I just wish she'd could come over to my home and de-clutter my life the way she de-cluttered my blog.
And now, I need to announce the winner of the October Giveaway, a Grumpy Fairy book. It goes to:
Sorenthe
And a giveaway for the Artist Class paper doll supply kit goes to:
Jane Palmer
(more drawings coming for that one, too! If you want to enter, details are in my sticky post at the top of the blog)
If you are ever wondering when the perfect time to visit the beach in Jacksonville is, I think I've discovered the answer. Late October, midweek, mornings are PERFECT!
The water was just the right temperature, there was a gentle breeze. The sand was warm, but was comfy, no running tip toe and trying to keep my feet from frying like I have to do when I been on it in the summer.
Plus, we were just about the only people there. Sugarwings called it "her beach".
The only company we had was from these guys.
Because the beach was so bare, we could let our fairy fly free, and she ran up and down the beach pretending to be a bird, with no worries of kicking up sand on others or stepping on sand castles. (or being hard to keep track of, we couldn't miss her, she was the only thing out there!)
She found balloons that had washed up on the shore, and you'd have thought that it was Christmas morning. Little gifts can sometimes bring the most joy, huh? (we popped them and threw them in the trash as we left, so no fish or birds would choke on on a balloon left to float)
Everything about the part of our trip to Jacksonville was just the best. Uncle Randy has a beautiful garden, designed just for fairies, so Sugarwings fit right in. He even bought her a new fairy gown to wear, as well as wings for the rest of the family too. (I got to be an angel, that was a twist for me, I'm usually a trouble maker)
Uncle Randy gave her a flute to play to entice fairies to come and dance with her.
Everytime I visit Randy and Kevin's home, the garden gets more beautiful. Its a vacation in itself to sit out there and sip a glass of wine and just relax and take in the view. Of course, the gourmet cooking that those two guys spoil us with doesn't hurt either.
Their garden is welcoming and interactive, so many hidden treasures to find in the plants. But knowing our rough and tumble, curious little pixie, Randy was kind enough to give her an area to dig and make mud cookies too.
Sugarwings thought that Tillie was dressed in a party hat just for our visit, and told her over and over how beautiful she looked in it.
I missed having my good camera with me on the trip, but we decided to be very streamlined in our packing, since we were traveling with a 3 year old. So, I kept a small, light weight camera in my pocket instead of the heavy (but adored) Rebel that fills my purse.
I'll leave you with some photos of Randy and Kevin's home. You can see why I looked so tired in the photo of the three of us on the swing. There is a lot of stuff in their house that attracted Sugarwings, and I was on high alert, two steps behind her, and keeping her busy so she didn't indulge herself in exploring all the pretties!
And my favorite thing about Jacksonville?
The most fun baby brother anyone could ever have!
First off, your new design is very pretty….and looks like your trip was amazing. Your brother has a wonderful home and garden, I wanted to put on some wings and fly around and take it all in. I love peeking into people’s homes, especially homes with lots of character and are decorated wonderfully….Have a great day!
Wonderful pictures! How wonderful to have a brother that is so good to Sugar wings and you! You are blessed in so many ways and the best part is that you pass those blessings onto others! I’ve told you before, you are my “grandma inspiration. Now, I just need a little one! For now, I will just enjoy your musings with that precious little girl. Your blog is looking wonderful.
Welcome back from your trip …your brothers place is amazing..no wonder your like to visit with them…I want to go there..love all the old stuff..also love YOUR new look . Lorraine
I want to got to Randy’s house!! What a sweetie he is! And the gardens are gorgeous! How sweet of him to create a place and make the trip so special for sweet Sugarwings!!! She is so beautiful and looks right at home among the fairies 🙂 Love this so much Karla!!
Hugs,
Amy
Karla I`m so impressed ..I just found the slide show of you home…beautifull!! you have solved a problem for me ..I just found two very old 1900 music books,one of them has over 100 pages,I`m going to do a whole wall like your s with the old book pages…..thanx Lorraine
Great photos! Randy has a lot of good stuff. Love the old suitcases and the football shoes. I can see why you had to be on the watch. They really had a lot of good Halloween decorations.
Hi Karla,
Oh what wonderful pictures!!! I’m so glad that you
had a great time in Florida. Sugarwings looks like
she was having a lot of fun. LOVE your new Blog
design. Welcome home.
Hugs,
Janis
Karla,
I love the new clean and clutter free design of your blog.
Wow! It sounds like you had a wonderful time.
~elaine~
WOW Karla, the house and garden are gorgeous. I just loved all the pictures of Sugarwings.
I also love your tutorial at Artist Class. I can’t wait to find some time to get started.
Hugs Karen
Sounds like you all had a great time. I just received my “The Grumpy Fairy” book and I am really thrilled with it Karla. A very cute little story and the the water colors are fantastic! In my next life I’m going to be a water color painter. I’ve tried so not in this life. Thanks to you and “Sugar Wings” for a most cherished book. (My grandaughter has not seen it yet but she will be thrilled) Pearl
LOVE your blog re-design Karla! Nice . . . very nice.
