Beach Treasure

Autumn Lingers

2012-01-13T18:34:00.000-08:00

I went to my edit page to finish a post I started last week and stumbled instead on this half edited file of photos from last October. It might be a bit "off season", but I say it's never too late, or too early, for anything spooky or autumny, my favorite time of year. So, here ya go. Look back and reminisce or look forward and cackle madly in anticipation.

And autumn truly is lingering here, now that I mention it. We've had no snow to speak of and the autumn leaves are still dry and crackly all over the flower beds and gardens. Although we've had the cold, the rest of winter appears to have been delayed elsewhere. Will it ever make an appearance? Or will we just skip straight on through to the first spring flowers of violets and crocus? Time will tell....

Books Read 2011

2012-01-06T14:07:00.000-08:00

"HelloooooooOOOOooOOOooOOOooo.....?"

*silence*

Yeah, I know, don't blame everyone for wandering away. Can't expect everyone to wait around forever when I don't bother posting. Well, it wasn't a matter of not bothering, it was a matter of being .... okay, okay, I'll admit it. I've been seeing other websites. There, I said it. Facebook. Tumblr. There might have been others. And just a very busy, very traveling sort of year (again) and all my good intentions to blog always ended up being that last little thing I didn't have time to finish at the end of a day. Maybe blogging more frequently can be a New Year's resolution of sorts?

So, my reading habits of 2011. For the first time in years, I did not meet my challenge. Granted, I didn't actually set a specific goal. I just assumed that I would continue to meet the challenge I set years ago of 50 books a year, about one a week plus a couple of busy weeks off for good measure. Between travel, family, and working on other goals, reading took a back burner. In fact, there were a half dozen or so nights when I didn't read before turning off the light, something I can't remember ever happening in past years!

But a goal is simply a tool, not a master, and I feel no disappointment over having read less books this past year. Okay, maybe a squidge of disappointment, as there are so many books I've been wanting to read or reread and there's just never enough time.

Another thing I didn't keep up as well this year is my recording of what I read. In fact, I'm not completely sure I remembered to write down every book I did read. And, as you can see below, my monthly listing deteriorated into a sort of seasonal free for all. With no further ado -

January

Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
Under the Green Hill by Laura Sullivan
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Confessions of a Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley

February

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Something From the Nightside by Simon R. Green
The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell
Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint

March

The French Gardener by Santa Montefiore
Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
The Help by Kathryn Stockett

April through September

Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedom
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Murder in the Latin Quarter by Cara Black
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Swan for the Money by Donna Andrews
Murder in the Palais Royal by Cara Black
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Widdershins by Charles de Lint
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
The Heart of Faerie Oracle by Wendy Froud
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin

October

Changes by Jim Butcher
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

November and December

Ghost Story by Jim Butcher
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Side Jobs by Jim Butcher
The Wood Wife by Terri Windling
Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris
Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

Thirty five (35) books in all. Although anyone who has read G.R.R. Martin would probably allow me to count each of his books as two or three books worth of words.

This year seemed to be a lot about series - some old, some new, reading until I reached the last book or until I'm forced to sit and wait for the author to construct the next section of the bridge into his/her character's story. There was a lot of YA books, lots of fantasy and not a small amount of steampunk.

One thing I notice is that I didn't manage to read a single classic all year. I try to read several a year and there were a number of titles that I'd actually been planning to get to specifically. I did manage to add a fair number of new classic books to my home library. I don't really know why I never ended up reading any of them. I think between series and book club choices, there just never seemed to be the right moment.

I also didn't reread any books this year. That was totally about no time. I was determined to reread Harry Potter, all seven of 'em, before the last movie came out. Didn't happen.

And I only managed to read two nonfiction books, one a short diet and health book and the other about faery cards, nothing ponderous or philosophical. (although The Elegance of the Hedgehog might count towards the latter.)

A Place of Her Own by J. Christensen

Next post - my favorite reads of the year.

Halloween Party Post - A Harvest Tea Party

2011-10-22T00:07:00.000-07:00

Hi partygoers and old friends who are probably surprised to find a new blog entry here. Hehehe. Life has been busy busy busy. So busy that I haven't had time to do any Halloween decorating this year. I wanted to participate in Vanessa Valencia's lovely annual bloggers' party, but I couldn't even manage that. Cancelled plans tonight gave me a few hours and I decided I could at least put up something party-ish so if I get a chance to go visiting other party bloggers, at least I'd have something fun for them if they had a chance to return the visit.

Here's the link to Vanessa's party.

The list of participants are in her left sidebar.

I love all things Halloween and so it's making me sort of melancholy that I don't have time to drag out my Halloween decorations this year - I haven't even managed the most important bits, like my Halloween coffee and tea mugs. Alas! Alack!

I did manage to attend a very magical Harvest Tea Party however. In fact I was the hostess, the Faerie Queen, at Faerieworlds Harvest Festival, and we gave five tea parties to faeries, ogres, pirates, elves, trolls, and even a few humans.

Our good friend and artist, Matt Hawk, created the beautiful moss table and shroom stools.

I think he also designed the sign, and another friend painted it.

I designed the beautiful autumn chandelier, and faery friend Willow, who you'll see later in these pics, helped put it together.

This was earlier this autumn, the leaves were just starting to turn. I love autumn colors, they make my heart sigh and smile and sing and do cartwheels of happiness.

The tree is telling us something important. We really need to listen more often to these leafy seers.

Here is Faery Willow with her friend, a rainbow dragon. She's playing in the Wendy House that was on site.

On Bad Faery Day some other visitors arrived early for the party, like this rather slender gentlemen who said he's need a few extra napkins as he frequently tended to spill his tea. A crow or two. CAW CAW! Actually I think he was yelling CRUMBS! CRUMBS!

And this shy black owl who turned his head (all the way around!!!) and ignored me whenever I asked if he'd like anything to eat. Can you see the leaf saucers that I made, beneath the cups? I was rather happy with them.

Mr. Rat came but later decided he'd rather go help make the tea and scurried off to the kitchen. I think he wanted first dibs on the goodies.

When the guests arrived, chaos and silliness reigned and there was not a smidgen of time left for photo taking, so I'm beholden to several friends who managed to snap some pics of the festivities. I'm borrowing their photos here to share with all of you. (Thank you to Mish and Anita)

No, we're not all doing "the Egyptian". We're all singing "I'm a Little Tea Pot".

I hope you enjoyed this little seasonal party. If I can keep the momentum going, I'll come back and add more Festival photos in the next week.

There are big changes afoot in our lives and I've been meaning to post more so I can journal the process.

If you've come from the party, I know you must be off. Thanks for stopping by. I'll be hopping on my broom and trying to squeeze in some visiting this weekend as well, in between travel, grandkids, and a college football game. Life is full.

A Bridal Shower

2011-07-31T15:00:00.000-07:00

This weekend was a bridal shower for my daughter-in-law-to-be Ashley. Her mother hosted it, such a lovely spot. The valley heat eventually won out but it held off for most of the morning so we could enjoy the picture perfect setting.

I wish I could have taken one or two of these bunches home with me, alas I knew they'd have been completely wilted in the 100° plus temps in the car before I managed to get them home.

These were yummy, even the ones that took a tumble onto the grass when they were being handed out. Hey, two second rule, right?

This beautiful guest fluttered about the entire time.

Guests arriving, gathering the buffet items from the house.

And a delicious buffet indeed!

Then the gift opening began. Loved the way this was displayed.

My gift, a storage box with journals, sachets, frame and photo albums to store and remember all the wedding memories.

We all got plastic bling rings. If you crossed your leg, you lost yours to someone who caught you. I was more than happy to pass mine on quickly but I was wearing a long skirt and it took a while for someone to notice. This guest won the game.

Just before I snapped this photo there was much jumping and shrieking. A spider was hiding inside this bag.

Bella the cat was fascinated with the gifts.

Oooh la la!

Tears from reading a beautiful handmade scrapbook.

A pink squeaky horn for the best gift of all....

A pink bicycle! (apparently there will eventually be a handlebar basket)

I was tickled at the name of the bike, this is what Ashley and Sam sometimes call Berkley.

Posing with the ribbon bouquet. Ashley wouldn't take off those sunglasses!

Trying to ride in heels and a dress.

Bride to be with all but two of her bridesmaids, showing off some leg.

And their goofy side.

Ashley and moi.

Ashley with her lovely mom and sister.

Four generations: Ashley with her grandmother, mother and aunt, sister and cousin.

It was a lovely day. For any friends or family who would like to see more shower photos, visit my Flickr set.

Champagne in the Garden

2011-07-27T22:14:00.000-07:00

Hi - me, waving! Tonight was an event I look forward to every year, my friend Angie's turn to hostess our local book club group. She always creates an "EXPERIENCE".

Not hard to do when the setting is her beautiful gardens.

Everyone always starts out the evening by taking a stroll around to see what's blooming, what's new, what's still an old favorite little enclave. Come have a look around with me.

I think she has four, maybe five water features. The sound of water flowing, splashing, or tumbling is everywhere.

There are little hideaways and sweeping lawns.

I didn't take photos of all the areas, but as you can see, one could easily spend all day strolling, or lounging in the many little garden seats.

Oh look, here's most of the group coming back from their tour. Angie is front and center in the blue shirt. Thank you again Angie!

Time to enjoy the gorgeous meal she's set out for us. (the playhouse/set in the background are for her lucky grandkids)

While enjoying the beautiful, relaxing view.

Oops, I forgot to take a picture until after I'd already dug into my plate, but you can see why! There's the champagne I mentioned. I had mine half and half with the pink lemonade and everyone thought it was a good idea and followed my example. I'd visited the dentist earlier in the day and wasn't sure if I'd be up for a meal yet but the novocaine (or whatever it is they use these days) had worn off and I was not only ready to eat but had quite the appetite from having not eaten all day. About the only problem I had was I dribbled a bit of my champagne. I blamed the numbing in my lips. Yep. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

As the light began to fade, the light cubes glowed.

Last but not least, there was CHOCOLATE.

And if that wasn't enough, I was gifted with this month's book (which I had borrowed from the library and was thrilled to have a copy of my own and to share) and a tub of fresh raspberries from Angie's garden. Some days are just picture perfect and lovely, lovely, lovely.

"Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken"

2011-07-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

It was Oscar Wilde who said "Be yourself, everyone else is already taken."

One of the most important things my mother ever taught me was that it was okay to be an original. As I child I sometimes cringed when she would do things "other people didn't do" - jump into a city fountain on a hot summer day, strike up conversations with strangers (perfect or otherwise), wear goofy hats (and in my version of reality, any hat that ended up on my mother's head qualified as goofy), dyed her hair purple. Okay, she didn't do that last one on purpose, still she didn't seem adequately mortified that she had done so, and this was decades before quirky hair colors were even on the fashion horizon.

Flash forward a decade or two... or three.... and I have it on good authority (from my children) that I have embarrassed my children in equally memorable ways. And all I have to say about that is Thank goodness!

While I began to appreciate my mother's free spirit even in my early adulthood, and in theory I've tried to embrace my own sometimes quirky lifestyle without apology, I will admit that there were many times in my life, in both small and large ways, when I found myself wanting to do something, be something, wear something, say something... and BOING. Found I'd bounced back into "normal", that even I had an invisible "line of acceptability" that I found difficult to cross.

I'm not talking here of things that I thought were unacceptable because of some legitimate reason - maybe it wasn't an appropriate place, it would have been unkind, it would have defeated my larger intention to come across in an undignified way.... no, I mean sometimes I thought of something I wanted to do/say/wear and didn't simply because it was outside of our cultures list of approved choices. Something that wouldn't have hurt anyone, wouldn't have broken any laws, and left me feeling disappointed at having been too chicken to allow myself to do.

Everyone's got their line. Mine, fortunately, started out well outside the average person's border, and the older I get the longer the walk is to reach it. One of the perks of getting older. Makes up a wee bit for things like wrinkles and less perky body parts.

All this is a build up to sharing a whole BUNCH of photos with you. At this point you might want to go get a cupcake and a cup of tea and come back and settle in for the rest of the post.

......you're ready? Oh good.

One of the things I love most about Faerieworlds Festival is that it's a place where everyone mutually agrees to break through those lines of acceptability. There are places, communities, gatherings where people dress differently. Ren Faires come to mind, although I've heard too many stories about the "HAWP" (Historical Accuracy Wardrobe Police) to think it's truly freedom of expression. It's more accurate perhaps to say they allow different expression. Or there's more liberal communities, high school or college campuses, and certainly festivals as a whole where people open up and let a bit of their uniqueness into the sun. But nowhere seems to be as lovingly embracing to the creed "to thine own self be true" than in the Realm.

Which is why I have a bit of a problem with the word "costume" when explaining our Faerieworld garb. I sometimes fall back on using it, but I much prefer to say "outfit". Because I've come to believe that what I see in all the color and style, layers and paint, beads and bare skin, are the true selves of people finally allowed to come out and play unabashedly, without fear. Costumes are the things we wear when we go back home and once again must, by choice or circumstances, don jeans and tees, uniforms, and suits.

While pondering the idea of originality, I thought of this song. Perhaps you might like to click on it as a soundtrack on your viewing journey. Many of these pics are friends, some are strangers. But all of them fill my heart with such joy to see them allowed to be themselves.

"And yeah, you look much better,
Look much better when you glow"

Whisperfae

Zoe and Mermie

Obviously royalty of some kind.

Moby and his wondrous wizard hat.

I'm taking this photo from eye level, she's on stilts.

I never asked her what her "theme" (if any, who needs a stinkin' theme, eh!?) was but I thought she was so lovely.

Lost Boy - Hawk and Mother of Many Flowers - Lynn

Dymphina and sweet offspring.

Striped stockings are always a good addition.

What struck my eye with this couple - check out the driftwood dreds.

Stephanie might win cutest ears with this pair.

Danielle rocks simple and stunning.

A touch of steampunk. Are we having fun yet? Hellya!

More steampunk. (You don't know what Steampunk means? Seriously? Do you have a house number on that rock you're living under? And you know me??? So, Google it, problem solved.)

Two of the beautiful peeps - Robert and Ash

Dymphina again in something to keep away the twilight chill. This cape was so soft it was all I could do not to pet her and pet her and ....

Kat the Gorgeous Goblin

A lovely elven couple.

Kylie expressing her totem Blue Heron.

Steampunk Kate (She MADE this outfit, including the hat!!!)

Beautiful Rowan and Captain Crazy Beard

I liked the calm island they created in the crowd.

Dance Jester dance.

A contingent from the water depths. Here's the really odd bit though. The woman on the left, didn't know the family on the right. She just happened to be wandering by while I was taking the photo of the family and I grabbed her and added her to the shot.

Whisperfae and Jake, a rather horny couple.

A parasol always completes ones look, don't you agree?

Twyla, Copper, and Kylie. I told them to look sexy, or devious, or ... I can't remember exactly. But whatever I said, they certainly pulled it off brilliantly.

One of the happiest souls I met this year.

He does "dark and dangerous" rather handsomely, don't you think? In truth he's a most friendly, kindly fellow.

The veining in her wings were gorgeous!

One of my favorite families, Brian, Emily, and Addi.

Lynne with one of her new flower children. I'm guessing her name is... Rose.

And yes, even a Muggle and a Stormtrooper.

What? No photos of our me and the family? Well, that's another post.

