It's a July Thing

Pink Science

2012-01-20T13:48:00.000-08:00

http://www.wimp.com/pinklight/

No pink light?

Say it isn't so!!!

Click on the link* above for the pinkest one minute science lesson you've ever had!

Then go see Bev at

How Sweet the Sound

*borrowed from Minute Physics and Wimp.com

Moon Over Mount Lassen

2012-01-15T10:29:00.000-08:00

Taken on Whitmore Road.

Girls Just Want To Have Fun

2012-01-11T14:47:00.000-08:00

This pretty place called to us and we said yes. It is, of course, the Northern CA wine region called the Napa Valley. or Napa-Sonoma. Or Sonapa Noma.

We ordered up a limo, driven by a patient man named Hector. I'm pretty sure he had a horrible headache at the end of the day. I would have WAAAAYY more photos to share but my camera stopped working, so I had to depend on the kindness of others.

The people above are my daughter, my sister, moi, my niece, my SIL, and my niece.

We started with a serious tasting experience, including pairing with food (cookies with spices within).
We went to lunch next and had two bottles of wine and excellent food. At our next stop, the wine grower fell in love with one or two of the younger beauties and he dumped wine into our glasses until, as Hector put it, "They are all toasted."

We didn't make it to the other three wineries we had on our schedule, but we had a great tour around this one in the back of the guy's pick-up. We returned to our hotel after dark. We were singing drinking songs.
"She's Got A Drinking Problem and It's Me"
"She's Acting Single and I'm Drinking Doubles"
"I'm Taking Me A Whiskey Trip"

You get the idea.
There was another party left in the Old Girl!

The rest of the weekend went sort of like the first day. I'll bet you didn't think this old lady had it in her.
I hope to be recuperated by next Friday.

A Corner of the Sitting and Reading Room

2011-12-23T14:07:00.000-08:00

This is , well, you can clearly see what this is. Old photos. The upper left ones are our chidlers.

Ah! But behind the photos you see I keep my Jars of goodies from the garden of summer! I decided I like looking at the jars more than the photos right now.

Above and below were taken not long before we got married.

These are from way long before we got married.

People Come To This Link Every Single Day From All Over The World. Pervs!

2011-12-14T17:04:00.000-08:00

I wrote a little post about this famous man in the Sears Catalog in 2009 and EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. people come to visit him. --From Germany, France, Belize, and a lot of other places that I can't spell right now. The world is full of people that I would love to hang out with!

http://itsajulything.blogspot.com/2009/11/man-on-page-602.htmlhttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5590469037415984465
Imagine the stir this caused back in 1975. Geeze. It was after the sexual revolution and after Woodstock!

Should Have Taken The Short Bus!

2011-12-10T10:24:00.000-08:00

Last weekend my mama, sister, and I went on a tour of homes that were all Christmasified in Placerville, CA. The tour was sponsored by the Assistance League.

One of the homes on the tour belonged to our favorite restaurant (Cafe Luna) owners, Gary and David. (Their home was the best, by the way.)

One group of gals hired this bus to drive them around. We did not even know this existed!

The bus company is called, the Folsom Area Rapid Transit, or FART. (sort of like BART?)

The girls who were riding the bus were having a rowdy party. They were even pole dancing!!

Next time, Baby. Next time.

From A "My Window" Type of Person

2011-12-06T10:54:00.000-08:00

Seesters

    I am one of those people who just don't instinctively know their left and right. My sister and I share this affliction.
    When we give one another driving directions – we employ the “Your Window, My Window Method” Turn left at the corner just won't work with us.
    For example when instructing one another which direction to turn. It's like this, “Just go your window at the next light and then go quick my window.”
    It is a mild form of aphasia. We have learned to compensate, using the sister code. When there is someone else giving the directions it can get ugly. I stuck a little R and a little L on my speedometer of my Mustang. That helped for eleven years, but I had to take a bit of teasing for it.

    The Hokey Pokey? A chore.

    Oh, and that little trick of making an “L” with your left hand? Well my right hand makes an “L” too. It's backwards, but my mind doesn't immediately see it as backwards. I can also read upside down, and in mirrors, which came in handy when I taught kindergarten.

    When I was in School Teacher School, (which is what I called that year I spent learning educational jargon after I had my BA,) we saw a film about this very thing. I remember one part of the film very well.
It was filmed with the fish-eye lens to make it scary.

    There was a child pretending to be the teacher, and he had a tea cup. He held the cup up to the teacher, who was playing the child and asked, “What is this?”
The Teacher/child answered, “It's a tea cup.”
Then the child/teacher turned it upside down and again asked what it was.
The Teacher/child said, “A teacup?”
The Child/teacher said, “NO! Now it's something else!”

    Next he turned it around so the handle was on the other side, and the frustrated Teacher/child meekly said, “a teacup?”
“NO!” Bellowed the Child/teacher.

    Suddenly, I understood what children went through learning to decipher the sticks and balls of the printed word.
I suppose I had learned to read in a less precise way, as I taught myself to read by deciphering the Sunday comics, before I went to kindergarten. I probably used the Right Brain method. (I probably just made that up.)

    People who are dominated by the left hemisphere are practical, linear, detailed, and orderly. They process things from part to whole. The see all the details when they enter a room. They are the engineers and the scientists of the world.

    Those of us who are right brained dominate are artistic and impulsive. We see the whole room. Furthermore we get a feeling from it. Color and music are always involved.

    Needless to say the well balanced person taps into both hemispheres. The school district that employed me gave all of us a test to discover whether we were right or left brain dominated and I came out almost totally RIGHT. Was anyone surprised?
    That explains why I was always having my students put on shows.

They found that almost all of the teachers tend to be either evenly situated between the corpus callosum and if they were dominate on one side it was definitely to the left.

So here's my question. How did people who see everything black and white in politics become the right? How is it that the unbending conservatives, the My Way or the Highway people become attached to the musical, interior decorator, mural-painting side of the brain?
Thank you Mercedes Benz for the brains.

Self Inflicted Trouble

2011-12-02T19:27:00.000-08:00

Euw.
So.
I was bored driving (riding) back from our Thanksgiving trip, SO I picked at my toe cuticles. This particular toe became inflamed.

I was worried about the dreaded red strip that might appear and begin its journey toward my heart and therefore cause my untimely death, SO. I took all my polish off and put a cloth into the microwave, (Do not try this at home!) and put it on my toe.

The cloth was a bit overheated and caused a blister, thus deforming my toe.

Realizing I was ~~a stupid ass~~ in over my head, I went off to visit my amusing doctor. He gave me antibiotics and a much better story.

"No no no," he said. "Never admit guilt."
"You say, 'I was just walking along, minding my own bidness and through no fault of my own, these two dudes just jumped out and did this to my toe.'"
He also offered an alien abduction story involving an anal probe.

So. OK. I was just walking along...

Lookie Lookie, I Can Make Cookies!

2011-11-29T17:51:00.000-08:00

I won! This came from Lynne at The Vintage Nest! Has anyone else noticed that there are a lot of crafty bloggers named Lynn? Or is it just me...

I am impressed that she has the name of her blog on ribbons and stickers!!! Impressed.
I want July Thing on ribbons!
I want stickers too!
Point me toward them, someone!
Thank you, Lynn!

Gimme A High Four!

2011-11-28T21:03:00.000-08:00

They smell like Fritos, dontcha know.

Lexie and Ruby

2011-11-21T11:14:00.000-08:00

Bird Watching.

Daily Scenes

2011-11-19T10:48:00.000-08:00

This was taken from our back deck.

Sunset. From Rob's deck. (a "country" next door.)

