Saturday, November 1, 2014

alegria ~ heaven


hello! how are you? we are back from our northern california adventure|getaway. in a previous post, part one and two happened, this is part three (favorite part!). we celebrated our wedding anniversary staying at our favorite bed and breakfast, alegria oceanfront inn and cottages.


 big river beach, mendocino



~ alegria inn ~


 we stayed in the driftwood cottage
 indeed the most charming place we've ever stayed on this continent. alegria has several cottages to choose from (that is the hard part, how to choose?) and a few rooms in the main house as well.
the driftwood gives a feeling of coming home, even though we don't have our own loft
bedroom, wood burning stove, private garden and a kitchen with a hand hewn wood table...





some of the ways we celebrated while in mendocino...
went sea glass hunting, found lots of treasure on the beach right out in front of alegria!



 saw the extremely photogenic Point Cabrillo Lighthouse



 wandered around town. across the road (behind me) is the 'love bench'
where couples sit and take in the spectacular ocean view
(no photo because it was always occupied) :)


visited the mendocino yarn shop



 watched the many migrating or wintering birds. {anna's hummingbird}



walked along the trails ~  mendocino headlands



stood among favorite trees, navarro river redwoods (a short drive from mendocino)



ate delicious organic breakfasts at alegria, complete with (stunning) ocean view





 collected treasures



a wonderful coincidence happened! this is one of my favorite knitting books,
'shear spirit' by friends joan tapper and gale zucker. 
gale,  photographer of the book, told me the lovely girl in the brown hat on the cover,
is the innkeeper's daughter (of alegria) 
and gale had stayed here while shooting the mendocino part of the book.
 eric and elaine, owner's of alegria were tickled to know this and said to 
say 'hi!' gale! 







and treasures for one reader of this blog. 
oh my goodness i found a lot of sea glass on this trip. the surf came up and there was even a little stormy weather. perfect sea glass collecting conditions. i found a book at the gallery bookshop that seems very helpful in finding your own treasure. it's filled with sea glass collecting tips. 
i'm giving away 'the official sea glass searcher's guide' and the sea glass shown here,
and a post card of alegria, to show where the treasure was found.
 to either add to your own collection, or start one.
{a small way to say thank you for all your kindness}



giveaway begins now, happy november 1st! and will end tuesday november 4.
leave a comment with an email, if you would like a chance to win
open to the world 
good luck everyone! 



mendocino links in this post:





92 comments:

  1. Wow! I've never actually found sea glass, myself, and I've always wanted to!

    Happy anniversary, and thanks, as always, for sharing your travels with us!

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  2. Beautiful place. I certainly enjoy your travels! I have never found sea glass.

    Happy anniversary!

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  3. What a cozy post!! I love to armchair travel with your adventures. Thanks for taking us along!!

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  4. Gorgeous post Lori, what an incredible place! It looks like the perfect getaway! and of course, you take pics to share, buy yarn and books about baby knitting because your heart is big enough to hold everyone, even on an anniversary honeymoon.

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  5. What a wonderful trip! I looks like it was heavenly. Happy Anniversary!! Thank you for sharing your adventure! :)

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  6. another favorite travel post, Lori ~ happy anniversary to you and your charming husband!

    I search for sea glass on our beaches but have never found it in this abundance ~ holy cow!! thanks for sharing your joyous trip with us! you know where to find me if I'm the lucky winner of your shared treasures :)

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  7. I would love to win the treasures. We were there a good 2 weeks ago, never saw the book.
    I also went to the Mendocino yarn shop, got a beautiful skein of yarn.

    Ann

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  8. I would love some sea glass! I do love your blog (and instagram) so very much!!

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  9. amazing! i used to live up the coast in arcata - we would go to agate beach to hunt, yep, agates. i treasure them. your driftwood cottage looks insanely charming & cozy! what a place!
    thanks for the chance to win : )
    fivetenfifteen {at} yahoo {dot} com

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  10. We have a beach up in Bellingham with quite a bit of sea glass. I've been slowlyyyy collecting for a while for an art project I want to do. The book looks absolutely wonderful!

