Life in the 2nd half century...

Guilty pleasures......

2012-01-21T19:17:00.000-05:00

Now

you

will

know

just

how

old

am......

still

makes

swoon...

smiles.

Whew....that just about wore me out!

2012-01-20T16:21:00.000-05:00

Now it's confirmed,

I am an old dog....

and you would be justified in assuming that means

I cannot be taught new tricks....

I tried though

really I did.

But I simply struggled...

and that is not what blogging is all about for me.

OK,

here it is...

I tried the newer interface of Blogger.

There

I said it...

I found it to be clunky.

Now, in reality,

I am the one who is clunky,

stubborn,

set in my ways,

awkward,

embarrassed by my inability to conform....

So, I am back to the old interface

(don't ask me how long it took me to find my way,

let's just say I should have dropped bread crumbs on the way in....)

I have had better luck with my new iPhone....

Whew!

Glad that I could say that at least....

here is a bit of the other things I have been doing....

Enjoying my anniversary flowers...

BIG blooms...

drinking copious amounts of coffee....

photographing things

I am amazed at the clarity of images from a phone!

I have three different apps for imaging

the camera that came with the phone...

Camera+ (which my son found for me)

and Instagram, which I read about online,

and actually found on my own!

Camera+ actually produces the best image, but I have yet to

learn all the features.

Instagram is easy, and friendly too.

I like it.

I use it the most.

this is my office.

a mess....but in a good way.

The trunk is drying, I put new wallpaper in it just hours ago,

and am waiting for it to cure.

I plan to store some of that pile of fabric and

felted wool in it by the end of the day.

(the border on that image is one of the many reasons I like Instagram.

How about you?

Do you find newer technology (interfaces, apps.....etc...)

a challenge?

Please share your experiences with me.

If you have found that the newer interface is worth the effort,

please tell me that too.

I am willing to try it again if the incentive seems worth the journey.

smiles

TGIF!

Now where is that coat?....

2012-01-16T15:37:00.000-05:00

made of Dalmatian puppies......

My guess is that Angelina Jolie has absolutely no idea that Cruella DeVille has already sported this look.

She is a pretty girl, I wonder why she is trying so hard to scare people away?

What do you think?

She sells sea shells....

2012-01-13T08:49:00.000-05:00

just about this time of year....

I get to longing for the beach.

I live within easy driving distance of the shore,

and when the tulips start poking their small

green noses out of the soil

I immediately think

"Beach Trip"!

So....

in order to act like an adult

(snickering here)

I played with shells.

I have shells

everywhere...

in bowls

in jugs

in desks

on shelves

well, you get the picture....

Yes,

now I feel much better...

smiles

Giving thanks...

2011-12-30T21:24:00.000-05:00

When in doubt,

Ellen,

show up early.

Think less.

Feel more.

Ask once.

Give thanks often.

Expect the best.

Appreciate everything.

Never give up.

Make it fun.

Lead.

Invent.

Regroup.

Wink.

Chill.

Smile.

And

live as if

your success

was inevitable,

and so it shall be.

Happy global domination,
.............

The Universe

(many thanks for having faith in me....smiles)

love.....

2011-12-28T19:26:00.000-05:00

Source: life-love-laughter.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

a review of the holidays....

2011-12-27T21:32:00.000-05:00

I discovered that a dear friend is actually

"Mrs. Claus"

Hence, Christmas-towne in her living room....

Then, to IKEA

my sweetie & I went..

Then home to decorate...

Another dear friend supplied us with a

Charlie Brown tree...

one of my favorite ornaments....

the only time of the year in which my office is slightly presentable...

Another day, preparations for dinner for 10....

then a visit from

the daughter, who was single, blonde and pet-less last year...

who brought her new husband, dog

and....

RED hair this year!

An ornament to remind us of the V&A in London..

Lovely cards from all over...

These photos were all taken on the run...

mostly with my new iPhone....

I am still in the learning stage with it.

Hope your holidays have been

interesting, calm and joyous...

smiles

This I believe...

2011-11-24T10:44:00.000-05:00

(with apologies to NPR)

I believe that Thanksgiving is a time to

affirm our core beliefs...

We, as Americans, have so much to be grateful for....

life...

liberty...

the pursuit of happiness....

all men created equal....

(someday, maybe, even women)

peace on our shores.....

and

most

importantly,

freedom

what a bold word....

such an "in your face assertion"...

HAVE

FREEDOM!

We are free to....

bitch

complain

cheer for our team

be lazy

cry

laugh

sob

groan

mock

protest

support

choose indifference

create

explore

think independently

show loyalty, or not

work

play

grow, or not

love, or not

wallow in misery,

offend

mend

bend

end

Yes,

we are a funny lot...

filled with angst

courage

fear

patriotism

We boldly go where no man has gone before....

We root root root for the underdog...

We hate injustice

We balk at orders

We resist categorization

We are similar

We are diverse

We love

We hate

We understand each other

We shun each other

We support others who seek freedom

We are Americans

We are so very fortunate to have this land

at this time

Great potential have we...

if only we will look beyond our differences.

Please

today

while you feast

look beyond your differences

seek common ground

be grateful

Americans

smiles...

P.W.D.R.T.I........

2011-11-13T09:02:00.000-05:00

People Who Don't Respond To Invitations!

well,

honest....

Don't respond promptly.....

drives

crazy....

I don't even require a definitive answer...

simply an acknowledgement of the invitation would be

sufficient.

Here's what the deal boils down to..

I love to entertain around the holidays.

My sweetie also likes to have people to our home.

We like the planning even....

So,

once Halloween is over,

I usually pull up the calendar on my Mac

and start to scheme...

I love to have as many as can come...

especially at Thanksgiving.

We have children with parents other than ourselves,

so we are aware that the kids may not be with us on that day.

We also have extended family near by.

We have friends with no family near by.

We like to extend our invitation to others, who have

no place to go for dinner that day.

We can make it work.

I send the invitations

early, so that consultations and plans can be adjusted,

if need be. I even gave a "drop dead" response date in the form

of "Please respond by;"

So.....

why don't people,

at the very least,

respond with something like

"I received the invitation, and we are still making our plans. We will let you know asap!"

nada

nothing

zip

Not one acknowledgement...

except my parents,

who are delighted to be a part of...

and confirmed that the invitation went out.

Is this what you experience?

Do you entertain?

