"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


Saturday, May 31, 2014

Once again it's Six Word Saturday and Shadow Shot Sunday! May 31-June 1, 2014

What we saw while driving home....

Shasta Lake with only 48% of total capacity.



 Shasta Lake is getting a new bridge




Lucy listens to our blooming Orchid Cactus


May 30, 2014

This plant is amazing! It's never
bloomed in all the years we have had it.
Now look at it! WOW!
It looked like this before we left:

May 13, 2014
Mother Nature is truly the boss!
~~~~
Go to these links to see more:
and
Cheers!
Have a great day whatever you do!

Friday, May 30, 2014

It's Feline Friday! May 30, 2014

Image snagged on the Internet!

Once again it's Feline Friday!
And it's all BurntFood Dude's fault!
Thanks Steve!!!
And for heavens sake have a great weekend!
~~~

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Homeward Bound.......May 29, 2014

We're hitting the road later on today...
Homeward bound!

 Bottle Brush Tree
May 28, 2014


Hens and Chicks on Steroids
May 28, 2014  


 Sausalito Garden Cactus?
May 28, 2014


 Another Sausalito Garden Cactus
May 28, 2014


 Enormous Succulent
May 28, 2014


Close up of Enormous Succulent
May 28, 2014

The botanist in me loves walking
through neighborhoods in Sausalito.
The gardens are lush with plants 
that would perish in our high desert
environment. Not sure what they all
are so if you know- let me know!
Have a great day!
~~~~~~

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Only a Ferry Ride Away.....

We had a glorious day in San Francisco.
Rode the ferry over to Fisherman's Wharf-
Walked up Powell to Columbus Avenue to have 
a delicious meal at Pinocchio's Trattoria
complete with two desserts!
After our 2+ hour lunch we wandered through
part of Chinatown and eventually got
back on the Sausalito ferry.
Such a nice day.


Ferry Ride from Sausalito
May 27, 2014



Walking up Powell from Fisherman's Wharf to Little Italy 
May 27, 2014

Russell with our two desserts!
May 27, 2014


 San Francisco Skyline with Coit Tower
May 27, 2014


Seagull nesting in a safe place
May 27, 2014



Evening light before sunset in Sausalito
May 27, 2014

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Sausalito Sunrise May 27, 2014

Vacation notes....

Sausalito Sunrise 
May 27, 2014
 5:49 am

We are here in Sausalito for three days
before heading home- a mere 5 hours north.
It is always fun to visit with my cousin Janet-

Our dear sweet Janet 
May 26, 2014

Well worth the drive across the 
Golden Gate Bridge on Memorial Day...

Golden Gate Bridge
Memorial Day
May 26, 2014

Two Point Coastal Black Tail
Residing at the moment in my cousin's back yard.
May 27, 2014
~~~~~

Monday, May 26, 2014

It's Awww Monday with an Awesome Plant

  
This is an amazing blooming cactus
at out friends home in Los Altos CA
I finally figured out what it's
botanical name is:

Orchid Cactus at Judy and Dave's
Los Altos, ca
May 26, 2014
6:00 am

We have one of these plants at home,
 but never knew what exactly it was.
Plus ours never has bloomed til this
year! Russell got our start years ago
from his Grandmother.  When we
get home I'll post a photo of it blooming.
~~~~

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Magpie Tales 221 Hoarding

Thrift Shop courtesy of Tess Kincaid


Hoarding

It's in my way
I'm giving it away
Too much stuff
It's really rough
Because I know
As I give it a toss 
Sure enough
I'll need it tomorrow
~~~

Thanks to Tess Kincaid for Magpie Tales
Go Here! to read more!






Saturday, May 24, 2014

It's Time for Six Words and Shadow Shots!! May 24-25, 2014

Bliss is being in Kitty's Garden
6 am and I am wandering through
Kitty's garden in Bolinas, California.
Roses are blooming and the scent
is lovely. The birds and I are having a 
peaceful morning and the sun is barely
up....just hitting the tops of
the Eucalyptus trees.
Have a great weekend everyone!

Sunrise on Eucalyptus
May 24, 2014 


Garden whimsy
May 24, 2014


 White climbing rose
May 24, 2014


Arthurs lily pond
May 24, 2014


Early morning shadows 
May 24, 2014

Click here to see more Shadow Shots
and here to see more Six Words
Enjoy your day !!
~~~~~~

Friday, May 23, 2014

It's Feline Friday! May 23rd and We're on the road again!


Steve of BFDude started Feline Friday
to prove that he really truly loves cats!
Thanks Steve!!
And meanwhile we're headed to the Bay Area
to visit great friends and relatives we
haven't seen for a year! 
Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!
~~~~~~
Construction seen while going over Shasta Lake bridge

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Turn About is Fair Play!