Secondly, I love the photos in this blog post . . . gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous! That Sugarwings . . . a living fairy!
You are so blessed to have Randy & Kevin in your family. I LOVE seeing the pictures you take; wherever you go.
Darling post!! Hope you had a fabulous Halloween!! hugs!! Britt 🙂
Looks like you had a great time with your family! Just love your blog re-do!
Karla what a fun post.
Randy and Kevins home is fabulous
Alison
Haha! Somehow it is hard to imagine you knowing what to do with a decluttered home. You seem to thrive on the creative energy from being surrounded by so many pretties and possibilities.
Awesome to hear you had such a successful trip. I giggled to read that Sugarwings has laid claim to the whole beach for herself. The angel wings suit you, I think you’ve been extra amazing and good this year. Especially with helping Sugarwings take care in Randy and Kevin’s home so that it stayed nice enough for her to still see its pretties as she grows older.
Yes, it does look like you have an exceptionally fun-loving brother! Your visit sounded lovely.
I LOVE the display of suitcases under the table, do you know what they keep in them? Old suitcases are such a weakness for me. Lucky for all of you that the beach was so quiet, it is the only way I can abide going, therefore, I usually do MidAtlantic beaches in the wintertime. Better for the skin, right? Love Tillie’s Elizabethan look, and love that you got the baby home in time for trick or treat, I hope all is well now. Also love the new banner (yes, I’m repeating myself) but that drawing of SugarWings with the ears always made me feel kind of wierd funny. Isn’t it odd how art affects a person? I always liked her likeness to be more realistic, I guess! Anyway, welcome home, again, from your long winded friend, Bobbi
I love your blog re-design. It’s lovely. So’s the picture of you on it. I’ve been so busy getting ready for SB, I have missed visiting. Looks like you had a wonderful trip. Welcome home.
~Marilee
What a beautiful home your brother has.
And I Love, Love, Love your new blog look! Beautiful!!
love the new look karla!
xoxo, Tiffany
Thanks for sharing your wonderful pics from the trip. What a lovely home the guys have! Sugarwings looks so happy in all her pics!
Big Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
Karla, and you left the better camera at home??Could have fooled me! Awesome home and garden, they did a great job! Ahh, I sure could use some FL sun right about now, well actually the R & R! Lori
Karla
I just caught up on your posts and had to write again. I look at Sugarwings and wonder how a little girl feels in your presence.Magical? Wondrous? Surely special, content and fully of buckets of joy! To be a little girl in your home, fairy gardens and life has to be such an incredible gift. You, dear Karla are the wind beneath her fairy wings that will teach her to fly ever so high and dream ever so big about her future, which I have no doubt will be a magical one, thanks to you! Lori
The photos of fairy Sugarwings are just too cute, not to offend you Angel Karla!
Hello Karla,
What could be more better than spending time at the beach with family and all on your own! Look at the birds getting close to Sugarwings 🙂 And the balloons, that was a nice surprise.
A happy day!
Mizpah,
Li
Karla, your grand bebe looked in her element in your brothers yard 🙂 His home looks so pretty and elegant. I forgot in my last comment to tell you how lovely I think your blog looks with its new do 🙂 My arm has healed enough now that I can not just visit…but I can now leave comments 🙂 yay, now I am getting worn out typin 🙂 oh well I can’t help it, I love visiting all my favorite blogs which you of course are one of 🙂 Rose
Karla, I LOVE your blog re-do!!! So soft and pretty! Looks like you guys had a wonderful trip visiting your brother. He looks like he has a fun sense of life in him. Hence the wings. hee! hee! BTW…I hope you will be selling your Grumpy Fairy at SB. I want my autographed copy. 😉 XO, Jenn
Karla, I can’t believe I won the giveaway!! Oh, I’m such a paper doll person too!!! What a thrill! I’ll email you my address right away. Thank you! Thank you!
So glad you had a good trip. Sad to go through your great-aunt’s things, but with all of you there it gave you time to remember her and reminisce (sp?). Looks like you had a lot of fun too.
Love the new blog look, but then I love your blog however it looks!
Jane – Jacksonville
Fabulous post. Love the photo with Sugarwings in color in the black and white setting! Thanks for sharing the Florida trip, such an amazing place, the beach and your brother’s house and garden! ~ Angela
Well, first of all, I’m glad that little Babykins didn’t toss the bread any closer to her than she did! Those birds look ready to rumble!
Randy’s home is gorgeous — I can see why you were on high alert! Lots of treasures to enchant one of any age there! Such fun to peek in on your visit.
Are you taking applications for adoption by any chance? Can Randy be my baby brother too?
His garden looks magical.
Thank you for sharing your pictures.
I’m glad you had a wonderful visit with your brother and sister by marriage.
Lois
Karla.
I must apologise to you, Randy and his partner.
It is 2 o’clock in the morning and this is why I should not post when I am tired.
I thought I read that Randy’s partners name was Karen.
As I hit the post button it dawned on me that the name was Kevin.
I am sorry….no harm was intended.
Lois