Does your family respond?

What about birthday parties?

Do you host them?

Do people respond to your invitations?

Last May,

I hosted a bridal shower

sent honest to goodness printed

invitations of heavy card stock

(which I love)

and slightly half of the invitees responded.

People attended that never acknowledged my invitation.

What's that all about?

If you have a tried and true method of

inviting...

please share....

I am starting to feel a bit desperate...

smiles

I love Pinterest!!!

2011-11-09T21:14:00.000-05:00

I find all sorts of wonderful inspirations there.....

Source: isleofview-facesoflove.tumblr.com via Susannah on Pinterest

More Londontowne....

2011-11-07T10:48:00.001-05:00

If you ever are given the opportunity to

escape your "work-a-day life"

and travel

Here is a tip...

try London first.

Not just because

I've been there.

But,

because

easy

for

Americans.

And

we do love

easy don't we?

This is

Windsor Castle...

Home of the Queen

She wasn't "in"

as you can tell be the

flag they were flying that day.

"Her flag"

only flies when she is in...

Yes,

tourists look the same

all over the world...

Personally,

I like the little

"crown" detail on top of

her coach-lights....

Maybe I will fashion a couple of those for my

front lights out of papiermache'....

Not allowed through the front gate,

we had to go around the side to the

"Pions Entrance"

(that's ok, I wouldn't have it any other way)

Below is a

slot (technical term)

through which they would

shoot arrows, or weapons of any sort.

The small cross section is so that you can

pivot your bow and arrow to the sides.

Not all enemies would be kind enough to stand

straight in front of the slot apparently....

Now,

this surprised me...

a tropical oasis on the south flank

of her castle...

Truly lovely...

Security was everywhere,

but not in an imposing way....

I felt quite safe.

The view is incredible..

the castle is on a small rise,

surrounded by flatlands.

Quite defendable I would imagine.

Below is an alien....

(that's what I call it anyway)

No!

I didn't get any closer,

I watch the Doctor

(Dr. Who)

and am aware of what aliens might do if bothered.

Below, a relative of the queen I would presume...

We were not allowed in this area either,

as you can see

it is being guarded...

As with any old house,

one must constantly do repairs...

See the scaffolding on the right of this photo...

even the Queen has repairs...

And who doesn't want to have their picture taken with the

guards....these two shy middle-schoolers, my guess..

They don't allow photos to be taken inside the castle,

so back on the bus....

and a lovely bus it is...

Next time,
"Bath"
where we will smell sulfur,
eat fudge
and be grateful for indoor plumbing...
smiles...

Awards gladly accepted.....

2011-11-05T18:13:00.000-04:00

I love surprises...

and so today as I checked in to see what was

happenin' in bloggin' land...

I was pleasantly surprised to see that

MICHELLE My Belle

at the

"Ramblings of a Peacock"

had left me a

unexpected treat....

I have done

not a single thing to

be worthy...

But I like it anyway....

I am to pass it along to 15

"newly discovered"

blogs....

Whoa!

that meant I needed to put on my

reading glasses and

hike around blogland for some

undiscovered treasures...

So, off I've gone...

and come back with the

goods...

1. WindLost

2. Wanna Buy A Duck?

3. Yeah, But Houdini didn't have these hips.

4. The World According to Isa

5. The Second Half of My Life

6. The Pink Peony of Le Jardin

7. The Paris Market

8. The Fifty Factor

9. Stuff No One Told Me (but I learned anyway)

10. Seens from the backs of my eyelids

11. Recycled Interiors

12. Older and Wisor

13. Inventing Weddings

14. Dwellers Without Decorators

15. Bless Their Hearts Mom

Admittedly,

there are some of my faves that I have been following

for quite awhile....not really newly discovered, but

honestly, as I went through the list I just couldn't

pass them by....love them all...

hope I'm forgiven...

Go by and check them out!

All are worth the effort and you might just be surprised too!

smiles

Lonny love...

2011-11-04T14:27:00.000-04:00

I admit...

I am a nut for online magazines....

Not that I can give up my

hard copies...

sorry, no way Jose!

However

I love

the

way

Online versions

can

amaze me....

Check out

Lonny's online magazine!

HERE

and

scroll thru

to page

41!

The Waverly ad on that page

surprises and delights...

(maybe I am easily amused)

I think you will enjoy it

even it you are not a mag-addict like me...

Happy Weekend!

smiles

Where did the time go....?

2011-11-02T21:39:00.000-04:00

As I sat out on my back deck today,

in the sunshine,

wearing a sleeveless shirt,

face turning pink,

legs hopelessly pale...

I thought

"Where the heck did the summer go?"

I mean,

really!

Seems like just yesterday I was putting a load

of sweaters away in the cedar chest....

And,

Holy Cow,

Halloween is over,

and Day light savings time

(does it really save anything?)

will be gone this weekend, right?

Well,

get ready...

here comes

the rain...

and the fog

and the snow...

But

for

today....

I have a

pink face,

and a warm body...

smiles

Can we talk?

2011-10-31T15:39:00.000-04:00

Do you have children?

Do they drive you around the bend?

Are you just about over them?

Are they living with you?

Are they in their sweet little Halloween costumes right now?

Are you going out tonight with dread?

DON'T...

be dreadful...

I promise that this is the very best time of your relationship with them....

some day in the near future,

they will be young adults

(old children, actually)

and I mean that sincerely...

the relationship will be getting old,

and

they will still be acting like children.

You will wish for the day that they come to you and say

"I AM MOVING OUT!"

with a huff and a puff

they will want to knock your house down,

but they won't,

and

you

will

glad

to see them out the door....

for nature, in it's infinite wisdom,

makes these old children.....

well, let's just say....

irritating as hell.....

really.

not kidding....

So, those of you who are heading out into the cold evening

with sweet little, excited children...ENJOY!

I mean it....do it while you can,

because they are aging too....

and will soon be scarier than

the hobblin gobblins you see tonight

they will be the

OLD CHILDREN!

Bwahaaaa!

smiles

A travel tip that will save your life...

2011-10-24T13:36:00.001-04:00

Sometimes...

I kid, but not about your life, my dear...

Seriously,

if you plan to travel great distances

(an what travel isn't great?)

you have to learn to be responsible for yourself.

One of the tidbits I learned

"on the jumpseat"

in my previous life as a flight attendant,
was that you take care of your legs.

That meant wearing support hose for years before

I even hit the ol' 30 yr mark.

Please don't ask me to explain the

scientific reasons, (remember, I have a degree in History)

I only know that if you don't take care of your legs,

you will at the very least end up with

road maps for "gams".

Then if you are super stupid and ignore this advice for
TOO long, you will endanger your life....
because as we age (can you believe I said that?)
our circulatory system becomes....let's just say "tired"
and when you sit in one place for long periods of time
your feet and legs collect all the blood that should
be in your brain helping you to think.....

This brings me to today's tip...
Wear these

I know...
these are men's socks...
(my sweetie just came home from China, so they were handy)
BUT
most importantly, they are travel socks...
Compression socks to be
more precise.
They are like support hose, but are knee socks.
I don't know about you, but I haven't put on a pair of support hose
since I stopped flying for a living.
But, I will wear travel socks to save my life.

Travel socks help in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis, or DVT.
Blood clots that is.....painful, ugly, even death.
So...
there you have it,
my travel tip of the day...
smiles...

More London....

2011-10-23T11:16:00.000-04:00

Thanks Georgianna!

I got so wrapped up in my "homeland" stuff

that I forgot about London.

Here's a bit more..

Early in our trip,

while still slightly affected by jet lag,

we were picked up at our hotel

early in the morning.

We boarded a truly beautiful tour bus,

a Mercedes, no less...

drove through the streets of Marylebone,

collecting other travelers along the way.

Then, arriving at Victoria (tour station)

we boarded an equally impressive bus

that would transport us to another

place and time....

First, the station at 6:45 am..

Do not ask me what this means,

I can only imagine...

Other early birds,

on their way to work...

The Tour Guide,

a lovely woman, who I imagined

was the BFF of Twiggy in the 60's.

She was smart,

funny,

a delight!

She informed us that when we saw

brick architecture,

it would be indicative of "Victorian England",

that is to say the time during the reign of

Queen Victoria, which lasted forever....

or so it would seem from the sheer abundance of

her influence in this town.

LOVE

the

Wrought

Iron

this

City!

Cities produce dirt....

lots of it...

hard to keep your windows clean,

much less the entire exterior of your home....

More Londoners

on their merry way to work...

This is a very, no VERY pedestrian friendly place...

But you must pay attention to which way the traffic is coming...

(they know us, and are prepared)

Flowers!

love them...

Blue door!

Love that....

Crisp White Paint!

love that, too...

Neighborhood Pride!

it shows...

The very top floors of

town homes were typically

where the live-in help

lived....best view I'd say...

More to come....

Again thank you Georgianna

for reminding me....smiles.

Fall weddings are lovely....

2011-10-17T12:19:00.001-04:00

I have proof....
regardless of our age...
we still fall in love...
and when that happens,
sometime magical is
likely to occur...
I had the pleasure of photographing
the wedding of Jean and Charlie,
who beamed like teenagers...
and were giddy until the very last guest left..
Happy days!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Turn your favorite photos into a photo book at Shutterfly.com.

Nope I don't receive anything special from Shutterfly....

I simply have found their site to be easy to use...

and I can purchase fun, interesting products that I design.

Try it sometime for gifts..

smiles

Heart Home

2011-10-15T17:06:00.000-04:00

Home

seems to be

my theme this month.....

found this

interesting....

the

"home theme",

seems to be popping up all over...

This time

it is a new magazine,

online that is,

interactive graphics and all!

"Heart Home"

comes from the U.K....

as does this image....

smiles.

Homeland.....

2011-10-13T11:28:00.002-04:00

Don't know if you have watched it yet....

I wouldn't have, except for the strange neighbors...

January,

I posted about a bunch of strangers that invaded my

neighborhood.

If you need a memory jolt,

or just some info on this...

check it out HERE.....
and HERE...
and finally, HERE

One day,
the trucks arrived....
and the catering tents.....
and the lighting guys....
and then,
an influx of people of all sorts
(see previous posts for photos)

Then,
strange things started happening.....
my nosey neighbors became silent.....
silence seemed to permeate even the daylight hours...
followed by hours of heightened expected sounds...
then,
the night "lit up wildly"....

What's it all about Alfie?

The filming of the new series,
HOMELAND
that's what...
right here in river city, oops,
make that my hometown...

Claire Danes
stars as an "on the edge" CIA agent intent on
making up for lost time.....10 years worth....
ambitious, and very intense.

I recorded the first two episodes.
I am not a network TV viewer.....
Neilson rating would hate me....
I watch stuff that most people don't even know exists on TV....

But,
I am also an avid reader of John Le Carre.
I watch old episodes of "The Avengers" that come in the mail.
I believe that Tom Clancy just might be a genius...

So,
when I found that this hoopla
was about a spy series on Showtime
I became open-minded to the idea of something I view
as "network"...

I've not been disappointed.
It is pretty intense.
I have been impressed with Ms. Danes
and I have long felt that
Mandy Patinkin was one of the most interesting
actors of my generation.

But what keeps me on the edge of my seat,
honestly,
is seeing images of places I know well....

Of course, the living room that Claire sits in
monitoring her "suspect" is familiar, it's my
neighbor's living room.
Painted slightly different,
and furnished with props,
but still,
I certainly recognize the door to the storage room outback,
I have one too...

But,
then there is the scene
that they filmed to depict the exterior of her home,
HA!
I know that brick and wrought iron exterior!
I sold those condos in 1980!
HA!
I know that exterior scene with the whole family in front of a building,
that is the old terminal building at the airport!
I was a Flight Attendant for Piedmont Airlines in 1981, and saw that building
quite a bit...
HA!
I know that house that the "suspect" lives in!
If you go out my back door and walk about 1/4 mile, you will be in the backyard of
that house....
HA!
(last one, I promise)
I know that park, where the "suspect" meets the wife of his comrade!
I have gone to the fall "Festival in the Park" there since I was in grade school.

What fun!
I must have stopped the action 2 dozen times....
I now wish that all TV shows were filmed in my town,
my neighborhood.
I haven't enjoyed watching a show this much since
"Dallas"....but that's a whole different story.

I love the idea of recognizing these places,
sort of an interactive TV show, if you will....
Boy,
I am having fun!
smiles

I think I have noticed a trend...

2011-10-11T12:32:00.000-04:00

It seems that

"realism" is out the door with yesterdays newspaper...

(sorry to all suffering periodicals!)

What I mean by realism is;

photojournalism,

documentation,

recording factual information.....

I know, I know.....

I am so "yesterday"...

passe'....

old-fashioned...

out of touch....

OLD!

I can't help that,

but what I have spent most of my career in photography

attempting to do, is no longer popular, apparently.....

Have you noticed all the photo-trickery?

Over exposed,

out of focus,

serious color saturation?

All of it, done on the computer in

Photoshop, Aperture, or the like....

Interesting, but is it anything like reality?

I use iPhoto and Aperture,

I have used Photoshop Elements on previous computers.

I like all and both..

It makes producing a quality image for my customers so much more

well, efficient.

Also, I love to be able to switch easily from color to B/W.

I am seriously grateful to have the power to eliminate the stray dog, person, car, or

"you name it" from the background of "on-location" shoots.

Sometimes though,

I like the messiness of film shooting...

it was more intensive, but at the same time,

when I recorded what I saw as the perfect image.....

I knew, I had earned it.

What do you think?

smiles

Ooops...sorry....momentary technical malfunctions...

2011-10-10T17:47:00.003-04:00

Well, I created two,

and wanted you to help me choose....

Here we go....
what do you think?
Is it too much?

My sweetie and I have sort of silly sense of humor anyway...

But...
maybe I should ask his opinion before I order....
think?

smiles...

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

This Christmas Card? or.....

2011-10-10T17:33:00.005-04:00

We Believe Christmas Card

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View the entire collection of cards.

What at trip!

2011-10-10T14:37:00.001-04:00

I finally feel as though I am truly

back home in my own world....

Laundry finished...

fires put out....

all the moles "whacked"....

and

can

breathe...

My sweetie and I went to London,

with side trips to

Windsor,

Bath,

Stonehenge,

and

Paris...

unbelievable.

This is how the trip started...

many hours of this;

and him...

and this....

and them....

Then we arrived....

at 7am local, not time to go to bed,

like our bodies wanted to...

so, we napped for a couple of hours and

then, forced ourselves to wake just long enough to

catch a bus.....tour bus that is,

pretty cool,

movin' stars...

(with apologies to Beverly Hillbillys' fans)

when we finally jumped

(limped, actually)

off the bus, we were on Oxford Street.

Shopping mecca for many....

and weird things in the windows,

like this shoe fashioned from pot-lids...

And this enormous sculpture of a horse's

head...

Then, there is the story of how the

"world traveler", namely me, was

so absent minded that she forgot that

unwritten rule;

"Never wear new shoes the first day of a trip!"

Rubbed the skin right off my heels,

and could hardly walk,

until I bought some

fancy British flip flops.

I am sure they probably have a much more

sophisticated name for them,

but whatever...

they worked, and saved my vacation!

Can you believe he took a photo of my feet?

Love these buses, they hand out free plastic

ponchos if it sprinkles..

Late in the day,

(5pm was all we could handle)

we walked to a local pub.

"The Grazing Goat"

for dinner.

Ground floor (what we would call 1st floor)

there was a lively bar crowd,

but we were not lively at that point and

hiked up the stairs to the

dining room....

which was light and airy,

and decorated like

Restoration Hardware

had come in and created a showroom...

The food was good, creative

and filling...

that's really all we wanted.

And so ends the first day of our travels....

smiles.

I'm so excited....

2011-09-04T13:50:00.000-04:00

A trip...

a really good trip....

out of town..

out of the country...

for more than a weekend...

Holy Cow!

actually,
it is the honeymoon,
postponed
indefinitely...

and now,
it's here....

My sweetie and I are going to

LONDON!

We leave in 4 days.

So....

My favorite week....changed

2011-08-12T15:09:00.000-04:00

This is the week

that my sweetie and I

celebrate our birthdays...

yes, 2 Leos in the same house...

stop snickering,

I know you are....

yes, both of us fit in the same domicile.

yes, our egos get checked at the door,

yes, we each own one mirror....in the baths.

There are so many ways to tease Leos..

we are known for a healthy, if not inflated, ego

we are known for our pride of self

and yes, the two of us have been married before.....

several times...

What is different here is that we are all of that...

and understand the other person's needs pretty darn well...

Thus,

sweetie

sent

me;

THESE!

Isn't he a dear!?

of course, things happen....

and the person at the receiving end of the flower order

may not exactly understand what you are trying to

say....

My son is a dear, too!

(human type)

my favorite magazine came too...

(pay no attention to the eyeglasses)

And, I managed to get my house in order

before out of town guests arrived...

and then,

it happened....

darkness...

quiet booming in my ears....

the click, click, click of the battery powered clock....

rain,

hail,

sideways rain,

more hail,

thunder.....

a flash...

BANG!

I jumped, caught my breath, and sighed....

we were powerless....

really powerless....

supreme quiet....

still the rain, hail, thunder.....

and a different sort of bang,

more of a thud...

loud and close by...

Well,

a neighbor had an oak come through their roof.

No mere twig, this....at least 4 feet in diameter at

it's base....

The split level was now true to it's name....

right where the single story meets the 2 stories...

whoa!

I feel lucky.

ok, over that song.....

2011-07-20T12:22:00.000-04:00

it's safe to come back now....

I promise not to bludgeon you with

a horrific version

of Mr. Simon's perfect song....

instead,

I think I'll play around a bit....

with my camera,

of course....

First,

let me just say that

I live in the southern part of the USA...

it is hot out there right now..

insanely hot...

It is absolutely true what they say about

"mad dogs and englishmen"

no one who grew up here,

as I did,

would ever think of hangin' out in this heat.

Tomorrow it is supposed to be over 101 degrees.

Now, I don't want to offend those who live in the southwest,

I know it's hot there....

take a mild day in Phoenix, like 95 degrees.....

and add that southern killer

humidity....say, 80% for starters...

people,

I am talkin knee-crawlin,

breath-suckin',

well, you get the picture,

HOT!

I went early this morning to

capture these...

Feelin' Silly....;-)

2011-07-12T09:51:00.001-04:00

Shut up,

you complain too much

You got to change the way your think'n

Ain'tcha' got no smiles for me?

Doo Doo Doo Doo

Feelin' silly!

I feel a trend comin' on...

smiles.

Feeling Cranky....

2011-07-03T16:20:00.000-04:00

Slow down, you movin' too fast
You gotta make your body last
Just fallin' down the steps at home
Lookin' for help and
Feelin' cranky____________

Hello blogpost
Whatcha knowin?
I've come to watch your numbers growin'
Ain'tcha got no time for me?
Doo Bee Doo Doo,
Feelin' cranky____________

Got no clients to shoot
No images to preen
I'm baffled and broke and ready to scream
Let my files drop all its jpgs. on me...
iMac, I fear you,
I am cranky____________________

Hello beach house

who ya keepin?

I'd love to see you 'fore summer's over

Ain'tcha got no space for free?

doo bee doo doo

Feelin' cranky___________________

Da Da Da Da Da.....all is cranky....

Just one of those days, ever have one?

(many apologies to Mr.Simon)

smiles.

on being alone....

2011-06-23T10:03:00.000-04:00

wonder why we fight it?

is it a reaction to childhood loneliness?

once mastered, the art of being alone can be liberating...

Do you "do" alone?

Have you tried?

I know,

sounds

indulgence

it's not.

smiles.

thank you to Chris

The Bee and The Bobbin

for

sharing

this

video!

Summertime's callin' me...

2011-06-15T09:47:00.000-04:00

Most photos require no explanation....

they evoke memories...

good and some, well, maybe sad...

For me this is a special time of the year....

I have always loved summertime...

of course, as a child, the "livin' was easy",

as a teenager, I lifeguarded for several summers,

and as an adult, I loved to spend pool time with my son....

I was raised in a southern city with no A/C in the house,

none until I was in high school...

we stayed in the shade, drank iced tea, volunteered to

defrost the freezer, swam in the creek,

squirted each other (and Mom!) with the hose,

and laid on the cool concrete floor of the basement to play

board games...

you had to be creative to live without A/C...

These days, I occasionally have to throw open the windows

on a cool summer morning, like today,

crank up the attic fan (some call it a whole house fan)

and feel the

fresh breezes against my skin.

My friend, Anne, (in the B/W photo)

loved summertime as much as I do...

she died of cancer several years ago.

She was born on August 9th,

and I was born on August 8th of the same year...

we attended the same junior high school, high school

and grew into middle age together.

She was one of the "chick's" that I joined twice a year,

on girl's weekends......for decades.....

We miss her terribly....

and when the sun shines especially HOT,

I think of her, as Anne was indeed quite hot....

I hope that all of you enjoy your summertime...

and take the time to smell that fresh morning breeze...

smiles.

Oh What A Beautiful Morning!

2011-06-11T08:25:00.000-04:00

I know it might come across as a bit "corny"

but I feel this way today.....

Hope you do too....

smiles

What's your philosophy?

2011-06-09T10:32:00.000-04:00

I guess that it speaks to my intelligence

that I embrace the philosophy of a dog.....

a very specific dog....

a famous one, no less....

that would be..

Snoopy!

He has never failed me....

Even though his owner Charlie Brown

has his tails of woe (sorry for the pun)

not Snoopy.....

brilliant in all his reactions to life,

this dog is priceless..

He has friends, too.

Like Linus...

I'm with you Linus, ol' pal....

Then there is

Charlie,

who needs the calm reassurance of his

canine companion...

Snoopy

fits into any crowd,

regardless of race, religion or breed...

(sorry again)

Snoopy knows his place in the

grand scheme of things...

On top of his house..

Snoopy is

loyal,

kind,

compassionate,

faithful,

calm in the face of danger,

perhaps,

he is a

Boy Scout!

He is also creative...

Ah,

and a leader amongst

a herd of followers...

A counselor to the troubled....

He is my hero...

Thank you Mr. Schulz,

wherever you are....

smiles

Ahhh, now that feels much better!

2011-06-07T09:07:00.000-04:00

Yes

does....

Amazing to me...

what a weekend of doing

absolutely nothing

that

I don't

want to do....

does for my attitude.

Lest you think me

a big blob of laziness,

I did laundry (couldn't wait!)

I vacuumed (also couldn't wait!)

and I

re-wrapped

every

single

wedding/shower

gift,

left at our house,

in bubble wrap and tissue,

in preparation

for delivery later in the summer.

I was soooooo

ready to have the whole affair behind me

that I couldn't wait to get my life back.

The sheets are clean,

the guest room is available,

the carpets are crap-free,

the kitchen has been re-stocked,

the flowers freshened,

the patio swept,

well,

you get the picture,

Of course,

all this cleaning up

has triggered an onslaught of

HOT-FLASHES!

HOLY FLAMING HEAD, BATMAN!

the last few nights have been

an exercise in aerobics,

in and out of the bed,

potty visits,

change of gowns,

re-directing the fan....

but at least

I have my home back...

smiles.

Emotionally exhausted...the ranting begins....

2011-06-03T09:48:00.000-04:00

Please

forgive

the babble...

It has been a couple of weeks

of emotional stress.

So, all I can manage is the random thoughts

that have been running through my mind....

-Why do parents use their children to inflict revenge on their "ex"?

-Why would a family of four think that a metal trivet is an appropriate gift for a couple,

who is paying for a wedding and a reception at a country club?

-Who asks their "ex" to dance, while their current spouse is standing right next to them?

-Why do the people that do most of the work rarely get any thanks? or even acknowledgement?

-What is the point of making a wedding the battlefield of your unresolved issues?

Do people ever

grow up?

On the other hand,

I am so proud

to know professionals

who do their job well......really, very well.

People that unselfishly go beyond what they are paid to do.

The flowers were stunning,

The photographers were patient, and extremely professional.

The minister, co-ordinators and the organist were incredible.

The event manager, wait-staff and DJ's, at the club, all did their job

in a timely and smooth way.

Afterward, the wait-staff helped to load the flowers into my car,

so that they could be donated to an "Adult Daycare".

They even helped load the gifts.

I am so grateful for the people I know and love that are

genuine, kind, generous and loving.

They are the people that went out of their way this week

to help me stay sane.

They brought me gardenias for my home.

They called to make sure I was not frantic.

They waited patiently for me to return calls.

This is real friendship!

I am blessed.

Photos first.....ranting later....

2011-06-01T11:00:00.000-04:00

FUN!

Ever have one of those days?.....

2011-05-23T18:21:00.000-04:00

Sure you have...

and I have too...

and this week has started out having a bushel of them...

