Reflect

The Cobwebs and Weeds of Life, Resort Girls

July 28, 2016

While wandering amongst the lush summer trees today, my mind went back to the beauty of the sparse winter trees. WinterTreeSymetric The tree leaves are now lush vivid green, but vines and poisonous weeds choke the core, limbs, and roots. And I pondered, maybe the cold months give the trees time to clear the vines, weeds and cobwebs from their core? Treevine

How many times does this not happen to us, Resort Girls and Guys?  Like the trees, we may appear vibrant on the outside but our core is filling up with weeds of unhealthy habits and relationships.  These things can do harm and even destroy our core being.

This is when it is a good time to be a Resort Girl or Guy.  Go away for a few days – or even just a weekend – and look at your core.  As if you were that winter tree, get down to your bare roots and ask yourself these questions:

  • Do I need to build up my core muscles to live a healthier life?
  • Does my soul need a bit of renewal to live a more purposeful life?
  • Do I need to feed my body with better nutrients to ward off those pesky weeds of ill-health?
  • Do I need to weed myself from a few relationships that are stifling my success and well-being?

I am glad this morning on my walk that those vines, weeds and even cobwebs were in my view.  Soon, I will take a day on the beach and bring a notepad with these questions written upon it and do a bit of reflecting upon them…and then, of course, do some relaxing and recharging!  

Resort Girls and Guys…together let’s kick out the cobwebs and pluck the weeds from our lives!  Get ready to live a healthy, loving, purpose-filled and successful life!

 

Reflect

Mystical Creatures Live Within Our Secret Gardens, Resort Girls

July 17, 2016

A Gibbs Garden manor home serves as a spectacular setting for an eclectic collection of garden creatures.  Many mystical beasts live amongst the manor pathways, hillsides and ponds. Winged beings not only fly in the air, but sit silently on the field stone walls, watching over the manor home. 

Bunnies populate the patches, hoping to nibble on the lush underbrush leaves.   DSC_0092

Beware though, as danger lurks in the form of bears and cougars roaming the hillside. DSC_0105

Don’t worry, however, as you are safe at Gibbs Gardens. All of these creatures are crafted from stone, cement and bronze. Garden art sculptures like these have always been a favorite of mine.  It’s fun to have a little bunny or frog friend accompany me while plowing and planting the day away or a loving couple sitting in a rose garden to add a bit of romance.

And cement and bronze art only gets better with time as moss adds hues of green, dirt deepens shadows and sunlight brightens the features of these mystical creatures. 

And to this day when driving by my old homes, I find those little creatures and couples still are sitting there where they were placed decades ago.  Their charms enchanted the new owners, who usually asked for them to stay.  

As my car idles, my heart swells with fond memories while looking at those little statues.  Even though the new owners may have modified the garden and pathways, my secret gardens are cemented in time – and in my mind. 

We may go on our way from our secret gardens, but these statues stay behind to remind us of special times.  They cement our memories.  We may grow older, relationships may change, but our dreams and memories never fade away.

It’s nice to cement a little piece of our dreams in our gardens.  And if life takes you away from those special places but return one fine day…I bet if you asked those garden fairies, they will whisper sweet reminders of special times with those you loved and cherished.fairy

 

 

 

 

Reflect

The Chimes of a Resort Girl Life

May 25, 2016

As the vibrant sun rose over the beautiful Lake Oconee, the chimes rang in the wind. It was a glorious setting to reflect upon how much I have grown over the last few years. Years earlier, this place used to be my second home.  Many days were spent boating on the lake, swinging on the course, and dining by the fireplaces.  Lake Oconee and Reynolds Plantation offer a great refuge from the busy and bustling city life of nearby Atlanta, Georgia. 

Roughly a two-hour drive away, it was a great escape from the sometimes frantic days of being an entrepreneur building my software firm.  When we are building our careers and families, we tend to get very focused on the next big deal, next big promotion, next carpool and just getting by in our busy young lives.  Sadly, sometimes we forget to just relax, reflect and recharge.  The lake provided a place of relaxation for me back then and this still rings true.

But now there is an added peace in my life — a tranquility that goes with me wherever I am.  A glorious setting is no longer needed as the glory is now within me.  That is priceless.  No promotion, college acceptance letter, sports win or paycheck can bring peace.  Peace comes from within and can, many times, have the greatest returns.

But what gives us peace and when it does depends on whether or not our minds are open to reflection. To take a moment to squarely look yourself in the mirror and ask, “Is this a purposeful life?”.

