Jeannie Marie & Company

Taking a break from the hot weather in Florida, we traveled to North Carolina for a cooler holiday. In December/January bare trees and vines are the norm,  yet a flourishing Camellia hedge loaded with blooms and buds caught my eye. The contrast there gave me a start! It was full of waxy white, perfect blooms. Isn't it lovely?  The milder temps dropped into very chilly days and my granddaughter said she needed a hat.  So  I knitted her one. I love how the shadows have fallen over her face here. Then a surprise drop drop in temperature caused even the fountain to freeze.   We got much more than we bargained for, arriving here sans coats and warm clothing! Our first trip here in winter these same weeks, two years ago, didn't even require a sweater! Lesson learned.   It really was a  wonderful winter holiday!   Sharing with: Shadow Shot Sunday2

The strangest things interest me!  I can do without souvenir shops or any retail stores but show me a old rusty gate and I'm in heaven!   What I saw on a side street in Cozumel on my trip last month... An old rusty gate... Across an archway The shop owner next door saw me taking pictures  and invited me in further into the courtyard where I found a swing made from a board and yellow rope. Does a child lives here behind one of the doors? Iron grates over the windows look pinkish. You can see the ocean at the very end and turn around and see the ocean on the other end of the street.  Turning around....the sea again.  We are actually on an island off the coast of Mexico I loved this tin house number sign.. Hopeful shops flying the colorful Mexican Flag The owner saw my sister and I chuckling over the sign over his shop...Cheaper than Wal-Mart  He headed over to compel us to come i...

My daughter and I have hit the thrifts like crazy, but honestly, the shops in Florida ROCK compared to the ones I have found here in North Carolina.  Nevertheless each store is a challenge and I have managed to unearth some great 75% off Christmas items!! I did find these cute little Starbucks ornaments at a dollar apiece!   They were fun because we just had our holiday lattes today! They were cute on all sides!  One was from 2005  Two were from 2006 This little guy melted me!  What a great little smile..worth more than the quarter I gave for him. And then I found his papa, knocked down to $1.25! So cute together!   I found them on different tables though. This one holds a tea light...so cute!  I can't wait to take him home and test it out!    Of course I found a Santa Mug! Fifty cents!  I feel comfortable buying a holiday mug I can tuck away ...

It was a wonderful to take a cruise in the middle of December and just while away the time on board ship.  Here are a few pictures  I snapped: My baby sister, Janet and I shared a stateroom.  You remember Janet! She is t he artist I featured awhile back.     Pssst.  We are wearing our newly thrifted outfits! See what a large, roomy stateroom we had!   Everywhere there were beautiful decorations for Christmas! Even the ceilings were gorgeous.  This, of course is the "everyday" look! I really liked this piece.  Sea turtles on coral, that I found in an alcove. My Shadow Shot for the week! This cruise was overcast almost every day! Outside along the rail it was beautiful, windy and warm. I loved seeing the ships name stamped on the life preservers. Occasional glimpses of the sun provided a shadow or two caught here! In the distance, along the horizon you could see...

While visiting Cozumel, Mexico I saw some lovely Christmas decorations If you notice the streetlight, you will see behind it a large decoration designed to be lit at night with stars and such in red and green neon.  These were placed all down the street but we didn't stay after dark so we didn't see them lit up.  I bet they were beautiful.  Then, when I turned this corner to the left ... I spotted this beautiful, nearly life size, nativity! I asked the people, guarding the nativity where is the baby Jesus?  They explained that it is Jesus is on the left, as a grown man and Mary is on the right.  Did I notice the halos?  A very unusual nativity.    To the right of the crib were the rest of the figures and a large Christmas tree.  Joseph is in the background and two more kings and a donkey kneeling in front is all cast in the same  as the Jesus and Mary figures.  Flat, wooden replicas of lambs and shep...

A lovely trip, mid December Beautiful, misty, windy and cool Lovely views of the Gulf of Mexico Sitting on the steps at the beach front The view from the patio of  the restaurant we found Traveling on side streets Of  course,  the Nativity in front of a store  My taxi view  Pure loveliness   Waiting patiently for her passengers to return. Sharing at: Shadow Shot Sunday2 Pink Saturday Sundays in my City Blue Monday Monday Mellow Yellows Straight out of the Camera Sunday