Sunday, July 24, 2016

Enjoy Life


I love the inspiration I get from blogging and Instagram - I read a post that gets me thinking and then see a photo that illustrates my thoughts.


The other day I saw a pic on Instagram with the comment, "I am so over summer, please can't it be fall!" and I told them "LIFE is too short to wish away time".


We don't have to do big, exciting things to make each day special and that was beautifully illustrated in a post, "A Cheap Date" I read on the blog, Podso.


Among other things, Dotsie took her grands to watch airplanes land and take off -no electronics, no expensive amusement park, no fast food - just a simple outing where they all just enjoyed life.


Like Dotsie and her grands, it hasn't taken much for me to enjoy life this week - sitting on the beach with Steve . . .


an adorable bouquet sent to Lulu from a recent house guest . . . 


sky flowers in bloom


and now on display in the living room . . .


a slow paddle in the harbor to escape the heat . . . 


seeing a sign I liked


and finally getting around to creating one of my own . . . 


getting a new bike (easier to shift) in a fun color . . .


and in case you were wondering, no, I do not ride the bike along the beach with a cute bouquet of flowers in the basket.


But, an IG friend suggested that a loaf of bread and a bottle of wine would fit perfectly.


As you can see, we had a week of small pleasures spent in our little cottage.


And our new week is off to a wonderful start with purple flowers that popped up out of nowhere and a special beach moment.


Instead of a beautiful blue ocean view when we got out to the beach tonight, we were greeted with fog,


but look who was playing near the shore and enjoying life.

39 comments:

  1. Wow!! Great shot on the last picture!! Those are hard to get. Love all the pictures. You make them so pretty. Isn't blogging FUN??!!----I learn new things from it every day. Love your lawn chair picture too

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  2. Speechless, Carol.



    And I've been asked by a few people, "SO, where have you traveled to this summer?" I simply say, "Nowhere, and I'm so happy."


    Simplicity is a concept that can only be understood and given meaning to, by those of us who start to live it out. My mother, on her death bed, literally uttered these words to me, "I am a simple person..." and with that, she left me. She left me as well, a heritage, a mission in this life, my one and only, to love simplicity, and I do.

    Thank you, Mother.

    Thank you, Carol.

    Thank God, Mother Nature, for the simple but richest pleasures of all that are right in front of me, waiting to be explored.

    Yesterday my friend, I went to one of our popular recreational lakes. I just simply watched the people canoe, paddle and enjoy a perfect day. Did I ever get pumped. It was the perfect Sunday.

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  3. Enjoy summer....happy week love Ria x

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  4. That bouquet was the sweetest thing I've seen all week! Adorable. You make me want to like Summer, but it's too hot. I'm with the 'Hurry Fall' crowd.

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  5. Carol, The kids on the bench watching planes...I love it. I used to say , "I wish my twins were out of diapers and off the bottle." My father in law said, "Don't wish your life away." I never forgot that. I never wished for time to fly ever again...except in the dentist chair.:) I love your new bike and the Enjoy Life sign. I am going to make some myself. You do know I like to copy cat your designs. LOL. You inspire me. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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  6. There is no greater pleasure than pouring a cup of morning coffee and dropping by to see my blogger buddies, especially those like you who always remind me of the beauty to be found each day! Another fabulous post!

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  7. Carol - I know when I see you have a new post that it will put a smile on my face and you never disappoint. Love all of your beautiful photos. The kids watching the planes is so sweet. I love to do things like that with my little ones. Simple things that Tiff just doesn't have the time to do. I definitely am not enjoying the excessive heat but I don't wish away the summer. That leads to Fall which I love but then winter and I'm not ready for that.

    Enjoy your day.

    Judy

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  8. Enjoy Life! That is my motto also!! Great photos as always.
    hugs,
    Linda

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  9. Love the floral displays and I want that bike!!! Looks like you're having a fun summer.

    Enjoy!

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  10. It is so easy to wish for so many things we don't have. Such a waste of precious moments we are blessed with.

    Love your photos, that last one is really neat!

    Have a great week ~ FlowerLady

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  11. What a lovely post and a marvelous reminder, that each day is set before us to enjoy. I like what you said about not wishing our days away. Enjoy the day you have :)

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  12. this got me to laughing....i started to picture you on your bike WITH the flowers, strewing petals as you went along like a flower girl in a wedding.

    have a good week! :)

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  13. A perfect post ~

    Each day is a gift, in and of itself.

    Hugs ~

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  14. Lovely post and wonderful pictures...and I agree with all you say too! How amazing is the last shot...it illustrates your point so well!
    Helen xox

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  15. Loved this post, of course! But I like how you put it all together with your wonderful photos and thoughts. I'm glad you and your hubby can enjoy simple moments together. I appreciate and savor them more the older we grow--and am thankful for our life together.

