HELLO/GOODBYE TO VACATION!

I am writing this blog post with three inches of snow on the ground and light snow flurries flying.  I am saying all of that as I share these photographs of our trip to Florida and the US Virgin Islands last week.  What a difference a week and a few thousand miles make!

We started off in Miami then to Naples, Florida to finish planning an annual meeting for AMCA ... a wonderful International organization that my husband happens to be the President of this year.  After the meetings concluded, we went through Pompano Beach, Florida; where my grandfather lived and is buried.  We found his grave and his old neighborhood and spent some time reminiscing.  He was a wonderful man.

Then my husband dropped me off at one of my favorite flea markets ... Festival Flea Market in Pompano Beach.  It is HUGE!!  I particularly like a small part in the back that is an "antique"/flea market section.  There is one booth in particular that I happened on a couple of years ago on my first visit to this place.  Her booth is so much fun!  I get to dig through container after container full of "junk"...but they are treasures to me and my mixed media art!

Sorry about my picture being sideways.  Not sure how to fix it!  Anyway, I found all sorts of fun metal findings; big heart buttons, metal flower parts, metal discs, old dice, all sorts of small metal buttons, old crystal and glass buttons, earrings drops that I will probably use for drawer pulls, etc.

Here is another picture of MORE metal stuff!!!  More earring drops, bags of all sort of chains, little copper charms, plastic wheels that I think will make some cool "vintage" Christmas ornaments, etc.

 And vintage LACE!!!  I LOVE vintage lace!  It's getting harder and harder to find so when I see some that I really like and it's priced reasonably, I snatch it up!

I was soooo happy with my treasures!  Then, on to Miami airport and a plane ride to paradise...St. Thomas and St. John US Virgin Islands.

 This is the view from our dinner table at Havana Blue in St. Thomas.  The beautiful views, the warm ocean breezes, sound of the surf and dinner with our dear friends from Chicago made the evening absolutely perfect!

The next night, we drove way up on the top of a peak in St. Thomas and had a lovely dinner at Mafolie's.  We watched the Caribbean sunset and enjoyed each other's company over a wonderful fresh seafood dinner.  Here is a picture from our table at Mofalie's at twilight.

 We took a day trip on the ferry over to St. Johns and thoroughly enjoyed the sun, sand and snorkeling at beautiful Trunk Bay.  This photograph does not do justice to the absolutely clearness and gorgeous turquoise and blue colors of the water.  The sand was as fine as flour.  Absolutely beautiful day!

And now...I'm back home where it's cold and snowy.  But, I'm sleeping in my own bed again.  I have my kids and grandkids back and I'm back in my craft room!  Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz was right...."There's No Place Like Home!"