Things with Wings

2011-04-02T00:50:00.000-07:00

Today I went with my daughter-in-law and grandkids to visit one of my favorite places, Summers Past. As we were driving there we were reminiscing about how I practically had to force Lisa to go with me the first time. She thought it would be boring. My son asked her to go because he knew it would make me happy and she begrudgingly but politely agreed to go to make him happy. Of course she loved it as much as I did within minutes of arriving. Six(ish) years later not only does she visit it frequently even when I'm not here for a visit, but she's dragged all her friends, who also love it and who drag their family and friends and..... it makes me smile to think how many people visit because I forced her to go with me all those years ago.

Later, as four year old Joli zigged and zagged around the gardens I also reminisced about how much the gardens had grown since my very first visits and that back then I also was accompanied by a four year old, William, who is now closing in on twenty! Time indeed flies!

And speaking of flying things, today's visit was abuzz with winged creatures - faeries, birds, butterflies, children and a rooster. Okay, the grandkids only had wings on for a short time, but they were still buzzing around. There were also lots of beautiful rooted things as well. How about I just let the photos tell the story for me.

Quick OWOH Update

2011-03-01T22:35:00.000-08:00

I've been out of town off and on for most of the last week. I meant to get my OWOH gifts out in the mail this week but it's looking iffy. I'm home, but struggling to get ready for another week away while fighting off a cold, dealing with a sick kitty, and trying to do a zillion things.

Too, I'm being thwarted. I put in my photo order and when I went to pick it up today, their photo developing equipment was down. They hope to get it fixed by tomorrow evening or the the day after that. Annnnnnd, I'll be out of town by then. So I'll have to aim for late next week when I return home again.

I did get the requested color Fairy Tails finished though. I like how they turned out. I hope Ellie likes them.

Lots more to post about. I'll try to catch up on posts in March. In like a lion. A blogging lion. RAWWRRRR.

OWOH Door Prize Winners

2011-02-18T16:49:00.000-08:00

The faeries boss me around a surprising amount of the time these days. Which is probably a good thing as I boss everyone else around usually. Balances out the karma and what not. They wanted to be in charge of selecting the door prize winners again this year and, along with choosing the number, they also decided that there should be TWO winners - one for the set of Faery Tails and one for a photographic print.

Someone put snow hats on all the sunflowers.

When I mentioned that it wasn't like I had a lot of time to do both they just threw tea spoons and Scrabble letter pieces at me and went off to play in the snow. (Speaking of Scrabble pieces, that's why my announcement is up so late. The power was out all last evening because snowflakes just wouldn't stop falling from the sky and apparently they decorated the power lines in pretty Not Working Anymore garlands, and so we were busy, sans internet connection, keeping warm by the fire while I soundly beat everyone in a game of Scrabble. Mwahahahahaha!.... but I digress.)

The winner of the Faery Tails is:

Ellie, Woman of Many Blogs and no E-mail link. Ah. Yes. That's the way of the fae type - ephemeral, hard to pin down, not really here nor there but rather somewhere inbetween. So Ellie, I've left a comment on one of your more recent blog posts and hope you can get in touch with me.

The winner of the Photo Print of Your Choosing (can you hear the big announcer's voice in which I said that last bit?) is:

Lisa, of Life. Truth. Art. Congratulations Lisa, and I've emailed you backchannel. If you need help navigating my blog in search of the perfect selection, just holler. This blog even more than my studio blog, is woefully outdated and difficult to find anything in. It's rather like trying trying to find something in the Goblin King's labyrinth but without all the fun puppet friends to help you succeed. Sigh. (moving blog improvement project up higher on my To Do List).

And so we close the curtains on the final year of One World One Heart. Sigh.

But WAIT! There's MORE! (infomercial voice)

Lisa Swifka has announced a new and improved global gathering for 2012! Our World Our Art! Yay! Party on dudes! Well, next year.

In the meantime I still plan to visit more of the OWOH 2011 participants. At a slower pace, I really must spend some time doing noncyber-related tasks now that the deadline is past. I only managed to make it to a small number of the almost 900 blog links. I look forward to meeting and greeting more old and new friends as time permits, and hope more folk will amble by here as well.

And now, off to stop the faeries from shaking all that snow out of the trees and onto the freshly shoveled walkways. They really are an incorrigibly mischevious lot.

We discovered a very magical tree on our winter walk yesterday, as well as a gathering of woodland creatures. Most of them decided to put a bit more distance between us, but she stopped to give us an "Hey, we were here first!" look before flicking her tail at us and following her friends.

One World One Heart 2011

2011-02-11T22:45:00.000-08:00

I've been so busy lately, I almost missed this year's blogging community gathering, One World One Heart. As this is the last year the coordinator plans on hostessing this lovely gathering, I'm so glad that I managed to get a post in at the last minute.

Think of it as a global "open house". We fly from blog to blog around the globe catching up with old blogging friends and meeting new ones. As I've been on a somewhat unplanned blogging hiatus for a large portion of last year, I'm looking forward to getting back into the groove of things in 2011.

If you haven't visited before, a little bit about me? (And if you have been here before - Hi! Long time no see!!!! HUG) Well, as you will see by the time you get to the end of this post, I'm rather good at being silly. This is my general blog and it's mostly full of fun and laughter, travel, good food, some of the cutest grandchildren and pets you'll ever meet, my garden, odd scenes or nature that catches my eye on my many walkabouts, my favorite books, and regular cups of tea. Sometimes I even take a break to be philosophical or wise. (But don't worry, it's not often.) I also have a studio blog where I talk about art and creativity and sometimes even have my own creations to post about.

Each participant offers a giveaway. This year I'm offering a choice of gifts. The winner of my giveaway can choose between:

a) A 5" X 7" print of any photograph from my blog that is a) my photograph and b) does not include an identifiable person. You're free to wander my blog and find one that speaks to you but to give you an example, you might choose this one:

Or perhaps this one:

Or how about this one?:

It doesn't have to be one of these samples of course. There are many photos to choose from over the years.

If you don't have any more space in your home for an art print, you might instead choose a pair of faerytails. What are faerytails you ask? Well, they're like pigtails, only a lot more colorful and at least twice as fun.

Here's a photo of my daughter-in-law wearing a pair of long black and white faerytails I made for her.

Or another example, here are Lisa and Joli wearing some green leafy faerytales.

I can make them in a color (or color combination, including rainbow!) and length of your choosing. (I might not have a lot of all colors - I don't have many purple supplies, for example) I can make them for either an adult or a child. They will come as a pair but can be combined to make one large single faerytail as well. They are tied into the hair with an elastic band, easily taken on and off, and can be worn over and over again.

If you'd like an opportunity to win my giveaway, please leave your name with a link to your blog or email address in the comments to this post. Deadline to enter the giveaway is midnight PST on February 17.

When you're done visiting here, here's a link to bring you back to the One World One Heart participant list. I hope to find time to come and visit many participant's blogs over the coming week but, as I also plan on doing some major house painting this week, well..... we'll see. It might depend on how much caffeine I can ingest and how little sleep I can function on.

And after your travels around the cyberglobe have ended, please come visit again!

Redwoods, Philosophy, Moss, and Silliness

2011-01-22T02:50:00.000-08:00

To the great tree-loving fraternity we belong. We love trees with universal and unfeigned love, and all things that do grow under them or around them - the whole leaf and root tribe. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Time is what prevents everything from happening at once. ~John Archibald Wheeler

"Let everything happen to you
Beauty and terror
Just keep going
No feeling is final" ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Fairies are invisible and inaudible like angels. But their magic sparkles in nature. ~Lynn Holland

And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything. ~William Shakespeare

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss

It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit. ~Robert Louis Stevenson

One gets to the heart of the matter by a series of experiences in the same pattern, but in different colors. - Robert Graves

Shall I not have intelligence with the earth? Am I not partly leaves and vegetable mould myself. ~Henry David Thoreau

Wisdom is nothing but a preparation of the soul, a capacity, a secret art of thinking, feeling and breathing thoughts of unity at every moment of life. ~ Herman Hesse

And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye. ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. ~Chief Seattle, 1855

In some mysterious way woods have never seemed to me to be static things. In physical terms, I move through them; yet in metaphysical ones, they seem to move through me. ~John Fowles

You will find something more in woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters. ~St. Bernard

A wee child toddling in a wonder world.... I prefer to their dogma my excursions into the natural gardens where the voice of the Great Spirit is heard in the twittering of birds, the rippling of mighty waters, and the sweet breathing of flowers. If this is Paganism, then at present, at least, I am a Pagan. ~Zitkala-Sa

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~Minnie Aumonier

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~Albert Einstein

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. ~Lao Tzu

A faery hammock deep in a hollow.

Soft moss a downy pillow makes, and green leaves spread a tent,
Where Faerie fold may rest and sleep until their night is spent.
The bluebird sings a lullaby, the firefly gives a light,
The twinkling stars are candles bright, Sleep, Faeries all, Good Night.
~Elizabeth T. Dillingham, "A Faery Song"

A man's growth is seen in the successive choirs of his friends. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The road leading to a goal does not separate you from the destination; it is essentially a part of it. ~ Charles de Lint

Look at the trees, look at the birds, look at the clouds, look at the stars... and if you have eyes you will be able to see that the whole existence is joyful. Everything is simply happy. Trees are happy for no reason; they are not going to become prime ministers or presidents and they are not going to become rich and they will never have any bank balance. Look at the flowers - for no reason. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are. ~Osho

Well, some bits of nature don't seem happy. This fellow seemed sort of grumpy. So I thought I'd help him frown for a few moments.

I never saw a discontented tree. They grip the ground as though they liked it, and though fast rooted they travel about as far as we do. They go wandering forth in all directions with every wind, going and coming like ourselves, traveling with us around the sun two million miles a day, and through space heaven knows how fast and far! ~John Muir

The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. ~Author Unknown

What would the world be, once bereft
Of wet and wildness? Let them be left,
O let them be left, wildness and wet,
Long live the weeds and the wildness yet.
~Gerard Manley Hopkins, Inversnaid

Science, like life, feeds on its own decay. New facts burst old rules; then newly divined conceptions bind old and new together into a reconciling law. ~William James

So tiny. See the camera lens at the far right to get a sense of size.

And some tings aren't so tiny. Watch out Victoria. The Green Man is right behind you!!!

Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain. ~Henry David Thoreau

Fieldes have eies and woods have eares. ~John Heywood, 1565

The groves were God's first temples. ~William Cullen Bryant, "A Forest Hymn"

Another faery hammock, this one was beautifully decorated.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. - Robert Frost

Victoria was quite smitten with the deep red branches that were under foot.

I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order. ~John Burroughs

Nature built herself a totem pole full of faces.

Fire is an integral part of a grove's history.

As the poet said, "only God can make a tree" - probably because it's so hard to figure out how to get the bark on. ~Woody Allen

Trees are the earth's endless effort to speak to the listening heaven. ~Rabindranath Tagore, Fireflies, 1928

Hair style is the final tip-off whether or not a woman really knows herself. ~Hubert de Givenchy, Vogue, July 1985

There are rich counsels in the trees. ~Herbert P. Horne

When the student is ready, the master appears. ~Buddhist Proverb

We are spirits clad in veils. ~Christopher P. Cranch

If you would know strength and patience, welcome the company of trees. ~Hal Borland

Alice came to a fork in the road. "Which road do I take?" she asked.
"Where do you want to go?" responded the Cheshire cat.
"I don't know," Alice answered.
"Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter."
~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Wandering Through Redwood Country

2011-01-18T23:22:00.000-08:00

I'm relaxed, tuckered out in a happy way, so I'm not gonna work too hard to make this post witty. Just gonna share some of the most interesting photos from a fun day driving up Highway 101.

Look at the beautiful shadow world inside the pond.

Rocks trying to be a tree.

A tree spirit emerges.

And another one!

Gandolf and a Hobbit house.

This one takes a bit more explanation. There were these really oddly creepy but cute rabbits in the window of a real estate office. There were quite a few of them but I couldn't really get a photo because of all the daytime reflections. You can just barely make out a few of them.

I like how it looks like Victoria is throwing out a "shadow" of light.

A floating fae or a ball of light? Or do I repeat myself?

Beautiful colors and shapes.

Several faces clinging to the side of a redwood.

"Not all who wander are lost." Some people (including tree people) grow straight toward their goal and others spend time taking a creative wandering path.

Nature's lace.

Three caballeros.

A forest gnome pays homage before a redwood giant. Or.....

The Pink Lady - Eureka, CA. If you've ever been to this location, you'll appreciate this next bit. I'm driving down the street and Victoria is pointing at the Pink Lady and saying "Oooh, look at that Victorian! It's so detailed. So amazing!" And I point across the street and say "Yeah, but not as amazing as that one." She turned her head and GASPED "OHMYGAWD!!!!" It was really funny. Don't know what I'm taking about? Go here.

Who's a night owl? Whoooo? Whooooooo?

I wanna eat off a rainbow!

San Francisco

2011-01-17T23:48:00.000-08:00

I spent the day with friends Kathy and Victoria, playing tourist in San Francisco. With the exception of a few terrifying, heart pounding minutes involving being at the wheel of a stick shift hanging motionless at the very top of quite possibly the steepest street in a CITY full of steepest streets, we had a fabulous time!

Another steep, and windy, street - a not very good photo of the famous crookedest block on Lombard Street.

I thought this looked like a three headed dragon or ... well, the possibilities are pretty endless if you use your imagination.

Driving over the Bay Bridge it was so foggy Victoria had to take our word for it that we were actually driving over a body of water, but fortunately the sun came out for us once we set foot in the city.

Our main destination was a tea tasting room (I don't have the name of it at the moment but I'll pop back in and add it later, I have a business card) in China Town.

Our .... well, he called himSELF a "tea nazi". He was a very entertaining, enlightening, and gracious host. We tried a lot of different teas and all three of us left with a bag of our favorite selections.

This painting hung in the back of the shop. Very pretty. I think they must be Tea Goddesses. Or perhaps Tea Muses.

We all thought these little colored tins were pretty but Victoria was the only one who bought one. Victoria and I each bought a bag of bundled teas called "fairy baskets", I can hardly wait to try one!

China Town was extra colorful as it's only weeks away from Chinese New Years' celebrations.

I loved the juxtaposition of old and new.

More wonderful color!

Since we were in China Town, of course stopped for lunch at.... a Vietnamese Restaurant. (I had a lemongrass shrimp that I suspect was delicious as I wolfed it down. Victoria had.... are you sitting down.... Deep Fried Fairy. Yes. We didn't ask which part exactly was... well, best if we not dwell on it. As we were leaving I spied this tiny altar in the corner near the front door.

Ignoring the passers by in the foreground, do you think this building is what McDonald's would look like if the Chinese had thought of it first?

The owners thought a subdued color palette was the best choice for this building.

Just outside China Town this incredibly upscale shop had the most delicious windows!

Why rent an entire apartment in San Francisco. You can just rent a chair.

Victoria thought she was back in England there for a moment. Oops, seeing double.

These are too adorable to eat! Well, we might have bitten their heads off if we weren't still so full from lunch. The shopkeeper was kind enough to allow us to photograph them instead.

Alcatraz.

We made it too the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset. The light was sinking quickly, the fog rolled in. We might not have gotten details but the mystical mood more than made up for it.

The bridge played peekaboo between peaks of encroaching fog.

This isn't city lights, this is the last of the sunset reflecting in the windows. In person it was as if the city was made of gold.

Victoria capturing the view to take home with her.

A city floating in the clouds.

Marin County vista point - from the other side of the bridge.

What .... in the sky.... over the magical city... why... why.... it's obviously AIRSHIP PIRATES!!!!

The end of a lovely day.

More adventures await us......

Junkees

2011-01-15T00:03:00.000-08:00

We have our British faery daughter here for a visit and since we're both preparing for the midwinter ball, a trip to our favorite vintage clothing store was in order. I thought I'd take some photos to show you why we have so much fun shopping there (above being able to get great vintage clothing and collectibles, that is)!

Have you ever seen such a huge broken heart? (See the doorway on the far right, for comparison?

Victoria found a great leather coat. Actually, I found the coat. Yay me!

Folks really enjoy hanging out there. Uhm, sometimes maybe too long? Hi Mr. Skeleton Man.

Another fun montage.

Great wall art. Wish I could take a photo of all of it but I didn't want to be totally obnoxious with my camera.

Even inside the oversized dressing rooms, it's entertaining decor.

I've always wanted to do this to a chair. I haven't gotten around to it but obviously they're more industrious at the store.

Inside another dressing room and more wall art.

Jeff shopped just long enough to find the cool patchwork hat on his head and then he rested and acted as my personal stash holder.

Inside yet another dressing room. The camisole and skirt in this ensemble came home in my shopping bag.

In case you needed an opinion on how something looked on you, there's a whole audience willing to tell you "It looks fabulous dahling! It's so you! You look gorgeous!" and of course they wouldn't lie to you. (In actuality, the living, breathing staff are really lovely people and they're very good at giving you advice and thumbs up or down on what you try on.)

More shoppers that stayed a wee bit too long. Nah, there are resident skellies by the dozen, most of them living in their own personal chandeliers, and even stacks of extra parts in case they're "in need of a hand" or "a foot up".

Shopped 'til we dropped. Onto the settee. Where we struck a regal pose. Because.... uhm.... because we felt like it.

We each came home with a bag of goodies and only a teensy dent in our pocket books. That's it! That's why we look regal. Because we are the QUEENS of Vintage Shopping. Bow before our wonderfulness.

Go here and click on the television to see their fun commercial.

The 2010 Almost Made My Top Ten Reads List

2011-01-07T23:57:00.000-08:00

Although these ten books didn't make my top ten list for a variety of reasons (which I'll explain as I go along), they're are all books worth mentioning.

Believing in Faeries by Marcia Niger Mager

I bought this book because the concept of a fairy book for grown ups intrigued me. I wasn't sure what I'd end up with, I half expected to find out I'd wasted my money. Au contraire, I was pleasantly surprised. I was delighted. It didn't make my Top Ten because it was edged out by The Faeries' Oracle and because it's obviously not a book for everyone, but it's full of natural whimsical wisdom.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

These next two books vied with Bones of Faerie for the Top Ten list in my YA spot. Any of the three could have been picked, they're all worth reading. This one was offered to me by a friend and I thought it would be friendly of me to accept it. I assumed I would like it well enough. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. It's set in the most fantastical steampunk alternate history, circa WWI Europe. It's book one of a trilogy. The second book, Behemoth, was just as exciting. The third book won't be available until Autumn 2011 - oh, the impatient waiting!

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordon

This book has had more than it's share of positive reviews. A movie was made from it, which was fun as well. I prefer the book, as I usually do, and look forward to reading the rest of this series. It uses ancient Greek mythology in urban fantasy adventures.

Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire

This is my favorite new urban fantasy series. There are so many of them out there these days, I'd love to try many of them. This one I picked up as I thought I'd enjoy the San Francisco Bay Area backdrop. I do. And I enjoy the characters. Really well rounded and quirky and not just another "more of the same" magical creatures. I just finished the second book in the series, A Local Habitation. I think there's a third book just out now as well. It didn't make it into my top ten because... well, series books usually don't. On rare occasion. Perhaps a stand alone book has to put all it's punch in at once and makes a bigger impression.

Real Murders by Charlaine Harris

Another new series I started and enjoyed this year. You all know this author from her more well known Sookie Stackhouse series, which made it big after it was picked up as the basis for the HBO show Trueblood. Unlike Sookie's paranormal plots, these are vampire free cozy whodunits. Don't expect too much depth, they're like potato chips - lots of satisfaction, quick to get through, easy to read a bunch at a time. I finished the entire Aurora Teagarden series this year. Real Murders is the first book.

Turn Coat by Jim Butcher

The Dresden Files is one of my favorite series. This is the latest in paperback. I'm all caught up now and reduced to waiting impatiently for a new book to come out to get my Dresden fix. I know it's in poor taste to complain that the author isn't cranking them out fast enough but... hurry, hurry, write more Harry Dresden! If you want to start this series, the first book is Storm Front.

Murder in the Latin Quarter by Cara Black

And another of my top favorite series, waiting for my yearly fix of the protaganist Aimee Leduc as she races around Paris discovering bodies and fleeing danger. The first book in this series is Murder in the Marais.

Trader by Charles de Lint

This didn't make my top ten because it didn't knock the top two or three of my favorite de Lint titles out of their place. Otherwise I'd just automatically put all the de Lint I read in my top list. And it's nice to mix it up a bit, let some other authors have a turn. Still, this one squeezes up pretty close to my favorite de Lints. Several people warned me it was a good read but NOT one of their favorites by this author because of it's darker plot. I found just the reverse, that was what made it a great read.

French by Heart by Rebecca Ramsey

This one I considered, up with Traveling with Pomegranates. But it was clear Traveling with Pomegranates would get the first slot as I had a much stronger personal connection to the themes in it and it had both the pleasure of the travel experience plus a second layer of spiritual meaning. Still, French by Heart was a delightful read. I read it because I wanted something for my Francophile appetite, I wasn't expecting much more than a fun set of family escapades set in France. It was much more than that though - I really loved the people I "met" and the stories were endearing and tender. If she came out with another book I'd grab it up!

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

This one fought for the top list in place of Her Fearful Symmetry. It really could have gone either way. I think Her Fearful Symmetry won out because it haunted me more - ooooh bad pun. The Forgotten Garden wasn't quite what I expected from reading the back cover description. It was a touch more standard multi-generational saga, not something I usually read although I'm not sure why, I've enjoyed the ones I have tackled. Maybe because they tend to fall in the romance genre. But it was intriguing and rich and full of interesting characters. Although I was pretty sure I'd figured out some of the mysteries, it still had me uncertain until the end.

Tea Party

2011-01-02T23:33:00.000-08:00

We had a very quiet holiday season for the most part, quiet but quite nice in a lowkey, enjoy-the-small-moments sort of way. William, the college son, came home, but split his time between his parents and friends. The rest of the family couldn't make it this year.

Happily Lisa came with two grandkids for the last couple of days of December and that gave us a bit of festivities. Since we didn't have much time I asked what she'd specifically like to do and she and Joli said "a tea party"! Girls after my own heart. It just happened to be the one holiday event I'd wanted to plan and hadn't been able to manage.

So I worked hard to transform our dining room into a tea room.

An eclectic gathering of dishware, we just picked what we liked. I think it looks lovely nonetheless.

The china and silverware might not have all matched, but we matched up the guests perfectly. Three girls.

And three boys.

We had two kinds of tea in two of my fanciest tea pots. The one on the left was a gift from Hubby and the one on the right was a gift from my Mom. The pretty sugar bowl (unfortunately you can't see the front) was a gift from her as well.

I don't remember what she was admonishing her mother about, but it had something to do with tea etiquette.

Just in time I'd finished making up my new napkins.

We all dressed up for the event. Well, okay, we all managed to BE dressed for the event. Some of us wore a monkey on our head.

And some of us wore a monkey on our butt.

And some of us even wore a boy wearing a monkey on top of a monkey on top of their head. Uhm... I think I said that properly.

The candles burned down. We polished off FOUR pots of tea. Joli wanted us to make two MORE pots but the rest of us felt a bit sloshy.

Joli was sad to see the party end. Fortunately she cheered up when I suggested if we left a bit of room in our tummies, we might manage to have some hot cocoa later.

I'm determined to make time for more tea parties in my life in this new year. I might even need to buy some matching dishware for them.....

nahhhh. Mismatched is good. But I might need more of that!

Books I Read 2010

2011-01-01T03:11:00.000-08:00

January (6)

Garden of the moon by Elizabeth Sinclair
The Shack by William Paul Young*
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Witchling by Jasmine Galenorn
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A Circle of Cats by Charles de Lint**

February (6)

Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King
The Geurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Shaffert and Barrows*
Trader by Charles de Lint
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch*

March (8)

Turn Coat by Jim Butcher
The Girl Who Loved Jim Gordan by Stephen King*
Thirteen O'Clock by
Murder in the Latin Quarter by Cara Black
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch*
Believing in Faeries by Marcia Niger Mager
Real Murders by Charlaine Harris
Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd

April (12)

I'm Perfect, You're Doomed by Kyria Abrahams
French by Heart by Rebecca Ramsey
Living the Writer's Life by Eric Maisel
Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner
A Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris
Three Bedrooms, One Corpse by Charlaine Harris
The Julius House by Charlaine Harris
Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
Avenging Angels by Mary Stanton
Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant by Jenni Ferrarri-Adler etal
Stores in Stone by Douglas Keister
I'm a Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson

May (6)

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Creative Time and Space by Rice Freeman
Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris
Thank You, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse*
Dead Over Heels by Charlaine Harris

June (7)

A Fool and His Money by Charlaine Harris
The Witch's Grave by Shirley Damsgaard
Last Scene Alive by Charlaine Harris
Poppy Done to Death by Charlaine Harris
Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordon
Naked in Death by J. D. Robb

July (2)

An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris
Making Money by Terry Pratchett

August (3)

Greenmantle by Charles de Lint
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling**
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

September (4)

Interworld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves
Dead End by Helen R. Myers
A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke
Runemark by Joanne Harris

October (4)

Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones
Henry's Sisters by Cathy Lamb*
A Catered Halloween by Isis Crawford
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

November (6)

Shakespeare Undead by Lori Handeland
I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett
Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Celtic Twilight by W. B. Yeats
A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire

December (1)

A Christmas Carol

And sometime during the warmer months, although I didn't keep track of when, I read: (2)