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  16. Simply and beautiful, your pictures are really great!

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  17. Thank you for the reminder to enjoy every day! I, too, have been wishing for fall as I'm not fond of the heat, and we have at least another month of it to look forward to. That bouquet for Lulu is the cutest thing ever! One thing I have been enjoying is my sky flower, which I only discovered last year. It's an annual here, but so lovely. I'm going to try to overwinter it inside this year.

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  18. Small moments are the best moments! I don't care for summer too much but there is still joy to be found in it and besides, the older I get, the faster time flies so I feel no need to wish it away!

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  19. Enjoying life, indeed! I totally agree with you. I don't want to wish away time either. Let's live in the moment, shall we? Enjoy each day as it comes. Can I have an exception to that rule for tomorrow morning though...can I fast-forward through my dentist appointment? ;-) Love your new bike!

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  20. It's always pleasant at your cottage! And cute, and colorful! You sure do find the beauty in everyday, Carol! Love your sporty new bike...the color is so pretty, too.

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  21. Beautiful inspiration Carol and true time on earth is too short not to value every moment. I have never heard of sky flowers... lulu's bouquet is adorable, what are the eyes and nose?
    xoxo,
    Vera

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  22. That was just lovely, Carol. Life is just too short to be wished away. A sunny day at the beach or a foggy day - both offer wonderful possibilities. Simple pleasures - indeed, just TAKING pleasure in life - that's what we are supposed to be doing.

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  23. Small pleasures are often sweetest. Love these glimpses of life in your corner.

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  24. Oh Carol the simplicity and fun you find right in your backyard. Living near the sea has to be the best part of life.
    Oh just thinking about sitting on the beach whenever you want and feeling the sand between your toes. Heavenly.
    You are so blessed to live in such a beautiful cozy cottage by the sea. Love your sweet bike too. Hey why not ride along the beach with flowers in your basket. Sounds pretty wonderful to me. Happy New Week.
    Kris

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  25. I agree Carol, time flies by way to fast to wish it away! I am in no hurry for summer to be over. Yes, it's hot; but I sure enjoy the mornings and evenings. Love your new bike and the sign is so sweet! Like you girl, it doesn't take much to make me happy!!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  26. The days and the weeks goes so fast, too fast...
    Always so nice visiting you and your lovely blog!
    Warm hug,
    Titti

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  27. Thank you for this post! I love the Enjoy Life sign you made! I was just thinking how fast summer is going and what more should I be doing to enjoy it? Sometimes days seem to be wasted away. But then I can think of lots of things I am doing everyday....adding fun new things to my gardens, making special treats to eat and spending time with my son who is almost off to college, and my grandchildren who will be grown up too soon also. I am not near a gorgeous beach everyday but life is good and I am enjoying it!

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  28. Dear Carol. I just love reading your posts and looking at your wonderful photos. I have been rushing through life lately, forgetting to take time to enjoy the simple daily things in life. This post has reminded me to do that Thank you! Rhondi xo

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  29. I agree...life is short and it's important to make the most of each day. Love your emphasis on enjoying what may seem like the little things in life...often they're the best. Your photos are always spectacular, Carol!
    Mary Alice

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  30. I don't enjoy summer at all due to my MS. That being said, I try to make it still be a good time with cooking summer recipes, enjoying my fresh herbs and the occasional cool nights outside with the hubby and pups.

    I agree throw a bottle of wine and bread and cheese and head down to that beautiful beach!

    Cindy

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  31. Beautiful inspiration Carol. Love the photos of life being enjoyed. Such a darling Lulu bouquet too.
    Great new bike. Love the color. Have a great week. xo

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  32. Carol, it's so much fun to read about your activities and see the pretty scenery. The Westie floral arrangement made me smile and giggle today (of course I'm calling it a Westie, ha ha).

    xo,
    RJ

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  33. Wow so lovely to see the dolphin and lovely examples of how to enjoy life! I love the colour of your new bike too! Sarah x

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  34. Hi Carol, living on the beach must be amazing. Always something to see. How wonderful. xx Jo

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  35. Great pictures. Isn't that what life is, just enjoying the small moments? I really liked this post.

    It is hot here, but we just deal with the heat and go on. We are getting a lot of great veggies from our garden.

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  36. I so pictured you riding your bike with a bunch of flowers in the front basket!
    The last picture is magical.

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  37. Love your beautiful, small pleasures. We can find joy in every day if we look for it even in the trials.

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  38. Beautiful photos!! I try to find joy in everyday if I can. Love the last picture on your blog post.
    ~Cindy

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  39. That doggie bouquet is so cute! It took me a minute to figure out it wasn't real! I mean a real dog. I think a lot of us think that your life is ideal. But I know that it still takes a lot of mental energy and gratitude to appreciate where your life is - each and every moment!

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