GOOD. RANDOM. FUN. V.3 (2016)

It's a GOOD time to begin blogging again! After all, it's a new year (BTW, I love even numbered years... 2016 is even... divisible by 2... I know, that's weird huh?) and I'm beginning to settle into RETIREMENT! It's been more than 6 months, BUT I'm still trying to find my "routine."

I'm thinking that for so-o-o-o many years, a woman gets used to a routine and then when it adjusts (due to having children, illness, or even vacation), we THINK we will start doing all those tasks we "dream of" when we are in a parenting-working routine.

I'll let you in on a secret... it's been hard getting used to being RETIRED! I LOVE it, but I still flounder around for most of the day trying to figure out which "productive task" I need to complete before my head hits the pillow at night. 

Before you think I have NOTHING to occupy my time... well, you only need to look at my "stuff" to know crafts, books, photography, and sewing projects are all at the "tip of my finger." It's a matter of "turning off" my work-mindset and being OKAY with creating my path each morning over coffee.

A RANDOM thought... JPE & I haven't been to the Big Bear Cabin in the WINTER for several years. I'm missing the beauty of the lake... the cool-frosty mornings... sipping a "cuppa" while I watch the birds "swoop & skim" the glassy surface of the lake... Ahh! maybe we need to calendar a trip??

My second favorite holiday (besides Christmas) is VALENTINE'S DAY!! It's not quite as much FUN cutting, pasting, and creating messages of LOVE without other crafters. Does anyone want to come over and join me? 

Thanks, TAMAR for continuing to host this Monday meme! 

Her birthday is coming soon... Check out her "blazing candle display" 

as she begins the "count-down" to her BIRTH-day.

STORY TIME...

CHRISTMAS is MAGICAL for me!

PERHAPS... because I was born in December? because I share my birthday with my brother (who was born on my first birthday)? because RED & GREEN are cheery colors? because of the traditions from my childhood? or the traditions I created with my daughters? because it means time with family (games, laughter, seeing the Nutcracker, movies, eating, decorating cookies...)

Actually, it's difficult for me to explain... certainly, one reason I can share is my LOVE of ornaments... well, to be specific, SANTAS. I've been collecting SANTA ornaments (or decor) since the mid-nineties! (makes me sound OLD, huh)... as word of this LOVE "spread like wildfire" among my family, friends & the kids I mentored, the number of my SANTAS exploded... into a delightful collection.

Several years ago, my grand-niece, Katie, tried to count the number of SANTAS in my collection.

Actually, my SANTA collection probably numbers in the 100's??
But, let's return to the MAGICAL! a "gifted" SANTA has been marked with the year & initials of the person who "gifted" the jolly, ole chap! 

Many of my SANTAS were "gifted" by my Camp Fire girls... they are also marked with the year & initials or name of the giver. Jackie (now the mother of 3 girls) gave me this red-glass tummy SANTA in 1997 (the year she was a junior in high school).

Unwrapping my SANTAS each holiday season brings back a "flood of MAGICAL memories"...

Oh... the story behind the glittery SANTA at the top of this post? One Sunday, during a drive through Ojai, CA (a delightful place that oozes artistic talents), JPE found this SANTA & gave it to me our first CHRISTMAS together. That CHRISTMAS he also gave me a beautiful "COAT of MANY COLORS"... ummm, that's another story to share... and reveals a flaw in my character that I'd rather not share right now!!!

How are your holiday traditions MAGICAL for you???

G.R.A.T.I.T.U.D.E.

Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia ~ 10.24.15

Our Thanksgiving Week has been AMAZING!
It wasn't just the food,
{which is always tasty}
B.U.T.
JPE & I spent quality time with Mom!

Monday - Cambria, Splash Cafe clam chowder, & the Palm Theater to see "SPOTLIGHT" {a thought-provoking movie}.

Tuesday - Massage w/Patricia {mom}, began House of Cards-Season 3 Marathon, & watched a PBS Special about the Mayflower & first settlers.

Wednesday - Another episode of House of Cards, saw "BROOKLYN" {sweet, love story} at Fair Oaks Theater, early dinner at Old Juan's Cantina, Oceano & a few more episodes of House of Cards.

Thursday - Started our morning with House of Cards & oatmeal, Thanksgiving with Lars & Kathryn's family/friends in Solvang {incredible food, company & wine}, & a nightcap of House of Cards.

