Late yesterday afternoon, my husband and I attended our Yoga class at Well-Being Yoga which is located near our home. We got to our class a little early and decided to take a walk in the beautiful weather over to the nearby Post Office. We had a little time on our hands, and I wanted to check on our mail. I feel so blessed in our little community that everything is just a short walk away.... This is one of the main reasons we moved to Poulsbo! We can walk to--not only our yoga studio or the post office--but also down to the waterfront in no time at all...
When we arrived at our post office, I opened our mail box to find a small envelope package among the mail. Don't you love receiving a package? I know I do! Especially when you know it is something fun!
If you have been following my blog, you know that I grew up in Florida around the beach...
and that my husband and I live in a little Norwegian town near Seattle...
You also know that our home is just a short walk from Liberty Bay...
And, lastly, you know that we have a Catalina sailboat named "Skye" which is moored on Liberty Bay...
My husband loves nothing more than spending time on the boat! Here is a photo of Sadie and I on a sail. Notice she has a little lifejacket, too! Gotta protect those you love! xoxo
I think my husband is happiest when he is near the water and sailing...
We love taking our family on Skye when they visit... Here is a photo of my older son, Brandon, my husband, and I with a beautiful Northwest sunset. My son was visiting us from Houston where he now lives...
We have seen some beautiful sunsets on Liberty Bay...
Sometimes, we cook out on the boat...
Here is a photo of my younger son, Elliott, relaxing in the cabin. My husband loves for us to spend the night on Skye...
Here is a photo of Brandon with his fiance, Amy, celebrating the 4th of July with us on Skye. They are engaged to be married in November. We are so happy to have a wedding in the future. We think Brandon and Amy are perfect for each other...
I love this photo of my step-daughter, Ashley, and grand-daughter, Brenna. We took them sailing when they visited from Florida together. Ashley did a great job helping to sail the boat that day! Brenna really enjoyed her day...
On another occasion, my sister, Jeri, visited from Florida, too. Of course, we had to take her sailing one day, too!
Most of the time, my dear husband and I sail together...just the two of us. Oh, and, of course, we bring Miss Sadie Mae....
I hope you enjoyed the previous photos. We have had so many great times walking down to Liberty Bay and sailing. Our sailboat is very special to us. I purchased "Skye" right after my father passed away in August of 2008. My father had a lifelong passion for fishing. Sadly, due to advanced parkinsons disease, he had never been able to visit us after we moved from Florida to the Seattle area. However, Dad knew a lot about the area from the things I would tell him and from photos. He knew that we had a lot of water around us...Dyes Inlet, Liberty Bay and the Puget Sound. Loving fishing and boats, he always thought we should get one. As you may know, I lost my Mother in June and my Father in August of 2008. After my Dad passed, I had a feeling in my heart that I should look for a sailboat. I knew my Dad would be happy that we had a boat. The whole process of searching for and buying a sailboat was a healing thing for me.... You can understand why I nicknamed our boat, "Skye - The Lillie-James" in honor of my parents...James and Lillie ("Lil") Thompson. The next photo shows my Dad fishing....something he adored. Even though he had parkinsons disease and it was difficult to climb in and out of his boat as his disease progressed, he continued to go fishing on occasion--thanks to his friend, Bill. My Dad would tell me many times..."Bill is my very best friend." (Thank you, Bill, for helping my Dad to continue his passion for fishing. Without you, this would have been impossible for Dad.)
After reading what I have already posted today, you will totally understand why I was excited to get my package at the post office. Inside the box was a special necklace designed and made just for me by one of my fellow blogging friends, Heather of Simple Daisy. When, I opened the package, there was a little box. Heather had tied the box together with some jute and had attached a cute little shell. A cute presentation..
Inside the box, was my necklace that Heather created. The necklace has special meaning to me because it has three charms on it. The first one, is an anchor which makes me think of our sailboat, "Skye - the Lillie-James." It also makes me think of my Dad (who loved fishing) and my husband who spent many years in the Navy. The second charm is a turquoise seafoam blue droplet which makes me think of the beach in Florida where I grew up. Thinking of the beach brings back memories of trips to Playalinda Beach with my family when I was a child. It also makes me think of when my husband and I were dating in high school. He was a surfer, and we spent a lot of afternoons on the beach together. Finally, the third charm is a round silver disk which has some numbers on it. These numbers are the nautical coordinates for Liberty Bay where our sailboat is moored. Here is a close-up of my necklace...
How special is that! Even the little little blue card that holds the necklace makes me think of the ocean or sea... The edges remind me of waves...
Of course, I had to try the necklace on immediately!
Here is a close-up of the necklace on me...
I love items that have special meaning. Don't you? Heather, the necklace is beautiful and perfect! I also love the fact that you created it yourself and just for me. I will wear the necklace often and will post a photo of me wearing it on a future sail... :)
If you would like to visit Heather's blog, Simple Daisy, or see more of the jewelry she creates, please visit her at Simple Daisy Here is a photo of Heather on the beach which she posted today. As you can tell, she loves the beach, too! :)
If you visit Heather at Simple Daisy and comment, be sure and tell her that I sent you and say hello for me! Sending warm wishes to you today and, as always, hoping you have a beautiful day! xoxo Kim
OH MY! Be still my heart! I have loved her jewelry for the longest and you've found the perfect necklace to wear and enjoy! Something that will be precious to you! You may have pushed me over the edge! I wish I had a birthday coming up! lol I've appreciated your wonderful comments about my beach photos. Shellbelle's Tiki hut is having a World Oceans Day party at her blog...it's tomorrow. I have the button on my sidebar..you can click it to get more info. I know you could write a GREAT post that everyone would LOVE! You should join in! Hugs, Diane ♥
Posted by: Lavender Dreams | Tuesday, June 07, 2011 at 01:08 PM
Amazing and heart touching
Posted by: Dawn | Tuesday, June 07, 2011 at 01:13 PM
Hi Dawn,
That you so much for visiting my blog and thank you for your very sweet comments! I am so glad you loved the necklace and were touched by the posting today. ((((hugs)))) Kim
Posted by: Bluebirds and Butterflies | Tuesday, June 07, 2011 at 01:46 PM
Hi Diane,
Thank you SO much for comments. I knew you would, of all people, love this post because I know how much you love the water, ocean, shells, Simple Daisy's jewelry---the whole package. We are sisters of heart in this respect for sure! I have really enjoyed your postings...especially the past week...of all the wonderful things you have found on the beaches in Florida. Okay...go ahead girl...do what I did and give yourself a treat! Declare it an "unbirthday" and select a necklace or something you love from Simple Daisy :) I'm glad I did, and you will be, too! I am wearing my necklace today! xoxo Kim
Posted by: Bluebirds and Butterflies | Tuesday, June 07, 2011 at 01:50 PM
I love your little town..so pretty! You and the necklace..
Your poor dad..did he suffer for a long time?
My dad loved to fish also..
The kids all look happy and wonderful.
Beautiful post.
Posted by: Monique | Tuesday, June 07, 2011 at 02:27 PM
Hi Monique,
Thank you for your nice comments and for visiting me today. I am so glad you love our little community! It is nice that your Dad loved to fish, too... My Father always said that it was his "therapy." :) I think we all need to have something that we do as a hobby that helps us escape and heal from the stresses of life that we encounter sometimes. Blogging is my way of expressing myself and sharing the things I love. I think this is what most of us that have a blog...like you...do. It really stimulates the creative side of you, and is way to reach inside yourself (your soul) as you write or journal in your blog. Some people do this with beautiful photos only...touching those who follow the blog with the feelings they convey in the photos. Your blog is certainly a beautiful one, Monique! One of my favorites! My sweet Dad had parkinsons disease for about 14 or so years. I think he had it much longer than we realized because, at first sometimes, the signs are not real evident. A good doctor happened to notice one his fingers shaking a bit. I'll never forget the day my Dad called my husband and I over to share that he had found out he had Parkinsons with us. Luckily, he had a few years where it didn't really cause him too much difficulty...he still fished on his own and drove a car. You might not realize he had Parkinsons at that point unless his medicine needed upping or something. But, sadly, as he advanced he showed more signs. He had difficulty walking and used a walker or chair. He also lost a lot of his eyesight and couldn't see very well. Through it all, fishing kept his interest. He began to tell the kids in the neighborhood who would visit him how to fish and even gave them a few fishing poles. Thinking of this makes me smile! :) I must say, Monique, since you asked about my Dad...that the last few days I was with him in the couple of weeks before he died were very precious to me. When I was fluffing his pillow, he would tell me..."I love you more than anything." This has stayed with me and helped to bring a good feeling to my heart whenever I think of my Dad now. Luckily, my Dad got to fish because of his friend, Bill, who took him and assisted him. Those were what Dad would call his "bluebird days." Bluebird days were the best days to my Dad...that is why I have "Bluebirds" in my blog name. I know my Dad is out there fishing somewhere....having his "therapy." That makes me have a "bluebird day." :) Glad you loved the necklace and hope you visit Heather's blog. Have a beautiful day! xoxo Kim
Posted by: Bluebirds and Butterflies | Tuesday, June 07, 2011 at 02:54 PM
Kim,
My husband and son are big time surfers too. They have surfed the waves in Nor Cal, So. Cal, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Hawaii. I never realized how therapeutic surfing was until I read an essay my son wrote in school about it. What a lovely necklace.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley
Posted by: Sheri, Jess, and Nel | Tuesday, June 07, 2011 at 06:15 PM
Hi Kim, I love your precious necklace that's very special.I have a few days of catching up on your posts which I think I will do in the morning bright and early with a cuppa I just love reading your posts and looking at your beautiful photo's. You really do live in a beautiful town. Trish xox ;)
Posted by: Trish Rowley | Wednesday, June 08, 2011 at 03:51 AM
Hi Kim!
