Beach Gypsies: Shells

Showing posts with label Shells. Show all posts

Friday, January 14, 2011

3 Little Gifts...

It's cold...

not quite like the rest of the country but in south Florida,

38 degrees is cold.

(But don't get me wrong...I LOVE IT!)

So this morning, I bundled up...

put on jeans, tennis shoes (no flip flops this morning:),

my favorite fleece, gloves and scarf

(we love scarves and gloves down here:)

and headed out for a walk on the beach.

Did I mention it was 38 degrees?

***Note to self...next time, don't wear jeans with holes if you want to stay warm!

Brrr...it's cold...

but beautiful.

Up ahead, there is one lonely set of footprints when usually there are many.

Even the water LOOKS cold...

is that possible?

i tell you, it isn't blue and pretty but kind of sandy gray and cold...

But life goes on at the beach.

Looks like there was a party and I wasn't invited...

a sea urchin party.

The little birds still play around in the surf.

Shells and sea life still roll on shore...

but those shell seekers are inside where it is warm...

except me!

And I doubt there will be many sandcastles built today...

I wanted a long, brisk walk along the beach...

and I did start out that way...

until I looked down and saw THIS...

a sweet little sand dollar.

Do you know how special it is to find these on shore?

Usually we find them broken in lots of little pieces,

not surviving the rough ride to shore.

But not this little guy...he made it in one piece...

even though he didn't survive the ride.

He'd been washed up just a little bit too long.

But since I like sand dollars,

it looks like I found my first GIFT!

Couldn't be happier.

On with the walk...and a few steps later I see this...

a heart shaped stone!

It's a sign:)

On my return walk, that's when I feel the wind...COLD wind in my face.

But in a strange way, it feels so good.

I'm so blessed to be here...and the only thing that would make it better

would be if I found a piece of the sea glass that I LOVE but is so hard to come by down here.

No luck there...

or so I thought! Just before leaving I look down and there,

nestled in some tiny shells and pebbles...

is my sea glass.

GIFT NUMBER 3!

It's a good day!

For a lot of reasons, of course, but for the simple reason that I love sea glass so much that

finding a lone piece MAKES it a good day!

Time to go home...

What a beautiful morning.

When I was diagnosed with MS this summer,

I didn't know what the future holds.

I still don't...but I can't sit and wait to find out.

I kept thinking I wanted 3 things...

to be able to walk...or RUN if needed, whenever my girls may need me,

to be able to take nice walks with my fur babies, Maui and Freddy,

and to be able to walk on the beach, collecting sea shells and searching for that lone piece of sea glass.

This morning was special!

But there was a FOURTH gift in store for me.

Walking in the door, cheeks still red and hair windblown from the sea winds...

to find a hot bowl of oatmeal waiting for me from Taylor.

And you wonder why I dread the day my girls are gone?

I'm spoiled!!!!!!

Happy Friday...hope you find a few gifts in your day too!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Seeing Pink Stars and Cake Plates...

So, I chucked the dishes, laundry and cleaning

to have some fun with craft projects...

just in time for Pink Saturday.

I bought a little iron scrolled candle holder and found a pretty plate at a thrift store...

glued them together with epoxy and voila...

a lovely little cake plate!

I know...kind of basic but for my first one, not bad:)

Then, inspired by one of my favorite blogs,

Tales from an O.C. Cottage,

I started playing with some shells and starfish.

A bit of paint, glue and glitter...

and they're pretty in pink!

They look good enough to eat.

Even Freddy think so...

(Now if you visit the O.C. Cottage, look at all of her beautiful glittery goodies...

but please don't compare.

She has made glittered starfish into a fine art form and clearly,

mine are simply an afternoon craft project:)

But it's a start...and I DID have fun!

And we all need a bit more fun in our lives, right?

Hope YOU have fun visiting all of the ladies from Pink Saturday.

You can find the list of everyone participating at the beautiful blog of our host,

Beverly from How Sweet the Sound.

Thank you Beverly!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Sea glass, Whoopie Pies and God...

Okay, I know what you're thinking...
How can God be in a sentence with whoopie pies???
Well, read on, my friends...

If you read my post yesterday, you know that my mermaid girls and I
spent a long weekend in Kennebunkport Maine.
I posted a ton of pictures yesterday...
but didn't go into detail about a few highlights of the trip...
which is where sea glass, whoopie pies and God come in:)

let's start with Sea glass...

I think it is safe to say that this mermaid mom and her girls LOVE
Sea Glass!

Always have, always will.
Finding a piece of sea glass is like finding treasure for us...
a very rare collectible.
At least here in south Florida.
Sea glass is made when pieces of broken glass are tossed around in the sea
and are weathered by sand, salt and water.
We spent an entire morning up in Maine,
climbing the rocks, walking the beach...
and searching for sea glass.
And we found it!

