A DAY UNFOLDED!

flower @ Bayside Cafe ~ Morro Bay

this was a SPLENDID DAY

incredibly productive at work!!!

YEAH!

and this morning was C.H.I.L.L.Y....

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 2.26.12

pic taken 2.26.12

IT'S THAT TIME OF THE WEEK... SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY!! I was telling JPE that I felt guilty about devoting a lot of my Sunday to "BLOGGING" ~ taking photos, editing photos, reading & commenting on other blogs... and pinning on PINTEREST. BUT, he reminded me to DO WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY! 


Yesterday, we spent much of our day tidying up the garden area, moving the walking stones, pulling weeds, and spraying fungicide on the roses... so, by the time our evening rolled around, although we had plans to go to the movies, we ended up staying home & watching "CHOCOLAT" on DVD.


Oh... how I love my weekends... but, don't you find they sure speed-by?


But, enough of that ~~~ this week's SCAVENGER HUNT words are:

CROSSED, A GLIMPSE, HANDWRITTEN,

BLISS, & GRAY. 

CROSSED

from Sundance catalog

Confession... I bought this at World Market! {love that place} Of course, it was on sale after Valentine's Day ~ so that sealed the deal...


I really wanted the wire hanger from the Sundance catalog, but they were sold out... the difference is hearts or hooks {World Market version}.


My choice for something that's CROSSED...

A GLIMPSE

Want A GLIMPSE into our summer travel plans? we've booked an OAT (Overseas Adventure Travel) Tour to Peru. We're keeping our pre-travel books handy... I've started to make a mental list of photos I want to capture on our tour. If any of you have traveled to Machu Picchu or the Amazon Rain Forest, I hope you'll consider sending me an email so we can chat about your experience.

HANDWRITTEN

Here are my Grandma Jesse's {maternal} diaries from 1947-49... these were the years my parents met & began dating, married & started their family. I turned the page to the day I was born... my Grandma documented everything... what was eaten for dinner, the chores completed for that day, what bills were paid & the cost, which errands were run, the high school & pro football teams scores... what they watched on TV (they watched a lot of wrestling)... even their pinochle scores. It's such a treat to see her HANDWRITING & read her dailies!

BLISS

BLISS for me!!! sitting in my great-grandmother's rocker, reading magazines & sipping a cuppa tea or coffee!

GRAY

Gosh, without resorting to taking a picture of the GRAY sky or my GRAY pants... I really struggled with what to post??? so, I went to my photo archives & posted photos from another SHS... personally, I like the original color shot! how about you?


Well, that wraps up this week's SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY... if you aren't participating, hey, I think you're missing out! You have until Tues 2.28 to post your photos... visit Ashley at Ramblings & Photos to see the other 120+ participants postings...


Next week's words are:

ROUTINE, MUSIC, TECHNOLOGY,

SHOW ME YOUR STYLE & MISMATCH.

TAKING THE BACK ROAD...

Hwy 227 ~ back road to Arroyo Grande

:: LooK ::

I forgot about these pics!

{IPhones take pretty great pics}

:: Last Night ::

I

 drove the back road home from work

i.n.c.r.e.d.i.b.l.e

 sky

:: Tonight ::

I

got this pic in a text message!!!

:: Too Cute ::

*Hat* + Lola

{knitting by ACE}

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 2.22.12

Railroad Museum ~ Sacramento ~ 2.8.12

Is this referring to my

OLW {One Little Word}??

:: FOCUS ::

ummm. time will tell.

participating in Wordless Wednesday HERE & also HERE!

ON THE HOMEFRONT...

Big Bear cabin ~ 12.27.11

When I was looking in my "pre-planned blog posts" folder {you have one of those don't you?} I found this photo w/a quote.