    I'm so glad your trip was memorable and you had a great anniversary! Thank you for letting us live vicariously through you :)

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  11. So happy you and Chuck had such a wonderful trip filled with beauty and adventure. Love all your found treasures. Would love to have a chance at your book and sea glass. See you soon. Jayne

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  12. Happy anniversary wishes...(we celebrate ours on the same day) looks like a gorgeous spot for treasure hunting!
    I have never found sea glass -it is so beautiful ... Thank you for this lovely giveaway xo
    Happy November

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  13. It's my beautiful sisters birthday ( the one Nicole met today) next week and she adores sea glass. If I won I would keep a little piece for myself and give the rest to her:)

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  14. where did you get that great mushroom bag? i love it.
    the kids and i use to go sea glass hunting when we lived in maine, it was so much fun. :)

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  15. Wow ... Yet another trip ... You are so lucky Lori. I hope to retire in about 5 teares and i canto wait to have a Little bit of a relief and I hope that then we will have more time to go ... Sucha great thing for both of you. Congrats on your Aniversary.
    Ps: today I make the cutest baby sleeper. I'm going to try to post them on my blog this next week. Have a great week.

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  16. ♥...loving your blog from italy !

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  17. Would love to win the glass and book. Though they may not travel across the world to me!
    Thank you for sharing your life, x

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  18. Thank you for sharing your lovely vacation with us. Sea glass is a favorite of mine too, although I have never found a cache like you did! I would love to add yours to my small collection :)

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  19. Wow, such beautiful photos... We're actually staying at the coast of Denmark (living in Germany), looking for amber and seaglass while walking our old dog at the beach. Greetings from one side of the world to the other!

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  20. From the appetizers, salads, vegetables and main dishes, to desserts (so many of them!), everything was so delicious! This was probably the best wedding food I've ever tasted!

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  21. What a wonderful trip. Sea glass is so special. The best beach in the UK they say is Seaham, in the NE of England. There was a glass factory on the cliff and at the end of the day they would tip the broken glass into the sea. Can you imagine? It's on my list of must visit places

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  22. It looks like the most wonderful, and special, place to stay. We collect out sea glass over here in the Black Isle, Scotland. It would be lovely to have some from Northern California to add to it! Juliex

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  23. Goodness what a beautiful spot. I definitely think I could spend some time there. And thank you, dear Lori, for the lovely giveaway. xo

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  24. hello lori. you may remember that andrew and I share your anniversary. We celebrated 19 years happy years. We all travelled north and ultimately arrived in haworth, home to the bronte sisters. Madeleine was in her element, she is studying english. Good times had by all in wonderful yorkshire
    sending all good wishes and happy anniversary to you both
    claire andrew madeleine and ethan pengelly xx sussex,england

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  25. Beautiful place!
    It might sounds weird but I havent seen sea glass yet. Slovakia has not sea and those seas I have been to didnt have ones. Never mind. Great giveaway anyway :D

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  26. The place you stayed at is gorgeous!! Stunning views and such a cozy space to call home for a while. So far, I've never found a single piece of sea glass. Your collections looks so pretty!! Love all the goodies you came home with. :-)

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  27. What a beautiful and generous prize!!! I miss sea glass hunting. The east coast just doesn't see it much anymore because of recycling...which is a good thing but messed up our glass treasures! Your trip looked amazing.

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  28. I love sea glass! I collect it on the beaches of northern Japan where we live. Thank you for the giveaway!

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  29. Lori, your photos are beautiful, especially the hummingbird! I don't find sea glass here in RI like I used to when I was a child, so I guess I need to try to win that book so I can polish my skills.

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  30. Love to find beach glass. Very interested in beautiful bool. Thanks.

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  31. The boys and I had such fun hunting for sea glass on our trip to CA last summer. They really got into it...searching for hours upon hours. Had to peel them off the beach as the sun was setting.
    Love this post. Adding Alegria to our list of lodging options for our next trip to CA!
    Lunagreyfiberarts(at)gmail(dot)com

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  32. What a lovely way to celebrate your marriage. It really seems perfect- from the beautiful views do ocean and trees, to the cottage, to the yarn shop (Is any perfect getaway complete without that?) Happy anniversary, Lori!

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  33. Good Morning from Virginia!

    Love all the pictures - makes me want to take the same trip! Thanks for sharing.

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  34. Thank you for sharing your adventures. I live in Boise, ID now and miss the beaches of my California home more than almost anything. Though, the beauty that is Idaho almost makes up for it :)

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  35. Our anniversary is in January-- now I have ideas about where to go. :) And the sea glass is gorgeous.

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  36. Happy Anniversary! What a beautiful place to celebrate!

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  37. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us. Your words and photos are so inspiring. The beach glass and book would be the start of a wonderful collection!

