If I won the lottery....

I would be living here.....

Yeah, I know....

looks pretty nice...

and BIG!

Well, it is on the market as I type,

for 

2.4 million dollars.

Yeah, I know....

What a view!

front porch view of the water (off Nags Head, NC)

rocking chairs and swings....

I might lose the carpet....

but I would keep the shabby chic furnishings....absolutely.

(maybe a few slipcovers though)

Built in china cabinets, 

a table that seats 10 comfortably,

extra chairs at the ready...

and look at that ceiling!

OK,

here is where we need a little imagination,

honestly, I would probably "cut-loose" with the reciprocating saw in here....

but it has huge potential, and is incredibly large!

LOOK

at the size of these bedrooms!

I know most people would tear out the paneling 

but, I grew up with beach houses that looked like this,

so, to me this looks comfortable, homey and easy to live with....
also, check out the door knob...I'm just sayin'.

shabby chic before it had a name....

windows galore!

and look at those sweet

custom bedspreads from the 1960s...
rick rack!

I'm telling you, 

I am in love...

I can almost smell this attic...

remember how grandmother's attic smelled?

AND

look-see

a place for the children to stay comes with!

Honestly,

I think I could be very happy here,

don't you?

Well, if you have the 

dough.....you can check it out for yourself

RIGHT HERE

But if you do,

remember who told you,

and invite me for a week or two, ok?

smiles....


Photos are from "Village Realty Outer Banks"

Can we talk?

Do you have children?

Do they drive you around the bend?

Are you just about over them?

Are they living with you?

Are they in their sweet little Halloween costumes right now?

Are you going out tonight with dread?

DON'T...

be dreadful...

I promise that this is the very best time of your relationship with them....

some day in the near future,

they will be young adults

 (old children, actually)

and I mean that sincerely...

the relationship will be getting old,

and 

they will still be acting like children.

You will wish for the day that they come to you and say

"I AM MOVING OUT!"

with a huff and a puff 

they will want to knock your house down,

but they won't,

and 

you 

will 

be 

glad 

to see them out the door....

for nature, in it's infinite wisdom,

makes these old children.....

well, let's just say....

irritating as hell.....

really.

not kidding....

So, those of you who are heading out into the cold evening

with sweet little, excited children...ENJOY!

I mean it....do it while you can,

because they are aging too....

and will soon be scarier than 

the hobblin gobblins you see tonight

they will be the 

OLD CHILDREN!

Bwahaaaa!

smiles

DUDE!.....where's my car!

That's what we were all thinkin'.....

them, sweetie and me....

all wishin', hopin', dreamin', scheemin'....

that the crowding would stop...

Nine hours plus

in the same 24 square feet

(no, I didn't measure, just guessin)

bored (them)

tired (us)

When was the last time you traveled with your 

children, of any age,

and if they were of driving age,

did you let them drive?

We couldn't....the car was borrowed...

and besides,

we are fighting the grey hairs

with all we got anyway.....

smiles.

Nothing sweeter......

Now....

I know I told you a while back that my grandchildren were

apparently, dogs....

Buddy and Roxy to be precise....

But there are others....and

I could not love 2 children more if they were my own...

Now..I warn you,

if you are prone to saying

Awwwwwwww.....

Well,

get ready for the uncontrollable sigh..

I was treated to lunch today

by their mother,

who is one of the most talented photographers

I have ever met,

bar none...

however, she was busy putting lunch on plates,

so I snapped, just like the Queen....

I snapped some images

spontaneously...

these are untouched

and fun for me...

Oh, yeah..

Sweet tea too

nothing sweeter!

Smiles.

While sitting on the back deck....

I noticed Bumble Bees....

Many.

Dozens, even....

hovering like intoxicated aliens...

clinging to each other in a drunken jitterbug...

Guess this is spring....

Pollen covers almost every surface....

chainsaws are carving out the dead wood in the distance.

Dogs moan and howl each time a firetruck passes

with sirens squealing...

Mockingbirds mimicking car alarms....

children giggle and race each other home from the bus stop...

cherry blossoms dance across the parking lot...

Silently, high above a red tailed hawk ride the air currents,

perhaps to pluck off the pesky squirrels that steal from my bird feeder.

more dogs...

leaf blowers....

children...

It's almost dinner time.

OK, I admit it.....

My family is made up of CLOWNS!!!! The young adults (and I use that term loosely) in our family do not like to have holiday photos taken of them, so.......
We improvise.
They will clown for the camera.
They will not pose.
Basically, I provide the costumes, and they will agree to "be there".
Please notice how well-behaved the parents are....
and my husband.
Little do these kids know that some day they will have children of their own.
Did I mention that one child didn't even show up!
Someday they will be listening to my stories for the one hundredth time,
and wiping the drool off my chin, and other "necessary chores".
Their time will come.

4 days to do nothing...

I had a great, no make that fabulous weekend. We drove up to The Homestead in Hot Springs Va. While David had much to do about nothing (in other words, work) I had nothing to do. Yeah! So I packed water colours, magazines and my journal. I sat on my rearend for almost 4 days straight. It was FAB. I sat on this porch and watched the world go by. I saw children, parents, brides, grooms, bellmen, waitresses, all sorts of people with all sorts of jobs. And there I sat.....did I say it was Fab? I haven't spent so much time doing nothing for years. I like it. No, I love it.
Think I'll do it some more.

Tis Friday.....

I am lovin' the Friday mood in my neighborhood.
It seems that with Spring Break for the kids, all of the adults have caught the fever. Everyone seems to have taken the day off, and are out in their yards. Kids are running' around acting crazy and free...
This is what spring is all about, FUN.
The driveways are coated with a fine dusting of yellow pollen. You can wash your car, if you like, but it will do no good, until we have experienced at least one torrential down=pour. (I tried yesterday, and by the time the droplets had dried on my sporty little Fit, evidence of pollen pollution had appeared). Hostas are poking their little snouts our of the soil, the pansies are dying back, cherry trees are launching little bouquets into the air, and birds are dilirious with song.
Nature awakening.
Spectacular!