I miss the beach already. But it is good to be home and have little Sugarwings back in my arms again. Her hippy chick mommy let my fairy grand baby come and have a sleep over tonight since I missed her so much.
But while I was away from Little Sugarwings, my sisses and brother were fun play mates.
Sissy, Bobbie Sue, and I did sand sculptures, picnicked on our balcony over looking the ocean, and shopped, shopped, shopped between family visits.
We danced on the beach in the dark wearing glow sticks too. No, I wasn’t drunk at the time, and even though you probably think I must be quite soused to do this, I am not drunk now when I am posting this photo of a 50 year old granny in a swim suit with a glow stick in her cleavage. Good thing the beach was deserted, I am not the graceful sort and dance a bit like a delirious cow. One decidedly ungraceful ballerina-esque jump had me landing flat on my back in the sand.
As wonderful as the trip was, the highlight of course, was Great Aunt Caroline. Now, that is one graceful, gorgeous, and gracious lady.
She is so sharp, entertaining, and full of stories, it was a delight to listen to her speak with such wit and charm. At 100, she can still tell a tale that has a whole room enthralled from beginning to end.
She was touched by all of the cards, and couldn’t get over the fact that so much time and work went into them.
She has been making beautiful things all of her life, and that cane next to her is a good example. She told us how she collected drift wood from the beach, cleaned and polished and decorated a piece to make this cane.
The painting that I am pointing to was done by Aunt Caroline’s mother, my great grandmother.
And we heard stories that day about how my great-great-grandfather was an artist too. He was a farmer who made beaded jewelry in his spare time. He also collected shells from the beach and hand wired them together into curtains for his parlor. Caroline remembers the tinkling of the shells as the breeze blew them together.
Our Sister Trip was priceless, and the visit to our aunt’s 100th birthday was just the best, and all of your cards helped make it even more special.
Caroline remembered the dress she was wearing in this photo that so many of us used in the cards and was pleased to see it. She told us about making it herself, that in the 30s, all of her clothes were hand made.
For the party, I wore the pearls that she had on in the photo and she also recognized those and told me she appreciated me taking such good care of them. Like I had done something nice for her??? She is really something sweet.
This darling lady is one of those people that looks you in the eyes and makes you think that you have to be the most special person on the planet. She has a sincere caring quality about her that just melts your heart when you meet her.
Since she was so touched by the cards everyone made, I wanted to show you my appreciation by adding a few more prizes to the drawing.
All the cards pictured today are by the people whose names were randomly drawn.
Jen, Alice, Robin, Lili, Melissa, Sherry, Irma, and Sandy, please send me your addresses and I will send you a thank you prize.
I just wish I could do something for all of you for doing this kind and thoughtful thing for my aunt! 
As Caroline said when she blew out her candles, "I wish you all this many happy years!"
How wonderful that you ‘sisters’ had so much fun at Aunt Caroline’s 100th Birthday celebrations.
She looks such a ‘bright spark’, hoping she has many more birthdays to come
Alison
What a wonderful post! The picture of your aunt with all the cards looks amazing. She must have truly been touched.
Your aunt Caroline is an amazing and beautiful woman! She reminds me of my Aunt Mabel, from Nebraska, who lived to be 94.
It looks like artistic talent runs in your family.
You sure do know how to have fun!!!! I’m seriously making it one of my goals in life to get out to Kansas to meet you.
~elaine~
Your Aunt Caroline is so beautiful. She looks so much younger than 100. What a pretty lady! I’m so glad you had such a special time with her.
I LOVE THIS POST!!! What memories! Aunt Caroline does not look like she’s 100! What a classy lady! Thanks so much for posting this!
KJ
Oh how special your trip was Karla!! I am so glad your aunt loved her cards, and i love that photo of you in your bathers dancing on the beach with glow sticks! you’re a scream!!! Can’t wait to meet you xo
It’s so good to have you back again safe and sound. What a nice trip! I like the mermaid and the gracious picture of you with the glow in the dark sticks, you look like a professional dancer, just retired at the age of 30something, yeah really!! The young look as well as artistic talent runs in the family I see. Love that cane!! Too bad I don’t need one, but I have to put this idea somewhere in file just in case. When I see these pictures of your aunt and read about her, I want to live up to a 100 too!!! On top of this all: yes this is my lucky day!! I’m so happy I won a price. I will email my address. Thanks Karla you have made my day!
Happy Birthday to your Aunt Caroline ! She is beautiful ! 🙂
I am glad that Aunt Caroline had a wondrful birthday, and that you had a fun time with your siblings. You look great in the swimsuit picture! Like 50 going on 35:>) It’s easy to see where your artisitic talent comes from with all those artists in your family!
Oh my gosh Karla, what an amazing woman! She looks absolutely terrific. Your post brought tears to my eyes-especially her wish when blowing out the candles! And the way she makes everyone feel so special….she is indeed a special person herself. So glad you had a wonderful time, the glow stick dance pictures are great! We all need to dance on the beach with glowsticks in our lifetime!
And PS -So Happy I was a lucky winner!
Wow! I hope I live to be 100 AND look as good as she does at that age. I must say, she really doesn’t look like she is 100. I bet I could sit and listen to her stories from the past forever. I love history! Bless you for making all those wonderful cards for her. I can tell she was delighted.
Maaaaaaan, does that 100 yr old chickadee look marvelous and grand! I hope I look THAT GOOD when I’m 80, but to look that good at 100 is astounding, my sweet chick!!!
Smoochies,
Connie
Karla, I do believe you had the perfect trip. What a special time for you and your family.
And, you made us feel like we were right there celebrating with you. God has surely blessed you with Aunt Caroline.
What a wonderful story to read about your Great Aunt Caroline’s 100th birthday this morning before I head out to work! Thanks for sharing the lovely photos.
Wow, Thank you! I have to tell you, you look AMAZING! I know you’re 50, but I would guess you at 10 years younger. I think we are going to be sending you cards at your 100th birthday! Jen R
What a wonderful, wonderful post Karla! SO nice to see your Aunt (she looks FAB btw!) with all of her cards! She looks like such a lovely lady.
p.s. You look FAB too in that bathing suit -hot mama! 🙂
Joy
xo
Karla, I just LOVE this post so much, and wow how BEAUTIFUL your aunt is at 100, seriously! I want to be just like her when I turn 100. It is so nice all the wonderful things you did for her special day.
xoxo
Your great-aunt is lovely! I think it was our pleasure to make cards for HER! The sister-fun was your bonus, too! LOL…to the glow-granny-on-the-beach!!!!
*Heidi*
Welcome back! What a joyful time! Boy, Aunt Caroline doesn’t look a day over 85! Or less! She’s a dear. You and your sisters looked like you were having such fun, and all I can say is how very much I admire you for having a photo of yourself in a swimsuit on your blog. I don’t think my screen is big enough…! Love the glow-sticks!
Great post! I love the beach dancing and seeing Aunt Caroline 🙂
What a great time you had. Loved seeing all of your pics. Loved the glow in the dark pic, sooo cool! So great to hear that your Aunt Caroline had such a great time.
Well, I’m off to celebrate my Birthday. Come on over as I am having a Birthday Giveaway soon.
Irma:)
Looks like you had a wonderful time! Love the glow stick and in the bathing suit! Always keep young at heart… May you have many more wonderful years together with your Aunt.
Sounds like a wonderful trip! I love all the pictures too, she sounds amazing! Be on the lookout for something in the mail I was delayed this week but it’s going postal today 🙂
What a wonderful, wonderful, trip! Thanks for sharing!
What a wonderful lady. So beautiful and vibrant. Love the glow sticks photo! Did you make that mermaid? She is amazing.
Karla
wow! i cannot get over how wonderful she looks! i hope i look that good when i’m 70! it sounds like you had a fabulous time! 🙂
Oh, what a darling woman your Aunt Caroline is! Her elegance and caring personality comes through even in her photos. I’m so glad you had a wonderful trip–looks like it was a lot of fun.
What a joyous occassion! You looked positively ethereal in your mermaid attire…thank you for sharing the moment. I am 52, and we are still fully women, little girls and goddesses, all wrapped up in what, to the rest of the world, may appear as perfectly ordinary ladies. Thank you for sharing your life and adventures with us…I am definitely a fan! Bobbi
What a fun time you had and your darling aunt is so pretty.
Oh I hope you have her record some of her wonderful stories for you. I always wished I did that with my relatives who passed away. For when they go their stories go too.
I think you look beautiful dancing at the beach. You have a wonderful glow about you. Oh wait, that is the glow sticks. LOL
There is nothing like family and I’m so happy you got to enjoy being with yours for awhile.
It’s always fun to go away but there is nothing like getting to come back home.
Hugs,
Joanne
reading about your great aunt brought tears to my eyes!
Your aunt is so beautiful, and such an inspiration! What a great family you have!
Wow… she looks like she’s only in her 80’s. She sounds like she’s a very positive person and wonderful to be around! You are lucky! And the beach photos made me miss it too!!! I’m glad you had so much fun… I wish you more fun times like that!
That mermaid is incredible..the pic of you with the glow sticks is fabulous..your aunt is beautiful..and I wish you still had the curtains made out of shells!(maybe you’ll make some:) What a talented family. Thank you for sharing.
Looks like such a fun trip…love the picture of you with the lighted necklace!
Have a blessed and wonderful day!
smiles, kari & kijsa
a Delirious Cow…that brought on a super smile and an LOL! Glad everyone had such a good time. Happy happies.
I will dance in the dark on the beach wearing glow sticks any time with you. I absolutely loved that photo.
