Gull at Sea. Watercolor sketch. 2016 Sheila Delgado
Didn’t plan on disappearing for two weeks. Had a post half ready. Important projects half done. Then, time to pack and leave for a week on the water.
My good friends celebrating their daughter. A wedding cruise to Catalina and Ensenada. There were about 34 guests that joined the trip.
Carnival is known as the “Fun Ships”. My fun was more relax than Rock and Roll. I ordered room service, read two books and chilled on the balcony. The ship had a cozy little Library. Sprinkle in meals with friends. Perfect. The first book was poetry. She Walks in Beauty by Caroline Kennedy. A longtime favorite poem of mine.
She Walks In Beauty, by Lord Byron
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place,
And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
The Longevity Book by Cameron Diaz was very interesting. Kept me up late one night. Well, honestly, I am usually up late at night. But this time it was with a good book as my companion. Made me think that I should make reading at night a new habit!
The photos are self-explanatory. Sunsets and destinations. Looking down in the atrium. The neon green line is where our cabins were. At the front of the ship. Our home port was Long Beach, The Queen Mary our neighbor.
Ahhhh! it made me relax just reading your blog. The next time you take off on one of these jaunts, I’m in. I’m knee deep in dust, drywall and paint. And then there’s the frustration of no shows and apparently no respect or work ethics. I need a break 🙁
I know what you mean Sea. Found out it is still over 30 days until the new house is ready. Started this process in September! This house is sold, so we will be living in a hotel for a few weeks. !!!??? Found this for you Sea. It was very much like this. Too bad they did not include more of the water sounds. 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tFdOqKV2Iw
Sounds like you had a nice relaxing time and took some lovely photos. I had noticed you hadn’t posted – nice to have you back Sheila.
Thank you Val, nice to be missed 🙂
Great post, Sheila! I, too, am catching up, but not from a vacation……..a little fluff bug is more like it. Sounds like you had a great time!
I hope you mean your little fur ball and not an illness Laurie 🙂 But if so, I hope you feel better soon!
Love your watercolor gull at sea—I am instantly at sea, breathing in the salt air! Well done! Glad for your chance to get away on that relaxing cruise. Glad to have you back : )
That sketch was just a quickie, but it was fun. I took a bunch of photos of two different gulls. This one was a dusty grey. Thanks for checking up on my Dotty 🙂