GOOD. RANDOM. FUN. V50

Sunday, December 13, 2015 - rain beading up on roof of my car

As I mentioned in my blog post yesterday, the Central Coast of California got a bit of rain! Californians get EXCITED about rain due to our multi-year drought. So, anytime we get ANY rain (we had less than 1/2 of an inch yesterday)... that is the "talk about town". A GOOD reason to celebrate!

Monday, December 7, 2015 - Bunco party treats

Last Monday, I hosted our Bunco Holiday celebration. No, we still don't play BUNCO, in fact, we don't even know who has the box (with dice, scorecards & pencils)??? but, we DO love to EAT & TALK about what's happening with our families... All of us are at different stages of our lives. A few are retired, most have grandchildren, a few have grown children who are getting married or defining their career paths, and almost all of us have creative interests (gardening, sewing, painting, decorating, baking or entertaining). 

JPE made dinner for us - lasagna, fresh olive bread and I added a kale salad (prepackaged from Trader Joe's). As everyone arrived, we munched on dried apricots, nuts, crackers & cheese. 

If you haven't tried this cheese, run (yes, run, because it's a seasonal treat) right out to Trader Joe's for a chunk of STICKY TOFFEE Cheddar Cheese. It's not a very pretty cheese (color, bleech!) but it's filled with toffee bits, raisins & dates... a RANDOM tidbit to add to your holiday eating!

Arroyo Grande Village Holiday Party - store window

I'm first to admit I cannot draw... but I do like to try my hand at lettering signs. I created a chalkboard drawing for Allison's and Stephanie's wedding. It was an opportunity to add my personal, FUN touch to their very unique weddings. If you haven't tried chalk lettering, Pinterest is the place to search ideas, or better yet, visit Lily & Val to order a copy of this book... The Complete Book of Chalk Lettering, by Valerie McKeehan. 

Well, must get to my house cleaning! then run a few errands before meeting JPE in San Luis Obispo for dinner with friends. YEAH! 

posting with Tamar at Random-osity!!

give her blog a peek! & tell her I sent you!!

PLUI = REGEN = LLUVIA = RAIN

 Sunday December 13, 2015

 chimes a' singing

a crossword puzzle word for MOM!

PLUVIOPHILE describes ME! 

GOOD. RANDOM. FUN. V48

Sunday, JPE & I walked around Arroyo Grande Village (actually, our historic downtown area)... In addition to having a coffee of coffee at Andreini's, we watched the "locals" stake out their spot along Branch Street for watching the holiday parade that started at 5:00pm. 

Grace Bible Church performed at the gazebo on the So County Historical Society lawn... and led a sing-a-long of holiday songs.

The Santa Manuela Schoolhouse had been decorated so we took a "peek" inside.

We had to laugh at the writing on the chalkboard! It IS a GOOD idea NOT to SPIT on the STOVE... all those germs! 

Thinking of dining or having an appetizer at Rooster Creek Tavern? well, the resident rooster will be joining you!! pretty RANDOM eh? having to share your outdoor dining experience with the "local" roosters that prowl the downtown area.

In addition to the holiday decorations in the old schoolhouse, we had FUN reminiscing about how many of the items we had during our elementary school years... of course the American flag, but I didn't recognize the California map displayed. Both JPE & I recognized the two items that were used on the blackboard... I especially remember five-prong chalk holder (the bottom piece of chalk is missing) that drew parallel lines for demonstrating penmanship or for music class. Although we didn't sit at desks like these, I recognized several of the textbooks on top of the desks... a science book from 1959, a history book and penmanship book. I didn't attend a one-room schoolhouse, but there is actually one in our county that still operates. It's amazing to think this teacher is responsible for teaching lessons to multiple grades. 

Last post of November... the holidays are approaching! will share my decorating once I get over the frenzy that 2015 is almost over!

posting with Tamar @ Random-osity

WHAT IF I....

view from my kitchen window this morning

I'm OVER-THINKING...  OVER-REACTING...

OVER-PLANNING...  OVER-PROJECTING...

OVER-VISUALIZING...  OVER-LOOKING...

OVER-EVERYTHING...

I'm feeling like an OVER-ALL mess!

BUT, looking out the window this morning, I'm reminded that

I'm not OVER-WINTER!

Looks like Spring has arrived on my patio.

I'm hoping we haven't bypassed the
"cold snap" & "rain"
that generally passes our way in
January-February-March.

Weather reports mention we "could" get some rain Saturday. 

Perhaps I'll do a rain dance today?

it will wash the dark mood away.

HARVEST-TIME...

Do you ever really "see" a painting

that grabs your HEART?

I had arrived for a meeting 20 minutes early, so I sat in the lobby and began checking emails. Listening to the sounds of the receptionists answering phones, talking with clients, my eyes glazed over... when I focused my attention again, I was looking at this painting. 

I've seen this painting many times, but really had not stopped to appreciate the significance of its placement in this location.

This agency serves our lowest income residents... and many of the families have small children. I realized what a significant impact this painting could have on these families & children. The paint COLORS grab your attention! what a positive view of farmworkers collecting produce... the produce we are fortunate to purchase in our local Farmer's Markets!

I LOVE living in an area that supports the agricultural industry!

{painting in the lobby at CAP-SLO (Community Action Partnerships-San Luis Obispo); cropped in PicMonkey}

10 ON 10 - JULY 2014

giving something new a try!

hope you'll come back again!

posting ten photos taken on the tenth day of the month

hosted by: Rebekah @ A Bit of Sunshine

8:12am ~ July 10th

Central Coast - California

oh soooo Y.U.M.M.Y.

need to move a.little!

sun has been playing peek-a-boo

with the coastal fog

like the Energizer bunny, these berries "are still going strong"

a mid-afternoon treat

after my massage, I walked by to check in with her "baby"

a pre-dinner cuppa tea!

bringing some color into the house!

the end of an amazingly, restful day!

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 6.1.14

MEMORIAL DAY = STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

Since 1983, the city of Arroyo Grande has hosted a
FESTIVAL on Memorial Day... 

tasty, delightful, juicy, brilliantly red, sweet orbs of goodness!

 a strawberry kabob drizzled with milk chocolate & white chocolate! ummm MAKE it MINE!

the Strawberry Festival also provides a chance for visitors

to see some of the "historical artifacts" from our community.

A QUIRKY apple peeler!

Lola came for a visit.

I love her WHAT WERE YOU THINKING pose, when I disturbed her morning nap!

the red-wing blackbirds "call" to us each morning.

Lola & I took a walk... for "her" MORNING RITUAL... to explore & experience the new smells.

Cute suitcase... a Mother's Day gift from Brian!

WHAT'S IN the suitcase?

It's a 1000 piece puzzle of San Francisco!

awesome-ness!

Thanks Brian, Allie & Lola for sharing the Memorial Day Weekend with us!

posting these pictures at RAMBLING & PHOTOS... checking in with Ashley after an unintentional break from blogging!

see you tomorrow!

more photos to post!

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 8.4.13

SHS 8.4.13

Ummm... MIRROR IMAGE??

After being away from blogging for several days,

I was "guilted" (not really) into posting...

This week's SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY words were selected by Ashley, hostess of this weekly event... anyone can participate!

Here are my interpretations of:

BODY PARTS, WEDNESDAY, MUSIC, 

GUESS WHAT THIS IS & MIRROR IMAGE.

My sister & brother-in-law's "BOYS"... poor "BOYS"... their BODY PARTS are so short & bellies so low to the ground, they needed to be carried up our staircase to check out the bedrooms. They have such adorable faces, you "have to help them"... 

Thank-you Buster & Mac for making

your "peeps" drive up here to camp!

Next time, you can spend the night with us!!

Mom came on Amtrak (Friday July 26th)... we took a drive to Cambria WEDNESDAY... of course, we had to stop by Heart's Ease to check out the gardens! Loved the "Fairy Garden"... Heart's Ease had been owned by SHARON LOVEJOY, author of one of my favorite children's gardening books, Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots.  Topped the day off with fish & chips in Morro Bay!

Initially, I had a difficult time figuring out a photo for MUSIC. This is the Tibetan bowl on JPE's altar... after a quick tap on the rim of the bowl, you run the wooden clanger around the edge to keep the sound going. The bowl is used to call people together for meditation.

Had to use my imagination for this one! GUESS WHAT THIS IS? Even though you know they are teeth... I'll bet you don't know where they came from? 

Last summer in the Amazon (Peru),

JPE & I went piranha fishing...

these are the teeth from the fish I caught

- check it out HERE (look under memories).

EASY BREEZY! captured this MIRROR IMAGE at Oceano Campground... had a BBQ with family on Thursday!

Gotta run... off to Avila Barn to buy some apples! Yep, first of the season from the fabulous orchards in See Canyon.

See ya tomorrow! Will be back in the swing of blogging (after an unexpected lapse due to house reno... painted laundry, powder room & kitchen... just have the kitchens cabinets, which will take a bit of time with all the sanding, priming the wood & more sanding).

DAY 2-CONDO RENOVATION...

DECISIONS! DECISIONS!!

More paint samples! I'm going with Sherwin Williams paint... I love the "buttery" feeling of their paint as it goes on the wall! I know, odd thing to say. But, it flows smoothly & SW didn't drip like the first samples I tested!

SHOWER PAN INSTALLED!

Dry wall has been "mudd-ed" & the shower pan has been set. The shower floor could be installed tomorrow, if everything is dry! 

SHOWER TILE

Your basic white tile! Six by six on the walls & smaller (cute stuff) will be installed on the shower floor & the inset (where you put your shampoo & cream rinse). 

STAIR CARPETING

The carpet guy brought eight samples & I picked this one BEFORE he showed me everything he brought. JPE's choice also! YEAH!

HAZARDOUS!! STAIRCASE

We are installed carpeting ONLY on the stair rungs... wrapped on the individual steps. The staircase is "L-shaped"... (this pic is looking down from landing into the living room).

FYI, this is the view LOLA gets when she visits! she loves her "perch" because she can see outside.

STAIRCASE & TOP LANDING

DON'T want anyone falling down our staircase! Carpeting will be installed on the stairs & landing. See the flat section where the ladder is standing - that's where LOLA sits!

JPE WORKING!

We're both leaving work early - so we can debrief with our job supervisor at 3:30. JPE did some work while I swept up some of the "crud" on the floors.

Other jobs completed today: crown molding & baseboard were painted. bedrooms upstairs got second coat of texture. 

Tomorrow - all ceilings get two coats of paint... molding will be cut... getting ready for installing the floors upstairs (maybe as early as Thursday?).

That's all for now! 

EVERYDAY MIRACLES...

the trees are "defuzzing"
 "Spring is sooner recognized by plants than by men."
  ~ Chinese Proverb

"balancing act"

"Lilies remind me of Easter"

"Mother Nature's perfectly spaced jewels"

"contrasting colors"

Puttering around on the patio this morning before leaving for WORK!