My good friend, Mandy @ IN MANDYLAND & I  were talking about her blogging schedule... she writes multiple articles a week {here's her latest WANDERING THE WEB post} that bounces you at a "rabbit's pace" reading her material... She's a prolific writer, single mom of a preschooler & kindergartner, works 40+ hours a week between her position involving semi-professional clothes & one she's allowed to work in casual clothes {I'm thinking jammies or sweats}. She's also spends time in her garden... canning everything {plus more - she found a surplus of tomatoes in SEPTEMBER & canned enough marinara to feed an army}... oh, & she just started another blog, SIX KITCHENS, to document six families & their supper club recipes.

Oops... a bit of a bird walk... anyway, Mandy told me about putting items in a blog folder that you can use when you don't have time to write, have writer's block OR just need some inspiration. Reflecting on my teaching experience, I'm thinking of this as my SUBSTITUTE PLANS. HA! you thought I'd actually show what's in my "pre-planned blog posts" folder... not a chance!


Anyway, this folder includes photos, quotes, & anything that provides inspiration. Today is one of those days I needed some inspiration.


This FLU BUG {now} BRONCHITIS {my mom thinks I have walking pneumonia - which is actually a term meaning you aren't sick enough to be put in the hospital, but you aren't well either} has put me out of commission --- for my paid position. This is only the second day of work I've missed, BUT, February has a lot of holidays & I took two non-duty days SOOO... I'm feeling out of touch with my work-work {paid position} & don't feel perky enough to figure out what I want to do while I beat this bug. Blog hopping, checking out PINTEREST & watching HGTV aren't appealing right now...


Remember my OLW {One Little Word}... I chose the word FOCUS. So, today, I decided to FOCUS on some ideas that make me smile...

:: NATURE ::

:: PLAYING WITH MY CAMERA ::

:: BIG BEAR LAKE ::

:: SETTING UP PHOTO SHOOTS ::

So, the first photo is an example of something from my "pre-planned blog posts" folder {with a FOCUS on NATURE & BIG BEAR LAKE} & the following are examples of "out takes" {blurry photos I'm contemplating deleting} that FOCUS on PLAYING WITH MY CAMERA & SETTING UP PHOTO SHOOTS.

BARBIE! when are you coming by to pick these up?? 

I want them moved out of my garage....

These don't belong to BARBIE!... check out the size of these baskets!!

that's an American penny {for comparison purposes}

So - if the owner of these items will let me know if she wants them back... I'd appreciate it...


ACTUALLY, it's FUN to take pictures of the items I have around the house {or in the garage, in this case}.


And, THANKS MANDY for the blogging tip!

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 2.19.12

If you have elementary age kids, you'll recognize this guy!

Haven't posted much this week - more about that later!! Today is SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY & although I hadn't thought much about the hunt... I've managed to pull together a post.

So, without further delays... this week's words are: 

LOVE, DUPLICATED, TRENDING / TRENDS, PAPER, & PLASTIC

LOVE

What a LOVE-LY surprise! On Thursday, there was a small package in the mail --- MOM gifted us a new set of pillowcases! They really "cozied-up" the guest bedroom - in fact, I've taken several naps in this room over the past four days! battling a FLU-BUG... I N.E.V.E.R nap, but these do make taking a nap LOVE-LY!! check out the bold HEARTS! 

DUPLICATED

A bit of RAIN this week... some scattered clouds... captured the moisture on this pair of flowers --- do you think this qualifies as an example of something DUPLICATED?

TRENDS / TRENDING

Ten years ago, I never would have predicted I'd be spending an afternoon break, sipping a coffee with my granddaughter, Lydia {currently an 8 year old}? I'm certainly N-O-T a trend-setter... BUT, JPE & I should have predicted this TREND based on the following picture of Lydia {dated January 2006, when she was 2}!

PREDICTING A TREND??? 

via Amazon.com

Another TREND... notice Lydia's blue tshirt & the first picture in this post... 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series is a current reading TREND with the elementary school population. 

