Friday, April 30, 2010

Springtime in Florida


This month some dear friends asked if I would care for their potted bonsai plant in their yard when we returned to Florida.  It would be for three weeks while they drove to Delaware and back on business.  “Of course,” I said knowing that they had done the same for us as well as care for our dog over a weekend in the past. 

Every day or two I would walk across the quiet street over to their yard and generously water their cherished bonsai plant as well as the tomato plant filled with delicious ripe tomatoes, gorgeous flowering orchids, striking bromeliads, flowering vines and herb garden with water from a rain barrel in their back yard.

April was a dry month, I think it rained only once and it was very windy a lot of the time which dried out the soil, and required watering more frequently.

I found each day I looked forward to and would spend a little longer in their yard tending to the various plants and flowering bushes, removing dead leaves, trimming, picking up fallen branches, even raking the yellow flower blossoms that had fallen on the gravel yard from the neighbors tree.

Before long I realized that what began as a favor to our neighbor friends became something I truly enjoyed and looked forward to.  After a winter of snow and white I relished the opportunity to enjoy springtime in Florida enjoying the bright greens, vivid pinks and yellows greeting me each day.  The day before they arrived back, with the rain barrel empty, I carted over water by the jug full and soaked in this experience realizing its value and blessing in my life as I watched several birds who appeared to be building a nest in the palm tree in the yard.

Wishing you a Springtime filled with new insight and gratitude!


Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The Best of Both Worlds

Hello! Welcome to Nancy Yuskaitis Jewelry.  Whenever I mention to someone that I live on an island part of the year and in a western ski town the rest of the year, they always remark that I have the best of both worlds.  I agree!  Life is more interesting that way, but I haven't always had that contrast in my environment.

For most of my life I have lived in the tropics of South Florida and enjoyed all that lifestyle has to offer including warm weather, boating, swimming, beach-combing and wearing flip flops everyday.  My vacations were always to another beautiful beach town, such as Hope Town in the Abacos, in the Bahamas where I started collecting sea glass in shades of cobalt blue and sage green...or in Brighton, England where the beach is covered in adobe colored pebbles..or in Tossa de Mar in Costa Brava, Spain with its brown coarse sand cushioning your nap...or in Switzerland where the sunbathers are undressed and the fried fish is delicious...or in Anna Maria Island, FL for the 4th of July fireworks...or Long Island, NY with it's grassy beaches.

The sea has always been a part of my life from my earliest memories and childhood photos.  I've enjoyed countless hours riding in boats of all types including ski boats...sport-fishing boats...deck boats...sailboats...commercial fishing boats...yachts and cabin cruisers.  While looking out at the sea I would daydream about designing tropical inspired clothing...accessories...interiors and home decor and later would use my inspiration to design one of a kind gifts or interior designs.

During the last several years my inspiration has expanded by the opportunity to live in a sweet little mountain town in Colorado.  Although summertime is my favorite time to be outside and enjoy the natural beauty, wintertime has it's special appeal and is still novel to me.  Especially, two years ago when we received 42 feet of snow.