Our Winter Escape - A cruise to "warm places"

"The sea is everything. It covers seven tenths of the terresterial globe. It's breathe is pure and healthy. It is an immense desert, where man is never lonely, for he feels life stirring on all sides."
~~Jules Verne, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea


We are just back from a wonderful almost 3 week break from the winter weather. It is hard to describe the way that we delighted in spending 2 weeks sailing the seas visiting "warm places" all over the Caribbean.

Our vacation actually began with a brief stop in sunny Florida where we stayed a few days with some friends. (we couldn't stay in our own place as it is rented for the winter~) While there, we were fortunate to be able to share an amazing experience with a few of our closest friends~~ (LOL!)

~~~ the last launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery

We feel so very lucky that the timing was perfect for us to be able to witness this incredible sight!

(photos compliments of my flicker friends)

~~~

Our cruise left from Fort Lauderdale and our first stop (after two wonderful and relaxing days at sea) was the beautiful and colorful island of Antigua.

Some views of the lovely harbor and the brightly colored buildings~~

~~

~~

our first morning in port

~~

I think these rusty old ships have so much character

see those beautiful church spires over in the distance?

we're going there in a minute~

here comes another ship into the harbor

"we were here first!"

~~

Our beautiful ship

the "Celebrity Constellation"

ahh - (we're the little one!)

The megaship Norweigean Epic

followed us around

the entire trip.

these folks followed us around also~

the "Disney Magic"

The day seemed to start out a little cloudy and rainy so we opted for a short taxi tour around the island before heading to the beach. First stop - this old church that I spotted from the deck of the cruise ship that morning. We could not go inside because of rennovations - (but they will be completed when we return next year) - (yes, we are going back again!)

~~

As we drove out of town and into the countryside - I spotted this old church. (yes - I am one of those people who LOVE old churches!) Our taxi driver said that this was the oldest church on the island and dates back to the early 1800's. I said - STOP the car!

~~

~~

~~

~~

~~

our next stop was at the historic

"Nelson's Dockyard"

the dockyard dates back to 1725

you can read the great history

of this famous landmark

HERE

~~

~~

our great friends and travel companions

Bob and Jan

were along with us on this

fabulous 2 week cruise

(this guy makes me smile so big!)

My dear friend Jan

~~

~~

the restoration of the dockyard

includes many beautiful waterfront restaurants

and some great shopping

~~

~~

this shop makes sails for schooners

and sailboats

the dockyard bakery

yumm~~

(I lusted after that guava danish!)

the Gardener found the bakery

(no surprise there!)

he bought a yummy pineapple

turnover

how old do you think this tree is?

answer~

(really, really old!)

the National Park gift shop

~~

the courtyard of the

Copper and Lumber Hotel

love that cozy restaurant!

~~

these guys are "Trouble"!

~~

persons who enter the island

via the English Harbour

must pass through

this historic Customs Building

~~

~~

~~

the Dockyard has some

lovely gift shops

amazing craftmanship!

Wow! this boat was gorgeous!!

~~

~~

We took so many photos of our wonderful trip~~

I will have to make several postings in order to share them all with you. This is the first part of our time spent on beautiful Antigua. Let's stop here for now because we need to give away that fabulous sea glass necklace~~

Here she is - Miss Maddy girl, outside on the very first day of spring. She is all set to pick some winners~~

~~

~~

~~

The winner of the sea glass necklace made by my friend Andria is~~

Sharon from the blog Wildflower House. Congrats Sharon - you will so love this beautiful necklace!

