Each month, Coast Monthly visits with some of the most charming people on the Texas Coast to see a few of their favorite things.

Born in Oxford, England, Dr. Helen Rhodes moved to Austin with her family when she was 4 years old. By age 9, her English accent was gone. With medicine in her DNA — her maternal grandparents were physicians in England— Rhodes became an OB-GYN, and worked at various hospitals as well as in private practice, all while raising three daughters.

She lives in Clear Lake Shores and manages practices in both the Clear Lake area and Houston.

Rhodes likes to garden and be on the water with husband, Tom Lambert. They like to sail, kayak, paddle board and slip off to their beach house in Galveston, where Rhodes is learning to surf.

“My fashion style is classic with a little bit of funk,” she said.

Here are a few of her favorite things:

1. Wooden bowl with shells: This was a wedding present, made by a craftsman in Louisiana. It’s made of elm with turquoise inlay and etched with pelicans, my favorite bird. I filled it with shells, many of which were gifts.

2. Handmade serving piece: A Christmas gift from my husband — with my favorite colors, blue and aqua. He bought it at an art show in Galveston.

3. Corner cabinet: This antique made of tiger oak belonged to my grandparents. All of the china inside is from my mom’s collection.

4. Porcelain figurine with seagull: My grandfather gave this to my grandmother as an engagement gift. She had this in her home and I always admired it.

5. Bone china cup and saucer: This is Bavaria china made in Germany and is a cherished item from my mom’s collection.

6. Book: I’m currently reading “Mountains Beyond Mountains” by Tracy Kidder, a Pulitzer Prize winner. It’s a fantastic non-fiction narrative about Dr. Paul Farmer’s mission to conquer diseases among the world’s poor, especially in Haiti.

7. Sandpiper: My daughters gave me this one Christmas. They know how much I love coastal birds.

8. Scarf: My husband bought me this while we were on our honeymoon in Tahiti. It is very versatile in that it can be a shawl, a skirt or even a dress.

9. Turtle: I love turtles. Tom made this for me out of koa wood, which is native to Hawaii. I put my rings on it at night.