WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO....

 Third day in a row of blogging...woo hoo!

What have I been doing recently instead of blogging, you ask.

Well...

We love living back on the beach, so we spend a lot of time either on our balcony or sitting on the beach or taking long walks.  I LOVE our view and never tire of it.  And I take photos almost every day :-)  Can't help myself.

I love going out first thing in the morning with my cup of coffee to  watch the sunrise.  I took this one this morning.

Sitting on the balcony early in the morning or close to sunset is my favorite place to read.  
And to pray.

I got a new car.  
I tried an SUV for a year or two, but missed my convertible so George got me this sweet thing.

I've made lots of trips to see this sweet boy.  Can you believe how big he's getting?!  He will be two in October. 

We were thrilled that Bree and Jay and Daven got to come for a visit in May.

We're in the process now of trying to get ALL the kids and grandchildren here at one time before summer is over. Co-coordinating schedule with 4 kids and their spouses and 10 grandchildren isn't easy!

I didn't always take photos, but I've had some fun times with friends.

 My sister Kim came for a visit and we had fun being silly together.

I've played lots and lots of tennis.  I'm still playing with my normal Monday/Wednesday/Friday group, but now I've joined a team again and we're practicing on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  It's a lot of tennis, but I love it.  Great exercise and fun!


There's been too many happy times to share them all.

BUT...there has been one very sad thing.
Our sweet Russian artist friend Vladimir was diagnosed with inoperable cancer.  My friend Jeanette and I along with another friend of Vladimir has been busy for the last six weeks helping him.  Hospice has been wonderful.  Vladimir has an incredible attitude.  Please keep him in your prayers.

It's good to be blogging again.  I'm having to reschedule my days to include time to blog and visit, but like anything you love, you find a way.


 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

YES!

I wasn't sure if anyone was still out there, so I was thrilled to hear from some of you today!  Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your sweet comments.

 You've made this girl happy :-)

It's good to be back!

 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

TESTING 1.2.3

I haven't blogged in so long.
I didn't plan to stop.
I didn't want to stop.
I've missed it.  
Seriously.
I thought about returning, but I kept putting it off.

I've even gotten a few emails asking me where I've been and if everything is okay. 

 

That made me smile.


 
And want to blog again.

But....Is anybody still out there?


 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

WHAT'S UP?

 What's up with YOU?

Spring inspires me to do "stuff".  The problem is that there just isn't enough time in the day.  Know what I mean?

I love reading and have stacks of books waiting for me :-) My favorite time of the day is when I climb into bed each night and read before bedtime.


I'm getting serious again about my exercise.  I've been exercising, but it's been hit or miss ever since we got back from California.  Sooo...I'm (finally) on track again.  I personally don't like going to a gym.  I exercise in front of the TV/DVD in our guest room. I love checking DVDs out at our library and catching up on "old" movies while I exercise.

I have a drawer full of weights, etc. and I use my exercise mat for floor exercises and stretching.  I also jog in place between sets.  I still love my treadmill too, but walking on the beach is my favorite.  And tennis, of course.

How about you? 

I'm addicted to playing WORDS WITH FRIENDS on my iPad.  It's fun, but it takes up too much of my time :-(

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I mentioned recently on a sunny spring day that I missed having a convertible (I have an SUV now) and that's all it took for George to start looking.  Sweet, right?  My man loves car shopping :-)
Believe it or not, it's not easy finding convertibles locally.  Crazy!  You would think there would be plenty here in the "sunshine" state.  Here's three he's found recently...a Chrysler, BMW and a Mini Cooper.  

