Off The Beaten Trail

1. Living Plant Jewelry...how cool is this? Check out Passionflower To Wear shop at Etsy...she has live plant rings, necklaces and bracelets. LOVE THEM!

2. Looking for something new to read? Check out this debut collection of stories by CB Anderson--RIVER TALK. I love this quote, from Monica Wood...

"I adored these stories, every one of which engaged my mind and my heart. Anderson writes with wisdom, generosity, and beauty about people we don't see often enough in contemporary literature. She gives us minimum-wage strivers, doing their best and sometimes their worst, and asks us to see them, hear them, walk with them for a while. Anderson is a marvelous writer, but her best gift is simple and rare: empathy."

I already got my copy, and I can't wait to read this over my spring vacation. You might want to visit Anderson's website, too.

3. There is a giveaway at Goodreads for Heather Rigney's debut novel WAKING THE MERROW. Go enter! This is one of the most amazing books I've read in recent memory. A mixture of New England history, raw yet compelling characters, and horrifying fantasy. It's a must-read! The release date is June 2014.

 

4.  On Sunday my family is heading down to Sanibel for a week of spring vacation. We'll be doing the regular stuff: collecting shells, paddle-boarding over manatees (my son did that last time...hee hee!), and biking around the island.

But my favorite activity is visiting Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge. It is a gorgeous spot to see wildlife of all kinds...mangroves, birds, fish, alligators.

If you are ever in the Fort Myers area, I highly recommend this spot if you get the chance for a visit. It's spectacular.

All right, my little chickadees. Enjoy the spring sunshine. I'll check in after my vacation.

Ciao!
Penny

Hello, Darling!

We finally got to Ding Darling yesterday! One of my favorite places on earth...serene, peaceful, beautiful and inspiring. Here is a little blue heron we saw right away, just hanging out so we could take his picture. (Photo by my son). Unfortunately, the slide pool was not serene, peaceful and inspiring.....it was crowded, noisy and filled with angry children having temper tantrums. My kids, of course, loved it and had a blast. I finished reading Cinderella Unmasked, which I really liked, and I started my next book, This Side Of The Grave by Jeaniene Frost.

Today, we're trying paddle boarding and heading back to Ding. Can't squeeze in enough birding during this trip!

All My Best,
Penelope