I Found The Fountain of Youth

This week we took a trip to St. Augustine, FL, in search of something new.

We came to find the Fountain of Youth, as many often do.

We wandered around the intracoastal city, marveling at its past,

Until we the spotted notorious, ancient landmarks at last!

We discovered Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest fort around.

But this wasn't the only piece of history we found.

An 18th-century schoolhouse, hand-crafted out of wood.

A lighthouse with a breathtaking view from the top where we stood.

Then to St. Augustine Beach, to sink our toesies in the sand,

and cherish the sun and surf, hoping to get tanned.

I found the Fountain of Youth, fascinating as it was back then.

But, it was the searching for it with my family that made me feel young again!

{I am on blog leave through Sunday night. Enjoying sunny Florida!

See you on Monday!}

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What I Learned From Vacationing in a Timeshare

Hi all!

So, my beefcake and I are back from Williamsburg, VA.

We had a get-away, alone, last week!

We haven't gone on a week's vacation without the kids for 10 years!

We have had weekend trips, but not the WHOLE week.

What a fun, relaxing time!

We arrived at 12:30 A.M. and it didn't matter, we could sleep in if we wanted to!

A clean, pretty space was waiting for us.

Not a speck of dust.

Everything was in its place.

Perfectly petite, this miniature home-away-from-home had everything you needed.

Even a flat screen TV and an iPod player.

The bed was made and the pillows were fluffy-ish.

The dresser was uncluttered and fresh.

Extra blankie and bedding, hangers (fancy wooden ones), a safe for valuables,
they thought of everything!

If one felt as if she had the urge to do some housekeeping, this closet was safely nearby.

(I only opened the door for this picture!)

Space-saving stackable clothes cleaning center.
With no piles of dirty laundry on the floor.
The tub was scrubbed, no toys or half-used bars of soap in here.

The pre-portioned detergent all ready and waiting.

The towels were already on the towel bars, the toilet lid down and no toothpaste spots!

Didn't even have to bring hygienic items!

The kitchen had everything you'd need for cooking anything you'd want to eat.
A coffee pot, for the beverage that is the main, most-vital part of the early day
and a basket with goodies, including popcorn that is the main, most-vital part of the late day.

It was shiny, spotless.

Simple and efficient.

The dishwasher had been emptied and the dishes were strangely in their place.

These items were just where you'd expect them to be--well, maybe not the blender.

Gleaming utensils, organized, convenient.

Which I lifted not a finger to lay them all in a row.

Kitchen towels folded and waiting and polished pans nested and lingering.

This was bliss!

Heaven!

Rapture divine!

No work, no cleaning.
All the basic needs were met.
No errands to run.
No one to nag and no chores to delegate.
No cooking!
(I only cooked one night, the other nights it was salad or popcorn!)

We visited Colonial Williamsburg at our own pace, and rode some rides at Busch Gardens!
On Tuesday, we drove to the Outer Banks, NC (3 hours east) to visit his family
for awhile, and stroll barefoot along the beach.

It was nice to be able to return each day to this, our clean, simple, beautiful room.
Now, don't get me wrong, Mark and I needed the time away,
it was so very relaxing, I loved being alone with my groom, and I would go again in a heartbeat

but

What I Learned from Vacationing in a Timeshare

is that I actually

missed my role as
duster,
put-awayer,
delegater,
alarm-clock,
on-site exterminator,
cook,
towel-folder,
shiner,
errand-runner,
washer,
vacuumer,
nagger,
laundress,
hugger,
mother.

And it's nice to know that I was missed, too!!

(Okay, the girls also missed Mark!)

Where we love is home - 

home that our feet may leave, 

but not our hearts.  

~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

P.S. I am working on the eBay posts for those of you that are wondering!

We Interrupt this Regularly Scheduled Program

For a SURPRISE, last-minute vacation from my beefcake to us...

He bought us a timeshare week (off eBay--where else?)

and got some house and ferret-sitters,

and we will be in Williamsburg, VA.

I am NOT going to be posting--

I will be organizing all the posts coming up about

How I Sell on eBay.

This summer was very busy--

can anyone else say' "Amen" to that?

Lots on our plates,

lots on our minds

lots to get done

before this next year of school starts mid-August!

So, we seriously need the vacation.

I will be visiting y'all while I am sitting under a shade tree or umbrella somewhere.

I am anxious to meet all my new follower friends,

and am planning a give-away

for Back-to-School.

I'll miss you while I'm gone and and tell you:

"The Weather's here!

Wish you were beautiful!!"

(Inside family joke--now you can use it, too!)

May be doing some of this at Busch Gardens, too!

Have a blessed and joyful week while this home maker gets some time off!

WooHoo!!

Atlanta Trip to IKEA

Hi y'all!

I am back, exhausted, but still alive.

Didn't think I would, but I missed visiting with y'all

while I was gone.

For those of you that have never been to IKEA,

(or Atlanta)

I thought you might like a little tour.

Atlanta is a BIG city.

Everywhere we looked there were things being created.

Pretty  monuments and buildings.

After we arrived at IKEA,

it took my sister and I

three hours to get through the store.

Your trip will be quicker--

first stop, the cafe'.

It's big, too.

Our lunches that we shared.

My veggie wrap was only $2.99.

Next stop, Kid's Spaces.

Next area, Home Goods.

Bamboo-hoo-hoo.

Some rooms.

Some chairs.

Some Entertainment Units.

More rooms.

My sister NEEDED this, she said.

I said, I don't LIKE doing this.

Got organization?

Piles of this and that.

And violence.

The sign tells us to throw Irma.

Rugs, rugs, and more rugs.

Reusable grocery/shopping bags!

Maybe they are or maybe they aren't Floor uplights.

(read the sign).

Have you ever seen so many lampshades?

This is a chandelier!

Twigs and sticks and such.

They were even selling pineapples!

No excuses not to be tidy.

Bamboo tile flooring.

AS-IS (Clearance) section.

You KNOW I checked this out.

After a lovely weekend of 

eating and talking 

and 

eating and talking 

and 

eating and talking

with my sisters,

I came home to Greenville.

Ready for a nap,

and hugs and kisses from my hubby and girls,

which I got in abundance!

I'll bet you are wondering what I got.

It's not exciting, but here it is.

2 pillows ($ .99 each), 

which I will be making something for the guest room out of,

5 bud vases ($1.99 each),

 3 plants ($2.59 each) 

and 

3 pots ($1.49 each) 

for the terrarium,

a rug ($5.99)

for the guest room, and 

Swedish dark chocolate ($ .99 each)

which is delicious!

I hope you had fun

on this whirlwind tour.

Tomorrow is the start of the giveaway.

Some hints:

Birds,

Vintage postcards,

nest.

Look at the birds of the air; 

they do not sow or reap or store 

(things from Ikea) 

away in barns, 

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 

Are YOU not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6:26