Play Bocce and Mangia!!

Time was, that I'd put together a schedule and have friends meet once a week to play bocce ball in a public park. Everyone bring their own picnic and gather for fun! That stopped a couple of years ago - just too hard to get enough people out to the park to play. That's sad commentary, huh?... too difficult to put play-time in our lives...... geeesh ..


I surprised Hubby and gathered some family & friends on a Saturday morn, brought along the goods for an afternoon repast and toted the bocce set inside my wheelbarrow to the local neighborhood park.

food galore!

Very few games of bocce. The picnic table was the place to congregate. No one even won the mini-trophy I brought along for tourney champ!

No matter if bocce was priority, or eating... we had fun nonetheless!!

Awesome Summer Eve

There was a time that entertaining friends and family in our home oft occurred once a month or so during the warm season. In this little cottage it's much easier to host outside in the garden. Far greater space in the yard, than in this 1940's nest. Yet, there are even memories of functions indoors during wintertime when the guest list had us busting at the seams. Such fun! Somehow time and age have crept in and the joy a party brings me has waned.

one of many garden parties

Time has had it's way with the house. Upkeep , or more rightly re-do are not held in high regard with Hubby {not to poke at him}.. I too enjoy a trip to Italy more than a fence and plumber. HA! Far outweighing the time factor is the one of age.... and we {Hubby & I}and the house, have been showing ours. What with that still existent health scare for Hubby; any energy that can be mustered is mostly left for work days. Not to sound as if I'm seventy or something. I surely still feel young, act it even at times. I still surprise myself when I have the strength to tackle intense moving projects, lopping of hefty tree limbs and pouncing in barrels of yard clippings. That garden that I love so is great exercise and freedom for my mind of other pressing issues.... but, she too {the garden} is aging and in need of a face lift.

So, where was I going with this sad tale of woe???  hmmmm - actually I was on my way to show you a funny photo of a truly ballsy {yet honest} thing that I did at the most recent event in our home outside of our home...  here goes.... see if you agree... weird hostess named Shari here...

notice something "off" in this pic?

YES INDEEDY!! I did... I set this chalkboard near our front walkway pointing to our side gate to the garden. That would've been fine, I guess - enter through the side garden BUT, notice that the intention being that our guests STAY IN THE YARD! {see bottom - house not party ready} I almost can't believe I wrote that and put it out for viewing. Really, I did allow use of the bathroom! I just hadn't been in redecorate,  style vignettes, add party towels, dust every surface mode. Not until after the party did we notice that I misspelled SUMMER!  :-)

We rather enjoyed ourselves - even in our confines of the yard..

I may never have to worry of entertaining again - what person in their right mind would want to be a guest at a home where they can't enter the house?? hhahaaa

The Queen of Theme {me}has given up the crown.. and I'm not quite sure I like it! I have sent invites, menu planned, dreamt up themes galore for many a happy occasion. Wanna hear some of the themes??... well, whether you do or not - I feel quite like remembering.  hmmmm, maybe a list is in order...

dia de los muertos altar and costume party * plum picking party* welcome to california party w/all cali menu * please don't eat the daisies dinner & outdoor movie * dia de los tres reyes {3 kings day} with singer of traditional hymn * squirrel nut wine tasting * don't let the bastards get you down gathering * bocce ball wednesdays * my mom's 50th bday * bro & sil's couple engagement bbq * bon voyage to ireland *....

A small number of the fun times here in our tiny, run-down, aging,loved,not party ready cottage..

I might have to re-think taking that crown off....

Backyard Musings...

Believe!  Wish! guess that must be all it takes in order for a surprise to be granted...
I'd always hoped to be a chicken-keeper one day. Well maybe a tendress. Wasn't sure that Hubby and I had the time it takes to stay at home, clean coops and poops, and truly KEEP a flock of our own. It's best to be a good pet steward. Still I ended up with one, a solo feathered friend - a dear sweet girl - yes, she's still here ~

BILOXI

You haven't seen her lately, huh? I know... I was wont to make you  tire of her story! Still loving every minute of her and her co-conspirators {the next-door-neighbor-chickens}. Messy, messy girls that they are! Tons of dirt beneath their nails, I'll tell ya.

Clarabelle

In other backyard news ~

An old-time cement sink ^ that I salvaged from a trash heap sits right outside the kitchen door and has purpose as my herb garden. Makes it awfully easy to snip when it's just steps away. I have another cement sink being gifted to me sometime soon. That'll make 4 in the yard.


This vessel of gray-green enamel came from Hungary. A shop out in the far-spread reaches of our coast - Patine - had a container sale, and I came home with this FIND!

Jasmine and Nasturtium are twining and vining to the heavens...

The Magnolia tree furiously sheds her brown velvet coating in time for summer.... those leaves cover every space of lawn. Huge, fragrant blooms of white are the perfect perfume for the living room...

