Countdown Calendars. . . Anticipation (part 2) Christmas

Young and old can enjoy the coming of Christmas. The young looking forward to Santa, Christmas Programs, Singing Carols, Cookies. The older of us may be watching the days speed by as we try to get everything ready to celebrate with family and friends the Birth of Christ, and Cookies and Carols. I have found some fun, unusual, and beautiful Advent and Countdown Calendars to enjoy and keep for years to come. So, if you're looking for some inspiration, come along.

 

Source 

 

Source

 

Source 

Source

Source

 

Source

There are five ideas for you to consider this Holiday Season. Three are homemade and the last two are purchased, so there is some inspiration for we who create and we who procrastinate.

Views of Sanibel

Oh, I just can't help myself. It won't be long and I'll be back on Sanibel for a couple of weeks. I'm so in love with the place and people that I want to share it with everyone. Here are a couple of quick photos. See if they don't leave your heart just a little warmer.

Good old pudgy pelican is always one of the first to greet visitors.

Sanibel Lighthouse 

Sand in between my toes, puffy white clouds, and palm trees - oh, what Heaven!

The yellow staked off area behind the sea oats, that is a turtle nest. I hope all those little rascals made it to the water.  I sure would love to actually see that sometime.

Stay tuned. . . looks like it is going to be a photo finish!

Hope I've brought you a little smile on a Monday morning. Remember, you are the one that can make it a great week!

Fire Pits for Chilly Nights

This morning there was a definite nip in the air. I scurried back in from my morning outing and sat down with a warm cup of coffee to see what warming fall inspirations I could find.  

Growing up and living in the Midwest, hayrides and bonfires are favorite fall memories.

Here are some amazing fire features for coast, beach, yard, or campground.

The first three fit that WOW factor and would make a definite focal point no matter their location.

 

Source

This next photo is fantasy, fun, and yes I would love to live next door to the people with this creativity.  Wouldn't this be great in a city where there is no front lawn and just that little fenced in outdoor space in the back?

Source

Ah, now we are getting close to my favorite pyro-style. Great start on the kindling, but not seeing the big logs and turning stick anywhere. This could be it. raised block to start and finish the evening warming hands deciding who will be the evening's fire master. Love the Adirondack chairs, but they are a little bulky to move and turn when your front is hot and your back is cold or the smoke follows your beauty. 

All in all a fantastic set up in my mind.

Source

And here is my winner! The positives: simple, from the coal bed you can tell it started small got bigger, probably a bit too big at one point, and it passes the warm toe test.

There is nothing better than resting you toes on the edge till they are toasty, but not burning rubber. That, if you didn't know is the real reason to keep a bucket of water handy when you have a fire. Oh, how I wish I could be at the most perfect fire pit on earth. Congratulations to the owner of the shoes!

 

Source

 

 

Have warm and toasty dreams tonight!

Countdown Calendars. . . Anticipation (part 1)

Here I sit. My messy piles of stuff surround me in my office/bedroom. No, should be bedroom/office, but you can't find a place big enough to curl up for a nap! So what am I doing about the situation? Happily trolling the internet with a hot cup of coffee. This choice scares even me! 

Fall holidays are staring us right in the face along with the munchkins staring us somewhere in the midsection. Halloween is first on the list of food holidays so here we go down the "Yellow Brick Road" in search of fun to make and fun to use calendars that help us all contain our anticipation.

This might be for the over achiever, but it would be well worth the time!

 

Source

This one may not be so labor intensive, but beware of the hidden notes behind the numbers!

 

Source

 

 

 

A Classic

 

 

 

Source 

 

 

This is a close-up shot, but you get the idea.

 

 

 

 Source

 

 

 

 

Now time to get the spiders and other scary things out of my workspace. 

 

 

 

P.S.

If you were looking for that kickoff calendar to football season--too bad, missed it already since it started in August! Maybe next century.

My Top 3 U.S. Coastlines

Let's take a quick trip to my five favorite coastlines with their natural beauty and unique character. My personal number one is Sanibel Island, Florida.

 Sunset strolls that make lasting memories.

 Sanibel Lighthouse on eastern end of island.

Gently lapping waves of the Gulf of Mexico

(The beach at our condo. Yes, this is a blatant ad.

Promise not to do it often!)

And that folks is why Sanibel Island will always be my number one choice. 

On to my second favorite coastline, Oregon's Pacific Coast.  As we go along you will notice that I will try to use as many of my own photos. Funny thing about my Oregon pictures, they were pre-digital and my camera took a swim while I was photographing at low tide and shifting sand. At least my husband was amused even if he didn't catch the camera.

 

 photo credit::awesome-oregon-coast.com

Cliffs dropping straight into the unrelenting waves.

 

photo credit: vacationthrills.com

The loud and violent waves show the real force behind them.

 

photo credit: 1859oregonmagazine.com

Starfish, anemones and mussels in tide pool rocks. It's amazing, the vibrant colors that will soon be back under the sea.

(My photograph would have looked just like that.)

Carla's coastal pick number three:  Lake Superior Coastline in Northern Wisconsin.

Gorgeous rock formations

Water is so clean and so COLD!

Small village with blue sky and bluer water.

You know, this post was titled "My Top 5 U.S. Coastal Beaches", I've done the top three. Enough is enough! But, I would love to here your votes for Top 3 and I'll post up the popular ones at a later date.