Tales of the Traveling Tote, June 2023
Happy June!
It’s time to share more adventures of our Traveling Tote!
We are a group of 10 that share a love of MacKenzie-Childs
We all have the same large Courtly Check tote bag
We post about where our totes have been every 3 months
and host a giveaway
We also have names for our totes
My tote, Miss Coquille, and I
have enjoyed a lovely Spring~
Spring sprung at my house when my son saw these hydrangeas
It was only early March but they were so pretty he got them anyway~
When cold nights were predicted, we covered them and they were fine
and are still blooming beautifully today
They are planted in the pots by the front door
and Miss Coquille insisted on getting a closer look
Aren’t they gorgeous?
She also insisted on having her picture taken
with the St. Patrick’s Day tiered tray in the foyer
because the MacKenzie-Childs tray is one of her “cousins”
St. Patrick’s Day is CC’s birthday and this year
she wanted to have a sleepover party
She picked out a design from my Society 6 Shop
and asked me to add a special hashtag to it
Miss Coquille & I delievered them to her in time for her party
DD set up the downstairs playroom for the sleepover
Each girl had a mattress,
a t-shirt and a pillow with their name on it
In late March our family all headed down
to the beach house for Spring Break
The temps were so warm the mornings were usually very foggy
But eventually the sun would burn the fog off
We often see dolphins swimming by in front of our house
so the Dolphin sight seeing boats come by often
The pool was heated and the kids loved playing in the pool
They are always up for a trip to the ice cream shoppe!
Super Boy is an avid fisherman and caught a big sheephead off the pier
After a fun week, it was back to the city for Easter
We enjoyed an Easter buffet and had an Easter egg hunt
We started having Kentucky Derby parties several years ago
and I was thrilled when the weather forecast was perfect
for setting up the TV on the patio to watch the race
I made Kentucky Derby Hat straws to garnish the ladies drinks
Miss Coquille was content, she is happy relaxing at home
and entertaining family and friends
Another simple buffet was again set up in the kitchen
conveniently located right by the patio for easy access
Before we knew it, May had flown by, school was out
and we we headed to the beach for Memorial Day weekend
and staying the week after
The first thing I did was put the bunnies away and get out the flags!
it wasn’t long before we were settled in
and the kids were back in the pool!
We have a good friend that loves to come over and fly his drone
In the next photo you can see the bay
that is on the backside of our island
Memorial Day weekend marks the opening of
Snapper fishing season in the Gulf
Our group was quite successful!
Dolphin {mahi mahi} was caught too
There was much swimming of course
The pier gets a lot of action too
No need to go anywhere, there is plenty of entertainment right here!
On Memorial Day the guys had an all day fishing trip
They went on a friend’s boat because our big boat needs some repairs
Watching them get ready is fascinating, look at all those coolers!
Another very successful trip!
5 red snapper and 22 dolphin = 54 fish filets!
Miss Coquille and I are quite content sitting on the porch
and watching boats go by!
In a few days it will be time to head back to the city for a few weeks
and then we’ll be back again for the 4th of July!
Be sure to visit Sarah and leave a comment to enter our June giveaway!
You can see all the adventures on the links below:
Patti, Miss Kenzie and Miss Tizzy @ Pandora’s Box
Deb, Miss Aurora and Miss Tassie @ Mountain Breaths
Emily, Miss Courtney Childs and Miss Lulu @ The French Hutch
Jenna, Miss Coquille and Hello Gorgeous @The Painted Apron
Linda, Miss Lola and Miss Gigi @ Life and Linda
Rita, Miss Luna and Miss Penny C @ Panoply
Sarah, Miss Merri Mac and Miss Poppy @ Hyacinths for the Soul
Jackie, Miss Madi K and Miss Pansy @ Purple Chocolat Home
Ricki Jill, Countess De Monet, Miss Square Peggy @ The Sketchy Reader
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Sundays on Silverado/ Love Your Creativity
What’s for Dinner/ Between Naps on the Porch
All About Home/ Common Ground & Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Turn About Tuesday / Our Tiny Nest / Karin’s Cottage Linky Party
Creative Crafts / Crafty Creators
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Oh what a wonderful wandering tote! Summer fun has begun.
Yes, Happy Summer Dorothy!
You have been busy, My Friend! First of all, the hydrangeas are the most beautiful shade of pink ever! 😀 I love the darling idea for the sleepover: The t-shirts were a hit I’m sure! I always enjoy seeing posts about Ono Island. I also must comment on your new pier with the little holes in it. Brilliant design for storms! So far, it’s been a bountiful fishing season for your guys. How wonderful! Freshly caught seafood from the gulf is the best! Maybe we can have lunch with Emily before you go back to the beach.
Thank you Ricki Jill, I flipped when he brought those hydrangeas home, the color is amazing! The pier is supposed to be hurricane proof now, the holes let the water through so if it rises over the pier, the pier will stay in place rather than float away. Fingers crossed we won’t have to test it for a while! Yes, we need to have lunch soon!
Jenna, your life looks full and exciting! The fishing excursion must have been amazing! Love seeing the hydrangeas, the sleepover, and all the fresh caught seafood. I’m hungry!
Thank you Sarah, simple things but that’s what I love 🙂
Such a fun time for all Jenna. Your beach house is perfect for the family. Plenty of great fishing, swimming and wonderful food. I love how you have themes. The sleepover is a darling idea with each girl having their own mattress, t-shirt and pillow. You are enjoying a lovely life, paradise at it’s best.
Thank you Linda, just simple everyday things, but that’s what makes me happy!
Oh Jenna, you’ve had such a fun filled and exciting spring! I love the hydrangeas your son brought home. They are such a beautiful way to welcome your guests. I always enjoy seeing your vignettes in the foyer and the St. Patrick’s Day MC tiered stand is lovely. Looks like a fun sleep-over your granddaughter had for her birthday. She’s very creative like her grandmom with the tees, just adorable. The Kentucky Derby party and spread must have been fun to host, love those hat straws. Great pics of your beach house on the island from the drone. It is such a lovely area in Orange Beach. Enjoy your week at the beach. I’ll call you when we return from the beach, we need to plan our next lunch with RJ. Happy summer Jenna………
Thank you Emily, just simple normal things, but that’s what I love! Our friend’s drone is so cool, he can fly it from our yard out over the ocean for quite a few miles and show us pics, we even saw sharks swimming right off the beach! I’m so glad you are going to the beach, the weather has been so nice this week, not too hot yet!
Jenna, I love all of your family activities and celebrations! CC’s birthday was darling! Red snapper is my favorite dish. I can just imagine HHjr’s expertise in preparing. You are certainly a fabulous hostess with a gift of hospitality! Happy Thursday!
Thank you Pam, just simple everyday things, but that’s what I love!
Jenna, Those pillow cases and t-shirts are such a cute idea and party favor for Charlotte’s friends! Love seeing the catch(es) of the day and week! My fisherman hubby just got back from a spring fishing trip to OBX would be jealous with the snapper and maui haul. I’m intrigued by the surface (or mat?) on your dock… is it for shedding water or protection from the UV rays? Happy June ♥
Thank you Mary! The pier is made with a mesh like wood/plastic so when the water levels rise during storms, the water goes right through instead of causing the pier to break off and float away, so it’s supposed to be hurricane proof. Fingers crossed it doesn’t get tested for a long time!!
Honestly, Jenna, who needs to go ANYwhere other than toggling between your two homes?! Fabulous shots with the drone, and seeing the kids in action at the pool. Super Boy is looking more like Super Man these days, gosh! And the fishing catch are amazing. CC’s party looked like a perfect party. Who knew guests get gifts – and such great ones – like CC’s friends did. Those were great.Your KY Derby party looked like my kind of food fare, and I bet the entire family is looking forward to more parties, whether city or beach. I know I would! Happy [unofficial] summer!
Oh, thank you Rita, you are so sweet~ I really am quite happy just to go back and forth and just hang with family and friends doing simple things!
I am loving the tale of Miss Coquille so very creative! Cheers to your family celebrating and enjoying the good life!
Thanks so much Mary!
I always look forward to your Tales of the Traveling Tote. You do an excellent job of summarizing your 3 months. Your granddaughter has your flair for hospitality and party planning!
Thank you Linda! DD and CC did a great job on the party, it was so cute seeing the 6 girls in their pink ice cream sundae t shirts!
Thank you for sharing all of your traveling adventures.
Marion
Thank you for going along Marion!
Thank you Miss Coquille for sharing your spring. I look forward to reading about your summer adventures. Jenna must love those beautiful grandchildren to the moon and back!
Thank you Bernadette! Yes, I am blessed with my 4 happy and healthy grands, growing up so fast!
Oh my goodness Jenna, I am so intrigued with the fish that were caught. We are used to lake fish (trout, etc.) and I’m hoping to fish for northerns this summer with a fake frog. I am happy to have my photo taken and then release the fish after I squeal with delight. I’m sure the pillow cases and t-shirts were a big hit for party favors for Charlotte’s friends! I smiled when you mentioned your son picked up hydrangeas, and they look great. The derby straws are so darling, and my guests loved them as well. Have a wonderful summer, and I look forward to hearing about Miss Coquille and her tales in September.
Thank you Deb, my guys LOVE to fish, they’ve been fishing everyday this week! I’m not interested in fishing, too messy and smelly for me! As for Summer adventures, they will be more of the same, just simple back and forthing between my 2 houses with family and friends. I hope you have a wonderful summer!
Jenna, a lot of fun celebrations for the spring. How nice to have them family at the summer house and everyone having a good time. I hope you have a wonderful summer.
Thanks so much Julie, I hope you do too!
I loved this post! It’s always wonderful seeing all that you do with your family. From sleepovers to fishing to eating!
The drone shots were incredible of your beach house.
And I’ll be down for some red snapper!
Thank you for reading along Nancy, just simple everyday things, but that’s what I love~
You and your family have such happy times both in the city and at the beach. You have the best of both worlds, Jenna. Isn’t Miss CC darling? I’ll get the girls loved their gifts. The boys sure are avid fishermen! That was so sweet of your son to buy those beautiful hydrangeas! Happy June, Jenna! 🌞
Thank you Kitty, good times!
That looks such fun — being at your happy place by the water with people you love and all those fish! Oh, and the party looks great, and the t-shirts too. What a happy post, Jenna! On to June!
Thank you Jeanie, there’s nothing better than family time!
What a fun time for your Traveling Tote! You and your family sure have fun! I didn’t know you had a shop! I popped over to Society 6, and I LOVE it! You have the most beautiful designs – I’m starting my list right now! Thanks so much for sharing all the fun with us – I love to see what you and Miss Coquille are up to. Take care till next time!
Thanks Barbara! I love Society 6, it’s so much fun to see photos transformed into so many different items! You are going to enjoy making your own, and it’s a great source for gifts!