds are wild and weird and wonderful.

They are also intimidating when on the run!

I believe they were nearly as tall as I am, and, looking through my lens,

I saw those spikey things on their legs as husband was herding them my way.

But the shots I got were worth the danger!

Thank you, Allen.  Last night was definitely a date to remember!

If For No Other Reason...

Granddaughter, Jessi, saw this fellow floating in their pool and scooped him up.  She ran to her mother, Carla, and said, "Oh, Mom, look!"  As she opened her hands to show her mom how bleached out this frog had become, suddenly, he made a leap, and landed right on my daughter Carla's nose.  

This, above all, taught me to be prepared.  You never know when the shot of the day will leap up in front of you.  It also helps, in the great scheme of things, if one has a daughter willing to just sit there long enough for her mother to try and record a near-perfect shot or two!