"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." ~George Bernard Shaw

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time." ~Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn


Monday, December 30, 2013

It's Awww Monday! and Six Word Saturday!!! December 28 and 30, 2013


If squirrels didn't have fuzzy tails....
we wouldn't think they were so cute! 
~~~~~
Thanks to Sandee for Awww Mondays
and to Cate for Six Word Saturdays
Happy New Year!!!!

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Magpie #200 Two Friends


Self-portrait by Francis Bacon 

Two close friends
Shared their love of painting 
Now laugh uproariously
Over money spent
~~~~~~
Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon met in 1945. An intense bond quickly
developed between these two giants of post-war British painting.
It was inevitable that each would soon appear in the other's paintings.
Francis Bacon's painting  "Three Studies of Lucian Freud" recently
set the record as the most expensive piece of art ever auctioned,
selling for $142,405,000.
Francis Bacon died April 28, 1992 and Lucian Freud died July 20, 2011. 

Three Studies of Lucian Freud   Francis Bacon



Oil portrait of Francis Bacon   Lucian Freud

~~~~~~
Thanks once again to Tess Kincaid for 
Magpie Tales. Click on the link to see more:

  
                                       

Friday, December 27, 2013

AWWW It's Feline Friday! December 27, 2013

Enough Already!  Anji Johnston

Have a Happy New Year!
Be safe!
Be healthy!
Be happy!
Be wise!
~~~~~~
Click on the link below to see more:
Thanks to :Lydia of Writerquake for this photo! Link up here to read her poem! http://writerquake.blogspot.com/2013/12/friday-flash-55-pet-thoughts-at-new.html

Monday, December 23, 2013

Awww Monday December 23, 2013

JUST THE TWO OF US  
ZIHUATANEJO MEXICO  NOVEMBER 2012

HAPPY HOLIDAYS !
MERRY CHRISTMAS !
HAPPY HANUKKAH !
HAPPY DAYS !
AND 
HAPPY NEW YEAR !
~~~~~~~
INSTEAD OF CUTIE PIE ANIMALS FOR AWWW MONDAY
I AM BRANCHING OUT TO WISH ALL MY FELLOW
BLOGGERS A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON-
ENJOY YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO SEE MORE!!!

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Sunday, December 22, 2013

Magpie #199 A Precious Gift

Madonna with the Milk Soup 1510,  Gerard David


Every child
Deserves love and calm patience
A precious gift
~~~~~~~~~ 
Thanks to Tess Kincaid for Magpie Tales
To participate or see more go here:

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Six Word Saturday and Shadow Shot Sunday December 21-22, 2013

Bathroom Aloe   9:44am, 12-21-2013


Winter solstice: lowest sun longest night.
In the UK, the precise time of the solstice will be 5.11pm 
on Saturday December 21st 2013. 
The time is different every year, falling between December 20th and 23rd. 
 So  for us on Pacific Standard time that already happened today at  9:11am.
~~~~~~~~~
To see more Six Word Saturdays go to this link:
And to see more Shadow Shot Sundays go to this link: 
~~~~~~



Friday, December 20, 2013

It's Feline Friday! December 20, 2013


Lucy can entertain herself-
especially if she has a new toy
to bat around the house!
Have a very Meowy Christmas!
~~~~~
Thanks to Steve of BFDude for Feline Friday!
Click on the link below to play or...
just to see what others have posted!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Pauvre Petite Chat


They never let me out
No matter how I meow
Or stamp my paws and shout
"I must eat that mouse right now!"


I'm stuck in the house
Must admit it's rather cozy
Laying by the fire
And my toes are getting rosy


I'd rather be a toasty cat
Sleeping by the fires glow
Than that little chilly deer
Out standing in the snow.
~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to Peggy Goetze for this weeks 
Poetry Jam prompt and click below for more....

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Eric Alder's MPP December 17, 2013

Photo by Eric Alder

Directionless
Missing the exit for Paradise
Running on empty
~~~~~~~
Click here to see more:
Or click here to see another version:

Slightly Tardy Six Words and Shadow Shots December 17, 2013

 Me and My Shadow 

This year snow arrived before Christmas !!!

