Today, I am grateful.....

so, here's why....

life delivers things you don't expect, sometimes.

usually, I find myself totally unprepared....

But,

I have learned

that when I've been blind-sided,

I can get out my toolkit of chaos busters.....

My Gratitude list is the best on I can think of when I have nothing else to say.....

so, here tis....

I am eternally grateful for coffee

I am grateful for roses.....

and sunflowers...

of course, the beach....and sun....and quiet....

I am so very, sincerely, honestly grateful for my sweetie....

and magnolias....

and waterlilies.....

hydrangeas....by the bucket full!!

pasta.....;-)

homegrown tomatoes.....

and, as Wallace says, "CHEESE!"....

and bread.....(I am noticing a pattern here....)

and different types of CHEESE!

from assorted countries.....(thank you Whole Foods)

and lastly (but never leastly, is that a word?)

Chocolate!

There, I feel much better now....

don't you?

now

I 

can 

smile.

How do you spell relief?

This is how I do....

B  E  A  C  H   T  R  I  P!!!!!

Yes, all English majors can roll their eyes now...

I know....

My sweetie and I went to our fave beach recently and 

had a wonderful time...

eating,

sleeping,

reading....

more eating...

more sleeping...

and of course,

more reading......

We did adult stuff too

like 

sight

seeing...

smiles....

These first three were taken with my iPhone using Instagram,

a totally addictive ap....

We were treated to absolutely terrific storms each day in the late afternoon

watching them roll in was mesmerizing....

And every once in a while, I managed to capture just a bit....

As usual, Brookgreen Gardens did not fail to impress...

 I returned home rested and ready to tackle some much anticipated projects...

but, 

each time I browse these images,

I feel my heart tug just a little,

to take me back to the beach...

smiles

Who could compete with these beauties?

Truth stranger than fiction....

reality better than man-made.....

Nature at her best.....

What can I say?

These hydrangeas are right outside my front door.

They blow me away every time I walk out......

I absolutely love them.

I really want to cut them all and bring them inside,

where it isn't 95 degrees and humid.

But then I think they just might like that

sort of sauna saturated stuff.

I don't.

I have hot flashes.

If you have had hot flashes, you know.

If you haven't, just wait.

If you are a man,

why are you still reading?

Smiles!