OH HAPPY DAY!!!
Some were more weathered than others but we're not picky:)
Taylor especially was the sea glass queen that day!

But Jordie did manage to find some beautiful pieces too, as well as
mini lobsters and starfish:)

We found green, blue, white, brown, yellow and orange sea glass.

I never even knew it came in those colors!
I would go back tomorrow just to walk along those rocks and look for more sea glass.
(Oops...I said that yesterday, didn't I? well, I really mean it:-)

Yes, I admit to being a bit of a sea glass snob...
finding the real thing beats buying a copy any day...
but I do understand desperation! haha

There are such creative people out there who make beautiful jewelry
from Sea glass...
like this...

(photo courtesy of creations by Robyn flickr)

In fact, we have a few pieces we are going to turn into jewelry too!
So if you go to Maine,
find yourself a beach...

preferably a rocky one or one with coves...
and when you find a piece of pretty sea glass...
don't be shy!
Show it off and shout "it's a Sea Glass kind of day!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whoopie Pies...
or should I say "wicked good" whoopie pies...
which is what they say in Maine to mean...
as good as it gets!
Wicked Good...

So what in the heck are whoopie pies?
Well, in a nutshell, they are a phenomena in Maine and I think other areas of New England...
(like I would know, huh?)
Anyway, they originated in Pennsylvania Amish Country.
According to lore,
they were baked by Amish women and put in their farmer husband's
lunchbox.
When he opened his lunch to find a whoopie pie,
the farmer shouted "WHOOPIE".
People living in Maine have been known to say they were weaned on whoopie pies:)

They are basically two round pieces of cake with a creamy filling to make a sandwich.
Some say they are like a giant oreo.
Mmmmmm...
The original and most popular are chocolate, but you can now find them in different flavors,
such as pumpkin, red velvet and banana.
Here are a few recipes, courtesy of whoopie pies.org and cooks.com.
Now personally, and I know real whoopie pie aficionados will not appreciate this,
I have a feeling they would be just as good filled with your favorite sweetened, light fluffy frosting.
But again, what do I know anyway:)

Original Whoopie Pies

WHOOPIE PIE:

2 c. sugar
3/4 c. shortening
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 c. milk
2 tsp. vanilla
10 tbsp. cocoa
4 c. flour
2 1/2 tsp. soda
Pinch of salt
FILLING:

1 1/2 c. shortening
1 1/2 c. confectioners sugar
12 tbsp. marshmallow fluff
2 tsp. pure vanilla

Cream shortening and sugar. Combine beaten eggs, milk and vanilla and beat into creamed mixture. Slowly stir sifted dry ingredients into the creamed mixture, and beat on medium speed about 2 minutes. Drop with tablespoon onto greased and floured cookie sheet (enough dough to make a baked cookie about 2 to 2 1/2 inches). Bake at 350 degrees until cookie just springs back when pressed in center with finger. Remove to rack and cool completely before filling.Combine fluff, shortening, and vanilla and beat until well mixed. Slowly add confectioners sugar until well mixed. Place a generous amount on the flat side of one cookie and top with another cookie. Makes about 2 dozen whoopie pies.

These store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator and also freeze well.
All Recipes from Cooks.com. Please visit them for many more.

Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Fluffy cream cheese filling sandwiched between two moist pumpkin cookies make these Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies the perfect hand-held snack you just won't be able to resist!

COOKIES:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
1 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Lightly grease or line four baking sheets with parchment paper.COMBINE flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter and sugar in large mixer bowl on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add pumpkin and vanilla extract; beat until smooth. Stir in flour mixture until combined. Drop by heaping measuring teaspoons onto prepared baking sheets. (A total of 72 cookies are needed for the recipe.)

BAKE for 10 to 13 minutes or until springy to the touch. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

CREAM CHEESE FILLING:

4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

BEAT cream cheese, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until light and fluffy.SPREAD a heaping teaspoon of filling onto flat side of one cookie; top with flat side of second cookie to make a sandwich. Repeat with remaining cookies and filling. Store in covered container in refrigerator.

Estimated Times: Preparation - 20 minutes; Cooking - 10 minutes.

