Travel – Page 5 – Karla's Cottage

Marco Island Seashell Fairies and a Mermaid

By Karla Nathan / November 1, 2021

During our long, many legged jaunt, we kept pretty busy. A wedding, family to visit, jet skiing, beach exploring, Disney, and moving from place to place, resettling in somewhere new every few days.

The trip was both hectic and relaxing at the same time. It zipped by so quickly that I didn’t really have a chance to miss studio time. But when traveling, I do miss creating things.

Years ago, I started making seashell fairies with bits and pieces found on the sand. It was not only a thank you to nature for the beautiful beach, it was an outlet for me to do something crafty while far away from my studio.

I rarely see a response, I make them take photos, and they usually disappear overnight. At Marco Island, they lingered a couple of days. I saw a crowd gathered round one of these, taking photos. I spoke to one lady who was in tears. Her daughter, who typically vacationed with her had died and she told me that the beach Angel felt like a message from her.

We spoke about Ryan and about her lost child. Both of us were in tears.

Making my fairies and looking for heart shapes in nature began for me years ago. I thought of them as little touches of magic to create or discover. I liked leaving my shell sprites behind in gratitude.

Ryan used to be excited for me when we’d find a heart together out on our walks. Or when I’d show him photos of a little Faye or heart. Since he passed, I keep finding more and more hearts everywhere I go, and I love to think of him next to me when I make a discovery. I can hear his voice saying, “That’s cool, Mom!”

The shapes and the fairy/angels have developed a deeper meaning for me now, with him gone.

And my tearful chat with another grieving mother has left me thinking about past creations and hoping that one could’ve given someone else a bit of cheer as they walked by it.

More Magic

By Karla Nathan / October 28, 2021

Well, that was quite a trip, a many legged journey with lots of stops along the way.

I mentioned our Disney adventure previously, but came across a few more Hidden Mickies after writing that.

My all time fave is Flamingo Island in Animal Kingdom, the entire thing is shaped like a Mickey head.

Over the years, you probably think I spend an inordinate time visiting my pal, Mickey, because I yammer on about it so much every time I go.

(This is a store window at Epcot in France. Macarons and chocolates! Pink yummyness!)

And I have been lucky enough to take multiple trips there in the past.

But this one?

Wowzers!

Terry and I really did it up right. It was the longest visit I have ever had there. We arrived on a Friday for the Halloween party, then spent time at all four parks before she drove me to the beach Tuesday evening and dropped me off to be with my sisters for a few days.

We ate at the Food and Wine festival where I had fillet for breakfast one morning and Mickey shaped ice cream for dinner.

We indulged in all the photo pass magic shots we could, wondered around at our own pace, hopped on rides when the lines were short, took scenic detours when we felt like it, and racked about around 20,000 steps a day on our Apple watches.

Instead of taking the boat from Epcot to the Swan hotel, we walked through the Boardwalk and even toured an open house of the vacation club (but without the sales pitch, I just asked if I could peek inside and they said sure) After, we stopped at the disco lounge with the big, flashing, neon sign saying DANCE HALL, and I took a turn around the dance floor to the tune of Donna Summer. We were the only people inside, so I felt like I could show off some of my non-existing moves.

Cast members were kind to us and gave us mini tours a couple of times when we asked for directions. We didn’t have reservations for Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars Land, but a nice guy accompanied us inside to get a look at it, and we felt as if we’d been given a free, private tour.

Another cast member stayed in Star Wars character as he walked us through the park and told us about the Federation and their attacks.

Without kids, a visit to Orlando is a whole different thing. We made use of Terry’s season pass to use the private lounge and put our feet up a bit.

I’d also found a pass online to a free lounge by Blue Cross of Florida, it was set up in a restaurant in the Norway pavilion. We thought it would be ice water only, but there was a picnic cart that came around with goodies. We hit up that area a few times to get a cold can of soda and snacks, as a nice break from crowds. One time, we were the only ones in there, the other, there were only a couple of tables in use.