The Faeries' Oracle by Brian Froud and Jessica MacBeth

and

Creepers by Joanne Dahme

~~~~~~~~~~~

*selected as a read for my monthly book club
** a reread

<><><><><><>

Sixty Seven (67) books total. There are about a dozen more titles that I did not include in this year's list because, for one reason or another, they've been left half read, although I plan to finish most of them.

I'll leave it at that tonight and follow it with a more detailed Top Reads of 2010 post sometime soon.

Wemple's Pumpkin Patch - Take Two

2010-10-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

Jeff and I went to the pumpkin patch on October 1, the first day they were opened. That day the corn maze was still green, the grass was still green, many of the pumpkins were still green. The temperature was in the 90's. It was fun, but just didn't feel like proper pumpkin patch weather. Wednesday we went back to the pumpkin patch with Lisa and the kids and the crops were ready and the sky was sunny and autumn cool. In other words, just right.

This was as close as Joli wanted to get the turkeys as they were "stinky". She and Papa agreed they preferred turkey on the table.

Every year I make it through the corn maze, although sometimes it takes hours. This was the first year Joli was old enough to want to give it a try and I knew from the start there was no way to solve it with Joli in the lead. We had fun going in circles though.

We played zombies and scared Mommy and Papa.

Joli was very concerned about the trolls that lived under the three bridges in the maze. Joli and I crept quietly across so we wouldn't wake the trolls up. Lisa, on the other hand, stomped over the bridges as loudly as she could in her big boots. She likes to live on the edge of danger.

Jeff actually brought Markus into the maze in a giant stroller - huffing and puffing and commenting every three minutes that we were lost and destined to starve to death, our bones found in the spring.

After we finally found our way out of the corn maze (we ended up having to cut straight through the corn to the edge and do NOT ask me how Jeff managed that in a stroller as I was off playing Marco Polo with Joli so she wouldn't truly get lost, Joli found this straw bale maze a little more manageable.

We pretended to be scary pumpkins sitting atop the bale.

Jeff and Markus were happy to sit this maze out.

Then it was time for the pumpkin fields. We finally had heavy frost the night before that had damaged a lot of the pumpkins so the pickings were rather slim this year.

Joli thought this was the cutest little baby pumpkin ever.

Markus has two favorite toys - spoons and pumpkins.

Eventually we all found the perfect pumpkin.

She's really outstanding in her field. (hehehehe)

But mostly she's running.

And running.

Finally the chilly weather (and all the running) exhausted us all and it was time to head someplace warmer.

Chinese Restaurant

Hot soup!

And spoons.

Sisters?

2010-10-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

Autumn Aspens

2010-10-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

A local Aspen grove on the way to Redding.

Shining gold against the rain grey clouds.

Small trunks bent from the seasons of snow.

Fairy coins litter the forest floor.

(We see only leaves.)

Layers

A gnarled old guardian stands above the younger trees.

"Look! I found a sonic screwdriver."

"Or, you found an old motorcycle kick stand."

So much gilded treasure.

The gold has even seeped inside the fallen trunk.

Sunflower Forest

2010-10-21T14:54:00.000-07:00

The new photo options here on Blogger are besting me, I can't figure out how to separate the photos and add regular prose instead of captions. It's making me very grumpy and discouraging me from posting at all - GRRRRR. But I'll try to make it through this instead of giving up, I don't have time to figure it out right now.

I'm also grumpy because I was certain - CERTAIN - I had more photos of my little flocks of birds and of my towering sunflower forest this year. Can't find them in my photos, can't find them in my cameras. The holiday gremlins must be out in force already.

So, take my word for it. I have, had, towering massive sunflower forests this year where I'd originally planned a very low height faery meadow. Nature sometimes doesn't always agree with us on land use. I have to say her plan was lovely. It's past it's prime now, some of the stalks I had to whack my way through or cut out as they were falling over and we couldn't get from one side of the yard to the other. But the birds still love them and are still visiting and feeding and they're so much prettier to look at then the neighbor's ugly fence, that I've kept as many up as possible, tying them up with twine when necessary, making a sort of sunflower waddle fence.

These pics were all snapped through smudgy windows (yeah, talk to my hubby who leaves water marks on them) or screens, so forgive the quality. I can't take photos of them from outside because the minute I open my door they all flutter away in a bit bouncy scatter.

Every year I let the sunflowers have their way with the gardens (every year I swear I won't) and the reward is every autumn the yellow finches appear in flocks and delight me with their antics. This year I actually had some in the garden all summer.

This autumn the finch were joined by these rosy birds. Amongst the lost photos were ones that showed the two different birds together so you can see that these birds are twice the size of the tiny yellow finch. I don't know what they are. I think of them as sparrows but perhaps they're finch as well.

Upside down? Sure, no problem!

I like the whimsical focus on this pic, flowers to the foreground.

He blends in nicely with the fence.

It's hard to find them hiding in there. It's actually easier to look for the bouncing flower heads then to look for the birds themselves.

And that, my friends, is as much as I can fight with this new blog program without using bad language. So, off I go. I'm thinking of decorating what's left of the forest with some Halloween decorations and lights so we can look out the window and enjoy it for a few weeks more. Whaddya think? A giant spiderweb? Spiders bigger than the birds? a few dangling skeletons????

October Garden

2010-10-17T16:45:00.000-07:00

It's sort of spooky how the garden is still trying to flower and fruit, long after we usually have our first hard freeze. We had such late hard frosts in the spring, perhaps Mother Nature is trying to make up for it by postponing the end of the season. I would have taken better care of the garden if I'd known there was so much time left for her.

The best crop of marigolds I think I've ever had. Many grew from seed this year. I'll certainly have flowers for our Dia de Los Muertos altar this year.

Cherry tomatoes. There's still a few green ones out there, hopefully they'll turn red in time for the granddaughter's visit. We haven't had a lot this year, just enough to pop a few in my mouth each time I went out to the garden. But I wanted to gather these in just in case that frost shows up unexpectedly. Also a bit of swiss chard I don't even remember planting. The bugs had a go at it but they left me some to toss in a stir fry. And just look at those awesome carrots!

I forgot I planted them too. Well, I knew I'd tossed some carrot seed out there, but didn't realize I'd planted a carnival of colors! There's more where this came from and they'll be just fine in the garden through a few frosts so I just picked enough for dinner tonight.

I know I've been absent from the blogging world for most of the summer. I'm hoping to jump back into regular posting. Knock on wood. I hope there are a few folk out there that still wander by and notice I've actually put up a post! Knock on wood again.

Harvest Moon, Mabon Moon

2010-09-23T14:08:00.000-07:00


How like a queen comes forth the lonely Moon From the slow opening curtains of the clouds Walking in beauty to her midnight throne! ~George Croly, Diana

"The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really wise."
- Euripides (484 BC - 406 BC)

"As autumn returns to earth's northern hemisphere,
and day and night are briefly,
but perfectly,
balanced at the equinox,
may we remember anew how fragile life is ----
human life, surely,
but also the lives of all other creatures,
trees and plants,
waters and winds.

May we make wise choices in how and what we harvest,
may earth's weather turn kinder,
may there be enough food for all creatures,
may the diminishing light in our daytime skies
be met by an increasing compassion and tolerance
in our hearts."
- Kathleen Jenks

"The definition of a Harvest Moon is: the full moon closest to the fall equinox. The Harvest Moon was thus named because it rises within a half-hour of when the sun sets. In early days, when farmers had no tractors, it was essential that they work by the light of the moon to bring in the harvest. This moon is the fullest moon of the year. When you gaze at it, it looks very large and gives a lot of light throughout the entire night. No other lunar spectacle is as awesome as the Harvest Moon."
- Harvest Moon Lore

Autumn begins with a subtle change in the light, with skies
a deeper blue, and nights that become suddenly clear and
chilled. The season comes full with the first frost, the
disappearance of migrant birds, and the harvesting of
the season's last crops.
- Glenn Wolff and Jerry Dennis

San Diego Botanical Gardens

2010-05-17T23:02:00.000-07:00

There's a long serendipitous story about the photos I'm about to show you. I'd been thinking of this place I'd been to in San Diego long ago called Quail Botanical Gardens. I was hoping to convince Lisa and Joli to find and go there with me again when I was down there a few weeks ago but it just didn't work out. On my way home, driving up I-5, I pulled off at an exit, spied a sign for "San Diego Botanical Gardens", decided to check it out, discovered it was the renamed Quail gardens, and that I had just happened to stumble on it on their monthly free entrance day. How could I resist!

When I'd visited it about fifteen years ago it was a lovely garden but in the intervening years it's grown into an absolutely awe inspiring grounds that would require many return visits to see it all. In two and a half hours I managed to barely, briskly, walk the contours of it.

You might want to grab a refreshing beverage before you go on a rather lengthy cyber stroll through them with me. Water bottles ready? (Wine? Well, uhm, sure.) This is just a few of the photos I snapped, there were virtually dozens of views, hundreds of close up possibilities, every few footsteps.

Bananas on the tree. Or maybe they were plantains. It's fun to think about places where banana trees are just ordinary garden plants. I remember the first time northern Wisconsin and Minnesota bred me saw oranges ON A TREE! I was eighteen. I was amazed.

A nice couple took my photo in front of some Dr. Seuss looking succulents.

This is a vignette from an area that was meant to look like undersea plant life. It did seem very ocean garden-y. I found myself humming "Under the Sea", thinking my Little Mermaid loving granddaughter would love it.

My grandkids would love most of the garden. There were two areas designed just for children. This literary rabbit was reading in the older children's area.

I wished I could bring this colorful froggy home to live in my garden.

On a windy day I bet these sparkled and twirled. They were pretty even when they were still.

Even this storage/potting shed was capped with a garden roof of succulents.

There were many epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants) in the garden.

This central gazebo was a popular resting spot. There were so many interesting people sitting under the shade of that tree, it reminded me of a number of Impressionist paintings.

A cork tree! There were about a half dozen of these strange looking creatures.

The newer children's area was large enough to entertain a child all day long. It covered an entire hillside. This was a child's size labyrinth. I walked it of course.

This climbing "tree" was far more realistic looking than I could capture in a photograph. It was really a structure that was built but had real plants hanging (out of reach of little hands I assume) on the outside. I seriously need to come back with a kid so I can climb up into it myself.

There were a number of waterfalls, this is just one view of one of them.

I really loved these eyeball trees but they seemed to be a little annoyed at me in return.

A green lady tending her babies.

Another lady relaxing with a green friend. Can you see her green friend? On the chair to her right?

Summed up nicely already.

A green craftsman. At least that's who he seemed to be to me.

"Their queen had torn her green gown and bared a shoulder white
White as the May that crowned her
And all the minstrels round her
Tilted back their crimson hats and sang for sheer delight," - Lyrics from Merry May Folk by Emerald Rose

This uprooted gnarl seemed to be alive to me as well - can't you see the goblins and gnomes and knobby knuckled tree creatures hiding in it? Maybe even a monster or two!

These cacti looked vaguely reminiscent of something too. I'll just let you and your own imagination go where you will with this one.

Another Dr. Suess scene.

One forgets how beautiful and colorful the desert can be.

This hidden lily pond was another favorite with the little kids. I witnessed a half dozen mothers negotiating "five more minutes and we are leaving" with stubborn preschoolers.

Who can blame them when the place was alight with so many friendly creatures. Fishies. Dragonflies. This red fellow looks like he's smiling.

And several of the biggest, greenest frogs I've seen since my childhood. They were very used to people, I took this photograph really close up, I don't think I even used a bit of telephoto lens for it.

A very cool bamboo forest. The effect was sort of ruined by the yellow roping but I can understand the need for it. Some people don't seem to understand the whole "stay on the path" concept.

If you want to find out more, visit the garden's website here. If you live close enough to visit, they have festivals (including a chocolate festival and a fairy festival!) as well as classes and events of all kinds. Check out some botanical close ups I saved to share over at Laume's Studio.

One Weed at a Time

2010-05-12T22:22:00.000-07:00

Our front gardens have been benignly neglected for a number of years now. Oh, we water, pull out dried branches, rake, pull a few weeds. But plants have died out and other plants have taken over entire sections and it's all just a big green mess, albeit a pretty one that still blooms alot. The whole thing is rather overwhelming so we're tackling it one small section at a time.

One of the newer problems is a strip between the original garden strip beneath the retaining wall and the sidewalks. It was created when they put in the sidewalks a few years ago. Before that it was just hard dirt and was where we parked instead of parking on the road. It was filled in by the road crew, overfilled actually, with leftover dirt, sand, and chunks of asphalt. And in the last couple of summers weeds have taken over.

There are two strips. The longest one, which you see above to give you a "before" image, runs to the left of the front walkway.

The shorter by about half the other side (33 feet in length I believe) runs to the right between the walkway and driveway. There's also a short bit on the other side of the driveway which I didn't photograph.

We spent the last week digging, watering, weeding, removing asphalt and rocks, adding compost, and finally laying this hodgepodge of collected stepping stones and pretty rocks and planting groundcovers. What a difference! Of course I still have to weed and return to splendor the top planter layer but, as I mentioned, taking this enormous project on in smaller steps.

The plan is for the groundcover (there's also some seeds tossed) to take over and keep the weeds down. I've used plants that can take a bit of stepping on and added the stepping stones for visual appeal and to make the back strip more accessible. The morning after I took this photo, a herd of deer walked through and left deep (in the now softened dirt) prints. Sigh. I might have to stick some twirly shiny things in the row to discourage a repeat.

This is one of my favorite pieces, it's from a stack of granite countertop samples my son in the building industry gifted to me.

Since we're just starting to come into our green season up here in the mountains, I'll leave you with this beautiful garden photo I snapped just down the street from my son's house, down in the valley. Irises are a month or two away from blooming here!

Marche au Puce

2010-04-14T13:18:00.000-07:00

I've been pining for Paris lately. It's spring so this should come as no big surprise. If we'd continued our pattern, every other year (yes, twice is a pattern), then this spring I should be winging over to France. I actually had been planning on going to Paris this December, but my travel cohort decided to have another baby instead. That's a grandchild for me so I guess I can't complain.

Still, I can wander the web in search of a Paris or French fix. Just like I wandered the Marche au Puce, one of Paris' many large flea markets, on our last visit.

We didn't go the "big one" which... can't remember which one that was. On recommendation of a friend, we went to the one near Porte de Vanves, which she said was less commercialized, better bargains. Although it might not have been the largest, it still took us the entire morning to make our way through from end to end, not counting the time we spent trying to find it, one of the few times I got lost in Paris and I blame poorly given instructions.

I didn't take many photos as I asked first and some vendors didn't want to be photographed. I didn't ask if I was taking an overall street scene though. Mostly I just enjoyed the hunt, determined to find some small bits and bobs that would fit in our suitcases.

This lovely birdcage would NOT fit in my suitcase. Alas.

Buttons would fit in my suitcase. I brought a few home - wonder where I put them?

Now if I was furnishing a small Paris apartment, this is the type of stuff I'd be looking for. Love the chandelier, as well as the dusty mirror, hanging from the back of the van. I love the cart too but doubt I'd have room for it in Paris. And how would I get it home!? Wheel it onto the Metro? Maybe if I lived outside the city.

Lovely old marbles. I should have bought some. Oh well. Next time I'm there.

Another crowd scene.

Of course the books drew me in with their aged beauty. They were all in French so I wouldn't have been able to actually read them.

At one corner of the market this guy was playing a wheeled piano.

More books - I was really tempted by this lovely cover.

The merchant was disappointed I didn't want to take his photo, only a photo his books. So I took his photo. This was a common plea with French men, a fun banter I eventually came to expect. Ahhh madame, I am so sad, no one wants a picture of me. LOL.

I thought these models were cool, like giant pieces from a Battleship game.

So much to stop and sort through: old images, paintings, ceramics, knick knacks. I found a few tiny pieces including a set of tea spoons for a very good price. When I got them home I realized that they were probably not tea spoons after all, but salt spoons, as the "bowls" of the spoons are extra tiny. I still use them to stir my tea though. And if you take sugar, you just need to double up on your scoops, that's all.

I loved these colorful artsy chairs.

All good shopping trips must eventually come to an end. When the vendors started packing things up and Hubby was delirious with hunger, it was time for le dejeuner.

If I Were A.....

