Snapshots

This is taken from a comfy outdoor couch--just one view from the perfect garden with too many views to post on a blog about going home.



My mom hates this picture of herself, but then, she hates all pictures of herself, so I'm posting it anyway.


We went on a hike in the hills behind my parents' home. Here are some snapshots:














On Sunday aftenoon, we headed south to Carmel. My parents' home here is another paradise--one you get used to being in immediately, and never want to leave.

This is a view from the back yard. You can see that the view is beautiful from any angle.


Then you walk out the front door, head across the street and this is what you see:


and it leads you here:




Here are some of my favorite snapshots of our different adventures on the beach:


Sweet Dad-o




my boy with his sea glass find















We celebrated my Love's Birthday. Happy Birthday, Babe. The big 3-4.





We have a family membership at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, so we got to go several times for shorter ammounts of time. This seems to work very well instead of cramming it all in.


We had a wonderful time.

I am still coming out of my NyQuil induced craziness (I've been a little under the weather) and have just copied and pasted too many times and now I can't think straight. You'll have to forgive me for ending so bluntly. Sending love out to all my bloggie friends and family.

My Second Grader

For anyone who knows my oldest child well, they will not be surprised when I report in that today was her first day of Second grade and I did not get a picture of her before school, because I was too busy holding her hair back while she was loosing all her breakfast into the toilet. She missed the bus and had to change her clothes, but I had prepared myself for these possibilities. She showed up in my bed around 3:00am already needing comfort, so I laid her down next to me and let her cuddle the rest of the night. I dropped her off at school armed with a couple Tums, a good, mild lunch and lots of love.

SPC: enclosed spaces

for more self portraits, click here.

Something Cool

I’ll post pictures of my trip and tell you about our fun times and sick times when I have a little more time—I just wanted to post a link. I’m one of a few women with a layout being spotlighted on Homegrown Scrapbooks’ blog. Horray! How fun.

Check in latah.

Name That Song

The Rules:
1. Please DO NOT guess in the comment section. E-mail me (see my profile page for my e-mail address).
2. I really send a prize, so be honest and fair. (If you can sing it when you read the lyrics, you know it.)
3. Previous winners may still play.
4. Be the FIRST to e-mail me with the correct song title & artist and win.Good Luck!

This month's lyric is:


And suddenly
I become a part of your past
I'm becoming the part that don't last
I'm losing you and it's effortless

If You're Going To San Francisco, Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair

I am going home. I am taking my little family and going to spend a week with my parents in Northern California. I am so joyful to spend time with my parents. They are amazing people. I am looking forward to being fed and nurtured and loved in the way that I was as a child. I think I need that right this very moment. You know how sometimes no one can love you just the right way except your parents? My mom always used to rub my back—it went like this: rub-rub-pat, pat, pat…rub-rub-pat, pat, pat. She just called me to see if I want to get a facial while I’m there. What a gal. My dad is taking care of all the needs: “what do the kids like to eat; I’ll pick it up at the store.” “Why don’t you rent a car and I’ll pay for it.” He just emailed me directions home from the airport in case I forgot how to get home.

We get to spend time in Carmel and amongst my mother’s gardens. (I’ll take pictures—it’s literally breathtaking.) We get to use the season pass to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. (You should see the jelly fish exhibit!!) We get to visit San Francisco and Berkeley. (I once saw a streaker there in nothing but sneakers and a baseball hat! An image I would gladly erase, but alas, will be there ‘til the day I expire.) We can eat at my favorite sandwich place. (Those crusty rolls are to die for!)

Ready, Set...

I sit here and wonder if I can do this. How do other people do this? Back and forth I go from one extreme to the other. From believing in myself and knowing that I am meant for something like this. I have talent and passion and vision. To shrinking back from having to “sell” myself and face people’s reactions for good and bad. There is so much I have learned, but there is so far to go. I sit here on the diving board, and I count to three over and over again. “Okay, one…two…three. Wait. Okay, now I’m ready. One…two…three. Hold on, just a sec. One…two…” Deep Breath.

In September my web site will be in the works. I’m working on my studio. I’m working on my creations. I’ll have to take the plunge sometime. I hope it will be refreshing.

SPC: enclosed spaces

I will always be happy to be enclosed in the ocean, swimming in the surf.

(Woah. Is that a fish?) (I didn't realize there was a fish swimming around me...maybe it's not a fish.) (well, maybe I wouldn't want to be enclosed in the ocean way out...you know, where there are lots of fish...and sharks...and whales.) (and sometimes it's super cold. then it takes me a little while to get hot enough to get all the way in without a lot of fuss.) (maybe I should restate to: I was really happy swimming on the beach in barbados. I never wanted to get out of the water. it was the perfect temperature and the waves were great, and there was tons of sea glass, and my whole family was with me, and these local ladies sold us some cute jewelry. but this picture wasn't taken in barbados.)

(for more self portraits, click here.)

Sunday Scribblings: Who Else Can I Still Be?

Maybe last week’s prompt dragged up all kinds of sorrow and regrets. Well here’s to hope and grand visions and expectations for our lives. Here’s to full circles.



In my future, I see a mother whose children have forgiven her for all her weaknesses. I see a wife that is tender, passionate and forgiving who has a rich legacy of love with her husband. I see an artist who sees beauty all around her and can express that beauty in a plethora of ways. I see a charitable and faith filled soul who has aged with grace and integrity and is now full of wisdom. I see one who has dug in the earth and has an understanding of what the earth has to offer me and what I have to offer her in return. I see a picture of health—mind, body and spirit. I see balance. I see peace. I see love.

SPC: enclosed spaces

Obviously I’m not the best at capturing myself in literal enclosed spaces. But doesn’t walking into a room to see permanent marker all over the wall, carpet and bedding and putting your rage into an enclosed space so you don’t keep your two year old from making it to three count? Well, I’m counting it.

My sister tells me that Paul Mitchell aerosol hairspray works. This will be an interesting science experiment—I’ll let you know if it works.

For more self portraits in enclosed spaces, click here.

Side note: my youngest sister is now entering the world of Blog. I’m excited to keep up with her in a different way—the bloggie way. I refer to her and her husband as “the beautiful people.”

Sunday Scribblings: Who Else Might I Have Been?

Who else might I have been
if everything came easily;
if Good Enough came without a fight?

My weaknesses would have remained frail,
but they are gaining vigor
and will one day be called strengths.

My joy would have remained mirthless,
but the delights that are mine
which are found interspersed
between difficulties and pain
fill me more abundantly.

So when I ask like a beggar
Why does this have to be so hard?
and my fists shake toward the heavens
and my salty drops fall,
I am answered
softly and slowly
with a question—
Who else might you have been?


For more takes on this prompt, click here.

SPC: enclosed spaces

I don’t have to go far to get a little uncomfortable and claustrophobic…Inside my head thoughts swim around in a constant muck. I try to get them to go where they are supposed to go and stay there, but my brain doesn’t have seatbelts like other brains must. Ask me a specific question, and the answer is in there, but first I have to scramble around in the muck. Throw me off balance and put a little pressure on me, and there’s no hope of finding the exact thing I need. It’s a bunch of chaos in there and sometimes it’s just too much for me. I can’t complete simple tasks, or concentrate on starting something, let alone finish something. Help! I call out, and I go take a little blue pill and the muck stops splashing around in there and I can focus a little better. But the muck is still there.