Welcome to Marneys Tidbits…
I grew up loving home, garden, animals, the ocean, and family. As a child, I spent many days at our beautiful neighborhood Spanish style, oceanfront, public library. The hardwood floors creaked underfoot, while the view from the floor to ceiling arched windows beckoned me to come outside and enjoy the green grass, and ocean beyond. The stunning natural beauty, outside the windows, invited me to run on the grass in the warm sun, and frolic in the blue sea, nevertheless, I buried myself in the intriguing books which surrounded me. The many treasures contained within proved invaluable to me. I studied home design, garden, “How To’s,” the many species of animals, science, beauty tips, and most fervently, wellness. I spent many countless hours on the subject of physical health, but also soaked up writings on the mental, emotional, and spiritual connection to vibrant overall health.
After my daily studies, I roller-skated along The Strand, from beach city to beach city, while enjoying the warmth of the sun and the glittering blue ocean.
I spent afternoons gardening with my mother, and learning how to prepare our garden bounty, with traditional family recipes. I loved her sauteed Swiss Chard, and her tasty tomato, onion, and cucumber salad with homemade dressing.
I especially enjoyed baking, crafting, and sewing with my grandmother. We created baked goods, such as, strawberry shortcake, orange biscuits, sour cream cheesecake, her signature chocolate cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting, Christmas cookies, and cherry pies.
As a child, I even attempted making chocolate eclairs, which my little sister said, “These are the best chocolate eclairs,” this was so sweet and sincere but, she hadn’t had many other eclairs.
I loved making edible chocolate leaves, from the template our backyard lemon trees provided, and carving swan serving bowls out of entire watermelons. We sewed strawberry patterned aprons, and Anthropologie style dresses, to sport in our personally choreographed dance performances.
My grandmother and I fashioned cat stuffed animals, beaded angel dolls, and the most beautiful monochromatic, woven, flower placemats. We arranged intricate silk flowers, in ceramic vases, and painted clay figurines as the days breezed by.
Many mornings, we hopped onto the streetcar, to visit the Galleria for a shopping and dining adventure. In the evenings, we walked to my grandma’s local library to read, and borrow weathered books full of promise and adventure. We lapped up ice cream, played cards, and planned the next days events.
I spent summer days contriving backyard carnivals, and writing teenage fiction novels, about sun kissed Emily Reeves adventures in the South of France.
I authored plays for the neighborhood kids to perform, which to my surprise, my ensembles “star” refused to act out the dramatic scene where she was supposed to fall off a ladder, into our Collie’s red dog bed.
I rooted Impatiens flowers in my windowsills, manned my homemade lemonade, and cookie stand, set up a “restaurant,” complete with customers and a greeter. I built a “treehouse” for reading, and bathed our many dogs with the backyard hose on hot summer days.
My father taught me how to coax our roses into growing as tall as, the top of our Morgan horse stable’s rooftop, with coffee grounds and crushed egg shells. He showed me how to BBQ his specialty, Swedish Meatballs, and fed me tips on training and grooming our horses.
My dad and I picked tomatoes fresh off the vine, while visiting local farms, and cracked open newly picked pecans to enjoy straight from the shell. We spent hot summer days “playing tennis,” as my sister and I roller-skated around the tennis court, while my frustrated dad tried to teach us tennis fundamentals. We enjoyed trail riding, walking through fields of wildflowers, (which I picked, dried, and pressed, in order to make into greeting cards, and picture frames).
My dad, sister, and I spent many fall evenings fishing in the sea, using sand crabs we caught ourselves, as bait, as the sky turned a beautiful midnight blue-orange hue. After the sun set, my dad and I would lay back to gaze at the twinkling stars, and city lights view, while sipping on hot mint tea and contemplating life’s questions.
Many Summer days, we raced along The Strand for many miles, feverishly riding our bikes to our favorite French Restaurant, where we savored dinner, and Chocolate Souffles. As the sun set, and the sky filled with pink, my dad heroically biked home to get the car, in order to come pick up his tired girls.
I tested my entrepreneurial abilities with my lemonade stands, which offered homemade lemonade, and grandma’s fresh baked oatmeal cookies.
I carved and decorated “houses” for our six blue-eyed, grey, and white kittens, out of a large cardboard box. Their mother, Angel Mist, watched as they would playfully fall into their house’s bed, tirelessly climbing in and out of the holes, I had cut for windows. The rambunctious kittens frantically chased my sister and I throughout the halls of our house, as we twisted and twirled feathers, for them to catch.
I collected many beautiful seashells, from my winter walks on the seashore, to line my windowsills with. I excitedly made weekly trips to our local flower shop, to purchase violets in every color imaginable, which I proudly displayed on my “restaurant’s tables.” I hand colored the menus, made the tables beautiful, had my sister run the greeter stand, cooked, served the culinary delights, and delivered the check to my faithful patrons. (my mother, grandmother and neighborhood kids)
I observed and gleaned information from my many life experiences, but receiving from books, remained fundamental to me. I loved studying and memorizing new subjects, so much so, that I made a habit of reading, as I walked to and from my destinations.
Throughout my life, I have been blessed with many mentors, life lessons, and opportunities to learn from other peoples choices and advice. Each special person and experience shaped me differently and imparted new insights to me, or as I call them, Tidbits. I feel compelled to share, that which was imparted to me, and what I continue to learn daily. My desire is, to inspire everyone to follow their passions, live their dreams, and to find their God given purpose, in order to, live life beautifully.
Marneys Tidbits was born out of my passions, desire to learn from others, and my pursuit of knowledge. I hope you enjoy!
Live Life Beautifully!
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Marney Dornan
Founder & Editor- In- Chief
Paige McEwen
Featured Home Editor
Davia Matson
Featured Beauty Editor
Shay Ryan
Travel Editor