Tuesday, February 28, 2012

How Can It Be ?

Isn't life as a teenage middle schooler a strange time ? To think back, I believe that my family and our life were similar to that of our fellow neighbors and friends. Well, except for one BIG occurence.... I had a baby brother born when I was just shy of  14 years old. Many stories in that....

Little brother just turned  40!! Family celebratory time with a Mayan calendar theme of "It's the end of the world as we know it" ~







Hubby & me in not-so-Mayan dress

All of my brothers were present along with their fabulous "others". Happily, my parents are still able to make the trip to our area {they live many hours North}. Even after this summers grueling, and unsettling time with my Father's health. More and more when family gatherings happen, I have an inexplicable feeling of a happy-sad sort. You know that feeling? You're just so happy that you smile inside and out. Yet tears can and do flow easily. Not tears of true sadness, more like melancholy. Thankful for my loving family and the time together - and wondering how much longer will I be blessed with this? Not in a morbid sense though. This love-hope-wistfulness because I long for days like these to last forever. I have the same sensation with my in-laws too. Quite possibly years do this to you? ... get older, grow ever more fond of what has been, and ever more sure that life has a way of leading us down new paths whether we like it or not. Frequently, I DO LIKE!

the parents all together



The baby of the family Birthday boy adorned with all manner of Birthday accoutrement ~



A gift came strolling in that was not meant for unwrapping.  Little brother's Godmother was a surprise. She was a part of the neighborhood in which we so happily spent our childhood.


Godmother and my Mom

It had, unfortunately, been many years since we'd seen her.  My friend, her daughter, made it her duty to come to the party.




Dad and Birthday Bro

So many gifts and blessings that day!

One of my brother's pals since kindergarten {numerous were there} ~



Their look sums it up.. we are FAM *I *LY.. {yep, I'm humming the tune}.. They have a bond unbroken for nearly a lifetime. They are happy.
 Hug, laugh, party, dance, sing, talk, share, take photos, and LIVE life with gusto when we can!!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Film Feelings

Watching clips describing what films mean to various actors and actresses - on their BIG night. The
Academy is handing out Oscar tonight. Like the movie memory clips of Reese Witherspoon, Robert Downey, Morgan Freeman to name a few - I searched my brain to try and put words to the feelings I have for their art.



Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman recalled the first films they saw. I cannot remember my first. There are sweet memories of my entire family piled into the baby blue station wagon with pillows, blankets and Mom's homemade popcorn in a paper shopping bag. We'd go to a local drive-in theater... but, for the life of me I don't know each movie.  Oh, wait - I believe one time it was to see Cat Ballou. Oh geesh!

As a teenager, I'd walk with girlfriends to our downtown theater, and sometimes stay for the movie... sometimes NOT.



How have these cinematic experiences made me feel? What do I adore about them? Without sounding dramatic {which would be apropos for a post about acting}, or silly even - movies carry me to another time and place. Movies bring emotions front and center. Movies open up experiences, even though fictitious, for things you would otherwise never get to do. You can travel to another place, another time, to a world that really doesn't exist at all. What's not to love about opening up your horizons? Meet all types of people, get caught up in history.....




For many years the Awards show would be watched with me in the mix of girlfriends. Many times we'd rent a hotel room just for the night. The red carpet fashion was a big hit with us. Alas, that tradition has changed a bit. But, on this night, I am thinking of you, my fellow Oscar loving friends! If I could I'd do a little song and dance number, or read the perfect line; I'd take a part from each of my favorite movies and give a heartfelt, soppy, I LOVE & MISS YOU SO!

Yesterday my friend {the one who's been "missing" from my life lately} had a small movie story for me. She had been driven on an outing. When they arrived she was in another city at a movie theater. This is a place in the middle of our two homes where we would meet ONLY to catch a movie. When she got in the theater she realized where she stood and began to cry.....
 We will get back to that place and view the big screen sometime soon!

Friday, February 24, 2012

Can You Feel It??

Spring has made her appearance ~



Spring is Zip-a-dee-doo-dah-ING ~




She's shining bright - making sun spots on lenses ~





and she's confetti throwing all over town ~


Spring up and coaxed some vegetables into harvest ~


Springs got me believing that change is blowing in the wind!!.... right along with the pollen...


AAAHHHHCHOOOOOO!!!

For your singing and listening pleasure :



Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah"

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Zip-A-Dee-A

My oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine heading my way
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Zip-A-Dee-A

Mister bluebird on my shoulder
It's the truth
It's actual
Everything is satisfactual

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Zip-A-Dee-A
Wonderful feeling
Wonderful day

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Party In A Glass

Funny fact - a personal fact, inconsequential, silly and smile inducing...

