Silver Linings 4 ME: March 2012

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

FISHY QUOTE...

photo taken Friday 3.23.12 at Alicia's
Well, I think I've found a substitute for PICNIK!!

If you haven't tried PIC-MONKEY,
you should hop-skip & jump over...

Super easy!

A little whimsy is needed today!
Coughing ~ hacking ~ wheezing
it's got me down!

Thursday, March 22, 2012

SPRING HAS SPRUNG?

pic taken 3.22.12

"CAMELLIA"

We're off...
driving Mom back home
(to So California)

Stopping at Snapper Jack's in Camarillo
(umm... fish tacos for lunch)

Will see "D" play baseball tonight
(game time is 5:30pm)

Haven't posted this week!
(busy time at work)

Plan to post from Mom's
(maybe??)

Toodles...
See Ya Later, Alligator...
Til We Meet Again...
(how do you say good-bye! but I'll be back?)

Sunday, March 18, 2012

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 3.18.12

first of the season ~ Okui's strawberries

It's SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY... I missed last week & was determined not to miss another week! There are over 100 participants, so check in with ASHLEY @ RAMBLINGS & PHOTOS for the links to all who captured this week's words in photos!

Here are my photos for:

VINTAGE, WORD or QUOTE, NATURE'S OWN, PEOPLE, & PHOTOGRAPHER'S CHOICE.

VINTAGE

I don't know if this qualifies as being VINTAGE?? but this music box belonged to my ex-husband's grandmother, Nellie. Since I am the keeper of the "important stuff" I still have this music box in my possession! I'm not sure who gifted Grandma Nellie with this box, but it has a sticker on the bottom saying it was Swiss-made. The music is theme from Doctor Zhivago (or Lara's theme).

WORD or QUOTE

It's getting closer to Spring Break (first part of April) & I'm looking forward to taking a break from the "busy-ness" of work... I've never had a work-related project fall apart from lack of attention or planning! So, I'm posting this QUOTE in my car... at my work station... and on the refrigerator, so I can see it every time I think I'm too busy to relax!

NATURE'S OWN

JPE stopped by Okui's Strawberry Stand in Grover Beach... the first strawberries of the season are HUGE ~ compare the size to the US quarter! And, oh! my! are they juicy! NATURE'S OWN sweetness!

PEOPLE

This photo was pulled from my archives! My niece, Jodi, is traveling to London (her husband has a training to attend)... so, hopefully, this photo will entice her to begin making a list of things she wants to see... I come from a family of "people-watchers"... she's sure to get a "kick" out of all the PEOPLE driving along Trafalgar Square in London!

PHOTOGRAPHER'S CHOICE

Monarch Grove in Pismo Beach is a site for the deep orange-red Monarch butterflies to winter. From November to February, docents share information & answer questions about these delicate creatures. During school hours, it's not uncommon to see several busloads of children visiting Monarch Grove. If you stop for a visit, take a walk down to the beach (walk over the bridge & turn left following the nature pathway to the edge of the sand dunes).

So, that's my post for this week's SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY! Words for next week are: WHIMSY, CREATE, DUST, SEED or SPROUT, & SWING or DROP.

See you tomorrow!

Friday, March 16, 2012

TGIF 3.16.12

cinnamon roll baked fresh by SLO-BAKED

TGIF!!!
Carpooled w/JPE to work today...

so, after work today, we had a
COFFEE DATE
at

ENJOYED

a yummy cinnamon roll & coffee latte

visited the WOMEN'S bathroom

before heading to COSTCO...

{paper towels, tp & coffee}

this was written over the mirror!!

ummm... wonder if I'll be W.I.R.E.D at 10pm?

Off to pick up MOM

at the Amtrak station!!!

Yippeee!

and it's sprinkling!!

Happy Dance!!!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

SUN? CLOUDS? RAIN?

WISH THIS WEATHER WOULD MAKE UP ITS MIND...

S.U.N.

C.L.O.U.D.S

R.A.I.N.

WHAT SORT OF WEATHER IS

MOTHER NATURE

BRINGING TO YOUR

NEIGHBORHOOD?

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 3.14.12

"TWO PHOTOS"

from SUNDAY, MARCH 12th

MADE YOU SMILE!??!!

participating

in WORDLESS WEDNESDAY...

link up HERE! & also HERE!

Monday, March 12, 2012

IT'S COMING...

pic taken 3.11.12

I've MISSED it...

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY!

JPE & I spent the WEEKEND, OUTSIDE

tidying the back & patio areas...

(trimming & raking)

taking care of the roses...

(weeding & mulching)

moving dirt...

(the ground was damp, so the shovels just slipped

into the dirt "like a knife into butter")

JPE also had a lot computer work...

SO, I...

pic taken 3.11.12 @ 5:00pm

carried the Adirondack chairs into the backyard...

sanded & wiped down the wood...

and sprayed the first chair...

"OREGANO"

(love the color)

One chair down ~ another to go!!!

HAVE A FABULOUS MONDAY?!!

Oh ~ the "little guy" in the first picture was part of my

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY

post...

the one I didn't finish!

Saturday, March 10, 2012

MORNING WEB...

taken 3.10.12

Spider webs... and fuzzy-wuzzys from the trees...

SPRING is coming...

JPE & I spent a great part of the day

tidying up the area beyond our condo

and the patio...

The spider web was the "inspiration"

to get outside today.

~ FRESH AIR ~

~ DIRT UNDER MY NAILS ~

~ WORKING UP A SWEAT ~

~ PUNCTURE WOUND FROM THE ROSES ~

~ AH! YEAH! ~

Gotta get cleaned up ~ going to the Clark Center tonight

"Best of San Francisco Comedy"

What did you do today?