Both photographs were taken by my nephew, Joey Van Buskirk.

If You Cross A State Line It's A Felony

2011-11-15T18:33:00.000-08:00

All of these were taken since I retired.

They are not in chronological order.

I mixed them up so I cannot watch myself aging.

A four way.

I had help with one.

Oh, wait. This is not a atate line. It's Mr Bojangles! We have something in common.

The state of my birth.

My sister helped me decide which way to go here.

Too much traffic here to get out so it's on its own. I have been to more states but don't have a photo. Guess I'll have to go back!

A Feast For Your Eyes

2011-11-10T12:18:00.000-08:00

And what would I like from the Gift Gallery in Palo Cedro?

One Of Everything, Please!

Thank you, Lindy, for having this little nest of beauty to explore.

The Last Few Days Of Her Teen Years

2011-11-07T14:14:00.000-08:00

My granddaughter is leaving her teen years this weekend.
Wait.
Wasn't she just born?
This is making me feel old,like nothing else ever has!

Since it is such a special birthday, I got her seven special surprises and I am sending one of them to her each day.

Happy Birthday, Rachel Skye! I love you dearly. You make me proud!

If I Had A Hammer

2011-11-05T19:56:00.000-07:00

I'd break a perfectly good, brand new, terra cotta pot. Why? Well I had a plan. But it was scary. What if it all just shattered? I was taking chances. I do that a lot. I don't mind working without a net.

What? Who knew it would break like this? "Make your mistakes work for you," says my good friend, Judy. So...

I got this Lemon Cedar from another friend, Eileen, who owns a fantastic shop called Wild Thyme. I also got this fairy at her shop.

I do love fairies!

For now this is on a table in my house. It will find its permanent home all by itself, eventually.

I can see Mama...

2011-11-03T14:41:00.000-07:00

...standing there on her skinny little legs, with her head bowed over this camera, my brothers and sister and I sitting there frozen, with bright smiles on our faces, until the flash bulb exploded in a burst of light leaving us blinded for a moment.

So I just had to buy it! I found it at the Oregon Street Antique Mall.

'Member that, Mama? 'Member? Imagine having to wait for a month to see the photographs!

We Were Framed!

2011-11-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

They featured a frame painting activity at Mollie's baby shower. I noticed that there were frames left over.

I also noticed that she got a bunch of really cute cards along with the itty bitty fashions and accessories.

So I offered to put them together. (The frames and cards, that is.) First I sprayed the frames off-white. Then I spent an evening cutting up the cards.

Then I placed the cut outs and replaced them and Re-Replaced them on the frames. I also used some pretty baby-looking papers and used some other crafty tools that I have.

I added buttons and bows and paper flowers, and a few sparklies. Of course I used my favorite craft item, Mod Podge.

Here they are! Just in time for Lillie's arrival!

The One Who Would Be Sitting Beside Me In Jail, Saying "Whew! That Was Fun!"

2011-10-26T14:36:00.000-07:00

It's Linda's Birthday! I got her this card. It is SO us! I made the scrapbook page below back when I used to do this sort of thing. (Didn't we all?) The pictures will give you an idea of the longevity of our relationship.

The top middle picture is of Linda and me circa the late 70's. We were wearing these sort of wrap around toga things that we made. The dark pictures to the left are our junior high daughters wearing them. The top right pictures are of our granddaughters, taken in the mid 90's.

The pictures in the middle are (l. to r.) Linda and I, our daughters (Middle), and the last two are of us again.
The bottom row : The granddaughters, Us with our daughters, And the dancing grandies!

Here are some closer shots of the page. Click on them to embiggen them if you wish.

Our daughters are now in their forties and are both single, successful ladies. When their kids were little they liked to say (in the midst of the little kid hub-bub) "No wonder our mothers always drank wine!"

The grandies are about to exit their teens. Wish I had a recent picture of them together.

Linda and I now live in different parts of the country. When we talk we always wonder how it worked that we were never sitting in jail! I can think of a couple of times we should have been! We met in a sorority and became immediate friends. We are two of a kind and people who knew us well claimed that we were dangerous together. They were right.

Later, she married my husband's brother and lived next door to us. We had bells that we would ring out our patio doors and Loudly declare that it was "Wine Thirty!" Ah, those were the days, My friend!

We "collected" phrases that indicated someone was not all there, like --
"He's a sandwich short of a picnic." and
"Her dip stick doesn't reach her oil." and
"His elevator doesn't reach the top floor."

Once we dressed alike at a karaoke party and sang, "Sometimes it's Hard To Be a Wine-O" (our corrupted version of Tammy Wynette's "Hard to Be a Woman" song.)

Oh, and one more thing. I was Lynn Guinn and She was Linda Guinn. I told her the only difference in the two of us was "Duh." I still call her Duh.
Happy birthday, Duh! Want to meet in Dallas again?

Big, Big PINK!!!

2011-10-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

This is the Sundial Bridge in Redding CA. It actually works. It tells the time on Pacific Standard Time. It is pink for Breast Cancer Awareness on this Thursday. (As if there were a single soul who was not aware of this cancer by now.)
I found this photo on the Internet and I would give the photographer the proper props if I knew who took it.

This is how the bridge usually looks. Pretty, Huh? Go see Bev, The Consumate Pink Lady for more.

Breakfast With Nicholas Mosse

2011-10-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

These little pottery bits came home with me in my suitcase. They are from Ireland. They aren't to be found any where else. One can order them from their kilns in Kilkenny, but the shipping is as expensive as the pottery. You can go check out the store by clicking the title above.

Now and then I like to gather them around me and think of the emerald isle.

Guess I'll just have to go back. I chose these items because of their size. There wasn't much room in my bags. I bought the napkins to make pillow covers. I do that a lot.

I'd Rather Be Sorry For Something I've Done Than For Something I Didn't Do

2011-10-16T14:58:00.000-07:00

My sister, Barbie and I went to see Kris Kristofferson a week or so ago. She stayed up until midnight to grab us tickets on the front row. I snapped this picture from my chair before he came out. I kind of like the composition of it. It was an intimate evening with an icon.

He sang up every song we all knew, and spoke of some of the people who had passed through his life. He told us of some of his escapades from his younger and wilder days, for the good times.

I took these pictures of him after he was finished singing. I didn't want to make him forget the words. I wanted to help him make it through the night. He is 75 now but he was still sharp. He was a Rhodes Scholar, remember.

The next day I went to visit my grandies. I was in the grocery store with Rachel. I spoke of the concert. She said, "Who is Kris Kristofferson?" Cheese and Rice!! She had a cultural gap!!

I sang her a line or two from some of his songs. Nope. Never heard it. Not even freaking Bobby McGee!

When we were in the check-out stand, hoping to prove that she was lacking in knowledge of great song writers, I asked the check-out guy if he knew who Kris was. No! He had never heard of him! Gah! He said, "This guy will know. He's a music genius. Hey, Brice! Do you know who Kris Kristofferson is?"

Stupid kid didn't know either.

That was when I remembered that when I looked back over my shoulder, the concert attendees looked like a bunch of Q-tips sitting in the audience. Crap.

I Made My Son A Birthday Cake

2011-10-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Rob!

Who Says You Can't Go Home

2011-10-01T20:00:00.000-07:00

I have been in Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plains.
Ever hear of Ada?
I am working on a piece for the paper. I will post it here when I finish it.
Then you will have heard of Ada.
Oh, will you have heard about it!

Tractor Sex

2011-09-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

I saw Rancher Richie outside in front of his tractor. He had his shirt off and was twirling it around above his head. He was dancin' around all sexy-like.
I said, "Rancher Richie, what the hell?"
He said, "Well, I asked Dr. Cacey for advice about how I could get some lovin' around here and he said, 'Do something sexy to a tractor.'"

EAT YOUR COLORS, PEOPLE!!

2011-09-15T18:10:00.000-07:00

I just got back from Safeway. As I was unpacking my bounty, it looked pretty to me so I took its picture! I take pictures of pretty things. If I ever take a picture of you, you'll know why.

I Can NOT Figure Out Why I Am Having Trouble With My Grapes This Year!

2011-09-13T15:18:00.000-07:00

It's A Good Thing I'm Retired Or I Wouldn't Have Time For This

2011-09-12T12:35:00.000-07:00

Managing my supplements is a full time job. Swallowing them is another.

Edit: Son came over and saw pill container. May I tell you about the thirty minute lecture about how humans evolved in the form we are in now for a bazillion years without these, and if I eat the right whole foods I will get all of the nutrients I need without taking this crap, blah, blah, blah.

The Day Everybody Turned Nice (Too Bad It Didn't Last)

2011-09-11T22:41:00.000-07:00

On the day school started back in 2001, Richard, myself, and another retired couple of educators drove by our schools to honk good-bye in a “Ha ha, you’re back in school and we aren’t,” sort of way.
We were headed for Vegas, then Yellowstone and on to the Black Hills to see the Presidential Heads on a Mountain. We were having a great time enjoying our newfound freedom.
On September 11, we were in Cody, Wyoming. We awoke to the terrible sights on television, along with everyone else in the nation.
      Our plan had been to visit Mt. Rushmore that day. Instead we sat in our hotel rooms watching the horror with our eyes wide with fear and our hands over our mouths. I remember my skin feeling prickly and my breathing was shallow.

       After some discussion and several emotional phone calls home, (Home! Suddenly we just wanted to be home!), we decided to proceed to our destination. We couldn’t help but think of the teachers we left behind and the children in their classes. What were they saying to them? How could they explain this? I remember how emotional it was in our classrooms the day the Challenger exploded. This was of a far greater scope.

With our car radio tuned to the unfolding news, we crossed into South Dakota.
.
The sky was eerily empty.

We called our loved ones again. Daughter Martie had decided to keep our granddaughter home from school. No one seemed to know what would happen next.

     As we came upon the area of Mt. Rushmore, there were armed guards at the access road.   (We took their picture from afar.) Upon learning that all of the monuments across the United States had been closed down, we spent the next twenty-four hours alternately planning to go on home and waiting to see what happened next.
.
     When Mt. Rushmore re-opened we walked around the plaza there and then attended the evening show. I’m sure that the production is always wonderful, but that night! Oh my!    It was emotionally charged with that surge of ultra-patriotism that everyone had suddenly come to enjoy. Tears washed the faces of everyone in the audience as we sang, “America,” “ The Star Spangled Banner,” and “God Bless America.”

    We stayed on the road for the next week, visiting Glacier Park, Coeur d’Alene, and Seattle. There was a different feel out there. Flags popped up on cars, of course, but the people were different. There was a change in humanity. People were more gentle and friendly. Strangers were acting like old friends. Everyone was open and raw. There was a feeling of “us-ness.”
Turned out to be a good time to travel.

Midnight In Paris

2011-09-07T19:06:00.000-07:00

Have any of my faithful bloggy friends seen this movie? I absolutely LOVED it. I tried to decide if the fact that Paris is one of my favorite cities influenced this love, but I must say, I do not think so! The cast was perfect. Woody Allen wrote it and directed it. You could see the "Woody" influence all through it. Owen Wilson was comically like Woody in word and actions all through the movie.

The story went like this; Gil and Inez are in Paris with her parents. Their wedding is coming up soon. They don't seem right for each other somehow. One night he goes wandering through the Paris night. At midnight a twenties automobile comes by and stops for him and transports him back in time. He meets Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and then Hemingway and many other famous artsy people, and oh, I'd better not give away any more of the plot.

There is a remarkable moral at the end about how each era holds wonderfulness. Even the one we are living in now. I will own this movie as soon as it becomes available. I don't think I'll ever get tired of it. That's just the nerd in me, I guess.

Lexie and Her Chicken

2011-09-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

Whenever I go to the grocery store I get Lexie a surprise. She digs through the bags when I get home to find it. Today we were dangerously low on ice cream and wine so...

...This is her new chicken. I don't know if it's a desk chicken or not, but it makes a great sound when she bites it!

If I Had One It Would Be Big Like This

2011-09-04T16:55:00.000-07:00

It just gets too hot around here to maintain.
I don't know what Blogger has done with my bidness here, but I'm going to try and figure it out.
Don't think I have died or something.
By the way. I found this photo somewhere on the I.

Blood & Love & Hope & Lust & Steam

2011-09-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

This is my sister, Barbie. I put this picture here to show you where we were. Close to the stage, yes? We paid extra and came early so we wouldn't have to sit...

...back here where the rest of the people sat. Below is Sara Bareilles. She opened for Sugarland. Very cute and put on a good show. We liked her!

I did get up off the ground . Eventually. I was the Sober Sister. Who would have thought it! I did NOT make that sign, or any other signs.

This is Pegi. We have to keep her on a short tether. She is the lively one.

She did some serious flirting with this guy. He is Sara's bass player.

Her steampunk necklace. Jennifer was all Steampunked out too. She had on a rubber grid skirt with lace in the back and she had two big bolts hanging off her belt.
When Sugarland began to sing a host of people began to try and get past us to get closer. Pegi enlisted an army of people all around us to keep this from happening. One girl said, This is a Concert. It's what you do. Pegi told her to go do it somewhere else because she wasn't coming by us, and then suggested that if she had wanted to be closer she should have come early LIKE WE DID.

The girl then said, "Is this your first concert?" WELL. If she had said You are fat and ugly and you have a wart on your nose, it wouldn't have insulted Pegi, but FIRST CONCERT? this was war! "I shall try to make this printable)

Pegi suggested that she go have relations with a roady, and inferred that she was a female dog. Then the girl's mother came up and Peg said to no one in particular. "Oh NOW the OLD one wants by." I think they retreated then. I was snorting and giggling but I kept quiet and thought about what I might have said if I weren't the Sober Sister.

All in all it was a GREAT night. I did not say, "Honey I was going to concerts when you were still sitting in your own poop." I did not say. "Let me get this straight...According to your concert etiquette, the most obnoxious and rude people get to be in front"

I have about ten more pictures but they look a lot like these. I take back what I have said about Kristian Bush. He isn't just the guy who plays the guitar for Jennifer Nettles. He is great!

2011-08-24T11:51:00.000-07:00

Mama and her brood.
I am the one who looks as if she were slowly removing an arrow from her left arm.

The Little Girl Had a Car Crash

2011-08-12T13:54:00.000-07:00

Have you seen that commercial on TV where the dad is giving his car keys to his little girl and he is seeing her as his Little Girl?
Yeah. I totally get that.

Last week this little girl was on her way to her part time job at the mall.

She ended up here. Her car ended up looking like this.

She was just banged up a bit, but she is fine now except for a touch of "Post traumatic Driving Stress."

Me? I think my heart has gone back to its normal rhythm.

She looks just like her mama, who is my daughter.

Joe Cocker - INTO THE MYSTIC

2011-08-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

Naturally Pink

2011-07-29T18:36:00.000-07:00

Did you know that they dye farm raised salmon pink? Yuck.

This salmon became pink all by itself--by eating shrimp. No wonder they are so good! They have been dining on shrimp cocktails! This salmon fillet was caught off the Northern California shore
by my hubby and son. It is about to become "lox."
First you sprinkle fresh dill on it. Then you put it on a bed of Kosher Salt.