So,

here is some light hearted

comedic relief....

smiles

Thank you for being my friends in clutsiness....

Life is exhausting....

2011-05-18T10:23:00.000-04:00

Now, I know you agree...

but do you feel absolutely depleted at the end of the day?

Are you crawling into bed....

mind whirling...

toes cramped....

arms listless.....

back outta whack???

These days, with a looming

wedding on the near horizon....

that's how I feel...

when I am not actually making,

creating,

baking,

shaking..(sometimes in anger)

I feel like I have

been doin the

"Liturgical Dance with Stephen Colbert"

happy...

goofy....

silly...

(all those Snow White dudes)

but

the

end...

it will all be just fine...

everything will be ok....

Enjoy the dance....

smile....

ok,

here goes...

Isn't spring wonderful?

2011-05-15T11:41:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I know....

the pollen makes us miserable...

the storms are unpredictable....

but

the

flowers

are

so....

worth it!

smiles....

Went to a Garden Party...

2011-05-12T09:45:00.000-04:00

this song takes me back...

Holy Cow!

it says it's from August 1985....

I was 28 years old,

which takes me to the point...

I am co-hosting

a bridal shower at the end of the month

for my step-daughter (28 yrs. old).

Because of the large number of out of town guests,

she wanted to be able to invite her future in-law family to

a shower, here in her hometown.

Makes sense to me.

Because I am just about the only person

who lives here, I have been doing a lot things

that it would be unrealistic to leave until the week before

the wedding.

I have made dozens of decisions....

all of them will effect others...

Sometimes I get a little worried about how they will react.

It's not that I have any trouble making decisions.

I know what I like.

But,

I do not want to "be the boss" of this occasion.

So...

whenever I feel the need to worry,

I think about the lesson Ricky Nelson sings of...

"learned my lesson well,

you see you can't please everyone,

so you gotta please yourself"

Amen, brother!

smiles

The other side of things....

2011-05-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

While watching the world with the eye of a photographer,

you might just find that you look at things

in a rather different way

than your average observer.....

I find that I look

at the back of things....

sneaking around the corner to

glimpse the un-observed....

Isn't it lovely the way the fading pedals

are turning deeper pink....

and the golden center at the inside

glows through to the back?

Much more interesting to see things from a

different point of view,

wouldn't you say?

smiles....

I am distracted...

2011-05-03T16:43:00.000-04:00

By a dress...

By a day...

By plans...

By timelines....

By deadlines...

By outcomes....

By emotions...

well, you know....

all the things that make up a wedding.

My step daughter (hate that term)

is getting married on May 29th.....

in our home town...

seemingly everyone....

(including the couple, the bride's mother, and most guests)

lives in another city.

So...

BTB (bride to be)

and I have been scurrying around like

busy ants...

from one appointment to another,

grabbing a cup o' joe,

a snack,

a quick bite...

always on the run,

always discussing what the next step will be....

our minds just might EXPLODE!

We are thinking too much...

out of fear of forgetting something vital.

Whew!

BTB has flown to her home for a few days...

and I am catching up on things...

like laundry,

meals,

blogs.....

smiles.

Bunnies=cute......squirrels, not so much...

2011-04-25T11:34:00.000-04:00

Bunnies hop, sniff, and look cute...

You might just invite them to a garden party.

SQUIRRELS

you

would

not invite

ANYWHERE...

I spent the weekend planting

pretty little flowers

basil,

oregano,

thyme,

mint...

This morning

while I was out

running errands,

They came...

and did this....

I might

have to reconsider my

~~stand on handguns~~

my strategy

on squirrel deterrents.

Apparently they love red pepper,

cayenne, and black pepper,

which I had ground finely,

and sprinkled all over the plants.

I will no longer correct

my son when he calls them

Tree-Rats.

no smiles.

Don't blame me...

2011-04-15T15:32:00.001-04:00

for what is about to happen in your head....

I am sorry but I just couldn't resist...

Here goes....

Pam @ Frippery

made me do it...

really, she was the total inspiration,

I am blameless....sort of,

Well, today I was minding my own bee's wax,

and just happened to sidle by and see ol' Pam

(been delinquent in my visits as of late)

and she raised an interesting question...

What song do you secretly love?

You know the one...

the one you won't admit to,

but love to sing in the shower,

hum while gardening, alone...

will turn up in the car, but only when no one is around...

Pam's

can be found here

Careless whispers guilty pleasures!

And

I was intrigued....

what is my guilty pleasure?

so I cogitated for a second or two....

and came up with this

Don't tell me you aren't toe-tapping at least....

smiles

Happy weekend!

Today.....I am grateful

2011-04-13T15:09:00.000-04:00

to live in this land....

to breathe this air....

to sit in this sunshine....

to hear children playing outside....

to be free....

smiles.

I'm so tired.....

2011-03-30T21:34:00.000-04:00

really....I mean it....tired...

and I have actually slept quite well since my sweetie has returned...

but, maybe

age...

anyone

got Geritol???

How many of you make coffee in your dishwasher?

2011-03-19T17:52:00.000-04:00

I don't, personally...

but apparently there is precedent for this odd behavior.

Otherwise, why would the manufacturer of my

coffeemaker place these instructions right inside the top,

for everyone to see as they fill the reservoir with water?

"Not intended for use in dishwasher"

Really?

I don't know about you but I have never even thought about

putting this thing in the dishwasher to make coffee...

Perhaps

they are saying that you shouldn't try to clean it in a dishwasher...

But that's not what it says...

right?

Do you suppose that the same guy who answers the phone when

you call with a technical question regarding your PC.....

moonlights as a coffeemaker instruction writer?

and that he felt particularly inclined to let you know

that this particular coffeemaker can't do the

hokey pokey in the dishwasher?

What was Cuisinart thinking?

Is this really the depth to which we have sunk?

Maybe they better let us know that this

coffeemaker doesn't DO dishes either.....

Whew!

That soapbox calls to me, you know!

Well

on to better things...

I had my posse over for Friday Food night yesterday!

We love mac and cheese,

especially with these fat little boogers...

And a béchamel sauce to get the cheese all smooth and gooey...

And tons of several types of cheeses...

and of course, salt and pepper,

but the Barefoot Contessa turned me onto

adding bacon!

who doesn't like bacon??

And, truth be known,

this was turkey bacon, just as a nod to our ever expanding

waistlines....

One dear friend came over early,

and brought the tulips!

They look pinkish here,

but they were actually lavender and luscious...

I had choices for entertainment...

but we opted for one that is hidden under the pile...

we watched

"UP!"

I hope you know how special this little film is...

most of us are mothers of "20-somethings"

and so we hadn't had the occasion to take out little ones to this movie!

We loved it.

I hope your day is splendid!

smiles...

For Japan with love....

2011-03-18T10:12:00.000-04:00

Please go HERE

to help....

smiles.

FREE stuff.....

2011-03-10T11:15:00.003-05:00

Springtime!

Flowers bloomin',

Trees bustin' out all over....

Pollen tickling my sinuses.....

and

of course,

"April showers".....

the first week of March....

BIG storms were predicted for our area yesterday....

Clouds loomed heavy all morning....

I scurried around trying to accomplish all sorts of things before the

onslaught of rain, hail, lightening, thunder...

Well,

you get the picture.

And, as I rounded the bend in the parking lot in our community,

my peripheral vision caught something

on the curb, surrounded by trash cans.....

(they call them buckets now don't they?)

on it's side, as if thrown by someone disgusted...

was a lid to a old wooden shipping chest.

You know the type, rounded top, with splats

of wood securing the top.

So,

(and by now, you are aware that the FREE stuff is for me...sorry)

I did what any mother of 3 college aged boys does...

parked my car, and non-chalantly,

(or more precisely, as slowly as I could manage)

strolled over to have myself a "look-see".

Not only did I find a dirty, but perfectly intact,

lid/top but I found the bottom too!

AND

I saw that underneath this discarded trunk

was a piece of furniture,

in pieces....

So,

I picked up the trunk, placed the top on the bottom,

put them off to the side,

and tried to assemble the

"parts".....

much to my surprise (and delight)

when things started to come together,

I had found a discarded

mirrored vanity.

Realizing that there would be no way for me to carry this discovery home,

I carried the trunk, which fortunately did not stink,

back to my house, and fired up the FIT,

put the back seat in the full and upright position

and drove over to pick up my

treasure!

Getting this FREE stuff inside was made much easier

by the fact that it was in numerous pieces,

each of which was manageable...

I had, and have no real idea where these things will ultimately

land, so I brought them just inside the front door....

What do you think?

Pretty good for the amateur picker...

The wallpaper that is inside is old and peeling (obviously)

and I think I will be able to easily remedy that...

The painting on the floor is simply waiting for the vanity to

get itself out of the way, so it can be re-hung.

Amazingly,

the mirror is intact, beveled, and apparently

custom made since it is uneven, oddly shaped....

The drawers were really very clean, and only need a bit

of furniture polish to make them shine...

As you can see from some of the photos,

the top has some water damage and that

is probably the reason for the trash day expulsion...

But my sweetie came up with a perfect

solution....a piece of marble,

cut the size of the top,

placed just so...will make this find nearly perfect.

Wonder what next weeks trash will hold?

smiles...

Busy as a Bee!....

2011-03-03T11:49:00.001-05:00

Winter Slaw is the best!

and the easiest, when you have one of these..

YUM!

Then there is that expensive "chillin" box that we bought for

the kitchen re-model

"cabinet depth, stainless steel, side by side"

PAIN IN THE NECK!

We have had it "fixed" twice...

and still, the little door that allows ice to be dispensed

doesn't close well enough to keep the ice from becoming a solid mass...

So....we struggle to get the ice handler out to defrost it...

chop the ice off the inside mechanism...

run cool water over the ice handler/boxie thingy

make sure that the button works again..

put a piece of plastic down to cover the floor...

and together we work on fixing the ice maker....

DO NOT BUY THIS KITCHENAID!

Ah....on to better things...

a gift of hen eggs from a farmer friend...

a completed apron for a friend of mine...

who has taken up cake decorating

(maybe she will make me one!)

An opportunity to give a sweet young couple a family portrait...

My first Apple Tart...

Yes, it is not my recipe, but "her's"

A rose from my sweetie

A lovely couch that I found at a used stuff store...

clean it up...and I know right where to put it...

In my office!

hangin out with Not Yo Momma...

Just below the flower posters I bought years ago from

Martha...

Inspired me to clean the ol' place up...

find a place for everything...

and everything in it's place...

dust it off..

organize...

under the watchful eye of my sweetie...

And Wha-Laa!

I feel like a new person...

amazing how good being busy feels...

smiles

So Talented......

2011-02-25T19:46:00.001-05:00

Room with a view: 1 year of timelapses from hotel windows from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

This takes about 5 minutes to watch....

it is fascinating!

Also, Wondering....the music was the theme music to a TV show,

PBS, I think.....

and for the life of me.... I cannot

recall which one....

Can anyone help me out here?

Enjoy!

Happy Weekend....

smiles

SPRING FEVER!

2011-02-23T13:00:00.000-05:00

Spring Break.....

Flowers....

Beach Trips!

Visits to

professionally manicured gardens....

and

SUNSHINE!

Yep!

me too.....

yearning for some sand in my shoes....

smiles!

Late people....(soapbox time!)

2011-02-16T10:35:00.000-05:00

have no reason to live....

substitute "late people"
for
"Short people"....

Late people got no reason
Late people got no reason
Late people got no reason
To live

They got late little hands
Late little eyes
They walk around
Tellin' great big late lies
They got late noses
And tiny late teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty late feet

Well, I don't want no late people
Don't want no late people
Don't want no late people
`Round here

With apologies to Mr. Randy Newman...

I have been hummin' his tune all morning long...

only I have bastardized it, by the substitution...

I am attempting to deal with some feelings of anger....

resentment.....

offense taken...

oh forget that, I'm pisssed...

and

there is absolutely nothing I can do,

but let it go....

But,

while I am good and worked up,

let me ask you what you think.....

Does it bother you when people are perpetually late?

Business associates,

friends,

relatives,

acquaintances,

strangers,

people that you are doing a favor for?

What is that all about, Alfie?

Lack of manners?

ignorance?

disrespect?

control?

attitude?

bad habits?

what?

My parents are exceptional people,

they taught me to

"Be on time"

period....

anything less was a

complete disregard for the other person's feelings.

Of course,

one cannot always be on time....

things happen...