Friday - JPE put our turkey in the oven, watched an episode of House of Cards w/am coffee, turkey dinner w/Mom, JPE & Lars {sorry, you missed it}, the thirteenth & final episode of House of Cards, followed by evening news w/Gwen Ifil, & Andre Botcelli {both on PBS, our favorite channel}

We chatted on the phone with our girls, texted other family members... and just R.E.L.A.X.E.D.

Unfortunately, Mom insists it's time to board Amtrak to head home tomorrow. Bummer! But, it's only a month until Christmas, so time will pass quickly.

There's SOOO much to be thankful for!

F.O.O.D.

F.I.L.M.S.

F.A.M.I.L.Y.

How was your holiday?

SUNDAY ON THE GO...

enjoying our company (the Skids)...

breakfast + movies + coffee + dinner + ice cream for dessert

:: two movies ::

"This is Where I Leave You"

{hilarious! about a dysfunctional family}

"The Drop" 

{intense!! organized crime & the use of neighborhood bars

as money-laundering drops}

WHAT'S RED, JUICY & SWEET?

it's STRAWBERRY time...

first basket of strawberries from Okui's

oh my goodness!

sweetness, juicy & addicting!

this is a watercolor of the same strawberries

NO, I haven't taken watercolor classes YET!

{on my bucket list for retirement}

My blog friend, Deanna @ Snippets from Springdale

had posted several watercolors of her photos
using a new i-Pad / i-Phone app called Waterlogue.

Oh my gosh! it's so much fun. 
you can watch a picture change from the photo to a watercolor.
Amazing!

worth the $2.99 price tag!!

{I wasn't compensated for this review of the strawberries nor the app}

P52 {WEEK 34}

Gosh, this is week 34 of 2013... only 18 weeks left in this year! Unbelievable!! Posting a mish-mash of photos from the past two weeks... Checking in with Tamar @ Random-osity.

Very unique brick wall in Laguna Beach! 

Not sure that my dad would have liked it - the mortar is oozing out between the bricks.

He was a master craftsman... hard to believe it's been almost four years since he passed away! 

You can spend the night in "The Nest" --- I would think you'd need a pretty warm night, with no fog blowing off the ocean. Cute sign seen at Treebones Resort, south of Big Sur proper.

The NEST - taken years ago - gosh, I've aged! 

Cool FONT! store window in Laguna Beach.

Pretty novel fire hydrant, huh? I was curious about the words located in the red - so I googled cluehoo.com & learned this is an interactive scavenger hunt about a city! It appears it's still being developed in Laguna Beach, CA.

Last weekend, JPE & I joined four friends in Laguna Beach for Pageant of the Masters, a "living show" of art. Check out the video clip RIGHT HERE (click on what is it)! A simply amazing venue!

We bought a few new Lego Hero Factory action figures... Lydia explained which guys are "good" & which are "evil" but I don't remember the names of these guys. Apparently, these guys are a new line of Legos.

Speaking of NEW... I bought a new pair of work shoes! lately, I've only been able to wear my Keen sandals (due to plantar fasciitis)... I'm able to insert heel cushions in these new shoes! AHH! Comfort!

That's it for my random post... check back for the upcoming posts:

1. Book Peek - see book title mentioned Sunday
2. Site 33 - camping with Lydia
3. Pure "beachy" - Big Sur style

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!

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?

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!

BEST DAYS...

AIDS Memorial Grove, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

it's good to be home... but the last five days were simply delightful!

:: remembering :: 

a scrumptious pizza shared with Richard

leisurely Sunday morning ~ drinking multiple cups of coffee

bus ride to Golden Gate Park

gorgeous blue skies & flowers ~ Japanese Tea Garden

Sunday dinner with four men & a bowl of bacon 

plans for Pageant of the Masters in August 

"Tour of Nevada City" ~ Room 7 (Outside Inn)

walking... peeking... into windows at dusk

dimples, smiles, & drooling ~ baby Alder

delightful company & a delicious frittata

a relaxing afternoon

an amazing gift ~ dinner at Blue Moon Restaurant

thanks for the memories...

Richard, Eric, Joe, & Jeff

(San Francisco)

Rob, Daniela & Alder

(Nevada City)