Then you put another layer of Kosher Salt on top. (They may have been a little heavy handed with the salt here.) I don't know. Never made this delicacy.

Then you wrap it up in layers and layers of plastic wrap and put it in the fridge. for a day or so. Then you take it out and get the salt off and slice it thin and put it on bagels. YUM! Even if you are a Gentile!

Oh, Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town!

2011-07-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Meet Ruby, my granddog. She stayed with me this weekend. Lexie is thinking, "Good Lord. That dog is on my mama's desk and ooching into my bed. (I know this because I can read Lexie's mind.)

"Harumph."

Oh. My. God. She has taken my bed.

"Bitch."

"I have to share my toys, too?"

"OK. I'll play with you for a little while."

While Joe just watches for his daddy.

Lake Shasta; A Feast, A Fishing Frenzy, and a Sign of the Times

2011-07-17T10:02:00.000-07:00

The guys.

Mount Lassen *click to embiggen*

Brews

Food

And a Sign of the times.

Shasta Dam
I wanted to get within the 1000 feet but nobody else did. All of the fish in the lake are lurking safely within that 1000 foot area. Thank you Al Kida for this. (I know, I know, *alqaeda*)

Senior Discount? OR Senior "Dis"?

2011-07-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

Said to my friend's parents in a Chinese restaurant, as the waiter brought them the bill,

"I gi you fie dollah off be-cau you ode."*

*(Polite Translation.) I gave you the five dollar senior discount.

Signs of Summer 2011

2011-07-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

Emerald Bay Tahoe

2011-07-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

Good Job, Mother Nature!

See the castle?

Garden, Garden, In The Yard; We Hold You Up In High Regard

2011-07-10T12:28:00.000-07:00

The water system's automatic,
Row by row, it's systematic

The tomato plants are legendary;
Many being voluntary.

The trees are busy growing figs and cherries,
Plus peaches fit for dignitaries.

And did I mention the strawberries?

There will be plenty of new potatoes,
And onions along with those tomatoes.

Ane what kind of summer is without a cucumber? (poetic license)

The corn is as high as an elephant's eye. (stolen-no license)

This asparagus will go to seed,
But next year will be up to speed.

Shelter Cove Sunsets

2011-06-26T21:47:00.000-07:00

I have more but once you've seen one sunset, you've seen them all.

No?

Well, they ARE all beautiful.

Planet Earth.

Such an artist.

No Dogs Allowed!

2011-06-26T11:27:00.000-07:00

Unless you give the owner of the guest house $600!!! I ask you...Could this little girl do $600 worth of damage? Only if there were $600 worth of toilet paper lying around-because she does have a problem with TP. She Must make confetti out of it. I'm sending her to the Betty Ford Clinic for that addiction soon.

This human girl is Halie. See what she brought to read? I love her! Her plans is to own and run a bed and breakfast, and decorate it in Flea Market Style and do over the top decorations for each season.

In Garberville, one day, an old hippie came up to me and the Little White Dog and said, "Dude. That's a Caucasian dog."

Steps To Take when You Accidentally Put Regular Gas In Your Diesel Vehicle

2011-06-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

Call AAA.

Load it up.

Ride for three hours in the cab of this truck learning AAALLLLL about the tow truck bidness. Incidentally, it wasn't me.
Furthermore he has owned this very pick-em-up-truck for eight years.
Direct quote from Bro-in-law, "You will put the wrong gas in it but you'll only do it once."

Absolutely NO Crossing the Street on Your Head!

2011-06-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

It will not be tolerated at any time in South Tahoe.

The Sweetest Wedding Ever

2011-06-17T09:49:00.000-07:00

All the best to Paige and Mikey
            Tahoe- - Mike and Paige's Wedding

    Our family had yet another occasion to gather recently. It was the wedding of our brother, Mikey. He married Paige, who is the sweetest girl! We were delighted to see them get hitched, and of course we were happy to be together again as a family. Tahoe was the destination which pleased one sister to no end because she had dreamed that she was going to win a car.

If you have been paying attention, you know this would somehow turn out to be a goofy and joyous occasion.

    Mike's best man was our other brother, “John the Holy Ghost.” See, there are three important Johns in the family. The middle sister married one and then they named their son after his dad. That makes John the Father and John the Son. Brother John just had to be the third John of the unholy trinity.

      L to R John the son, John the holy ghost, and John the father.

    We came together in the little mountain town the day before without a single snafu, a miracle, considering people came from four different states and twice as many cities. How did people do these things before the advent of cell phones? The wedding was to take place by the lake at 6:00 the next evening.

    Sometime after lunch on her wedding day, Paige realized that the pictures on the internet advertising the wedding site were a bit misleading. It had shown that the trellis, as well as the chairs would be festooned with flowers and ribbons. They assumed that these decorations would be there for them.
They weren't.


Oh my goodness.
Oh my goodness.

What to do?
What to do?

The sisters and brothers went off in four directions to gather supplies. (It was sort of like the “Stone Soup” wedding in the movie “Fandango.” If you haven't seen this movie, get it on your Net Flix or whatever. It is a great “sleeper.”)

Would you believe that South Lake Tahoe has no Michaels? No Target? No JoAnns?

We finally found a fabric store hidden behind a small motel and got ribbon and tule. Miles of tule. Others found flowers, and we spent all afternoon making poofy flowery wedding bows and then decorated the area for a proper wedding. It was lovely.

         Now this is the way a bride should come down the aisle!
               But alas, she put the champagne down and walked like a proper bride.

    Meanwhile one family member, The Anonymous One, worked all afternoon learning to text on the phone he has owned for a year and a half. He told Rob before the ceremony began, (and I paraphrase for properness) “I am a texting DUDE!”

    The wedding and the vows were sweet. Paige and Mike both cried, which made the rest of us cry, too. The pastor ended with a pastorly prayer. At the amen, The Anonymous One's phone beepy beeped to indicate that he had received a text. It was from Rob (who was seated in front of him) and it said,

    “Did you remember to turn your phone off?”

    As you can probably guess this caused muffled snorts and then laughter in the form of a wheeze like Mutley the cartoon dog for almost two solid minutes.

    John the father made a video with his Flip and there was some semi-audible input from me heard in it.

“Knock it off!” I said, in one syllable, in a teeth-grinding, hissing stage whisper, which caused more wheezy laughter.

    There were lots of pictures taken. They are full of sweetness   and love, except for the ones I am in. They are not so sweet. I look as if I just removed a spear from my own thigh for some reason.

    No one in any casino was giving away a car either, but the weekend was still a success. A new car is nothing compared to a loving family gathering.

Now for the "Ever After."

I Give Good French (braid) & The Rude T-Shirt Of The Day

2011-06-09T18:00:00.000-07:00

This is Halie and Paige. Paige is becoming my newest Sister Saturday and That makes me happy!

This is Rob and he gets bored easily with anyone who doesn't talk about quantum physics and crap like that.

No More Furniture? He's Not The Boss Of Me.

2011-06-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

I got this cute little table at Pier One. (a most dangerous store for me to enter) This is my front entry.

Here is why I like it: It opens the area up a bit because it looks like it is a round table because of the mirror.

And because it has a little bird under it.

I'm not sure what I'll put on it but this is what I found to start with.

Long Ago In A Galaxy Called Ada...

2011-06-03T10:37:00.000-07:00

Our daddy built us a tree house high in a tree in our back yard. I am busy writing it's story. In this tree house, I learned many new and interesting things.

Perhaps I shall share them with you later.

This seems to be the only photograph of it. It was taken by a representative our small town news paper. I think I was 12 or 13 here. This would make my brother, Bobby around nine.

Wonder how long this danger would last in any tree today.

Oxymoron

2011-06-01T11:37:00.000-07:00

Who Would Sit In The Dirt On Her Day Off Just For Children And Her Community?

2011-05-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

A teacher, of course! I believe I heard this saintly creature referred to as Ms. Rogers.

She was directing these kids who were singing a medley of five songs, one for each of the five branches of the military. She didn't forget the Coast Guard, and she taught them gestures to go along with the songs. I have done this. It is not as easy as the finished product looks. Congrats, Ms Rogers. We are not worthy! *bows to the floor*

All of this happened this morning at the Whitmore Parade, and Country Fair. The above is the Quilting Club. I used to attend the quilting. Perhaps I'll return.

This is the Shingletown Fiddle Group.

Here we have the 4-H Club, headed by Shannon and Duane,

Our mail delivery person and her award-winning goat,

And the judges table. Whoop! There he is!

You can see by the banner hanging from the trees that the proceeds of the events go to the volunteer fire department. You can also see the beautiful environment in which we live.
It is a township of about 800, and I think we were all there today.

My Drunk Kitchen Ep. 6: Brunch?

2011-05-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

Observations on the Road

2011-05-19T13:09:00.000-07:00

As an observer of changes, I am seldom bored. I began a recent trip by noticing that some pretty homes that I like to look at along Whitmore Road are no longer visible now that the foliage returned. There are lots of baby calves to “awww” over, though.
When I got to I-5, or “The Five” as it is known in Southern California, I had to look hard for new sights. My destination was Folsom again.
One semi-amazing thing I saw was some enterprising farmer harvesting what appeared to be hay from the center median. He may have planted it or maybe it just magically grew there. I do not know. Every few miles there was a stack of rectangular blocks of hay. As I drove on down the road I came upon a guy driving a large contraption that I recognized as farm machinery with those sharp wicked-looking circular blades cutting the hay from the center of Interstate Five! Well. This never happened down where this road is known as the Santa Ana Freeway!

Another not so unusual observance of mine was that the Department of Placing Orange Cones In Equidistant Arrays had been busy. There were many tidy arrangements of them.
Near the Cone Displays was evidence of other Cal Trans workers. The Big White Signs Team had been there. Their signs stated that the cones were to show us that our tax dollars were at work, improving our driving experience by making the roads better.
The Department of Warning Signs had been there, too. Their signs were warning us that any traffic tickets the highway patrol were able to issue would be doubled in price if any driver broke a rule while driving by the Cone Display. I was very careful. I know the state needs money but I need to keep mine for gas.

The one thing I did not see was a single soul. There were no people anywhere near the signs and cones. And no, it was not the weekend yet.

The guy in the bright yellow plane was there, as always, busily spraying poison on the food he was growing. Obviously enough people still eat the poison food. I would imagine his airplane is pretty expensive to operate. I am always worried that someone will run into me around there as everyone is always enchanted with the bright yellow plane and they drift into my lane while watching it zoom low over his crops.
I always hold my breath there. I don't want to breathe the poison or crash into other vehicles.

I had a lovely visit with Mama and my sisters. We ate at Cafe Luna in Placerville, which is the best little restaurant on the planet, and worth the drive from here even if your mama doesn't live there.
The next night we ate fava beans that came in my sister's weekly box of unpoisoned veggies. We ate them with a nice Chianti; no liver.
We looked through boxes and boxes of old photographs and wondered where all the time had gone.
We went to the movie and saw Water For Elephants. It was excellent.

On the way home there were still no people working where our tax dollars were being spent. But then again it WAS Sunday.

Weekend With Women +1

2011-05-15T22:44:00.000-07:00

Placerville Pleasure @ Cafe Luna. If you are lucky enough to live near-by, this should be your foody indulgence. These people are (Left from front to back) John (the plus), Whitney, me. (Right from back to front) Mama, Pegi, and a person who is in the Witness Protection Program.

The exclamation point in the sky above Folsom, CA.

The fava beans in my sister's weekly produce delivery made us crave a nice chiante for some reason.

And then we saw this movie because we loved the book. I almost never like movies from books I have read, but I liked this one.

So. Team Jacob.

Kitty Cats are BRATS!

2011-05-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

When it first appeared it looked like this.

Then this.

And in no time it looked like this, so I started another batch.

Then the kitty took a nap on it. BRAT Lettuce!

Odd. I Never Was Compelled To Take Photos Of The Scenery On My Way To Mother's Day Brunch In Southern California

2011-05-10T11:28:00.000-07:00

That is Rob in front of us. He took the boat so he could go fishing after the festivities.

See that picturesque bridge down there?

There's Lady Shasta all dressed in white.

And Lake Shasta. This is where the menfolk fish. Sometimes we wemmins go too. Here is how I fish: Rich puts some stuff on the pole, along with a floaty thing. I put it in the water and drink champagne until the floaty thing dances around and then I pull it up.

This picture doesn't quite show the grandeur of the mountain.

Emily is the newest mommy.

I ate this. Yes, I did. ALL of it. Want to make something of it?

Halie's gift to her mom gave us all a big laugh!

The Burlap Harlot

2011-05-07T18:23:00.000-07:00

A craft Show Extrordinaire!
If you weren't here, this is a bit of what you missed

Monica worked her usual designing magic.

Typewriters always remind me of my childhood. Mom is a writer so there was always one clacking or simply sitting on the dining room table waiting to be clacked. She's computer savvy now so the clacking is softer.

See these beautifully aged shutters? They came home with me. I couldn't help it. They said, "Lyyyyynnnn, can we go home with you? I am a sucker for shutters. and old books. and room dividers. and pitchers. and Eiffel Towers. and book shelves. and sheet music.

If I had a spot for this, It would have come home with me, too. Isn't it beautiful? I stood in front of it for a long time thinking, "OK, now. What can I give away to make room for this?"

This was a vintage suitcase all goodied up inside and displaying necklaces and such.

I should have bought this suitcase. I am already regretting it.

The wells Fargo Wagon is a-Comin' Now (I don't know how I can ever wait and see.)

2011-05-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

...and he brought me these roses for Muddah's Day. Thank you to my precious First born.

I got this in an email from a friend.

THINGS MOM WOULD NEVER SAY

"How on earth can you see the TV sitting so far back?"

"Yeah, I used to skip school a lot, too."

"Just leave all the lights on ... it makes the house look more cheery."

"Let me smell that shirt -- Yeah, it's good for another week."

"Go ahead and keep that stray dog, honey. I'll be glad to feed and walk him every day."

"Well, if Ron's mamma says it's okay, that's good enough for me."

"The curfew is just a general time to shoot for. It's not like I'm running a prison around here."

"I don't have a tissue with me ... just use your sleeve."

"Don't bother wearing a jacket - the wind-chill is bound to improve."

The New Babies Are Here!

2011-05-04T18:07:00.000-07:00

Hey! Look what I found!
I cannot believe I am blogging about this!

The mother goat talks to them in the sweetest b-a-a-a-a.
Unfortunately the dark blob by the mama's foot would have been another mouth to feed.
They are making squealy b-a-a-a-a's.

Hey! It was here a minute ago! Where is that spigot?

Halie with one baby.

Jen with two babies.

A mama hen was busy today, too. but she was out done and overshadowed by the mama goat.

A Bit of This and That

2011-05-02T17:01:00.000-07:00

Halie selling her worldly goods at The Whitmore Flea Market.

And Lexie blending into her bed.

Funny, Funny Maflingo

2011-04-29T17:13:00.000-07:00

At least that's what my granddaughter would say when she was three.

