Sunday Afternoons and Lounging With Dolphins

It's been a lovely time here in Hilton Head, although I did not expect to wear my winter clothes so often. But as I've said, even when it's a bit too cold to be out all day, the lovely ocean view is always available from the living room.  Thank you 'Big Window'. 

Everyone should get to enjoy a Sunday afternoon at the beach, especially with a squid and swimming pool.

Sunday Afternoon At the Beach collage

Hilton Head Island

We've seen a lot of dolphins from our window and deck. There is a large, all-year-round population of Bottlenose Dolphins in Hilton Head. Mostly we've seen them just pop up out of the sea, not as dramatic as our friends pictured here. 

Dolphin Lounge

Hilton Head Island

Thanks for letting me share with you.

Till next time.

Ice Cream and Sea Grass, Spheres and Balls

It's been cool here and eating ice cream has not been on my list, but I was inspired by the colorful ice cream shop signs.  And as I began to write this post, I noticed that spheres and balls are inhabiting my collages.  I do like the addition of a random sphere, ball or dot.

Ice Cream In The Sea collage

Hilton Head Island

Windows in improbable places are as much fun as balls and spheres. Red shoes are always welcome in my collages.

By The Sea In The Grass collage

Hilton Head Island

A bit more time and then off to the urban delights of Savannah.

Till next time.

Diners!!!

We came across a great little breakfast and lunch spot tucked away in a small shopping area and with one of my most favorite things, classic 'diner' decor.  The Southern Coney and Breakfast has two great specialties -  'Best Ever Pancakes' and Coney Hot Dogs.  Now being from the East Coast, I assumed that referred to Coney Island, NY, but learned there is a famous hot dog maker in Michigan known for its 'Coney' hot dogs.

The pancakes were indeed 'Best Ever' and I've seen many a box of pancake mix leave with diners after breakfast.  Haven't tried to Coney's yet.

Best Ever Pancakes collage

Hilton Head, SC

Well, diners led to conversations on 'diners we have known' and I remembered with affection the Horn and Hardart Auto-Mat in downtown Philadelphia. I remember if mostly for a quick stop for an after work slice of pie.

Pie At the Automat

Hilton Head, SC

It's been cooler here, offering plenty of  'inside' afternoons for collage with the view of the sea through 'Big Window', as I now refer to it.

Till next time.

By the Sea

 Fortunate I am to be spending unstructured days by the sea.  Our lovely rental offers a daily panorama of the ocean. We're in a walkable part of town, so daily meanderings, then back to the sea view with time being off-the grid.

The window is such a feature of our time here. You can be with the sea through chilly, rainy, foggy days. It's presence is ever strong.  It sets me in a mysterious mood, mermaids and madams of the sea.

Sea View collage

Hilton Head Island, SC

Octopi are another totem of mine. Here meeting with my ubiquitous teacups, sea shells and pearls.

Octo Moon collage

Hilton Head Island, SC

Till another time.

Rabbits and Cargo Ships!

I didn't expect to see rabbits at the beach, but we see them every day. They have grass and scrub and apparently, it's a great environment for them.

And they are this inspiration for this 'beach bunnies' collage.  Our apropos retro beach gals are from a menu at a local restaurant.

Beach Bunnies

Hilton Head Island 

Savannah is the third largest cargo ship port in the country.  It's a regular event while on the Savannah River Walk to see ships as they head toward the port. Here on  Hilton Head Island, we were surprised to discover that right out our window, we can see ships off-shore awaiting port entrance. At night, we see the lights of multiple ships, making a line across the horizon. The background here was created from a photo of the Savannah port. The cargo ships fascinate my husband, Dennis and this collage is for him.

Cargo Ships Ahoy

Hilton Head Island

We're headed home soon and this is my last travel post for now.

Thanks for coming along for the ride.

Till another time.

Island days. Cloudy. Cooler. Now Sunny!

The blog title says it. We've had varied weather. But the special part of our stay continues to be the large window and ocean view. So 'inside days' are cozy, but the sea is still with us.

Apropos of cloudy, cooler weather, along with collage, a lot of reading has occurred. But unlike our oceanside woman here, primarily through a Kindle app, which will never be as vibrant to look at as a stack of books! 

She has been reading The Sea Priestess by Dion Fortune; a mystical novel published in 1938.  Over the years, I have re-read that book many times when I spend time at the ocean.  The Hawk guardian is a Coopers Hawk, like the one who perches on trees right outside, but so far, not upon any books. There are indeed alligators on the island, but unlike our Reader's companion, they typically wouldn't be on the beach.

Cloudy Days At the Sea Collage

Hilton Head Island

At first I was reluctant to go to the Nakama Sushi Bar because the outside menu board said cheeseburgers and milkshakes were available. Did not compute! But as it was nearby, I decided to check it out on the Web and discovered that so many people were happy to have a sushi place they could take their kids to, hence, cheeseburgers and milkshakes!  We thoroughly enjoyed our tempura, dumplings and soup. As you can see, I loved the eclectic ambiance.

Nakama Sushi Bar

Hilton Head Island

Our time here is growing short. Till next time.

By the Sea!

We are having lazy days here in Hilton Head and our lovely ocean view from our rental enhances every moment.

You never know what you'll see out that glorious window.

Ocean Palms by Dior collage

Hilton Head Island, SC

Seawoman collage

Hilton Head Island, SC

Till another time!

      

At the beach!

We're spending some time at the beach on Hilton Head Island, SC; just a short travel from Savannah.  We did not go to our little town of Cedar Key, Florida, which is still recovering from hurricane damage.

HHI is a very different experience for us; accustomed to just parking the car and walking everywhere. I chose our rental because of the view and because  it was in walking distance to Coligny Square, a hub of restaurants and shops and the first such place built on the island.  Very fortunate choice, because most everything else requires a travel by car.  We ventured out a bit, but are mostly happy here in our little 'neighborhood'.

HHI is really only 54 years old and  planned with an idea of keeping the natural look, so architecture here is 'of a piece' in many ways. There are many parks and old wooded areas and of course the ocean and inlets, so nature is catching my eye instead of old Victorian homes.

The background here is the view from the window in our rental; amplified and altered, of course. It is a joy to see it all the time and we have a deck as well to be outside and hear the ocean as well as see it.  Windows evoke a bit of mystery to me and our enigmatic twins anchor that energy. Do they even notice our Octo Maiden? Perhaps not.

Sea Window collage

Hilton Head Island, SC

I came across this whimsical sculpture in a nearby park. Sandy Roads, by Mark Larkin. Our gentleman ponders it as I did.  There is a lot of public art here. I'm on the look-out!

Art In The Park Collage

Hilton Head Island, SC

Till next time!