Island Living: In St. John

Trunk Bay, St. John USVI

On this day 10 years ago, I married the love of my life and my best friend.  It was May 25th 2002 and it was tipping it down in Cornwall, England.  To make the bride feel better everyone kept telling me that it was "raining riches for us!"  We may not have won the lottery (I guess we'd have to play to win), but I can honestly tell you that my life, these short 10 years, have been filled with riches.  Of course, my children, my true treasures, are priceless.  I would say that this trip to paradise with my very best friend has to be up there too.

Orchids at Turtle Bay Estate House

I have never been to anywhere as beautiful as St. John.  It was both Luke and my first trip to the Caribbean and I think we picked the perfect place to get away from it all.  John and Conor were left in very capable and loving hands.  Nonni and Grampy looked after them - I am so grateful to my parents for watching our boys!

We stayed at Caneel Bay Resort, a place that is true heaven.  The humid air was a balmy 82 degrees and the trade winds lightly played with my hair.  My bare feet enjoyed the soft white sands of the beaches - seven on the hotel grounds and a little excursion to Trunk Bay.

Caneel is very much a relaxed resort.  We enjoyed high tea each afternoon at 4pm still in our wet bathing suits and salt filled hair.  There is nothing like warm scones, lemon curd and, my favorite, macaroon cookies over looking Turtle Bay.

My Englishman and his high tea.

There were a number of times, I told Luke I felt a bit like we were on Lost (but in a good way, no weird others).  Deer grazed and pranced about the grounds.  Their doe eyes and graceful bodies co-existing with the people walking passed.  I did not tire of watching them play and eat blossoms.

Deer dining on blossoms over looking Caneel Bay

But the wild life didn't stop there.

Yes, you read that sign right.  "Do not pet or feed the donkeys."  Wild donkeys also roam the grounds.  We kept seeing all the deer, but Luke couldn't wait to see the donkeys.  Then we saw seven over at Hawksnest Beach:

Donkeys at Hawksnest Beach

We enjoyed watching the Mongoose scurry around the island and the birds swooping down to steal a nut or two from the delicious breakfast buffet.

I guess I didn't realize just how stressed I was until I went away.  The tension quickly left my body as we soaked up the sun, enjoyed quiet time reading (I got through three books!) and hiking the Virgin Island National Park.

On our hikes geckos and lizards of all colors and varieties scurried across the tree covered and winding paths.  I couldn't help, but think how much our 6 year old would love seeing them!  Then we spotted these amazing and huge crabs in the middle of the forest.  Soldier Crabs.  Aren't they incredible?  I couldn't help but think they were a lot bigger and further from the water than the ones we are used to in Scituate:

Soldier Crab

And check out this Iguana, lazing the day away at the top of a tree:

Our friend, the Iguana

Here we are after hiking the Lind Point Trail.  This is a view overlooking Cruz Bay:

Luke and I hiking, view overlooking Cruz Bay

We also spent a lot of time on and in the water.  We had so much fun riding on the resort's ferry, the sea mist and gigantic waves of the open ocean.  We also loved kayaking in Caneel Bay.  We did a two person one and tried ones with 'glass bottoms' on our last day.  

For a few years I've been dying to try paddle boarding and I tried it for the first time while we were away.  It was a great core workout and the best part is a I didn't fall off!

Paddle Boarding on the calm Caneel Bay.

My absolute favorite thing we did on St. John was snorkel.  It was amazing to see the other side of St. John, that which lives  under these crystal turquoise waters.  I had never done it before and I have to tell you it is even more amazing then seeing it on TV.  To actually be so close to these underwater creatures.  We saw sting rays floating along the bottom with little fish cleaning their backs, amazing brain corals, colorful fish like you see in the aquarium at the doctors office, spiky sea urchins and fan coral dancing in the waters.  But most of all we loved seeing the sea turtles casually feasting on sea grass as we swam by.  We found that there were loads of sea life on the beaches of the Caneel Bay Resort, but had heard that Trunk Bay was rated in the top ten most beautiful beaches by National Geographic.  We couldn't miss seeing it and doing the 225-yard-under-water snorkel trail could we?  

