A Redding Life

Rain No Damper On Watershed Festival

2011-04-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

I have to say there was still what looked to be a fine crowd today at the Redding Whole Earth and Watershed Festival! held in the City Hall Sculptural Park! I have attended this before, but this year it was a really BIG event! How wonderful to see so many people out enjoying a great day with the Family and Exploring Northstate Offerings!

There was great music, delicious food, more than enjoyable music and lots of Wonderful Art!

Partnerships this year with Raba, Turtle Bay and Shasta Living Streets was a huge success as far as I could tell! I enjoyed booths from many Agency's like the Shasta Chapter of the Native Plants Society, Very Informative, I learned a lot about plants that are not even indigenous to this area that are not very friendly! Growing Local People were having fun and had some great plants too! There was Churn Creek, Hat Creek And so many more I can't even list them all! A complete list of the Vendors is Here!

I saw my friend Nadia from the Bohemian Art Loft with some of her Beautiful Unique Handmade Jewelry! The day would have been incomplete if I had not gotten to the Wow Waffle Tent, Unbelievable! If I could make waffles like that.....mmmmmmm.... :)

It was very interesting to see the "Shasta Living Streets Program" concept of opening the streets to foot traffic and promoting an OPEN AIR DAY! It was a delight and I had a lot of fun as I am sure there are many happy children that enjoyed a day out and about with the Family!!

I did venture on across the way to see my friend Mark at the Shamrock....http://brokeneckstudio.blogspot.com

Upcoming Show Causes Local Uproar!

2011-03-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

In a really Good Way! The First of this budding Venture..."The Burlap Harlot Show" at the Anderson Fairgrounds May 7th, is promising to be a really Spectacular Event! Everyone Needs To Get Out There...This is a Perfect Example "Buy Local & Buy American"!

Sidling Sideways Into The Shamrock!

2011-03-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

Cafe that is! What a nice little neighborhood flavored spot he has on the corner there for the Shamrock Cafe & Creamery! Even though I have been trying to make a point of stopping by and meeting owner Mark Loring in person, since I have been bantering with him for some time now as a FaceBook friend, I was not planning on stopping in, I had just eaten a Huge bowl of Beans & Cornbread! I was only driving by on my way to the Orchard Nutrition ! But, as I was doing that slow drive-by, I noticed a familiar looking Bald Head pointed right at me with a smile and a wave! As I was cracking up, haven't seen Ruben since his "Hair Follies" I had to stop and get a good laugh out of it!

Mark was a really nice Guy in person, insisted on serving me some of his Renowned Cream-O-Broccoli Soup, I thought I was going to Explode from eating more after my Beans... but it Was very good! I ate it all, skipped the Ice Cream, ...Dam ...that is sure to be a DELIGHTFUL treat!! Next time! I did get the inside scoop that he is having a Awesome Custom BBQ Wagon built, I can't wait to see that Baby up and running! I want to make sure and invite him out to BBQ at my ArtStock Event! :)

Of course... the REAL Heart Winning moment for me was... when I realized that he WAS putting food out for the cute little skittish, Stray Kitty he was denying anything to do with... LOL! A man after my heart... "0 I'll be going back again Really Soon! :)

Remember to get out and Support Local Business! Save America ~ Buy American!

Life In Redding Still Goes On...

2011-03-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

Even though I have moved to such a sweet little town that I love, I still do not get out there and hustle like I should for my blog fodder... I do not however, seem to have ANY problem finding trouble (oh, er, uhm), entertainment... when I make my way to the Big Town North! :)

Well, I Moved My Life To Anderson, Switching To A Different Blog!!

2010-08-03T17:06:00.000-07:00

I am now set up and writing from out here in Anderson, CA. I no longer live in Redding! Please visit my studio blog at http://brokeneckstudio.blogspot.com to see what I have been up to and what is currently going on in my life!
I love it here in my quiet little neighborhood, so far I have seen quite a bit of the town, but I still do not get out that much and it is hard to write about what you haven't seen! So hopefully I will get something rolling out here soon!

Little Sisters

2010-04-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

They get in your stuff, tattle every chance they get, pull every mean stunt they can think of, follow you around like a puppy till you scream, infuriate you beyond reasonable means! Then they have the audacity to make you love them... and now mine has the gall to fall irreparably ill....

Damn her anyway...

Inaugural Pot Of Menudo Gets Two Thumbs Up!

2010-04-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

I believe His words were "The best pot ever made!"
Since I have made Mucho Menudo, this is really saying something!

He (SHE) Who Laughs Last... /or/ More Simply Put... Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah-Noogies!

2010-03-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

How do you spell PLLLLLLT! (?) or even do it without spitting on your screen? Well, anyway, that goes out to the Realtor that responded to an inquiry with the statement that we couldn't find anything "livable" in our price range... So, here I sit, in my new house! Woo-Hoo! I'm clear sailing, off into the sunset now! It really IS all about ATTITUDE!

Clint and Mindy Cronic at Next Generation, Sheila Karlowsky over at Vitek and their respective crews were behind us all the way! We know they did not make much $$ on our sale (sail), but they were still in there up to their (eye)balls, holding on tight, painting the deck and praying for no leaks in the hull! Considering how much we did not know, the amount of "hand-holding", putting up with my OCD AND the fact that they had to hustle for every single dime, they all deserve way more kudos than I am capable of heaping! :)

My Honey, being who he is, set a land speed record for single handedly moving his entire household (including a large storage unit) in just over a weekend! Of course I had to restrain myself from killing him at least a dozen times over that same period as he brow beat and wrung every ounce of available juice from my G-daughter and myself, but it did get done!

So today, I am taking a moment to bask in the glory of having my own roof over head, internet, a phone and a hot cup of coffee! YaY!

Then I better get to crack-a-lackin on this mountain of boxes! :)

For Today, A Short Recap On "How I Broke My Neck And Now My Life Sucks!" Or, Pity Party Part III

2010-02-20T17:13:00.000-08:00

Okay, so 3 years ago I broke my neck while fixing my daughters Bronco, which I had no business up to my neck on in the first place! Long story here! So, a few lingering nerve issues later, well, more exactly, a bizzare one in 300,000 condition called Arachnoiditis w/ Myoclonic Dystonia! We just call it the Herky Jerky's! I am trying to get on with a life, live and do what I can to function and be as normal as I can.

I was actually doing okay, polishing up some old artist skills and trying out some cool new works! I even took First AND Second place again at a local County Fair! WooHoo!! Then comes the Mountain Road Man! What a wild one that is, tale that is, true, but incredible! Seems this guy Actually owned the road where we lived and was calling off all bets. see post 9/21/08, 9/25/08 for longer version. We were forced to move out suddenly, and thank GOD for our Step-Up-To-The-Home-Plate friends J&D, we have had a place to live since then. We are currently trying to purchase a house that we have had a bid in since Sept 9, 09, yup almost 6 months of sitting on our little hatchling of hope!

Now I had a disasterous Gallbladder issue that laid me up since Valentines Day with massive surgery, hospital and medication nightmares!

But here I am, I swear, I get knocked down, but I get up again! You ain't never gonna keep me down! :)

On Chasing A Rainbow

2010-01-28T16:26:00.000-08:00

Okay, so, we found a house, we put in our offer and now the games begin!

His And Hers Gourmet Pizza!

2009-08-03T19:47:00.000-07:00

I found the nicest pair of Mini Pizza Pans at the Grocery Outlet awhile back and rediscovered them in my cabinet last night! I was inspired! Viola', His And Hers!

First I bought the ready made dough from WinCo, along with shredded 5 cheese Italian blend to go! I like a good White Sauce, while my Hunny prefers the Red! For his, I selected a jar right out of the fridge left over from "Italian Chicken Sandwiches" last week, a very nice "Italian Sausage Marinara". For my white sauce I bought a small container of Spinach Dip out of the deli and then used the last of the French Onion Dip, again out of the fridge, and mixed them together! For both Pizzas I saute'd mushrooms and pan fried some red onions, sliced some jumbo black olives and crushed red peppers. For his Red Sauce Pizza, I topped it with Canadian Bacon & Linguisa, then for my White Sauce Pizza, I used leftover roasted chicken and artichoke hearts!

These were undoubtedly the BEST pizzas ever!

I Miss Them Already! Okay, Well Maybe Not As Much As I Should!

2009-07-31T10:48:00.000-07:00

They are really wonderful kids! I am just so exhausted trying to keep up with them! And that is just the cooking too! Anyway...Summer Vacation is over, school is looming high!

Tonight is the final night for "Cooking At The Cascade With Doni And Kelly" and I am sure hoping to make it! I love that movie "Spanglish" and I would like to watch someone else cook for a change! Whew!

Squashed Bread Breakfast!

2009-07-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

Well, a recent trip home from the grocery store ended with an ample supply of pretty squashed up bread. So after all is said and done, do you really just throw it out to the 4 legged creatures when you still have 2 legged mouths to feed? Oh' I don't think so! My Dad would roll over in his fake wood box!

So I start the "Clem Cap" up, (my Dad's thinking genes in the old noggin) and I think about French Toast! But it is a little too pinched for that, so how about bread pudding? Okay, so how about some apples too? Well, little by little I came up with this one (below), which also takes extra special adaption for the fact that my oven is a Toaster Oven and needs some real recipe modification to begin with! But I will write it with temps for a REAL oven! LOL- Unless of course you want to know how to cook in your toaster oven, E-me! :)

"Squashed Bread Breakfast Bake"

6-7 slices of squished (or not) bread, cubed
5 eggs
1 red apple cubed small
1/8 cup orange juice (I used Sunny-D) :)
1/2 cup Half & Half
1/8 cup French Vanilla Liquid coffee creamer
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp cinnamon
2/3 cup sugar
3/4 cube butter

I put the apple in the OJ to keep it from getting brown while I mess around with everything else.

Preheat oven to 325, melt butter in bottom of casserole dish, generously coat sides and bottom of dish. Leave remaining butter in dish.

Whisk together eggs, sugar, cinnamon and dairy. Add apple, coat lightly then add bread cubes. Mix gently with wooden spoon or spatula as to not break up too much but ensuring a good wet down and mix. Pour all at once into casserole dish. Cover and cook for 30 minutes, remove cover and cook for 15 more. Remove from oven, cover with towel and let rest for 10 minutes or so. Mine actually sat for about 1/2 hour and was totally groovy!

Also, I would have put in some raisins but I don't have any!

We had it with Vanilla Ice Cream, was like apple pie! You can top as you choose! :)

Okay- So, IS California About To Get A Jump Start On The New "Gold Rush"?

2009-07-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

Or should I say "Green Rush"? LoL!
I say it is High Time we cash in on this cow! The tobacco companies have had a monopoly long enough!

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j9P7paNzS32m_gMI8AAEkpvjXNWwD99F7TVO0

"Enchiladas De Casa" Recipe?

2009-06-15T21:55:00.000-07:00

Well...ummm. okay, let's see...

Filling:
about 1# lean (I like 15%) ground beef,
brown with 1 lg chopped onion, 2 cloves garlic crushed. Then add 1/2 bag frozen corn, 1/2 bag frozen peppers mix and bring back to temp. Then add 1 sm can chopped black olives, 1 sm can ortega chilies, 1 sm can diced tomatoes, salt, pepper, crushed red chilies to taste, 2 tbls modena vinager, (or red vin w/ a little honey) 2 tbls dried celantro (or fresh, sometimes I just use salsa!) , 1 tsp cumin and a healthy dash of "Pico De Gallo", ( a mexican spice) or even a packet of taco seasoning, (my sister uses it) saute for a few minutes and then thicken with a couple of tsps corn starch in about 1/2 cp water.

1 large can enchilada sauce, we like Med, 1#(+/-) shredded cheese of choice, we usually like co-jack, 14 or so corn tortillas, 1 sm can sliced olives for top.

Start with a couple of spoons of sauce in bottom, layer tortillas, tearing as needed to cover layer completely, a little more sauce, then cheese, then meat filling, cheese, sace, tortillas, sauce, cheese, meat, etc...taking care to spread evenly and smooth into place between each layer, ending with 1 top layer of sauce, cheese, olives, cheese, and a drizzle of sauce from the bottom of the can!

Bake 375* for about 45 minutes until golden and bubbly! Best if you cook ahead and then let it rest for awhile before serving so it "Stiffens" up, but mine hardly ever waits that long! I do have pictures actually, I just can't get my computer to talk to my camera!

I hope you give it a try, let me know!

There Is Just Something So Special About A Casserole!

2009-06-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

I found a beautiful as well as ENORMOUS casserole dish the other day at one of my favorite 3R (Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose) shops here in town for a mere pittance of it's original cost! So I could hardly contain my excitement long enough to get the ingredients for my family's all time FAVORITE casserole "Enchilada De Casa"! Oh my goodness, we will be eating this for a week so I'm so glad it came out!

What's To Love About Purple Stains?

2009-06-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

Everything! It means the Boysenberries are ripe! WooHoo! We just got back in from a first picking from our "Berry Tunnel"! Oh, they are MAGNIFICIENT! Some of the best berries ever I swear! I did manage to capture some footage when we were "weaving" our tunnel of vines, but unfortunately, I have still not figured out my butt from a hole in the... oh.. wait.. I mean how to operate this computer enough to get any video involved here! But back to the berries! Yes we have a wire "Tunnel that is approx. 18-20 foot long and far enough over my head that it requires a ladder for us shorties! Late winter or so we went out and pruned the growth from last year and wove all the vines up and even a couple over the top of said tunnel. It is the 3rd year of growth now and it is really filled in substantially! We will be overwhelmed with berries here in just a few days!

We barely just got over the Cherries! We have frozen cherries, dried cherries, canned cherries and cherry jam (some cherry syrup too) :) !

EEEWWW Cats Caught A Gopher!

2009-05-29T11:01:00.000-07:00

This is a good thing? Yuck!

Who Knew It Was So Complicated?

2009-05-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

The amount of papers that need to be generated JUST TO BEGIN the proccess of ASKING for a loan? I am going to be oozing brain juice all week!

Thank God I Was Born In America!

2009-04-28T09:35:00.000-07:00

I am shaken sometimes when I realize the horrors survived by other humans in other parts of the world! I wish there was some way I could instill that empathy into my grandchildren so that they could understand the significant opportunity they have been blessed with JUST because they were born in America! I want to brow beat them into knowing the sacrifices that our armed forces make to allow them those privileges that they take for such granted as to even show contempt and disdain! How I would love to transport them to live in a remote village in Africa, to China or some other third world low spot and let them hang out there for a month!

Even more appalling is the treatment of women in some of these places! It just makes me angry and wish there was something I could do! I don't mean like vote for someone or send in rice either! I want to pummel someone!
These ladies are doing just that! Check it out! http://gulabi.hautetfort.com/

Donate if it moves you!

PET

Tamale Guiso, My Own Secret Recipe!

2009-04-26T11:51:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I stumbled onto an old recipe book with the title "Country Cooking". As I questioned this title and subjected it to a test of the Index I was pleasently surprised to find a "Tamale Pie" recipe! I hadn't had one since grade school! I have shared it and played with it several times now!

So, as I am known to do, I have spent several episodes tweaking and twiddling with this recipe to reflect my own tastes and some modern greats like Home Dried Tomatoes and Roasted Garlic for example. I also use my homemade salsa, pan fried corn and carmalized onions to set it all up to an extreme flavor extravaganza! I call it "Tamale Guiso"!

So that is what I am serving today for my family along with some beans I have on the stove now and of course a big pan of Mexican Rice, (my recipe too)!

The original recipe is as follows in case anyone wants to enjoy an old standard for many people. In this day and penny pinching times it is also very economical! I remember the book my Dad used to use was called 101 Ways with Hamburger!

Tamale Pie

As published by Time Life Books (70’- 80’s?)

4 tablespoons butter

2 cloves garlic

1 medium onion, chopped

1-pound ground beef

1 large green bell pepper, chopped

1-cup kernel corn

1 can (14 oz) whole tomatoes, drained

1-tablespoon tomato paste

2 tablespoons chili powder

1-teaspoon ground cumin

1 ½ teaspoons salt

2½ cups milk w/*pinch saffron

¾ cup yellow cornmeal

2 cups grated Cheddar (Or) Monterey Jack

¼ pound fresh plum tomatoes sliced thin (or try sun-dried tomatoes)

½ cup chopped scallions

*1 small can Ortega chilies, (chopped)

1 small can sliced black olives

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a 2-quaart casserole dish

2. In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion and the ground beef, cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and the beef begins to brown, about 10 minutes.

3. Stir in the green bell pepper, corn, canned tomatoes , tomato paste, chili powder, cumin and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for about 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring the milk almost to a boil over a medium heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and1/2 teaspoon salt. Whisking constantly, gradually add the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 cup of the cheese.

5. Butter and then line the sides and bottom of the prepared casserole dish with 2/3 of the cornmeal mixture. Pour in the meat filling spreading evenly and then top off with the remaining cornmeal mixture.

6. Top with sliced ripe olives and arrange the fresh tomato slices, sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheese on top. Bake, uncovered, for 40 minutes.

7. Sprinkle the scallions over the top and bake for 5 more minutes longer.

Serves 6, Enjoy!

10 Years Since I Have Seen My Mother...

2009-04-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

how can it be that long? Where did all that time go? I blink and a decade has gone by!

My Mother moved to Texas back then, to be closer to her family there. She was never really from California, she happened to landed here during her "Cattin" around days, and she just stayed! Yeah, my Mom has her own stories to tell I can say for sure! I have a chapter on some of her escapades, but I do not know that many, but the juciest one was when she was hanging out in a bar with ELVIS! Yeah, uh huh, that's right! My Mom and ELVIS! The REAL Elvis, the KING himself! Back in 57, Ft Chaffee, She was a singer/musician in a local band, there was drinking and a lot of fun but other than that, MOMS NOT TELLING!

Anyway...so here she is. Now what to do for entertainment? I was so hoping to get her to go out to Cottonwood for the Inaugural Farmers Market friday, but she is scared of too much walking. I am still working on convincing her, I would love for her to come out and get a chance to appreciate my favorite local bands such as Still Married and Pine Dogs!

I'll be going all out either Sat or Sun to make a big "Mexican Food Night" for the "WHOLE" family, over at my Aunts house, it should be quite the challenge! At least I can make the beans and the meat the day before!

Living On The Edge Of Memory...

2009-04-18T17:48:00.000-07:00

As in, I have about 204 MB left and my operating system needs 200MB just to run! I thought 20G sounded HUGE back when I bought this dino! Now, I bought a 500G external and haven't figured out how to do whatever it is I need to do to fix this beast! So day by day I live on the edge!

I'm trying to get a rig now, that I can AFFORD, so E-bay here I come! BUT...the research involved is so intense, I am sitting here all day waiting for a "duck" dammit!

Family Needs To Buy A Home!

2009-04-03T12:22:00.000-07:00

Is there anyone that wants to sell us a house? Here is a basic on who we are and what we are looking for: http://ricknlita.blogspot.com/

By way, we already recieved the "Good Luck With That' snark-o-gram!

Finding A Great Place To EAT Is Like Finding TREASURE!

2009-03-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

I stumbled into a little place out here in my (New) neck-o-the-woods, Palo Cedro, and I have to give a shout out about it! Wowowowow! It is a Mexican Restaurant named "Ortega's" and it is so good! As soon as you walk in it smells delicious, has a real nice atmosphere and your greeted with a genuine warm feeling instead of like you are bothering them or are just another ticket!

I was sorely disappointed last week when my BF and I visited another Palo Cedro establishment, and I do not want to speak too poorly of any place just because I was not happy...but..."where's the beef"? We paid a lot of money for a huge Burrito that was 80% rice, 15% beans and MAYBE 5% beef! No Way! Not Me Again! What a rip, plus no salsa's or sauces either? Get outta here! Or rather I will....

But, back to the "Ortega's", the food was really good, fresh with homemade beans and the best Chili Relleno I have had in a long time! Oh...and did I mention the PRICE? Wayyy coool!

Check it out when you get a chance, it is even worth making it a "destination" for a good night eat-out too!

Totting Teas And Tipping Tinctures!

2009-03-26T15:46:00.000-07:00

I have been sick lately, a dastartdly "cootie" jumped on me and beat me up! I have a standard way of dealing with these occasional bullies... I fight back! Usually I try to head them off at the pass, in this case the "nose" when I can tell I have been invaded. Unfortunately, this one snuck by me in the guise of an allergy episode!

First line of attack, sneeze and get rid of as many invaders as possible! Then kick in the fluids to rinse it all down. Everyone knows the rest...I can't be the only one that watches PBS for crying out loud!

I avoid OTC interaction as much as possible and instead rely heavily on Vit-C, juice, green tea and chicken noodle soup, etc... But totally avoid things like Nyqui-Something, Thera-Anything, or any type products and such-nots...
My friend however thumbs her nose at my herbs and teas, scoffing and rolling of the eyes as she takes some tincture I've offered just to shut me up! Then will drink half a bottle of green, a healthy third of the red and then top it off with a good overdose of pills washing it all down with a beer! I don't know which of us is the crazier but I'm betting my LIVER is a lot happier than hers!

ATT: Retailers: Time To Resurrect LONG Dead Customer "SERVICE"

2009-03-13T11:47:00.000-07:00

Retail shoppers are sick to death of being treated as if YOU are doing them a favor by offering us your wares! In this time of screaming pennies, people tend to be a bit more selective of where and how they toss thier $$cash$$ around!
Customer Lost--Retail Giant Linen Store- $200+ sale
Customer- Excuse me, I think that comforter is on sale, it should be $59 but it rang up as $89.
Cashier (rolls eyes pointedly while sighing): I don't think so, but let me call somebody and find out!
*My friend now wants to slap this fellow as if she where his mother!
After MUCH, MUCH, MUCH ado.....
I'm sorry, that sale is only for the Green, Brown and Grey ones, the Blue ones are full price!
After all this, customer buys Brown one, vows to never return to ...Oh!...WAIT!... their going out of business, thats right, hmmmm....guess we will be buying sheets somewhere else for TWO reasons now!

On Believing In Karma!

2009-03-03T09:40:00.000-08:00

Whew! I am sooo lucky! I just now finished shaking and quaking after having escaped by mere inches a head on with a car that at first looked driverless!! What was so important on the floor of that car that it almost took our lives? Oh little blue car, how lucky we are that I was alert with my head in the game!!

Denny's Delivers Dyn-o-myte "Grand Slam"

2009-02-04T14:26:00.000-08:00

Denny’s Hits A “Grand Slam” With Publicity Stunt!

Wow! FREE BREAKFAST! I was so very disappointed yesterday after reading that we had missed the great festivities at the Cascade. And then, what do you know (BAM) Denny’s pulls out this cool publicity stunt and it is plastered all over the radio and spread like wildfire by word of mouth. Hmm, seems like Redding really responds to the radio, (hmm, have to explore more….) Anyway, JM and I jump in the trusty van and off we go…

As we arrived at the Denny’s of our choosing, (Vagabond) we observed a really long line leading out the door and around the sidewalk for a significant distance. We discussed the possibility of going to the other side of the freeway but decided that it would be the same no matter which one we went to because even behind us now, people were driving and walking in droves! Good Karma opened a parking spot as if we had an invitation. If we were on the fence about giving up or sticking it out for the adventure, we took it as a sign that it was meant for us to go! LOL!

We arrived in time for Channel 7 KRCR to turn the camera on us. We both quickly tried to shrink away, she with her “Morning Coat” on and I with my “Rooster” hair! Later we watched ourselves on TV anyway! HAHAHA! The line snaked through the lobby, out the door and about halfway down the side of the building when we arrived! However we did notice right away that the line was moving steadily and that everyone seemed to be in really great spirits. The line moved impressively fast and we were inside and seated in an astonishing 20-25 minutes!

The atmosphere was cheerful and the staff was moving quickly with obvious coordination. I know how hard it is to serve in just this type of atmosphere from “my world” past, so I can relate in a big way! Our server was friendly without being wooden, she was quick without being too brisk, was very efficient and our food arrived fresh, hot and perfectly prepared as ordered. Again, with a smile and amazing service!

I enquired to a couple of the staff as to the purpose of the “Free Event” today and was told that Denny’s wanted to reintroduce people to their establishment and draw new attention to their standards of service and food! So, simply a “Publicity Stunt”!

Well then YAY, Well done! Woo-Hoo!

My Rose

2009-02-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

My Rose

A couple of people I know got married some years ago. It was an ill-fated marriage; they really had very little in common, outside the bedroom, if you know what I mean. Their battles were long and makeup sex was strong, but after a few years it wore off, or rather on. After many attempts at attrition, there was just too much to forgive. One day while they were busy ripping and tearing their lives apart, I happened to stop by. As I was a friend to both of them, this was really an awkward moment, but too late, I was already there! As I walked around the property with her, (as she needed to vent,) I made small talk of the plants and flowers. I inquired as to the species of an ugly little lump of a stump in this small wooden container. It was a rose bush she insisted. With which he had attempted favor by dragging it into their lives at some point. It was an ugly little stump; it took some convincing for me to believe it was even a rose at all. She loudly persisted that I should have it, take it, do something with it; she sure as hell didn’t want the piece of crap. Reluctantly I accepted the “gift”. It looked dead, like a scrap of driftwood. I threw it in my car and made my escape as elegantly as possible.

A few days later I came across the “scrappling” in my car. I dragged it out, tugged gently at the stump and decided that it may have life in the root ball after all. Who knows what a good root ball can produce! I took it over to my potting bench and poked around the soil a little, put a handful of fresh mulch on top and sank a fertilizer stick into the deepest part of the little rotting container. It was evident that if it lived, I would have to get a new container for it soon. I found it a comfortable place to reside and figured I’d give it a shot.

Sure enough, just a few weeks later I noticed some shoots! I delighted in its first production of just one little rose. But it was clearly weak and it soon succumbed to a terrible round of nasty little critters that stripped its pathetic little stems to scrawny toothpicks. But after seeing that first rose I knew I could bring it back around. I went and got it a nice big new container, a bag of the best stuff around and gave it a place of distinction on my front porch.

The following season, I was ecstatic to get enough blossoms as to glean comments from passersby. Then once again, I had a hell of a bout with the critters. I was reluctant to use harsh chemicals because I felt she was a little delicate. I pampered her and did what I could with teas and concoctions. This cycle would play itself out for a couple of more years.

Then one year, just as she was beginning to put out some really promising blooms, again the damn critters began to munch, Oh! I can’t believe this! The poor thing has been trying so hard. It looked so sickly; I moved it away from the front of the porch to the back.
When I got up the next day there was a huge spider web covering most of what was left of leaves and stems. I figured what the hell, let him live there; maybe he can grow fat on some critters!

Sure enough, several days later I noticed that the progression of the critters had ceased. In fact there was some evidence of new growth. Oh my God! That spider really did eat the critters! Well, I was so astonished I tried to tell some people about it and I think they think I’m crazy. You Think?

Over the next couple of years, despite some amateur clipping accidents and several more bouts between critters, I have ended up with what appears to be a small, double trunk, mini “tree” of roses. This year my spider moved in early, how I love this guy, not another critter in sight! I played with the stems and crossed them over each other and secured them in the middle. They look really cool like that. The blooms are setting for the second time this year, and there is going to be even more this time around.

My friend stopped by the other day; it’s been years since she came around. As we strolled around my yard she proclaimed about what a beautiful rose that was! I proudly informed her it was the same one she had given me. Oh! No way, this was her rose? I bristled at the words rolling off of her tongue. Her rose? NO, this is my rose! But, being civil, I refrained from correcting her and let her wallow in her own self-glorification and lament about how she should not have given away such a beautiful rose. Her comment on how she had a spot that would be perfect for it at her new home, rolled off me like water on a duck. I wasn’t going to go there, and neither was my rose!

It wouldn’t matter to tell her that it would not even be in existence any longer had it been left in her care, nor that it would still not probably survive the future. She can beat her chest all she wants because the truth is; I know that I brought this plant to life. Yes, the root may have belonged to her, but she discarded and discounted its value. Now that it is plain to see it’s potential she wishes to bask in its glory! All of that doesn’t really matter, she can’t have it back, and it still lives at my house. I’m still the one that will run out and brush away the first snow and then tie and cover the stems to protect it. I will be the one to carefully trim it and feed it to help it “spring” to life next season. I’m the one that sees it grow and delights in the changes. I’m the one that basks in its glorious blooms! Ultimately, this is my reward; because you see, it really is my rose!

This story is dedicated to Step-Parents all over the world, I wrote this especially for someone that needed a new perspective on accepting another's "discards"!

Stories Of Life In The Past Lane!

2009-01-17T11:57:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the simplest little statements can trigger the most bizarre memories and thoughts about who you are and where you came from. The stuff that makes up the baseline things you do and how you react and behave can come from the smallest influences.

Having a conversation with my friend the other day, she says something about getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, and then I made the statement that I never get up in the middle of the night unless it is an emergency or there is just something not right. She was curious as to how and why that is and I knew immediately that the reason was just as simple too. When I was young, there was a time when we did not have running water in our house, so that meant that we had an outhouse for our “business”. Trust me, when you live way out in the “boonies”, there are plenty of things that go bump in the night for REAL.

My dad had gotten a piece of property, by life circumstance, and he had to make the best of it. He brought in a bulldozer and cleared a pad out from the surrounding hillsides that left us smack in the middle of a giant horseshoe. The dirt walls were an average of about 6-8 feet most of the way around us. It was plenty big enough for us, but was probably only an acre or so at best. One thing for sure though, it was in the boonies! No neighbors, no electricity and no running water! We did have a big double wide mobile home, but again, no water, etc… It was given to my dad in exchange for some work, needless to say, it was not in the best condition to begin with, by the time they mangled, oops, I mean wrangled, it into position it definitely had very serious issues to say the least.

One night I had been in trouble already with a steady case of the trottins, so I prepared ahead of time with one of my Dad’s flashlights right at hand. Sure enough I awoke with a start, jumped outta bed and headed off, almost forgetting the light as I ran. I doubled back and grabbed it, terrified I was never going to make it all the way across the yard already. I ran all the way without even turning that damn light on, just by heart and the light of the moon. It really was close but I made it and was sitting there for a VERY long time, when suddenly I heard something walking around. I called out, but heard nothing in reply. No need, I already knew!

A couple of weeks back my Dad had already had an incident where he had opened the back door and just "hung it" outside to take a quick midnight release, when he looked up just in time to realize he was about to wiz in the face of a mountain lion staring back at him. Because of the proximity of the trailer and the hillside, they were eye to eye! His gut reaction was to just slam the door closed! By the time he grabbed his rifle and got back, the cat was long gone. Of course that only means for the night, because we knew our house was smack in the middle of his territory already. The same cat already had been around for several episodes in our lives! He would be wound in through my life for years, my Dad tried in vain to shoot him MANY times!

My Dad had put the little white pot house right up against the cut side of our mountain pad, as far from the house as possible, for obvious reasons. But that sure didn’t help me out any right now, at all! I could here him out here, just barely the slightest sound as the occasional rock moved or dirt shifted. Just enough to let me know he was still out there. First I shouted, even beat on the sides of the little hut, but I knew he was still out there. I finally tried to open the door just a bit, and shone out that light, I didn’t see a thing, just as I stepped out, I caught a flash from the corner of my eye and I dove back into the doorway! I started screaming now, DADDYYYYYY!!!

It took about a good 20-30 minutes before someone finally heard me and came out to my rescue! Of course the cat was long gone by then and I just looked like a ditz! But I still NEVER get out of bed to go to the bathroom at night!

Bathroom Math For Economy 101

2009-01-15T18:42:00.000-08:00

Math? Who Needs That Stink’n Math?

“Who really ever uses math anyway? Why do I need it?”

Well, here’s one for you!
I know that some people might not really grasp what it means to get by with hard time economics, but I recently had to go through this one, and so, I thought that I might share it. It could enlighten someone, not only with a glimpse into the meaning of “hard time economics”, but also, offer up an answer to that age old debating question of “ What the hell am I ever going to use all this math crap for out in the real world anyway”! [Hint: Survive!!]

Due to recent catastrophic finances, my Daughter and I had to figure out exactly how much we needed to have, for a two week period, of one of the most precious of household necessities. TOILET PAPER!! Let me ask you, do you know how many sheets you require per bathroom visit? Do you know how many times a day you use the bathroom? How many sheets are on a roll, of the brand you buy? How many times can and do you use public vestiges or even friend’s homes. Could you increase these numbers, so that you can cut out some of your own home usage? How would you tolerate toilet paper rationing? These are things to consider when you do not have money!

First, there are four children under the age of 10 and then one that is 17, and 2 adults (when I am there). So, through experimentation, we have deduced that it requires the girls (3) at least 6 sheets per wipe. Since I require the boys to wipe as well, “air dry” and “shaking” do not cut it when I’m doing the laundry! So, even though the boys use less, I will just use the figures from the girls for the whole formula. Then I do some rounding, cause a little extra is always a good thing, just in case! Because of sensitivities, we are forced to buy unscented, lint resistant papers, which are always a tad bit more, so the math here is mainly for quantity. Cost will vary greatly. You will get the idea anyway.

Per person: 6 sheets per wipe, 1 trip for #2 = 2 wipes, 2 trips for #1 = 2 wipes for a grand total of

4 wipes per day X 6 sheets = 24 sheets per person, (round that to 30 sheets per, just in case).

1 roll is approx 400 sheets (double rolls) so, 400 sheets divides by 30 = 13.3 lets just call it 12 trips per roll. 7 people X 4 wipes X 14 days = 392, let’s call it 400. So now we have 400 divided by 12 = 33.3, we call that 34 rolls, packages come 12 rolls to a pack, so we need 3 packages of 12 double rolls for a 2 week period.

Now, if we can just figure out how to get by on the 2 packages we actually had enough money for! First, we are accepting no visitors, then, well, we have school, offices, friends, etc…!!

Now that’s math in the REAL WORLD!

Life With A Grain Of Salt...

2009-01-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

Thank the Powers, it is not being rubbed into a wound! LOL! I keep reminding myself of all the wonderful things that I am so grateful for, it helps me not to keep harping on the not so groovey aspects of my life right now!

I love my Honey!
My Honey Loves me!
My Honey still has a job!
I am not paralyzed!
My car still runs (just not legally!)
My friend still loves me (I'm not kicked out yet)
My child is healthy!
I have food!
My clothes are warm and I have a nice fire going!

See I can do this!

We watched a program the other night about families that had their homes blown up and they were living in the streets with nothing but each other to cling to, no food, relatives and children all murdered or blown to pieces, no hope and no prospects. Made us feel like the luckiest people in the world!

I already spent my hour on the computer here at the library, I was reading all my favorite blogs and didn't leave myself much time to write! Oh well I know time flys....

Trying To Tread Water!

2008-12-23T09:48:00.000-08:00

I am sure there must be brighter days ahead! Even though I am not really sure when or where, I just know it has to eventually brighten up. I know better than to believe it cannot get any worse, because then of course I would get slapped up side the head with something really horrible and that would teach me!

Living The Life!

2008-12-08T09:20:00.000-08:00

Here I am living by the seat of my pants, I can't even get my computer hooked up so now I am relegated to my friends or the library! My car is still not legal and so the library jaunt is risky and best only run when the books are due back! Luckily, I do have access to one from my friend, but it is shared among many and time allotment is frugal!

I have gotten used to hauling my dishes back and forth to wash them, again, I have been through this one before! At least I have running water though! I could not handle fetching buckets of water again! The fire tending thing even came back after 40 years! Who knew? My G-daughter has some new experiences for sure! She will survive, I did! At least she gets a ride to school, I had to walk almost 2 miles in each direction, even in the ice and rain no matter what..... Yeah, she is sick of hearing it too! HAHAHAHA!

Well, my time is up!

Road Rage Ruination!

2008-10-16T08:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, well I guess this is it! Last night I came home to find "Road Master" putting the final touches on his road barracades and now the shitz begins to stink - so we are running even faster, as I speak boxes are being taped and hauled out behind me!
I have cried and screamed in private, but I don't have time to fall into my pit of dispair, there is too much to do and I still haven't found a handbook on becoming a gypsy/ nomad/ homeless person!
we have found temporary quarters with a friend but it is tenuous at best. I may get through this but my poor cat...

When Friends Become Vaporized...

2008-10-03T09:10:00.000-07:00

I guess you know your in trouble when you call your "friends" and they start dodging your like someone tossing shitz bombs!
Nothing like a friend in need to make 'em all run! If there is anyone left standing around when the dust settles you win!

Why Is It So Painful To Give Up The Old And Adopt The New?

2008-09-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

This morning as I used my relic curling iron I looked at the package and realized the woman in the photo had a bouffant! Are you frickin serious? What year was this thing made? Let's see, I have had it since about 1983 and I believe my mother gave it to me. HHmmm, WELL! Maybe it is a little old! But it has interchangeable, different size curling heads AND it swivels so the cord doesn’t tangle! Where are you going to find something like that now? You would have to buy 3 different irons for crying out loud! I must admit, there is an element of fear though when I get that old dried out cord a little too close to the sink! LOL

The thing is, I haven’t used it until now in over two years, why bother?

Ravaged By Road Rage!

2008-09-25T08:09:00.000-07:00

That is a short statement because the long one contains a whole string of known obscenities! I choke every time I try to come to grips with my new reality and realize how truly screwed I am! I feel panic every time I let my mind encompass the "whole" situation and just keep trying to focus on smaller pieces of the disaster at any one time.

I called the storage and then bought a (choke) newspaper (?) that has no real estate listings at all? I did find a ready (free) supply of little "magazines" at the local "FeedCo" store, with numerous listings! Unfortunately, unless I hit the lottery in the next 30 days, that old snowball in hell has a better chance of survival for sure!

When I E-mailed a realtor with an inquiry and mentioned my price range he E'd me back with a statement of "I doubt you can find anything Livable in That range.. Good luck with that!"

I was due to fill my hummingbird feeders but I decided I better not feed them anymore because they need to move on for the winter or they will starve!

This morning, I didn’t even bother to chase away the bears! Let ‘em move in!

Road Dispute Leaves Me In The Streets!

2008-09-21T16:53:00.000-07:00

I am now a casualty of an ongoing dispute between the guy that owns the road and some other property owners up here on my mountain! I have just been issued a 30 day notice because this guy is putting up a gate and closing the road! I hear from everyone... Oh, but he can't do that, well, I do not believe he is currently listening! Even though it will eventually go to court or whatever, that still does not help me in any way, I am just a piece of flopsom in this ocean of legal mumbo jumbo!

So, as of the end of the month I will no longer have a place to live and do not know yet what I will do. Chances are pretty good I will be hitting up friends until I can save some money for a place! This means I will probably not be doing much blogging by then!

Although I am scared and unsure of what will happen to me, I am able brained and sure I will land upright eventually, but I am VERY worried about my two Kitty Cats! I do not have any way to take care of them! The youngest will be okay somewhere I'm sure, she has social skills, but my big Kitty is a freak and I do not know how she will make it out there in the world!

Oh, and just for good measure, after much work and cash, my car still won't pass her smog, so my car is DOA too...
Okay - now - Just a quick kick to the head...

Words Of Wisdom Wasted Today...

2008-09-15T14:14:00.000-07:00

if only I knew how to get them to the inside of that little brain! Instead I know as the words fell from my lips "You are destined to become what you are practicing for today!", I knew it bounced off her pubescent ears and fell on the floor, she stepped in it and then trailed it off across the parking lot as she stepped out of the car and trotted off to class!

She didn't get it and I know I only sounded like an old weirdo, but I couldn't help it or even stop myself from saying it! Where in the hell did I pull that out of anyway?

Sigh...
But the truth in that line.....

The Start Of A New Week Begins Another To-Do List That Will Never Be Done!

2008-09-08T16:18:00.000-07:00

I am not complaining of course, merely stating the facts as I see 'em! There is a deep appreciation for the attention deficit part of me when it comes to creativity and spontaneity, but when it comes to the organization part and actually getting anything done I have to rely on the old OCD to pull something together!
So far I am on a roll, but the week is young! I only put of about 6-7 projects off today’s list. I am sure I’ll get a better start tomorrow! :)

I did however manage to finish one of my new paintings today!

Lionessa Del Sol

Go have a busy day, I will! HAHAHA
Lx5

I Can Believe In Fairies If I WANT TO!

2008-09-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

Okay, So Maybe it is not really a conviction I hold to my soul, but I still feel a little like stamping my feet anyway! I was confronted with that yank on my chain yesterday. I admitted to consulting a deck of "Fairy Oracle" cards I enthusiastically brandish as a cute little entertaining tool for dispensing advice (primarily) to my G kids to someone at a social event. This led to an astonishing "admonishment" about how these things are against God and are inherently evil!

Some people just feel the need to poop on someone else’s good times!

Yeah, my Pastor told me that I should not bring my friends to church if they didn't have nicer clothes because it was insulting to God that they looked "SHABBY"! I don't like YOUR GOD! My GOD Doesn’t give a ratz azz what my friends are wearing so long as they are seeking positive energies for their SOULS!

No I do not believe that these innocent cards are going to lead my G kids or influence any of my friends to become Satan Worshipers or slaughter sacrificial animals! I do not believe that Harry Potter was written by a secret cult to indoctrinate children into Satanism either!

Back off you zealot freaks!

Here is what my G daughter’s card said for today's message from the FAIRIES!

"Raising Your Standards" The fairies ask you to concentrate on relinquishing negative thoughts and to affirm to yourself that you deserve the best and to set your sights ahead to higher goals! They encourage you to remember that all of Gods children deserve the richest rewards when committed to living by higher standards.

Evil, PURE EVIL I say!

http://www.fairydome.com/

Local Artist Blogs About Art And Galleries!

2008-08-30T15:22:00.000-07:00

Check out this blog about art, galleries, artists and art culture!

http://brokeneckstudio.blogspot.com/

Blog On!
Lx5

$40 Dish Towels, $90 Bath Mat! Life Of A Queen!

2008-08-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

Too bad it doesn't feel like that when I am using these particular items! It actually feels like such a WASTE! (Heavy Sigh) Oh well, it beats throwing it in the trash, which is where it is just about headed! The bath mat is a piece of Chenille Fabric from Scalamandre that originally clocked in at about $125 per yard back in 1985. The dish towels, a luxurious, upholstery weight fine linen by Henry Calvin, was about $85 yard back then too. I was choking the other day as I cut up a piece of genuine, vintage, mohair fabric from about 1975. I believe it was worth your left arm back then; I was cutting it up to use as stain applicators for my husband! The beautiful Salmon Jacquard I am using as a dish-board mat; pillows for "The Lodge At Pebble Beach"! (Lamenting Heartily) 'Tis the destiny of some of this life's treasures!

I must say though, the Christmas stockings I made from Pierre Duex Fabric were really cute. More importantly, I understood that the small recipients could not care less that the red and white plaid linen originally sold for about $70 a yard, but only that they were huge and held a lot of goodies!

Those last two canvases that I bought at Michael's cost me about $15 each. Now, here I am looking at this pile of fine linen fabric, about 10 yards of it, and now I start thinking , so I wonder, if they just put some gesso on it...

:)
more whining here... http://fabrichoard.blogspot.com

So The Problem With Happy Plants...

2008-08-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

They become mighty prolific! Yes indeedy!

Oh, it usually starts innocently enough. For instance the new home owner faced with a void of greenery, usually runs out and grabs cases and flats of nursery specials. Totally unaware that in just a couple of short years these same little darlings will be producing more than their flowers! In my case, I moved into a new residence and the exterior was devoid of (healthy) vegetation. So I felt compelled to begin nursing and preening everything as well as add numerous new fill ins!

So, here I am now headed into my third season, up here in my castle upon this lovely mountain. And I swear I must have been outta my mind planting all this "STUFF" OMG! It is consuming way too much of my time and resources here! I spend hours now instead of minutes watering, pruning and yanking out undesirables! I am sure they even somehow brought in outsiders, because I didn't plant all those bulbs!

Wow What A Wonderful Breath Of Paint Fumes!!!

