June 4, 2025 ~ The Bottle

Photo: The Bottle~ April 2025

 Each year, while on vacation, 

Larry throws a bottle into the sea. It has a travelers poem in  

it and our wishes to the finder for safe travels.

If you zoom in on this picture, you can see the bottle in the air.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

April 16, 2025

 I did not take a "blog" photo yesterday, so I will post one of my favorite shots while on Kaua'i last week.

Photo: Hula by Robin

Please have a wonderful day.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

April 12, 2025

Photo: Champagne and Hawaiian Sunset by Robin

 My special moments with Larry.

We toasted so many of the people whom we adore.

It is important to slow down and say, Merci.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

January 23. 2025

At My Kitchen Window

Photo: Taken January 22, 2025

 The buddhas at my kitchen window are all from far away.

While traveling, when I see one, he becomes part of this little group.

(they all are made of semi-precious stones)

The large yellow Buddha in front is from a little shop in Hanalei, Kaua'i.

This is a happy collection.

I am pretty sure that it is because

 they all have such lovely smiles on their faces.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Home From Vacation

Photo: Photo taken from our Lanai.  Kaua'i, April 2024

 Larry and I went away on vacation and have recently returned home. 

The South Pacific is a wonderful place to be this time of year as

the weather is often clear and sometimes rainy. I love it very much.

Being home does not make me happy. 
 I am unpacked, jet-lagged and trying to get back to normal the best I can.

Larry is already back to work, and he has mowed the lawn and trimmed the grass. 

We have been to Kaua'i many, many times and somehow, I only fall more in love with it each visit.

I cannot wait till next year.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Found Objects

Photo: I See You- Kaua'i 2023 by robin

 This odd photo was taken at Barking Sands Beach on Kaua'i one morning while Larry and I  were taking a long walk along the beach. 

The eye and whatever it is looking at

 were already in the sand

and I honestly had to look at it three times

 to decide what it was.

Larry was not as interested in the

 found objects as I was,

and,

even now it makes me smile.

My wish for you today is that you find something

 that makes you smile.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Appreciating The Moments

It is early this morning and already hot outside.

A mockingbird, who has a nest nearby is very angry

 at the neighbors cat and the birds squawking 

starts at sunrise most days.

They have been fighting for weeks because the cat got into the mama mockingbird's nest in May. The cat is named Magic.

(I try not to think about what he did)

But....it is early and it is Friday!

It has been the best week.

I have been exercising, cooking, painting, knitting and being productive.

The Texas State Fair entries are due soon 

and 

that is always motivation for me to get work finished. 

(whether it is for the fair or not)

***

Larry just finished booking our big  trips for the next year.

 2023-France

2023-Boston

2024- Kaua'i

Physically, I have slowed down since cancer and treatment #2 

and it makes our traveling so much better. 

(we now take our time to enjoy things and not rush through the days, appreciating the moments like never before.) 

Photo: Larry Paris 2023-Monet's Water lilies

                                 I hope that your week has been wonderful.

May you have a safe, fun 4th of July,

slowing down and appreciating  the moments.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

My Zen Man

Anyone who knows me,

knows that My Larry is the most important thing in my life.

{do not mess with my daughters either}

While at the beach this summer, someone had built 

and 

left Zen Rocks at the beach.

I loved that they were left there untouched.

I sat down by them and enjoyed the afternoon.

Then Larry came strolling up.

I took this photograph then.

My Zen Man

with

Zen Rocks.

Quiet the mind

and 

the soul will speak.

Happy Thursday dear ones.

Love you.

Me

Seasons

Larry and I were away.

Spending days at the sea,

resting,

playing,

laughing,

loving.

During our time away

Judy, My Pink Sister

lost her father.

I adore this lady so much and her pain now is inconsolable.

She is a lover of people, books and honesty.

Please keep her in your prayers?

Larry and I have delightful friends in Atlanta.

John and Karen.

During our time away, John's Mother passed.

I had never met John's Mom,

but I am sure she was beautiful, smart and funny.

May God hold this family close during this difficult time.

The seasons of our lives.

I remember when my parents died.

That is a story for another day 

BUT

I survived.

I love my life.

Love you.

Me

Bark But No Bite

The first night on Kaua'i,

we ate at the local pizza cafe.

Larry and I were tired

and 

as I sat drinking my beer,

I saw a heart in the bark of a tree 

next to the patio.

Love.

Where will you find it today?

Love you.

Me

Sun and Shadows

I was not that little girl that dreamed of love.

Or a husband 

OR a big wedding.

Now when I think of this amazing life that I am living,

I feel as if all of my dreams 

{or non-dreams}

have come true.

I am quite sentimental today.

Being sentimental is a good thing.

It allows you to appreciate the joy in your life.

I found the heart shaped rock above 

while hiking on Kaua'i one day.

The sun and shadows hit the heart in a beautiful way...

Love you.

Me

At The Top

 Shipwreck Beach is wonderful.

The current is strong and I don't swim there often,

but it has to be one of the most amazing places on earth.

I love thinking about "things" that happened here.

It is so romantic.

I had not gone to the top of the cliff since 2012,

when I was two weeks post breast cancer surgery.

Last week, I thought that I would revisit a favorite place.

I threw on my bathing suit and cover up

and

had the best time.

When at the top of Shipwreck,

I am reminded how beautiful life is.

 Have a beautiful day!

Love you.

Me

Beach Life

Each day, waking at the beach, was a joy.

We walked, talked, remembered and planned.

One morning I made the comment that

 the toads were huge {and wild} this year.

You can hear them croaking at sunset...wooing their lovers.

One morning, we saw a huge toad while taking a walk.

I took his picture.

{why do I call all toads Him?}

Here he is,

 all fat, with morning island shadows.

 I have not seen a toad this big in ages.

We walked on, sharing the sunny morning with 

others walkers and joggers.

Four miles went fast.

We were headed back to the cottage to clean up for the day.

As I turned the corner, guess who I saw?

Yes! Mr Toad!

I ran over and snapped a close up of his adorable face.

After taking his portrait,

I asked Larry: I wonder why he has not moved?

Larry walked over to him and tapped him with his foot.

Oh my.

Mr Toad was dead.

This made me so sad.

I felt awful for taking his death photo.

{but I thought that he was alive}

Look how cute he was.

Beach life is not for the faint of heart.

Love you.

Me

One Moment

We are home.

It was an amazing week of hiking, swimming and love.

Our 38th anniversary was a special day.

It started with a 4 mile walk along the South Shore of Kaua'i

We hiked and talked and laughed.

I cannot imagine spending a day like that 

with anyone but My Larry.

Our time away was filled with "moments"

and

I will share them with you this week.

{one particularity gruesome moment. Sad face}

For today, I would like to enjoy the beginning of a brand new week.

A brand new week.

{the beginning of my 39th year with Larry!}

Thank you dear friends for your support over the past few weeks.

Your cards and notes have given me 

smiles and comfort.

Larry and I love you all.

It is a Happy Monday

and for some reason all I can think of is that old 

Carol King song: Home Again.

It has almost nothing to do with how I am feeling

but the tune will not leave my head.

Love you.

Me

I Sighed When We Hung Up

Once a long time ago,

while at the sea, I took a hike.

The view was so overwhelming, I yanked the phone out of my pocket

and 

called my Uncle Bruce.

I told him of the miles that I walked and the view.

He told me about Sue and their wonderful day.

I sighed when we hung up.

My Uncle passed away a few years ago.

I miss him terribly.

But....

each year when we go to our cottage at the sea,

I hike the same hike as when I would talk to Bruce.

The hike is easy and amazingly stunning.

It fills my head with precious memories.

I love this picture of me. {yes, I am walking THE hike}

Where do you stash precious memories?

Love you,

Me

Moments Shared

The AHA HULA

Took place at the Church of the Pacific

one quiet Sunday afternoon in August.

We were welcomed by

kumu hula Kehaulani Kekua.

(who was taught traditional hula by her Grandmother,

and shares her knowledge and talent with the 

youth of Hawaii) 

As we ate luncheon the lawn of the church,

 and enjoyed the afternoon,

young hula dancers entertained us.

The women who worked the event,

made their own hair pieces. They were stunning.

(to raise money to continue the teaching and sharing of

traditional hula, and thankful chants)

We all waited patiently for the celebration

to start.

(the above photo shows why I adore Hawaii)

Then we heard it,

The conch shell was announcing the

start of the ceremony.

Kehaulani Kekua was mistress of the celebration.

Asking us to join her in the love.

The dancers shared traditional hula,

as the chants

expressed love and thanks.

I was in awe.

Such an afternoon took my breath away,

and to soon it was over.

We were wished ALOHA until next year.

But,

this afternoon will live in my heart for a very long time.

*****

I promised these photos yesterday.....

sorry I am a bit late.

ALOHA

Love you.

Me

SPIRIT

Have you ever noticed,

that special person?

The one with a huge, warm, spirit?

You may have known the person for years,

or have never met him before.

You can tell by one glance that this person is special.

A smile is optional,

but heart is everything.

You can see it, as their eyes twinkle.

In the photo above,

is our neighbor at the cottage.

A shared spirit, is a blessing.

Love you,

Me

The Wind in My Face

One morning, last August,

I sat on the beach.

Darkness turned into a haze

as the sun rose.

Mist from the tide,

and wind from the ocean,

was perfection.

I breathed in the salt air as a new day started.

Life is amazing.

***

This photo was taken on the east shore of Kaua'i,

North of Kapaa.

Three years ago, they put in a walking path,

and if you are ever on Kauai,

I hope that you have a chance to walk this path.

You will feel the wind in your face, and sigh.

Life is amazing.....

Love you beyond the sea.

Robin

Dogs and Daydreams

I find myself longing for a holiday. This summer has been lovely, but getting away will be wonderful. It is early, Saturday morning (4:30 am). Two dogs are snoring in my bed.....forcing me out by outnumbering me. Have you ever daydreamed, if you could go away, right this moment, what one place would you go? Would it be a place where you go often...and feel at home, or would you decide on an adventure. Something new and thrilling? Do you enjoy packing for a trip or despise it? Do you like to drive, take the train, or fly? When you arrive at your location, do you collapse into a chair and become semi conscious for 5 hours or do you unpack, brush your teeth, and go out into the holiday with a smile on your face? Ajax, my Boston Terrier house guest has slept through the night. I shall amuse her today by letting her visit me while I paint......perhaps her inspiration will be a catalyst to an entire new technique? Here is to a Saturday filled with Daydreams! Love you. Me.