Our Traditional Little Trees

We love our little trees. We got them about
10 years ago when I became allergic to whatever
is sprayed on the commercial Christmas trees.
Plus it just made sense not to be cutting down a tree.
Have a great holiday everyone!  
~~~~~~~~~
To see more Shadow Shots go here:
and click here for more Six Words:
Cheers!!

Monday, December 16, 2013

It's Awww Monday!! December 16, 2013

Whew! 
Our Mommy deerest and her two fawns are back!!
Some days ago we saw a coyote chasing a deer on
our property. When we hadn't seen the doe nor her fawns
for the last 3 days we thought perhaps one 
of them had gotten snagged. Fortunately not.
Russell went out immediately and gave them a few pieces 
of cut up carrot. If you look closely you can see the orange  
bits in the fawns mouth. We normally try to not
feed them, but then we're only human......
~~~~~~~~
Thanks to Sandee of Comedy Plus for Awww Mondays!
Click on the link below to see even more!!


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Sunday, December 15, 2013

Poetry Jam and Magpie Tales December 15, 2013

The Ice Cutters, 1911,  Natalia Gancharova



On Christmas Eve
A child holds hope
In tiny mittened hands

Waiting for Santa
Listening for bells
Looking for reindeer

Beliefs are as delicate
As soft snow flakes 
 Drifting onto small shoes

~~~~~~~~~

Thanks to Peggy Goetz of Poetry Jam 
for the theme of Magic of Childhood Beliefs
and thanks to Tess  of Magpie Tales 
for providing this lovely image. 
Click here to access Poetry Jam:
and here to access Magpie Tales:

And have a lovely week!
~~~~~~



Friday, December 13, 2013

Feline Friday December 13, 2013


 It's Feline Friday and it's ....
 Happy Friday the 13th!!!



Thanks to Steve of BFDude we have fun 
every week with Feline Friday!
Thanks Steve!
To see more or to play Feline Friday go here:
Don't forget to have a great day! 
~~~~~~

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Eric Alders MPP December 10, 2013


Oxymoron
Mis-leading signs that say "adult" 
When they aren't....
~~~~~~~~~~~

Every week Eric Alder posts a photo
challenging us to write a poem or story
based on the photo. Click on the link below to play or read more:


Monday, December 09, 2013

It's Awww Monday December 9, 2013


Looking through the window at Lucy.....
I think I was disturbing her snooze!
~~~~~
We have Sandee of Comedy Plus to thank for Awww Mondays!
Click on the link below to play along or to just enjoy more Awww Mondays!
Cheers!

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Sunday, December 08, 2013

Magpie #197 Stealthy Seagulls

Photo from the Guardian, Eyewitness

Seagulls swooping
Snagging savory supper scraps
Serial snatchers
~~~~~
Thanks to Tess Kincaid for Magpie Tales!
Click on the link below to see what others made of thhis image!

Saturday, December 07, 2013

Six Word Saturdays and Shadow Shot Sundays! December 7-8, 2013


 And so, winter really has begun!


It was sunny two days ago!



To see what others have posted on Six Word Saturday
go to this link :
and to see more Shadowy Shots go here:
Have a great weekend! 
~~~~~~~~

Friday, December 06, 2013

It's Feline Friday!! December 6, 2013



Sure hope the kids get some BIG presents
this year....we need a bigger box!
~~~~~~~~
Steve of BFDude hosts Feline Friday.
Some say it's because he wants to
convince us that he truly loves cats.....
Click on the link below to play along:

And for heavens sake have a purrfect day!