Hi Karla, let me just say you look gorgeous for your age infact you look younger than what you say you are, what every your doing keep doing it!
And it makes me so happy that your Aunt loved all her hand made cards, you all look like you had a wonderful time….god bless!
Hugs
Kirstie.
So – this is what 100 looks like?! Wow!! She looks fabulous! Truly. So did you in your “fairy” glowsticks. I have Springsteen’s ‘Dancing in the Dark” in my head now. How adorable you both are. Good genes, my dear! Thank you for sharing Caroline’s birthday with us. She most certainly is a jewel.
Kathy
How beautiful your aunt is!! What a wonderful trip for you! Looks like you had a wonderful time.
I’m glad you got to keep Sugarwings when you returned. I just had a 2 day marathon sleepover with my granddaughter, too. We giggled til 3am one night, then 2am the next! I’m pooped but hope we made lots of memories!!
Big Tx Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
Your Aunt Caroline sounds like quite an inspiring woman.
You obviously come from a very creative and talented family. “The Sisters” look like a fun group to hang with. LOL
So glad you had a nice time.
Kimberly 🙂
My oh my! I do agree she is one LOVLELY woman in ALL senses of the word! She must still have the gentlemen swooning!!!
I do believe she is someone to aspire to! At least I believe so… not just in men swooning hehehe… but I do really mean in her demeanor!
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful time with us! I love the photo of you and your sisters on the beach!
Your family artistic description makes me think that they must come form Carmel, CA!
With Kindness and Hugs,
Mary
It’s so cool to see her with all the cards! And I think that when I’m on vacation next week, I’m going to make it a point to DANCE on the beach (with or without a glowstick in my clevage). Blessings… Polly
Karla
OK, that lady does NOT look to be 100! Good for her!
Uhhhhh…if I looked like that in a bathing suit I’d “post” is on ABC!!!!
What an amazing trip & event!
M ^..^
How wonderful! Your Aunt Caroline is a lovely lady. You had me cracking up. I think that sporting a glow stick in one’s cleavage is a grand idea! As long as we aren’t assigned certain colors for certain sizes, hee hee! You are so adoraable. You could get away with anything! Glad you had a wonderful time. Next time, take this sis with you!
I’m glad you had a delightful time. You look great in your bathing suit-nothing to worry about there! Your Aunt Caroline is an amazing woman-something to aspire to be-beautiful, creative and intelligent.
What a lovely party. Your Aunt looks so elegant. I’m so glad she enjoyed all the cards.
Karen
What a wonderful time! Not only was I excited to see Aunt Caroline and help celebrate her 100th birthday, but I was also impressed with the number and beauty of the hand made cards that your blog friends made and sent. How giving of your friends to take the time and effort to make cards for someone they don’t even know, just beause you asked them to. I’m also impressed with YOU!
Love,
Your Sister
Bobbie Sue
What a fun time you all had!!! I can’t wait to see all Mom’s pictures. Aunt Caroline looks amazing, I can only hope that her good genes made it my way!!! Love and miss you, Stevie
Your aunt is so pretty! So glad she enjoyed all of the cards. Love the story of you on the beach. You had me laughing about you were not drunk at the time. lol Where did you go? It looks like around Ormond Beach or Daytona?
My daughter is freaking out over the sand mermaid!!!! She wants one too 🙂
I just discovered your lovely blog and enjoyed reading about your celebrating your Great Aunt’s 100th birthday party.
You’re right. She is gorgeous.
Just beautiful! OK, can I get a glow stick for my 50th?
Hugs,
Carol
What a great lady!Thank you for your lovely photos!
It was a pleasure to bring a bit of happiness to her special day. I’m sure you will cherish this party forever!
OH Yay! So many wonderful pictures of your trip and Aunt Caroline’s birthday party… thank you so much for sharing them all, as well as your time with everyone. (I have to say I’m a bit envious of you seeing your sister, well, so much family!… I miss mine terribly! 🙁 ) She is one beautiful lady, and you are one fun gal, Karla! Can’t wait to see ya at Silver Bella!
Take care,
Shannon
Hi Karla!
I just emailed you my address, thank you so much!! I sure didn’t expect to win a prize.
Aunt Caroline is so beautiful!! She sure doesn’t look like she’s 100. I’m so glad you had such a wonderful time with her!
Hugs, Sherry
What a heartwarming and beautiful post to read on a Sunday morning! You are all beautiful women too – how blessed you are to have had that time together!! Your Aunt Caroline is so inspiring – what a jewel she is! Thank you Karla for sharing everything with us – your brother-in-law’s garden is truly special too. And as always, you are adorable!!!
xo,
Kim
This was so fun to read! You look wonderful for a 50 year old granny! Your Aunt Caroline is truly a beauty!! I’m so glad she enjoyed the cards. It was a pleasure making mine for this lovely lady!
Hugs!
Nancy