ON THIS DAY.... JANUARY 28th!

Being an "overachiever" and NOW a "procrastinator" I tend to avoid posting pictures on my blog if they aren't new or what I consider "blog-worthy"... I've been spending a chunk of time each day editing my photo library. It's gotten unmanage-able (over 42,500 photos)... and many of them need to be trashed. Of course, that prevents me from wanting to add more photos until I take care of this problem.

So... to SIMPLIFY life... I dug back into my archives for some notable happenings on this day... specifically, 2013 and 2011... Here's what I found. Also, I borrowed photos I hadn't posted to illustrate this post.

January 28, 2013

We took visitors to see the ELEPHANT SEALS on 1/28/13. An easy drive... it's always exciting being outside in the brisk, winter breezes along the coast of California. AND, who wouldn't like seeing the elephant seals... 

Actually, I enjoy seeing the expressions on people's faces while they watch the nuances of ELEPHANT SEAL life. This photo happens to be from February 2014, but I love the look on Matthew's face.

January 28, 2011

Then there was this LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE IN 2011. 

I had broken a bone in my left foot. I had written about the emotions that I was feeling as the result of being on crutches. Little did I know that I would use crutches until mid-July. AND, then have physical therapy for several months to regain my balance. 

JPE & I had already booked flights to see SLE & MB in Washington DC. So, off we went... You can see "da boot" that was "oh so glamorous!" We are laughing at MB, who was taking our picture! He's taken some of the best pictures --- and he's blind. Of course, we had all sorts of comments to help him snap this photo. 

Well... hope you enjoyed "On THIS DAY" (in 2013 & 2011)... perhaps I'll have to make this a regular feature here!

See you soon! 

GOOD. RANDOM. FUN. V2.5

Allie photobombed this pic of Brian!

Met Allie & Brian at Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton, CA... This is a GOOD site for their wedding this coming June.

Rust is pretty RANDOM, don't ya think? these were both taken at Roaring Camp!

Living near the ocean... It's FUN stopping to get a breath of fresh air! & check out the surfers & sailors.

I snapped 300+ pictures & edited the file down to the best 75... still in the learning process... but this captures Allie's beautiful smile.

posting with Tamar at Random-osity

check out her blog! she had a snow day today!

I think I'm a bit jealous!

THURSDAYS "R" FOR SEWING!

THURSDAYS, mom goes to her quilt group!

SO... my sewing machine is up & our bedroom is littered with bits of thread!
feels good!

completed projects!

An "engagement gift" for ACE & Brian!

{these turned out cuter than I thought}
if these weren't a "gift" I'd be tempted to
to keep these pillowcases! 
Don't they look CUTE in my guest room?

FASHION STATEMENT!

LOLA & Allie are headed home today!

boo! hoo! 

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!

TREASURE HUNT-DAY 3...

Treasure Hunt - Day 3

JPE spent some time this morning working in the garden. On Mondays, he travels (3.5 hour drive each way) to Palo Alto, CA to teach at Sofia University (leaving at 7am & getting home at 9:30pm). So, his garden provides opportunities to relax.

photos taken 4.15.14

Natasha, Lydia & Jack "GIFTED" JPE this gathering basket to commemorate his retirement. He's already using it...

via

TREASURE HUNT-Day 3: Your mission today is to notice the color at your feet. Set the camera on the ground. Click the shutter. Post what you see!

We're off to the movies - this afternoon...

the THE LEGO MOVIE! see you tomorrow!

GOOD.RANDOM.FUN. {WEEK 5}

:: GOOD ::

Yesterday, we

FINALLY had a touch of rain!

:: RANDOM ::
a bit of bird-watching - out the kitchen window!
{same hummingbird putting on a show}

:: FUN ::
pillow created by my mom & given to Allie, her granddaughter.
Allie created the paper quilt on a painted canvas
{hanging over the bed}
lucky to have such talented ladies in my family!

posting w/Tamar at Random-osity!