Yields 3 dozen mini pies.(c) 2009 Nestle,

Chocolate Whoopie Pies

PIES:

2 cups sugar
1 cup shortening
1 cup cocoa
2 egg yolks and 2 whole eggs (save the egg whites for the filling)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup sour milk or buttermilk
2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups flour

Cream sugar and shortening together in a large bowl. Add eggs and mix. Sift dry ingredients together and add to the creamed mixture alternatively with milk. Batter will be stiff. If it is too thin, add more flour. Drop by tablespoon onto greased sheets. Bake at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the cookies comes out clean.FILLING:2 egg whites
1 box 10X sugar
1 cup shortening
4 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Beat egg whites till stiff. Add shortening and vanilla and blend. Add milk and then add the sugar. Beat until smooth. Spread some filling on the bottom side of one cookie; top with a second cookie. Repeat with the remaining cookies and filling. Store in the refrigerator or freezer. Yields approximately 5 dozen.Note: You can buy a powdered buttermilk mix to make your own buttermilk or you can substitute 1 cup yogurt for either the buttermilk or sour milk. To make sour milk, place 1 tablespoon lemon juice (or vinegar) and fill with milk to make 1 cup. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Banana Whoopie Pies

4 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. shortening
2 c. sugar
2 lg. eggs
2 c. mashed extra ripe bananas
1/2 c. sour milk or buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla

In a large bowl sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and set aside. In a large mixing bowl combine and cream together shortening and sugar. Add and beat thoroughly eggs, bananas, sour milk, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients gradually, beating after each addition.Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls on lightly greased and floured baking sheet 2 1/2 inches apart. Bake 8-15 minutes, depending on size of until they spring back to touch in 350 degree oven. Remove to wire rack to cool. Frost as for other whoopie pies.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay...
we've covered sea glass and whoopie pies.
Now before I talk about God,
I should say that I am NOT a Bible teacher,
I am NOT a gifted speaker
and I DO NOT have all the answers.
I only know what I know...
from growing up in a Christian home and growing up in church.
And I write on my blog about things that are meaningful to me...
and might be to somebody else.
That's it.

If you want a blog with an inspirational, knowledgeable speaker...
who really know what they are talking about...
I can introduce you to a few...
like my friends Trudy or Courtney.
Now they can teach...and speak...and pray!

Praying...or speaking to God
is what this is about.
I'm no expert...
and I am NOT one of those people who can pray a long, beautiful, perfectly worded prayer.
Not even close.
But I don't think it matters.

I think little kids get it but not all of us.

For years I have heard my youth directors, ministers and
speakers on TV say that to speak to God does NOT always have to mean on your knees
saying the same old prayers. (those are good too:)
That God WANTS a closeness with us every minute, every day.

Every time I hear that, I think..."Why don't I remember that as I am driving down the
road for the umpteenth time of the day???"
But I don't.
This came to me as I was climbing over rocks by the shore,
searching for sea glass treasure,
staring out at the beauty of the day, the rocky coast,
the deep blue sea.

By this time we were a ways down the beach,
away from the crowd,
my girls busy on their own treasure hunt.
In my mind, I started to remark at the beauty of everything,
including this special time spent with my girls...
my gratefulness for moments like this...
and other thoughts (prayers)
and found myself sharing this with God.
Suddenly I understood what these speakers had been trying to teach all my life...
that starting the day with prayer, praying for those in need, saying good night prayers were
all very important.
But it was the little moments that God wanted to be a part of, too.

I can't even begin to tell you how at peace I felt that morning,
searching for sea glass,
marveling at the sweet little starfish, lobsters and even a sea urchin...
and sharing my finds with not only my girls...
but with God.
(And I can tell you "peace" is the last thing I was feeling as we headed out
on this adventure.)

But peace, gratitude, wonder and appreciation were what I found.

See...I told you I don't know much...
and I have no doubt this could have been said much better by some of you...
but this is how it was that morning, between God and Me...
just hanging out on the rocks...
and talking.

By the way, did you notice the comment yesterday by "Blondes in the Kitchen"?
That comment was from my Taylor who is away at ballet boot camp:)
Here it is...hope you don't mind Taylor.
I just couldn't help myself.
I'm so proud of you!
Blondes in the Kitchen said... Hi Mama,
I think that Kennebunkport is one of the best places to ever visit and live!!
I loved this blog post almost as much as I love devouring those whoopie pies. :)
Miss you all much!

Love,
Taylor xoxo

So that's how Sea Glass, Whoopie Pies and GOD
find their way into the same blog post.

And while we talk about prayer,
please remember my special friend Mollye and her beautiful family.
Mollye lost her much loved son Jake to a tragic accident this week. If you get a moment,
please stop by her blog and let her know you are thinking of her.
I promise that not only will your visit mean so much to her,
but you will have a new friend for life in Mollye!
XOXOXOXOXO
Suzanne

P.S. Mom, I realized recently you can't hear the music I put on my blog with a post.
This made me so sad, so I will try to remember to tell you what
is playing so you can tie it to the post, if I think it is something
you would like.
Like today...
it starts with Emery's favorite song,
"Everything is Beautiful"
and then "Ordinary Miracles".
Appropriate, don't you think?