The lovely Don Cesar Hotel over on St. Pete’s Beach is wonderful. Take the time to go back in time and visit Florida’s past. You will be delighted and enlightened. I visited there recently on a beautiful day and enjoyed cocktails with a magnificent view followed by a delicious lunch. I forgot about everything going on this world including Covid. Enjoy my photos and go see what lies within that beautiful pink splendor by the sea!
The Don Cesar by Pearl Press PhotosFrozen Delight by Pearl Press Photos
Remember that saying by Maya Angelou, the one talking about how someone or something makes you feel? Yes, that one. I cannot remember the name of this delightful drink but I remember how I felt drinking it and gazing upon this lovely view above the bar. See below.
The View by Pearl Press Photos
Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit The Don Cesar Hotel built back in the 1920’s and revitalized since then. It’s definitely a Florida treasure that will make you remember how you felt. Oh, and it has a certain Marilyn in its history and that would not be my mother.
The Abraham Accords Peace Agreement is diplomacy between United Arab Emirates and Israel. The treaty was signed in the United States at The White House. The conceptual idea is a forward approach, realizing the past has not worked, and so by titling it Abraham it merits that Arab and Jewish people have a commonality; why can’t all faiths, and nationalities coexist with mutual respect?
The Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahi from Israel and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan of United Arab Emirates joined with President Donald Trump of the United States of America as a witness signing this accord on September 15th, 2020. The measurement addresses 11 areas to afford peace by cooperation, coexisting, and friendly diplomatic relations for healthcare, science and technology, tourism, energy, environment, education, maritime, telecommunications, agriculture, water, and legalities.
Investing in agriculture will be a much better way going forward than conflict and weaponry. The countries teach hate instead of science, so who wants to visit a war torn area. Safety is at stake for everyone. Makes sense to try a new approach. After all why is it okay to do something, over and over, just because that’s the way we always did it before? Seems fair. Like schooling in the United States, people resist change but is sitting in a classroom six to eight hours a day right for everyone, or the only way? Only to go home and play video games for three more hours? College? Trade School?
I know I got off track but maybe 2020 has a bright spot. Maybe a pandemic is the ultimate instigator for change in our lives. And who better to acknowledge change and push for it? Conservative President Donald Trump. He’s been nominated twice in the last two weeks for a Nobel Peace Prize, specifically for this peace treaty, which his son in law speaks so eloquently about.
By not waiting for the holdup to Middle East Peace, Trump and Kushner, took a bold approach and said let’s get other countries to join in and cooperate with each other. It’s time. Like most Americans I don’t profess to know much about the Middle East, except for oil, ISIS and terrorism, but I do wish for their people to be united, free, and happy to grow and prosper in the times ahead. Peacefully. *Short news analysis with opinion.
Hello Bloggers! I have a brand new novel out with three short stories inside. Just released and contains a beautiful story of fiction about Marblehead Lighthouse in northern Ohio. It’s perfect for the holidays and gift giving. More to come in the new year 2020.
Please have a wonderful holiday shared with friends and family.
I can be reached at carolineclemensauthor@gmail.com.
I’m ecstatic! Finally my two books have been released in print & digital. The digital price is 7.99 and the print price varies. Order now as by October the price will be 9.99 for digital and 17.99 for print, unless you are a library or store where you can order for a volume discount. The covers are beautiful and were done by Daniela Owergoor from Brasil. The page count and word count for both are similar at around 290 pages and 60K words. I suppose this feels comfortable for me in telling a story!
I’ll be working a stylist job and plan to begin more novels this October 1st. I kind of miss the writing. The creation of it is the bomb, seriously. I hope you like the material I’ve put out there. The verdict of my writing is not in as yet. But for me it’s a masterpiece and see that’s a wonderful spot to be in. Liking your own stuff, well, that’s it, that’s life!
I created a new zine … that’s a small online paper for whatever you want it to be. Mine is thepearl.store and will be out 4-6X a year. I’m promoting others work and in the future more of my own. Win-win.
You’ll find my novels “Chocolate For Lilly” and “Three King Mackerel and a Mahi Mahi” here on Amazon
Please visit thepearl.store  as my blogging is done for now. My stories will be there on the zine along with others.
For some reason I visited the bloggers sites yesterday after reading a post. I discovered a series of photos from a photographer. They had been discarded and rediscovered. I looked through and found that several touched something in me. I sent an email as such. He said I could have some if I liked. I picked many and found my favorite, only knowing that the lady reminded me of something, several things.
The elderly woman I shall call Pearl (the name of the magazine I hope to start this August). Pearl was my grandmother, very near and dear. My other grandmother lived on an island way up north. She was a very hard worker, kind of like the lady shown. There’s a third element I’ll save for the end. Who cares about these ladies? I do. I listened to their stories over the years, over and over. I spent numerous hours within their care and guidance. That’s what happens when your mother has five children. You become the babysitter or end up at grandma’s house. I count that as a blessing!
Endless hours of coloring books, making brownies, watching cartoons, running up to the corner drugstore buying whatever you want, like candy. The other grandmother lived so far away you had to spend the summer there. Wow. I was on my own. I had to learn to cook, to fish, to milk cows, bail boats, raise the flag on the pole and take it down securely and properly with pride. Then there was church-that’s a segment by itself. You see I had no complaints growing up; I was too busy. I loved it.
I wonder about the lady in the picture. Where is she going? Is she off to the market to buy a fresh catch? Or has she just been to church and given little of her little cash worth? What story has she told her grandchildren? Does she have any? Who cares? I do. We need to care about these ladies who have weathered everything. They have little money, little things, but pride, oh yes. And stories to tell if you listen. We’ve moved away so our youth have very few elders to help them and make them feel empowered by ones that love them. Day care has walls and strange faces, at first, anyway. Family should take care of family when available. Impressions are being made on your little humans wherever you plant them. Love them good.
You see my own mother lost her husband to a tragedy while pregnant with me. What did she do? She went back to work and hired a nanny for my sister and I. They tell me I had a black nanny. I don’t remember. But possibly my brain remembers and that’s why this picture touches me. I wonder what stories she told me? I have a connection as I started out in life and it was a person of color that affected and touched me. I’m sure of it. She spent every day with me while my mother worked. That and the purse. While that woman in the picture holds onto her purse my very own grandmother had one of her own.
My beautiful Pearl clutched onto her purse with her money in it after she sold her home. She lay bedridden for many years prior but had bought and sold her home herself. She had worked her entire life and the money lay in her purse for a little while anyway. These are the threads of life in all of us. These are our connections. They’ve been there all along we just become numb through others not telling us the correct stories or are out for our money, or prevent us from getting ahead through inequality. The picture above is my Pearl, not my biologic Pearl, but the story of who we are. She had legs that took her places while my grandmother did not. But they both had the purse. And I care about that. Pearl is a great name for a magazine I think. What do you think?
You never know when inspiration will strike. And boy did it strike me yesterday. I am actually on hiatus as I’ve just released two books, one in December and the other a few weeks ago. Why am I on hiatus? From writing? Because I’m selling my home. That’s big business with going through everything from a lifetime, to cleaning, to Goodwill and beyond. Oh yeah: the windows, the gutters, the carpets must all be cleaned, and of course, the storage room and garage, too. We must make it look glorious for a prospective new home owner!
Put the sign in the yard. What for? We have the internet. Take the pet with you when you leave to show the house. Details. I’m headed for that simpler life. How on earth did I do it all?
I’m pleased to announce a book release by author Caroline Clemens. The title is Chocolate for Lilly, a 1920’s historical fiction set in America. This exciting time in American history is described by Mark Twain as the Gilded Age. You will discover all the revelations through her eyes and characters in cities like New York, Chicago, and St. Augustine. This book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo!
In addition to her books, her store sells products related to her books like coffee mugs, tee shirts for men and women, and pretty kid tees and baby clothes. You’ll find these on Zazzle. Use the end of year code for huge markdowns!
I am reminded of my trip to The Biltmore House last Thanksgiving 2016. I took this picture and love the artistry in it. Do you? I did a three part segment on the place-just scroll back. I highly recommend visiting with your family. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year.
If you are stuck on shopping or don’t want to leave your home-then by all means visit my little store on Zazzle. They ship. Here’s the link:Â XmasshoppingviaZazzle
This geometric photo is my organized brain. These photos or pictures draw me in and I feel connected.
That would be Emerald Grande or The Harbor Walk. There are a few names but its the harbor in Destin, Florida by the bridge, yeah, that one! I believe this is my fourth time or maybe fifth. I’ve been deep sea fishing twice, boarded a boat searching for dolphins, took a ferry over to a private island to sunbath, and watched the sunset from various locations. There is still more to do.
These jet skiis are calling my name but I need someone to go with me. Alas, next time I have the teens here we will do this all around the harbor.
I would like to jet ski with my teens, go fishing again, and maybe take a sunset dinner cruise. Did I mention shopping? I’m not an expert on that but I know twins that love to shop, namely mine.
I snuck this pretty photo in here as I had just purchased new covers for my titles. This is available as a digital read on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
I love music, so maybe a band while sipping a beer or wine could be a good thang. That’s twang for a good time. Okay, seriously most people know about the emerald coast and it can get crowded but if you can go in the off season-you’ll thank me. You’re welcome!
My husband Michael eats oysters whenever he gets a chance-he loves ’em. We ate at AJ’s on the water. Great people-friendly and very busy!
If you walk the Harbor you’ll find all kinds of places to dine or drink and use up your time. You can read your book back at the room while you cool off.
Can you believe the color in this incredible photo? Peaches and oranges with a stilted road. God is beautiful. God is great. And something else I forgot from some country tune. I’ll know it next time I hear it.
I just leaned over and took a picture-I did not know it would be my favorite one of all. That’s life isn’t it? You just don’t know what you might like until you try it. Like writing I didn’t know it would present a huge challenge for me that I would crazily kind of like.
Welcome to my blog ‘theivorytide!’ It’s a mix of travel, beaches, museums, oceans, my store, and a little bit of music. I still love coming here and I hope you do too. My travel has not been what it once was as I had to budget the teens, job loss, etc. However, I found a way and this past June I took my newly graduated girls to Ft. Myers, Florida.
The graduation party from high school was June 3rd and we left the fourth. I’m not so sure that was smart as the dining room table was still full of party glitz when I returned. The beautiful picture above is a moonset. Yes, that’s my unofficial term for the moon going down at about 4:30 am. After several days of rain (I forgot the beginning of June is Florida’s rainy season) for some reason I awoke very early and went to the window. My beautiful surprise was this gorgeous setting filling the sky. Our room was directly on the beach, lucky me! The blues were soft, serene, and soul filling with love. That’s my best description. I had never seen anything like it; soon it was gone but I did capture it.
Midway through the week one of my daughter’s and I headed for the opposite coast as in east coast. Her orientation for college was near Florida Atlantic so we drove there and back in one day. Of course, the storm hit us on the way back and hit us hard. A torrential pour with winds and flooding pursued. I made it but the only thing besides orientation to show for it was a lovely large magpie calling out at lunchtime. That happens to be my other daughter’s nickname, hence, she was near us when we were away. That’s a twin thing, trust me its real. We dined at JB’s on the Beach near the Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier. This little town is quaint and right below Boca Raton on the map. Driving around here is quite easy on Ocean Blvd. and the sights are lovely, like you’ve stepped back in time when people drove somewhat slower, rode bicycles, smiled more, and adored the sunshine and view (no hotels on the beach side for a long section).
I’m flopping around here, not in sequence, showcasing my pictures for you. This lovely hotel is a restored 1920’s Floridian Hotel in Bradenton, Florida. It is the Hampton Inn and Suites in the historic district. We stayed here on the way down from Atlanta and I was so glad we did. It is a real treasure. We walked to dinner a block or two away. Part of the street is blocked off and we had a great dinner in a bricked pub. The hotel was superb right on the waterfront over the bridge.
Back down to Ft. Myers as we welcomed the sun which came out on day three after the 13″ of rain. The Florida people loved the welcoming sight of fresh water-we vacationers not so much. But when it did come out it was glorious, more colors, huge waves, and plenty of sailing. This continuous storm and enormous waves reminded me of growing up on Lake Erie. That small lake could stew up a summer storm in fifteen minutes knocking catamarans off their course. This day felt like home only I was on the ocean.
We stayed at the Edison Beach House Hotel on the Gulf of Mexico in Fort Myers, Florida. It was fantastic! I booked this myself from the internet and it did not disappoint. The lady caretaker and her son do a wonderful job with personalized service. I would definitely stay there again. Each room is unique and you can pick it out online. They remain booked but check it out in advance to reserve your room like I did. Our views were superb and we looked out at the fishing pier nearby. The town on San Carlos Blvd is within walking distance for dining and shopping. You can even walk to the other side where the canal and port is for fishing, dining, watching yachts go by, etc. Named after Edison, the inventor had a winter home nearby, and this little charmer has flags from many nations out front. They care about you and this unique house on the beach.
Beach shops, restaurants, and bars … there is something for all. Yes, I had a margarita at one of the places on San Carlos!
I’ll leave you with this peaceful moon set! I only had seconds really to grab my phone and snap a few pictures as it went down behind the clouds. Many of us watch the sunset and the moon-rise but have you ever watched a moon-set?
Thanks for visiting the Ivorytide blog. Visit my store and museum pickles.
My newest fall collection is coming soon! Check back mid September.
ivorytidepub 