When the Sanctuary is Home

In the morning darkness there were toothbrushes silouhetted against the white sand outside. Rich and I took a road trip up to Ponte Vedra Beach for a conference this past week and on the way we stopped at my friend Annette's home in Melrose. She and her beau Ed have been busy making the house a home and what a sanctuary it is!

Just off the kitchen is a screened-in walkway to the next building that looks out on a deck that frames a koi pond, complete with waterfall. The hot tub and hammock felt perfectly at home there - can you say resort? From the tiki bar in the sand to a path through the Florida wilderness where a decently worn bench welcomes you at the end, everything here is calm and ready.

And the cooking was all comfort too. As usual I found myself goofing off in the kitchen rather than helping, but that's perfectly fine at Annette's because she is an incredible cook! She makes everything look so easy, so simple. She is grace in the kitchen. Biscuits and gravy with eggs couldn't have been more delicious than with the company of good friends and great people.

We had a wonderful time lounging on the couch at night watching movies and laughing loudly and an equally good time talking in the morning's soft light, finding respite before traveling on to a crowded conference and busy beach. Thanks Annette and Ed!