2010-04-06T23:48:00.000-07:00

If I were a month I’d be October

If I were a day I’d be Wednesday

If I were a time of day I’d be twilight in the summer

If I were a planet I’d be the earth

If I were a sea animal I’d be an otter living in a kelp forest

If I were a direction I’d be north

If I were a piece of furniture I’d be a window seat on a rainy day

If I were a liquid I’d be a cup of tea

If I were a gem stone I’d be an agate

If I were a tree I’d be a white birch tree

If I were a tool I’d be a pen

If I were a flower I’d be a moonflower

If I were an element of weather I’d be wind

If I were a musical instrument I’d be a faery flute

If I were a color I'd be moss green

If I were an emotion I’d be laughter

If I were a fruit I’d be a peach

If I were a sound I’d be rain on the roof

If I were an element I'd be silver

If I were a car I’d be a Mini Cooper

If I were a food I’d be oatmeal

If I were a place I’d be a bookstore

If I were a material I'd be cotton velvet

If I were a taste I’d be dark chocolate

If I were a scent I’d be a garden just after a rain

If I were a body part I’d be a pair of weathered hands

If I were a song I’d be "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty

If I were a bird I'd be a raven

If I were a gift I'd be handmade and mailed late

If I were a city I'd be Paris

If I were a door I'd be a portal to a magical kingdom

If I were a pair of shoes I’d be a pair of mary janes

If I were a poem I would be Catechism for a Witch's Child by J. L. Stanley

what would you be?

Or perhaps, what would you be at this particular moment? For, if I filled this in next week, or tomorrow, or even in an hour, I might be something entirely different.

Borrowed from Stephanie who borrowed it from....

The Hat I Had to Buy

2010-03-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

Remember the tea cozy I bought to wear as a hat?

You do? Well then, you'll understand....

...why I HAD to buy.....

....THIS hat!

Not a tea cozy posing as a hat, it's a hat posing as a tea pot!

All together now! -

I'm a little tea pot short and stout,
here is my handle, here is my spout.
When I get a steamed up, then I shout!
Just tip me over and pour me out!"

And now I must be off, to the tea room with my hubby. Of course I'm going to be wearing my new hat.

More Oregon Beach

2010-03-21T15:02:00.000-07:00

No words today. Didn't seem necessary.

Beautiful Scenic Oregon

2010-03-18T19:21:00.000-07:00

While picking through a box of books at the thrift store recently, I found one of those travel guides full of glossy, slightly out-of-date photos. I read the the cover to myself out loud - "Beautiful Oregon". A man standing on the other side of the box looked up and said "Scenic Oregon". I turned the book around to see he was reading a large caption on the back of the book. Simultaneously we said "Beautiful Scenic Oregon". Oregon is indeed both those adjectives.

I was up in Oregon over the last weekend plus. I had a couple of reasons for the trip but before I mention one of them, I'll just let the photos I took speak, for the most part, for themselves.

Pull out the batting and drag it along the hilltops where it snags in the tree tops.

A tree top penthouse.

Nature leaves random sculptures about the forest.

A downed snag or the skeletal rib cage of a fallen giant?

Water falling from the sky, water leaping up from the sea.

Clouds caught in a tidepool.

Thirteen birds on a wire.

A lone raven. Or crow. Sometimes I find it hard to tell which is which without a size reference.

If you want more ravens, and other amazing creatures, hop like a raven over to Laume's Studio and check out the beginnings of the totems created by some amazing artists during a retreat I attended over the weekend.

And Her Name Is.....

2010-03-01T23:37:00.000-08:00

Berkley Jae. It does not mean "place where people go to college". It's a Scottish name that means "birch meadow" - isn't that pretty!

And now I bring you more baby photos. The theme primarily "Berkley being held by different people." I mean, how much posing can you ask of someone just a few days old?

Joli wasn't allowed in the maternity ward and had to stay in the waiting room during hospital visits. So she was so excited to meet her new cousin when they finally came home.

Jax wasn't as thrilled about meeting anyone. Of course he had no idea there was anyone to meet. He knew something was up though. He pretty much glued himself to my side when I was at the house and his "mom and dad" were still at the hospital.

I don't need to meet any baby. I just want to show off and have you rub my belly. How come you guys were gone so lonnnnng!!!

I think this is such a cute photo. It's actually Joli just making some comment about the baby and being caught midword. But if you didn't know the people in the picture, you'd think it was a mommy and daddy introducing baby to big sister and said big sister saying something along the lines of "I don't THINK so!"

Berkley chilling with her Daddy. I didn't realize until I put the pic up that you can see the photographer in the mirror.

And hanging out with her Grammy.

Another cute pic, looks like two little girls laughing and telling stories together already!

Here Joli is saying "Awww, she's so cute."

Joli asked to hold her. I suggested she "hold" her in the nursing pillow, just like Ashley was holding her in the nursing pillow. I slid the pillow over onto Joli's lap. Joli didn't buy it. She looked at me with an exasperated look and said "No. I want to hold her in my ARMS!"

So, it was done.

Of course Uncle William had to have a turn. He and Hubby drove over on Thursday.

"Papa" with his newest granddaughter.

Eventually we took the baby back and handed him some other small creatures. Rosie wasn't at all impressed with Berkley. She's the sixth grandchild. - Ho hum. Seen these little humans before, they're too young to drop food for me. Boring.

Maggie didn't even notice the new baby as she was too worried about that big ol' bulldog chasing her around and around! She's keeping an eye on him while I snapped this photo.

We did let the new parents hold their newborn a little bit. Although if truth be told, Sam hogged her from Ashley. I guess Ashley's been "holding" her more for the last nine months.

Lisa was stir crazy and we all went out to eat at Souplantation when Joli was four days old. Ashley cut that time in half, we went out to eat with two day old Berkley. Lisa showed Ashley how to wrap her up where the general public couldn't poke their noses or fingers in at her though.

Sometimes you want to be the holder. Sometimes you want to be the holdee. Joli wanted Papa to hold her. Papa looks pretty happy about that.

I had to laugh - this is a page from the baby shower gift list. Yes, a page - there were many. Check out the last two lines. LOL

I never did get baby shower pics up. Sort of a moot point now, 'cept for some nice family photos I managed to snap. But they scored big time, there was a mountain of gifts. Here's Ashley the evening of the shower sorting out just a small portion of the goodies.

And here's a drawer of her onesies. Think she has enough!? Think she's got enough PINK!?

One more picture of beautiful Berkley. Getting her diaper changed. Better hold on tight to Grammy's finger.

After she came home, they ended up bringing her back to the hospital the next night for a night under the bilirubin lights for some jaundice. Very tired worried parents. But all was well and she's back home again and the family all managed to get some sleep eventually.

She's a week old now and every day I'm tempted to drive back over to see her again. Hey, it's only four hours of driving, no big deal, right? But, common sense and snow storms have kept me from acting on the impulse. Fortunately, I will be driving back next week for another visit on the way through for some other travel plans. I'm counting the days.

Tuesday's Child is Full of Grace

2010-02-28T11:14:00.000-08:00

Sam and Ashley called me a few hours before dawn on Tuesday. Labor? Maybe, maybe not? I'd stayed up late, then they called, then a cat barfed on the bed, Hubby came home from work, and another phone call. With about an hour and a half of sleep, a full mug of coffee, and much excitement, I drove the two hours to Redding to help welcome a new grandchild into the world.

They wanted me to meet them at the Sundial Bridge, set in a beautiful botanical gardens on the river, but when I arrived it started to rain in earnest, so we had to settle for a more mundane walking location, the local mall. Behind Ashley and Sam are Ashley's mom and sister, also at the birth.

Eventually we stopped by their doctor's office in late afternoon so Ashley's progress could be checked. Ashley was 4 cm and he said we could go right on up to the hospital. Instead we went back home where Ashley spent some time in the bathtub and then climbed into this very attractive (NOT) tee shirt. I thought the saying "Get Finished" was quite appropriate though, I'm sure she thought that with each contraction.

The birthing ball they bought came in quite handy. As extra seating.

We all ate and hung out with the dog and waited for the contractions to get more intense. Eventually the hospital called. "Uhm, hellooooo, where ARE you guys!?" So we went.

And Ashley changed into another stunning fashion statement.

Things moved along very quickly. We were only at the hospital for a few hours before it was time for Ashley to push. Sam and Ashley were a poster couple for labor. Sam was the best coach I've ever seen!

They used no drugs, no epidural. The nurse said 90% of their parents use them. It continues to shock me at how upside down the childbirth statistics have become. Modern medicine is amazing and lifesaving and I'm all for it. But not just for convenience and liability and so mommy can watch her favorite television show when she is going through transition. Why would you want to minimize and miss the most amazing experience one is likely to experience in this life? Sorry, I just don't get it. (I'll be good, I won't bore you here by also launching into a lecture about all the physical and psychological benefits of the unmedicated birth.)

So, moving on...

At 5:32 pm, into the light popped a very fuzzy topped baby girl!

Her first bath that night.

She was digging it.

Grammy and photographer needed a turn holding the new baby.

She looks a bit beat up in this photo, but it's just the eye drops they put in her eyes.

It was a long, but beautiful day.

What? I didn't tell you her name? That's because they didn't name her on the first day. We had to wait until the next day to find out, so I'll make you wait until the next post. (I know, some of you already know, oh well)

Tea Cup, Chihuahuas

2010-02-21T15:33:00.000-08:00

No, not tea cup chihuahuas. Tea cups AND chihuahuas. Although, they are pretty tiny, under five pounds. The chihuahuas that is.

Decided to toss up a quick post as I've run out of online time.

I found this sweet tea cup and saucer at an antique shop in town. I'm usually not one for things too "cute" (except grandchildren, of course), but I thought this was delightful. It's part of a set, one for each season, this one is "Summer". Seems more springlike to me, but that's okay. It will work any time I want a bit of whimsy.

Magpie is growing, almost the same weight as Rosie now. Pronounced healthy and adorable by our vet, who she's visited twice recently for her baby shots. You can see she wasn't too happy about wearing a collar at first, chewed on it. Now she has a pretty new one in pink and brown polka dots and she leaves it be.

The vet says her ears probably won't go up until she's done teething. I don't think she's even lost any of her baby teeth yet. Trust me. Her idea of fun is to attack hands and she's got some needle sharp ivories in there still! Here's one ear trying though.

Rosie's happy in the sun look.

They were watching some people who had the audacity to walk down their street.

Wanna see my new.... uhm.... hat? Pop over to Laume's Studio.

Those Rascally Teenagers

2010-02-18T22:34:00.000-08:00

William and some buddies came rushing in and out the other day and I stopped them to ask "What's with the sign?"

"It's for the basketball game" says William.

"Boo West Valley"

"What about the other side?" I ask.

William: "That's for when Mr. Ready walks by." (Mr. Ready is the principal)

Is it wrong that I find this hysterically funny?

More teenage shenanigans. I came home from my book club last night, walked up the steps into the front yard and discovered this -

Many, many balloons. Balloons all the way up to the door. Balloons to the left.

Balloons to the right.

And when I walked through them, two or three of them bumped up against a prickly bit of dried stick or stalk and.....

***POP!!!***

Each balloon was filled with lot of these papers.

My son's girlfriend, clever way to ask him to the Reverse Dance. Well done Vicki!

Interestingly, the balloons were just one of a number of colorful "splashes of trash" I wandered into on Wednesday. On my walks I also found a a spill of colored beads and an entire block covered with scattered feathers from a flock of rainbow colored chickens. I figure it's all left over silliness from Tuesday's Mardi Gras celebration. Right? Makes sense to me!

And the Winner is.....

2010-02-15T12:18:00.000-08:00

Time to announce the One World One Heart winner of the wee faerie pen.

The question arose, how to pick the Golden Ticket?

The idea of a random number generator sounded boring and completely unfaerielike. Bleh.

In years past I've had family members pick numbers, I've had cats pick numbers. But what to do this year?

I thought of asking the faeries themselves to pick a number...

SiX!

BlaZZiliON aND seVin!

TOo HoNdrED!

FoRtY aTE! LeTz gIVE EverYBodY a PrEzzIE!

Okay, so NOT a good plan.

Counting Crows? Don't know the band well enough to ask them. And the real crows wouldn't stay in the tree long enough for me to count them all.

I could let the preschoolers count for me. Problem is that they tend to get to 20, give or take a few numbers, and then start over. Didn't seem fair to all those who posted comments that came after 20.

Then I had this brilliant plan to go to Laduree and count the number of macarons in the front windows and use THAT number! GREAT idea! Faeries love macarons! I love macarons! Perfect!

They were all for hopping on the first plane to Paris. Until a gloomy goblin under the bed pointed out that we didn't have enough money for that many plane tickets. Because, of course, everyone wanted to go, including the pixies in the attic and Francois the gargoyle who wanted a chance to visit some relatives on the Île de la Cité.

Even after we checked underneath all the cushions of every piece of furniture in the house and rummaged through all the junk drawers and we emptied out all our purses and pockets (and faeries love pockets and pouches and wee hiding places - they were very thorough), we STILL didn't have enough, what with the higher travel costs these days. Even if Francois stayed behind which would have seriously reduced our over weight baggage fees. Bummer.

Well, it was a good idea. Maybe next year.

Instead, I went with the cats' idea. They invented this complex system that involved Googling "Paris" and "Faeries" and then clicking on the 9th link (because they know 9 is my bestest number) and then counting and combining and... well, what you really want to know is...

WHO WON!?

So, with no further ado...

AdO! ADdoO!!!!
I dOO!

AwdEW!
ADO!!!

*ACHOO*

ADiEu! gEt iT?
BeECuz WeE wAz gOinG 2 frAnCE!?

aDO!!!

Yeah, yeah, very funny faeries. Can we move on?

aDo

Are you done?

YeS. eR, wEE mEen "OUi".

The winner is..................

Barbara of Marr Haven Wool Farm Blog.

Yay! wE liEk SheEpE!

I like sheep too.

OWOH Update

2010-02-14T00:08:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to OWOH folk. Rough week. This week I've dealt with electrical outages, finding a plumber, an unexpected pet crisis and sad kitty story, and finally a weekend full of travel and family. That last bit has been lovely. But I won't even be back home 'til some time tomorrow, so I definitely won't be posting about the givewaway until Monday. That means it's fine for last minute visitors to comment, you have until 8 a.m. PST on Monday, February 15 to enter for a chance to win.

Good Faerie Ball

2010-02-10T11:55:00.000-08:00

It's time to share some photos from the Midwinter Balls. I don't know why I haven't blogged about it yet. I've felt some clear resistance and I've been trying to figure it out. I couldn't wait to share photos from the summer festival.

I think there's a number of reasons. It was a tough place to take photos - low lighting, not a lot of room to set up shots, people always in motion, and I didn't have my camera for most of the first evening. Too, it was a wonderful time laughing and dancing with friends. No matter how great the photos (or not great), they don't capture the magick, the music, the love, the joyful FUN of the evening.

Last but not least, several years into this popping back and forth between realms, I now expect the inevitable PFS. Post Festival Syndrome. Or, if you prefer, Post Faerie Syndrome. The stories and tales are true indeed, it's hard to come back to the mundane world. I'm still processing the gifts and trades of this last journey. It may take a while. So, I'm gonna just stop dragging my feet and toss a few pics up here from the Good Faerie Ball.

From the back of the dance area in the main theatre. On stage - Delhi 2 Dublin

First on stage, to warm things up, was the haunting cello of Adam Hurst. The first band was the always magical Woodland. Finishing off the fun was the must-dance-to music of Delhi 2 Dublin.

I swore I wouldn't forget to get photos of myself and then, of course, I forgot to get any photos of myself. Any decent photos anyway. You can't see my full velvet skirt, you can't really see my blooming branch wings. It was lovely, you'll have to take my word on it.

I did get a few staged photos of Hubby in his Steampunk Victorian Time Traveler get up. He had a little gold charm that said "Time Traveler" just in case he needed to identify himself. LOL. Everyone loved his outfit. He loved his hat. He loved his goggles. Let's face it, Steampunk is the new Cool. Most of the men and quite a few women were totally steampunkin' it.

Here's a full length shot.

Hubby with a couple of buddies, Cat and Sam. I love how raven got distracted by the shinies and isn't looking at the camera. LOL

There was lots of dancing. Music, light, movement, rhythm, sparklies, shinies, voices, drumbeat, swaying, twirling, flickering wings.

My friend Lynne had this very tall dance partner. A faerie and a daisy - only at a faerie ball!

****

There's a story behind the next photo. I'll set it up.

I spied this woman in the lobby, also dressed as a Green Woman. Of course we had to have our photo taken together. We both handed cameras to our husbands and posed. We exchanged names, talked costumes for a few minutes, and then went our separate ways. (For unknown reasons, I didn't end up with a photo in my camera of the moment.)

In any case, later in the night I was off dancing and hubby went off to the bar. I popped in and out a couple of times but he seemed to be having a good time chatting around a table with the Green Woman and her husband, and a few other people. We even posed for a few group photos.

Later in the evening still Hubby asked me "How do we know those people again?"

" What people?"

"The couple I was sitting with in the bar."

"You mean the Green Woman, Mackenzie, and her husband?"

"Yeah. How do we know them?"

"We don't."

But I guess we do now. It was their first Faerieworlds event but I bet we'll run into them again at the summer festival.

This is the incredible costume designer Susan Tooker. Her outfits on both nights were beyond stunning.

Here's a close up of her wonderful staff and headdress. As much as I was in awe of her design skills, and as much as she got her photo taken a gazillion times, I couldn't help but think it was sort of like being fae royalty, held down by her mantle from being able to get out there and dance. I guess I'm more of a wild fae, I need freedom to move. (More about that, soon, on my studio blog - I've learned, or in some cases relearned, more about costume and fashion design with these last outfits and have "stuff to say about it".)

Here's where I wanted to put up photos of all our friends in all their great outfits but.... gotta stop somewhere. I still have the Faery Market and Bad Faery Ball pics to share. Perhaps not soon, I have a very important baby shower to attend this weekend!

And that segues nicely into the last photo I want to share. I think it's the best photo of the weekend. And if anyone knows this woman and how to contact her, I'd love to have her be able to get a copy of this precious moment.

A faery mama and her wee faery babe.

One World One Heart 2010

2010-02-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

DeAr viSiTinG bLoG HuMAns aNd OtHer PeoPLES,

ThiS iZ uS, thE fAErieS. We haD 2 wRite tHiS pOst foR oUR fRienD LaUMe beCuz sHe is tOOOO bUsy. AnD sHe drAnk tWo MoOch FAeRy wINE and sHe sTiLL Haz a heAdake. She saId she ONLee had WoN gOBlet fuLL but sHE is teLLing you a liE. But wE arE nOt telliNG you a LiE beeCuZ faeRIes KaNT LiE. Wee Kan maKE thE trOoth saY diFRent ThIngS tHo. *twitter* *giggle*

SeW wE nEEd tO riTe thIs sO Weze CAn gO bAcK to weRK kNockINg thiNGs oFf LaUmEs sHeLves. SHe thiNks thE caTz dO it bUt wEE nO yOO wonT teLL heR iTz uS (tHE fAeRiES).

HeRRe is tHE prEZent yU cAn wiN iF yoo leAF a coMmeNt aT tHe botTom oF THiS posT. (oN thE BoTTum! oN itZ BuTt! *hehehehehehe*

iTz a fAeRy peN sEw yOO kaN rIte PreTTy weRDs liKE wEE DeW!

Oh!!!!!!!! aNd donTT foRgET 2 gO tOO vISit thE otHer hUmaNs wHooo ARe perTisi... pArtissip... PeArtispiKat... PLaYING ToO! Go hERe!

PEa. EsS. - DoNt 4Get teW cOmE bACk eNd viSIt LauME weN sHE iZ feeLiNg bEttEr!!!

Hubby's Gift

2010-02-03T23:17:00.000-08:00

I saw it, I loved it, Hubby gifted me. Both as a reminder of our lovely weekend and because it's SO ME!!!

Puppy, Puppy, Puppy, and a few Goofy Family Pics

2010-01-29T16:16:00.000-08:00

I've been so busy, blogging has been.... uhm, what's blogging again? I forgot. Oh yeah. It's where I share witty, pithy, or endearing words and photos here in this cyberspace. So, here ya go. I've got a ton of puppy pics - seems like I take photos of nothing else recently. I'm just gonna toss them all up here, hope they stick, because in just a few minutes I'm off to a potluck and later tonight Hubby and I will magically transform ourselves and dance away the night at the Good Faerie Ball.

Big progress in the relationship between Magpie and Rosie. We had to teach Rosie how to play with another dog, she really only played with cats before this.

A bunch of black sleeping things - George Weasley (the big cat), Rosie, my camera case, and Maggie Magpie. It's really really hard to take photos of black animals, especially inside. I guess I should have taken that into consideration before we took in so many glossy dark creatures.

Hubby is really at his happiest with his arms full of chihuahuas.

Of course it's not all sweetness and light - here he is being attacked by man's best friends. They seem to think he's a tasty treat.

A calmer puppy in William's arms. William was Maggie's favorite person and William, for all his threat to move out immediately if we got another puppy, really took to Maggie. That is, until she got so excited to have him home one evening that she .... uhm.... dribbled on his bedding. It was only the one time but apparently teenagers have a long memory when it comes to their personal space. They're mending their relationship but Maggie isn't invited on his bed any more. Poor Maggie.

Another pic of sleeping piles - 4 cats, 2 dogs.

I think this one looks rather like a two headed dog. Oh, and there's some cat ears in the foreground. You'd think I'd take photos of the pets when they WEREN'T sleeping but it's hard, they just end up looking like a small black blur.

One more. See how well they cuddle now. Although Rosie draws the line at nose to nose, or sharing the same space under the covers. She growls and warns Magpie to keep at least one human body part between her sleeping cave and Maggie's cave.

Look, no animals of any kind in this photo. Well, I don't think she's an animal. She's not black and furry. But she does have horns. We stopped and visited with Ashley and Sam on the way up to the faery balls. We played with some of Hubby's faery accoutrements.

Sam's turn to be a horny guy. They look pretty natural, don't they. We got a good laugh. Hubby put them on after this and we went into Starbucks. Some guy came up and asked him if they were real. Real? He meant, were they implants. Nope, but I guess it means the little elastic string that holds them in place is pretty dang invisible.

Now, I'm off! I hope to have lots of lovely festival photos to share with you soon!

A Very Merry Post Birthday to Me!

2010-01-10T14:06:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my birthday. I woke up to Hubby handing me this -

A computer paper Happy Birthday note "signed" by some of the animals and the teenager (curiously, all in Hubby's handwriting), a "recycled" anniversary card in which he'd whited out the inside and turned it into a birthday card from him to me, and last but clearly not least, a bouquet of dead flowers from the garden with a ribbon made out of a bit of plastic bag.

I stared at it.

Hubby: I figured since I got you such good presents for Christmas I didn't have to get you anything big for your birthday.

I stared at it some more.

Hubby: I, uhm, I didn't want to risk waking you up by getting dressed and going out for real flowers this morning.

More staring.

Hubby: Well, obviously we'll be celebrating your birthday all week. There will be more presents later.

Me: Can you bring me my camera please? Because you know I'm gonna have to blog this.

And before you can get all uppity on my behalf, I found it very amusing. Hubby is usually OVERLY generous and showers me with candy, cards, flowers, gifts and dinners out - doesn't miss a thing. And we did go out to both a nice dinner with William and a later coffee and dessert just the two of us the night before, as Hubby had to work the night of my birthday.

After the camera I got this birthday scoop of ice cream (soy cream actually). Hubby dragged the Teen in to help sing Happy Birthday, which Teen did through a mouthful of nachos.

Maggie didn't understand why I didn't share the ice cream - sorry kiddo, it was chocolate.

I didn't actually get any "presents" for my birthday, although in a way that was nice. (Rumor has it, however, that there are several things winging their way through the mail even as I type this) More important than gifts, I got phone call birthday greetings from all my kids, siblings (no, wait, one sister missed. But since I'm awful at remembering this sort of thing in return, no harm no foul), mom, best friend, and phone texts from Hubby from work.

I told Hubby that what I really wanted for my birthday gift was nothing, so that in the near future I could buy a bunch of books I've been waiting to come out in paperback. And there will be many vendors at the upcoming Winter Faery Balls with all sorts of tempting art and lovelies. I'm sure I can find a favorite or two to justify as a "late birthday gift".

I also got a candle topped cupcake and a rousing round of Happy Birthday to You from my friends who own the local Chinese restaurant. William babysat the puppies so I could take a long walk and eat out and finish my book club reading.

Mostly I just allowed myself to do nothing all day, read in daylight hours, leave the dishes in the sink, and watch silly television. I finished my book club of the month book and then lapped up all but the last ten pages of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which is a good way to start out as I've decided to turn six this year. (Oh hey, I should reread Milne's When I was Six!)

Women my age often decide to turn 29. Not me. I figure if I'm gonna pick a fun year, six seems like a good choice. It's old enough to read (at least I was reading by then), have some freedom to wander without parental supervision (at least in my childhood), but still full of lots of dress up and fantasy play. I intend to spend the year rediscovering the joy of building forts, wearing whatever I fancy in whatever quirky combinations I desire, making dandelion chains, talking to my cats, dancing, playing with my food, listening to the faeries whispering their secret lore, climbing trees, giggling with my friends, drawing colorful pictures, wishing on stars, and.... You know, doing all the important things in life.

More Maggie

2010-01-08T00:30:00.000-08:00

Sorry about more pet photos but what can I do when she keeps being so cute! I'm sure I'll eventually move on, but bear with me for a bit.

Rosie and Maggie united in popcorn watch.

Rosie: "Just remember kid, as senior dog, I get the first one that drops."

Apparently the warmest place to be,

the coziest spot,

is beneath the laptop.

AVATARIZE YOURSELF

2010-01-07T18:33:00.001-08:00

Chihuahuas and Some Other Holiday Prezzies

2010-01-06T21:55:00.000-08:00

Maggie is starting to know her way around the house. She's already learned out to get up on the couches, the bed, even the windowsill. Isn't she cute - she doesn't really have blue eyes, but I thought this was a cute pic.

Progress every day on the Rosie/Maggie relationship. Look, they're touching while sleeping. This didn't happen the first couple of days. Rosie insisted on being closer to my face than Maggie, with at least an arm between them. Still not willing to sleep touching under the covers yet, but time will probably change that. (Ignore the totally lint covered jeans - these jeans are EVIL fuzz magnets. And not just the cute doggie kind of fuzz!) (Also, black dogs are really hard to photograph without a flash!)

Moving on to other cute tiny things, Hubby bought me two miniature winter faery snow globes.

Tucked in with the tea pots and tea cups.

Another tiny new treasure. It's not really a holiday gift, I found it for $1.25 at a craft boutique while shopping with the family. It's a really nice single size tea pot. The card is to show you the size. I don't like those personal sized tea pots that fit atop the cup, so this stand alone pot was a fun find.

Of course that's before I knew I was gonna get the absolutely perfect personal sized tea pot from Hubby for Yule. I LOVE it! Look at the top. (Although it's not like one can have too many tea pots, right!?)

One side.

And the other side.

Here's the whole package. It came in this sturdy box I can reuse for craft supplies, plus another round tin for storage of ... tea maybe? A tea mug. And a ceramic coaster. All perfect! There was also a green tea sampler box and some tea cookies. Yum!

Tea and books go together like peanut butter and jelly in this house. I treated myself to this giant table top book. It was expensive, marked down 75% at a large bookstore. When I found myself still standing there reading it 40 minutes later, I decided it should come home with me.

Two more books, the one on the left a prezzie from the Hubby, the one on the right a prezzie to myself. I think they look well matched together.

One more pic of the cutest tiny prezzie, Magpie Girl. About the size of my boot.

Look Who Flew In!

2010-01-03T23:15:00.000-08:00

What a surprise, our daughter showed up at the door today (surprising as she lives four hours away), to hand deliver Hubby's Christmas gift.

This is Magpie, Maggie for short. She's twelve weeks old.

She's all black with a bit of white on her toes and chest, so Magpie seemed just right (as Rosie also has a "flying" name), and the name Maggie fits well with the name Rosie.

As you can see, Rosie is thrilled beyond belief at the new addition.

Oh yes, she's just as excited as she can be.

First we dragged Rosie all over in the car (she hates to travel, although she likes being new places once she's there), then she had to put up with her big galump doggie cousins for two weeks (a 10 month old Chocolate Lab and a 10 month old English Bulldog), and just when she thought she was back home, safely in charge of her kingdom and her cats, the grandkids all come crashing through the door and then THIS... THIS.... intruder shows up, drinking out of her water bowl and sitting in her people's laps!

I'm sure she'll warm up to the idea of a new baby sister. It will just take some time.

Book List for 2009

2010-01-01T23:09:00.000-08:00

For several years now I've set reading goals. Can't remember what my goals were for this year. Regardless, about halfway through the year I decided it didn't matter whether I met them or not, that having reached my goals for the past few years I'd created a conscious routine to my reading that worked well without some specific number to meet. As for reading more of a variety of books, the book club I joined helps with that. For the record, I think my goal was at least a book a week so, at 54 books, I think I met it.

I'll post my top favorite reads of 2009 in the next post or so but for now I thought I'd toss out the total list for you. An asterisk means it was a Book Club choice and I mention when it's a book I'm rereading.

January

1. Sugar Plum Dead by Carolyn Hart
2. The Girl With the Phony Name by Charles Mathes
3. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
4. Index to Murder by Jo Dereske
5. A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel
6. Muder in the Rue de Paradis by Cara Black
7. The Onion Girl by Charles DeLint
8. Circle of Five by Dolores Stewart Riccio

February

9. 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin
10. You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister
11. Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexander Fuller*
12. Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama
13. Moonheart by Charles DeLint
14. Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik

March

15. Crazy in Alabama by Mark Childress*
16. Small Favor by Jim Butcher
17. Death at Death's Door by Jill Thompson
18. The Sandman; Endless Nights by Neil Gaiman
19. Defending Angels by Mary Stanton

April

20. Valiant by Holly Black
21. The Harlequin by Laurell Hamilton
22. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
23. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
24. Charmed Circle by Dolores Stewart Riccio

May

25. The Girl with No Shadow by Joanne Harris
26. A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines *
27. The Wolves in the Walls by Neil Gaiman
28. The Divine Circle of Ladies Making Mischief by Dolores Stewart Riccio
29. The Wild Trees by Richard Preston

June

30. The Tortilla Curtain by T. C. Boyle* (reread)
31. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
32. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman * (my choice) (reread)
33. Incantation by Alice Hoffman
34. Angel's Advocate by Mary Stanton

July

35. Ironside by Holly Black
36. Spiritwalk by Charles DeLint

August

37. Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews
38. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
39. Candle Life by Venero Armanno

September

40. Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett
41. Sick of Shadows by Sharyn McCrumb
42. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
43. When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
44. The Road by Cormac McCarthy*
45. Undine by Penni Russon

October

46. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
47. Dracula by Bram Stoker
48. The Divine Circle of Ladies Courting Trouble by Dolores Stewart Riccio

November

49. Haunting Jordan by P. J. Alderman
50. Somplace to be Flying by Chales DeLint

December

51. Six Geese A-Slaying by Donna Andrews
52. Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast
53. Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock
54. The Gates by John Connolly

Christmas Card Lane

2009-12-26T16:56:00.000-08:00

We looked up where in San Diego to see Christmas lights and came up with Christmas Card Lane. It was so much fun. Hundreds of homes on half a dozen streets all participated in creating a "holiday card" on their front lawn. Lots of people walking and driving through, holiday music playing as we went along (we chose to walk), folks sitting around fire pits in the driveways. Many people were selling or giving away hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and popcorn. A huge undertaking but, speaking for ourselves, much appreciated!

I took dozens of photos and had to whittle it down to just a few faves to share with you.

It wasn't just strung lights (although there were certainly plenty of those), each home chose a theme. This was the wonderful movie A Christmas Story. See the lamp in the window?

Many people went with a giant spotlighted wooden display painted as a card.

Just a random photo of one of the streets, taken later in the evening after the constant flow of cars had trickled down to this.

Towards the end of the night I was actively searching to find someone who did The Nightmare Before Christmas theme. I ended up finding two families who had chosen the them. Yay! Made my night complete.

Some people took the opportunity to express their spiritual beliefs or remind us that "Jesus is the reason for the season" with creches and angels and so on. I liked this one with the global peace scene.

I love the image of the Virgin de Guadalupe and of course she's very popular in San Diego.

Here's one that offers up best wishes for any and all celebrations!

And a pretty more spiritual one.

But mostly it was fun and silly. A holiday flamingo - of course!

With all the book and movie recognizable themes, it held the interest of even the tiny folks. Joli might have gotten bored of just house after house of lights, but to see Winnie-the-Pooh and Ariel and Mickey and so on and so on, kept her going for hours. Of course Harry Potter was one of my favorites. There were several HP families.

Another one of my favorites was this sweet book themed one. I'm sure I've seen this image someplace before but I can't remember where - anyone have a clue? This yard had this large card as well as....

...these oversized books and....

.... this sign.

Of course who can resist Gingy from Shrek.

Or Calvin and Hobbes. I particularly liked the evil snowmen.

The holidays wouldn't be the same without Charlie Brown and the gang.

One clever family had a big "elf yourself" display. Here's Joli elf.

This running holiday train town filled a whole front yard. Wish you could see it whooshing by in real time.

Al Fresco

2009-12-23T23:58:00.000-08:00

We had some last minute shopping to take care of today. We took advantage of the warm, sunny afternoon to spend time walking around in the sunshine.

One of the important tasks on my list was to stop at the nearby Peet's Coffee to pick up a stash of vegan ginger cookies.

I also bought this tin of tea. It sounds yummy and I was tickled at the name.

I just liked this photo of Joli enjoying her peppermint hot cocoa.

And I'm amazed at how much of a baby bump Lisa is already showing! It's still amazing to me that someone related to me is inside this woman. Silly, I know, but it's pretty amazing.

I love the texture on this cactus.

Joli found a feather. She looks a bit apprehensive in this photo because she was concerned the feather might fly away again.

As if I need any more inspiration for clutter, I loved this railing full of pots.

Amusing sign I snapped while we passed by it.

Another amusing sign.

