This Perfectly Imperfect Life

Coastal living. Coastal winter.

The sunshine yesterday was glorious! I enjoyed every moment of it here at home (top photo) and while we were out for a drive to do errands, taking the back roads. We're back to business as usual today; it's cloudy and dim. But, I'm loving these photos and printing out a few to enjoy too!

What an amazing morning! Took a tour of the sailing ship "America" (a replica of the original) which was anchored just outside the mouth of the harbor (due to low tide). I haven't been on a boat since I was a kid, so the boat ride to and from the America, and seeing part of our beautiful town from the water for the first time (though we've lived here over a decade), as well as the tour and history, was a fantastic experience! I hope you're all having a fabulous Saturday and find joy in your day no matter what - especially in new and unexpected ways! 

Sunset Mon 3/21 A new day Tues 3/22 Same hospital, same floor, practically the same view. Same patient.  Not me. My mother.  Another TIA/mini-stroke, and cardiac event, both minor this time. TG.  First time I've ever had to call for an ambulance. First time I've ever taken a ride in one.  Today's the third day of playing 'hurry up and wait' at the hospital.  I'm so exhausted; I can barely think strait.  Mothers and daughters. Why do we do this to ourselves? To one another? History repeating itself. Exactly 4 years later. 

New Jersey summers are infamous for many reasons like the shore and tomatoes, but unless you live here, you may not know the biggest one. To say that it is stifling outside is the understatement of the summer so far. The humidity is shocking and suffocating. Disgusting. Stunning. Oppressive. Sickening. Breath taking. And not in a good way.  I gasped loudly when I walked out into it this morning and got assaulted by air thick enough to bite it's so dense with moisture. Thank goodness for small favors and it's not hot too.  Here on the bayshore at the Portable Homestead, and up at the lake, everything is damp to the touch or sticky. Bed linens and curtains have to be washed more frequently now or they'll smell sour, like sweat. Powdery mildew (mold) will soon be sprouting up on anything that's made of real wood or leather, an unwelcome annual ritual we've learned to live with because we can't keep it from happening, no matter what we've trie...

Last time we met, I was on the eve of turning the big 4-Oh! (More on that another time). Since then we've been away and back, and I've been busy trying to get rid of The Cold That Would Not Leave. Instead of playing the usual catch-up ( am I the only one who forever feels like they're playing catch-up?! ), I thought I'd share our extra long weekend away in a different way. One of my favorite places is our camper, which sits on on an island, in a lake, in the mountains, in my favorite area of our beautiful state, the Skylands in Northwestern NJ, and that is where we spent our Anniversary/Memorial Day weekend just a couple of weeks ago! I can't tell you what this place means to my soul, but it is so near and dear to my heart that once we are back here on the coast, I'm overwhelmed with homesickness for the first few days. Here are some (okay, a lot ) of my favorite shots from that weekend: (iPhone) Our dock One of the views from the island ...