This guy is my newest yard art. He was a gift from my youngest brother and his sweet, beautiful bride to be.

I'm playing pink Saturday today if I can remember how.

The Life and Times of T-Rexita Guinn

2011-04-26T12:58:00.000-07:00

This is T-rexita. She came to live with me as a gift from my son. I got these succulents for her to wear and decided that she looked as if she were wearing a hat. I began to anthropomorphise her with various pocketbooks.

Her first St. Patric's Day.

I even loaned her one of my purses.

This pink plaid thing was my granddaughter's little journal. When she saw T-Rexita with it she was a bit perturbed.

By Halloween she was a full-on being living in my front yard.

She was pleased with her Christmas finery.

By Easter we had moved out here. Her Easter bonnet blew across the pasture and into the pond.

I think I shall dress her up again, now that we have the front yard fenced. We haven't seen the last of her!

I Feel Like I Am Living in Ireland!

2011-04-24T17:42:00.000-07:00

I took these photos of my back "yard." You can only see the creek (River?) in this top one because there is so much foliage.

Below is a picture of my front yard. If it doesn't stop raining long enough to mow we won't be able to find Lexie in the weeds! I have forgotten. How many inches of rain do we have to get before we get classified as a rain forest? Our rainfall for this season is about 30 inches.
On a good note...

My lettuce is coming up!!!

Isn't it cute? Happy SPRING!!

See What Happens To Me When I Read?

2011-04-23T12:24:00.000-07:00

My offspring must find me soft and fluffy.

So does my grandoffspring.

These pictures were taken in a cabin in the woods at June Lake.

Whatever Happened to "Along Life's Highway?"

2011-04-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

I wanted to show her

THIS:

It in a person's front yard in Orange County. As you can see, it is two stories high.

I Decided To Take My Tattoo, My Blue Toes, My Grandson, and My Puppydogs and Head Back Up To Shasta County

2011-04-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

I have been in the OC this past week. We girls were busy contributing to the economy.
From front to back we are grandaughter, daughter, and me. I opted for the smaller version of the Women's Heart Health Red Dress Icon.

I was glad about my decision when the guy was digging around in my skin. OW! OW! OW!
We got the tats in memory of Leigh Guinn, our daughter, sister and Auntie. If you want to know more read my other blog, "Leigh--Nothing Lasts For Long."
The toe job was a much more pleasant experience

Jack, Joe and Lexie.

We are all safely in our beds now.

There Is A Dead Mountain Lion Under The Deck!!

2011-04-10T17:02:00.000-07:00

You just know he has been watching us!

This is at Rob's house. He is HUGE!!

He is as big as Rob, who weighs about 190#

His paws are bigger than my size nines! Bigger than Lexie's whole body!

The fish and game people will find out how he died.
This explains what happened to all those chickens.
Yuck. I can still smell him.
Go Cougars.

I Have Writer's Block. Is There An App For That?

2011-04-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

Took this shot in Dublin. Has anyone seen this in the US? Maybe it will help. I don't know what I am going to turn in to the East Valley Times this week.

I must be really boring right now. Yawn. Sob. Sniff.

The Sky Is Falling! We Must Run and Tell the President!

2011-04-01T15:14:00.000-07:00

Not only is she a pampered, shopping granddaughter, she is an animal lover, too!

Rachel and Dotty.

Lemmiwinks, the wool maker. We need a spinning machine. Oh, and knowing how to knit would be nice also!

Chicken Lickin'

It's All About Rachel

2011-03-31T19:20:00.000-07:00

As it should be!

Shopping at American Eagle.

She is so patient with her picture-taking grandmother.

Then it was Spa Day.

Let me tell you; If you live near Redding CA, come to Oregon Street and ask for Sarah! She will make you feel like the queen that you are!

This treatment almost made us fall asleep!

Out Came The Sun And Dried Up All The Rain

2011-03-28T10:22:00.000-07:00

So the itsy bitsy dog went out to play again!

Hello Kitty!

Hey! The kitty won't come down to play with me!

The Danger Of Being Cooped Up In The Rain

2011-03-23T14:34:00.000-07:00

When A person can't go out to play, that person might play "Stage Decoration."

...and make her throne look more like one fit for a queen.

I think Yorick looks good there, don't you?

Rainy Days & Mondays & CT Scans Always Get Me Down

2011-03-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

Only one more delicious treat to drink.

Off to the doctor place.

Put on the stylish fashion gown.

Proceed to the radioactive room.

I am going into this washing machine that talks. I can't help but notice that everyone else runs out of the room when they turn this machine on. I don't care because I have already been nuked by the xray machine at Halverson's Shoe Store when I was a kid and had a great desire to look at the bones in my feet every time I passed the store.

This guy is going to interpret the pictures they took of my insides.

Then I had to see my doctor for antibiotics to fix this spider bite, and Surprise! he already had the results of the CT on his laptop. I am not dying, but I have two spleens. Extra spleens run in my family. Ain't technology wonderful!

Come And Snoop Awhile

2011-03-13T18:59:00.000-07:00

This is my dining room. If you like to snoop around in other people's homes as much as I do, come on in! I just put this addition up in the corner. I got it at an estate sale. It is actually a pot rack, but I am using it for... um, This. The ceiling is high in here. I think this room was an after thought.

I make these tags and hang them on the ceiling fan chains. My house is full of dangly things.

Below are more fan-dangles!

I like a grape motif, Don't you?

I Can See My House From Here

2011-03-08T16:01:00.000-08:00

What? You can't see it? It's down there in the holler. You can only see it from this spot on the road. And only in the winter.

Still can't see it? OK, I'll hit the zoom.

There it is. Oh Em Gee! I see a house up in the forest. I have never seen that until this minute. Even from the air! IS that a house? I'd better find out who that is. And do they have binoculars.

Update. I drove all around on the ATV and didn't see that house! ??????

My Excuse Is The Robot Doctor

2011-03-05T12:48:00.000-08:00

There is a reason I have been MIA. It is at the bottom of this post. However it is not at the bottom of my cluttered up mind, as you will see. While my mind was filled, I Kept my hands busy making the Tag above.
And the beads below.

These beads are made of paper. From Enjoy Magazine, to be exact.

Just cut a loooooong triangle, roll it up on a tooth pick and slather with Mod Podge.

I also made this scrapbook page of my son's first haircut. I am right on top of things in my usual efficient way. This event took place in the summer of '69.
Sounds like a song, doesn't it.
                       "Got my first haircut,
                       In the summer of '69!
                 Screamed until their eardrums bled.
                  Screamed until my face was red."
                           (my apologies to Brian Adams)

This is what has been going on in my world. The sweet little lady in the bed is my mama.
She was diagnosed with endometrial cancer.

This magic man with his Super Hero Robot Machine cut it out. He only left 4 itty bitty snips in her tummy. She is resting comfortably, now that we convinced her to take the pain meds.

When we were little, she would straddle us, (lying on our backs on the floor,) putting her knees on either side of our heads, pinning our arms down under her ankles and administer whatever meds she or the doctor felt we needed, while we screamed bloody murder. I threatened her with this and she decided to take her stuff.

Now we wait for the pathologist.
She's 85, but she ain't your daddy's 85 year old mama.

Tapdancing in the Town Square in Christchurch, New Zealand

2011-02-22T10:24:00.000-08:00

I felt so good, I just wanted to do a tap dance in the center of town on the Square. Now it's full of rubble and sadness. sigh.

This is the steeple on the cathedral in Christchurch, New Zealand. I just heard on the news that it fell in the earthquake. Can this really be true?

How To Make A Pretty Pot Out Of A Thrift Store Vest and An Ordinary Clay Pot--Lynn Style

2011-02-08T23:02:00.000-08:00

First buy an interesting vest from a thrift store.
I liked this one because of the tapestry-like pattern.
I also liked the red trim on the bottom.

It is always a good idea to seal your clay pot if you plan to alter it in any way. They make clay pot sealer for things like this. Imagine that!

Next cut the vest apart. Most people will have a plan before they begin this step. I leave that up to you. It might be a good idea to make a pattern out of a newspaper page. I, however just began cutting with reckless abandon because that's the kind of person I am.
Oh, and cut the lining off (out?) at this time.

Now slather Mod Podge on one side of your pot. Slather is one of my favorite words. Apply material one side at a time. It will be easier that way.
I left the top for the front section of the vest because the vest had that interesting front part. Your design will need to be contingent upon the material (vest) you find.

If you were organized enough to make a pattern, you will not encounter this problem. I had to cut and patch in the middle of the project. Remember the "reckless abandon" part? It's a personality flaw that I just have to live with. I blame this problem on the red trim that I wanted on the bottom of the pot but it kept crawling up as I went around. Jeez. What was I thinking?

Once you get the lower part of the pot covered, you will be able to cover the top part. Due to the "reckless abandon" flaw in your personality, (if you have this affliction), you will need to apply patches of material here and there. Don't worry about perfection. It is a planter. You will be putting Dirt in it for god's sake.

Hey! There are trimmy strings left over! Make a bow.

Now for the dirt.

The Types of Dreams I Dream

2011-02-04T13:26:00.000-08:00

I am having people over. I have a huge indoor pool and there are many children and a few adults swimming in it. I have a friend with three children under 17 months old, all single births. (I know, she must be magic.) The oldest is a boy, then a girl, and then another boy. The oldest one’s name is Dean, and he can swim. As we chat, he swims across the pool.
We continue to visit. Suddenly, Dean is on the bottom of the pool and his mother dives into the pool in her long white flannel nightgown. While she is pulling Dean up from the bottom, I send another person inside to call 911.
When we get Dean out of the water, he has shrunk to about a foot long. I begin performing CPR on him, watching his little chest fill with my air and fall back down. I am remembering that he doesn’t need as much air as an adult, and try to keep my puffs tiny, even though I am in panic mode and my breathing is awkward. We keep watching for signs of life, and at one point I feel him move a bit, but he’s not really responding.
When a policeman, (not firemen or paramedics) arrives, he just takes the baby from me, who has now shrunk to about 2 inches long, and puts him in an envelope. He asks who called 911, because she gave him the wrong directions and it took him a long time to get here. He is dressed in a tux and has his date with him, who is dressed in a long, sparkly, green dress. She sits on the edge of the pool with her feet in the water while she waits for him to finish his work.
I feel that we need to discuss the baby, but he seems more concerned with the stupid broad who gave him bogus directions. He says the baby, being only two inches tall, wont take up any space and he’ll just toss it.
The baby’s mother is in shock or something, because she just takes her two remaining children, and goes home to tell her husband, who is a DEA agent.
The policeman decides that she is the reason her child is dead, because when you have three little kids like that it’s too much trouble, and if you only have two hands and all, then what are you going hold on to that third kid with, your teeth?
Another woman at poolside who works with Dean’s mother, begins to tell the cop that she probably did let him drown. I try to tell the cop, who is now in the water conducting tests, that Dean's mother loved him and that other woman just didn’t like anyone there because no one would go to lunch with her. Then, thank heavens, my dog woke me up.

It’s a wonder I can carry on! I’m exhausted.

Miss Shasta Has Her Head In The Clouds Today

2011-02-01T16:01:00.000-08:00

I Had The Climb of My Life!

2011-01-29T18:11:00.000-08:00

Bridge Climb

There is a monumental bridge in Sydney, Australia, that spans the harbor. While cruising under it one day we noticed these little “ant people” crawling over the upper girders. This looked like something we should investigate! We discovered that for a price we could climb up there also.

Being members of the lunatic fringe, my sister and brother-in-law, (Barbie and John), and I took a taxi to the bridge.

Rancher Richie, not being a member of the lunatic fringe, decided he’d rather take a nap.

Oh, I am starting to get nervous just writing these words. We entered the office and signed waivers that said we promised not to sue them if we should happen to fall off and manage, somehow, to live through it. While waiting to don the ugly gray jumpsuits, I looked at the wall of celebrities who have participated in this activity and lived. Bruce Springsteen and the Olsen twins were pictured, but I didn’t get to notice others because I had to go put everything on my person into a locker as even something as small as a quarter could kill someone underneath, should one happen to escape out of one’s pocket. If any of us needed to wear glasses. They had to be strapped on. Then we had to hook this belt contraption around our waists that was attached to a little ball. Next we had to practice using it on a raised platform.

“There’s your boyfriend.” My ever-alert sister whispered in my ear.

He was a doozey! He had three teeth and didn’t look too “with it” if you know what I mean. His ugly gray jump suit was twisted around him so he looked like a two year old who had dressed himself for the first time. I decided he should be my new best friend.

I couldn’t leave Barbie without a boyfriend, so I found her one. He had a carpet of hair growing out of his ears. I would have found John a girlfriend, but Barb and I were the only girls in the group of eleven.

Then we took off to climb the bridge for the next three hours.

Our intuitive guide Jason, positioned Barbie and I, along with my boyfriend, in front of the line. We got the feeling he always keeps the Goonies close to him so he could watch out for them. We were the Goonies.

We began our adventure. When we were still on step one, I looked down. We were already so high up that the people below looked like dollhouse people. I felt as if I might barf, and I wondered if the little people under me would appreciate that.

Let me say here, that I am not afraid of heights. I am just afraid of falling off of high places, and I constantly picture of myself plummeting from them. With that said you will understand why I spent the first one hundred steps with my eyes closed while humming a light little dirge. Since I couldn’t see, I had to feel my way with each step, which took a little longer but I felt it was worth it.

As I became a bit braver, I opened my eyes but I kept them looking upward, sort of like Bernadette Peters did when Steve Martin told her not to look at her plate because there were snails on it, in the movie, “The Jerk.”

I still had to feel my way with my feet, and test for solid iron works before adding my weight. We were about a zillion feet high.

Our patient guide kept asking me if I was all right, as if I were a 58 year old pregnant woman. I began to get slightly more embarrassed than scared, so I decided to “watch where I was going” like my mother always said just after I stepped on a baby’s fingers or ran into an unsuspecting old lady.

Just as I was starting to get used to walking a mile up in the air on erector set walkways we came to several flights of, well, ladders, actually. They were arranged like a staircase in a building except that when we went from one staircase (or ladder-case?) there was nothing beneath us. Nothing. But. Air. (And quite a bit if it.)

So, when we got to the top of one ladder, we had to hover out over Nothing and turn to get to the bottom of the next ladder.

Did I mention there was Nothing beneath us?

I was completely traumatized by this part, and just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, a commuter train rumbled across the bridge causing the ladders to shake like a seven point oh earthquake. I could see post-traumatic stress syndrome in my future.

I remember poking my head up through a trap door in the floor of the bridge and seeing cars and trucks whizzing by, but that’s about all I recall until we were standing at the apex, looking down on the majestic Sydney Opera House. The view was spectacular, and I was happily congratulating myself for finishing the adventure.

Then I realized we had to get back down to the ground.

And those ladders were still there.

When You Are My Age, Food Is What It's All About

2011-01-23T18:21:00.000-08:00

Cafe Luna in Placerville, CA

Go there if you dare. I moaned audibly all through my meal. It could have been embarrassing if everyone else in the cozy little restaurant hadn't been doing the same.

My sister, Pegi and my niece, Whitney

Saffron Risotto for the sister with the braces on her teeth. (Delicious) I tasted everyone's!

What the rest of us had. Steaks, Pork Chops, and fish.

All absolutely so good it turned us into simpering fools.

The veggies cooked separately, in different spices and then piled up together, still crunchy!

Oh. My. God.

The wine was perfection.

I haven't had such good food since I was on that gourmet boat cruising down the Shannon River in Ireland!
No, wait a minute! I believe this was better!

Yorick Is a Cross-Dresser?

2011-01-17T13:23:00.000-08:00

Turns out Poor Yorick likes to get all gussied up and sing ABBA songs with his friends!

I kept hearing "Dancing Queen." Went looking. There he was!

Dear God

2011-01-15T18:00:00.000-08:00

All I am asking for is a big fat bank account and a skinny body. Please don't mix them up like you did last year.

My Years As a Bra Burner

2011-01-14T09:58:00.000-08:00

Yeah, No.
I actually never burned my bra or any other article of clothing.
I was a Feminist, however. It was the times. you understand. I am one of the first subscribers to
"MS. Magazine." I wish I had kept the copies of that first year. They were exquisitely representative of the changing times.
This Doonesbury comic was published in the early seventies. I was attending Cal State at the time. I was taking a class called "Women in Literature" from a guy with a superbly raised consciousness. He was married to a woman who kept her maiden name! Un. Be. Lieve. Able.

The comic was clipped and stayed on my fridge for years!

This little conversation in a sand box was, and still is, my favorite Doonesbury comic.
My son gave the 100 pound book to me for Christmas. I found the sand box kids immediately.

Lexie Is Two!

2011-01-09T19:16:00.000-08:00

We are experiencing the "Terrible Twos."
I have to say we have been doing so since I brought her home.
Don't care.
Love her to pieces!

How To Make An Old Teacher Happy

2011-01-07T11:42:00.000-08:00

Just send her a sweet email like this one I got yesterday!

Are you the same Lynn Guinn that taught at Willmore Elementary in Westminster, CA in the 80’s? If you are, I was one of your students – I was in your fourth grade class and had you for 5^th and 6^th grade English. I still have great memories of “Where the Red Fern Grows”, “A Wrinkle in Time” and all things Shakespeare. I was student body Treasurer, Secretary and President while there. I believe you also had my younger sister, Lisa in your classes. Maybe you’ll remember that we had a bet once and you said that if you were wrong you would “eat your hat”. Turned out you were wrong and you baked a cake in the shape of a hat for the class. After peaking in elementary school, I went on to Stacy Intermediate, Garden Grove HS and UCLA (BA in English and JD).

If you are the same Lynn, just wanted to tell you that you were a wonderful teacher and still my favorite. If you’re not the right person, sorry for the inconvenience and now you know about a great teacher. Take care.

A Four-Way Kiss For 2011

2011-01-04T19:18:00.000-08:00

My sister and bro-in-love were at our house to welcome in the New Year.
We did our welcoming a little early for our time zone but we can do that if we want to.
We watched Bette Midler's Vegas Special and then went to bed.

The next morning Richie fixed Eggs Benedict for the four of us.
THEN, and here's the good part, we graded my sisters science Ocean Reports.
I enjoyed it because middle school children write some funny stuff! I got fodder for a newspaper column!

Something I Got For Christmas

2010-12-27T11:19:00.000-08:00

Santy Claus brought mme this three tiered beauty. I am "Shopping the House" for items to make an arrangement.
So. What shall I look for next?

Before and After

2010-12-26T15:17:00.000-08:00

This is the brunch I made for us the day after Christmas.

The items below were our lunch the day before Christmas. To those of you who don't have any In and Out Burgers? So sorry.

Alas, Poor Yorick. He got tangled up with Mod Podge.

2010-12-20T13:51:00.000-08:00

This glass skull contained vodka.

I drank it and then I decoupaged it.

He has a golden chicken bone hat. I think he likes it

Christmas Happened! Hallelujah!

2010-12-16T09:51:00.000-08:00

I am sure that everyone on the planet has seen that flash mob internet video
of people in a food court somewhere singing the Hallelujah Chorus.
I wish I
had been there! My alto part of the Chorus is as familiar to me as the
sound of my breath going in and out of my lungs.

Every year in December I participated in a community production of The
Messiah for all of the years I was “forming,” in Ada, Oklahoma. The singers
included the high school and the college choirs, and various church choirs,
along with anyone else who wanted to participate. The orchestra was filled
with people from similar talented groups around the small town.

Year after year we would begin practicing before Thanksgiving and by the
time we performed we were a melodious and powerful group. It stunned the
standing room only audience almost as much as it awed those of us who were
singing. To me, it was the beginning of the magic that was Christmas. Ada,
Oklahoma was a great place to spend one's formative years.

The first Christmas I spent as a married lady in Southern California, I
waited for the Christmas magic to appear. It was balmy, but there were
Christmas decorations in the stores. There was no Messiah. We were a
struggling young couple. I realized I had to make Christmas happen in our
little apartment. I remember sitting at the kitchen table making dough
ornaments to hang on the tree that had been given to us by the elementary
school where Richard worked. I sang my heart out. “All we like sheep...”
“...and he shall reign for ever and ever..Hallelujah!” Alto part only. Oh,
and with a smidgen of soprano thrown in now and then.

The thing about religions is they have some beautiful music.
The thing about apartments is they have some thin walls.

My new California neighbors smiled cautiously at me after that.

Terra Cotta Soldier Guards Ranch

2010-12-14T13:22:00.000-08:00

This is Gau Wei. It is pronounced Go Way.
He guards and protects.

Keeping My Merry Carbon Footprint Small

2010-12-04T19:12:00.000-08:00

After the Christmas season ended last year, I went to "Jo-Anne's Fabrics and Oodles of Other Stuff" and got this fabric. My plan was to have this project done by the end of last January.
My new plan is to make gift bags to use over and over beginning this Christmas.

Thus eliminating a bit of the mess and waste of paper.
I have made one so far. Fifteen minutes. This tells me that I shall probably run people down to retrieve the bags after they open their gifts. Guess the bags will have to go to family members only. They understand me.

Funny Looking Duck

2010-12-01T12:39:00.000-08:00

This ducky looks like someone put one of those exploding cigar things in the back of his head. He can be found at Scarlet's Run.

Thanksgiving 2010: The People, The Food; The Thankful Game.

2010-11-25T20:13:00.000-08:00

This year we gathered at Jen and Rob's Home;
"Scarlet's Run"

What you do when your oven bites the dust on T-giving Eve

The People.

The Food

The Thankful Game.

Everyone writes what they are thankful for on a strip of paper. Then Each person draws a paper out of the bowl.

Then everyone guesses who wrote the "Thankfuls." It can be touching or hilarious or naughty. Each year is different!
Oh, yeah, I brought the "White Trash Potatoes" which is a Holiday Staple!

There weren't any left over.
Never are.

A Mountain Man Prepares For Winter

2010-11-22T12:10:00.000-08:00

Splitter

Roll it over toward the porch.

Carry it up to the wood holding thingie.

"You COULD put that damn camera down and pick up some wood, too, you know."
So I picked this piece up, but alas it was the WRONG KIND of wood.

All stacked up.

And a trash can full of kindling.

Winter.
BRING IT!

Who knew there would be a Wrong Kind of Wood?

Chlamydia--No. Wait.

2010-11-19T10:27:00.000-08:00

That's not it.

Clematis?

Cyclamen? Yeah, THAT'S what it is!