Wednesday, July 24, 2013

IT'S ENOUGH...


The bathroom floor is being re-laid! 
The wrong glue was used when it was installed the first time,
and the vinyl "planks" moved as it was drying.
Unfortunately, the contractor is having
to cover the cost of new flooring & installation. 
SO, we have some upheaval in the reno process.
AND, a couple of tasks will be delayed.

Today's MANTRA...
I will do what I can. 
AND, let go of the frustration
of having workers back in the house. 

Doesn't the water-drop in my cactus look like a diamond?

perhaps I should look at today as
"a diamond in the rough?"

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

P52 {WEEK 28}

this is NOT a picture of my office at WORK!

Worked at the office today!
It was a l-o-o-o-n-g but productive day. Some of our office spaces have been reassigned, so entire cubicles have been boxed & moved. I don't have pictures of the "work reorg" (as we loving-ly call it - I mean that in a GOOD way), but here are some of the "home reorg" boxes in our garage.



If you've been reading my blog, you know we started a "home reno" back in April... check here for another taste of this adventure. Well, we ME (the painter!) are getting close to finishing the painting! We (JPE's great at this task! as well as accepting assignments, like peeling the blue tape from the walls!) are slow-ly moving boxes into the garage for unpacking, sorting (give-aways, trash, repurpose & bring into the house) and hanging pictures. 

It's been sort of exciting unpacking --- like unwrapping a present! 

Since I'm in this "MODE" it seemed only right that I was "commander-in-chief" of a reorganizing project at WORK.

So, I haven't had my camera out much --- don't want to get paint on it! And, these blurry pictures are a tell-tale sign I need some practice & more time to focus on setting up a photo op...

In between my projects, JPE & I sit on the patio & have tea & scones (or biscuits)... until the mosquitos find me, then I slip inside the house. 

We have loads of small spider webs hanging off our patio overhang. Pretty aren't they?

Urrgh, blurry! 
Any way, I'm posting these photos for P52 with Tamar.
Be sure to stop by & see some of the summer adventures of the other P52'ers. 

Oh, it looks like we know what needs to be added to the work list... new patio overhang? (see the wood rot - behind the peeling paint?)...

Well, tomorrow's a day to get my paintbrush out (downstairs powder room). Can't wait.

Oh, MOM --- we'll clear out the small cobwebs before your visit! promise! in fact, it will be soon! 

Sunday afternoon, it was "creeping me out" --- I felt like I had small spiders dropping on my head when sitting on the patio, in my Adirondack chair.

I can "control" the spiders & really
can't "control" the mosquito attacks.

oops! forgot to hit the post button!
actually posting Tuesday morning!


Sunday, July 14, 2013

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 7.14.13

SHS 7.14.13
Oh my! I'm beginning to feel like I've been touched with the summer bug!
I've been moving slow-as-molasses the past few days.

This time last summer, JPE & I were exploring PERU ~ an amazing trip! 
(well, with the exception of the humidity in the Amazon River)...
we just ENJOY traveling!

This week's SHS words
are: RELAXING, INSPIRING PERSON, WRITTEN WORD,
MEMORIES & BEST FRIENDS
& were pulled from my PERU archive.

Other SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY bloggers can be viewed at RAMBLING & PHOTOS.

RELAXING
In the Sacred Valley, we RELAXED with a glass of "chicha" & played a few rounds of "sapo"... Chicha looks like a blender drink - but don't let the peachy, strawberry color fool you! Made from fermented corn or yucca root, chicha has a "kick" to it.
As we finished off our glasses of chicha, we played sapo - a coin toss game. Sapo is actually the Spanish word for "toad" which is found in the middle of the game board. 

INSPIRING PERSON
Lucio & Pepe were tour-guides extraordinaire! tour guides can make a country come alive! & these two were remarkable, INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE.
Lucio showed us the amazing sights along the Amazon River... the Amazon Rainforest, different modes of transportation (the tut-tut), exposed us to Peruvian color and colors of Monkey Island...  we especially curious about seeing how people live along the Amazon River! Lucio took JPE birding one morning (at the crack of dawn) - talented at identifying birds by sight & sound, Lucia could mimic the bird calls back to the birds. He taught himself the scientific & English words for thousands of birds living in the Amazon River.
Pepe, our tour guide for Lima & the Sacred Valley lives in Cusco, but was raised  in the Sacred Valley (his parents were missionaries). A fabulous story-teller, he made the history of Peru come alive. Tall & long legged, it was not difficult to find him in a crowd, but following him up all the terraced steps of Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley was a bit challenging (especially with the altitude change). He continually reminded us to "hydrate"... 

WRITTEN WORD
Don't you love the hand-written signs? these WRITTEN WORDS were found along the Amazon River... the precise penmanship of a teacher (private school); a sign advertising foods & drinks; & a weathered, hand-painted sign for the wild-life preserve at Monkey Island.

MEMORIES
There are so many MEMORIES from this trip... What I most want to remember is: the vibrant colors of the clothing & home decor items created in the Sacred Valley. Visiting children at their school. Seeing the corner marketplaces. AND catching a piranha on the Amazon River. 

BEST FRIEND(S)
Peruvian people are used to visitors...  Seemingly reserved, they didn't hesitate to connect with us by smiling or checking us out. As in the states, man's BEST FRIEND is a dog! JPE & I participated in a spiritual ceremony & were blessed by this Peruvian shaman... it was obvious these adorable little girls were BEST FRIENDS. They had their arms wrapped around each other as we walked up to the door of the soup kitchen.

Hope you loved digging into my photo archives as much as I did sharing these memories with you...  

Next week's SHS words are: CAMOUFLAGED, NUTTY, ALIKE, IDENTICAL & JAUNT. Ummm... looks like I have my work cut out for me!

Saturday, July 13, 2013

H.A.P.P.I.N.E.S.S

"bleeding hearts" @ Big Bear (7.2.13)

FINALLY...
the last two nights, I've slept without
having weird dreams...
perhaps my overactive mind has settled into "summer mode"??

Instead of feeling like I "needed"
to be doing something, I actually just puttered!

CRUISED
the internet! YEP... checked blogs this am (no guilt)

TEXTED 
my family, encouraging them to watch this touching & powerful VIDEO

BAKED
loaves of banana nut bread & apricot bread

OBSERVED
a spider climbing his web...

TIDIED
the kitchen - washed & dried the dishes by hand

LISTENED
to Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor 
 & (soon) Evening Blues hosted by Neil Losey
KCBX - SLO (NPR)

total HAPPINESS!

Tomorrow morning we're having some friends
for brunch, so I'll whip
cream cheese & homemade apricot jam
to spread on our tea breads...
& cut up a fruit salad... 
JPE is making Rosemary Cheddar biscuits & 
whipping up an egg scramble with bacon + peppers + cheese..
we're set for a leisurely visit to start our Sunday.

What makes you HAPPY?

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

SMALL TREATS...

 Our garden is producing enough raspberries to top a bowl of yogurt & slivered almonds (+ a half of a banana)
I'm getting spoiled with this treat!

luscious, red raspberries...

Started my morning with a cup of coffee
& phone call to SLE
{alias Stephanie, Steph, Nene or Nener}
we always call at 7am ~ her birth time in CALIF!

This picture was taken
near Bear River, Auburn, CA
summer ~ 1982
she's wearing her Papa Griff's boots
~ I LOVE this picture of STEPH & ALLIE!


Enjoy your day!!!
I have my spray paint out ~ painting "this & that"
~ details later this week.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

LAZY SUMMER DAYS...

JPE clipped these yesterday...
the roses are sooooo fragrant right now!
{they are "winning" in the fragrance category ---
the bananas are becoming toooo ripe
}

...maybe it's time to become domestic
& make some Banana-Nut bread.
Mom sent some Apricot-Nut bread home with us Saturday!
it was gone by the end of Sunday tea...


I also "checked out" this book from Mom...
{with several promises to return it}

...the subject sounds depressing
{perhaps due to the topic --- End of your Life}
BUT... it's not!
...the author, Will Schwalbe, as well as a publisher, journalist & founder of Cookstr.com
formed a two-person book club with his mother, Mary Ann Schwalbe,
as she was undergoing treatments for cancer.
Instead of focusing on the uncomfortable questions
of his mother's terminal illness,
they discussed books, plays, poems & short stories... 
It's a delightful "quick read" in which the two discuss
their thoughts, ideas & opinions based on an eclectic reading list.

{I know why mom was so insistent on getting her book returned
--- to keep track of the books found on Will & Mary Ann's book club list}

I'd recommend reading this book!
Mary Ann & Will's conversations constantly reinforce
"the power of books to comfort us, astonish us, teach us, and tell us
what we need to do with our lives and in the world.
{quote from hardcover book jacket}

...this morning, JPE took off for Palm Desert, to conduct a training.
he just called during his stretch break... it's 106 degrees!
URGGHH! & to think I ALMOST went with him!!


Monday, July 8, 2013

P52 {WEEK 27}

July 1-3, 2013 pics
the BEARS found us... at the Big Bear cabin
:: JPE kayaked ::
:: makeshift clothesline for towels ::
:: umm, a bird-y attack ::
:: Lydia checking birthday texts from bed ::
:: jetskis (umm, I love to speed) ::
July 4th @ Jodi's
:: the entertainment - Matthew on the "rope" ::
:: the gang getting "strobed" ::
:: new pups - Felix & Archie ::
:: Matthew & Derek - the clean-up crew ::
:: Katie "sparkles" ::

posting these with Tamar

check out the
"amazing fireworks + lightning"

Sunday, July 7, 2013

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 7.7.13

SHS 7.7.13
READING... {will share the book on my blog later this week}...
so this will be a quick post!

You know the routine - capture a photo for each word & link your blog URL to Ashley's blog, RAMBLING & PHOTOS.
This week's words were well matched to the festivities of our holiday celebration, 4th of JULY:
RED, WHITE, BLUE, STAR & SPARKLE.

RED
JPE & I enjoy spending 4th of July with family in So California. Mom's house has some delightful "treasures" that I've captured in photos over the years. But, this RED heart is a favorite! And, if you've never been to Renegade Craft Fairs, check their website. I bought the wooden doily for mom at the SF Renagade several years ago.

WHITE
I haven't mastered taking pictures of fireworks... so I changed this photo to black & WHITE. Loved the WHITE "sparkler" trail... thanks to "D" for accommodating my request to draw circles in the air.

BLUE
No... we didn't play horseshoes! But, knew I had to include the BLUE horseshoes for this week's SHS. Plenty of games are played on 4th of July... but, horseshoes are something I remember the family playing at the trailer in Huntington Beach...

STAR
These flowers are amazing. Don't you love the yellow STAR!??!

SPARKLE
Okay! so, this is the extent of my fireworks pictures! Lots of SPARKLE, but not a lot of clarity.

Next week's words are pretty cool: RELAXINGINSPIRING PERSONWRITTEN WORDSMEMORIESBEST FRIEND.



Tuesday, July 2, 2013

BRINGING HOME THE ....?

JPE KAYAKING - BIG BEAR LAKE...

CASTING HIS FISHING LINE...

 
BRINGING HOME THE... BACON?
NO, IT'S A FISH!

...A 16" TROUT!

DINNER FOR THE BIRTHDAY GIRL...

CLEANED & READY FOR THE PAN!
Yummy!

THE BIRTHDAY GIRL...

... BUILT A TENT...

...& TEXTED THE PICTURE TO HER 
GIRLFRIENDS!

Lydia asked for a 
RELAXING, STAY-AT-HOME DAY!
IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN
A FABULOUS DAY!

Monday, July 1, 2013

P52 {WEEK 26}

Posting for P52 - check out the other blogs at Tamar's.
{FYI - P52 is a picture review of my past week's pictures
- you can find the instructions on her blog!}


:: SATURDAY ::
{June 26th}
LOLA & ALLIE came for a visit

{Allie-Bug & I read, shopped, ate tasty food, ran errands
worked on her grad school application!
 she ALSO visited some friends & had a massage!
I hope she thinks this visit was a "relaxing way"
to start her summer break?}

Check out this "crazy-fun" dish Allie uses to feed Lola...

she can't inhale her food!
{she eats a lot slower!}
it exercises her tongue
{do tongues need exercising?}
it gets pretty slimy 
{her jowls hang over the "pieces of grass"}

:: THURSDAY ::
Allie & Lola left for home 

JPE & I worked at the office
then, drove to the Big Bear cabin!

some adorable birds - sitting on the fence
{watching the waves on the lake}

Taylor ready to "fling the kite" into the air
{loved the colors in this kite}

played multiple rounds of Bongo Ball
{a game all ages can play}

the cabin now has some berry bushes!
{oh, yum!!}

shucking the corn
{it was so VERY sweet}

an explosion of color!!!
{vibrant red, red-orange, coral & yellow}


a "pancake" day!
{Lydia turns 10 tomorrow! can't believe it!}

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click on this icon
on the right column... to stay in touch!

Back tomorrow with vacation adventures from
Big Bear Lake!

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