A few days ago I posted 
about my sweetie and his proclivity
to being sorta messy while being creative.
Well....it's only fair that I fess up to
being sorta untidy also... 
I am quilting yet another baby quilt
and I must admit that when I create a quilt my
sewing room does get covered in bits and pieces
of fabric and spool ends of thread!  
Sewing Room May 21, 2014

Meanwhile Russell has installed our
new double wall ovens and within
the next few weeks will install
a new cooktop to replace the old inefficent 
cooktop. Our replacing old appliances
will benefit us with lower utility bills
plus we will be using less electricity.
Win win !!
Here's some pics:
 New Wall Ovens May 21, 2014
Installed by Russell
* note shelf with drill for future reference 

 New Extra Efficient Refrigerator 
We will get a rebate from the state of California
May 21, 2014

New Bosch Dishwasher 
So efficient we get a rebate!
May 21, 2014

Do you notice that space hog of
a microwave off in the background?
Well!! I found a much smaller microwave
I ordered one for us to replace that
dinosaur on the counter.
However, it won't go back on the
counter....instead it will go on a little 
shelf inside our pantry.
Scroll back up to the photo of the 
double wall oven and look at the
little shelf where the drill is...that is
where our new microwave will go.
Yes! Let's hear it for efficiency!!
Small but still can heat up a dinner plate!
That's it for now! 

Monday, May 19, 2014

It's Time for Awww Mondays! May 19, 2014

Baby plants can be cute too!
Last April we bought a Meyer Lemon tree
and managed to harvest 2 lemons.
This year our tree is loaded with
blossoms and since it is inside still
we have been busy as bees. In other
words we have been the pollinators
armed not with scopas. We have 
to be artistic pollinators armed
with tiny paint brushes. 



Meyer Lemon Tree in Bloom
May 10, 2014

So far we have well over 15 tiny lemons. 
That will add up to lots on 
lemony delights later on this year! 
Right now we can smell the lemony
fragrance  throughout the house.



Two Tiny Lemons Not Quite an Inch
May 10, 2014 



Scopa of a Halictid bee; the entire hind leg and abdomen carry pollen

Cheers and have a busy day!


Sunday, May 18, 2014

Opposites Do Attract !!!

Before you read any further...
let it be said I adore my sweetie pie.
He's smart, knows a lot more than me,
very talented, creative and messy.
However he has the disease of 
"flat-surface-itis" .
The symptoms are the ever pressing
need to cover flat surfaces with 
whatever is handy and/or nearby.
Combined with "all-paper-must-be-saved-itis" 
is a recipe for frustration for a person
who suffers from the disease of "neatness".
That would be me.   
Did I mention Russell's also very patient
and has a great sense of humor?

Russell...the creative yet messy genius

We are in the process of changing out
all our kitchen appliances. We have
been in our home for over 2 years
and this is the last big project to
be completed. All our appliances
are between 15-20 years old and 
quite inefficient and power sucking.
Hence the replacements- plus it's
better to replace before they break
down at the usual inconvenient time.
( Usual meaning during a dinner party )
Russell has been doing all the installs
except for the refrigerator.
Right now Russell is prepping for the
arrival of the double wall ovens. 
This is what it looks like in our home. 
Be advised I am not complaining
just documenting.


Living room floor is a good place
to keep tools ready and available...


The kitchen counter is also a good place
to keep tools accessible...


Extra dining room chair is quite handy
for computer stuff and paper work...


And the dining room table is perfect
for computer access plus instructions
on installing the double wall ovens...


Our double wall ovens will go into
the hole Russell just cut out.
You can see part of our new pantry
to the left. This little space used to
be a bathroom- which was disgusting
and not code as it opened directly
into the kitchen. Russell removed
the toilet and sink and a cabinet maker
installed the shelves that pullout. 
After the wall ovens are installed then
Russell will put in the new stove top
and his kitchen projects will be done!
It's wonderful how he has transformed
our new home. 


And he can go back to his painting....


And his paperwork in the computer/TV
room upstairs...


 Here's my work space.
Opposites do attract you know!
Cheers!

Magpie Tales #220 On the Other Side of the Table

New York Restaurant
Edward Hopper 1922

Silently
work
invisibly


Table for Ladies
Edward Hopper 1930

~~~~~~~~
Thanks to Tess Kincaid for Magpie Tales