Enjoying our space, every chance I get!

Shared our space with a couple of friends for a short TGIF tapas evening and that's where I'll leave off. Will share our space and that lovely visit on my next visit here....

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!!

Urban Evenings or How Shari Got Her Groove Back

I love the nightlife, I love to...  BOOGIE ??? not sure on that particular point, but I've actually witnessed the moon rising lately!

A few weeks ago I mentioned a book signing. Along with my mother-in-law, we ventured out in the dark to our version of the BIG CITY. Actually in size and population, I guess San Jose can be considered Metropolitan. It's no NYC, to be sure, but there is some nightlife. I just don't have much boogie after five!

This book was written by a family member of a family member...

Our local paper wrote:

 

Strike Two-A Steamy Little Romance

The newly opened, hottest spot in San Jose, San Pedro Square Market Bar is the location for this no-host, ladies-night book signing. The Market Bar has created a signature cocktail in honor of the event. It's called Romance Beckons --a heady blend of fruit juice and liqueurs, and deliciously pink, of course!
Kinzie will have her pen ready to sign books (and autograph cards for those who use e-readers). She'll also have a few books on hand for sale. You don't have to purchase a book to join the party.
What to wear:
Whatever you want, but Kinzie is dressing up: sky-high heels, slinky dress, the works! Why not? It's fun and this evening is about fun!
*************************************************************
Skirt, pointed toe heels (not sky-high) and leopard print jacket - I got my BOOGIE BACK! Just long enough for a cocktail and a signed book. Twas fun while it lasted...



the author and signature cocktail

 Different city scape, different event ~

Didn't see a film...

Didn't get inked either...

Like a hip-metro couple, we sat at a banquette in a dimly lit, yeasty scented tapas bar. I felt nearly 30..40 mkay - the full 50 something that I am, but completely an URBAN-ITE!!

Pour me another Manhattan, please! and while we're at it.... FLY ME there too!

Rockin' A Party...

Nearly there..close to having our old life back! I've even got something different to post about! There was a co-ed, celebratory function on our calendar. Hubby and I attended!! YAY! an activity other than walking!... the reason I started this paragraph with the worlds "nearly there"??  We went alright, and along with us we both took our colds. YEP! Shoulda had good manners, but we just couldn't stay home, it was only a scratchy throat, coulda been allergies even. We're getting desperate for fun, said with a smile...

We went ~

Hostess gift in hand...

We ate~

We mingled ~

And, we left at the first sign of twilight... that's pretty early at this time of year. We were home and in our jammies by 5:30. WOW!! such socialites!

Just call me Rock Star! (a little inside joke) One of my friends kept calling me that all day. Have no idea why! and I surely DO NOT fit that bill, else I'd of stayed till the ayem! Maybe one day soon.... (or not)!

Out Of My Comfort Zone

Comfy and cozy I may like; homebody I may seem. There was a time that party hopping and entertaining filled the calendar. ahhh well (big sigh)... things change! Not that there isn't some allotted time for fun....

I've been to a few events lately. Imagine that! Some with Hubby and some without. Haven't been keeping late hours or staying past the bewitching hour, but out in the mix of things.... it feels good sometimes!

We spruced up and attended a black & white masquerade ball ~

I've been stepping out a little bit. Out of my comfort area at home. It's been good for me. Using the term "stepping out" got me thinking of the song below.  A little ditty by a musician named Joe Jackson. His album got plenty of play in my 20's! I even ushered at one of his concerts many moons ago... ha! back when I used to do night-life... well, NIGHTLY!! In the years that I worked for Bill Graham Presents ushering for some amazing talents!

 I'll share other events soon. One was a first for me - a new book publishing & author signing..... by someone we know! Really not used to this dressing up stuff, especially the heels. OUCH! My feet are always happy to get back on the sofa and covered by a blanket!


                                                                  Poor Tootsies!

                                                   

Fifty Fun

Back when my posts were more upbeat... prior to my Dad's hospitalization.... I was on my way to a weekend of laughter and folly. Thank goodness for those times, huh??

50's Theme ...

We surely did enjoy ourselves....

Overly equipped with champagne!!

Celebrating summer Birthdays....

Reclined and soaked up rays .....

And here's a shot of those cat-eye sunglasses I mentioned...

 

Cat Eye Sunglasses At The Pool



Goin' retro this weekend! 1950's, Baby!



I'll be sporting some crazy retro sunglasses this weekend - I'll have someone take my picture...
 (they're my Mom's from the 50's and they're prescription so I won't be able to see)


I've got an aqua swim cap packed in my bag


Gonna rock some pointed toe shiny heels - polka dots and aprons too

Notified that pearls and cardigans are party essentials

A 50's theme for a gal turned  50 !!

Three nights at a lovely hotel

Swimmin', and yakin's all we got to do.....


SEE YA LATER ALLIGATOR!!