Straws make me HAPPY !




straw photos from Pinterest

It came to my attention when I pour myself a lunchtime drink, everything is more sparkly when I drink it from a straw! Having myself lots of soda water lately, adding lemon slices here and splashes of fruit juice there....
and it all becomes less common when I drink from a straw.

Ready for another personal fact? When I sip from a straw - well, I don't place it straight in the center of my lips, NOPE.. seems that I put the straw as far off to one side as possible. THAT makes hubby laugh.

Party all the time at my house!  HA!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Fleas And Me

Awfully early in the morning ~


A girls gotta do, what a girls gotta do. If you're hoping to capture artistic creations of this sort...
well, ya have to arrive with the early birds ->




Time is of the essence ~



I spent a full weekend strolling aisles of two separate flea markets. Such fun!

Color, weirdness, texture, artistry everywhere you turned ~









Twas in the company of many artists over the weekend ~


Donna Boss of Green House Supply


Colleen Faber of ccLouise Studio


Jenny K of The JunkGirls
 By days end, my brain was ticking away and fingers itching to get a hold of some trinket and transform it into some artistic piece of  LOVELY! That's what flea marketing will do to ya nowadays!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Joining - Finding The Lovely {Week 2}

A couple of sites where I find inspiration, have inspired me to....

JOIN THE FUN! Here's a look at my week (oh, so briefly) with a collage of photographs.

While, I believe the premise to be that the blogger uses her phone to take the images... well, I'm just a tad behind the curve there. Call me simple, call me country, call me techno challenged (just don't call me late for supper)... I do not own a phone with camera capabilities. So, here for your viewing pleasure is a small collage I put together... hope I can still play without following exact rules!



To find this fun party go to Kimberlytaylorimages.com, click link below ~
http://kimberlytaylorimages.com/mimicharmante/?p=3655

Lots of pretty sharing going on...

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Paul's Truth and Following B-52's

WHHHHHAT's that, you say???...  Paul who? and what airplane?...
I'm waxing so VERY NOT poetic, for this Valentine's Day!




It may not be poetic or very original either - but, my Valentine (Hubby) and I are extending the love day to this weekend and we may, or may not, blast this song from the B-52's as we head down the highway ~


If you see a faded sign by the side of the road that says
15 miles to the, Love Shack! Love Shack yeah
I'm headin' down the Atlanta  California highway, lookin' for the love getaway
Heading for the love getaway, love getaway,
I got me a car, it's as big as a whale and we're headin' on down
To the Love Shack


I've found a true beach shack that we're renting for a few days. It may, or may not, look like this ~


I'm secretly hoping it is exactly this way! Because then it'll be just like the line I love most from Love Shack :

Tin roof!  RUSTED!!!

All kidding aside... it has been a love-ly love-day. Our extended weekend will surely delight our hearts also.
Oh yes, about that Paul mention in the title - it's a reference to Sir McCartney and the lyrics to a Beatles tune. I was reminded of this during the Grammy Awards ~

In the end...
The love you take is equal to the love you make

                                                    A lil' more red to end the day
delectables made by my niece

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Tomales Times Three

As I was saying....

After a day of walking cliff ridges, searching the sea's horizon for whales passing by. After a picnic and a rest at the inn, we excitedly planned to return to the bay side restaurant and pier we found the day prior. We had just enough time for sunset at the end of the dock ~

















Feet up, sitting at a table for two on the dark Tomales Bay waters. Sharing the end of the pier with two other couples. Each of us slurping oysters and awaiting the show of sunset over Hog Island.













Dinner was ordered via a phone in the tiny boat shack.... we just dialed up to the restaurant down the pier, and then went to pick-up once the staff phoned us it was done. My, oh my, this sunset, this location, this dinner, this group of people we met - PURE, ABSOLUTE BLISS!

It was becoming cold in our party room. Warmth was to come by way of dinner - crabby mac 'n cheese for me and venison osso buco for Hubby - and the lovely wood burning stove set inside the cabin. Time for warm covers and dreams of our sweet evening. We had plenty to talk about... our day was full. Agreement in the hope that we'll return to this place again one day!


Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Two In Tomales or {Part Two}

Snug and cozy in our downy bed. Coffee just outside our door, but I gulped it rather than sip with leisure - the fog was rolling!  Had to hurry and capture that white haze over the farmland. The sun was sending feelers out...











Rolling hill vistas in dairy pastures ~



All this in just my first hour awake!  ^

Let the rest of the day unfold ~



rusty, metal, corrugated country scenery


frosty ground


Religion in the country ~



Madonna in a silo


Random and odd building finds ~




not to be confused with Oyster Rockefeller




A building FIND of the century at this establishment ->



So very much to behold it needs a post all of it's own. Next time....