Thursday, March 8, 2012

DIFFERENCES...

HOW TRUE!! HOW TRUE!!!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION: FEBRUARY 2012

Sacramento ~ 2.6.12

At the beginning of February, I spent four days in Sacramento - reading grants. After dropping my bags off in my "botel" (hotel room on a boat, the DELTA KING RIVER BOAT) room, I grabbed my camera & took a walk before the sun began to set.

I haven't quite figured out why I keep returning to this picture, but something about the LIGHT grabs my attention.

This was taken in OLD TOWN SACRAMENTO... the historic area along the Sacramento River. This area of historic buildings was established in 1849, and now includes the California State Railroad Museum, small shops & places to eat. But, the best part is the photo opportunities.

Although this photo is blurry, I liked the orange-red glow of the street lamps contrasted against the gray-blue color of the second & third floor of this beautifully restored building.

A rain storm had blown through the area about 20 minutes earlier... gray rain clouds had cleared, leaving a brillant reddish sun falling on the horizon. It appears as if the building had been lit by an artificial light, but this is an unedited photo (other than a small amount of cropping on the right side of the photo).

Here are a couple of ideas as to why this photo captures my heart...

the precise placement of the windows ~ orderly designs are pleasing to look at

the idea that this building has been restored (instead of demolished) ~ there's a lot of character in older architecture

the chimneys that dot the upper roof line ~ knowing the heat from the fireplace would have taken the chill off the occupants of the room (this building is located one block from the wharf, so it can get damp & chilly here)

the ornate window treatments ~ craftsmanship at its finest

the location of this building ~ this was the activity hub of Sacramento for prospectors coming to trade their gold

the contrast of the orange-red light (at street level) to the gray-blue light bouncing off the upper two levels of the building ~ this is actually the reason I chose this picture

I'm still fiddling with my manual settings... now, I realize this photo would have had a clearer image had I used a tripod. But, I was just snapping & shooting pictures as I walked. No time for using a tripod...

BUT, this shot of the same building was taken about 10 minutes earlier from the right hand side of the building. Of course, I loved this photo for a different reason!!! (orderly looking windows)

Today's post is part of Kat Sloma's Photo-Heart Connection. You can read about it HERE.

Visit her website, KAT EYE STUDIO for information about her courses and sign-up for her newsletter.

Before our summer trip to PERU, I'm revisiting her photos on FLICKR to pick up some tips for taking travel photos.

Her blog has a wealth of tips...

Sunday, March 4, 2012

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 3.4.12

all pics taken 3.4.12

TODAY'S the DAY...

:: That JPE comes home from Cincinnati, OH (his "home turf"... he's made three trips since Thanksgiving. AND, thanks for your concern... this trip was not an emergency related to his dad's health)...

:: To enjoy the last week of darkness before DAYLIGHT SAVINGS time kicks in next Sunday...

:: To tidy your gardens in preparation for SPRING, which begins March 20th...

:: To participate in SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY with Ashley @ RAMBLING & PHOTOS. YEAH!!

No time to plan my photo shoots this week... this was a quick, down & dirty, short-time project (35 minutes)...

I won't say I love what I'm posting, but it was FUN ~ once I set the timer)... Enjoy these words:

ROUTINE, MUSIC, TECHNOLOGY, SHOW ME YOUR STYLE & MISMATCH.

ROUTINE

During the week, I rarely deviate from my ROUTINE. My work bag, purse, shoes & lunch-bag leave with me every morning & arrive home with me every night (ready to be packed again)! Everyone at work takes a lunch because we'd have to drive 15 minutes to buy lunch, coffee or a snack. No corner coffee shop for us! ummm! that's great on the $$$ but can be boring.

Lucky for me, I often have meetings in the afternoon (off-site) which give me some flexibility in my ROUTINE.

MUSIC

JPE has played MUSIC since he was a youngster! stand-up bass, guitar, and drums... In his work with high school students, he often starts a drum circle as a way to release some of their energy! JPE's a runner! he doesn't play his drum (or guitar) at home, but he often grabs his drum before heading to Men's Group...

TECHNOLOGY

I consider myself pretty tech-savvy - but looking at the dining room table this morning, you might question that statement!
I LOVE my TECHNOLOGY (I-Phone, MacBook, I-Pod Touch) but I also LOVE my work calendar (with color coded meetings), my planner with tabs for the months, and my checkbook.
I pay the majority of my bills online - but some items just need to be paid by check. AND, you probably remember my fond-ness for PAPER & PENS...

SHOW ME YOUR STYLE!!

Well... the truth is... I DON'T have a STYLE! I'm one of those gals that is still trying to figure out how to dress stylish, but comfortably.
I dislike clothes shopping - seems like such a waste of time! My body is just not made for the style of clothes I see in magazines, online or in the stores. I'm certain there are quite a few of us non-fashionistas... but they don't seem to be designing clothes that are favorable to my budget, figure flaws & comfort...
SO - I'm SHOWING YOU MY PREFERRED STYLE... which is jeans, tshirts (sorry, I had to pull this out of the laundry basket), casual shoes, low-cut socks & a scarf to add color. Retirement clothes?? currently, weekend clothes!! ahhh! comfort clothes!

MISMATCHED

When I got home from work on Friday, I noticed I'd worn two MISMATCHED earrings! Honest mistake - easy to make! one is pearlized & the other has a flat finish. Both earrings change, depending on what color (purple, teal blue, gray) top I'm wearing! I don't buy expensive earrings... when I lose one, I just buy new ones. Perhaps if I got a nice little jewelry box, I'd lose fewer earrings? NOPE! I prefer to toss my earrings in that adorable red dish. AND, no, I don't store my earrings in a lemon! just a prop for photographing purposes.

So - here's my contribution for SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY...