Wednesday, April 18, 2007

The Round Robin Photo Challenge


Cool Slideshows

The RRPC has turned 2! Congratulations! The challenge is to pick any theme from the last two years. I chose "Dream Home" because my dream home has been on my mind a lot lately. It's a rented beach house on the N.E. side of the beautiful island of Kauai.

Four years ago I was looking at property on Kauai and I was committed to moving there. I was just waiting for the last daughter to leave the nest. The last thing I expected was to meet Dave and fall in love after thirteen years as a single mom. We got married on a beach in Kauai soon after. Dave fell in love with this magical island almost as much as I had. We went back in 2005 for two weeks and rented this house. We had done the tourist thing on the honeymoon, so we spent the extra money for this little house. We wanted to experience living in Kauai. We had our morning coffee with the rising sun. Snorkeled before the tourists awoke to play, grabbing a smoothie on our way home. Napped in the shade of the hammock and lounged after a swim. Barbecued fresh fish as the sun began to set, watched rented movies and was lulled to sleep by the sound of the ocean's waves.

The properties on Kauai were outrageously priced and the choices few. Two people could not afford to live on our budget within sight of the ocean. On the way home we realized we could visit our magical island but not live there. We bought a dream house closer to home but it will never be Kauai. We will go back as often as we can for visits as soon as we are settled in our new home. We are so blessed to be retired at 45 and 50, that whatever happens, we have Kauai.

To visit other RRPC photos, visit here

22 comments:

daisies said...

oh wow, looks so beautiful and love the sounds :)

thanks for sharing this beautiful piece of beauty ~ i hope i can take a vacation there someday :)

Anonymous said...

Hope we can get back soon, the pictures make me miss it even more and all the fun we had there.Love Dave

kmm said...

What a beautiful looking place. Lovely photo. Cheers Kerrin

Anonymous said...

Very cool Tammy. Never been there. :(

MariesImages said...

Wonderful entry, love the dream house & the sound effects!!!
Its great to hear that people have fairytale endings~
Marie

Anonymous said...

absolutely beautiful...easy to see why it's a dream home. :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the comment on my bloggie Tammy.
Your pictures are amazing, and they're always set up so nicely.
I hope that you get to that dream home soon my friend!

Rachel said...

I remember backpacking through Hawaii on my way home from Australia, just utterly perfect. Your pics are amazing, and the memories too! x

Carly said...

Hi Tammy :)

Lovely to have you play along this time, I have missed you. I like your idea about retiring to Hawaii. I could imagine watching that striking sunset every night. Yep, it's paradise to be sure. :)

Always, Carly

Waspgoddess said...

Wonderful tale of Kauai. I have never been to Hawaii, but it sounds and looks so beautiful. I think sometimes it's best if our dream places don't become our everyday reality, some of the magic is bound to diffuse...

I hope you are well.

Pam said...

A wonderful trip to your island of dreams and romance. A special memory, a special place to return to.

Pack me in your suitcase the next time you go!

Left-handed Trees... said...

A place I've always wanted to visit...I hope your dream home closer to home is just as nurturing to you both.
Love,
D.

paris parfait said...

That IS a beautiful house! And I'm glad you and Dave get to experience that one and create your own as well. Gorgeous photos! xo

Amber said...

Yeah! That is my dream, too. I always say to Kory that people actually do live in these wonderful places, why not us?? Maybe someday.
I hope you get back soon.

:)

Suzanne R said...

The photo wouldn't load for me but the sound was great and I especially enjoyed the story of your going to Hawaii. I have been to Kauai so know that it is wonderful there.

Anonymous said...

Wowza - That IS a dream home, Tammy! Glad you at least have gotten to experience it as a vacation. Love the photos - especially your 'here fishie, fishie' one. This is so cool how you got them to circle round for the Round Robin challenge, too. Thanks for sharing a little bit of your dream home with us! xo

Karen Funk Blocher said...

What a great way to display your lovely pictures of this wonderful place! I'm glad you can at least visit it. Kauai is on my long list of places I hope to see someday. Thanks for the peek - and the story behind it.

Vedrana M. said...

beautiful photos and music you added is just making it perfect :)

JP (mom) said...

Gorgeous place, what a gift that you got to spend time there :)
xx, JP

Giggles said...

Amazing Tammy...what a joy to spend time there! So glad you found love after so long...gives me hope too!

Hugs Sherrie

Unknown said...

Beautiful pictures, though I would have been more tacky and used a Don Ho song like "Tiny Bubbles" (grin)
Patrick http://journals.aol.com/daddyleer/CaregivinglyYours/

turquoise cro said...

SWEET! Wish I could go and seeeeeeeeeeee Kauai! That is WONDERFUL!!! you 2 are retired!!! Have FUN! xoCinda