2008-08-15T17:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, so maybe there isn't really any fumes to speak of with my acrylics! LOL!
But, I was busy today and even in the triple digit heat, I found some joy. I realized the heat would really speed up my drying time and laid out 4 really nice pieces of linen. Since I know this is a nice heavy linen it would take a little extra heat to set it up properly! Cool, I can't wait! By this time tomorrow I will be bragging about at least 1 or 2 pieces I slung some paint on!

I Have Been Shut Down! Whew!

2008-08-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

Recently, I had some other blogs, pages and group postings that I had started. This was primarily because I was helping a group of associates explore some new avenues of communication and announcements of their merchandise, events and news. This was mainly at their own behest mind you, not just me pulling this out of my ..., anyway... so I had begun establishing, building and filling content on same said pages/sites for the last few weeks. Well, I was pretty darn proud of my little "fledglings", so I thought to myself..."Hey, I have enough stuff going on here, I just need some traffic!" So I set about inviting all the people that were directly associated with the same said "group" of people that I was "webbing" for /about.

HHHMMM.... sounds about right doesn't it?

Well let me tell you how it really went down! (Literally)

Shortly after sending out my electronic invitations to friends and Romans, about 24 hours later, I received a copy of a group E-mailing. This E mail was worded in an urgent manner, for the others to immediately explore these sites and pages thoroughly and to report back to their leader as soon as possible! The language was such that you would believe it to be a emergency!

OMG!! What have I done? I quickly went to these websites and began scouring them for whatever atrocities I had committed! I read them over and over, no, I do not think I had insulted anyone. I had not used nary a one of the "forbidden" words anywhere! I had not used anything that I thought could be misconstrued in any way that I could find! My pictures, albeit not great, I did not think were degenerate! I read, re-read, rewrote, checked errant ads and whatever else I had on there! I spent about 4-5 hours at this the first evening I caught wind of a problem, then spent the entire next day unable to get to my computer! Trust me though, it was all I could blather on about all day to anyone that would listen! What had I done?

That evening, I received "The Call" from the leader....

After all that sweating over my content, here is what the problem was...

If you clicked onto some of the links contained in MY various sites, such as "Joe Bloes Hobby Center">fan club>friends> Sam blue, you could sometimes find content that some of the others might find questionable! Maybe you would click on the moderators profile>links>myspace>friends, wow, now some real crappolla hit the fan there baby (can't pick family folks)!! Then, of course, lets not leave out that on one of these links, >there was a link> that led to another artists website> , that led to another profile>, that had a friend listed on it> that if you went to his webpage>, he had a song on his site that was rauncy! Yup, there it is, less than 6 degrees of seperation there!

So, there is nothing wrong with my content? NO,NO,NO! CONT RARE! But, you cannot have links on OUR PAGE, that could lead to other sites, where there may be links, images or written content that we might find objectional and do not want to be associated with! So the writing "thing" is okay, on the ONE site, but you will have to remove all those links. "Oh' and that "Random Art Slide Show" ( like the one on this page) that links to a site called "Flickr"? That definitely MUST be removed, and the moderator or controller or whatever of that site should be contacted. Someone needs to be checking their content because some of their so called art is just pornographic and should not be allowed to be presented as art! We cannot be associated with these types of websites!" You can however, continue to write on the ONE website if you remove that "Flickr" images link as well as the other links and then submit your writing for approval before posting! As for the other web presentations, there are far too many objectionable links on them and are not going to be acceptable. You really will have to take them down. Also, be sure any future endeavers are approved and cleared through us before proceeding or postings!

UUHHH...... the whole comunication, links, contacts, networking, reaching out to the community concept here folks......

After arguing for about an hour over this whole debacle, my brain was done and my internal timer went, DING! HUH? Am I really sitting here arguing, conjoling and begging to be "allowed" to continue doing this whole "webbing" thing for these people? Are you kidding? Spend untold future hours preening, updating information, primpimg pages and blogging about them? The weeks have already been sucked out of me! I haven't produced a single piece of art in 2 months! I have already put into this way more than I ever intended...every bit of it for FREE! As a Volunteer! Wait, What? All for naught?

Please... Here, by all means, just let me get logged on... Alright, here we go, Let me take care of that for you...

CLICK! There you go, no more Myspace! What else? OH! Okay, CLICK, no more Craigslist! You really hate the Squidoo? Okay>CLICK>Gone! Here let me take of these others also, who needs Facebook, Wikipedia and Open Directory anyway?
Your right, uhh huh! Okay, sure thing, NO PROBLEM, yup, Good Night! Uhh Huh, Bye Now!.......

I cannot retrieve those lost hours, ideas and energies, but I can damn sure make sure I keep my FREE efforts concentrated on my own behalf from now on!

Why Do I Need To Prove I Am Worthy?

2008-08-12T18:10:00.000-07:00

Recently I found myself in a position that I found all too uncomfortably familiar and I had a very hard time holding my tongue (which was socially imperative at the time) and so now I want to F#%/*& rant a little!

I consider myself an artist. Will I say I am a GREAT artist? No WAY man, I can honestly say that I have way too much fun to take it quite that far and say I am a "serious" artist! I am not! Could I have been? Most probably! Why am I not? Because I do not want to be! Not before in life nor will I care to do so in the future! Why not? Because that whole "make it look like ...." thing is just too d%#^ much WORK! My artistic choices tend to be geared towards having more fun, spontaneity and a with just a little more instant gratification! I want you to look at my work and think "Wow, I've never seen that before! I wonder how they did that?" I do not want to spend hours grueling over the perfection of an arm or a pose! I do not care to spend my life looking at my work with microscopic scrutiny to find my mistakes! Geeesh! Just Take a PICTURE for crying out loud!

Oh, I had my moment(s) when that was a path I could have chosen, but I soon tired of the monotony of pumping out boring drawings and paintings that you could buy in a paint-by-number box! By the time I should have pushed myself forward and taken my artistic abilities to task, I BAILED! Yup, I just shut it all down and was done with it all! I punked out big time! For years I would not even mention to people that I had anything at all to do with anything artistic! I was really burned out from the "Oh, can you draw my dog? Will you paint my horse?" I would work for days on a drawing and then give it away, they are then very happy! Mention BUYING some artwork and watch 'em shut down! So if people started talking about something artistic I would just oohh and aahhh along nodding my head like a dashboard decoration!

I bet Doctors hate going to parties!

I did go through another spurt in my early adult years where I did some nudes for a few friends and a nice clammer ensued, but again, I opted to get a life! Time is money when your raising a family! Big kudos to all those awesome artists out there who stick it out and go on to make a real living or better, but I couldn't do it! My "art" became something else in my world, pride in doing excellent work, at a paying job!!

Later in life...

I had the opportunity (luxury) to take some college courses for my leisure (as opposed to career geared) and found myself drawn to taking several art classes! I took whatever they threw my way for a couple of semesters and then I took a class on "Abstract and Surrealism", WOWEE!! I found something that opened my mind, eyes and abilities to a whole new world! AND I LIKED IT! I have won several awards, so I feel like I am okay, I feel SELF justified! It was a great new avenue for me and to tell you the truth... I hardley ever look back... only when someone says "Oh... your an ABSTRACT artist, doesn't that just mean you can't draw?"

Yeah....that's it! :)

"Too Much Good Stuff!"? I Call BS! Eat My Shorts...

2008-08-05T19:56:00.000-07:00

As I was collecting my change I was still fuming, I said "I will NEVER step foot in this store again"! "Good", Susan Says, "We don't want you to come back!" I loudly proclaim " I'll be writing about this somewhere, I promise! To complain to corporate or even around Redding!" "Great, have a good time with all that writing then" she shoots to me! Lovely customer service policy there at the corner AM/PM store!

I certainly intend to hold up my end of the deal! It all started because I refused to pay $1.79 for a cup of ice (MY CUP) to go with my $2.00 SoBe! They also wanted another $1.79 for my G daughters waterbottle (her bottle) full of water/ice, even though she was also buying a large Slurpee (another $2.00)! We were not using their cups, nor were we "none buying" customers and I felt this was outrageous and asked her to please just pour out the offending vessels! She was angry now that I was outraged! GMAFB! If you need to ask..Don't!

Now I have been doing this for many years, in many places and have paid for my ice quite a few times! I would even expect to pay a nominal fee such as .25-.50 or something even reasonably close! I am a fairly loyal patron and certainly a creature of habit, I may not be a wealthy person, but I spend a reasonable enough amount of my hard cash at one of the OTHER AM/PM stores!.. I will be paying close attention on my next trip I promise! If they are charging me that I will just not stop THERE anymore either! Neither will anyone in my family nor a single one of my friends once I tell them this outrageous gaffe! We are already choking on the "No credit card, but we will charge you up the wazoo to use your ATM" rule they have going!

I don't NEED the AM/PM!

What The Heck Happened To The Flea Market?

2008-07-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

So I go out to a local flea market yesterday, I will admit I did arrive a little late in the morning, BUT HEY, it was still MORNING! I arrived about 10:40, I could not believe it! ALMOST EVERYONE WAS GONE! The few tables left out there were clearly the stragglers, just swapping spit and laggardly putting their things away. What the heck? The heat? It was pretty nice still yet, it had not gotten too terribly hot and there was a slight breeze. At least the hangers on were nice enough though to let me pick through their wares!

Then there is the auction house! I remember they had a fire a while back, but wasn't that a long time ago? Why does it look like a bomb was detonated just night before last? Can the community get involved in this? HHMMM........

I do know there is another flea market. I go there quite frequently as my BFF lives right near by, but I just thought I would check out the "other" side of town for a change! If there was a flea market war (maybe I missed it?) I know which one won!

Too sad, really! What can we do to help?

First Day In Empty Nest!

2008-07-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it! Woohoo! I have the whole day to myself! To do whatever I WANT!

As soon as I finish my weeding-n-watering I am going to start on finishing a couple of the dozen or so projects on my workbench and then I am positively itching to try a couple of new ideas! So my blog will be short, besides the "must do" my want to list is way too urgent! LOL

Heres to wet paint and all the people slinging it! DAB, SLAP and ROLL ON!

Getting Ready To Roll Up The Tents!

2008-07-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

I Am torn between being happy that the kids are going home today and feeling very sad that they are leaving! As I sit here with my stolen moments after my Honey leaves for work and they wake up, I drink my coffee and sigh with the thoughts. Wow, has it really been 3 weeks? I never know where all the time goes!

You Just Never Know Will Happen When You Run A Circus!

2008-07-15T11:49:00.000-07:00

At least that is how I feel lately! I made a really big leap this year and took all 4 grandkids for a few weeks at the same time! I must be a real glutten for mental stress! I figured it would bw cheaper in the long run than several trips back and forth to the Bay Area as well as give my daughter a REAL break. Usually I take 1 or 2 at a time and just switch back and forth. I must say, it is very, very hard to keep it all together! I do not know how my daughter does it! Just the groceries alone are a nightmare! I am at the store almost every day! Not to mention the constant entertainment and the squabbling! AAARRRGGGHHHHHH........................................!

Thanks to the stars for my BFF JM! She came to the rescue big, BIG time and we went out to her small ranch for some "Camping and Farming Fun!" What a woman, a mighty fine woman is she! Whew! It was really great and the kids all had the time of their life. They have never been camping at all or even had experience around farm life, so it was a real thrill all around! Even if it was a cheat to have a tent pitched in the "backyard"! HAHAHA!

JT Smog Is My Champion!

2008-06-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

My car woes are too extensive to even try to drag them out here! That said, ( just hum a few bars of an appropriate burial tune here), it is time to put her down. I was set up in such a way that it would have been very easy for the above mentioned gentleman to just rake me over the coals. Instead he and his front lady went out of their way to help me in every way and even ended up doing a little "volunteer" work on same said aging "Armadilla", "Dilla" for short! What a great way to do business in this day and age! FANTASTIC PEOPLE THERE!

JT Pro Smog
2786 S. Market St.
Redding - 243-2278

Lx5

I Did It, Nuh-Uh-Uh-UHH-UH!

2008-06-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

It was quite the little side project I took off on there! But I finished my friend's BD present! I must admit that I did see my husband paste one of those smiles on his face that says"Oh gee honey, I sure wish I could get that!" While his lips said "Uhh, thats nice honey!"

I was working one day on a different piece when I saw this naked piece of canvas in this odd shape left from a diferent project. It was just lying on the table next to me, when I looked down I saw a big "grin" and I just caught a whim. I saw it in an instant and knew right then what I wanted, but it sure took a lot more than I thought to get there! Any way, I finished it in time for her BD!

I will post a pic just because I seriously doubt she will see it here!

The name of this one is "I AM Smiling!"

I just wish I could take better pictures! LOL

"Sixteen Ton What Do You Get?"

2008-05-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

I am sure that Mr. Ford never intended that tune as a dietary inspiration but unfortunately this has always been the tune that runs through my mind when ever the dreaded D word rolls around in my mind! DIET! AARRGGHH! Another thing I must deal with!

Some years ago I developed my own diet plan and refer to it according to the above ditty. I call it the 16 stone diet! HAHAHA I know it is funny, but it works for me! I drove off about 75 pounds in just under a year. That was great, then I let them just creep right back in and I believe they brought a couple of Friends!

So back to it I must dedicate, for my health is reminding me that I am a very mortal creature and need to pay attention! Writing this today is hereby declaring that I am embarking on said mission!

This is a chip out of a painting by one of my favorite artists : Duane Breyers, anyone know the name of this beauty? Hint: mid 1900's

Oh No! I stepped in a pile of what?

2008-05-27T12:07:00.000-07:00

I did it again, another pile of (scraps)! LOL! You would think I would learn to shut the trap door and stop letting out the hot air! Once again, I volunteered to (help?) my G-daughter make some nice autograph books for her friends and self for the end of school. It sure looked easy enough on that Internet website instruction page and lord knows I could use another outlet for some albatross (oops, I mean fabric) ( http://fabrichoard.blogspot.com/ ) anywhere it can be appreciated! She has only been at that school for a couple of months, how many close friends can she have? Turns out that 6 was the magic number.

Everyone knows it is never as easy as it looks. Especially when it needs to be dealt with by a menopausal, OCD driven, self monitoring volunteer! I am going to leave the rest of that story to ones own imagination! I will say that I think they all came out quite lovely! My Hunny even tried to score one for himself. I convinced him that even if it was blue, the floral silk was still not really his forte!

Now I have to get it together for the next pile of do! I still have about 4 different pieces on my work table that are NEARLY done, I just have to get'er done!

The very next piece to be finished will be my good friend's BD present that is calling to me with the urgency of an aproaching date!

I will not even mention the OTHER work I volenteered for at my local art league!

LLLL

So Boils The Ink!

2008-04-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

It is said that venting helps relieve the pressure of a steaming pot. Well by all means let me vent before I blow!

I am admittedly ignorant to a great degree about computer issues. I am always just poking and prodding my way around, like a fish gasping for air flashes through my mind here. I will also admit that a good deal of this is by choice because it is just difficult and sometimes mental challenges are just too daunting! That said, I have not gone through the whole challenge of learning how to change/refill the ink cartridges in my printer. I may also mention it has been about 9 months or so! I do not do very much printing, I hardly ever use it! If I want pictures I print them at a local shop that deals with and produces wonderful prints at dirt cheap prices! I can't even do it at home with 3 times the hassle! If I am after documents I would simply put it on my flash drive and take it to my Kinko's! No muss - no fuss!

That was before - this is now. Last night I took an urgent trip from my home all the way to same said local friendly printers because of course they are open at all hours and it was after 6 p.m. I probably would have gone somewhere closer if I had only known where I could have done so, because it was a 40 mile trip on top of everything else!

As I walk in I observe a young man at the desk that I always receive wonderful service and I am pleased to see that he is not busy! (He is leaning back in chair with arms behind head, reclining and slightly rocking as he observes all those others around him!) As I approach him I extend my flash drive towards him and begin to stammer a request for prints of a couple of documents, with a little tongue tied blurting I finally got it out that would he pretty please print me a couple of documents from this drive.

First he rolls his eyes in an exaggerated manner, reluctantly and slowly sits forward, heaves an audible sigh, finally takes the flash drive from my hand, inserts into his tower and then announces in a slightly contemptuous tone that there would be an &2.95 access fee for him to open my drive! I am flabbergasted, no one had ever charged me this fee before! I have done this same thing at least 6-8 times over the last few months! Maybe they were all just overly nice? Anyway, when I acted shocked and asked him was there another way, he pointed and told me I could go to the back and pay to use the computer and do it myself. Okay, I have never done this either, how do I do that and how much does that cost? He is now decidedly put out, can I please just leave him alone? Not his words but it was obvious none the less! I snatched my drive from his hand as I retreated to my proper station(?)!

Because the 5 sheets of paper where so important I was forced to figure it out, even though it ended up costing me more than if I had just paid him his extortion fee because it took me 20 minutes to figure out how to access the drive and retrieve my docs! I get my pat on the back though because it was not really that small of a feat for an old cuss like me, but I rolled on out of there with my papers even if not any dignity!

First thing this morning, I whipped out the instruction book for my printer, I'll be headed into the office supply today for sure! Bottom line, I will NEVER, EVER go to that establishment again! I realize that my few cents here and there mean nothing, but my big mouth has been spewing for months about how it was too easy to just go to them instead of dealing with my printer issues and had convinced at least 2 other people of the same thing over the last few months. I even convinced my BF that she was better off just going there instead of trying to print her flyer's at home!

A couple of weeks ago, my G-daughter needed a flyer copied for school, we were right next door to a little place on the old side of town called "PAGES", we popped in there and the people there were sooo nice, trust me, if I ever need another thing I will be there, even if they are a little less conveniently located!

Okay, now I feel better!

What a spectacular day here on my mountain! Wow! What a magnificent place this is to reside! I have been out preening my emerging roses with much glee. Even clipped my first bud and put it in a vase just this morning! How can life be any better? Not even possible! :)

Finally Found Fabric Fan!

2008-04-15T10:52:00.000-07:00

Yes! I did it, I found a person to take some of my albotross! (oops) I mean fine fabric!
If you want more on THAT story you can read it at http://fabrichoard.blogspot.com or just take my word that I have been trying to find a taker for awhile now. Since I have been trying to make some room for my G-daughter to have some space it has become quite a bit more urgent! So the last couple of weeks I have been sorting, folding, shifting and fondling so much fabric my eyes are ready to roll around! But I have done pretty good job considering I can only do those things for 15-20 minutes at a time. I cannot hold my arms up and fling them around for much longer than that! Who needs physical therapy?

Also on my agenda has been a full bore onslaught of the gardening! Everything needs groomed and fed! It is like having pets, hahaha! Add onto that some volunteer work I opted into and I must say my plate is mighty full these days! I am not complaining, I am celebrating! I called my sister, she used to call me every day and want to talk for hours. I told her she had too much time on her hands and she needed to go find something else to do! So now she had not called in a very long time, so I was beginning to worry. I call her up and I say why haven't you called lately? She said "You told me to go get a life so I did!" I said are you complaining? She says "No, I love it!" HAHAHA!

Today's Oracle says "Body Movement"! Hmmmmm..... Does that just mean "Get your butt in gear?" LOL

Whew! Catching Up To The Rest Of The World Takes A Lot Of Energy!

2008-04-01T08:28:00.000-07:00

My G-daughter is in school now, we managed to get "Dilla" (armadillo) running and I even sold my first painting! Woo-Hoo! I am on a roll! LOL! Now I get to go spend my loot on a tune-up, smog test and registration for aforementioned "Dilla", that is the name of my little grey car, I come from a long line of car namers. I understand this is silly but it does not stop the naming process one bit!

I spent all day yesterday in the studio. It has been awhile since I had a chance to get back to some of the pieces I have been trying to finish. I still did not finish anything but at least I bumped some things ahead! HAHA! I always have so many pieces going at the same time, I work on one for awhile then on another. I am not sure which way to look at this, you can call this wet paint or ADD, either way.

Today is April Fools day! This is the day my Critter Kitty was born, around 1-2 A.M., in the closet at my Daughters home! Happy happy! But then, that very night at around midnight, my old Misty Kitty, she was about 13-14 years old, disappeared forever!

She was semi-wild, she had come into my world out of the field behind my shop at a very young age. She just walked in one day in early summer, scoped out the area, jumped up on a pile of fabric in the corner, cleaned herself and went to sleep! After a couple of weeks, I caught her and took her to the vet, got her all fixed up and she lived in my shop for about 8 years. When I closed my shop, I brought her home to live me and she lived there for another 5-6 years. She was never the domestic, not to be held or coddled. She would let only me and my Hunny any where near her, but she was an exceptional hunter and kept all of her kingdom pest free! We kept a window rigged that she was always free to come and go. Eventually she began to get too old to protect her territory and had gotten to the point of mostly living in and close to home but there were some neighborhood bullies that had even come into the house after her a couple of times. Then, on that fateful night, my Hunny awoke to a horrible cacophonous and ran out to break up a really bad cat fight in our kitchen, involving several cats jumping her in her own home! The whole shebang went out the window, Misty never came back!

Was a very sad event, but I did take it as a sign to accept a couple of the new kitties from my daughters litter! Hence my two original kitties here on my mountain, Critter and Cuddles! But alas, Cuddles met with a tragic demise of her own! No more sad for today!

Here is todays positive energy focus.

I Sure Do (Did) Love Ann Landers! Who You Say?

2008-03-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

Yup, I said Ann Landers! I know she is gone now but it doesn't change the wisdom of her words! I would skip everything in the paper on some days and still go back to read her column. Recently during a debate, the subject "maturity" became the center of rounds! A couple of days later low and behold I pull this clipped gem out of an old calender book. It is so yellow I can barely read it, so I am inspired to put it in writing to carry it on! I have no idea who the author is, but kudos to the hammer on that nail!

Maturity

Maturity is the ability to control anger and settle differences without violence.

Maturity is patience, the willingness to pass up immediate pleasure in favor of long term gain.

Maturity is perseverance, the ability to sweat out a project or a situation in spite if heavy opposition and discouraging setbacks.

Maturity is the capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat without complaint or collapse.

Maturity is being big enough to say "I was wrong." And, when right need not experience the satisfaction of saying "I told you so!"

Maturity is the ability to make a decision and stand by it. The immature spend their whole lives exploring endless possibilities and then do nothing.

Maturity means dependability, keeping ones word and coming through in a crisis. The immature are masters of the alibi! They are confused and conflicted. Their lives are a maze of broken promises , former friends, unfinished business and good intentions that never materialize.

Maturity is the art of living in peace with what we cannot change, the courage to change what should be changed and the wisdom to know the difference!

LLLL

Running As Fast As I Can!

2008-03-20T22:20:00.000-07:00

My G Daughter came to stay with us for awhile. I have spent the last few days trying to reacquaint myself with the school system. Whew! I feel like I have run a marathon! LOL!

I also have been trying to get some things set to get the garden going. I cannot make up my mind what to put into my little space this year. I do not plant veggies, just plants and flowers, but I am tired of replanting. I am ready for some perennials!

I feel mighty accomplished just by getting all my Easter off in the mail on time to get to it's destinations. Woo-hoo! I even managed to get a little something for MY Hunny Bunny too!

I Just Love Life Out Loud!

2008-03-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

Keeps me too busy to whine! What a whirlwind week I have had, I have stretched myself just a smidgen! HAHAHA! Oh well, as I said above, I am LOUD!

I have been looking at a blue screen on our monitor for almost a year now. We have never even seen our vacation pictures in real color! Eventually, the edges of the screen started warping in and out with a flickering reminiscent of an old florescent bulb, I had to admit, we were going to lose our monitor soon. It finally flat lined and stubbornly stayed that way after much cajoling and whining I had to unplug it and have a reserve unit brought up. A very kind friend had given it to me when I mentioned my blue screen. Alas; where the h--l is that freakin cord? Never to be seen again I am sure! So now the quest begins...

After much searching, high and low, a few days without and cost analysis, I ended up with a fine replacement supplied by a local Second Hand shop. I do so love this little spot, I will not divuldge it's identity for fear of others tresspassing on my sacred hunting grounds! HAHAHA! But seriously, strictly need to know okay...

Anyway, I am very happy to be back on the highway again, and yes I am trying to stay out of the way as I chug-a-lug along, but I do so love to cruise around! LOL!

I certainly was not bored during my off line period. I went gonzo in the studio and played with some really cool ideas and tried some new stuff, with some really interesting and fun results. I am going to have a couple of pieces ready for the fair for sure, I even finished a cool piece for one of my friends.

Off I go, I have paint dry and pieces calling me, I will be posting new pictures on my 360.

Mountain Bliss Chai

2008-02-29T15:26:00.000-08:00

Here is today's blend for anyone that just so happens, or merely to remind myself someday!

1 Jasmine
1 rose hips
1 earl grey
1 roobios
2 raspberry
1/4 orange zest
1 pod cardamom (crushed)
1-2 dash bitters
1 sliver crystal ginger

Steep in 2-3 cups clear water brought to boil then removed for a minute or so from flame. Just enough to drop back on "fury" of boil! :)

I steep until cooled significantly, then press with my most excellent french press. I usually add honey as a sweetener and have even today used some special honey I bought. Raspberry honey! Yummmmy!

In a shaker I add ice 2/3 tea, a shot of french vanilla creamer and fill with milk, cover and shake, pour into a BIG tall glass and step out to the deck with a fantastic chai! MMMMMMM.....

Makes enough for several glasses, just save in fridge for next day! Keeps fairly well for 1-2 days. But do not add cream or milk until ready to serve.

Spring Is In The Air!

2008-02-29T09:46:00.000-08:00

Poking my head out I could not help but feel drawn to the out doors. So I doned my favorite sweater and grabbed my walker. I strolled around like a queen looking over her lands, wishing my dang camera was working. I really had a wonderful turn, looking at all my little sprouts and buds just starting to peek out to see if the coast is clear yet! The amazing weather and glorious surroundings are such a feeling of inspiration!

I have really been in the studio the last few days, making up for my down time! I am on an "up" cycle, so I'll take it! I will keep 'er rockin til I roll! HAHAHA! On the floor that is! LOL Anyhoo... I have been working on a couple of really fun projects, trying some new things and having happy "accidents"! I really like a couple of my new pieces and will be posting pictures as soon as I find out what the heck is wrong with my camera!

Self Reliance!

2008-02-28T14:17:00.000-08:00

That is the meditative consultation put forth today! Hmmm... what the heck can that mean?

I think I have been waiting for someone else to take my particular "bull by the horns" so to speak. This could be how it is put in front of me, to make me see it that way?

I guess I should just pony up and GED! That stands for GET 'ER DONE, for the not so Red Neck inclined!

How Magnificient To Look Out And See Such Wonders!

2008-02-28T12:05:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe how beautiful it is looking out on the lake! (And how lucky I am to be here to appreciate it!) The sun sparkling on the water is better than a string of diamonds! Listening to my favorite sounds, XM 856, standing out on my deck and sipping on a freshly brewed recipe of chai, I am perfectly aware that I am living really, REALLY large! LOL! It could not possibly be any better! If I was a multi billionaire this could not be any more wonderful, you cannot pay for this kind of feeling!

O' Me O' My I'm Always Late!

2008-02-25T14:00:00.000-08:00

I have the darnedest time trying to keep up with myself! You would think that I have nothing to do and yet I am always running around like a chicken.... well you know the rest! I an original attention deficit disorder poster child!

I just read that the Fair is gearing up! OMG, I do not even have this years entry formulated in my brain yet! Di spite of course, the opinion by some that, "It seems like a monkey could throw some stuff at the canvas and call it "Abstract Art", my 7 yr old could do something like that!", it actually takes some thought and considerations! more

This years entry is a planned gift, I would be soo delighted if I could do something as to earn a placement at the Fair with it first! I won a First and Second place last year, so I am hoping to come up with something that really puts some icing on that! WooHoo!

Meanwhile, I am off to assemble the goodies to make my Hunny some taquitos for dinner tonight, as well as his lunch for a couple of days! I am currently broasting some chicken, then I have to put another coat of finish on a piece, sew up a couple of things after laundry and try not to antagonize an already threatening Herky Jerky!

Here is one I finally took off my bench today to give it a home out in my world!

Redding Should Be An Artists Mecca!

2008-02-25T10:17:00.000-08:00

As wonderful as Redding is, I can't help but feel like there is a certain lack of enthusiasm towards the "Arts" here bouts! I am an artist, saying that to anyone during a conversation almost always solicits some pretty odd responses. Usually though, along the lines of "too bad you can't find a real job!" Not in those exact words mind you, but it is definitely implied by all means! I find I am defending myself in no time flat! Somehow, within a few moments of the conversation, I find myself stammering something about not being able to work any more and that I can barely even get to my artwork. Admitting to being an artist is tantamount to saying "I am just too lazy to try to work for a living" as far as most people here seem to feel.

I lived in Monterey when I started taking Art classes. The "Art" atmosphere there felt quite different. If you tell anyone you are an artist in that area of the land, you are apt to feel more like a Dr. at a dinner party! "Really? Oh my gosh, I have a wall that I need to do something with! What kind of art do you do? I would love to see your work!" If you say you are an "Award winning artist" you are a treated as if you could walk on water! I was thrilled to explore art in such a vibrant and enthusiastic environment!

I can say that in my honest opinion, Redding has by far, much more of a potential draw for artistic souls than even the finest "scene" offered on the coast. We have some of the most spectacular sights, inspirational opportunity and soul capturing ambiance that can be had! Ask any Reddingite, once the red dirt gets in your veins, you will always return! I can visualize Redding as an artistic hub that would make some other "Artistic Meccas" look like dried up wells!

Alas, it is all in the attitude. There must be an appreciation for the abilities of an artist, at the very least some feeling of respect! I belong to a local art group and they are constantly struggling to keep enough people interested to keep even a small semblance of the "Art Culture" alive here in these parts!

Up To My Neck In The Suds!

2008-02-25T08:11:00.000-08:00

I'm quite sure that if you ask someone in sales about handing out samples, they will say that they really do work. I am a sucker for a good sample. The key word here is "good"of course. If I try something that I really like, I will go out of my way to obtain it again.

Recently, I found a small bottle of Meyers Dish soap, Geranium scent to be exact, at one of my favorite hunting grounds. I know that manufacturers give up goods to these discount places as a way to get rid of the merchandise they need to "dump" for whatever reason. I really don't mind that though, I just love a good bargain, hence my frequent trips to every bargain bin in our area. Anyway, so I bought this same said small bottle, mostly because I know of the brand from previous life experience and knew it was a great bargain. (I once was a nanny for a well-to-do couple, the lady of the house insisted that I shop where she dictated. Her credit card, I shop where she tells me to!) I only bought one bottle because of my tight budget and figured that if I liked it I would try to get back and get some more on payday. Well as it goes in my world. I LOVED, loved, loved the stuff and when I got back to the store, it was all GONE! AAARRGGGHHH!!

So now I have nearly used this small 8 oz bottle up, even though I have been as snigly as possible to achieve as much use out of it as possible. Now I had to go the extra distance and actually find a way to get my hands on more! So the people that make this magnificent product would be happy to know I just ordered a whole case of this product, to get the best deal possible, on it's way to uplift my spirits while immersed in my pile of dishes!

I know it sounds silly, but let me say, this stuff is really, no I mean really GREAT! It smells sooo good, I have investigated perfumes with "geranium" tones! How bad is that? I have to say, it even cuts the grease as well as my beloved Dawn! I have been preaching Dawn to my friends and family for years, even bought it for them to get them going! I can say though, if they want some of my Meyers they better whip out the credit card, I have the web site on my desktop, they even have free shipping! LOL! :)

Chili Yesterday, Tamales today!

2008-02-19T16:30:00.001-08:00

I guess I must be on a roll, cause I have spent entirely too much time in the kitchen the last couple of days! My Hunny sure likes all the home made goodies. Unfortunately for me, after 25 years, he no longer feels like it is too much of a big thing. He has a reaction like you would to a TV dinner on Friday night! Uh, yeah thats okay, put that in my lunch tomorrow! That is the highest compliment my Hunny can dole out! Of course, if I try to serve anything not "home-made" I never hear the end of it!

We stopped at a local fast food place, on way home from night on the town, "Why can't you just make something when we get home?" "No dear, it is already 10:30 at night, I am not going home to cook!" "I don't like this chili, don't buy it ever again, why don't you make some? Tomorrow!"

Trip to winco later, I make a KILLER pot of chili! Then...

What the heck is that? Did you buy tamales? Why can't you just make some? What is even in those? I bet those are full of junk, probably not even good for me! I don't want any of those, just fix me a sandwich or something!

So today I forced my BF to come on up to my mountain and help me make some tamales! I am hoping they are successful. I have made them before, but again, nobody is perfect! EXCEPT MARTHA!

Another Dinosaur Down

2008-02-18T18:24:00.000-08:00

Today was the day that my JC Penny microwave, that we bought brand new for our first apartment back in 1984, decided it would wave no more! I knew for awhile that it was feeling a little "under powered". I had to turn everything several times for even heat. It did not have a turntable, that was not available yet when we bought the "deluxe" model. But it did offer one of the first touch pad control systems, of which I was dually impressed at the time. It cost an arm and a leg at around $450 or so, but no home was complete without one!

