This is my card for the art deck challenge "Journey"...thought it was appropriate for today...

Had such a nice day yesterday...the weather is perfect...Andy and I took a small drive up the road to Camino (I needed to buy stamps, and I like there small quaint post office with no long lines)....while in Camino I spotted a store I had never been in. Turns out it was a FABULOUS little shop with all kinds of things I love..plus in the back of the shop is a small wonderful little book room....I found one of Laini's Ladies in the shop (this one is a magnet)....they have lots of her things, which thrills me to no end...another place to buy some cool gifts for friends!
We worked out in the yard most of the day...planting...weeding...mowing.....and loving the warm sun...late in the afternoon I started working on a card for the art deck challenge for this week...the theme is Journey. In the evening Andy barbecued chicken...I made more delicious deep fried asparagus..and we had a loaf of sourdough bread right from San Francisco (Fisherman's Wharf) that some friends brought over for us...Andy pooped out before I did...I stayed up and read the new Somerset Studio magazine....the end to a perfect day!

CD Cover

For Marilyn

I have loved Marilyn Monroe ever since I was a little girl....this atc is for her..wherever she may be.

Thursday Poem on Friday....(for a moonchild)

Moonchild

whatever slid into my mother's room that
late july night, tapping her great belly,
summoned me out roundheaded and unsmiling.
is this the moon, my father used to grin.
cradling me? it was the moon
but nobody knew it then.

the moon understands dark places.
the moon has secrets of her own.
she folds what light she can.

we girls were ten years old and giggling
in our hand-me-downs. we wanted breasts,
pretended that we had them, tissued
our undershirts. jay johnson is teaching
me to french kiss, ella bragged, who
is teaching you? how do you say; nobody?

the moon is queen of everything.
she rules the oceans, rivers, rain.
when I am asked whose tears these are
I always blame the moon.

Lucille Clifton

Happened Overnight

This is the beauty that happened overnight!!! Lilac and cherry blossoms!

Yeah!!!! Its Spring

These are some of the flowers in the garden starting to bloom...since the sunshine is doing it's thing today! I have all kinds of flowers..here you can see coral bells..columbine...daisy...lantana...sage, and some lavender..I have lots more to plant this weekend!

TULIPS

I love tulips...and mine are starting to open...finally!

I LOVE My Cat

Here is my sweet boy "Shaquille"....he looks like he has brown in his coat...but not really...he had just finished rolling in the dirt! He is 15 yrs. old...and the sweetest boy ever! He is enjoying the sunshine today.

My Little Munchkin

My little doggie poodle "Toby" among the flowers.

For this atc I used some old lace and tea stained it. The title is "She is Thinking" and right now I am thinking about this wonderful warm day!!! It is supposed to be in the 70's today..and starting tomorrow in the 80's...yippee! I usually don't get this excited about the weather..but after such a lomg wet dismal Winter I am looking forward to being outside and working in the garden..and feeling warmth from the sun!
I am cleaning in the studio today...(never-ending)...and working on numerous projects..atc's...tag book..a gift for a friend (it's a surprise)..card for the 52 deck challenge...and running outside every chance I get just to enjoy the sunshine! (with camera in hand).....also going to make a potato salad to have with hamburgers tonight! (it's time to get the bbq going).

atc and asparagus

Another atc.....I am on a "atc making kick"....I need to get going on the tag book and a few other swaps...I will probably wait until the last minute! Still no sun here...I heard on the news this morning that this is the 51st day of temps below normal.....maybe we will have a late Summer!
Last weekend down in Stockton they held there annual Asparagus Festival...the days before this event (which is huge) they kept showing pictures on TV of people eating deep fried asparagus with parmesan cheese sprinkled on it...it looked so good! Last night I decided to make some with the recipe that I found on the web (Stockton's recipe)....It was absolutely delicious!!! So...I am sharing it here with you...if you are an asparagus lover ....you will FLIP over this!
Deep Fried Asparagus
1/2 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup flour
1 teas salt
1/4 teas black pepper
1/2 teas white pepper
1/2 teas celery salt
1/2 teas celery salt
1/2 teas baking soda
1 teas baking powder
2 egg whites
2/3 cup cold flat beer
3 ponds (2 cups) raw, whole asparagus, cleaned and cut above the white end
Mix all the ingrediants except asparagus in a bowl with a wire whisk until well blended. Dip asparagus individually in the batter and deep fry them in at least 2-inches of peanut oil for 2 minutes or until golden brown.
Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
MONEY TALKS.......
BUT CHOCOLATE SINGS!!!!!

Chocolate

Sometimes no words are needed.... My son on his first birthday back in 1972.

