Happy New Years !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Photographing my own grandchildren can be exhausting, LOL And with a 1 1/2 year old, well that just makes it more challenging.  She did not want to stand still at all.  Even after giving her almost all the necklaces.   I did not get a smile in until her Boppy came into the room.  

It is all worth it, at least to me.  I love all the memories I get to have with them. They teach me so much about life and what it is like to be sisters.  They are definitely helping me get rid of my OCD.

This was a very impromptu photo shoot.  Very very last minute!!!  And they love photo shoots as long as I don't let my perfectionist run the camera. 

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!

Enjoy EVERY Moment!

This cute little Mermaid turns 1!!!!

Always remember to be yourself
Unless you can be a mermaid
Then always be a
Mermaid

Patriotic photos in 98* = Splash Pad and Ice Cream

Living in Florida you just have to go with the flow when it is 98* outside and feels like 107*.  But we had to get in Patriotic photos for Independence day!!  We have gotten so much rain that we had to cancel a few times, the spots we wanted to go to are "under water"  so we chose a shady spot near the Laishley Park and Scoops and Bites

All of the kids were so good.  You can see how hot is was just from their faces.  

So after photos we headed to the splash pad and then treated kids and us with ICE CREAM!!!

 Autumn wearing Annabells shorts because she had to wear pants, LOL

Cousins!!!

 The Train of Babies and Kids heading to the Scoops and Bites Ice Cream shop

Gazing into my new Crystal Ball

I have always been a creative person.  I am currently in a creative hump.  I can NOT find a creative bone in me.  So when I get like this I hop on Instagram, Pintrest and Flickr to find some creativity.   I saw some photos of crystal ball photography and fell in LOVE.  I think this may be a new passion of mine. I have always said I wanted a crystal ball, well now I got one.  

These photos are taken at Blind Pass Beach in Englewood, Florida.  I have had not been to this beach but liked it a lot.  It is a no frills beach.  For me that means quiet and serene.  The beach today was a bit choppy which is unusual as it is the Gulf of Mexico.  

Everything is your life is a reflection of a choice you have made.  If you want a different result, make a different choice. 

I am so fortunate that I live is such a beautiful place.  I can go to the beach for an hour or so and recharge myself.  This beach nicknamed Middle Beach is actually Blind Pass Beach in Englewood, Florida.   Middle beach is located on Manasota Key, halfway between Englewood Beach and Manasota Beach. 
On this day I needed a recharging.  It is a quiet beach with lots of beachcombers looking for sharks teeth.
This is one of my happy places.

Happiness is...... the Beach

I love the beach, always have always will.  Everything about it, the warmth the sun shines on me, the salty air, the sand between my toes.  I love to hear the sound of the waves crashing, sea gulls cry and children having fun.
Every time I go to the beach I always bring home shells that I find interesting.  It always amazes me that I am drawn to a certain kind of different shell each time I go shell collecting.  

Florida and Chocolate Do Not Play Well Together

Orange on Top

My POTD prompt is food (toppings/frosting/dessert).  I saw these on Pintrest and knew my granddaughter would love them, they do have candy corn, chocolate and pretzels after all.  Well my best lighting is outside in the garage with the door open.  It is still pretty hot in Florida.  As you can see in the picture the bowl and candies have little moisture drops on them from difference of being in the fridge and now outside.  

But that will not stop her from eating them.  

Siesta Key Photo Walk

 I went for a photo walk with a good friend of mine who loves taking photos as well.  She took me down a few side streets of Siesta Key that I have never been down.  I kinda feel silly admitting that.  But it is true, I have always stayed to the main street of the village.  I was so happy to find all sorts of colors in the signs, the houses and also found a quiet little beach.

                                                          Dolphins on the Key

                                                                  I love signs!!!!

                                                                         A quiet oasis

                                   The sign reads:  The average dog is nicer than the average person.

                                                 another sign.... this one  is so much fun!!

                                        And who wouldn't want to sit by this pool!!!!!

                                                           Colors on the beach

                                                        What is left of an old pier

                                                                Kayaks anyone??


A few colorful houses............

The best ice cream on the island..........