Search Results

Hi Friends, I hope everyone is doing terrifically? If you’re doing otherwise, maybe you could use some free advice to get on the terrific-train? Meet George, a friendly regular on Center Street, Fernandina Beach, Florida. George sits near Amelia Island Coffee on Center Street in his cozy, whimsical chair every Saturday morning. George doesn’t just sit in his animated attire to collect bills in a jar. George offers free advice on anything whatsoever (except no politics or religion, please) that may be troubling passerby's. He doesn't accept any money whatsoever. I first spotted George a couple years ago on Amelia Island Plantation. I chuckled at: “Free Advice”. We all know what that’s worth. But then again, it's free. Imagine the questions, comments and craziness George must hear. I assumed, incorrectly, that there’d be ample humor, sarcasm, facetiousness and the like. That his conversations would be filled with tongue and cheek, elbowing and accompanying absurdity. Today, when I engaged George in conversation I was surprised by his seriousness. I mentioned that I bet he had “heard it all”. I asked if he had a story or two that stuck in his mind. Would he be willing to share one with me. That’s when his seriousness set in: A couple years back, two sixteen-year-old girls approached George for free advice. One of the girl’s mother was an alcoholic. The girl was experiencing pain and confusion. She asked George what she could do about such a predicament. George, understanding first-hand what it is like to have an alcoholic mother, suggested the young lady educate herself on the disease of alcoholism. He told her there were resources she could turn to. He suggested she learn about the disease itself in order to properly navigate her precarious environment. Then, George’s seriousness turned to great joy: “Two years later," he said enthusiastically, "the girl returned saying that I had helped her. She did what I suggested. Two years later!” George’s joy recollecting the young lady was infectious. Envisioning his free-advice recipient, now a young woman, feeling empowered by knowledge of causes, symptoms and solutions of alcoholism was indeed a warm thought. Praise the Lord! Before I left, I needed a funny story from George: “What do I do about cheese?” Another free-advice recipient asked George. I burst out laughing and he joined in. “Now that’s funny,” I said because sometimes I think I’m a cheese-aholic!! Here is George on The Today Show. As you’ll see, he started his Free Advice gig in Harvard Square three years ago. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley Free Advice for all on Center Street, Fernandina Beach, FL Artwork displayed in Amelia Organic Market

Hi Friends, How are y’all? How’s your summer? How’re your retirement days going (if you’re there)? …Now what? I have mixed feelings about retirement. We’re blessed with beauty and comfort to be sure. But the absence of “kids” in two, modern residences leaves me in unresolved dilemma. What now? We worked diligently to ensure our kids would skedaddle to independence. Mission accomplished. Albeit, an unanticipated analysis-paralysis lingers: now what? Today, I attended two vastly different things: A church service at Christ Church A community yoga class The church service was wonderful. The pastor talked about the importance of Sabbath: STOP: Cease from your normal work REST: Recover physically emotionally and spiritually DELIGHT: Enjoy the goodness and gifts of God WORSHIP: Recenter your life on God Pastor Blake talked about how difficult we can make simple resting. There’s always one more text to answer, one more email to read, another bill to pay, something to randomly worry about, etc. “Sabbath is not a rule to keep: it’s a rhythm to receive” he said, “Sabbath is a weekly rhythm where we intentionally stop our work, rest our bodies, delight in life and refocus on God.” Why does Sabbath matter? God modeled it. (Genesis 2:1-3) God commanded it (Exodus 20:8-11) Jesus affirmed it (Mark 2:27) Our souls need it (Matthew 11-28) —So, the yoga class was a little strange. Not all yoga classes are the same? I’ve heard…apparently, if you’re a Christian, you’re not supposed to partake in yoga? Thoughts? Opinions? I’ve always believed that if you’re there to stretch and tone there’s no harm. As we age, tight muscles become more of a nuisance. An unwelcome, regular pest. Yoga does away with tight muscles! Personally, I don’t participate in chanting and other yoga language that doesn’t stretch or tone the bod. Yoga classes have never transcended toning and meditating for me…until today. Retirement life is a blessing beyond measure. Mixing days up, with plenty of movement and never neglecting Sabbath is good enough? PTL. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley Retirement, here we come Florida Still smooch'n after all them years The one and only for this Grandma