"Sweet"

I have been so quiet lately...I get that way sometimes...although I went to visit an artist friend of mine yesterday, and we yakked and yakked the day away....today it's back to being quiet! I'm thinking about the prompt for Sunday's Scribble..Chocolate. I'm having a really hard time with this because I really LIKE chocolate...but it's not my favorite thing...I don't froth at the mouth or anything like that over it....I don't crave it...I just "really like it"....ummm..gotta think on this one! A warm chocolate chip cookie and a big glass of ice cold milk does sound pretty good right now though!

Women

"Women" atc's for a swap.

She Who Reads

These are the books that I am reading right now...the one on the right...I just finished. It is about a women's life growing up in Africa...I enjoyed it. The one on the left I just started...so far it seems interesting...especially if you like to read about "other places" which I do....

Altered Board Book

Angels are Watching You.....

Thursday's Poem (for Andrew Bryan)

i carry your heart with me.....A poem by e.e. cummings

carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate, my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

1. 5 minutes to yourself ?- Soak longer in the tub...read another chapter..work on that piece of art longer...take a walk...sit and breathe.

2. 5 bucks to spend right now ?- Go buy stamps.

3. 5 items in your house you could part with right now, and that you hadn't thought of already ?- Old shoes...old broken lamp...old silverware and dishes...and old potpourri.

4. 5 items you absolutely could never part with in your house?- My photos...my books...a set of 4 depression glass dessert plates that belonged to my Grandmother...a bedspread that my Grandmother gave me on my High School graduation....my Grandmother's rosary from Italy..and my Mother's amethyst ring.

5. 5words you love?

sweetheart...honey...amore'....bella...serenity

Garden Fairy

This is a photo of the new Fairy Girl that will be sitting in the front yard garden...I just haven't decided where yet....

Postcard for a Friend

Pink and Red

"Wishful Thinking"

I found the perfect window...and perfect image of a girl to go in the window....It is BEAUTIFUL today!

When We Were Wee

Me and my brother...Easter morning, 1957...such wonderful, wonderful memories! We lived in PA at the time (we moved here to California when I was in the 6th grade). We loved to hunt for our Easter baskets...and by the looks of this photo..one of the baskets was hidden in the cupboard! ( I can't remember which one)....but I do remember coloring eggs the night before...and getting a new Easter outfit for Sunday Mass. That was back when everybody wore a HAT to church..so of course the new outfit included a new hat ! I wish that tradition was still around...I love hats! Nobody (in this town anyway) wears a hat to church anymore. I use to love to play "dress-up" and wear my Mom's hats...all over the house...with a piece of rolled up paper to look like a cigarette in my hand...(back then it was actually fashionable to smoke cigarettes)! I would strut around in the (too big) high heels...a fancy hat...and "pretend puff" on that cigarette! I also remember these pajamas that we are wearing in the photo..they snapped at the waist and had feet in them...all the kids wore these! We wore these jammies...until the knees and toes had holes in them! This was a perfect topic for "Sunday Scribbles"....my nickname when I was small was "Wee-Wee"...later shortend to "Wee"..and I will never forget the time...years later..we had already been living here in California... I was a Freshman in High School...I got a phone call one night from some boy... my Dad answered the phone. I heard my Dad say.."Wee-Wee's not here now...she's in the tub! Oh My God! I was so mortified that my Dad actually said that over the phone!!! to a boy!!!! (no less). I had a fit! and that was the last time they called me Wee-Wee.

A Divine Smell

This was my Easter flower that I had on the table...So beautiful...and they smell like Heaven!
They are called "Freesia"....I will plant these outside as soon as it gets warmer.

The Day after Easter

I am exhausted today....I am going to take it easy...do a few chores...maybe do some ART...and some reading (blogs)...and maybe even take a nap later.... Ty and I made the bunny cake...and colored eggs on Saturday....the cake is all gone. Most of the eggs are eaten....and everyone had a good day! (Despite the cold, rainy, windy weather)! I need to finish a gift I'm working on...get going on the tag book..do some collage cards (52 deck)..and clean out some drawers in the studio...I think everything can wait another day...

Spring Was Here Yesterday....

Thursday's Poem

Eternal Echoes
Our life is an echo
Of our spirit today,
Of our essence
As it is,
Caught between
Our yesterday
And our tomorrow.
It is the resounding
Reality of who we are,
As a result of
Where we have been,
And where we will be,
For eternity.

Spring 2000
Some years back, my sister bought me the book "Journey through Heartsongs" by Mattie Stepanek. Mattie is no longer with us...but his spirit lives on through his poetry. This is one of his poems.

Me...at Easter in the 50's...coloring eggs!

And Another Red....

Well...it is raining....but , I think there is a light at the end of the tunnel...This morning when I went outside the air felt considerably warmer...that's a good sign! I hope. Here is another RED page...I'm working on a "Secret" right now...and getting ready to start the tags for the tag book..also a card for the creative challenge project..52 cards, a deck of Inspiration....Thinking about what I'm going to make for Easter...ummmmmm? I always do a ham...but I need something different to go with it....