Trunk Bay, St. John USVI

It was breath-taking and we picked up an underwater camera here.  Fingers crossed all the photos of the sea turtles, sting ray and coral reefs come out!  Snorkeling, in a way, reminds me of our own mortality.  I could hear my breath so clearly going in and out so rhythmically as I absorbed the view of coral that took many years to form.  Moments snorkeling hand in hand with my best friend are ones I will treasure always.

The food (and we ate lots) was amazing at Caneel Bay.  We dined on seafood at the Sugar Mill Ruin and enjoyed the breath-taking views of the resort and St. Thomas in the distance.  

At the Sugar Mill Ruin

One of my favorites, was the Conch Two Ways.  They served it similar to a crab cake and then in a ceviche.  The pan seared scallops on a bed of pureed sweet potatoes was also to die for.  We had our fair share of grouper, shrimp, snapper and the most amazing fish curry.  Yum.  I'm hungry even thinking about it!

The hotel thought about everything a guest might want, or even dream about.  Each night our bed was turned down and a shell was placed on it with a beautiful and inspiring saying (like the one in the first picture).  A complimentary bottle of Cruzan rum was left in our room along with coke for rum & cokes. Beaches offered either a bar or bar services and we liked that very much.  I enjoyed pina coladas on the beach.  Our very favorite drink was a Pain Killer and let me tell you, it takes the pain right away.  If you'd like to try and bring a bit of St. John to your home or Memorial Day party here is the recipe:

Pain Killer Cocktail

2 oz dark rum (we like Cruzan)

1 oz cream of coconut

4 oz pineapple juice

1 oz orange juice

Shake ingredients, and pour over ice in a tall glass. Sprinkle nutmeg on top, and serve.  

The nutmeg is a very important component.  We had some without it and the nutmeg really adds a lot.  Hope you enjoy it!

So that about sums up our trip to St. John.  We are already looking forward to returning, but next time we're bringing John and Conor with us!

Honeymoon Beach, St. John

Mind the Gap: John & The Tooth Fairy

"Mind the Gap"

I'm back!  Did you miss me and my ramblings?  I was going to share the photos from our amazing trip to St. John with you today.  That was until, I only got 2 hours of sleep and the photos are still on the camera.  Oh, and our big man's tooth finally fell out.  I'm so glad we were back for such a momentous occasion.  His tooth has been loose for some time.  To my hubby's dismay (for those who don't know, Luke is very squeamish) John kept wiggling it everywhere he went.

He kept telling me that everyone at school's tooth had fallen out and he was one of the last ones.  I know how he felt.  I remember really wanting to lose my teeth when I was little and it didn't happen until second grade.  I even wrote to the tooth fairy to try and speed things up a bit.  For some reason that note actually worked.

Anyway, getting back to John's loose tooth.  It was sore and moving about and he really wanted it out.  I thought it would definitely come out today, but it popped right out when he was brushing those pearly whites.  Conor, our 2 year old, was then trying to get his tooth out as well.

Snuggled into bed.

Unlike many boys John believes in fairies.  At least, he does right now.  You may remember me telling you in my first ever post:

My blog is called Finding Silver Pennies after a book my mother gave me when I was 11.  It is a magical poem book about fairies.  Silver pennies are very rare and according to the author, "You must have a silver penny to get into fairyland."  It is really quite a beautiful book and has been such an inspiration to me over the years - keeping journals, writing poems and short stories growing up.  Hopefully, I can still keep the magic of fairies alive in my own life.  My son's favorite movie is "Tinkerbell: The Great Fairy Rescue".  He said to me, "Mom, you know fairies are real?"  I responded, "Really, how do you know?"  John with a twinkle in his eye said, "Well, the tooth fairy is real."


So, John went to bed one happy boy with dreams of the tooth fairy dancing in his head.  He even left her a note, his tooth is in the silver pot he received as a gift at birth.

Tooth Fairy Pot

What about you?  Did you have any tooth fairy traditions growing up or do you do anything with your own children?