As the saying goes: Time heals all wounds. Really? Ever since my mom crossed over four years ago, I struggle to believe I have a single friend. Isn’t time supposed to heal all wounds? If it still stings, am I correct to feel she was my only friend on earth? I want to talk to her on the phone and have her over for dinner as much today as I did four years ago. Talking with mom on the phone was sincere. She never gave in to using a cell phone. No way would she pay for a cell phone AND a landline. She was a depression-era girl, frugal to the core. Whatever the reason, if you had a conversation with mom on the telephone you could be 100% sure that you had her full attention. She never scrolled, texted, or emailed a single day in her life (I did those things for her)...she would be talking to you and only you. I so badly want to tell her (and dad) about how amazingly fabulous their grand-daughter is doing in a clerkship for the Court of Appeals/Federal Circuit. Diana is taking on law in Washington, DC with the best of them. And might I add that she is doing it with poise, class and a magnificent amount of talented brain cells. Lots of above-average brain cells. But I can't call mom and share that with her... The darn absence-wound doesn’t seem to be going any where. Four years passing hasn’t made it any easier than the day of. Have you bid your mom farewell? Are you familiar with the ache that nags quite regularily…never fully disappearing nor fully manifesting? Like a hangnail that gets clipped away but reappears down the road. Sometimes the hangnail is worse the next time. Sometimes a season skips one altogether. But they don’t permanently go away and they’re always painful when they emerge. The darn booger is gonna grow back. It’s gonna hurt again…. Time is most definitely not healing the mom-absence-wound. Passing time just reminds me that I miss her that much more. What makes me smile and hopeful is knowing Jesus was her Lord and Savior. Knowing she dwells in unconditional love with the one and only True God. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley

(Language warning: The video I commented on uses potty-mouth) Hi Friends and fellow Generation Jones: I hope you all are happy, healthy and utterly pain-free? I've been off the internet social grid for a while. Seems if one stays away from all things SM it stays away from you too? Meaning no comments, no likes, no interaction. This "Generation Jones Plus a Lotta Likes" blog is being written because, inspite of going dark on SM, likes and comments from a particular Instagram post I made a loong time ago keep flowing in (1,050 currently) . I'm not a "like" or "comment" receiving queen to begin with. A handful or two come my way once in a while. The End. However, the comment I made 19 weeks ago struck a cord with fellow Gen Jones and Gen Xs. What the heck is a Generation Jones? Glad you asked. Answer: "Late Boomers (often called "Generation Jones," born apx. 1954-1965 and early Generation X (born early-to-mid 1960s) share significant cultural, professional, and life-stage similiarities creating a blurred "cusp" between the generations." -Courtesy of AI I'm a Gen Jones that identifies very much with gen X. We are indeed a tough, do-it-yourself, suck it up generation. As the comment (below) says, we learned to drive stick shifts without back-up cameras or warning alarms (many of us never had a lerner permits!). --Sidestory: At 12-years-old, I backed the neighbors giant station wagon out of their driveway and we took it for a drive with children in the back. Well, we were children too but the kids in the back were reeeally children. (Hi, Adrienne! Remember that??) No supervision, no boundaries, no helmets... literally. What is a helmet?? Motor biking and horse back riding without a helmet was normal...and fun! View this post on Instagram A couple weeks ago we asked someone to start a manual car we keep in Florida to make sure the battery was charged before we arrived. We received a message saying: "The good news is the battery wasn't dead. The bad news is I had an accident inside of your garage. "The person who started the car released the clutch with the car in first gear causing it to lurch forward into a bike and wall. Terrifying (thank God she wasn't hurt)! Being off the social grid is kinda nice but it's also nice staying connected through Gen Jones and Gen X. We're a generation force likely to never be replicated. Still tough and always shaking our heads at how things are done these days... Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley A post shared by Nicole Keller/ Holistic Health + Clean Beauty - NO TOX (@iam_nicolekeller)

