Sunday, June 30, 2013

...an historic day



We are back home after a very busy and eventful week. The Florida Bar had it's Annual Meeting this past week at the beautiful Boca Raton Resort. The Bar alternates the venue year to year, between Boca and Orlando. There is so much going on...it's several days of go go go.

On Thursday, we...and over seven hundred friends...had lunch with Soledad O'Brien from CNN. Her keynote speech at the Judicial Luncheon was a highlight of the week. Soledad shared her personal story
with warmth and humor and had all of us in stitches with her perfectly timed delivery. 


After lunch she was generous with her time and posed for photos and chatted.
 She was impressed that Clancy, Annie's dog, has his own collar with his name and phone number on it that he wears when we travel.


What a lovely lady...and so very funny!


On Friday, Mr. MW was sworn in, along with forty nine others, to begin another year serving on the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar.  This is "our group" that I have mentioned here before. This is the reason we have been able to travel to so many fun places within Florida, and once a year out of state. The Board of Governors is an elected position and is the policy making and regulatory branch of the Supreme Court of Florida. Mr. MW is beginning his tenth year on the BOG....Annie and I are beginning our tenth year of fun. 

But the best part of the week was when our friend Mr. Gene, as Annie calls him, became the first African American President of the Florida Bar.


http://www.floridabar.org/ ...you can read about Gene's wonderful journey on this website. 


With his beautiful family, six siblings and their families, many, many friends and his BOG family all in attendance...we watched as history was made in the state of Florida. It was so moving...and so wonderful to see!


Gene and his lovely wife Sheila...and our girl. Annie is a great barometer when it comes to picking quality friends...she loves both members of this wonderful couple...she's had a special friendship with Mr. Gene for years.

Our dear friends, we are so happy we were able to share this historic day with you!

Annie attends all of the events with us...including the three hour General Assembly when everyone is sworn in. She loves seeing all her friends...some we only see once a year at this meeting. If she looks a bit tired it's because she is...everybody breathes a sigh of relief when that long meeting and the big lunches are over and the fun and celebrations begin.



The big finish for the week is a huge buffet breakfast served in the Presidential Suite on the 25th floor. It's a relaxed morning...flip flops and shorts...great food and a beautiful view. 


Boca Raton is so beautiful!


This fun family is made of glass and currently lives in the lobby of the hotel. Isn't it fitting that a meeting with the theme of Inclusion and Diversity was held in a place where everyone passed this colorful group every day? Love it!

Hope you are all having a great Summer! Can't believe it's almost July! 
I'll be following you all on Bloglovin'...whatever that means! 

Enjoy the day,
Robyn














Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Closing in...


A few more rows of the teal outline...


...several rows of black outer border...


I'm closing in on a finish to Antique Lion. 


At this point, this rug is heavy and not easy to maneuver. 


I promise...the next time you see this charming fellow he will be hanging on the wall!

Enjoy the day,
Robyn

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Happy Father's Day


From her very first day...


...and every day since...


...a special bond.

Happy Father's Day!

Enjoy the day,
Robyn









Thursday, June 6, 2013

Storm Warnings


It's a good day for ducks...and fish...here on the Gulf Coast of Florida today. We are snug in our little "cottage",  as we call it. We love rainy days!


With the storm coming in off the water, I thought it was the perfect time to arrange the mantle for the new season...a nautical theme for the Summer seems a logical choice when you live fifteen minutes from the sea.


 A pair of early whale oil lamps with a new hurricane burning a comforting beeswax candle. It's so cozy inside!


My favorite starfish and another early whale lamp... a finger lamp.


 Red transferware ship...old and crackled...perfect!


And of course, the mighty leviathan himself. This is a print by Kolene Spicher. It is hard to see so...


...here is the mighty fellow off the wall so you can see the details. I love the beautiful works by this talented artist. There is writing around the whale and a tiny lighthouse. The print looks as if it could be a page taken from an early whaler's journal...in fact,
it even has fold lines...wonderful!


Having fun on a stormy day...in between trips to our "safe" hallway after a few tornados were spotted in our area.

Be careful...there's weather out there and it might be coming your way!

Thank you for all the lovely comments many of you left on my last post...your kind words are so appreciated. The door basket is so easy...all I did was wrap an old folded flag around a flatback basket...one straight pin to hold the tail in place...and fill with flowers...things I had on hand...took about five minutes.

Have a great weekend everybody!

Enjoy the day,
Robyn








Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Summertime Blues


This is our front door these days...a salute to the Summer that Memorial Day rings in and Labor Day, all too soon, bids a fond farewell.

We are awaiting some bad weather from the tropics so I took advantage of the overcast skies to snap a few pics of the summery blues popping up around our home. It is difficult to photograph sometimes because of the reflections...the ever present sunshine bounces off anything with a bit of shine to it.

Like the crocks I lined the bookcase with for a lighter look.


I have been collecting "canner" crocks for some time. I am always thrilled to find a different motif or size and try not to repeat patterns. Love the feather on this one.


squiggles & clovers 


Crocks with advertising appeal to me for the graphics and also the place of origin...this one is from West Virginia.


This is my latest find...an Alexandria, Virginia crock. Having been born in this wonderful old historic town I have looked for one of these crocks for a long time. They are pricey...but I found one that was reasonable and took the plunge.


It's a fun addition to the group. I need to do some research and learn more about this particular pottery...made right there in a town that holds so many memories for me.


wool blankets


starfish


Just a few snaps of some of the summertime blues around our house.


Enjoy the day,
Robyn





Tuesday, June 4, 2013

June kitchen window


A simple window for June....an old leather book binding sets the tone.


Treasures collected from sea and land on our journeys.


...shells...pinecones...feathers...honeycombs...star fish...


Mother Nature's souvenirs...


collected by the three of us.


Have a great week!

Enjoy the day,
Robyn

*yesterday's post went poof so this is a redo*