We walked by this cantina and I was pretty sure that Santa up there had had a wee bit too much holiday cheer at the bar before climbing up to the roof.

A rare photo of the photographer herself. I like how Hubby is reflected in the glass behind me. We also enjoyed lunch outside on the sidewalk, something we don't have the luxury of doing back home, particularly not in December!

Someone very much enjoyed the chocolate cupcake I bought for her!

We also spent some time outside in the dark, at an amazing neighborhood filled with holiday displays. I'll post photos for you later.

2009-12-22T11:59:00.000-08:00

Tree decoration pics up at the studio blog.

Birthday Visit to Sam

2009-12-22T11:30:00.000-08:00

It was Sam's birthday a few weeks ago but we waited to stop by for a birthday visit on our way down to San Diego this last weekend.

It was nice because we got a chance to see their house all decorated for the holidays. Sam has never had a tree before. Methinks he's all twitterpated, he and Ashley, and now he's also getting domesticated. It's a good thing.

Of course boys will be boys and they had fun trying on goofy wigs.

Also funny faces. Can't remember why. Ashley, do you remember?

When all else fails, just stick out your tongue and check the breeze.

While the boys "played" in the garage, Ashley and I went for a walk around the neighborhood to see the lights. They had some awesome displays. I'll post them later here or on the studio blog. But look, a star in the sky, a pregnant woman, animals in a manger (well, a dog on a leash) .....

Pregnant shadows lurking, sneaking up on unsuspecting men hard at work. My car CD player went out right at the beginning of a twelve hour car trip. I don't think I could have stood for that many hours worth of "All Christmas All the Time" stations or "The Best of the 80's". Yay for me Sam was able to install a new system and the trip was saved!

The Light Returns

2009-12-21T23:09:00.000-08:00

"So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - Listen!!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, fest, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!!"
- Susan Cooper, The Shortest Day

Raymond Crowe - The Christmas Bunny

2009-12-16T17:47:00.001-08:00

Neil Gaiman - "Instructions"

2009-12-15T11:59:00.000-08:00

I've been craving fairy tales lately. Stories full of dark woods and choices to make and adventures unplanned. I'm not sure how to explain WHY I'm craving fairy tales. I don't know why. I'm still mulling over what it means. More important than figuring it out yet, I'm trying to feed my craving.

At the moment I'm reading Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock. It's the perfect literary appetizer to start what I hope is a winter's feast of stories. Sadly, I was reminded of the book because of Holdstock's recent, unexpected death.

I can't give you any insights into my mood, but I can share this poem, Instructions by Neil Gaiman, which gives you a small taste of the type of imagery I need to gather round me.

Neil Gaiman - "Instructions" at Listal

Snow, Stroll, Storm, Stomp, Shiver, Season

2009-12-14T23:34:00.000-08:00

We had ourselves quite a snowstorm a couple of days ago. Of course I thought it was a perfect occasion to catch up on my walking. That last comment is only partially tongue in cheek, it actually was a good time to catch up on my walking as the below zero temps that hung around for the better part of last week were far less do-able. So lots of clothing layers, cell phone (so I could call Hubby when I got cold and wanted a ride), and my camera - off we go.

Anyone for a game of snowball?

Not sure how this empty, nonheated house managed to grow icicles, but they were pretty under the brightly colored eaves.

Nature's ornaments. Crisp (really, really, really crisp!) apples.

More of nature's ornaments. This is a case of "any port in a storm" as it was certainly not "birds of a feather flock together". In a larger image you can see nuthatches, chicadees, sparrows, a blue jay, and quail. Probably other birds I don't recognize.

Close up of the quail in his jaunty headdress.

Fluff up those feathers - brrrrr.

I'm guessing this couple is having a conversation. He's caught responding to her last comment "I told you to put up the Christmas lights BEFORE the snow arrived."

This young sledder was taking a break at the top of the hill down by the rail road canyon.

I walk by this tree a lot and never realized it had such unique branches until they were cloaked in snow.

The river was almost completely frozen over.

Little duck prints connect the open pools.

When I leaned over the bridge I startled the ducks who took off down river to a more secluded pool.

It was snowy but I was still toasty warm.

A lone straggler.

Frozen little bobbles.

Here's that mailbox again. You can see how the green stands out better in this light.

Another frozen apple, close up.

Chip and dip?

I'm totally noticing mailboxes everywhere I go these days. I'm sure there's some psychological signifigance although I don't know what it is. You can see why I couldn't pass up photographing this bright bearer of news.

Another bright spot of red in the winter white.

It was at this point, about two miles out, the snow started to come down so hard I kept turning into a wandering snowman. I was still warm, cept for my cheeks and nose. Which I bet was also a bright spot of red in the winter white. But I couldn't cover it up with my scarf because then my glasses would steam over. Vision or warmth - tough choice but being able to see where I was going won out in the end.

Sun set but there was still a lot of reflective light. The mountains were hidden by the storm but you can still make out the closest foothill.

One of our neighbors has a house full of cute kids (one of them is staring at me as I snap the photo, the other is yelling in to her parents that "Someone is taking a picture of the house again!" and a voice inside yelled "You're letting all the heat out! Shut the door!" LOL). I love how they went all out decorating their home. I'm sure they did it for their children, not for me, but I still appreciate it - thank you kind neighbor!

And here's my contribution to the neighborhood holiday display. A grinning pumpkin welcome. And snow! Snow is a traditional holiday decoration. I made sure to have EXTRA snow fall on my sidewalk. That's me, I go the extra yard to make things jolly.

A Cold and Snowy Cemetery

2009-12-11T17:05:00.000-08:00

Only the silent travel of deer

light sinking

the true green and red of winter

shadows, quiet shadows

pale orbs in rose and lavender

brave sun

broken winged, capped in snow

mists settle in the canyon beyond

a cold peace

the warmth of remembrance

autumn's colors still clinging above

The twisting, turning, spiral of seasons

generations unfolding year after year

nature wanders, leaving stories in time

Football Awards Ceremony

2009-12-10T01:53:00.000-08:00

Tonight we all braved the freezing temperatures to honor our Northern California Section Champion football team.

Yay Lassen Grizzlies! Here's a shot of a lot of the team. William - front row, red (and very wrinkled) tie.

Everyone got certificates, bags including sweatshirts, patches for the lettermen's jackets, key chains, memory books... it was a lot of goodies. William also got this coach's award for Best Two Way Player.

He was even more excited about another award, he was voted onto the Northern Athletic League All Star team for his offensive position. We had nine players in total make it onto the All Star team, including both the offensive and defensive MVP recognitions. Oh yeah, we totally rock!

William hates posing for me, I usually get a scowl, or his back as he's walking away. But he's a lot more "compliant" when someone else asks him to pose. Here he is with two friends, all three of them bringing home big ol' awards.

One of the parents helped the kids make this great autographed shot of all the seniors after the winning Championship game to give to the head coach. I was really pleased to have taken the photograph.

In hindsight, this last season of high school football seemed to whoosh by at rocket speed and now I wish I'd spent more time participating. I've done more in past years but usually it's the senior parents who participate the most. Somehow, despite my best intentions, it just never happened. I think it had to do with William being so much younger than the rest of his siblings. Although we certainly still have one foot still anchored in our family life of three, we also have another foot stretched out into the next phase of your life, with the older kids all pulling us into travel and grandkids.

We went to all the games of course, and I dabbled around the edges with other activites the booster club sponsored. There was so much more I could have done though and what I missed was the pleasure of spending time with the kids. And this was a really great bunch of "boys". Truly. We've known lots of teams raising five kids through decades of sports, Hubby and the older boys have even coached a few of them, and this team had the nicest kids ever.

Congratulations to all the Grizzlies - every single one of them was a team player, every one of them a winner.

Cold

2009-12-09T00:48:00.000-08:00

It's even colder tonight than it was last night. We're down to.... just a minute, let me go check.. Wow, it's gotten warmer. It was -13ºF but now it's up to a balmy negative single digit of -9ºF. Whew, that's a relief.

I had to run errands this afternoon, some of them with the teen. So we stopped at our fave Mexican restaurant for Taco Tuesday ($1 a taco) and, for William, a bowl of fried ice cream.

But not before I stopped to take some photos. Just a few, before my fingers started to feel like they were gonna break off in the cold.

I liked this mailbox. It was standing out at the corner of a V in the road, the late afternoon sun lighting up the green wood, the only real color in a wash of muted tones.

I liked that it stood out. I wondered if it was old and empty or filled with holiday letters. Or maybe bills. It's sort of like the winter season. Nature empties down to the bare frame and waits for spring to be delivered. We wait. Knowing that the season will change, the days will start to lengthen again. And a new year will bring..... what will the new year bring to our lives?

Then William threw a snowball at me. While I was holding my camera. On a slippery icy road. That wicked child! So I tried to take a photo of him and he closed his eyes. But when I uploaded the pic I liked it, he seemed sort of blissed out, in the moment. The shadows soft behind him.

The sun, ready to meet the mountain ridge. William and I ready for a plate of warm tacos.

For warmer photos, Laume's Studio.

BRRRRRrrrrrRRRRRRrrrrRRR!!!!

2009-12-08T02:59:00.000-08:00

It's cold out there. It's -9ºF. Let me say that again so you don't misunderstand. It's minus 9 degrees! Since it's 3 am, hopefully that's as cold as it gets. Earlier this evening it was spooky, you could literally see the thermometer dropping by the minute.

Normally we get extreme cold (although usually not this cold!) OR we get snow but more moderate cold. Not both. But it's been snowing pretty good off and on since yesterday. Probably because of the temperature, this snow sparkles. I don't know when I've seen such sparkly snow!

It's so cold it looks like shimmery soap bubbles!

Or a bazillion jars of irridescent glitter! Pretty. But too cold to enjoy for more than a few moments. I only managed these photos because I was forced to bundle up to take a certain chihuahua out to the woodshed to pee. She refused the yard and I can't say I blame her this time.

The only cat that's braved the snow at all is our Maizie, who comes from many generations of ranch barn cat stock and prefers to be outside almost all the time. Even she only went out for about an hour. I'm so grateful we have no outdoor animals anymore. I remember years ago when we'd get this sort of cold we'd have to drag all sorts of rabbit cages into the kitchen, hay scattered all over the floor by morning, fuzzy big dogs all over the place.

Green Mary transcended the bitter cold. She looked as content out there as she does in the autumn storms or summer heat. Although I'm not about to attempt to emulate her skill at ignoring the physical weather, perhaps she has a lesson to teach about how being centered in oneself helps one weather life's storms. At least that's what she said to me when I snapped this photo of her tonight.

To see some photos I took inside today, click on over to Laume's Studio.

Small Town Holiday

2009-12-06T00:51:00.000-08:00

Although I often crave the cosmopolitan amenities of a big city, there's some things that small towns do best. Friday was the annual holiday parade and tree lighting ceremony in uptown Susanville. And, also an annual tradition, one of the coldest days on the calendar. But we didn't let something silly like single digit temperatures stop us mountain folk from having a little outdoor fun.

We arrived early while things were still being set up. Looks like a couple of families spent the day up in the mountains chopping down trees. You can still get permits to do it the old fashioned way, tromping around the local miles and miles of national forests.

Nothing to do with the event, this big rig rumbled through town and I thought the load of rolling irrigation wheels looked like sculpture.

People are starting to show up, booths and trees are popping up on the sidewalks. Before the night is through you'll probably be able to find free cookies, hot cider and cocoa every twenty feet or so.

This shop put out a veritable winter forest in front of their shop. (And inside, I didn't take a photo, but they had a REAL tree decorated and towering up at least twenty feet high into a building sky light!)

Darkness is falling and the street is closed off. Local dance troupes entertained the crowd. The teensy ones 3-5 years old were the most adorable but I couldn't get in to get a decent photo. These young ladies did a great job too. I hope they all had something warm to put on after the performance!

Here's someone getting a lift up for a better view of the entertainment. I liked the row of old building signs.

Here's Hubby acting silly with our friends Debbie and Dave who walked down in the cold to join us.

All the shops were open for business so you could pop in and out to get warm and find some holiday goodies for yourself or gift giving. Of course Santa was there so folks could get their picture taken with him. (There were, in fact, a plethora of Santas on every street corner and every float and vehicle in the parade, along with an "official Santa" at the finale.

The parade started out with this handsome guy. Poor fellow, the parade went UP the hill.

Now that's what I'M talking about - it's the Hogsfather float!

Even the garbage truck looked festive.

I like how this photo turned out, he peeled out just as I was about to shoot.

And who are these shady characters walking in the parade in dark black and purple? It's the 2009 Lassen Varsity Football Northeastern District Champions of course!!!! William is the black hoodie in the middle in the back just behind the wheel.

There were lots more floats, all moving perhaps quicker than they'd originally practiced because, HELLO, it was so cold, but finally the end of the parade arrived, Santa (the official one) on the back of the fire truck. He Ho Ho Ho'ed and waved and shouted for everyone to follow him up the hill to light the big tree at the top of town.

People fall in behind the fire truck, it's certainly warmer than standing on the sidewalk any longer.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this photo. Look how many people were braving the cold for some holiday fun! And this doesn't even capture all the people who walked past me and fanned out on either side.

Are you ready for the tree lighting? One.... two.... three......

Happy Holidays!!!!!

Seventeen Seconds of Adorable Kitten

2009-12-01T16:34:00.001-08:00

Paris Fever

2009-11-30T14:49:00.002-08:00

It's that time of year again, when everyone is succumbing to various bugs. The one I've come down with seems to have become an annual sickness, Paris Fever. I'm never really cured, but the fever rises around this time of year, probably because this is the time of year that I've begun my travel planning in earnest for my past trips to my favorite city.

And this season it also brings Paris to mind as the plan was to spend next year's holidays in the City of Lights with my daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Since the daughter-in-law has gone and gotten herself knocked up (of course my son shares some blame for this situation), I suspect that a plane trip halfway around the world with an almost four year old AND a five month old is no longer on the agenda. Too, there will be two new grandbabies celebrating their first Christmas next year and I'm not sure I'm willing to miss out on being a part of that. Hubby and I might still go traveling next winter, but probably not during the holidays. Christmas in Paris will have to wait for another year.

But that doesn't stop me from dreaming of being there. I don't even have tp dream of being there next year, I can dream of being there THIS year. The holiday lights, the window displays, bundling up in a double wrapped scarf and some warm but walkable new boots. Stopping in a salon du thé for a thé au lait or chocolat chaud. Visiting the yet unexplored shopping hot spots or spending a rainy day hiding out in a gallery or museum or maybe holed away in Shakespeare & Co. Even just sitting in my pied-à-terre sipping a cappuccino and looking out over the rooftops or street while I tap away at writing a new novel. (Hey, this is my dream so YES, I'm writing a NEW novel (having already published my OLD novel), and of course I have my own pied-à-terre.)

Since I have yet to visit Paris in December, I don't have any photos of the city in winter. (Just Google or Flickr search for lots of luscious images online of course. Or visit some of the wonderful Paris lover's blogs that exist out there.)

But I do have lots of photos I have yet to share from Paris in April. Let's wander through some random shots, just a few that caught my mood tonight, and pretend we're reflecting back on the day we spent together.

We went out early to grab some fresh bread at our local boulangerie, brought it back home and had toast with confiture de framboise and thé.

We caught up on some email, picked out some good walking shoes, and spent the rest of the morning at the Musee D' Orsay.

We stopped at a cafe for a quick bite and then went off to do some shopping.

Of course that worked up quite a thirst so we stopped by Laduree for a late afternoon tea and conversation.

This is supposed to be a working vacation so, feeling a bit chagrined at how late it was, we scurried back to the studio and grabbed out laptops. We were going to sit in one of the many parks (which all have free WIFI) and write, but it was a bit chilly, so instead we hid out at one of the many Starbucks. Hey, it was close, and quiet, no one else in the upstairs room. We might have wandered away most of the day but we managed several inspired hours of writing and then went off in search of dinner.

We thought maybe something quick in the Latin Quarter but we got sidetracked looking at kitschy stuff in a tourist shop. Then we bumped into some friends (it's a small world indeed) and chatted until dark.

By then the area was getting noisy, and our friends suggested a little bistro away from the crowds.

Saying goodbye to our friends we stood on the sidewalk debating whether or not to go home yet. Knowing we only had a few short weeks here though, neither of us were ready to call it a day. Well, we did call it a day, but the night was young. And well lit of course.