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane...

via 

Tomorrow morning, Luke and I are getting up really early and leaving on a jet plane.  We are heading to a small island in the Caribbean to get away from it all.

Ten years ago, I married my best friend:

Our Wedding in Cornwall, May 2002

and A LOT of living has happened since then! We had a great time in Bristol, then a smashing time in London.  Quit our jobs and moved to the states.  A few years later we were lucky enough to have an amazing little boy.  A move to live near the sea.  Then several years later we were lucky enough to have another amazing little boy.  We rescued a dog named Poppy.  I started a little blog that has made me so happy.  I discovered some amazing paint and started making things.  We've travelled.  But up until now, we haven't travelled sans kids...

Tomorrow we are leaving on a jet plane.  Me and my Mr. Darcy and we are going to have some R & R - away from the kids, the dog, work, technology and just be the people we were when we met 14 years ago.  So there will be no blog posts for a few days as I'll be snorkeling, paddle boarding and learning to sail for the first time.  Oh, and catching up on all my reading.  It is so hard to read and look after two little ones on a beach (I'm bringing a stack of books with me).  But I'll be thinking of you all from the sunny beaches of St. John:

St. John USVI

Can't wait to share some photos, and stories, when we return!

Peter Pan Syndrome

Does anyone else feel their age?  No, I'm being serious.  Do you actually feel your age?  I've been thinking about this lately.  The passage of time and the idea that one would be in a certain place in life.  This month is bringing a few milestones.  Today, I'm blowing out 35 candles on the birthday cake.  The other big one is that Luke and I are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary.

The years are passing and, yet, I still don't feel much older than this picture.

Not that I feel immature.   I definitely am more emotionally mature than a child, but part of me thinks I should feel older than I do.  In a way I feel like I might be an impostor in an adult world.  I still really, really get excited for birthdays.  I love going for ice cream like I used to with my dad.

John and his ice cream

I'm still curious and love exploring the ocean and looking for treasures cast aside by the sea.

Conor and a snail at Minot Beach, 2011

Halloween?  It is still my favorite holiday!

John & Conor, Halloween in Scituate Harbor 2011

I always thought at 35, I would feel like a proper adult.  I always thought I would be wise and know all the answers to my kids questions, but I don't.

I always thought, I would be able to blow dry my hair and it would look amazing (like my mom), but I can't.  Whenever I try to blow it out, it looks like one curly nest on my head!

I always thought at 35, I would feel like a grown up.  But I don't.  I still feel so young and I love playing with my kids.

I love building forts in the backyard and chasing after bubbles:

Do you ever feel the same?

via 

Melville Coffee Table (Before & After)

White Washed Coffee Table (After)

I love the look of driftwood that has just been castaway from the flow of the tide.  That beautiful silvery grey on the weathered shingle cottages on the Cape and islands always make my heart skip a bit.  The Melville Coffee table combines the a subtle white wash with that silver hue of driftwood I love so much.

The table didn't always look like this.  If you follow me on facebook you would have seen this image.  It was love a first sight for Conor:

Coffee Table (Before)

Here is another before in which you can see the whole table:

Coffee Table (Before)

This table had endured a lot of love when we picked it up.  There was some scratches and some marks on it but thought it would be perfect with a touch of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

Annie Sloan Old White

I got my Old White out which is  a lovely older looking white.  It isn't as bright as pure white and just gives pieces an old world charm.  It is perfect for white washing too.  To achieve this look.  I started in sections, applying the paint (not watered down) and then I took a Viva paper towel and wiped away the excess so it gives the washed look.  I like the Viva towels because they don't have any quilting so don't make any strange marks in the paint when you wipe it.  Once the whole table was done and dry.  I got out Paris Grey and dry brushed that on to mimic the look of the weathered wood.  Then I finished with two coats of wax and lightly buffed to give a hint of luster.

Here are some more photos.  A close up of the legs:

From the top:

A bowl of shells

From the bottom:

A side view:

The Melville Coffee Table now has a super relaxed beachy look.  A perfect place to kick your heels up and escape with Moby Dick.  What do you think? 

Linking to: