Life's Twists and Turns

It is funny how things work out, or don't!

Many years ago, we lived in San Diego and my sister lived in Ventura.

She was going through an amiable divorce and they really did not want to sell this house that they loved.

Real estate was just starting to escalate in California and in the 3 years they owned the house, the value had increased by 150%.

My sister had not decided what direction her life would take and didn't want to live there alone so, reluctantly, they put the house on the market and it sold the same day.

One month later, out of the blue, Steve was transferred from San Diego to Oxnard.

Oh, how we all wished that they had not sold the house.

It was in a great location in town and only a 15 minute walk to the beach.

But, I often wonder how things might have been different had we rented that house rather than renting where we did.

Because we rented from a realtor, we were signed up with Welcome Wagon.

Most of our initial friends (and still to this day) were made through Newcomer's Club.

I began substituting at a pre-school through contacts I made through Newcomer's Club.

Through Newcomer's Club, we joined Gourmet Group.

One night while hosting Gourmet Group at our house, Steve met the vice-president of a major company who liked him and told him to send in a resume.

Steve changed careers through that chance meeting.

Our children's first friends were made through Newcomer's Club via playgroup and babysitting co-op.

We joined our tennis club, where the kids literally grew up, because of friends made in Newcomer's and Gourmet Group.

I drive by my sister's first house every time I go to the grocery store.

And almost every time, thoughts run through my head about what is, what might have been and what might not have been had we moved to that house immediately upon our transfer.

Would we still live there?

Would I be a teacher?

Would Steve have remained at the original company and thus have been transferred again, and again?

Would our children be the people they are today?

So many questions that we will never answer.

Our twists and turns have brought us to this place.

Who knows what might have been.

But, we know what is.

And, that is, life in a little cottage by the sea.

Taking A Leisurely Stroll

We are moving very slowly today.

Both of us feel achy and tired, so our morning walk was later than usual and took twice as long as normal.

That's okay.

I took my camera and snapped photos along the way.

Our first view every morning is Julie's "Poppy Reserve"

I love poppies and have 'poppy envy' for all those folks with green thumbs who are loved by the poppies of the world. 

We have decided our lot in life is to simply enjoy rather than grow.

Debbie's front garden

She favors more drought tolerant flowers, not just because we live in southern California, but because they spend much of their time at their mountain house and aren't around to maintain the garden.

Linda's front garden

I will do a post on her home partly because it was built by the same builder as ours (in the 1920's) and also because it is absolutely beautiful.

Terry and Gerry's garden

They are always bringing me poppy seeds to nurture. 

More flowers announcing the onset of spring

And now, the beach.

An absolutely glorious morning!

It is spring break for our local college and some of the school districts.

The beach was littered with families playing in the water despite the cold water.

One of my favorite ocean front houses

It would be a beautiful day to kayak, but with both of us recovering from the flu, we took vicarious pleasure watching others enjoying the water.

We walked home down a neighboring lane so I could photograph a favorite house.

I love this simple little cottage

Wonderful heart gate.

Another great gate

We actually looked at this house when we were buying ours.

We called it 

"The Ugly House".

It has come a long way since then.

We stopped and talked to the owner this morning on our walk and were discussing what it looked like 14 years ago- just too bad to explain!

Another house by the same builder as our house

This house was built by friends on our lane

They still own the house on our lane, but live in this house that is built covering two lots.

Vanessa's garden

Walking every morning is a ritual we have maintained for 12 years.

A wonderful start to every day!

Being Neighborly

In 1997 when we bought our beach house, we already knew several families on the street.

One old friend cautioned that our next door neighbors to be were 'kind of loud'.

They are certainly that, and I love it!

Dick and Judy lived in Los Angeles when we moved in and only came to the beach on the occasional weekend.

They have a large family that we have watched grow from one grandchild, born the month we moved in, to ten little ones.

Whenever the whole family is in place, we live vicariously with the play of little ones and Judy's infectious laugh.

They are wonderful neighbors.

They were away for the week and greeted us when they returned with the cute little yellow dish.

Judy knows I love polka dots.

I love their house and not just because we share a color palette.

Our house is white with blue trim and their's is blue with white trim.

I don't know how she can get away with her butter yellow sofa with all her entertaining and ten grandchildren.

The living room is so welcoming with the nautical theme and beautiful French doors.

Love the fisherman on the cabinet.

About ten years ago, when they retired and moved to the beach full time, they extended 

the house to add a larger kitchen and dining area.

She continues the beach theme with the knobs on her red cabinet.

The bench at the table is an old church pew.

My favorite part of the kitchen is the beach theme tile spaced out along the back splash.

 The quintessential tile for a beach house.

The bead board in the bathroom is one of my favorite looks, but it just doesn't fit with my Tudor house.

She used tile from the same tile company in the shower.

Steve and I know this bathroom well - far better than one should know a neighbor's shower!

In 2004, we decided to remodel our bathroom.

A series of unforeseen events left us without a shower.

Judy and Dick were living in Los Angeles for the holidays and offered the use of their bathroom. 

Every morning for about one month, we went next door at 6 a.m. to shower.

Not all neighbors would make that offer, but Dick and Judy are pretty special neighbors!

Beach Cottage ABCs

Several years ago I cut out a Cottage ABCs article from a magazine.

I came across the article recently and thought about my own ABCs...

A if for Adirondacks

A neighbor's front door

B is for baskets filled with books

Little handmade books

C is for checks

 My buffalo check chair

D is for dishes in red and yellow

Favorite red & yellow pieces

E is for Expedit from Ikea

An ever changing display

F is for fresh flowers

Petit fleurs

G is for glass

Glass jar full of ceramic letters

H is for hearts and hands

Hands from my collection

I is for inspiring quotes

I'm still working on creating myself!

J is for jars 

Jars filled with supplies 

K is for kayaks

Kayaks are perfect beach house accessories

L is for living simply

Live well with less!

M is for mixing fabrics

My window seat 

N is for numbers

Numbered magnets

O is for an open door policy

Open door...please drop in!

P is for polka dots

F

Favorite utensils

Q is for quilts

Favorite quilts

R is for reading books on decorating

Actually more looking than reading

S is for seashells

 Little shells tucked into vignettes.

T is for treasured keepsakes

My father's tobacco canister

U is for using things in ways they weren't designed

Little red ladder holding books

V is for vintage

Favorite vintage table cloths.

W is for windows

lovely mullioned windows

XYZ are for letters of the alphabet

Letters all over the house