The whole trip was not only filled with fun, and we got to do everything we wanted, it was restful and relaxing too. Crowds were low most of the time, and when they weren’t, we found something less busy to do.
Thanks, Terry, for the magical time!

A mosaic seashell fairy

fairies, family, sea shell fairies, Travel

By Karla Nathan / October 25, 2021

We tried a new beach this year, Indian Shores. While it was relaxing and beautiful, it wasn’t the best location for picking up shells. But there were tons of teensy ones that I gathered by the scoop full and sorted into dark and light to make a mosaic fairy portrait.

While the Sprite was crafted in a new way, the same heartfelt gratitude for my beach visit went into it. I loved my short visit at Indian Shores with long walks each morning at the beach’s edge, and laughing with family as we sat in the sand.
This beach deserved a thank you fairy, no matter how hard it was to find shells. I was determined.

I wasn’t there long, but was able to divide up my limited time between my sissies and nieces so that I got some one on one with each.

And we gathered together to watch as many sunsets as we could.

The perfect end to the peaceful days.

At Disney

Food and Drink, Travel

By Karla Nathan / October 18, 2021

I can’t even remember which leg of our multi faceted journey I am on right now. Whatever number it is, it’s Disney World! I’m tired, but having a blast.

Terry and I are here together, she made these Minnie costumes for us to wear to the Boo Bash.

We have also attended the fireworks dessert party, looked for hidden Mickies, and tracked down the 50 golden 50th anniversary statues.

And I still have two more days to go.

So for now, it’s time for a handful of my Boo Bash trick or treat candy and an early bedtime.

Marco Island

Travel

By Karla Nathan / October 12, 2021

We are in leg four of our multi-phased getaway. First Asheville, then an emotional family wedding in Charlotte, Guncle time, now an idyllic rest at the beach watching dolphins from our balcony.

And what do I spy with my little eye? A sunset wedding below us!

Reuniting

celebrations, friends, Travel

By Karla Nathan / September 29, 2021

Way back when, in Jr High, these two became my people for life. They both moved to different coasts while I settled in the center of the country, but over the years, we have met up when we could and it always felt like it had been days not years in between.

They indulged my need to go to our high school reunion, even though they had many other suggestions for places we could have a mini reunion instead.

It was a quick trip, but conversation never lagged, and it was fun to see our other classmates as well.

Sandy brought some old photos, here we are at a past reunion. (I think I still have that dress, I should look for it. In my opinion, if you love something, it doesn’t go out of style)

As a matter of fact, I’d wear this “vintage” dress from my senior picture again in a snap if I had it. Looks like I have always had a thing for rose patterned fabrics, huh?

Thanks, Debbie and Sandy for such a perfect weekend and for being my lifelong friends!

And thanks to all the people who put the reunion together for the class of 76. I sure enjoyed seeing everyone and loved having a reason to push me to come back home to Indiana.

A loopy and winding road trip

antiques/junking, family, Travel

By Karla Nathan / September 26, 2021

My trip to Indiana had many different loops woven into it, a craft day with buddies and a junkin trip across country, an afternoon at a rock and mineral show, sister sleepovers, family time, a night at a state park lodge, then a meet up with VERY old friends- my 45th high school reunion, ending with a day of sightseeing in downtown Indy.

Whew. That is a lot in 7 days including the 8-1/2 hour drive each way.

A bit like this cool spiral in Sissy’s yard!

On the way to Brown Co. park, we had some junking time and stopped at a mega antique mall.

It had some oddities…

But it also had decently priced millinery. Not so cheap that I bought it all, just reasonable enough to make me pick out a few faves.

I also snapped up a $10 rosey vase/pot, a $16 rosey tablecloth, and a vintage Hawaiian shirt to wear to the Hawaii themed reunion I was attending.

We had perfect weather everywhere we went, and so many laughs, I needed to start using my asthma inhaler again.

The state park had a contest to visit each scenic overlook and take a photo to win a sticker. I agreed to do it with trepidation, thinking it was going to be miles of walking.

