About Bluey

I am an island girl from the Bahamas, wife, homeschooling mama, follower of Christ, avid seashell collector, motivational speaker, flutist, writer, food stylist & photographer.  Saltwater & Co. is my journey to be intentional about creativity, teaching what I love and relaying the character of Christ through crafts, photography, stories and anything edible.  Saltwater is also committed to encouraging you to find creative ways to have oddles of fun in the kitchen and craft room whilst making memories all year long.  So, hop aboard and come join the adventure. 

I am a chef, author & motivational speaker by trade,
a photographer, food stylist, crafter, flutist, writer, homeschooler, bible study teacher, seashell collector & crazy for Jesus by choice
& an island girl, wife and mama by God’s plan.

I am an island girl from the Bahamas and the youngest of eleven (11) children to amazing parents who were married for 62 years (now both in heaven). I grew up in the ocean, on the ocean and under the ocean. I am a daughter to the King, wife to the best man this side of heaven & a blessed mama of one adorable little boy named Saylor. We live sustainably & off the grid on an 80 acre ranch in Colorado & this is where island girl meets country…..

This blog is where those roles are intricately woven to reveal creativity, purpose, humility, grace, and a passion for Christ. It is simply a platform to reflect the character of God through edibles, photography, devotionals, ministry, cooking, creating recipes, homemaking, writing, crafting & whatever else He so desires me to share or create……I am passionate about the foundations of Christian homemaking, discovering an extraordinary God in ordinary things, and lover of all things ocean, beautiful and handmade. This blog has many layers including a journey to “taste and see that the Lord is good” and a taste of faith. I love sharing my talent, faith and knowledge of island style cooking and crafting with others through teaching, speaking engagements and seminars…..I make things; I write about making things, I write about life behind making things. Creating is one constant in my life & I create out of love, I create out of anger, fear, curiosity & joy. It is where I try to remember the past, embrace the present and capture the future & where I believe all things are better home-made. It is a place where I try to captures life’s moments with a heavenly prospective (Colossians 3:2)

That ahhhhhhhh…..moment came when I woke up humbled one morning to realize that God, the Creator of the universe, is still in love with me and has a purpose for my life & for such a time as this. I am a Christian wife & mama who loves Jesus and seeks to honor and follow God in all the things I do. Life has not always been easy pursuing a life that pleases the lord. I struggle, I fall, I find grace and I get up! I fail many times every day and seek His forgiveness, then try again. I believe in honoring the sacred calling of biblical womanhood & learn to live my life as a wife and mama for the One who created me for His purpose & glory. I am a work in progress and so thankful that He’s not finished with me yet!

Being a wife, mama & blogger requires intention, commitment, discipline & focus. It has to be exhilarating and never an exhausting adventure. Writing and crafting doesn’t have to take away from family life, instead it can add to it, ushering in new experiences and opportunities to serve the kingdom of God in ways we might never have had otherwise. Besides being a wife, mama & blogger, I also enjoy serving in my church and ministering to those in need.

Things you may not know about me: I am left handed, I LOVE the color white, I am highly organized and recently lost 80 Lbs.

My life is anything but perfect and I always joke that my life is “perfectly imperfect”. All of my blessings which come from victories and trials are a product of a loving God who gives unending mercy and grace to His imperfect children. Praise God for mercy….if I could wear it out I would have a long time ago.

Believing with all my heart that creativity is contagious, I pray you will be inspired and blessed here at my blog Saltwater & Co.

Because of Him or created to be His or lovely in His sight
Bluey

This is absolutely one of my favorite childhood photos and captures the very essence of my days. If you wanted to find me, all you had to do was to look up and you would find me hanging from the branch of some fruit tree…..giggling!

one of my favorite things to do as a child on the islands was to climb any and every single tree I could.  I was really good at climbing and enjoyed going to the tippy top and looking around.  My Pa would yell from the bedroom window, “Come out of that tree, or else!” On day, I DID fall out of that tree, and Pa was so angry with me that came and cut down that VERY TREE, so I would’nt climb it any more….but I just found another more interesting tree to climb when he wasn’t looking…

9 years old ~ determined soul from then

A man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become ONE.
Genesis 2:24

Dear John, the love of my life, my hero & my best friend:As you know the things I care about most in life are relationships between family and friends, beliefs, and memories, which ironically are free! To a surprising degree, marriage is made of the same ingredients. You begin, if your lucky, with a rush of romance, but continue at a slower pace of shared history, a history that stays with you in stories, recipes, photographs, prayers and maybe children. The two of us will talk, well reminisce, we’ll plan. We will cook and clean and cope and together you and I will weave a fabric that neither of us could have alone. The strength of that fabric depends on life’s circumstances but also on the care, patience, and commitment we have for each other. In becoming husband and wife we do not cease to be individuals, yet we become in addition someone new, a compound self. Two shall become one, as Jesus said. Maybe in this paradox there is something of what twins experience, each one distinct and yet each one dwelling in constant awareness of the other. Living with a mate is harder than living alone, but also richer. I’m sure no learning in my life will be more difficult, humbling, or surprising than the daily lesson of marriage but I promise I will always give it my best. Being married is a life’s work demanding and rewarding at the same time. My wish for our marriage is that we fashion our own history of shared work, talk, music, nourishing meals, memorable journeys, fine friends, worship, respect, joy and family. Today is a dream come true. A day I’m sure all little girls dream of. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world. I am truly blessed.I love you John…

Marriage Prayer…
We Thank you, O God, for the love You have implanted in our hearts for each other. May it always inspire us to be kind in our words, considerate of feelings, and concerned for each other’s needs and wishes. Help us to be understanding and forgiving of human weakness and failings. Increase our faith and trust in You and may You guide our lives and our love. Bless our marriage, O God, with peace and happiness, and make our love fruitful for Your glory and our joy both here and in eternity

– unknown

Our little family

I try to play my flute everyday and our little son loves to dance to the songs I play when practicing. I am delighted that he loves music & he is growing up in a home with music. I hope someday he will take interest in an instrument too & experience a whole new world of sound. When i travel anywhere, the two things I never forget is my flute and my camera.