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  38. Happy anniversary Lori! That looks amazing and perfect place to celebrate and spend relaxing time! Thank you for a fantastic give away! x Teje
    nerospost(at)gmail(dot)com

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  39. happy anniversary
    what a lovely bed and breakfast place :)
    I have looked for years for sea glass and never found any ~ you are like a sea glass whisperer ~lucky :)
    enjoy your blog :)
    crystal
    rosebud1@cox.net

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  40. Wow, it looks like you had a beautiful anniversary!
    You have the best adventures and I love that you share them with us!
    Gail
    rngmcken@telus.net

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  41. I grew up on the wild Atlantic beaches of Nova Scotia, and my mum always called sea glass "mermaid tears," which I've always thought was lovely. What a wonderful trip you had, and happy (belated) anniversary!
    Angela
    angela.l.hickman AT gmail

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  42. Gosh what a special place "Alegria" is Lori thank you so much for sharing your special place. x

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  43. Happy anniversary. I love collecting sea glasses and the book looks wonderful.
    g59n@hotmail.com

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  44. I would love to enter this giveaway, but the local postal service doesn't allow to be hopeful for receiving any parcel ….. sigh !
    beautiful pics and memories, xxxxx Ale

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  45. I also love collecting sea glass but never know what to do with it! Beautiful photographs - beautiful place :)

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  46. Lori, it's easy to tell why you and Chuck enjoy returning to this beautiful part of your beautiful states. It is dreamy.

    I cannot pick a favorite photo, since each of them adds a certain flavor to the treat of this post.

    What a wonderful coincidence about the Allegria folks and the knitting book! The rather large unlikeliness of my ever being able to collect any sea glass does not in any way detract from my desire to see that book for myself. Perhaps one does not actually have to collect sea glass in sunlight?

    Best wishes to you and yours. xo

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  47. Such a romantic place for your anniversary! What a special giveaway of precious treasures! As a sea glass collector, it would be much appreciated. Swoon :). Thank you, Janice. whursen@verizon.net

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  48. Dearest Lori,

    Please trust in the fact that, despite my recent silence, I always love visiting you here. Your pictures never fail to inspire me. That small Baby Collection book looks intriguing...

    Stephanie

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  49. Please enter me in your drawing. I love your blog and love sea glass!

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  50. Oh what a wonderful place you found! So cozy, love that loft! x I love the ocean, I love walking the beach but have never found sea glass! It's so pretty! Thank you for the beautiful giveaway :)

    Jesse

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  51. What a beautiful way to celebrate your love. You are so generous Lori, please put my name in the hat :-) geninne@gmail.com

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  52. Now that I am back on the east coast where I grew up, I will have to try my hand at looking for beach glass again on the Maine beaches where I found it as a child & young adult. I love your gorgeous photos and will check out alegria for the next time I am visiting friends in CA—looks like such a beautiful place & I've never really been to Mendocino. Thank you for the giveaway; please add me to the list! Beth

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  53. what a lovely trip you had and the photos, my oh my. I love the one of your husband on the road!

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  54. Great holiday, great ideas, great prize!!!

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  55. I so love collecting sea glass. Your knitting is beautiful.

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  56. Beautiful! What a spectacular trip.

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  57. Just beautiful! How absolutely romantic!

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  58. i have been a beach comber all my life....all of it (although we don't get there as often as my spirit thinks we should!) and my measly collection of sea glass doesn't even half fill a tiny thrown-bowl i have just for it. Do you think there is more sea glass on the west coast than the east???? Please tell me I haven't been walking over and by sea glass just because I don't know how to look for it!!!!!!
    what treasures you accumulated.....a couple of books I have not yet seen.....and that cottage! How could you leave? You have booked it again for next year, right???

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  59. oh i love sea glass!
    years ago i found a tiny piece in Malta when i was there on vacation.
    Back home i went to a jeweler en ask hem to create a neckless with my tiny piece of sea glass.
    Greetings from The Netherlands,
    Susanne

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  60. I am a sea glass aficionado from Slovenia and I love your blog :)
    sasa.erzen@gmail.com

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  61. Hi Lori,
    What a magical anniversary you had...so beautiful and I love seeing the places you travel to, almost like being there, too. I love sea glass and it seems scarce now on the beaches where I look for it in Maine.
    Happy Anniversary....
    Nan

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  62. I really enjoy your photo journalistic style, your photography is amazing. I love how you share your sense of adventure. I would love to begin a collection of sea glass, I've looked different times but never been in the right place to find any...
    Happy happy day to you both!!
    Mary

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  63. I just found your blog and an so enjoying your lovely photography and musing.....it's now on my daily reading list. :)

    peace,
    Karen

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  64. I enjoyed all your anniversary photos. You live in such a gorgeous part of the world. The beach glass is so beautiful ... Thank you for this lovely giveaway.