Hi Friends: Merry Christmas to all of you! We received some lovely cards from old and new friends. I feel lame that I only managed to mail a few this year. Twenty twenty-five marks our first Christmas in the new Atlanta home. Living in the same house for 33 years and making two (three if you count Florida) moves inside of a year was interesting to say the least. One thing I realized through it all is we are indeed in the grandma and grandpa stage of life. Moving is not for wimps. We enjoyed having Savanna, Joey and Charlie over to help us celebrate our savior's birth this year (Diana and Elijah were elsewhere). Atlanta weather was and is absolutely beautiful. Warm, sunny and 70 degrees. No coats necessary for those outdoor pics last night! Keeping it short and sweet...just wanted to shout out Merry Christmas to those that we haven't already had a chance to wish one to. MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR! Love, Shelley and Jeff Home sweet home Merry Christmas Having someone else install Christmas lights is a wonderful aspect of the new home Luke 2:14: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward me."

Though happy, inspiring topics are my first choice, this blog is a dirty topic: leaf-haters. November has always been my favorite month in Atlanta. Year after year, Buckhead’s November backdrop turns into a beautiful painting of various hues right before our eyes. The kind of beauty only God can create. Red , orange , gold , plum leaves everywhere! And it used to stay that way until after Thanksgiving. But over the last several years Buckhead's beautiful leaf painting has become a filthy, nois y cloud of dust and exhaust pollution. Gone are Atlanta Novembers of quietly falling foilage. Leaves that blanket and insulate fellow ancient inhabitants are getting murdered by leaf-haters armed with gas-powered blowers. Did you know that fallen leaves fertilize soil? Or that leaves otherwise decompose independent of human intervention? Who knew we could leave leaves alone and they’d magically take care of themselves and help the eco-system while they were at it? We are all complicit in the genocide of leaves by militant, dirty leaf-blowers. Leaf nazis fire up their weapons year-round in Atlanta whether there are leaves on the ground or not. Leaf nazis get paid to make noise and exterminate clean air if there is nothing on the ground to otherwise blow around. They get paid to pollute. Atlanta is a hot mess of gas-powered blowers. Do you like gas powered blowers?  Are you a leaf-hater nazi? What is so ugly about leaves any way?  Would you consider paying your yard service to do something else?  Perhaps tidying up the leaves with an electric blower or a ________ rake?  Would you consider asking your yard service to aim and fire their cancer-causing machines less often?  Once a month?  Twice a season? Recently, the International School near our home had leaves hastily blown by three leaf-haters. The bank from which the leaves were expelled is one that is never walked on, used or otherwise noticed by anyone. Inconspicuous nothingness. Empty, dry bank now. Same bank, different angle All the hated leaves are gone. No more November for that patch of earth. Here are the leaves now. They were slowly murdered for 45 minutes and left dirty and polluted on the other side of the road. Are you a leaf-hater? Do you think leaves should die a slow, painful death in a cloud of benzene and formaldehyde and harm children and humans along the way? Do you prefer leaves "over there" but not "here"? I can get out of Atlanta and take a break at the beach and I am thankful for that.  But bugs, spiders and other natural habitats are left to die by leaf-hater genocide and/or feel naked and homeless with no one to advocate for them. Is that fair?  There’s a lot to be sad about regarding how humans are destroying quality of life without a leaf-hater elephant in the room. Excuse the sarcasm. It came out of no where. That's never happened to me before. Make November Great Again in Atlanta! Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley No leaves to pass by for Thanksgiving guests in this building. (This house was blown again this morning.) Segregated leaves in the middle triangle.

