These are a Few of My Favorite Things

This past week has been kinda crazy. The time change and staying up all night to watch the shuttle launch really threw off my sleeping pattern. I've been really tired and groggy and a little cranky. But, this week has also reminded me of a few of my favorite things. I wanted to share them with you all.

Pink skies. It doesn't matter if the pinkness comes from a sunrise or a sunset but I can not get enough! My gorgeous sunrises that I'd gotten so accustomed to seeing on my way to work are gone due to the time change but I discovered that I will sometimes get the opportunity to see something that is just as beautiful and breathtaking. I get to see dawn. This week I saw THE most beautiful dawn I think I've ever seen. The sky was the most amazing shade of hot pink. It fanned out on the sides to a light pink and then to peach and then into blue. It was just gorgeous. I couldn't help but smile and stare and think how lucky I was to be able to see something so amazing. I took a picture with my cell phone camera through my car window. The picture doesn't do it justice at all but here it is anyway.

Orange blossoms. I think orange blossom may be my all time favorite scent. It's sweet and warm and a little salty smelling and you only get to experience it one time a year. Well, now is that time. I always know when it is officially spring when the orange trees start to blossom. I was outside throwing the ball to the dogs the other afternoon and the breeze blew by and I was just hit with the intoxicating scent of orange blossom. My neighbors tree has tons of blooms on it right now. Whenever I open the back door I get to smell that amazing scent. I was driving the back way to Merritt Island the other afternoon through all old orange groves and I was in heaven. I had the window open and the air was warm with just the hint of a cool breeze and the orange blossom scent filled the air. Again, I just smiled and thought about how lucky I am to be able to experience that even once a year.

The beach. I hadn't been to the beach since we moved into our house almost four years ago. I know that I should be ashamed of myself but we have the pool and it's just so much easier than trekking out to the beach. I was reminded today of how much I take the beach for granted. I wanted some sea shells to put in a glass vase on my coffee table and, being that I live ten minutes from the beach, I couldn't bring myself to buy shells from the store. So I recruited Becky and Pierce to go to the beach with me today to get some shells. We had the best time. The weather was GORGEOUS! It was in the 80's with hardly any clouds in the sky. There was a nice cool breeze and the water was perfectly clear. It was still a little chilly but refreshing to "splash off" in. I just layed on the beach and looked out on the ocean and smiled. I really want to make it a priority to get out to the beach at least a couple of times a season. I got some really amazing shells too. Authentic shells, for free. Which brings me to...

The first sunburn of the season. I didn't get crazy sunburned today. Those days are pretty much over for me. I use a lot more sunscreen nowadays than I used to. But, I did manage to get just a little bit pink today. Right now I have the post-sunburn warm skin feeling. It's not so much a sting as it is a radiating heat. I love it though because it reminds me of summer. The summer days where you can wear tank tops and flip flops and a bathing suit all day. The sun gives you just a little kiss of color on your skin. It makes me look and feel happy and healthy. Must be all the vitamin D. But, I feel the heat on my skin and it makes me smile.

I guess I could probably go on about my other favorite things but these four are especially bright in my mind because I've experienced them all this week. I always say that summer is my favorite season but I think spring is coming in a close second.