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  65. I love reading about your travels. You have a wonderful perspective. Thanks for sharing.
    -Alison

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  66. Beautiful Glass. We don't have anything like that here in Colorado!

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  67. Oh what a generous giveaway. I know that sea glass would find a good home in my house. I really want to stay in one of those cottages. I think it looks like a perfect place to travel too. Once again your images as breathtaking!

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  68. Hi Lori~Love your blog!Love your instagram!Love Mendocino! and would love to win your generous giveaway:)Thank you for sharing with us all!
    ~another Lori:)
    mama_jo@sbcglobal.net

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  69. lovely post, lovely place - I enjoy reading about the places you go, and was especially pleased that you enjoyed Edinburgh so well (my home town) and Shetland. My husbands folks are from Orkney, so most of the sea glass in our house (some of which we set into a bathroom floor) comes from there. Thank you for the chance of winning some of the glass you've collected. ali.

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  70. Love your posts, Lori. Your photography is stunning and N. Cal is the only place I would consider living if we moved from Washington state. Such beauty there. Many fond childhood memories traveling up the coast from California to Seattle in the summer to be with family
    Lisa Engle
    lehandworks@hotmail.com

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  71. wow. I just read your post and every single part of it sounded like a dream getaway. And sea glass! Thanks for sharing your story :)

    tbolen43@hotmail.ca

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  72. I very much enjoy your blog...what a great giveaway. the sea glass is beautiful.

    anke0154@yahoo.com

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  73. What a beautiful post andI would love to win your Treasure giveaway.
    kerylcod@ihug.com.au

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  74. How lovely! While you were enjoying this lovely place, I was way over on the east coast with dear friends who live near a fabulous sea glass hunting beach. Would love this book for them! Thank you so much for your generosity and for sharing all the beauty of your world!

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  75. Trash turned into treasure jewels by the force of nature! Cool book

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  76. I started collecting seaglass this summer on vacations in denmark. They are only a few pieces love them.
    It would be cool to get the Treasure giveaway.

    knitting@gmx.de

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  77. Seaglass is one of my favourite things! This is such a lovely idea for a giveaway, please may I enter too?
    And what a gorgeous place you stayed at, such wonderful buildings and views, and yarn and knitting! Wishing you both a very happy (belated) wedding anniversary.
    Have a happy week, dear Lori.
    Helen xox

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  78. Hi Lori, love following your blog and your travels. I live on the north west coast of Ireland and trawl the beaches here for sea glass and smoothed pieces of crockery. I would love to add some Californian glass to my collection. As for the book I'll definitely have to try and order it somewhere if I don't win it! Glad you had a lovely anniversary
    Best wishes.

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  79. such beautiful photos!
    i've always been fascinated by seaglass, though have little opportunity for beach combing here in colorado.
    thanks for the chance to win such a cool gift.
    mbsenecal@yahoo.com

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  80. Happy anniversary! What a wonderful place to celebrate. I miss finding sea glass. I grew up a few minutes from the beach, but have lived in a land locked state for a few years now. I always enjoy looking for treasures whenever I return to the sea.

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  81. Happy Anniversary. My husband and I just celebrated our 16th in Scotland, fulfilling a life-long dream for both of us (and now we want to go back!). I have never found sea glass (alas, Kentucky doesn't offer many opportunities), but think it is so lovely and would love to have your treasures to look at for years to come. Thanks for your lovely posts and the giveaway.

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  82. Thanks to you I get to see the most wonderful places - without leaving my chair :-)

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  83. Happy Anniversary!!! I love sea glass!! Thanks for the great giveaway chance!!

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  84. Happy Anniversary! Your pictures are beyond great! I'd love to visit, to see the coast and O those redwoods. In case you haven't read it, "The Wild Trees" by Richard Preston is an exceptional read.

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  85. As always, beautiful pictures that make me just want to imagine I am right there. I never knew there was such a thing as sea glass, thanks for another enlightening post.

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  86. I once found a piece of sea glass :) I still have it!

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  87. truely lovely….and hoping with fingers crossed….

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  88. So beautiful! Happy belated anniversary. That sure is a lot of sea glass. And a lovely giveaway. Best wishes, Tammy

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  90. Here looks awesome! I would like to visit there one day!! You guys can find out many gorgeous venue here as well : http://venuecenter.com

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xoxo lori