FROM THE RAIN...COMES SO MUCH BEAUTY

ABOUT SLAB CREEK

On Sunday my son and I went out to Slab Creek to check out all the water. We have had so much rain this Winter ( and Spring)...that the lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and even creeks are all at capacity. It was really an awesome trip and I want to share the photos and some of the history of the area with you...(I love taking these "little adventure journeys") with my son...they are all very special to me...and spontaneous which make them even more exciting!
Slab Creek Reservoir is a narrow lake located along the upper South Fork of the American River in Northern California's El Dorado County. The steep shores are lined with rock slabs, waterfalls, oaks, and pine trees. The remains of the old Pony Rxpress trail can be seen from the lake. There are many activities here including: kayaking, boating, fishing, swimming, and sightseeing.
According to Mikala...KAYAKER... (story taken from his article).....
Slab Creek is an excellent paddle that not many people know of (or at least paddle on). The reservoir is a long, narrow lake that is surrounded by slabs of rocks on along the shoreline, mixed with green pine trees and oaks. The water is crystal clear and very cold.
The first time we paddled this lake, we put-in at the (Eastern) portion. You can only put in at times when the water level is high. otherwise the water is shollow and rocky, and moving too fast to enter. This story starts at the eastern part of the lake....
As we started our paddle, we floated with the last of the river flow that enters the reservoir. I immediately began to notice the large slab rocks along the sides. (hence the name "Slab Creek"). At this part of the lake, there are not many places to land, but it is so beautiful. A little further, we came upon a trickling waterfall on the left. (picture of this waterfall below...now FULL). The rocks were covered in moss and trailing vines. I could kayak right up to the rock wall and get under the dripping water. Continuing on, we were able to kayak up three inlets where small streams were entering the lake. The inlets are fun to explore. As we glided along the clear water, I could see the rock formations continuing below the water.
We finally reached the end of the lake on the eastern part (about 4 miles in), where the dam is located. This area is surrounded by red dirt and small rocks. It was late afternoon...and the water was as flat as glass. The fish started jumping all around us. As I paddled along the shore, I could see the fish swimming below my kayak. It was amazing!

This is an excerpt taken from a kayakers point of view..(makes ya want to take up kayaking huh!!??) I think you get the idea of how beautiful this area is...and how much water is here now! It is really a sight to see.....going along in to the area is kinda scary because the road is pretty narrow in some spots (no turning around)..one side are the slabs of rock..and the other a cliff going down to the water...as long as you go slow and don't do anything stupid...it is fine! I really enjoyed this little adventure...and wanted to share some of the photos I took that day...

SLAB CREEK....ALL IT'S BEAUTY

ALONG THE ROAD...

This is along the road entering the Slab Creek area...and spotting the Dam for the first time...WOW!!!! This was so awesome. We usually don't get this much rain..so seeing this is really cool! The rest of the pictures are along the way in...the "slabs" of rock are covered with all colors of moss...there are waterfalls all along the road as you go in, and when you look up you can see the water making it's way thru all the rocks from way up in the distance... You also can see this huge mountain of driftwood on the other side of the river that was caused by a flood in 1997.

Mountain of Driftwood

On the road out....

The next pictures were taken from the top of the road as we were leaving the area...the river is so full that normally this waterfall is nothing but a trickle if anything...on the way out there were a group of kayakers getting ready to go down the river which would take them past this point...what an awesome trip that probably was...

Sunday Scribbling

"REAL LIFE".... for me today was awesome! My son picked me up this morning and with camera in hand...we went to check out all the water at Slab Creek..."Real Life" for me right now is that I am soooo tired...and, Andy just ran me a hot bath with glowing candles in the bathroom...and all...Soooo lots of really awesome photos from "The Land of Water" tomorrow...and how much I LOVE to go on "Adventure Journeys" with my son...I'm off to the warm, soothing, bath with lots of scented bubbles and oils....aaahhhhhhhhh.

Another Rainy Saturday

Another rainy Saturday...very dismal and cool outside..When will Winter ever end??? I'm really trying to make the BEST of these dismal dark days! One of the things I love is the early morning....I am always the first one up...(with the animals)...and I love the total peace and quiet....I usually make myself a soothing cup of hot tea...feed the animals and let them outside...and sit here at the computer. This is when I read lots of my favorite blogs ( I have lots)....and post pictures. It's become a daily ritual...like writing in my journal...and I love it.I usually gravitate between the computer and the art room...this has become "My Time"....
I have errands to run today...and I really need to do some house work...like mop the kitchen floor YUK! my least favorite job! As for right now..I'm enjoying the morning solitude.

I finished the red pages...I had to use the image of this baby because I just love the look on her face!
I made all the red background papers...and for the flowers on this one I used wrapping paper. I also used acrylic paint...chalk...and ink.
It's pouring outside right now...and I'm getting ready to go "Veg" out on the couch and relax.