SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 8.25.13 + SONG-OGRAPHY

my photos today feature a lot of the new overlays at PicMonkey
(click on School U). 

After a bit of vacay from blogging...  a few days of camping, visiting family & some painting...  I'm back to work & blogging!

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY continues to be hosted by Ashley @ RAMBLING & PHOTOS.

Here are my interpretations of:

BACK TO SCHOOL, WRITING UTENSIL, FAVORITE SUBJECT, LUNCH & RECREATION.

In most parts of the country, it's BACK TO SCHOOL... Love this school crossing sign (taken in London, England several summers ago). ALSO, if you are dropping off your kids at school, don't forget to watch for bike riders!! (bike lane in Brighton, England).

Did you read, in many states, cursive writing is NOT being taught in school? As an educator, I'm puzzled by this decision. What better way to build eye-hand coordination? are we developing a nation of learners who focus on finger taps, scrolling, pinching, abbreviated spelling & faces peering into small screens? Sorry about my soap-box opinion!
My favorite WRITING UTENSILS continue to be pencils (a Peruvian student practicing cursive) & my colorful ZIG markers.

FAVORITE SUBJECT? it has to be reading! Here are two of my favorite books... How to Get Your Child to Love Reading, by Esme Raji Codell and Children's Book-A-Day Almanac, by Anita Silvey. I recommend both for parents, teachers & librarians! I'll share some details about these books in another post later this week.

My "first place" LUNCH includes an apple. All the Farmer's Markets in our area are featuring locally grown produce... with apples being the most frequently purchased for school lunches. Pssst! I take my LUNCH to work every day in this cute bag.

We took Lydia camping in Plaskett Creek... next door to the campground is Pacific Valley Elementary School. Swinging, climbing & sliding - it there ANY better RECREATION for children (& adults)?

Today, I'm participating in SONG-OGRAPHY hosted by Kathy @ You'll Shoot Your Eye. This week's song by Frank Sinatra is "The Summer Wind"... this picture, taken at the top of the staircase down to the beach, just happened to remind me of Frankie's famous lyrics... this guy was pulling in his kite at the end of the day!

See you tomorrow! plenty of items to blog about...

TRENDY BABIES...

Quilt by Pam ~ 3.12.13

a couple of babies are getting very "trendy" baby quilts...

{are PASTELS a thing of the past?}

Don't believe me? check out Pinterest!!! 

YELLOWS  &  GRAYS

are prominent decorating colors this SPRING!

{chick, banner & star graphics found on PicMonkey}

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 12.16.12

TODAY'S A DAY TO CELEBRATE!!!

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY
don't forget to post your SHS link over at Rambling & Photos!

TONY'S BIRTHDAY

MY BIRTHDAY

MOVIE DAY

But first, this week's SHS words are:

SPARKLY, DOOR, DECORATE, STRIPES & A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Another adorable SPARKLY house... this one has been edited with PicMonkey --- I added some additional SPARKLE...

A trio of caroling snowmen --- at the front DOOR of a house in San Luis Obispo!

I always wanted to major in Art --- doesn't window dressing --- assembling a display case --- or DECORATING, as a profession, sound exciting? I would enjoy the DECORATING part --- but I dislike having to put things away! Urghh. 

These STRIPED Christmas trees caught my eye! Red & white ribbons of color drip from a coiled peppermint candy tree topper!

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS... Santas, snowflakes, scrolled fonts, gelato, hearts, my grandmother's ice cream bowl...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

THANKS MOM & DAD....

I share a birth-date with my brother, TONY,

who was born on my 

FIRST BIRTHDAY!

JPE's taking me to see the movie,

Anna Karenina!

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 12.9.12

edited with PicMonkey

It's TIME --- TIME to post this week's SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY interpretations.

The host site, RAMBLING & PHOTOS, is bound to be colorful --- especially with these words --- CALM, SEASON, WEATHER, COLORFUL & SILHOUETTE.

CALM

This love-ly cellist was sitting in a courtyard off State Street in Santa Barbara --- just waiting for her opportunity to play. JPE & I were in SB to see our nephew, Daniel, dance in his 12th year of the Nutcracker. THIS production of the Nutcracker is fairly UNIQUE --- the music is played by a live orchestra. I love the moment of CALM between the orchestra warm-ups & when the director lifts the baton before the first note is played. Ahhhh!

SEASON

"Tis the SEASON" --- for candles, snowmen (or snowpeople, if I was being gender sensitive), snow, glitter, decorated trees and houses --- on the Central Coast of California (several miles from the beach), "Tis the SEASON" for frosty mornings --- nothing like this adorable holiday village.

WEATHER

Current WEATHER --- here's a glimpse at the past week. The trees are changing colors --- we had a bit of sprinkles (or "spitting" --- barely enough to wet the ground). Oh, we also had some wind --- a couple of days, the wind chime played some light tinkling sounds.

COLORFUL

Enjoying all the COLORFUL decorations --- without the frenzy of getting our house fully decorated. I mentioned in a previous post that we're "decorating light" --- candles, JPE's miniature village, wreaths --- no Santas (yet??). We discussed using our extra time, to bake "goodies" --- our traditional treats ---  JPE will bake three types of biscotti (double-chocolate; craisin; and peppermint) --- I'll select a few holiday cookie cutters, then bake & frost the "family requested" Christmas cookies.

SILHOUETTE

Just after parking the car (Santa Barbara), I spied a fabulous art piece --- on the dark side of the street, it made a perfect SILHOUETTE against sky, as evening approached. 

The past few days I've played around with PicMonkey (free photo editing program) & then sent THE PICTURES to the kids in my family --- Lydia, Katie, Ada, Matthew & Derek. Can't wait to see them at the holidays. Hoping the technology bridges the physical distance gap!!!  

Hey --- add participating in SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY to your list of things to do --- kidding!! But, it's open to everyone. Next week's words are:  SPARKLY, DOOR, DECORATE, STRIPES & A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS.

FRIDAY FUNNIES...

more Frosty the Snowman jokes... 
 

What did the police officer say when he saw Frosty stealing?

 "Freeze" 

What does Frosty the Snowman take when he gets sick?

"A chill pill"

Who are Frosty's parents?
"Mom and Pop-Sicle"

TA! DAH!

PEANUT telling his favorite riddle... 


check back next week for FRIDAY FUNNIES! 

both pictures were edited using the snowman features
on PicMonkey (free editing program) - click HERE

 

IN THE MOOD?

Are you finished decorating?

Monday, after work, Susan & I met for dinner

& to wander the Apple Farm Gift Shop...

hoping the holiday glitz & sparkle would inspire us

 to get our decorating started... completed!!

I think we've decided to "DECORATE LIGHT"...
& cut-out the frenzy of doing-too-much!!

SOOOO, in addition to tasty food, the APPLE FARM 

decorations are...

GLITTERY....

includes SPECTACULAR LIGHTING...

plenty of RED & GREEN...

and SANTA & HIS SLEIGH!!!

all pictures taken @ APPLE FARM, SLO

now that these pictures are posted,

I think I used too much "frost" from the Winterland theme...  

I edited my pictures with PICMONKEY !!!

Check out PICMONKEY ~ it's a FREE PHOTO-EDITING program!!! 

how cool it that?