SONG-OGRAPHY + SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 1.12.14

mannequin head - seen at Apple Farm Gift Shop

Posting for SONG-OGRAPHY, hosted by

Kathy @ Don't Shoot Your Eye Out

a song I've never heard!

{but that's not unusual since I don't listen to the radio much anymore}

the lyrics of this song makes me think of

B.U.L.L.Y.I.N.G.

and speaking with the intent of hurting someone.

I don't make New Year's resolutions, but,

this is certainly something to be more conscience of... 

and now for SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY...

This is HAPPENS EVERYDAY!

Just like JPE meditates each morning,

I write in my journal and take my vitamins.

I think putting together a puzzle is one task

that can be accomplished UPSIDE DOWN!

A wooden vase with a "burl"

this NATURAL wood vase has a

tiny glass test-tube to hold the water for a flower

UMM... these GIRL-MADE

{as opposed to MAN-MADE}

ceramics pieces were created by Allie...

the "rattle" has tiny, little clay balls that make delicate ping-ing noises

when you "shake it up baby"

Orange is one of Allie's favorite colors... I'm surprised she hasn't asked for this "pucker-ing kiss" fish to live at her house?

Another example of Allie's creative talents...

due to it's fragile structure,

I've always kept this sunshine on a shelf,

table runner, or somewhere I don't have to worry about it

getting knocked to the floor!

LOOKING DOWN on this face each morning

is a positive way to start my day!

P52 {WEEK 40}

MUD ART?

excited to be posting two days in a row!

linking up with Tamar at Random-osity

...had to write a few posts ahead of time to make it happen.

once my work week starts, it seems there's

no stopping until the next weekend...

Sacramento Map... I love maps...

especially communities that post maps so you can locate famous landmarks.

eco-friendly... park your car & shuttle.

as the sun dipped lower to the horizon,

the acorns began their early evening GLOW!

Allie's kinder lesson on "mixing primary colors"

...my favorite experiment

demonstrating how a flower absorbs fluids through their root system.

AND, can change the color of the white carnation.

M-A-G-I-C-A-L for 4 & 5 year olds.

and, this necklace! ADORABLE!

my daughter, ACE {also known as Allie} is so very creative!

I think I'd like her to make me a NEW necklace for Christmas!

I'll be back with another post tomorrow!

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 9.29.13 + SONG-OGRAPHY

Allie's classroom ~ Tues 9/24/13
"teacher duck" & "student chicks"
modeling acceptable behavior in lining-up & walking quietly in the walls!
a first week lesson in kindergarten
"MAKE BUBBLE LIPS
{so you can't talk}
& DUCKTAILS"
{put your arms behind your back, to practice self-control}

Where do the days go?

As you can see, I haven't posted in a quite a few days... and missed last weeks SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY & SONG-OGRAPHY

BUT, on a work trip to Sacramento this week, I snagged a few photos. This week's SHS words are:

RULE OF THIRDS, MADE ME SMILE, LINES, ALONE & TOGETHER

Took a walk through the mall, Thursday morning before my meeting started... I cropped this photo to demonstrate the RULE OF THIRDS. The Rule of Thirds refers to the composition of an art or photography piece... the human eye naturally gravitates to the intersection points that occur when an image is split into thirds.

Dusk in Sacramento... looking from my hotel room (Weds)... loved all the LINES of the parking structure & buildings.

Seeing handprinted posters in Allie's classroom MAKES ME SMILE... her kinders love her drawings... differentiated learning for her second language students!

Another photo from Thursday morning... ALONE in the mall allowed for capturing photos without people in the background. Creative statue, eh?

Allie's classroom art center... she keeps the scissors, pens & stencils TOGETHER for ease in completing a project.

This week's SONG-OGRAPHY is "TWO OF US" sung by AIMEE MANN, I AM SAM (soundtrack)... There are some amazing photos at Kathy's blog, You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!

lyrics to this song were written by
John Lennon & Paul McCartney

We TRAVEL whenever we have the time & money! As my mom says, "we're making memories for when we can no longer travel."

Next week's SONG-OGRAPHY is "Forever Autumn" by Moody Blues.