When kids are asked what they like about the book series... their response is:

"the cartoons"

"the jokes"

"the stories make me laugh"

if you haven't taken a peek at this TREND, check HERE!

PAPER

Last Sunday, on the way home from visiting mom, I stopped at my favorite scrapbooking store... Scraparazzi {Whittier, CA}.  OOPS! sorry Mom!! didn't tell you I was making this stop!  This store has amazing PAPER --- and I L-O-V-E PAPER!

In fact, quite often I use scrapbooking PAPER as the background for my pictures. You can see another glimpse of scrapbook PAPER as backgrounds in this picture or also here! scrapbook PAPER is also used here!

PLASTIC

Was looking for something in the garage --- remembered these were stored there!! wonder if Barbie is planning a trip to the beach for her Spring Break?? Maybe I should let her know she left these PLASTIC glasses & visors in my garage!!

Wanna join in the SCAVENGER HUNT for next week?? The words are: CROSSED, A GLIMPSE, HANDWRITTEN, BLISS & GRAY. 

It's great fun & I know ASHLEY would enjoy your participation. Check in with her at Ramblings & Photos. 

THE QUIET...

it's quiet here! 

JPE's in Cincinnati, OH visiting HIS DAD... 

I've been watching some HGTV,

pinning on PINTEREST,

took a nap today, &

got some laundry done!

{stripped both beds, laundered the mattress pad,

all blankets & a couple of pillows}

I love freshly cleaned bedding!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 2.15.12

participating in Wordless Wednesday 

~ other participants can be found HERE! & HERE!! & also HERE!!!

HEART YOU!!

"LOVE begins at HOME, and

it is not how much we DO... 

but how much LOVE

we put into the ACTION."

~ Mother Teresa

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 2.12.12

LOVE MOM'S TABLE RUNNER!

JOIN ME in visiting Ramblings & Photos (Ashley's blog) where over 150 participants in SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY yesterday. 
I was visiting family & didn't get to a WiFi site... so I'm posting late (I consider anything after NOON on the SUNDAY of the scavenger hunt to be late! but Ashley encourages participants to post no later than Tues at midnight).
This week's words were: FACIAL FEATURE, SHADOW, SPICY, GOLD & FABRIC.

FACIAL FEATURE

This is from my photo archives ~ the girls are here & there!

I think my girl's eyes are their best FACIAL FEATURE!

SHADOW

Candle light SHADOW... I've taken other pictures of this chair...

always trying to capture the SHADOW.

GOLD

Before I left my mom's I took a picture of this plate... we know it's been in the family for years,

but with no visible markings, it could be something from a "5 & Dime" store??

 the lovely GOLD painted edging really sets off the border, don't you think?

SPICY

Okay ~ this really isn't anything SPICY... but, use your imagination! this is a fan my parents 

bought in Spain... it shows some fancy dancers... tango, flamenco, salsa ~ 

those are all pretty SPICY {sassy} dance moves!

FABRIC

Don't you love these FABRICS? this is a small table runner at my mom's! My mom is a quilter / seamstress / mender etc. Of course, she has a cabinet filled with quilts, so I could have shared her "stash" of love-ly, cozy warm bed coverings... but, I'll save that for another post. 

She has a knack for selecting complementary fabrics {some quilters are much better at fabric selection}... but, it could be I'm used to the way she puts together a quilt pattern?? 

Originally, I thought I would use the next photo for my FABRIC post... I was visiting ACE & decided to document the pillowcases she's received from her NANA {my mom}... Remember my previous pillowcase post?

So, for my mom's benefit... here's Allie's collection of handmade pillowcases!

