Back to the beach

Our church's annual women's retreat was the first weekend of April. If I hadn't already paid and agreed to give two other women a ride, I probably would have bailed out – that's how overwhelmed I was feeling. That, of course, speaks to just how much I needed the retreat....

The weather forecast couldn't have been nicer, making Kate and me positively twitchy about wanting our horses and dogs with us. That would have made a great weekend absolutely perfect. Alas, there are no boarding facilities at the lovely Dawn Treader, the house rented for the occasion the past several years.

Kate and I shared this king-sized bed; it's on a platform so high you need steps or a running start to access! I kept the window over my head open the whole time, which made the room cool and refreshing to sleep in.

The weekend speaker was excellent and the food was good, but the biggest draw for me is always the beach. Kate and I hit it early and often, enjoying it in all kinds of light.

During our walks we got dog fixes whenever we could. I especially admired this striking Shetland sheepdog; I wonder why! ;-)

We also both enjoy strolling through the surrounding development of Olivia Beach, looking at cute cottages and decorative details.

This lavender shrub/ground cover, common in area landscaping, was buzzing with bees. When I bent over to see if it was aromatic, I was surprised to find it smells like honeycomb!

I hope you enjoyed this little travelogue from . . .