A Single Grace Note at Victoria

"Hospitality should have no other nature than love." ~ Henrietta Mears

Time does not always allow us to meet our lofty ideals for entertaining -- a challenge that can cause us to miss opportunities to share life's journey with others. I'm on the Victoria blog today pondering the power of a single grace note to inspire us to seek connections through hospitality. I hope you will take a moment to join me here.

And stop in Friday for my final post on memorable moments at The Grand Hotel.

Grand Grand Views

"I question not if thrushes sing,
If roses load the air;
Beyond my heart I need not reach
When all is summer there."
~ John Vance Cheney

Around every corner, beauty abounds at The Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Ala. From lush gardens to sandy shores, every turn offers something new to discover. Here are a few of my favorite images from our recent visit.

Look for fun family moments in my next post.

"There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart." ~ Celia Thaxter

Fairhope Shopping Favorites

A trip to Alabama's Gulf Coast would not be complete without excursions to the quaint community of Fairhope. During our recent weekend at The Grand, I spent a leisurely afternoon shopping with Carson and Mary Ashley.

We enjoyed strolling the downtown streets in search of mementos of our family vacation.

This charming statue caught our eye outside the city's welcome center.

A number of merchants make their home here. Find a complete list of clothiers, antiques shops and specialty stores here. Here are a few of our favorite finds.

All this pink caught my eye at M&F Casuals.

Deja Vu was brimming with feminine, bohemian style.

This clever dress form arrayed in fabric flowers drew me in for a closer look.

Unfortunately, we happened upon Sew Unique Monogramming and Gifts after it closed, but window shopping here was a treat. Nearby, we found tees for the boys at The Fairhope Store.

For classic home decor, Ole Bay Mercantile does not disappoint.

 Blue-and-white vignettes offered plenty of inspiration.

When we travel, we like to find a blown-glass ornament to commemorate each destination, and Christmas Round the Corner offered several possibilities. Ultimately, we chose a shimmering canoe to remind us of kayaking in the Gulf.

Relaxing with Carson and Mary Ashley was great fun -- especially in the beautiful setting of Fairhope!

"Every man who possibly can should force himself to a holiday of a full month in a year, whether he feels like taking it or not." ~ William Jones

A Grand Garden Stroll

"Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed." ~ Walt Whitman

Our recent trip to the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Ala., afforded opportunities for strolling the grounds at dusk. What a peaceful setting the gardens provide for contemplation and relaxation. Here are a few of my favorite views, captured during an early evening walk around the pond.

"How fair is a garden amid the trials and passions of existence."' ~ Benjamin Disraeli

Grand Moments with Family

The greatest blessing of our recent escape to The Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Ala., was enjoying unhurried family time. In upcoming posts, I will share the beautiful scenery of the area, but the photos below show what was at the heart of our time together.

"Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life." ~ Albert Einstein

Happy Memorial Day

I hope this holiday weekend finds you enjoying a relaxing time with family. We kicked off summer in Grand fashion with a trip to the Gulf Coast. Look for more photos from Point Clear, Ala., in upcoming posts.

Happy Memorial Day!

Floral Teacher Gifts 2015

"A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, and touches a heart." ~ Anonymous

Every year we surprise teachers with a floral gift in a vessel they can re-use. Here are a few images of the glass pitchers the girls and I found at HomeGoods, brimming over with bouquets to celebrate a wonderful year.

We appreciate our teachers for pouring themselves out for their students daily and wish you all a wonderful summer.

Have a lovely Memorial Day weekend!