Lucky Enough

I posted this picture yesterday on Instagram with the caption - "Steve and I are at one month of walking at least 6 miles every day - it helps that each walk is along the Pacific Ocean".

Many of the comments were about how lucky I am to have such a beautiful place to walk and they reminded me of this bottle I have sitting in the bathroom.

As we walked through town today, I focused on my luck.

I live in a beautiful place with gorgeous views.

While many of my blogger friends are housebound, we are bathed in sunlight.

After months of being ill in the fall, I now have the ability to walk 6 miles each day.

I am retired 

so I have the leisure time

to walk through town looking at cute houses.

And, if you are still with me,

I am lucky to have blog friends

who'll bear with me while I ramble on

an on.

I give thanks daily that this is our home and I know that I truly am

Lucky Enough!

Just because . . .

I did not establish any New Year's Resolutions for 2015, but I do have some ideas for the year.

I got my first idea from the magazine, Daphne's Diary, and I give Ricki Jill of Art @ Home credit for my idea.

Ricki wrote a post about Daphne's Diary on January 14, 2014 and I was immediately wanted to find the magazine.

My sweet sister, who was living in London at the time, bought me all the issues for 2014 and recently gave them to me when she returned from life in London.

I randomly began with Issue 2 for 2014 - a year behind, but that doesn't matter.

I got my idea from the very first page in the magazine -

because I love making things and

I love giving things away.

 "Daphne's" idea is a perfect way for me to start off the new year.

So, I am spending the month of January making Valentine hearts and sending my creations on to others.

Actually, the first heart mailed off is not something I created.

I look for heart rocks every time I walk on the beach and when I spotted this rock with a heart miraculously worn into it, I knew just which blog friend would appreciate it.

Each night I sit by the toasty fire with my needlework basket and create.

I am having fun using up scraps of fabric

and bits of wire.

I have to admit, I am feeling a little selfish with this January project - I am having fun both creating and deciding who will receive a heart.

My challenge to you is to take 3 cards (they don't have to be handmade) and mail them off to 3 friends you haven't communicated with in awhile.

I would love to hear back from you what reaction you get from your friends.

Off to Canada

I'm off to Canada -

not really, but Lulu felt neglected all week while I prepared for a virtual visit to Canada.

I am both flattered and excited to be featured at Design Dreams by Anne.

So, like Lulu suggests, pop on over to Open House Sundays for a home tour.

Planning for 2015

Everyone in blogland seems so organized - looking backward, planning ahead and even choosing a word for the year.

I on the other hand have not reflected on my past year and have few plans for the new year.

I noticed today that I have not posted since Christmas - what have I been doing?

Steve and I are continuing with our goal of walking at least 2 hours each day - it is nearly 6 miles from the beach to the Ventura Botanical Garden Trail and back.

Yesterday we walked along the beach from Summerland to Carpinteria logging in nearly 6 miles.

I have been busily rearranging the house after removing all of the Christmas decor,

loving the pillows Steve bought me for Christmas and

preparing a home tour post for Anne of Design Dreams by Anne for her Open House Sundays feature.

I spent some time decorating for the New Year's Eve Progressive Dinner on our lane - 

we hosted the 9:00 to midnight portion and managed to accommodate 47 people in our little cottage.

As if organizing the house for the New Year's party wasn't enough, I also spent the day of New Year's Eve tearing up the back yard and moving things around

because our dear friend Manny spent the New Year's Eve day building me a house - and he still found the time to make incredible shrimp salsa for our party.

My little garden house is waiting for its door and then the fun will begin - so, I guess I do have some plans for 2015.

Merry Christmas

Monday night all of our neighbors joined at the home of Joe and Amy to celebrate the 7th night of Hanukkah along with the Winter Solstice.

Joe shared the story of Hanukkah, Amy shared a beautiful poem and we each lit a candle making a wish.

My wish for you this holiday season is that you are gathered around a table, eating, sharing stories, leaving no one out . . .