We have arrived !

I am here !

I have been down here in Apollo Beach for just over two weeks now.

The move went very well, in spite of the extreme stresses involved in moving us and our furry kids across country.

My friend Suzanne and I had a very successful road trip down with the dog and two cats.

I will forever be grateful to Suzie for making that trip with me !

David and I and the animals are settling in to our new home.

The house is big, airy and starting to feel more and more comfortable as we unpack and make it ours.

Most of the furniture is in place but there are still a lot of boxes with knick knacks and paintings and decor items that need to be dealt with.

I have kind of run out of steam this week.

Which totally makes sense if I think back and realize that I have been living in limbo land and chaos for quite a few months now.

My body and spirit are reminding me of what I have been through, and I have had to slow down a bit.

The heat of Florida summer is no joke either.

That is helping me slow down too!

This morning at 9:30, it is 85 degrees with 77% humidity which makes it feel like 96.

It means I spend a lot of time indoors in the lovely AC cooled air.

It wouldn’t be so bad if we didn’t just leave behind a cruel long winter where I spent a lot of time indoors in the lovely heated warmth of the NH house.

I am craving the outdoors and missing Northern early summer greenery and growth.

But there are things about FL that I love already.

Number 1 is the beach !!!!

David and I have committed to going to the beach as often as we can, like every weekend, maybe ? Please ?!

Last weekend we went to our beloved Fort De Soto, and this weekend we are going to explore the Anna Maria Island beaches near Braedenton.

Even though it is overwhelmingly hot right now, once you get to the gulf waters, the breeze takes over and those turquoise waters are the perfect temp to frolick in all day !

Butter me up with sunscreen and sit me under that umbrella. I am in heaven !

My studio is starting to be a favorite thing in the house too.

I have unpacked a lot of my treasured toys and set them up in my new space.

I still need to find a rug or something to cover the carpet in the room so I can get as messy as I want with paint.

For now I have started back to stitching which doesn’t risk the carpet but gets my create juices flowing again.

I am stitching “quillows” again for a swap with Deb Taylor and other sweet stitching hearts.

Our theme for this swap is “Circles”.

The yoyos in the pic are vintage ones created by my grandmother.

I am including one on each of the 11 quillows I am making,

wanting to spread the circle treasures around, instead of hoarding them in a box just unused.

I hope to get back to blogging more now that things are settling in here.

I miss connections with my artist friends and love seeing what others are working on, and sharing bits of our life loving through photos and words.

For now, from my new home in hot and humid Florida,

Happy Summer, Beautiful Ones !

Tuesday Wishes

Photo from Tumblr

 

Packing, cleaning, working hard.

Can’t wait to get there !

Happy Tuesday, beautiful Ones.

Share The Joy Thursday–Even in the Chaos…

From this weeks Joy List…

I’m expecting an unexpected visit from this little hug bandit and his momma today !

It has been about a month since I have seen Jayden.

He turned six months this week.

Time is going so very quickly !

Look at him loving on the monkey I gave him, even in his sleep !

Makes my heart shine !

Can’t wait to smooch him !

These are some details of my 24 X 48” canvas that I am working of for my friend Suzanne.

I am thrilled that in the midst of all the chaos of packing, getting this house ready for renting, and planning our cross country move,

I still managed to get this piece to a place I am really excited about.

Hoping Suzy loves it too !

She arrives Sunday to help with some of our hundreds of little jobs that need doing before June,

and I hope to have

“My Garden is a work in progress” completed for her by then.

My white lilacs are in bloom and their scent is just heavenly !

I am glad we are moving after my favorite spring flowers have graced us with their presence.

Spring in New England is truly remarkable.

 

Focusing on the joys and the multitude of little things that are good sure helps keep you grounded in the present moment.

And believe me, I am very grateful for that during this busy, busy time.

Share the joy today, Beautiful Ones !

 

Visit Love, Meri every Thursday.

Hearts at Work

 

I had a super sweet Mother’s Day weekend with my Mom.

We did our usual shopping trip for clothes for her. She calls me her personal shopper and we always have good luck with finding fun stuff to add to her wardrobe.

We also made our spring pilgrimage to the ocean.

Hampton Beach, NH was glorious on Mother’s Day Sunday !

And we soaked it all in !

It was likely my Mom’s last visit to the yellow house on Orange Street,

so there were definitely some tears when she left to drive home yesterday.

I love you so much, Mommy.

 

Letting go,

and letting myself feel the letting go,

continues to be the theme these days.

All part of the loving,

isn’t it ?

 

I am still holding the space for a dear, dear Heart

that is continuing her Soul’s journey, surrounded by abundant love and light.

A candle lit on my altar and big love pouring from my heart.

 

Be well as you do your heart’s work, Beautiful Ones.

Big love to you.

Haiku My Heart–My Heart Space

 

I share my heart space

Allow others to see how

It’s decorated.

 

**************

We are still in full on preparation for the move to Florida.

It is a month away now !

Yikes !

We are renting our house here in NH.

It is a two family home so the upstairs portion is already rented.

Today we begin showing our part of the house to potential renters.

This has been our well-loved home for ten years.

I want that to show and I am putting energy out there to attract a tenant who will feel love towards this property, like our great tenant upstairs does.

It feels like I am letting new people into my heart space.

Keeping myself protected in some ways but giving it my whole heart too !

My beautiful Mom, who always has a special place in my heart space, is on her way for a last weekend visit to the yellow house on Orange Street.

It was her birthday this week and Mother’s day weekend, so it will be all about celebrating her and pampering her.

So looking forward to it !

Happy Weekend, Beautiful Ones !

May your heart space be filled with the sweet stuff.

 

For more haiku my heart Friday goodness, visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon

Holding…

Holding a space for a Dear Soul.

Sharing the Joy–What April Brought…

April 2014 was a busy month !

Full of beautiful people that I love

and experiences I will cherish always !

I made a girlfriend trip with my dear Linda to Saratoga Springs, NY,

where we saw, savored, stitched, spoke, listened and enjoyed.

I had a return visit from my sweet Jayden boy and his Momma !

He’s getting so big and strong ! Love those guys and miss having them close !

David and I traveled to Montreal for an Easter, Katie turns 6, we’re moving to Florida party, lovingly hosted by my sister, Natalie.

Lots of tears on my part, knowing I will be so far from my family soon.

But lots of joys too, as there always is when we spend time together as a family.

One of the best moments was watching Miss Katie ride her new big girl bike, a gift from us, without training wheels ! She is awesome !

Then David and I flew to Tampa, FL, for a whirlwind house hunting, meet and greet visit!

With the help of a great real estate agent, we saw a ton of houses but found the right transitional home for us!

It is a lovely, airy home with a screened in lanai and a perfect yard for Chica.

It backs onto conservation land and is close to Dave’s office and our favorite beaches !

Can’t wait to make it our home !

After the house hunting and meeting people at Dave’s new office was done, we had a little time to enjoy the perks of our new state.

Welcome to my new beach….

Heaven !!!

Today is May 1st.

If everything goes as planned, we will be moving in 6 weeks.

Wowza !

Still so much to do !

And it will all get done !

Somehow…

But as we go along,

I have promised myself some creative, rejuvenating time every day.

Otherwise, I will have nothing to give, and be one grumpy girl !

The studio will be the last room to pack,

and yesterday, I set up the space for some big canvas painting.

This work in progress is a 24 X 48” canvas that is a kind of commission for my friend Suzanne.

 

But the paint sloshing and meditative painting time

is

 all for me !

 

***************

Happy May, Beautiful Ones !

May the sweet new beginnings be rich with joy for you !

 

(I am rejoining Meri for some joy sharing. Miss this blogging love !)