A walk along the Seine seemed like the perfect way to use up a few of the many calories we managed to consume today. You didn't listen to me about wearing your more comfortable shoes so you weren't sure how long you'd last after all the walking we did earlier. We decided we'd go as far as Notre Dame.

Here we are. Isn't it beautiful at night? Of course our accomodations are a bit farther off. Time to head to the nearest metro entrance and shorten the time home. We're both ready to be tucked under the covers in bed.

Sorry, this is my dream. I get the bed. You get the fold out couch. But we'll both have sweet dreams. Of visiting Paris again. Maybe even during the holidays.

To Spree or Not to Spree - Holiday Shopping

2009-11-29T14:24:00.000-08:00

I've spent some goodly time over the last few weeks wandering through shops and stores to try to crank up some holiday spirit. I know a lot of people hate the holiday traffic and crowds, but I have always loved them. The traffic might be crazy but you know (or at least I imagine) all the cars filled with holiday shoppers. The crowds are tight but they are (or at least I imagine) full of people smiling and having fun.

I love the holiday decorations down Main Street, the window displays full of holiday dioramas, the cheesy holiday music flowing out of every speaker, the velvety red garlands above the racks of holiday cheese and crackers at the market, the over the top displays of warm holiday print blankets and blingy holiday party dresses (although I have never gone to a holiday party that would require that sort of apparel) in the department stores.

Which makes it all the more ironic that on a purchasing level, I've become less and less of a participant every year.

I realize that all the glitz and glitter is to draw in the shoppers and make them SPEND MONEY. And yet, although I like to watch the show, I don't have any desire to pull out my wallet and pay my percentage of making it happen. In the past I've enjoyed holiday shopping. Perhaps because, for decades, money was always been tight, so on the occasional year when we could splurge, it made it a special experience.

But over the years, as we've had more consistent discretionary income, it's become more of an obligation to spend, spend and spend and I've enjoyed it less, less, and less. Too, although the raven in me still loves shinies and baubles, the crone in me is less enamored each year with THINGS. I still enjoy the experience of shopping, but I don't necessarily want to top it off with bags of things to bring home.

I understand that the way our economy works, spending is a "good" thing. It creates jobs and increases prosperity. That's true, within the construct of of consumer culture. And yet as much as I'm culturally programmed to feel warm and fuzzy by the idea of busy shoppers, there's some part of my brain that finds it discomforting. The idea of buying our way to prosperity forever and ever just feels like a pyramid scheme on a grander scale. The world can't sustain that sort of growth forever. Instead of valuing MORE, I think we have to find our way to valuing ENOUGH.

I didn't really know where to go with this contradiction in my head, when I accidentally stumbled upon a lecture on ...I think it was C-Span.... by Joel Waldfogel, the author of Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn't Buy Presents for the Holidays.

It sounds dreadfully bah humbug but honestly, it wasn't. He didn't advocate NOT giving gifts completely. Instead it was more about the economic quality of gift giving the way it's practiced today. His concern seemed similar to mine - he wasn't opposed to giving gifts, he was opposed to the expectation and practice of obligatory and not well thought out gift giving. I won't go into all that he said, feel free to Google his thoughts online or even buy his book (I might check it out next time I'm in a large bookstore and gift myself with it!) I just wanted to mention it to say that it's nice to know I'm not the only person who is confused by this annual frenzy of going into debt diguised as a holiday tradition.

While I'm still confused by how to balance it all, it's not like we ignore our call to public service. Au contraire! We're excellent consumers during the month of December! We spend money on extra "going out" this and that - an extra Starbuck latte, an extra dinner out after an afternoon at the shops, more batteries for photo snapping, more foods for family snacking. We spend money on travel both to and fro. I certainly justify the purchase of additional craft supplies. We spend more and more in recent years on charity purchases, trading the extra time we used to donate with the extra income it's easier and quicker to donate now. We go out to holiday movies at the theatres. The difference with most of this is that we aren't buying products but experiences.

And that doesn't confuse me at all. Experiences, especially experiences shared with those we love, are better than things. More fun. Less dusting.

Large Groups of Kids

2009-11-25T00:29:00.000-08:00

First large group of kid - Noel and the grandkids came for an early Thanksgiving visit. We've been cooking and cuddling all this week.

The one thing I didn't do all week is take photos. Because I always seemed to have my hands full. (Gee, yathink?!) Well, there were other things I didn't do this week too - watch television, hang out online, go to the bathroom without someone talking to me from the other side of the door... just a few things that come immediately to mind.

Noel was the one to finally remember and I tried to get some shots of everyone together. Unfortunately the light was already fading fast, and kids don't pose for more than a nanosecond at a time, and never at the same time, so it wasn't the best of circumstances. With everyone running different directions, success was elusive.

I took dozens of photos and there were one or two where at least no one's eyes were shut or face blurred or bunny ears behind a brother's head. I'm sharing this one instead because it pretty much tells the story of the visit. Everyone was pretty much happy, cooperative, going with the flow, except for one child, who had to do things.... her way. If you told her to do something, she had to refuse. If you told her to stop doing something, she had to do it twice as fast. I told Noel that this particular child (not naming names of course) is her karma child. I assured her that she'd undoubtedly grow out of it. In another sixteen years or so. Of course in this shot, I had just asked her not to stick out her tongue.

The nicest photo of the whole bunch was snapped by Hubby of us three girls.

Second large group of kids - William's football team.

The second play off game was supposed to be this last Friday evening here at home. It started storming by midday and by evening the snow was coming so hard and fast that it's unlikely that the people in the bleachers would have been able to see the players on the field, the players on the field would have had a hard time seeing a passing ball, and the referees would have had an impossible time finding the field much less determining the yardage. All this was a moot point as the plows couldn't keep up with the roads and the other team couldn't get over the mountains. The game was rescheduled for the next afternoon, which fortunately was clear, if frigid.

Great small town story. A few of the football boosters came out early in the morning and tried to deal with the field. There weren't enough people to make a dent, so they made a call to the local radio station who went on the air and asked the community to lend a hand. Over a hundred people showed up with shovels and snow blowers and in three hours they'd completely uncovered the field and bleachers from about a half foot of snow.

And as you can see from the photo above, visibility was much better than the night before. Lassen went on to win 42 - 0. We play the final Northern California district championship game later tonight (Wednesday). Fortunately there's no more snow forecast until possibly Thanksgiving night.

By Thanksgiving proper, as everyone else is gearing up for lots of busy travel and cooking and guest prep, the plan here is to be enjoying the quiet pleasures of being post turkey, post visitors, and post victory dance. I'm think I'm beginning to see there might be advantages of breaking with tradition.

Another One Bites the Dust

2009-11-21T13:20:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not referencing a Queen song, or what Buffy can do with a good swing of a stake. I'm talking about another month mostly gone (and what's left of it scheduled in good and tight) and nothing to show for it.

I really wanted to do Nanowrimo this month. I didn't, because I had already planned to fill the month with other things I wanted to do and adding one more, particularly one of such grand commitment, would be pure insanity. And yet, I almost did it anyway, with the suspicion that all the things that I planned to get done instead of Nanowrimo, wouldn't get done regardless. And I was write....er, right. If I'd been struggling along with the Nano crowd, ignoring family and projects en masse, at least at the end of the month I'd have had 50,000 words to show for it. As it is, I barely have a few thousand words here on my blog. And my studio is cold and abandoned. None of my holiday gift making is even started. I have paperwork to mail. Receipts to find. Clothes to sort. My house is a mess. The garden hasn't been put away. There's a fresh layer of snow over the unraked leaves in the yard. Surfaces as yet unpainted. And there's still a box of tomatoes left to finish putting up.

It's not like I haven't gotten things done this month. I've done a lot. Some of it important. But none of it was what I set out to do, none of it was on my personal to-do list. It was on the family to-do list, the weather's to-do list, the We're Out of Toilet Paper's to-do list, or Life's Unexpected Events to-do list. But it wasn't on my list.

I feel like my time is constantly being broken up into small unusable pieces. Some days it's like I'm being pecked to death by chickens. Here's what Urban Dictionary has to say about that phrase -

1. like being pecked to death by chickens - a steady stream of small, seemingly inconsequential or minor nuisances, which build up over a prolonged period of time and which, eventually, take their toll and exact a heavy price.

And yet whenever I complain, either to others or just inside my head, I always come back to blaming myself for, depending on the day and my mood -

a) not appreciating the fact that my life is full with pretty wonderful things
b) not being organized enough
c) not being patient enough
d) not being able to say no
e) not really knowing what I want to do

Because surely, if I did know what I wanted to do, wouldn't I be doing it? Or, perhaps, what I want to be doing is what I am doing and not what I say I want to be doing, and so

f) not being honest with myself.

Sigh.

Charlie Weasley

2009-11-20T23:38:00.000-08:00

This week we had to say goodbye to a very special cat. I'm not using that term lightly. We have had many cats come into our lives and they are each special in their own way, but some more than others. Charlie Weasley was one of the few cats that everyone loved and he loved everyone - whether you were a human, another cat, or even an annoying chihuahua. We will miss you Charlie.

Senior Night, Seasonal Ponderings

2009-11-10T12:07:00.000-08:00

I've been "on the road" again, no big surprise, although it wasn't really a planned trip. It was lovely to see my kids and granddaughter, but it wasn't really a vacation, more of a lot of pleasant hard work. The oddest thing was to go from the autumny chill of northern California mountains to the tanks and flip flops wearing heat of San Diego. I finally adjusted by the time I was leaving. And then spent the days since I've been returned getting back in sync with sweaters and scarves.

I like being spontaneous, but there's always a price to pay, usually having to get back in the groove, up to speed, back on track, rebuild my momentum, yada yada, and so on. Which is why there's been no blogging. I'm having to tackle lots of loose ends and niggling bits that have piled up. Ugh. I hate these sort of tasks, singular projects, a handful of which take up an entire day while not contributing to the accomplishment of the everyday must dos or want to dos.

So - just a quick catch up post.

Two Fridays ago was Senior Night at the football game. This means the Seniors leaving after this season have their parents come down onto the field and acknowledge their help and support. Traditionally the mothers wear the boys' away jerseys. Here I am trying out a football pose. Okay, so it's a goofy pose.

Hubby was standing on the other side of William but broke out to take this photo. The tallest kid on the team of course has the shortest mom.

The moms planned a little surprise for the boys. Before the game the team gets in a block and does this "energy builder" thing where they sway back and forth and do shout outs, then they all jump around and hit chests and other manly things. When the parents were supposed to leave the field, instead the mothers all ran out into the middle of the field and did the same routine. Everyone laughed. Don't we look ferocious!

It's all in fun but poignant nontheless. It's the end of a season for us not only in football but in our family life as this is our last high school season. William plans to go on to play college ball so (knock on wood) we'll have more years of cheering from the bleachers, but we won't be part of the local sports community any longer, after going on two decades of participation.

Speaking of the end of a season, we've had an exceptionally long and brilliant season of autumn color this year as well. I've been enjoying it through it's progression over these last weeks. But last night a rainfall took down most of the leaves in our mature maples, which turned while I was gone. I'm bummed I only got two enjoy a few days of their golden splendor.

I think this winter is also the end of another season in our lives, or rather, that it's a new stage in our extended family life. One I knew was coming, thought would come years ago actually, but each year the holiday season sort of fell together because the kids tried hard to all make it home for all or part of the holiday dates. Each year was unique, but still held a solid thread of familiarity in the way we've done things in the most recent past.

But this year holds signifigant changes. Instead of hosting the holidays, we will be the traveling ones this year. Instead of decking the house and stocking the refrigerator for waves of arriving family from October through January, we'll be packing the car with gifts and visiting our children and grandchildren. We'll have some visiting family, but I won't be the main director of the "holiday show".

I have mixed feelings about this. I'm a little bit sad, a little bit relieved. It's not like our traditions now have always been "the way we do things". They're only the way we've done things in the recent past. There have been many shifts, waves of
"how the holidays are done". It was different before I had children, when my kids were young, before the divorce, after the divorce, since the kids became teens, when the teens became fledglings, and now as the kids become parents and the centers of their own families. Shifts have come in the past, some gradually, some dramatically and all in one year. I knew this one was coming, it's been shifting for several years, and it's not a bad thing. It's just that I knew that one year, and this feels like that year, it would finally feel like closing the door on the last stage and moving into a new one. It's bittersweet.

Along with the waving goodbye to old routines though is the opportunity to reinvent the holidays. Along with the reflection is excitement about the chance to recreate this time of year. For a long time I've wanted to drop a lot of traditions that I felt I was just going through the motions on because others wished for them to continue. Now is my chance to hone the season down to those elements that bring me most joy, letting go of those that were more obligatory than enriching. The key to getting rid of things, whether it be a box of old clothes or a schedule of old traditions, is that it opens up space for something new in to enter ones life. Who knows what new traditions are waiting in the wings, waiting to be "the way we do things", waiting to fill our family's lives with happy memories.

So - sad, reflective, uncertain, excited, enthusiastic. A cornucopia of holiday emotions. Note, however, that "overwhelmed" isn't in that list. That's a tradition I'd be very happy to make a thing of the past. Knock on wood.

Dia de Los Muertos Celebration

2009-11-01T16:51:00.000-08:00

I had hoped to participate in Stephanie of Rodrigvitz Style's Dia de Bloglandia blogging tribute to Dia de Los Muertos again this year but wasn't sure if I'd be home to put up my own ofrenda, much less have time to blog about it. Thanks to an unexpected twist of plans, I didn't put up my own altar, but I did enjoy the afternoon at a live (or would that be dead?) celebration for Dia de Los Muertos in Old Town San Diego. If I can get this blog up, albeit late, I'm hoping I can share some photos of it with the rest of the bloglandia travelers and celebrants today.

Lots of papel picado, paper streamers, everywhere.

In pretty pastels...

...and vibrant brights!

Those blue flags are competing with a brilliant blue sky. It was so weird coming from the cold and autumn colors of Susanville to the heat and brilliant summer sun of San Diego.

There was a lot of dancing. Both onstage...

.... and on the sidelines.

I liked this fountain but I'm not sure how I feel about cats spitting into my water. Hmmm.

There was color everywhere. Particularly inside the many shops. Unfortunately, "little miss impatient grabby fingers" made it easier to view the outdoor decor. Like this pretty grouping of succulents, and flowers both real and paper.

Most of the ofrendas were inside as well, so we didn't get to see a lot of those. These people kindly put this beautiful altar to Kahlo outside for us.

And the restaurant on the plaza where we lunched had set up a lovely display as well with information about the history and aspects of the altar for the many visitors.

We stopped to climb a few trees. Joli explained "I'm a fairy princess but I'm a strong princess so I can climb trees." Then she added "Strong, but also careful."

La Catrina and her gentleman friend (who seems to be trying to sell me a new red dress.)

On the way back to the car I spied this beautiful Virgin de Guadalupe in the courtyard of the Catholic Church. Quite different than the brightly colored ones you usually see. But her blindingly yellow aura more than makes up for all that white!

As soon as the fairy princess falls asleep tonight, I hope to be able to visit some of the Dia de Bloglandia posts to view the lovely personal celebrations all over the globe.

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T16:05:00.000-08:00

Last minute change of plans, I spent Friday night and most of Saturday driving.

And when I arrived, I had not only changed locations, I'd changed seasons!

From a place of coats and scarves and autumn leaves...

To palm trees and bare foot trick or treating.

I thought I'd end up missing Halloween altogether but I made it just in time to help Joli collect this stash of candy. (which was mostly unwrapped and tossed before the night was through. Apparently the unwrapping of things was the most fun.)

Vampire kitty!

As you all know, vampires and kitties are very high maintenance, between driving and "Come on Grammy, come play in my room!" online time will be limited this week.

I hope you all had a splendidly spooky night!