What A Crazy Week and A Giveaway

Since last Wednesday my life has been topsy turvy to say the least!  On top of Ms. M's stroke, a dear friend's father passed away suddenly and completely unexpectedly due to a heart attack!  

With everything going on at the moment it will be a little while longer before I'm back to my regular blogging schedule...real life has crept in to remind me that life doesn't always revolve around the internet!

Last night before collapsing in to bed, I went out and just stood on our dock for awhile and watched the full moon rise above the water.  It was nice to just have a quiet moment to reflect on this past week's craziness and to stop and be thankful for family, friends, and good health!

I had promised you all that I would show you a gorgeous waterfront home, and I haven't forgotten!  When life slows back down a little I'll be sure to show you more of this lovely home...you won't want to miss it!

And along with a fun house tour, I'll also be introducing you to some beautiful bedding that will be in stores this fall.  I know you all will love it, and here's a tiny sneak peek at just one of the collections!

But because life has been so crazy, and I haven't been around to work on my own blog, reply to your wonderful comments, or visit anyone else's blogs...I thought a wonderful Giveaway might tide you all over!

You may remember a while back when I featured a giveaway of some beautiful beach glass jewelry made by my friend Julie of Frosted Trash.  Well she has kindly offered me these stunning earrings to use for another great giveaway!

I love everything Julie creates...I'll be showing you a pair of earrings she gave me recently that I LOVE and have already worn almost daily!  Once again Julie has outdone herself by designing these gorgeous earrings that combine pale turquoise sea glass with crystals and pearls to create something you'll want to wear every day too!

All you have to do to enter to win the earrings pictured above is to visit Julie's blog Frosted Trash 

1.  Then come back and tell me which pair of earrings (that she has featured in her latest post), you can't live without!!

2.  For a second chance to win let me know that you are a follower of my blog, or Julie's (I know she would love to have a few more friends and followers of her blog!) and you'll be entered for a 2nd chance to win! (Be sure to leave a separate comment)

3.  And for a 3rd chance to win, blog, tweet, or post on facebook and then leave a 3rd comment for yet another chance to win!

The contest will be open until Tuesday, August 2nd at midnight PST and is open to everyone!!

Thank you to everyone for your continued support and understanding!  I hope to be back to blogging full time very soon!  See you then my friends!!!

Fish Food and An Exciting Week Ahead

Today was a quiet day around my house.  It was welcomed after a busy week and because Mr. Tide appears to have suffered from dehydration or food poisoning...so NOT good!

So after resting much of the weekend, he finally felt up to taking a stroll down to our dock this afternoon.

We had a leftover french baguette which had become hard and stale, so we decided to see if the fish in the creek would enjoy a little carbohydrate treat!  

We've never fed the fish out back before, but they seemed very appreciative and a little feeding frenzy erupted around each morsel of bread Mr. Tide tossed into the water!  I have no idea what type of fish these are, but some of them had the most beautiful blue stripes along there backs and tails.  And even though you can't tell it from my not so clear photos, they almost looked like tropical fish with those flashes of bright blue as they attacked the bread!

Mr. Quinn was quite intrigued by the whole business of feeding the fish, but I suspect it had more to do with the fact that in his mind we were tossing away perfectly good bread that he would have happily devoured!

Now most of my fellow bloggers can relate to the fact that I rarely relinquish the camera these days.  Ever since I've fallen in love with the art of photography, I've become a bit of a camera hog!  Mr. Tide never minds, and it's not like I hide the camera or take it away from him, but I do tend to take the lion's share of the photos around here since creating my blog.

Today he headed outside with the camera and snapped a few great pictures, and I didn't even break out into a cold sweat or go through any kind of withdrawals!

He shot both of these beautiful trumpet vine photos.  I wish someone would start promoting the use of weeds and invasive species as ideal garden plants since they seem to be the only things which can survive and thrive with high heat and no water!!  Maybe I'll start the movement and see who jumps on the bandwagon.  Just think of all the time, money and effort we could save if weeds were the "new" flowers!

He also captured this gorgeous blue dragon fly perched on a grapevine leaf.

I just love the dramatic blue of it's body and those eyes!!!  We have lots of dragonflies around here in all sizes, shapes, and colors!  The red, orange, blue, and yellow ones are the most dramatic of course and you rarely see the blue ones, they tend to stay further up the creek in the wetlands.

And be sure to check back this week when you'll be treated to a few exciting posts!  I'll be showing you more of this breathtaking beach house owned by my friend and beach glass jewelry artist Julie, the owner of Frosted Trash!  Wait until you see the gorgeous pair of earrings she gave me to use as a giveaway!

And I'll finally be posting the first in a 3 part series about the wonderful women behind AtticMag!  You won't want to miss my interview with Jane F, and you'll get a sneak peek at her country house! 

So be sure to check back this week for the giveaway, and to see some truly beautiful homes!