True worship – Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD. Psalm 150

 

“‘Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool”.
Isaiah 1:18

Surrender- People might not understand why we raise our hands during praise and worship. It’s such an important part of our faith, and yet, so many people just don’t get it. Raising your hands in worship is an act of surrender. It’s a visible sign that you are giving God the control to your life. I learned the hard way that it’s much easier to start off with God in control. My way is not the best way & He always knows better than me. I raise my hands because it’s my heart’s cry – more than anything – to be fully surrendered to God’s will in my life. Without that, I am nothing and I can do nothing. Lord, I surrender!
Lord, I am humbled by your mercy and forgiveness towards me…
“Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
I pray only your will be done in my life. Teach me to serve you – with a whole heart – to love you with my soul…from the core of my being.

Food Stylist & Natural Foods Chef – 2015

This blog would not be possible without the love, PRAYERS &

encouragement of this incredible woman who believed in me & spoke life into me

~

If you have a secret sorrow,a burden or a loss, An aching need for healing…

Hang it on the Cross

If worry steal your sleep and makes you turn and toss, if your heart is feeling heavy….

Hang it on the Cross

Every obstacle to faith or doubt you come across, every prayer unanswered….

Hang it on the Cross

For Christ has borne our brokenness, and dearly paid the cross, to turn our trails to triumph

Hang it on the Cross ~ unknown

Yea, 4 years ago today, I lost my Mama “Violet Knowles” ! She was everything to me and I miss her everyday. No words can express the deep loss of loosing a mother and I am no exception. It seems that in 4 years I should get over my loss but I don’t think I ever will as long as I am on this side of eternity. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”. I am grateful that the bible teaches that I will see you again someday,

I miss you so much Mama….I miss you every day with all of my heart but my trust and hope is in God’s word that promises that one day I WILL see you and Pa again face to face. I miss you mama and grieve you and will continue to grieve you all the days of my life! People forget, but I will never forget the most beautiful woman who I have ever met. Today, is a sad day for me as I remember the great lose in my life three y…ears ago today. She was my friend my counselor, my cheerleader, nurturer, teacher, doctor, chef, prayer warrior, and mentor. There is not a day that passes that I don’t think of you, mama!
A story about my mama! Who in their life hasn’t planted a peach pit, just hoping that somehow or someday a seedling would grow? And then they move onto some other adventure, and if it comes up – well, they don’t even know. That’s one way of picturing your style of living. You’ve planted ideas and dreams unaware. You’ve noticed somebody whose heart needed attention and planted a positive feeling in there. It’s part of your nature. You may not remember the kind and encouraging things that you’ve done….but everywhere, “peach pits” are growing like crazy, and people are blooming. We know it because we are all your beautiful “peach pits”.
“She is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed”. Proverbs 3:13-18

Photography

Taking photos is one of my great loves & i am rarely seen without my camera. Photography forces me slow down and truly enjoy the intricate details of Christ and His indescribable handiwork…How awesome is our God! I love to be on the other side of the camera taking photos of anything especially my family and anything ocean.

Can I make you a balloon animal?
I love to make balloon animals for kids. I even carry my pump and a few balloons in my purse in case I see a crying baby or child and I can quickly make a poodle, lion, hummingbird etc. Balloon animals are so fun to make, and children always love watching them being made.

Juggling, balloon making and face painting are hobbies I truly enjoy. I guess because they all involve kids, who are so innocent and so easily entertained. I love to juggle and pickup three of anything to juggle. I really like it because I can do it anywhere with no props. There is always three of something around.

Sea-shelling
seashell seeking is one of my most favorite things to do. When I am shell seeking I am encapsulated in finding the perfect or most unique shell & I truly don’t think of anything else – which is amazing & wonderful! When we consider a vacation spot my first question is always “Are there any sea shells there?” When shell seeking, I often smile with God, telling Him how creative He is to think of all the the seashells designs and colors. For years I have collected shells from all over the world and have combed countless beaches looking for the perfect find…

“I love to walk the shore line in the quiet of the morn,collecting shells and sea glass that the constant sea has worn”

Sewing 

I love sewing and enjoy taking old things apart and making new things out of them. I love vintage fabrics and use them to make anything from bibs to clothes to aprons…

 “She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness” Proverbs 31:27

Witnessing for Christ – Denver
Me and a few friends often go out witnessing to spread the Gospel of Christ. We go to parks, hospitals and anywhere God puts on our hearts and leads us.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only son & who so ever shall believe on this shall not perish but have everlasting life”. John 3-16

Miss Bahamas Pageant – 1990