There was a great movie made long ago called “The Shift” by Dr. Wayne Dyer.  In it, he said, “You are only a thought away from changing your life.” Some people shift earlier than others and some may never shift over to purpose.  But from personal experience, the day I chose to seek purpose gloriously changed my life in so many ways.  And I never want to go back.

So, as I sat there watching the sun rise and the chimes ringing in the background, peace was all around. It was a peace that had not been there many years before. Sure, back then I enjoyed boating, golfing and such, but seeing the glory in the surroundings was not there as it was this fine morning.

While walking back up the path, I realized what a blessing it was that my life path had changed. It is a great gift to now be able to chime in on the purpose of life and reflect on all the glory and might. Peace within is one of the greatest gifts of life.

 

Reflect

A Resort Girl Tale of Oxtail Stew

February 3, 2016

The low country did not get the big snow, but the temperatures did dip low.  And to keep warm, this Resort Girl craved some southern comfort food.  Are you a Resort Girl or Guy craving authentic southern comfort food to melt away cold winter days, too? Maybe a pot of oxtail stew will do for you.

Why oxtail? Well, here begins the trail of this tale of oxtail stew:

Recently, I was reading an excellent article in “the Bluff”– the magazine for Palmetto Bluff Plantation mentioning a local small grocery/meat market. Since this Resort Girl recently discovered she likes to cook southern gourmet, I put this spot, Scotts Market, as a stop on my afternoon vacay in Bluffton, S.C. to check out the goods.  As the Bluff article mentioned, Scotts Market has been referred to as “a State of Mind” and is known for carrying the finest cuts of organic and grass-fed beef as well as a wide selection of fresh produce.

Many times, my car cruised by the quaint shopping center in downtown Bluffton and I noticed their signature sign. It has always caught my eye with its authentic design– like a blast from the past. And according to the article, the sign design is from the original 1970s-era store.

ScottsMarket

Photo Credit: Facebook

Upon entering the market that afternoon, I felt like it was a throwback to the old days of warm country grocery stores. Your name was known, your tastes were noted and service was delivered with a wide smile.

As I peeked into the variety-filled meat cooler, I spotted the store’s third generation owner, Adam Simoneaux, behind the counter. Adam was artfully trimming some meat. A customer came up beside me and asked Adam just what he recommended on this cold winter day.

“A pot of Oxtail Stew,” he quickly answered.

I looked back in the cooler and there sat the plump package of oxtails, which I had never seen before in my life. My mind went on to imagine just what that hot pot of oxtail stew might taste like on this winter night.

I did pass on buying the oxtail that afternoon as this kind of stew is new to me. But, I have been researching ways to fix up some oxtails. First, the meat is generally a cow tail that is cut up into pieces. I can image how Adam’s expertise comes into play when chopping them up. And there is much you can do besides cooking up stew, but a hot pot is what makes my mouth water the most.

So how will this tale end? With my new oxtail knowledge in hand, this Resort Girl plans to go back to Scotts and buy a package of those oxtails…and make me up a pot of stew!

So, what is one of your favorite stews, Resort Girls and Guys, to cook up on these cold winter nights?

Reflect

The Beauty of Winter Trees Intrigues Resort Girl

January 18, 2016

What intrigues this Resort Girl about the winter trees?   All you see is the skeleton of the tree – the spirit of its magnificent beauty. It is the time when their inner beauty gets to shine.

Bare branches twist and turn in such glorious natural art forms.  Some winter trees wind in symmetry with branches and dried bulbs, all equally aligned.

WinterTreeSymetric

Other limbs twist and turn to intertwine, forming abstract images. These winter tree lines are so fine against the crystal blue skies. And some trees whisper tiny tunes as their branches sway in the winter winds.  Others limbs hold strong while dripped in gleaming layers of ice crystals while other fragile branches are kept warm by moss-wrapped mittens

WinterTreesMossFilled

Though some winter trees stay lush and green, this natural phenomenon offers a setting of color contrast against the bare winter tree- like the tiny brown bulb clusters on the crepe myrtle set against lush evergreen leaves. Adding in a few early azalea blossoms, these scenes are masterpieces of natural art.

WinterTreesCrepeMyrtle

And as with the tree, we all go through seasons.  Soon arrives bountiful spring and summer…when our eyes get to enjoy the lush deep green leaves mixed in a multitude of bright blossoms.

But this Resort Girl loves to wander amongst the winter trees.  And delight in their inner beauty against the bold winter sky.

WinterTreesLineofCrepe

 

 

About Resort Girl

About Resort Girl

Resort Girl enchants the adventurous souls who dream of far-away places, relaxing but recharging experiences, and words of wisdom to reflect upon -Wanderers who are on an ongoing journey, exploring their physical and mental abilities while enjoying and living gracefully with nature.