Love your necklace and the story behind it! It holds such meaning for you and you look great wearing it! Each time you wear it, you will think of your dad. Love the name of your boat! It's wonderful that your dad passed on his love of the water to you. I'm sure you're in safe hands with your husband at the helm! Being on the water is so healing....My husband Dave just said yesterday that he misses having a boat. Sadie looks so cute with her life jacket! Your village is lovely. Living in a little port town is our future dream. Hopefully, it will be realized one day.
The photo of your balcony showing the homes going down the hill remind me of the beautiful painted ladies in San Francisco. Your son Elliott looks a lot like you.
I'll try to get back to blogging this weekend. Work and school have kept me pretty busy. I got a couple of nice photos of the little Robin that fledged yesterday. There are 3 more in the nest. Thanks for all that you share!
Big hugs to you!
Sandy
Posted by: Sandy | Wednesday, June 08, 2011 at 05:28 AM
I love your blog and have no idea why I have never signed up to follow you before now, especially as I notice you also used to participate in Sunday Song. My father also sadly suffered from Parkinson's, a most dreadful disease.
I am delighted you found me and left a comment so I could call by in return. I hope to see you there again, I still post a Sunday Song at times!
Posted by: LindyLouMac in Italy | Wednesday, June 08, 2011 at 07:46 AM
Hi Trish,
Hope all is well with you, dear friend. I would be honored to share a cuppa with you through my blog. Thank you soooooo much for the sweet comments. I hope your quilt is coming along great and you are getting an opportunity to enjoy some nice high teas! xoxo ((((hugs))))Kim
Posted by: Bluebirds and Butterflies | Wednesday, June 08, 2011 at 08:32 AM
Hi Sandy,
Thank you for your sweet comments sooooo much! On your plan to someday move to a port town, consider Poulsbo as a choice...How I would love to have you as a neighbor! :) I am enjoying reading your posts on your blog, The Delightful Eclectic Abode, Sandy. Your new camera is doing an awesome job on producing some wonderful photos for you...and you have a talented eye for spotting a great subject! Thank you for the compliment on Sadie Mae in her life jacket...I think she looks cute in it, too! She loves to lay on the cushioned seat in the cabin and enjoys the breeze in her hair when I take her to be with me in the cockpit. She is enjoying walking with me in the nice weather right now! She just prances!Have a great day! Love and hugs, xoxo Kim
Posted by: Bluebirds and Butterflies | Wednesday, June 08, 2011 at 08:46 AM
(((Kim)))) Boy how I would love to be your neighbor! Our little fur babies could play
together.
I'm simply blown away with your blog! Wow! Thanks for taking us to so many interesting places! You have a good heart and you've helped to lift my spirits when I'm missing my mom. Thanks for sharing your gifts with all of us.
Have a bluebird weekend!
Hugs, Sandy
Posted by: Sandy | Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 10:05 AM
Hi Sandy,
Always so happy to see you visit me on my blog! Yes, what fun we would have together if you lived here! Put Poulsbo on your list of places to explore for retirement one day! Thanks for the sweet comments about my blog posting. I feel honored that my postings have helped to cheer you....from experience, I know how it is to miss a loved one who is gone. Miss my parents every day! There are so many wonderful blogs, including your's, out there that cheer and inspire. Blogging is certainly a positive experience! We had such a fun time in the San Juans! Definitely a place we will visit many times in the future. I hope you have a wonderful weekend with your husband and sweet little dogs. (((((hugs))))) Kim
Posted by: Bluebirds and Butterflies | Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 12:29 PM