Turns out, you drive to the sites (sights?) so my sissies came too. And everyone agreed to model some of my pretty purchases.

My nieces and I took off on a hiking adventure after our scenic quest to win stickers.

That was pretty dang scenic too.

The lodge has been newly redecorated, there is an indoor water park and a country style restaurant too. We were the only ones using the water slide and lazy river. Which is good because I screamed like a banshee all the way down the curly slide and the lazy river wasn’t so lazy. It was a crazy river, and we knocked into each other as we bopped along like we were bumper boats at a carnival.

And yes, it was so much fun, the inhaler had to be used.

My hometown is a charmer. A one block, yet vibrant downtown and an adorable park that I have always loved.

Since I moved away, lots of trails have been added, you can walk for miles out there.

This is from behind the lighthouse. Don’t ask me why a small pond in central Indiana even has a lighthouse, but there it is, glorious as it was 60 years ago.

And I wonder if these ducks are from the same lineage of the ones I used to take my kiddos to go feed?

The trip went much too quickly. But was as full as my heart was.

Catabwa Falls, Asheville

Corona virus, dogs, family, Hearts, sea shell fairies, Travel

By Karla Nathan / August 13, 2021

We took both dogs up the trail to Catawba Falls to see the waterfall.

Along the way, my son watched for edible treats the woods had to offer.

While my eyes scan for heart shaped rocks or stones to craft a riverbank fairy, he is on the lookout for mushrooms and berries.

While he found very few on this walk, he marks the spots where they were to check back later.

Molly was a perfect trail dog. Dorothy needed a lift for a great deal of the way.

Although she did enjoy the trip, even if her tiny legs needed a break. I am going to get a sling/carrier for her for future trips. Since her littermate and mama died, she can’t be left behind, the poor girl needs to have us around.

I see more hiking in her future.

While we found the scenery scrumptious, we were far from the only viewers. This place was packed as you got up toward the higher spots. The trails that led upward weren’t bad, but once you hit the start of the falls, it gets crowded as everyone stops to enjoy them.

Because of the Covid upticks, we wanted to avoid being in a mass of humanity, so we settled into a little rocky pool, not too high up where we had a private place to enjoy the river and still see the falls up in the distance.

I applaud people for wanting to be in outdoor locations now, but man. That was a lot of them! Still, we had many peaceful moments. You can skirt crowds if you make an effort.

And if there are going to be multitudes of hikers passing by, I probably should consider wearing makeup. Oh well.

Downtown Asheville is equally busy, but we managed a scenic hike through it while keeping mostly distant, and masking.

It’s been years since I had time to check out the area, and it’s not just vibrant and bust, it’s funky and fun too.

My favorite building?

My son did the carpentry trim on this one, of course it gets my vote!

He also made rock fairies with me while we relaxed at the falls. What a sweet son.

I 💚 North Carolina

fairies, family, Hearts, sea shell fairies, Travel

By Karla Nathan / August 10, 2021

It was hard to say good bye to NC (and to my kids there).

Especially when we returned to a sweltering, soggy, heat wave in Kansas.

The mild, mountain weather almost made me forget what humidity felt like.

Oh, but I had a very quick reminder on our return!

As much as I hate having Dewdrop and Adam living so far away, I certainly understand why they do.

I fell in love with the region too.

Road Trippin’ with Junkin’ and Craftin’

antiques/junking, friends, sewing?, Travel

By Karla Nathan / May 4, 2021

My friend, Angie, invited Beth and I to visit the old farmhouse her grandma lived in.

She and her mom have been restoring it for years.

It’s a great mix of original pieces and beloved collections. (Angie had the very old, still functioning fridge stocked with deliciousness for us)

The drive south was as much fun as the staycation itself. We hit every thrift store between Lawrence and Chanute.

And got photos of the most unique offerings.

While making some friends along the way.

And eating some of the freshest home cooking you could ever be lucky enough to find at a roadside cafe.

At one stop, there were baskets of $1 packets of old lace. I bought more than my fair share, but couldn’t stop thinking about them so stopped on the way home to buy more.