• one = ACE is a knitter... and she decorates with blue & orange in her bedroom {this is her newest pillowcase}
• two = she has a February birthday - three days away from Valentine's Day!
• three = one Christmas, my mom made pillowcases for everyone in the family! {I think the year was 2002 & she made more than a dozen!!}
• four = to commemorate the beginning of her knitting hobby
• five = another birthday pillowcase with Valentine designs from the 40's
• six = in college {CSU-Chico}, ACE was in the ballroom dance club - so this pillowcase has dancers on it {sorry for not showing more of the dancer fabric - it's adorable}
• seven = this pillowcase was sent to ACE the first summer {2001} she was a camp counselor at Snow Mountain {residential camp outside of Nevada City}

So - check in with Ashley & plan to participate in SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY... the words for this week's hunt are: 

LOVE, DUPLICATED,

TREND or TRENDING {a photo that symbolizes a trend},

PAPER, & PLASTIC

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 2.8.12

vines near Avila Beach 

:: be safe today ::

FOUND A HEART!

taken this morning!

As I was packing my car to leave for Sacramento this morning, (visited w/ACE & Lola in Sunnyvale last night), I looked up & noticed this HEART....

I'm sharing this with Chrissy over at cul*ti*vate... If you find a HEART, don't forget to post your blog link at Chrissy's.

It rained the 2 1/2 hour drive to Sacramento this morning... but, what a treat when I pulled up to the hotel! we're staying on the Delta King ~ docked on the Sacramento River...

 both pics are located at this website http://www.deltaking.com/

check out this adorable, historic hotel! Government rate... walking distance to Old Town Sacramento... READING GRANTS this week... it doesn't get any better than that!

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 2.5.12

"SPOTTED" REPTILE

A bit late to the party ~ SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY snuck up... this week's words are: STRIKE A POSE, FOOTWEAR, HOBBY, SHINY, & COLOR ME GREEN. 


Loads of adorable STRIKE A POSE interpretations can be found at ASHLEY'S blog, RAMBLINGS & PHOTOS, the host blog for SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY. Click on over & see what's been posted.

STRIKE A POSE
{archived photos from Christmas 2011}

When I saw STRIKE A POSE, I just had to put the three dogs pictures together from last Christmas. From left to right: LOLA {visiting Big Bear Lake}, SEBASTIAN {chewing on his holiday present & YES, his fur is that shiny!}, PEANUT {relaxing on the hearth at home}. JPE & I don't have pets, but we see them on our family visits...

FOOTWEAR

Okay! Okay! I'm SURE everyone has some of these?... eh, FOOTWEAR "casualties." These are off to the rag bag because they've lost their mate. 

HOBBY

I have many HOBBIES... but my favorite is combining a love of stickers, scrapbook paper, and photographs into books. I created this book, LYDIA'S ADVENTURE, to commemorate her first TENT CAMPING trip with us.
This is not the actual book I made, but a color copy that was covered with clear contact paper. LYDIA'S ADVENTURE was laminated & adorned with beads at the top of the three ring binding. She was learning to read, so the story line was simple & included pictures from all the activities we had during that three day period.
I know there are digital book options {Blurb, Apple, Snapfish, etc}, but I still love the cutting, pasting, and gluing items down on chipboard. I think it keeps the treasured books a bit more primitive & personal. A bit FOLK-ARTY!

SHINY

The red orb & silvery candle holder, set against the turquoise Native American table runner really "sparkle." I added a "mirrored frame" using PICNIK to accentuate & make these items very SHINY.
Have to say... I am going to miss using PICNIK's simple-to-use editing features. There's got to be a replacement that is user-friendly without costing a bundle of $$ and time to learn a new program. Surely there is a computer programer that could put something together for us "picknikers" to use? {Oh - if so, keep the sticker assortment ~ I love the variety}.

COLOR ME GREEN

Don't you L-O-V-E this reptile?? such a vibrant turquoise-green body with lime green & chartreuse spots! I think this guy represents COLOR ME GREEN, just fine.


Don't forget ~ anyone can participate in SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY. The words  for this week's hunt are: FACIAL FEATURE, SHADOW, SPICY, GOLD, & FABRIC.