PET PEEVE

On Saturday the 24th I went to Costco—I know a Saturday….not too smart. It was in this decidedly not beautiful place, that I knew I wouldn’t be able to create a cheerful or beautiful post.


BRITTANY WITH HER SIPPY CUP

As I was waited for a parking place, I noticed a lady loading her car. It took her quite a while because she only had the use of one hand. The other hand was gripped firmly around Costco’s equivalent of a big gulp. She was unable to put it down and every few steps she stopped and took a sip. I took a look around and saw that many of the people leaving Costco were carrying drinks like iced coffees, smoothies, and sodas. I laughed to myself thinking about my Mom sending us to the hose when we begged to come inside for a drink. I know it WAS the 60’s but somehow we were able to survive and even thrive without a sippy cup at the mouth at all times.




NO COMMENT ON THE BOTTOM PICTURED

Once inside, I was thrown into the masses being pulled along by the smell of free food. Honestly, I think some people go to Costco strictly to get a no cost meal in numerous one bite portions. I guess it’s kind of like tapas for cheap people. It really makes me sick (literally physically sick) to see a crowd of humans gathered at a sample table like cows at the troth. Add the shrill call of the food barker yelling about her product, and it was amazing I stayed long enough to buy what I needed.

What has happened to us? Have we all become so comfortable in having what we need that we go in search of what we want? Of course, it can’t be a view from a beautiful mountain or the smile on the face of someone we’ve helped….it has to the immediate gratification of the MOUTH!!! ARGGGG!

Grandma's 70th birthday

My Mom turned 70 this month and I decided that an adventure would be more fun than a gift. She is an avid quilter and though I don't have the patience for it, I sure can appreciate the work. All of the quilts pictured are at the De Young. They are part of a collection belonging to one couple who noticed the similarity between Amish quilts and modern art. Truly beautiful work. I love the use of black even for a baby quilt. These quilts are in such good shape because they were never used. The quilts were put on display on beds only on Sunday when they might entertain guests.

To Kill a Mockingbird

To kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books of all time. Harper Lee said that she drew on her memories of her own life and an incident that occurred when she was 10 years old in writing the book. I found it to be a warm account of southern life, a look at the complexities of race relations and the depth of understanding that children have about the adult world.



Of course, the fact that I felt a connection to Scout really drew me to the story. Yes, I was a pixie wearing tomboy. (My Mom convinced me to get the hairstyle that meant no care for her by selling the idea that I would look just like Tinkerbelle. I think I ended up looking like my darling older bothers less attractive younger brother.) Hummmmmmm …..just like Scout. She adored her older brother and so did I. She was up for a little mischief and so was I. She believed there was not a better man on the planet than her Dad and so did I.




After Scout, l really loved the character Atticus, her father. He is solid, steady, honest, respectful, compassionate and fair. He could shoot a gun (at 71 my Dad still can and would) ,and hit a target to protect his family or community. He stood for what was right, not for what was popular.

If you don't want to read the book--take a shortcut to the movie. Its a wonderful account of Harper Lee's book.

brownie-peanut butter cup -cupcakes

PREPARE BROWNIE MIX AS PACKAGE INSTRUCTS (I LIKE GIRRADELLI BRAND FROM COSTCO)
FILL CUPCAKE ROUNDS 2/3 FULL OF BATTER
PUSH A MINI PEANUT BUTTER CUP INTO BATTER
DROP 1 TBS OF BATTER OVER ANY EXPOSED PEANUT BUTTER CUP

BAKE AS BROWNIE PACKAGE INSTRUCTS.

golden gate bridge

RAINBOW

WHO KNEW THE POT AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW WAS THE FOOD MART. OTHERWISE KNOWN IN OUR FAMILY AS THE GAS AND SIP (GOOD ADVICE REGARDING THE GAS AND SIP IS THAT ITS OK TO GET GAS THERE OR EVEN A SIP---BUT NOT RECOMMENDED AS A PLACE TO HANG OUT--BAD THINGS CAN HAPPEN. ITS RIGHT UP THERE WITH 7 11) ANYWAY BACK TO THE POT OF CHOCOLATE AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW ....STILL SUFFERING FROM THE EFFECTS OF NOOOOO SUGAR, I DESPERATELY IMAGINE THE GOOEY GOODNESS THAT IS JUST BEYOND THE DOOR. IT'S ONLY ONE UNPLEASANT INTERACTION WITH A PERSON WHOSE FIRST LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH AWAY FROM MY MOUTH....IN CASE YOU ARE WONDERING ABOUT MY RESOLVE AND DETERMINATION WHERE SUGAR IS CONCERNED--I RESISTED. DAY 5 NO SUGAR

CARTIER EXHIBIT AT THE LEGION OF HONOR

TODAY DAN AND I WENT ON OUR MONTHLY ADVENTURE. THIS MONTHS CHOICE WAS THE LEGION OF HONOR. THE VISITING EXHIBIT WAS CARTIER JEWELRY IN AMERICA. THERE WERE A LOT OF SHINY SPARKLES. DIAMONDS, EMERALDS AND SAPPHIRES APPLIED TO PURSES, FRAMES, BROOCHES. I SUPPOSE IF YOU ARE RICH ENOUGH, YOU START TO DREAM OF WHAT YOU MIGHT NEXT BEDAZZLE. PICTURE ME HUNCHED OVER A JEAN JACKET WITH MY HANDY BEDAZZLER....NO DON'T THAT'S KIND OF SAD. MOST OF THE THINGS DID NOT APPEAL TO ME PERSONALLY. I MEAN REALLY I CAN'T ENVISION MYSELF SCRUBBING THE TOILET WEARING A TIARA. THERE WAS ONLY ONE DISPLAY THAT SCRATCHED THE SURFACE OF ENVY AND DESIRE. GLORIA SWANSON, THE WELL KNOWN DIVA, PICTURED ABOVE IS WEARING THOSE COVETED ITEMS. TWO BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND ENCRUSTED BANGLES. I THINK THEY WOULD LOOK SMART FROM DAY TO EVENING.

SWEETS LOVELY SWEETS

IT SEEMS THAT I LOSE CONTROL OF MYSELF DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. LEMON BREAD, CHOCOLATE CAKE, GRANDMAS LOTION CAKE, HOMEMADE FUDGE, CINNAMON ROLLS, WAFFLES...YOU GET THE PICTURE. IT'S A DECADENT, DELIGHTFUL SELF INDULGENT PARTY.

AS OF TONIGHT I'M THREE DAYS OFF OF SUGAR AND ALL I CAN THINK OF IS CHOCOLATE. THE SEES IN THE CUPBOARD. THE LEFTOVER FROSTING FROM A CHOCOLATE CAKE AND YES EVEN THE HERSHEY'S SYRUP.

NIGHT SKY

IT'S AMAZING HOW GOOD YOU FEEL WHEN YOU ARE ON YOUR BACK SNUG IN A SLEEPING BAG STARING UP AT THIS.

SOMETHINGS COOKING WITH COURTNEY

I LOVE BEING IN THE KITCHEN COOKING WITH THE GIRLS. THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT SHARING THE KITCHEN WITH WOMEN WHO ARE USED TO BEING TOGETHER AND LOVING EACH OTHER.

ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIE

JEAN DE FLORETTE AND MANON OF THE SPRING. OK, IT'S TWO MOVIES BUT ONE STORY. THE FILM IS FRENCH WITH SUBTITLES SO BE PREPARED TO PAY ATTENTION. IT'S WORTH IT. I BELIEVE IT CAME OUT AROUND 1986 AND AFTER OVER TWENTY YEARS I CAN STILL SAY IT IS MY FAVORITE.

THIS SCRAPPY LITTLE GIRL

THIS IS ME AT ABOUT AGE 8. I WAS A SKINNY TOMBOY WHO ADORED HER BIG BROTHER. DESPITE THAT, I LOVE THAT I'M WEARING THIS SCALLOPED PINK DRESS MY MOM SEWED FOR ME. I LOVE THAT I HAVE PULLED OFF MY HEADBAND AND THAT MY CURLS ARE GIVING UP. MOST OF ALL I LOVE THE LITTLE GIRL WHO DIDN'T TAKE ANY CRAP FROM ANYONE. I LOVE THINKING OF ME JUMPING ON THE BACK OF ONE OF THE DETMANN BOYS AND POUNDING HIM ABOUT THE EARS WHEN HE DECIDED TO USE HIS 6 YEAR ADVANTAGE AND JUMP MY BROTHER ON THE WAY HOME FROM SCHOOL. I THINK THAT LITTLE GIRL IS STILL HERE.

MORNING FOG

MY GOOD FRIEND LENNY AND I WALK THESE STREETS DURING THE WEEK IN THE EARLY HOURS. BEAUTY FOR THE EYES, EXERCISE FOR THE BODY AND THERAPY FOR THE MIND.

GOOD BOOK

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THE BOOK GROUP I BELONG TO DECIDED TO TACKLE LES MISERABLES. WHEN I FACTORED IN WORK AND FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES, I WONDERED IF I'D BE ABLE TO FINISH IT IN THE TIME ALLOTTED. I DOVE IN AND FOUND MYSELF DISAPPEARING INTO THIS BEAUTIFUL STORY. WORK WAITED AND DINNERS SUFFERED BUT WHAT CAN COMPETE WITH A TRULY AMAZING BOOK. THE CHARACTERS STILL FLIT THROUGH MY MIND.

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

A WONDERFUL THING TO SEE THE FUTURE IN THESE LOVELY FACES.

A RE-BLOOM FROM AUBS WEDDING

I'M SUCH A HOPEFUL AND YET TERRIBLE GARDENER. I PLOP THINGS IN THE GROUND EXPECTING SUCCESS AND DO ONLY WHAT I CAN, WHEN I REMEMBER, TO MAKE WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPEN. APPARENTLY THAT WAS ALL I HAD TO DO TO MAKE THIS LOVELY ROSE BLOOM. YAHOO TO THE FORGETFUL GARDENER!!

garden angel with mushrooms at her feet

I love this garden angel my brother gave me. I think part of the reason I like it so much is that she has a worn finish. One day I noticed a mushroom sprouting at her feet. I liked the persistent way the mushroom pushed the soil aside. My Mom warned me that the mushrooms would drop spores and I would have more. Sure enough she was right. As it turned out, it looked like the mushrooms were in a waterfall from the angels feet.

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION

I have to admit I am not the most positive person. Lately, I've been feeling like the deck is stacked against me. I know this is not a good place to be and yet those thoughts sneak in. In an effort to re-frame my thinking, I've committed to posting a thing of beauty everyday this year.







THE BLUE MOON ON JAN 1






I LOVE A WELL TENDED NEST AND THE VISION OF THE MOTHER BIRD GATHERING AND CAREFULLY ARRANGING ALL OF THE TWIGS. I FOUND THIS ONE IN MY YARD. I ADDED THE BLUE EGGS.