Don suggested I use the cake stand to display some of my seashells….good idea! I carefully packed each and every one in plastic containers surrounded on all sides by cotton balls. I am proud to say they all made it home safe and sound. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you, I’m home. I love looking for shells. There is a zen-like focus and relaxation involved. Seriously, I could have gone out each and every day looking for shells. Even now I wonder what little treasures are lurking in the sand, just waiting for me to swoop in and rescue them.

I love all the varied textures – some have taken quite a beating in the ocean waves – I like them all the more.

I’d like to take a vacation at the shore and just look for seashells and antiques. That sounds heavenly. Last week’s visit to Florida was all things: wonderful, fun, emotional, exhausting, draining and touching. I’m sure I’ve left some adjective out of the list. I arrived back home yesterday afternoon. I’m tired.

Today I was mowing the lawn and guess what? I encountered another yellow jacket nest. I got stung twice last year by the little buggers. This time, one of those devils stung me on my thumb – through my gardening gloves. Now I’m sitting here with a swollen, itchy thumb. I did do three things immediately: scraped a credit card across the wound to make sure the stinger was out, held a copper penny to the wound (and watched the swelling go down!) and applied a baking soda/water paste to the sting. I think one of my readers suggested the penny in a comment. Everything worked. The swelling around the sting went down, although there is still swelling at the base of the thumb. The pain has diminished. I had just taken a Benedryl right before it happened because I am allergic to grass pollen. Perfect timing.

Finally, a photo of Max and me, taken by my sister.

Read her post about Max – that boy is a sensitive soul. (My hair can look brown or gray, depending on the light. Boy, it sure looks gray here….)