Thursday, December 05, 2013

My Grandmother's Gift


Old hands shaping
Flour,butter and water into
Sweet memories
~~~
My Grandmother (we called her G-Ma)
was a fabulous baker and made the best pies. 
My mom was a great cook, 
but not overly fond of baking.
So, by the time I was 10 I became the 
family baker of birthday cakes and cookies.
I've always assumed I got that baking gene
from my G-Ma. When I visited
her I watched and learned that baking
was as easy as .....

 ONE
 TWO
THREE!!!
~~~~~
So,thanks G-Ma for teaching me
how to make all those yummy desserts.
What a sweet gift it is!
~~~~
Poetry Jam is brought to us this week
by Mary who chose Gifts as our theme this week.
To play along or just to read others posts
go to this link:
and have a great day!





Tuesday, December 03, 2013

Eric Alders MPP December 3, 2013

Photo by Eric Alder

There once was a Scot named Rick
Who was a master at laying brick
He began using clinkers
 Saying "I'm not a stinker,
I'm just designing with a thrifty trick"
~~~~~~~~~
Each week Eric Alder posts one of his photos challenging 
us to create a poem, a short story or whatever based on the photo.
To see more or to play along click on this link:
http://bifocalunivision.blogspot.com/2013/12/monday-morning-photo-prompt-12213.html
And my goodness do have a great week!

~~~~~~~
Info on Clinkers:
In early brick firing kilns, the surface of the bricks that were too close to the fire changed into the volcanic textures and darker/purplish colors. They were often discarded, but around 1900, these bricks were discovered by architects to be usable, distinctive and charming in architectural detailing, adding the earthy quality favored by Arts and Crafts style designers. Modern brick-making techniques can recreate the appearance of these bricks and produce a more consistent product.

Monday, December 02, 2013

Magpie #196 December 1, 2013


Backstage angel
Awaits her cue to enter
Heaven's starlight
~~~~~~~

Awww Monday A Tale of 3 Deers...plus 1


I took this photo of our deer family
in August....


Now in November-
the fawns are almost as big 
as their mother-and are sporting
their winter coats...


Here's the doe...she's a bit skinny.


Uh oh....there goes the neighborhood...
Since the buck has shown up the
deer family isn't around as much.


I think she had a headache....
she took off with the fawns shortly
after I took this photo.
~~~~~~~~ 
Thanks to Sandee of Comedy Plus
for Awww Mondays!!!
For more click here:

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Saturday, November 30, 2013

Feline Friday, Six Word Saturday and Shadow Shot Sunday November 29-30 and December 1, 2013




Look carefully......you will be surprised...



There's Lucy reflected in the clock....
~~~~~~~~
Let's all thank Sandee for Feline Friday
Usually Steve posts it, but he is taking a break.
Go here for Feline Friday:

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here for Six Word Saturday:
and here for Shadow Shots:
And for Pete's sake enjoy your day!

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Could I??????????


My Thoughts.....oh my goodness......
I so appreciate you!

  • Could I live without you?
  • Could I be without my pals ?
  • Could I be without children?
  • Could I be without a cat ?
  • Could I be without wind?
  • Could I be without rain?
  • Could I read?
  • Could I see?
  • Could I taste?
  • Could I laugh?
  • Could I cry?
  • Could I breathe....?
  • Without thee.........Could I Be Me..........?
  • Could I do without?
  • Absolutely NOT!



That my friends is the big question...........
and Oh heck this is supposed to be a post about
being thankful with gratitude  and here I am
the usual  narcissistic bore....oie.....sorry.
BUT I love you!!!
~~~~~~~
Thanks to Laurie Kolp for this weeks Poetry Jam!
Click on this link to participate or just to enjoy!

Happy Hanukkah and Happy Thanksgiving!


It's a beautiful morning...


Making Challah to take to our neighbors...


Recipe books out for Challah and pumpkin pies...


Ta dah! By 10:30am I've made the pies, Challah 
and three little custards from leftover pie filling.
Have a Happy Day!!


For those of you who are wondering why 
Hanukkah is so early this year here's a short explanation:
Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.
~~~~~~~~~

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Eric Alders MPP November 26, 2013



Powerful machines brought jobs
With growth and prosperity
Sometimes run by the mobs
But mostly cranium dexterity

No one had the foresight
Nor keen observation
Those gray plumes of night
Would bring devastation

Richmond CA Oli Refineries August 2013


~~~~~~~~~
As a child I thought oil refineries at night were
beautiful with all the plumes of smoke and
twinkling lights. Now I know better.
To see more of Eric Alders photos or to
play MPP along with me go here: