Mother's Day Card

An awesome pop-up card from my daughters. 

The garden, the birds, the shadows.

Just perfect. Simple things make my day.

Had a great day...thank you!

Happy Mother's Day

Wishing all a very happy Mother's Day! We all have mothers, some of us are mothers and some are mother-like....all to be appreciated on this beautiful Sunday! I thank my Mom for having been a wonderful, caring, fun and supportive influence in my life. This photo of her, taken I believe in Florida while she was in her 20's, is my all time favorite. She was truly stunning.

Collections

If you haven't already figured it out, I am a collector. I typically collect things from nature and mostly from the beach. I may start a new category for my blog called, Collections! I just have to learn how and where to put it. So many things I want to learn about the whole blogging world...but one step at a time. Last entry I tested out using a link and it worked! So here I go again.

Wampum Collection

Wampum was often used as currency in colonial history. The quahog shell (hard clam shell) that we find along the beaches here in New England is rimmed with a beautiful shade of purple. Small pieces like these are worn and smoothed by the daily tides.

This is my small but so beautiful collection of Wampum. 

Not many people know what I mean when I say I have found a nice piece of Wampum along with my seaglass! A co-worker, (Alex!) knocked my socks off the other day when she knew exactly 

what I was talking about! 

The collection resides in a little lobster dish made by my daughter. A few pieces have naturally occurring holes ready for someone like me to make myself little piece of jewelry!

A little more history and jewelry that people make, right here.

No more walks for awhile!!!!!

 I am going to be out of commission as far as seaglass walks go for 3, maybe 4 weeks! 

Not sure how I will survive!

I am having a lovely labral tear fixed in my right hip this coming Monday. It decided to rear it's ugly head suddenly, leaving me no choice but to get it fixed. So my blog entries will depend on the images & ideas already existing in my home, in my head and in my computer.

This is my version of a Sailor's Valentine! 

A morning walk, a peaceful hour sitting at the family's beach cottage last summer produced this paper towel canvas of local shells, arranged in a flower like design...just a fleeting one since it was not saved except on film. Sort of "Andy Goldsworthyish".

See his work here.

A sunny Sunday

I was so happy to get out on the beach today. Great finds, great Vitamin D from the sun and some nice pieces of glass to add to my recent finds pile!  Along the way, I came upon a beautiful, perfectly shaped starfish washed ashore. It was still alive...could see the little feet underside wiggling away. Although they are known to be quite the predator, I gave it another chance and flipped it, put it back into the sound.

I am still "showing off" my love of seaglass and the way I have incorporated it anywhere I can in my home. This is a little lamp in my seafoam green living room....a great light to leave on as a night light.

I was also quite honored today when my cousin Bonney gave me a mention on her blog as another seaglass enthusiast.  She and her husband have built a beautiful new home and have incorporated a special seaglass countertop...from years of collecting. I guess it runs in the family! Thanks Bonney! 

http://camanohouse.blogspot.com/

Since Bonney is from the west coast, I must show my only west coast glass. Here in the boat shaped bowl is a small portion of seaglass gifted to me from my friend Nina. She inherited a huge collection after one of her friends from San Francisco (?) passed away. I have saved it apart from my own to keep its honor.

Garden Toys

As spring seems to be here, finally, I am out poking around the garden daily. Besides the plants, there are "constants" in the gardens...just as there in life. I have bought some of these adornments, have inherited some and have built some! Some are quite old, some are a little newer but as always, they all have a story.

The garden wheelbarrow and the garden weeding baskets are my favorites. I have had one for 30+ years and the other for only a short time. Aunt Katherine's basket and Grandma Roche's wheelbarrow are put to good use as tools but also as garden art.

Other treasures include a sundial given to me as a gift for a favor done...and resides in my front yard.

Then we have the statues! We have Little Dedo..the smallest gargoyle on Notre Dame Cathedral, St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment, and Madonna & Child.  All are set so that we can see them from our eating area window. (Remember that citron colored table?)

A garden gate made of fallen branches is the final but last thing in the garden. I hope to make more branch structures! For now, the yard and garden can grow and flourish until I can get back to it and the sun and rain do their magic.

Tomato Tomatoes

Today I hung my new "back hallway" addition! This is a scanner photgraphy print that I fell in love with and purchased while attending the Garden Expo in Fairfield a few weeks ago. The artist is Ellen Hoverkamp and her website is www.myneighborsgarden.com. She has developed a unique method to create absolutely beautiful designs from nature. Check it out! I also found a cool frame at Palooza in downtown Fairfield....very fitting driftwood design to complement the weathered Peggy Roo sign.

I have to admit, I love tomatoes. I grow them, I eat them and I think they are beautiful. These are some from last summer on a window sill.....

And these are my "hopeful thinking" store bought tomatoes set beside my garden growing lettuce! Looking forward to a fruitful harvest this summer....and thinking of the many fresh tomato recipes I can't wait to eat.

Seaglass Festival 2010

Sometimes you look back and say why didn't I do this! Well, I said, considering I love seaglass I should go to this festival that happens yearly when it is within driving distance this year!  Fortunately, I have 2 lovely daughters that understand me. They knew it was going to happen. We had also established the yearly tradition of a mom-daughter get away weekend...perfect!

So, with our "shards" in hand, we went...thinking we would win the Shard of the Year Contest.

My entry was a deep red piece I found along my beach walk out to "Pleasure Beach". It looked like a brown but when I held it up to the sun, it just glowed....it was such a find! Along with this gem I entered a pale pink piece. I thought....who has found such "rare" pieces!!!

Well, we did not win but we had, as always a fantastic Mother-Daughter weekend. We went on to visit the Potato Chip Factory, have a few good dinners and drink wine. What else could anyone want?

I KNOW WHAT ANYONE COULD WANT!!!...our next Mother - Daughter get-away is going to be someplace warm, sunny and have no hidden agenda. I promise.

Happy Easter!

Seaglass Sunday is here again...only this Sunday we also celebrate Easter. A new start, a fresh outlook or in some cases....a new puppy! Sally has come to live with us for a little while... or possibly a long while? She is an adorable English Springer Spaniel and belongs to Kate. I will be the babysitter along with other members of the family.

Although Sally was too cute to walk away from this morning, I did just that. I try to walk for an hour, ending along some stretch of beach where I find new treasures. Today was a success! A nice handful of aquas, white, cobalt blues and of course some green have been added to my "recent finds" pile.

One of my favorite crafts and favorite gifts to give is a Seaglass Suncatcher. Many, many people have received one of these in various shapes and sizes. This one hangs in my sunporch.

The "Peggy-Roo" Story

I am keeping my promise tonight. With the help of a newly purchased scanner, I am able to give everyone a glimpse of the past and the reason our back hall beach cottage sign is so special.  Peggy-Roo, the Lordship cottage built for Papa D's grandmother and grandfather on his mother's side was named after Peggy Rooney.  It was a second home, a get-away from "the city" a.k.a. Bridgeport! Built by W.A. Trolland in 1931 or at least designed on that date, it obviously became an adventure haven and gathering place looking at the photos we have from the day. Notice the sign atop the cottage!

Someone was a budding photographer! In fact, the camera used in these photos was a Zeis Ikon...purchased in Germany by ? The facts that have been handed down but may be off a bit the images speak loud and clear...Lordship was a fun place in the sun. And sharks were that big and caught off shore?????

Last but not least, we have a photo of the world famous Hindenburg with the back of the photo confirming this unbelievable photo opp. A bit blurry and off in the distance but WOW. This was also taken on what looks like a public beach and I assume, out here in Lordship! I also have the old blue prints from the builder of Peggy-Roo but they have been framed and passed along to my children. Preserving family history is so important to me. Someday, my seaglass creations will be passed with a similar story and I hope someone will appreciate them and continue to keep history alive.