Hi Friends: How is everyone doing, in the aftermath? I’m still so very sad and shocked about Charlie Kirk’s passing.  Are you as well? Sad more than shocked? What a wonderful, Godly man.  What’s not to love about someone with courage to share their faith in God.  Charlie wasn’t seeking power but the Truth he proclaimed made him powerful?  And threatening...to some? I don’t understand why someone would choose darkness and deceit over truth and light?  Head-scratcher.  Thank God we all have free will to choose .  I love Jesus with all my heart and choose Him.  I love His promise of eternal life through faith.  I love the sacrifice he made on the cross; his forgiveness sin; his sinlessness.  His generosity. The world is so selfish. Jesus is, was and always will be so generous. The fact that there is nothing whatsoever that we can do (save for faith in Him) to enter the Kingdom is mind-boggling. He did it all for us. (Friendly reminder: the Kingdom is in you. I add this because I think it's one of the coolest understandings of the bible: seek the Kingdom. The Kingdom is in you...PTL) Are you thinking:  She’s probably gonna get shot over saying all that? Anyone who knows the Bible knows that Christians will be severely persecuted in the final days.  Paul said, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12) “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.  And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other” (Matthew 24:9-10) Charlie Kirk wasn’t afraid to share his faith. Are you?   Here’s how I see it: -Clam-up and go along to get along in a world full of inherent sinners destined for death. Or, stand up with courage in the Word and reap life-everlasting? Here’s the thing.  With all due respect, I don’t care what anyone else thinks and believes in. Naturally, I want to share my faith with others. But at the end of the day…I won’t lose sleep over anyone’s choice to choose otherwise. Well, maybe a little sleep if it was a child or grand-child... So, ya, it’d be nice to believe as I do and not have to contemplate bullets?  And it would have been nice if Charlie Kirk had been left alone to believe, speak and live as he chose.   If some loon feels compelled because of my faith in the Bible to shoot me, there's little I or anyone else can do.  But, I know where I’m headed and I’m confident knowing where shooters are off to, too. Freewill.  Choose wisely!  RIP beautiful, amazing man: Charlie Kirk. Thank you for reading and God Bless you! Love, Shelley RIP Charlie Kirk

They’re heeeeere…The Movers! Actually the packers are here today.  Movers are tomorrow. Everything is going smoothly except one peculiar aspect. All our friends and family have gone mysteriously AWOL? How can that be?  Where on earth is everyone?? I’ve texted, called and emailed you all!  Has early September become the new get-away time? Truth be known, I’d be cryptically out of town if friends or family contacted me around (or on!) their moving day. Kidding, I didn’t try to reach anyone. Who would do that? Anyone who has ever moved knows it is the most dreaded, uprooting event one can endure in a lifetime. Moving could break up a family! NOT kidding. And then some... Growing up, one (at least one!) of the bazillion coast to coast moves my family made nearly busted up my parents marriage. Geographical change yanks on nerves, patience and commitment, bar none! Expressions albeit expressionless After all the angst and worry over moving [twice] after 33 years in the same house, I’m surmising that my parents stayed married for 73 years because they endured and survived move after move after move after move... If your marriage can survive 10+ long distance (or short distance) moves, your marriage probably has the wherewithal to cross the finish line. The silver lining is, once you get past miserable packing, loading and hauling...unpacking and settling in is kinda fun?? For me, the worst part is just thinking too much about "what if"!! Jeff and I thought we’d be settled in to the darn new house by May ‘25 at the latest.  Wishful thinking! I also thought we’d be hosting a housewarming party by July ‘25.  Ya, sure.  Way wishful thinking.  If we’re still married after tomorrow and we ever do get a housewarming party on the books, I hope y'all will attend!! SO! Our two-bedroom condo is all packed up.  Now, all we have to do is lay awake waiting for the sun to come up tomorrow. Speaking of our two-bedroom Buckhead condo in the Astoria building on Peachtree Road.  She’s For Sale!  If you happen to know anyone who may be interested in purchasing this little jewel give us a shout. The location and layout is absolutely supreme: 2233 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 503, 30309.    The view faces beautiful greenery to the west and also faces slightly north toward Buckhead’s iconic skyline.  There is a 24-hour concierge that is top notch and the shared amenities (gym, common area, lobby, pool, etc.) are immaculate and professionally maintained.  There is also a lovely guest suite ($100/night) for out-of-town company desiring private space. We don’t have it officially priced as of yet but will land in the 600k vicinity. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley “Behold, God is my salvation: I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2