The search continues.  We're taking a road trip on Saturday to see what else we find.  Any suggestions?
~~~~~~~~~~
Our friends Bob & Jen and Jack & Linda are coming to town soon and we're looking forward to spending time with them.  

AND Bree & Jay & Daven are coming at the end of the month
So stinkin' excited!!! 


 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE

We had a great time in Nashville.  I love Nashville.  I really do.  We lived there for almost 7 years and it's always fun to go back.

The kids really made their Granddad's birthday special.
  
 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

NASHVILLE BOUND

So excited!  Our bags are packed and we're on our way to see our son, daughter-in-love and grandchildren!

 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM, I JUST LIKE IT

I have an addictive personality.  Yep, me.  There...I said it.

Now, "they" (can't you just hear your Mom saying WHO IS THEY?) say that people with addictive personalities often turn towards addiction to help them deal with the stress and issues that they endure in their life. 

That not me.  I just get addicted to stuff because it

1. taste good  (food and drinks)
2. feels good  ( like exercise, pedicures, etc.)
3. is fun  ( like playing  computer games, etc.)

You get the idea.

Actually, I don't know if addiction is the right word.  It's more like I get "stuck" on something and stick with it and then...

 
...one day I just find something else that becomes my favorite.

You know, like I might be C.R.A.Z.Y about pita chips with roasted red pepper hummus, but then I get tired of it and move on to be in love with vanilla yogurt with walnuts on top (yum).

It's actually kind of nice to love love love something and then find something else that I love love love.

Lately, I'm stuck on:

tennis (not new, but for some reason it's more fun than ever)
watching old DVD's while I exercise
water (seriously I can FINALLY FINALLY say I love water)
mini Simply Caramel candy bars
finding new flip flops 
playing Words With Friends (want to play?)
donuts (? not sure why this has cropped up)

And that's just a few. 

Thank you Lord I've never smoked or taken drugs...never ever... and although I love my wine and dark chocolate, it's not a problem.

What are you into?      

 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

LOVING MY SPORT

I'm sitting here tonight frustrated a bit trying to work on the tennis schedule for May.

Somehow/someway I was designated years ago as the one to make up the schedule for my group.  I keep asking for someone else to do it, but no one volunteers :-)

It's not hard to make up the schedule, it's just hard to get everyone to give me their availability.  And once they do, it's hard sometimes to "weave" it all together.  

But somehow, it always works out.  I'm reminding myself of that tonight :-)

I love love love tennis.  Watching others play is fun too, but I especially love playing it.  

I'm a lucky girl.  I play 2-4 times a week with some really really good friends.  And living where we do, we play year round.  It's great exercise and great fun.

I've been playing for almost 23 years.  I hope I can play for 23 more.  Hey, it's do-able :-)

  

I love tennis! 

What's your love?

 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

BITTEN TWICE

 I  HATE bugs!

But for some reason bugs seem to LOVE me!  No kidding.  And no matter what kind it is, I have a reaction.  Even a normal mosquito bite will swell huge on me and last for days.  Grrrr.  And bee stings have sent me straight to the doctor for a shot and then days of steroid.

Anyway, last Monday I got bitten about 10 times (while playing tennis) by biting midges...locally we call them "no-see-ums".  Tiny little biting bugs that you can't even see.  I think all the rain we had a few days before then brought out those bad boys!  The bites hurt like "you know what".  They've driven me C.R.A.Z.Y!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On Friday, I got bitten by another kind of bug .

The Spring Cleaning Bug :-)

Even though our maid service was coming the next morning, I started cleaning like crazy.  I think I was on a sugar high because of the two donuts I had for breakfast.  LOL  Anyway, I literally worked from morning until almost 9:30.  I cleaned baseboards in every single room, fan blades, the tops of armoires, plantation shutters, etc.  Like a crazy person.  But I left all the yucky stuff...like toilets, floors, etc. to the maid service.

Anyway, my house is clean top to bottom and it feels good.  More than good.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It doesn't happen very often...at all...but I'm feeling pretty caught up on lots of things.  In the last few days, besides getting the house all spiffy, I had my car cleaned, I got a haircut, I did my manicure & pedicure, I bought some new Spring clothes, I stocked the pantry, caught up the laundry and watered the plants, etc.  

In a few days, things will start to pile up again, but for now I'm feeling good.

 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

MISSING MY DAD

It happens often that I hear something or read something or see something that reminds me of my Daddy.  Or more specifically, it reminds me that I've spent the majority of my life without him.

Sometimes, it hits me hard and I'm overcome with sadness.

This time it's a book I'm reading.

And once the sadness hits, almost everything...commercials, songs, photos in magazines, etc...remind me how robbed I was to not have him in my life longer.

He was such a sweet, loving gentle man.  And he made me feel that anything was possible.

I miss him.

I wonder how different my life would have been if he had lived.

I miss him.

 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

OLE

It sure was nice to have a free day to just do "whatever".  Of course, I had plenty of things that need to be done, like cleaning dusty baseboards that I noticed as I lay on the floor doing leg lifts yesterday, but THAT can wait.  

Sometimes a girl just needs to sit with a friend, sip a margarita, have lunch and solve the problems of the world.  Know what I mean?

I don't usually have a drink at lunch unless it's a birthday or special occasion, but every once in awhile it's okay.  Luckily, the place where we went is surrounded by lots of fun places to shop, so we don't have to get in the car right after lunch.  One of them is my favorite boutique in town and they always always have something that calls my name :-)  Four somethings today, to be exact.

I'm so thankful for girlfriends, good food and girl talk.  Oh, and shopping too.


 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

NOBODY'S PERFECT

I don't know about you, but I have to remind myself of this all.the.time.  I'm a bit (or a lot) of a perfectionist.  I drive myself crazy :-)

And it's damn near impossible to make anything, much less everything, in our lives perfect.

Trying to do all the things I need and want to do means I'm dropping the ball constantly.

But you know what?  That's okay.  God doesn't expect us to be perfect.  He just wants us to do our best.

And I'm trying.....


 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

TWO POST IN A ROW!

Gosh, can you believe it...two post in a row?!  I'm seriously back :-)

(taken in our "backyard" on March 28th using my iPhone)

 So glad it's beach time again.  It's been a cold, windy, rainy winter.

~~~~~~~~~~

I planned this afternoon to catch up my blog on what I've been doing since I was last blogging on a regular basis.  I've got lots of photos to share, including those from our trip to California.  We had a wonderful two weeks.  But, like so many of you, I spent the afternoon glued to the TV....... sigh!

~~~~~~~~~~

I'm so sad about what happened today in Boston.  Unbelievably scary, sad and senseless.

The first responders amazed me and made me proud.  True heroes!

NOTHING will take away our American spirit!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."

MAKE ME AN APPOINTMENT

My name is Kat and I have a problem.  
Seriously :-)

I love my iPad, but it's definitely made it easy to stay away from my big computer.  I can do almost anything I want using my iPad...from anywhere.

Except blogging.  It can be done on the iPad, but it's not easy.  So, I've been away for far to long :-(

I wasn't even sure if anyone out there still cared that I wasn't blogging anymore until I started getting emails from some of my readers to check on me.  That made me happy.  And...it made me realize how long I've been away and how much I miss my blogging friends.

I've got lots of catching up to do, but right now I'm off to see what YOU'VE been doing......  

 
Hugs from the beach,

Kat

"Father, please let me be a blessing to someone today."