My daughter has been telling me it was a relic for 10 years or so. You would think she would have some respect for the instrument, she was not even in school yet when we bought it, she has 4 kids of her own now! If everything we bought would last that long, money well spent! We have been through about 1/2 dozen cars since then!

I'll miss it, but I have to admit, one of those ones that turn automatically would be nice! :)

Winning With Attitude At Winco

2008-02-16T19:51:00.000-08:00

I admit, I knew in advance that going to Winco on Saturday was in itself the original bad idea here, but sometimes you just have to do the nasty chores. I was on a roll though because I had stopped off at my favorite little Thrift Shop to browse and had found a couple of trinkets and whatnots and was feeling pleased with myself. I had to make a dash on Wally World first and even though my basket cart wouldn't go more than 3 feet per minute, I was still in and out without too much ado. At least I had a cart, which was not the case by the time I got to Winco.

I trolled the parking lot for a minute or two looking for a cart (motorized) in case there was one incoming. I was not so lucky. I parked about mid aisle which was not so bad, but there was not a chance of a cart showing up, so I bit the bullet and started hoofing it. I only got as far as the produce section before I had a Herky-Jerky and scared the bejeebers out of everyone. At least the produce guy is used to me and stopped anyone from calling an ambulance!

As I made my way through the mass of people for thier choices I was reminded of when My Hunny was in the Army. On payday, the line for the Commissary started forming by 6A.M., there would be people lined up as far as you can imagine, all the way around the parking lot by the time the doors opened. They would only allow groups of 20 to enter at a time, if you were smart you had someone to get in line as soon as you got inside, so you could go shop. The lines would form and zig zag down every single aisle. If you got there after 9 A.M. or so, there would be very little selection, by noon you were lucky to find half of what you needed. That was even worse, because then you had to go do it all again somewhere in the "civilian" realm!

After selecting all my pampered little goodies, I smile a little smile and just lean on my cart and relax as I pull up my meagerly loaded cart behind a guy ranting and raving about the long lines, slow cashiers, too many people, etc... It is not even a blip on my scale, he has half a cart and the one in front of him was unloading. Just a stroll on the beach my dear!

It Is Not A Mullet!

2008-02-13T11:21:00.000-08:00

....Okay so maybe it is! But I don't care, I like it! I think it looks very neat, sheek and has just a touch of sass! That is how I want my hair cut. "No Mom, you can't get a mullet, only freaks, wierdos and throwbacks walk around in a mullet!" They say if the shoe fits....
Wait till she sees the color! LOL!
Oh, the extra bonus points for embarrasing my daughter do not count, mostly because I didn't intend to! Kinda takes the thrill out of it you know! :)

Oh Happy Happy Joy Joy!

2008-02-11T17:59:00.000-08:00

My slim hope was fulfilled! My Critter Kitty Came back home! She is alive! My Hunny proclaims she is too good to be caught, I know she was lucky! Whats more, so does she! She was covered with pieces of debris from where she burrowed in, and she is terrified of every little thing. She is VERY skitttish and jumpy so I know she barely escaped something. For the second time too I might add. She did the same thing when her sister disappeared last year. I am still saying my thanks for her safe return, both times! I sure will be keeping her close to home for awhile. I wonder how much one of those tracking things cost? :)

I spent all day shopping Saturday, what an experience that is from my new prospective on life. I am sometimes so amazed by humans that do not know how to act civil. It scares me to see the barbarism in thier faces as they knowingly do something rude or obnoxious. They are literally daring someone to stand up to them, and in this case the tiger has been declawed so all I can do is shake my head in pity with aquiescence to thier physical superiority. I pity them because I understand the damage they are doing to thier own energy. Thier negative life only draws even more negativity into thier world. Like a blackhole in thier universe, most will never recognize it nor recover in time to save themselves from an eternity spent ....I just try to steer as far clear as I can, as I do not wish to subject myself to thier forces!

What a lovely and smug little day I had with my Hunny on Sunday. We went out to the Flea market, stopped here and there around town and had a really nice time. I love those days, just gazing into the horizon, touching hands and feeling so grateful for all the good things in my world.

Todays energy focus: Making New Friends

As the circle of life moves in and out of our plane, it brings with it opportunities to establish new friendships, learning, celebrating and developing spiritual connections. Today's studio shot, Paradise II

Horror On My Mountain!

2008-02-08T13:57:00.000-08:00

My precious kitty Critter disappeared last night! This morning my neighbor reports he is missing one of his kitties and his other one is all freaked out hiding in the house! After some investigation, he reports finding some "BIG" cat tracks just around the bend up the hill in the snow! I am not surprised, there is a lot of snow, the big creatures get hungry first. I tried to get her in as soon as I saw her dart out the door, but she wasn't having it. I knew she was feeling cagey after being penned up for the last week so I didn't chase her, there was plenty of time before dark. When I started calling her for dinner and she didn't come I knew we had a problem. I do hold out a chance she is holed up somewhere, terrified, like she did when her sister got snatched last year. She didn' come out till two days later that time, even though we were calling her and everything.

I did not make it into town today, I spent all morning looking for my kitty and crying! My poor kitty! Dangit! I will not get any more kitties. I am going to have a hard time even letting my little kitty outside ever! I am going to get a dog to guard her!

Attack Of The Cat! Hair That Is!

2008-02-07T17:43:00.001-08:00

I spent most of my funchy moments today picking cat hair out of everything I put a paint brush to! AARRGGGHHH!!! I guess that will teach me not to start futzing around until I make a sweep of things! One time, TK even stepped in a paint spill and had it all over the room before I could catch her! Now where is a good camera-jockey when you need one? LOL!

Tomorrow is my big shopping day, I will of course be making the tri-facta run as my BF calls it. Walmart, Costco and Winco! All in the same day, it takes some real shopping stamina! I don't usually try it anymore, but I really don't have that much to buy, so it is a wimpy run at it! :0

My positive energy focus of the day: Laughter

If you can stand back and try to refocus and see the lighter side of a bad situation it can enlighten you and heal your energies, allowing for creativity and joy!

My Uncle D Died Today

2008-02-06T10:41:00.000-08:00

That is really sad, he was a pretty good guy! I didn't know him that well, and it makes me sad to realize that it will never be. He fought a good battle with a bad disease. My heart goes out to all those in pain at his passing, may they find repose in knowing he suffers no more.

Today is a quiet day for me, I tuned into my "Audio Visions" channel very early this morning and have spent most of the time in the studio. I was straightening up more than producing though! My mood is too somber to feel creative and my physical self is feeling too whiny to be pushed around.

Doing the chores and putting things in order can be very rewarding to your soul!

A Day In The Studio

2008-02-05T10:25:00.000-08:00

I finally have a day that I can make it into the studio for awhile. Wahoo! I have actually already been in there playing this morning for a few. I still had to dress the part, but it is substantially warmer, more tolerable and friendly with lights and everything! :) I am currently waiting for paint to set enough to play with it a little more. I will post some pictures later. I have been trying out some new ideas and pushing some pieces around but I haven't really finished anything yet. I have several pieces going at the same time, which is par for my record. When I do finish something, I'll have 3-4 done in the same line of thought.

The snow is melting, although quite gradually because it has been freezing every night. We are located on the side of the mountain that dosen't get much morning sun, so it takes awhile to warm up.

Here is something I have been up to lately, I am awaiting the means to mount this and she will be ready to go. So to speak, she has no destination at this point! :)

Returning To The Civilized (?) World!

2008-02-04T18:53:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a time we have had! We lost power sometime after lunch on Saturday and we just finally got powered back up this afternoon, Monday, just before 5 p.m. Oh my, we have not been enjoying that! I pulled the oil lamps back out, put an extra down comforter on the bed and we were once again so very happy to have a gas stove. You would be surprised how well a couple of burners from the kitchen work to keep you warm enough, (with a couple of extra layers of outer wear)! Well praise to the PGE were back on line now! WOO HOO!

We did get into town to try and hole up somewhere and watch the Super Bowl. But alas it was not to be. First we went to a nice pizza parlor, after we get inside and ordered a (expensive)pizza and a pitcher of beer, we look around for a seat as we realize there is NO TV AT ALL! WHAT? Yes that is right, a nice pizza, cold beer and no TV anywhere! They should be sued! So we leave the pizza place and decide to head down to the local indian gaming establishment. We couldn't afford to stay there long enough to get past the first Quarter. We dropped more bills than we ever intended and then quickly left while we still had our shirts!

Yet Another Snow Day!

2008-02-02T16:01:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I am wayyyy done with the winter wonderland thing now! I have watched the same two DVD's until I am ready to scream! If it would at least stop for awhile my Honey could make it out to the dish and knock off a couple of inches. But alas, wishing in one hand...

I am one of those people that have never seen the value of "owning" a movie I have already seen. I can watch some movies over a couple of times as long as the viewings are spaced out just a little. The main criteria though is that I need to have at least liked the dang thing the FIRST time! Which is not the case with ONE of the two we do own! A friend gave it to us because my Honey likes it, but I do no really care too much for british humor.

I have lived in Redding since 1989 and it has NEVER snowed this much before. I was without power for some hours a couple of days ago. THAT certainly brought back some old memories, filling my oil lamps, cleaning the globes and trimming the wicks. I may not really be quite that old, but we moved onto property that did not have running water or electricity for several years of my youth. Trust me, that is enough. It makes you really appreciate what you have a lot more when you get it back!

Still A Snow Day Up Here On My Mountain!

2008-01-30T21:00:00.000-08:00

We had a fair share and it is definately hanging around for a few days this time. The guys have been dutifully keeping the road clear, (even if I suspect that they rather enjoy it), and my Hubby has gone to work! What a hero, at least he is to me!

The worst experience for us out of the whole deal is the intermitant loss of our sattalite service! I know, big whine! I do not have ANY problem filling my time when without "outside" entertainment. I just head off straight into the studio! I have put out a couple of pieces that I like but I am right in the middle of a experimental stage. I have not tweaked it to my satisfaction yet and am having a blast playing. Unfortunately, as with all trial and error, there is the "error", which does not necessarily mean something really bad, just different!

I have recently begun trying to fulfill one of my New Years resolutions by writing more and learning how to "internet" my way along. Even posting here is part of that same said quest! I also resolved to create more art and to try to do one positive thing for myself everyday!

Redding Life

2008-01-21T22:52:00.000-08:00

Life in Redding Calif. (as experienced and noted by me).

01/21/2008
What a truly gorgeous day it is here upon my fine mountain top. I realize that I live higher up than some of my fellow Reddingnites, as well as below some others, but I do so love my weather here! I rarely become too overheated in the Summer, (w/swamp cooler of course), and dispite a few bouts with some minor snow, I am usually kept warmed through the winter. I understand how lucky I am and my heart goes out to those without. I feel so lucky to live in this part of the world, in this exact spot even!

I am not that able to get about, my gardening is tanamount to physical therapy. So, today was the day to prune my roses, I went about my task even as a light snow was falling around me. I know that they need to be done now. I am proud to say I completed my task and managed to do so without injury! :)

My second project today has been to prepare my "carnitas", this is the meat I will use to make taquitos in the next day or so. In the meantime we will have burritos for dinner tonight and then likely tacos tommarrow. This is how I handle a lot of meals with a minnimum of preperation. When I was younger this was just to save money and time, now it is mostly to trim my efforts!