Hi Friends: How was your Labor Day weekend?  Pool and barbecue?  Though Jeff and I did peak at a pool for a minute we didn't do the whole barbecue thing. Does anyone really do that on Labor Day? Speaking of barbecues, I made deviled eggs for the first time this week.  Have you ever made them? All credit goes to my dear cousin, Jodi, who whipped up a dozen in no time while we were at the beach together.  Delish!  (Thank you, Jo.) Creamy, tangy, and salty with a smidge of sweet The beach and deviled eggs = happy time Jeff and I played pickleball in a round robin mixer at Ansley Golf Club over Labor Day weekend.  We intended on snapping a group pic ( if there’s no pic it didn’t happen ) but vein-rushing adrenaline rendered a pic insignificant. Round robin mixers are a fave!  Both men and women participate in mixers and there is scant time for breaks. Hustle, hustle.  A survival of the fittest energy doesn't stop until it's over. Here’s the best part of yesterday’s round robin mixer. Backstory :  Earlier in the summer Jeff and I played in a pickleball league.   We did well in every match except one.  The one we didn’t do well in...we pretty much sucked to the nth degree.  We got our booties whooped in front of the club crowd is what happened.  Walking off the court that night felt like showing up to class with no clothes on. The couple that massacred us in the league was at the round robin Monday.  We hadn’t seen them since the pickle-pounding a couple months ago.  I played with and against each of them and experienced sweet ( sweet! ) old-lady victory and redemption in all games!  Praise. The. Lord. Other than that, we spent time outside around a golf course and inside our beloved church.  Bobby Jones Golf Course God and glove lover here The Sweeneys Labor Day weekend was pleasant as pie. I did not make this tasty-looking pie. But maybe I will one day...and maybe not... What's next? A major move to the new house!!!!!!!!! There are mountains to climb and rivers to swim. Prayers appreciated. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley  Looks like Summer Beach, Amelia Island Truer words were never spoken...IMHO

“Grande Brow” may sound like a ladies only blog and product but it’s not.  Men experience thinning eyebrows too. Madarosis (loss of eyelashes or eyebrows) is gender neutral. Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s when I had a thriving unibrow, I didn't appreciate it and ended up plucking and waxing the literal life right out of it.  That, along with transitioning facial features, caused the brow hairs to give up on growing.   For the last few years, I’ve had to fill in a half-inch of space on each brow.  Recently, I asked an aesthetician if there was anything hard-core pluckers could do to reignite eyebrows?   That question was actually unintentional because I truly  thought I knew the answer:  Nope, you blew it, shoulda stayed away from that tweezer and wax.  Yanks ‘em out by the roots.  Goners… Turns out I don’t know everything.  She recommended Grande Brow saying she'd heard from patients that it worked. Grande what? —I’ve been using Grande Brow for almost two months and am shocked  by the results.  My brows arena’t lush like back in the day but they are positively filling in.   You’re supposed to give it four months so I’m pleased to see several hairs (with pigment) in just over a month’s time.   As with most things, adhering to the instructions is crucial.  I apply it like a soldier and so far I’m gaining on the brow loss war.  Looking to fill in your brows?  Give Grande Brow a try! Thank you for reading!  Love, Shelley Eyebrows count Fell in love with this Circa 1930s stuffed tiger at the Marburger Atlanta Antique & Design show a week ago. Price: $350. Maybe the guy just didn't want to sell him? (I'm working on updating this site. It's reduced to a mom-only blog. No more daughters...except for one on the IT side...they divorced me. The triangle stays (me, myself and I) Thanks, again, y'all. #grandebrow

We’re not getting divorced. But we're dreaming about greener grass, wherever. Because that’s what you do when you upsize your house at 63-years-old to a “smart” home in a poppin’ neighborhood after 33 years in a dumb, Cape Cod bungalow starter place. Oh to just have simple light switches like back in the 70s. The technology in the new home is supposedly smarter than we are. Not sure if that’s true but it does have a mind of it’s own, mysteriously. We’re working on out-smarting it, tomorrow. When we lived in the Cape Cod bungalow the neighbors next door planned a whole renovation that never came to fruition.  They got divorced. Every lot in our new community has sold except the one (#30) right next to us.  #30 went under contract but...they got divorced. Dicey.. Moving is dang stressful…but…we’re not getting divorced.  Unless Jeff filed today. In that case, we are getting divorced.  I won’t know for sure until he gets home in a couple hours. Lord have Mercy I don’t know how my parents stayed married after dozens of moves.  Several of them coast to coast.  There were some close calls though. I can tell you that much. In spite of periodically wanting to cry in a closet all day we are going to power through this metamorphosis.  We’re not getting divorced.  (If only I could have gotten Jeff to move all those years ago.  Kidding. Mostly I didn’t want to move tbh.) If you are of an ancient age, facing an upsize move, and desire to not get divorced here’s what I suggest: Don’t talk to each other too much Exert eye contact wisdom If you have a question, maybe text it Cry whenever, where ever, why ever, just burst out (Jeff does it all the time.  Kidding.  I don’t either but wish I could. Are tears internal wealth we’re all afraid to spend or share?) Know that the grass is only greener when you get through all the hard **** on your side. The grass is not greener on “the other” side.  Trust me, both sides (old house and new house) of us got divorced.  It was not greener over there. When it looks like there’s no end and all you see are wrinkles and grey hair: Praise to the Lord .  Praise Him when life is wonderful and praise him when life is less than wonderful.  Ahhh, His presence is divine. We are not getting divorced. Praise the Lord. Cheers to the King of Kings in all things. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley Obsessed with this rug and wallpaper High gloss ceiling The hideous layer rug in back ground is going bye bye Rugs make major difference If we do get divorced, meet the other woman. She's black and beautiful...to Jeff Baby stages of the workout room High ris'n 'til it all happens 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Hi Friends, I hope everyone had a 2025 Independence Day blast? We did the whole 4th of July thing...and managed to survive with some hearing in tact.  Have fireworks always been that loud?  One reason we attended a beach club extravaganza was to meet people, which we did, thankfully. But an unexpected highlight was spending time at the party with friends from Atlanta. Oh well. Familiarity is easier. We're old and appreciate easy. At least I do. Long Point Golf Course transformed into a food and music fest. Specatular show. Albeit too loud. With #249th celebration behind us, I keep wondering who my first girlfriend(s) will be to our Florida home.  Sharing is our favorite thing to do. I’ve never been a “girls weekend” kind of gal but I do want a friend or two to visit the beach-blessing that Jeff and I call a get-away pad.  But here’s the thing ( fear? ): I’ve talked this place up too much? Perhaps you’ll think, Meh, not as cool as she makes it out to be?  Nice, but not that  nice. It's a four-four but the fourth bedroom is a bunk room with a young person’s theme and the bath (full) is also the house guest-bath.  The lower bunks (probably top too, haven't been up there) are very comfortable.  Jeff and I lounge on them from time to time.  It's cute but as mentioned, it's a kids room, per se. Upstairs, the front guest room looks out over a pool and boasts lovely sunsets.  The front guest room has an ocean view with, if you're lucky, amazing sunrises!! How can you determine if someone is exaggerating, over-selling? You gotta see for yourself!  And that’s what I hope you will do, soon.  I truly am anxious to know who my first girl guest will be. Thank you for reading (visit me)! Love, Shelley The beach outside our place is truly beautiful. It's not far from Georgia but you definitely know you're not in Georgia. Evening walks are a favorite. Long Point Golf course This guy can be seen around town giving out free advice. These two girls were really into it for a long time. Darn, caught him blinking. We graduated from rental bikes and love the upgrade. The neighborhood is on the beach but the streets are lined with live oaks.