That is why we have phones,

(and manners)

so that when we are faced with being late,

we pick up the phone,

call the person we are meeting,

and start with an apology,

and then something of an explanation...

unless, of course this is the regular state of events for us

in which case,

our friends will have known not to expect us,

our employers will have fired us,

our customers will have taken their business elsewhere.

You get the picture.

Now,

lest you think me a

"hard-ass" when it comes to time tables....

Let me tell you,

I struggle, really struggle to keep my appointments.

I mess up....

I forget to update my calendar...

I have had a watch actually quit working...

I have had car trouble...

I have lost my cell phone....

and

I have (occasionally) lost track of what day it was...

I am not perfect.

No siree.....not me....

but, I understand the importance of being on time,

and make my apologies asap.

I once worked for an airline,

where, if you were late more than say

ONCE!

You were fired.

Period.

No exceptions....

AND

wait for it..

this was before anyone,

(including Bill Gates)

had a cell phone.

Really, there was a time.

(the 1980's)

So, if something extraordinary happened to you,

you had better get yourself to a land line quickly,

so that you could let then know.

You cannot imagine what it costs an airline to cancel a

flight because a crew member doesn't show.

(lots!)

But honestly,

do you have a person in your life that you can

count on to be late?

all the time?

Almost like an attention getting device,

they seem to like the drama that

goes along with arriving with a "big apology"

and a creative

reason for the delay?

do they simply show up with no explanation at all?

Acting as though you owed them the wait?

do you get the impression that they use this

"device" as a way to put you off your guard,

put you on the defensive,

make you so freaking angry that you will jump

at any chance for a pleasant interaction?

Have you ever confronted this person?

What was the result?

Did they change?

Is that too much to expect?

Do you alter the time you tell them to meet you so

that you don't have to wait so long?

How do you cope with this?

Any and all suggestions will be taken into consideration....

In the meantime,

the view from up here on the soapbox is

satisfying....

smiles.

I love you....

2011-02-14T08:22:00.000-05:00

more than you can imagine....

more than I thought myself capable....

more than our years will allow us....

more than chocolate....

bread....

coffee.....

More today than yesterday.

I will love you no matter what.

I will love you if you are stupid,

if you slip and fall on your face,

if you do the wrong thing,

if you make mistakes,

if you behave like a human being

- I will love you no matter.
--Leo Buscaglia

smiles.....

An obsession...

2011-02-09T13:54:00.000-05:00

it's my parents' fault.

No, really it is...

see it all started when I was only a grade schooler....

They (the parents) started to take vacations,

really just weekend trips to

Charleston SC.

I was,

and probably am..

a spoiled brat, and they had to get away

every once in awhile, or they might

strangle me.

So,

a babysitter or grandmother was retrieved and

paid, I suspect, and off they went on a Friday afternoon.

Not a long way mind you,

but far enough that not returning when I cried, was

only reasonable....

There they had a wonderful time,

and because they are indeed wonderful themselves,

they would bring me "goodies"

gifts,

presents,

bribes....

That's when it started...

this obsession for

baskets...

I cannot help myself.

I don't even try any more.

I am hopeless.

So,

here is a glimpse at my stash...

enjoy....

Some are old...

having been acquired from antique shops, or junque stores...

Some came from family members to me when
we cleaned out their homes, I cherish those the most-est...

Some are relatively new....

younger than me...

Some are really new...

brought to me last year after their trip...

Yes,

they still take those trips....

I am still a brat, so there is no reason to upset

the status quo.....

smiles.

NIght time is the Right time....

2011-01-28T09:34:00.000-05:00

I promise to

end this relentless

reporting from my BAKW....soon.

I confess

I have seen no one who looks like they

are an actress, or an actor....

Everyone I have laid eyes on

has looked to be a hard-working joe,

very much like you or me......

(or course, all I do is sit by the window)

They arrived early in the morning...

They spent a lot of time setting up,

consulting with each other,

and re-arranging what the previous crew had left behind...

They wore interesting hats....

Honestly, it was pretty cold in the mornings...

so, coffee and hot drinks were common.

They brought in a crane yesterday....

that confused me a bit...

but it became clearer as the day went on..

I am glad that I didn't have to climb to the top of that ladder,

I saw the person who did, he didn't give it a thought.

All day the vans were prepared to transport...

Did I mention the hats?

This guy must be very important.

His hat was the largest, by far,

and most interesting.

It appears to be a knitted toboggan

stretched over a flouresent orange hard hat....

All day long they worked...

I could not tell if they were actually filming,

as all the "real action" was taking place

inside.

But

things got rather more dramatic

as the natural light faded....

I had been cooking dinner,

when I noticed that it was dark.

As I gazed out,

I saw brilliant light outside...

It is difficult to put into words,

and even harder to photograph,

(as my equipment is not for night shooting)

but the world looked dark,

with the exception of this one

very bright spot,

suspended at least 30 feet in the air.

(that's what the crane is for..)

This went on for hours...

They had a scrim positioned in front of the

condo's balcony to diffuse the intensity of the spot lights...

And occasionally,

they moved the light.....

on it went...

into the evening and late into the night...

I was tired,

and went to bed around 10:30, knowing they were out

there still working....lights on, but no noise....

Gosh, I thought, they sure are quiet....

ZZZZZZZ......

Then, this morning,

I woke, came down for the coffee,

and my sweetie says

"They are almost entirely packed up and gone"

What?!

How could that be?

I wake at the drop of a hat, and I was sure

that I would wake if they started

"breaking down" the set.

Off to the BAKW!

and....sure enough,

this is what I saw.....

So....

This is what I know....

they are filming a pilot for

a Television series...

It is called

Homeland

starring

Claire Danes.

They have been filming all over town,

and several locations were mentioned in publications

earlier in the month.

There was absolutely no mention of the filming in my 'hood.

That's cool....in fact, one of the crew told a neighbor that it

had been pretty nice filming here, because no one had bothered them

Ooops.....

I believe they jinxed themselves...

that very night,

it is reported that late in the evening,

one of the neighbors got a bit

tipsy (that's what we will call it anyway)

and wandered over,

up the front steps,

into the room where they were filming

and started yelling at them...

(how embarrassing)

here, we were earning a reputation for being sort of

cool, hip, calm, easy to work around....

and some yah-whoo goes and

messes that up....

Anyway,

they asked this person to leave,

she wouldn't,

the policeman on site,

told her to leave,

and she did...

jeez....

That's all Folks!

smiles.....