A perfect Vacation.

We just got back from vacation. This was our third trip to Sanibel, FL and we've grown to enjoy it more and more each visit. This was truly the perfect vacation for us. We love the beach and it's still too cool here in the Mid-Atlantic so we left the cool Virginia spring weather......


...and flew to the beautiful sunny, warm Gulf coast of Florida.



Just give this gal a chair and an umbrella and let her stick her toes in the sand and she's a happy camper!




This sandcastle caught my eye when I was walking on the beach Mother's Day evening.



We ate lot's of fresh seafood!


Mr. Mid-Atlantic makes THE BEST crab cakes!




A bit of bird watching.



Love the graceful palm trees.



And the palmetto's too.



A tree lined street.



We went for a ride over to Captiva on our last evening and saw the most beautiful sunset. By the time we could find a place to park and take a picture, it was almost gone....but you can see the crowd gathered to enjoy the last fleeting moments of a spectacular sunset on the beach.



I found time to read three books over the week....



....I finished up a book I had been reading by David Baldacci. Love his books! He grew up one street over from Mr. Mid-Atlantic and went to our same high school.



This was a giveaway I won from Gollum of "Designs by Gollum" right before vacation. This was a perfect beach read.



And I had pre-ordered this book by Michael Lee West (Gollum) months ago and was saving it for vacation. I know many of you got your copies this past month and have been temping me with your posts and recipes. But I didn't even unwrap it until vacation and savored and enjoyed every page.....can't wait to read her next one....wonder if it will be out before my next Sanibel vacation.



Last year I found two note cards in, of all places, the grocery store! I framed them and they were a fun reminder of vacation, so this year I was delighted to find more to add to the gallery. It will be fun to look at these and be reminded of our week at Sanibel....but all good things come to an end....sigh.


It was fun to come home to a couple of packages.....
Right before we left there was a Spring clearance sale at "The Tassle House" --- now I've drooled over those for the past year or so. I couln't resist the sale and bought three. One was for Easter, so I'll be saving that for next year. One was for a Christmas present.....and this sweet little sheep is for me! (I'll try to get a better picture soon)


Then -- package #2 was another fun giveaway! I won this several weeks ago from Miss Janice!
Don't you love the anticipation of a package in the mail?



A sweet note from the artist.




Her business card and upcoming show....



....and finally a peek at what's inside.....



.....these wonderful hand painted starfish napkins! And in a lovely shade of raspberry pink!




Thank you for this wonderful giveaway prize Miss Janice.....The timing was perfect after our perfect beach vacation!


Hope you'll all be taking a vacation that makes your heart sing soon.....I'll be looking forward to reading all about it. So what's your perfect vacation?

See ya!