And the winner of the contest just for my much loved followers~~

A box of chocolates that I brought home from my favorite chocolate shop

on the island of St Martin~~

~~~ is Jan from the blog A Journey. Thank you Jan for being a devoted follower. I appreciate you so very much! You are going to LOVE these chocolates!

Coming up next - in my second post relating to Antigua - some breathtaking views of the island from the Shirley Heights hilltop area. These photos are truly amazing - one of the most beautiful views in all of the islands that we visited.

~~

I have been gone from my blog for what seems like forever. You know when you travel - there is SO much to do when you return to home!! Catching up takes forever - my pile of mail was about 2 feet high! I am all caught up now - totally unpacked - laundry all done - AND I am finishing up those Nests!! I have missed you all so very much~~ our trip was beyond wonderful - I can hardly wait to share it with you all~~but, there is no place like home~~

Vicki

Snow Bling (a wintery contest)

You are ice and fire~~

the touch of you burns my hands like the cold, cold snow.
Amy Lowell (1874-1925)

My friend Andria makes the most beautiful sea glass jewelry that I have ever seen. Her creations are truly stunning~~ they take my breath away.

Andria combines sea glass with beautiful beads and vintage elements to create pieces that are a vision of loveliness - in both color and design. For these fabulous designs she used copper wire to hold the pieces of glass. (I love the mix of the copper against the vibrant colors of the glass. The combination of textures combines for the creation of pieces that I can only describe as stunning!)

For Christmas, Andria designed all of the pieces shown here for me to give as gifts to friends and family. Needless to say - each recipient was thrilled beyond words with their gifts.

The glass and pottery that Andria used in these fabulous designs was collected by me on this beautiful beach in Bermuda. The Gardener and I spent hours and hours collecting pieces for me to send to Andria for the making of these unbelievable creations.

Andria created this gorgeous "fire and ice" piece as a surprise gift for me! I cannot even describe how I adore this gorgeous necklace. Blue sea glass is so treasured and so rare~~

She also created these beautiful matching earrings. Those of you who are true sea glass collectors know that blue is the rarest of colors to be found on the beaches. The Gardener and thought we had died and gone to heaven when we found this unbelievable beach that was covered in sea glass and blue was actually plentiful!

Thank you Andria for this stunning creation that is the true vision of "Fire and Ice." (As you all are reading this post - the Gardener and I are preparing to embark on a long awaited 2 week cruise to the Caribbean. I will be wearing this beautiful creation and I am sure that I will be the absolute "Belle of the Ball" when I show up at the dinner table on formal night wearing this!)

Before you run and pack your bags to take off to Bermuda - I regret to tell you that the week after we left Bermuda - the island was hit by one of the worst hurricanes in years. My sources tell me that this little hideaway beach was all but destroyed in that storm. (I will let you know after I check this out for myself later on this summer~~)

More of Andria's beautiful creations~~

~~~

~~~

~~~

~~~

~~~

~~~

~~~

~~~

~~~

Andria has a fabulous collection of sea glass jewelry pieces for sale in her ETSY shop. Each piece is unique and original - made from sea glass and pottery that came from that gorgeous beach in Bermuda. She also has this beautiful calendar for sale in her shop~~

~~~

~~~

If you have sea glass of your own that you have collected from your beach walks and travels - Andria would be happy to create a beautiful piece of jewelry for you using your own special pieces. You can contact her through her shop.

My Mama taught me that it is polite to share~~

So~ I am offering this stunning pendant ~ crafted by my friend Andria from a found pottery shard ~ as my end of winter giveaway. Are you as happy as I am that winter is almost over? Is this not a wonderful way to celebrate? A little bit of "snow bling" to celebrate the end of this long, long winter.

The contest is open to anyone ~~~ from anywhere! To enter simply leave me a comment on this post. Please enter only once. However - if you wish to post about this contest on your own wonderful blogs - please leave me a separate comment here telling me that you have done so. Andria and I would be so grateful if you would share this contest with your blogging friends. (If you post about this contest - and your name is drawn as the winner - I will also be sending you a little token souvenir from our cruise travels.)

~~~

I am also going to bring home a box of wonderful Belgian chocolates from our favorite chocolate shop in St. Martin. Our friend Beatrix makes the most delectable chocolates there. One of my lucky followers is going to win this sweet surprise. Maddy girl will pick the winners and I will post next on March 21. (it will officially be spring then!)

~~~ The Gardener and I are doing some traveling right now. We will cross the ocean, visiting the islands of St. Marteen, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Aruba, Curaco, Bonaire, and Grenada. Please say a prayer for our safe travels~
~~

I will see you again when the days are a bit warmer and a bit longer~~~

Vicki

ps - I won some wonderful prizes in the recent OWOH event~~

This gorgeous necklace was created by Andrea from the blog My Everything Corner. Andrea is a busy stay at home Mom - she crafts and makes beautiful jewelry. Her etsy shop is filled with her lovely creations. She also has a wonderful selection of vintage jewelry pieces. I am crazy in love with this beautiful necklace - I especially love that she used so many different findings in her design - love the colors of the stones - this necklace has so much character - Thank you Andrea!!


I also won this fabulous bird themed stamp collection! Is this not THE perfect prize for me!! This wonderful gift was from Linda at the blog Lambsworld.
Linda is a mixed media artist who crafts beautiful collages and cards. She is a nurse (love her for that - me too you know!) She stays very busy with her blog and participates in many fun exchanges and activities. I would love to see her craft room - I bet it is filled with wonderful stamps and crafting materials. Linda - I adore this stamp collection - it is a perfect selection for me and it will be treasured! Thank you very very much!
xoxo V.