Papaw Beach

The exploration of beaches is our favorite thing to do. Yesterday morning we headed towards a Caribbean beach in search of good snorkeling One side of the island is on the Atlantic Ocean and the other the Caribbean Sea.

I have a book "The Elusive Beaches of Eleuthera" I have taken notes on each beach visited. Papaw Bay Beach is one we had not been to before. We did see several star fish and conchs. It had easy safe access all in all a pleasant cove . The best surprise was the farm store we discovered on the way.








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Morning Walks

Every morning we try to get down to the beach for morning walks. There are endless beaches to explore. Here Kalee does some morning stretching. This is the beach right on front of Tippys. The restaurant connected with our condo








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Getting to the island

Randy and I really like to get to the airport early before a flight. I can say it has caused some issues over the years. But we pushed this one and won. We got to the airport for our 11:45 am flight at 9:30. But much to our surprise everyone else had gotten there early as well. So by 11:15 we were on King Air plane headed for Eleuthera, all 9 of us. Will got to sit in the co-pilot seat
and our 20 minute flight was wonderful. I can not describe the varying shades of blue of the ocean to anyone, you must experience it. It is awesome. Everyone on the plane is full of excitement and we all quickly make friends.

The rental car situation is very unique here on the island. Cars are of the lower grade and cash is the name of the game, but this time our man Tracy was there waiting for us and a much better car. So on to Pineapple Fields.

This is the first place Randy and I stayed when we came to the island four years ago. We love it. Pineapple Fields Forever.


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Location:Ok maybe just this once you were right.

Christmas Adventures.

This holiday season we are having a Christmas adventure. We are traveling to one of my favorite spots, Eleuthera. We are leaving our precious Grand-babies behind and pets. But all are being well taken care of and housesitting arranged.

We are traveling with our daughter and her husband, they love a good adventure so it helps calm my more cautious husband. Eleuthera is one of the outer islands of the Bahamas, it's remoteness and culture make it very laid back. However, the beaches a worth any effort to get here.

My intention is to take you along on this adventure, of course I will be looking at this place with my eyes of a gardener, chef and nature lover.

So here we go, after many delays and normal travel aggregations, we arrived late into Nassau.



We stayed in downtown Nassau late, but enjoyed our one night stay at the Colonial Hilton. It is one of the oldest and certainly on of the most majestic of the hotels in Nassau. These are views from the windows.



Although we had to leave early the next morning for the airport. We did get are minutes to walk down Bay Street and bargain at the Straw Market for a beautiful bag for Kalee and a straw hat for me.

Then off to catch our tiny plane to Eleuthera .

Just a note... I had a bad image of Nassau but would definitely come back for a longer day or so.





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Merry Christmas Rosemary.

Christmas Herbs

I love Herbs!   I love to grow them, cook with them, study their history, and decorate with them.  My favorite time of year to incorporate herbs into my life is during the holiday season.  Many herbs are rich in legends and lore appropriate for the advent and  Christmas season.

My number one favorite Christmas herb is Rosemary.  I love the legend about why the blossoms of this aromatic plant are blue. It is said that during the early ages the blossoms of plant were white.  When  Joseph and Mary and the baby  Jesus fled Egypt, the family laid down to rest next to a rosemary bush. Joseph draped Mary's cloak over the rosemary for the night . Out of pride and tribute to Mary the blossoms had turned blue.  

It is also said during the Middle Ages, Rosemary was spread on the floor at Christmas.  As guests arrived they would walk across the fragrant herbs and the room would fill with a glorious scent.  

I have two big rosemary plants that I keep right outside by back door. As I enter or right before guest arrive, I pet the herbs. This emits their aromatic scent that I adore. 

I have made mini wreaths out of Rosemary as gifts for guests and friends , Rosemary  sugar cookies, as well as fragrant Rosemary  breads.  Cooking wit

this plant will fragrant your whole kitchen. 

One warning, I  am always drawn to the topiary Rosemary  small Christmas trees .  They are cute, but do not survive in my dry old house . No amount of misting, sitting in water, and air circulation makes this Mediterranean herb flourish longer than a couple weeks. 

However, please bring this herb into your Christmas Decor!  You won't be sorry!!

Last warm days .....,

Yesterday it was 70 degrees outside. I took full advantage of the warm extended days and finished up my bulb planting. I have said every year I was going to start the process of dividing my 1000's of bulbs.This year I started that process and I had a large basket full of divided daffodils needing new homes. I seized the warm weather moment and started planting.


As I was planting the bulbs it struck me why this is so important to me. I was caring on a tradition that is very important to me. Every year my father planted daffodils and every spring my mom picked them and handed them out like candy at Halloween. I have done the same, planted tons in the fall and picked and distributed them in the spring. I take them to nursing homes, friends, the vet, my neighbors, the Office, the list keeps growing.

This week I have been struck hard about how important it is to not attach traditions to a certain place. Memories and traditions are carried in your heart and soul, the memories and love of what was important to my parents is what I will carry on.

Every time I see a patch of daffodils, I smile. This is not about a place, it is about a legacy that each and everyone of us carry on in our own way . That makes family history continue on and on.

That is what I am doing for my mom and dad..... Much love

Decorating on the Wild Side!

One of my favorite pass times involves using natural items to decorate my house for each season. This has been a very plentiful fall season and since I was having 30 at my house for Thanksgiving,  my options were overwhelming.


I love to find a space, then walk around the garden and fill it up!! Tablescapes, benches, fireplace mantels all become targets for my passion of using natural and funky found items to spruce(literally) up my house for any gathering.

This Thanksgiving, I made use of Hydrangeas, Nadina berries and leaves, fresh holly leaves and berries plus magnolia leaves. Lots of different evergreen sprigs as well as plumes from the various grasses growing in the gardens.

I throw in my gourds and pumpkins and then look through my eclectic collection of loved objects, somehow it seems to always come together.

Ok, now it is time to work on Christmas!! If you are getting ready for Holiday Decorating, take a walk on the wild side. Nature has great decorating gifts free for the snipping