Friday, December 14, 2012

We're Just Waiting on A Ride...

...to the creek.  Hey Bart, if you can reach the pedals, I think I can steer...


Thursday, December 06, 2012

Daylights Saving Wha?

Ever since the time change, Miss Lou has been more than a little confused! She starts really nagging me for a creek trip around 2... still the middle of the workday. She acts all hurtified as if I forgot to take her and she won't get there at all. There is much drama and heavy sighing, pouting and big droopy sad eyes that I have to look at! 

Afterward, the begging for dinner begins! It's dark. You need to feed me. FEED ME NOW!  But it's 5 p.m.- still time to get some work done. And she was eating dinner at 8:30 just months ago! It makes matters all the worse if I reach in the fridge for a snackie to take to the shop with me. You're eating. Don't I get to eat too???

I try to hold off until at least 6...otherwise I pay the price at 4 a.m. That's when her hungry tummy starts to growl...loud enough to wake me!

So last night, I decided to stay in the house as we had a rather chilly fog move in and I had a scratchy throat. I thought it would be better to work on some new listings and a few computer projects in the warm house instead of the cold, damp shop. I fed her about 6 ish and for once, remembered her toothbrush so she wouldn't have to come begging for it. I went into the office and worked until about 7:45. I went down the hall... no girl. I checked the guest bedroom - she loves to nap in there while I'm on the computer - no Mabel!

I finally switched on the bedroom light and what did I find?
Mabel Lou had put herself to bed! From the look on her face, I know she had been sleeping soundly for some time!

I'm not much on holidays. Too much work to decorate and cook. No money for gifts. But... the one day I do celebrate with a big old happy dance every year is the winter solstice. That's the day the days officially start getting longer! Of course, this year is the year the Mayan calendar ends on 12/21 and some say the world as we know it will end. I don't know much about that, but come 12/21, if you see a woman with curly hair dancing a jig along the Tujunga river banks, now you'll know why.

Monday, December 03, 2012

Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!

About a month ago, I was feeling so lucky, I thought about going to Vegas! Not seriously, because I hate the noise and gambling... but it sure did feel good around here.

First, I entered a photo contest called Who Do You Support sponsored by Archipelago Botanicals on Facebook. I entered this photo of my sister:

This photo is magic to me for so many reasons. It was taken at Laguna Beach the day she finished radiation back in 2003. Knowing my sister as I do, I can see the relief in her body. I just love her rolled up jeans, her perpetual sweater over her arm and the flip flops as sunshades in her hand. And I can feel the hope coming off of her.  As luck would have it, we wandered into Laguna Drug - THE most amazing drug store (gift store would be more accurate) on the planet! There we purchased some lip balms and lotions made by Archipelago and I've been a fan of their products ever since. 

Much to my surprise, I won the contest. The prize was two gift baskets of products. One for the photographer and one for the subject of the photo. When I saw the breast cancer survivor with her baby daughter in the 2nd place photo, I requested my basket go to them. My sister LOVED her basket and I was pleasantly surprised when the nice folks at Archipelago sent me a lovely prize box anyway! And it was full of my favorite lip balm!


And then the week kept getting better! I won a bead by one of my favorite artists. Judith Billig makes stunningly elegant glass beads and jewelry. She had made a necklace she was having a hard time naming using her float beads. She called out to her friends to suggest names. I made several suggestions including Mumbai Magic. Unbeknownst to me (I was terribly busy with classes that week!), Mumbai Magic won the poll on her fan page! And I won one of her float beads!


And finally, that chicken dinner! The bestie and I were headed to the community center where we both teach. Since she was staying extra late after her class to clean up after MY class, I bought her dinner at our local Panera. We both ordered the black bean soup... I written about my passion for that soup here before! When they went to fill our order, they discovered they had sold the last black bean soups they had! My bestie, the I-love-all-soups girl, happily substituted. But I was flummoxed... I tend to get locked in on what I want to eat and no substitutions really make me happy.  I finally ordered the much more pricey chicken sandwich. To my surprise, Panera wouldn't take my money for the upgrade! They simply apologized for disappointing me and told me they hoped I would come back for soup another day.... as IF they could keep me from that black bean soup!

It was a nice, fun winning streak while it lasted!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Disturbing Her Peace

It's hard to get a good sunbake going....




when the paparazzi won't leave you alone!

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving!
Hope this post finds you all well. Today is about gratitude and we have much to be grateful for!

I am grateful my sister is still here to see another Thanksgiving, even though I can't be with her. I am so grateful for my home in this beautiful place; for it's odd design that gives me lots of workspaces; for it's proximity to our creek which brings me and my girl so much joy! 

And I'm so grateful for the little Baconhead herself. You may remember this photo from last fall. This past winter, as my niece was getting married, I found a great deal on a 20 x 30 print. I bought one for the niece and one for me. I took out the ugly shop yard background and dropped in a pink one to match the color in Mabel's collar. 


I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this print. I hangs on the living room wall, right over the spot Mabel gets her nightly cuddles. She will often sit back and admire herself!  You can see it from the back yard! It makes me happy and is one of my favorite possessions!


I'm also truly grateful to be in a place where I don't feel the need to hit the mall for more possessions! Especially on a family holiday! 

And I'm grateful for such wonderful friends... Ones in real life and online! 

Hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful!