Caps and Gowns!

This has been a summer of many small trips. The first, in June, was a huge celebration for Caite as she graduated from Santa Clara University. Actually, this was totally Caite's day. Ours was the day we made the last tuition payment. HOORAY!

It's hard to believe that our children are all out of school.

First up is the prep for the big day tomorrow. Ironing the grad gown is not an easy task. Too bad they have to stuff them in a tiny little package. Oops, maybe this is the first of several grad dresses.

Then on to the Baccalaureate.  (Thank God for spell check in blogger :) This was a beautifully choreographed Mass with music and dance in the finest Jesuit tradition. All readings were done by the graduating Seniors. Absolutely lovely!

Immediately following, SCU hosted a reception for grads and their families in the commons. This was a chance to connect with old friends as well. Julianne Brands and Caite have been friends since high school. It was good to visit with David and Julie.

Here is a shot of Caite and her room mates for the last 2 years. Amanda and Caite went to high school together as well. They are, left to right, Amanda, Lauren, Caite and Alyssa.

For the evening celebration, Caite and her roommates chose 71 St Peter Mediterranean Grill for they and their families to share dinner. It was a fun evening getting to know everyone's parents. They hail from Ohio, Pasadena and Portland. Nick drove up from Orange county to add to the good times. What fun!

Here we are as good looking as ever!

Oh, What a Perfect Day!

Today was a perfect day. First, I played golf and thanks to my friend, Laurie, I think just maybe I have straightened out my game. As we discussed. most improvements are about very small changes. Not over correcting. I think I might have the answer. Then lunch and girlfriend stories. More to come.

Next, I went to the dreaded mall to try and find a dress for my niece's wedding. First, I am not overly fond of the mall and you must know that the last time I wore a dress was possibly 10 years ago. Really! (I wondered who got married then?)  I found a good dress in the second store I visited. WHOA! That left enough time to get a PEDI, she says with a huge smile!!!!! Love me a PEDI.

Rick was out so no dinner cooked here. Love me some leftovers. Sit on the deck, sip wine and enjoy the evening's cloud formations.. Like I said, it was a perfect day. 

Oh-um! in zen!

About Town Squared

Have you ever taken a tour of your own home town? Does that seem like and odd thing to do. Well I did and it isn't. Several members of my book group took a walking tour of Portland and how fun was that. I learned

• How Portland got it's name. 
• Back in the day, men outnumbered women 10 to 1, which made women fearful of walking on the streets. Chapman Square was set aside for the exclusive use of women and children. It was also the site of the recent Occupy Portland group who camped there for some number of days.
•  I saw the world's smallest park, called Mill Ends, which is located in the median strip of SW Naito Parkway and measures 452 square inches. 
• There is a fountain officially named The Quest but was renamed by Portlanders  Three Groins in the Fountain.
•  That it's a long way to Tipperary but Portlandia was only a few blocks away.
• The weather vane in Pioneer Square has a "top hat" (my term) that is different depending on the weather prediction. On this day it was rightfully sunny.
• There are stations for charging your electric car.
• And a trash can that features a compactor and a digital code is sent when it is full and time for a pick up. 
• Allow Me the statue in Pioneer Square of the gentleman with umbrella got a few things wrong. Portlanders don't use umbrellas, or wear ties, or sport watches but he is still a crowd pleaser.
• Bicycles are a favorite mode of transportation.
• Food carts abound and seemed to be loved by all.
• The Heathman and the MAX blend the new and the old but both reign supreme.

A

Give your town a go. You will be surprised at what you learn.

About Town

Every once in a while you nab a photo of something that strikes your funny bone.
Here were two that I caught with my camera.

Just how safe is that zone????

And what about these house boats parked side by side...

Good Judgement  next to Seventh Heaven. Now tell me who do you think had more fun.

 Just saying...

Puttin' on the Ritz

Check out this flash mob in Moscow, dancing to Puttin' on the Ritz. It will make you happy! Ya gotta love it.

It Ain't Nothing But the Blues

If you haven't been, you should go see for yourself what It Ain't Nothing But the Blues is all about. 

Here's what they have to say about the show: "From African chants and Delta spirituals to the urban electricity of a Chicago nightclub, from dusty backroads bluegrass to the twang of a country juke joint, It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues is a stirring retrospective of blues classics that summons the soul of American music. Over two dozen musical numbers are included, among them “I’m Your Hoochie-Coochie Man,” “Goodnight, Irene,” “Fever,” “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “The Thrill Is Gone” and “Let the Good Times Roll.” It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Musical, and has played to rave reviews all over the country. Through the music that is cherished as an original American art form, the standout group of musicians and singers on stage share a moving American story of troubles and triumph."

Tracing the blues from it's beginnings in Africa through the deep south and then north is very cool. Showing the difference over time and place is very interesting. What they do to the song Goodnight Irene is spectacular. The actors are superb. Portland Center Stage did not disappoint. It was a foot stomping, body swaying, heck of a good time.

Rhubarb Custard Cake

I don't often bake anymore since only Rick and I would eat the goodies and we don't really need to go there. But it's rhubarb season and Nick and Lynn were coming home for the weekend and it's rhubarb season and... I know I am repeating myself but a girl has to make her point...it's rhubarb season.

I cut this recipe from the Oregonian sometime in the last 15 years. It was originally from Chris Christensen's column A Matter of Taste. I know that because I really liked the story that came with the recipe and cut it out too. She tells how a reader, Mara Nesbitt-Aldrich, sent her the recipe in response to a comment about not using store bought cake mixes for cake baking. It was love at first bite and tune changing time. I never thought much of rhubarb until my friend Lee Fowler made a rhubarb pie and I was smitten. Remembering this recipe, I dug it out and now it is an annual thing during rhubarb season. The recipe directions are odd but easy and the cake is oh so delish. Give it a go. You will not be disappointed.

Rhubarb Custard Cake

1 18 oz box white cake mix that uses oil as an ingredient like Duncan Hines
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3 cups of diced rhubarb
1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
1 pint of whipping cream (2 cups)

Preheat the oven according to the cake package directions for type of pan and size.

Cut rhubarb into pieces and set aside.

Prepare the cake as directed on the package and add the nutmeg to the batter. Pour the batter into a prepared 11x15 baking dish or a deep 9x13.

Toss the rhubarb with the granulated sugar and sprinkle across the top of the uncooked cake.

Drizzle the entire carton of whipping cream over the prepared fruit and cake. Do not mix in.

Bake for about 35 minutes or until the top of the cake turns  golden brown and begins to pul away from the sides of the pan. A toothpick stuck into the cake part of the center should come out clean.

Trust me on this one, the cream and rhubarb sink to the bottom and form a fruity custard. The cake bakes on top of this. Amazing, I know but it works every time. And, the cake bottom is the prettiest shade of pink and white. Lovely.

Of course I forgot to take a photo so I searched my files for something pink and white and share this one with you.

Enjoy!

In April, I chose to drive the 1100 miles from the desert to Portland alone. I have always wanted to take a long road trip, solo. Mostly because I don't think driving for long periods is my forté. The first day I drove for 11 hours. Four hours in, the gas would be at quarter tank. I stopped, filled up, hit the necessary, stretched, walked for 5 minutes and began again. It wasn't bad. One of the things I really enjoyed was how the terrain changed from south to north. I snapped this image as I approached the mountains in northern California. It completely captures the essence of my trip.

Jane Pauley and Me!

The first time I recall seeing Jane Pauley was in 1985 when I was home on leave after having had my first child, Drew. She and Bryant Gumbel  kept us company in the mornings through all of our chores. Turns out she is about my age and has the same number and gender of children. It was fun to hear her tell her young adult children stories and totally get it. What a great sense of humor! She spoke in April at the Voices lecture series. The topic was "Reinventing Yourself after 50", which is a series she does on the today show. Most of the audience could relate as we approach that time in life when our children are grown, we have some time and a few bucks AND want to be useful. Afterward at the reception, a friend snapped this picture. How fun is that.

Two side comments.

If you have never heard of Voices, you should check it out. See the link above. Each season, there are lectures by "Four amazing women; four incredible stories." 2012-2013 marks the 20th season.

When asked for the secret to a long marriage, Jane deferred to her husband Garry Trudeau's thought "Leave two things unsaid each day." Solid advice for any relationship or so it seems.

A Rose by any other name must be a Lily

Caite and her girlfriends spent some time with us over spring break. They do know the way to a mom's heart...flowers. When these lilies arrived, they were tight buds. It was so much fun watching them open over the next few days, I have the perfect northern exposure window for snapping photos. This was taken a few days into the bloom and is one of my favs. Gorgeous, right!

Lemon Tree Very Pretty...

Imagine having your very own Myers lemon tree. I do. I hear they are a cross between an orange and a lemon. Whatever! The new fruit is beginning to appear so it is time to pick the old. To accomplish this task, I needed the assistance of some one much younger than me. We girls found our own solution...a lawn chair in the pool to stand on, reaching the perfect height to grab the lemons. YUMMO! 

I'm Learning Spanish and You Could Too!

I watched this U-tube video, actually a TED lecture, by Luis von Ahn, who is responsible for capthcas, those annoying little phrases that you have to type in to prove you are not a spammer. Turns out he is a really smart individual who is conjuring ways to use the 7.5 millions individuals 10 seconds per day to do something useful. Segue forward to his latest project, translating wikipedia into other languages besides English, and you too can help. That's how I am learning Spanish and it is fun and cool. It's at Duolingo.com. I am on my way.

Yo quiero vino. haha

Adios.

Earth Day 2012

Earth Day was on Sunday. It could not have been a more spectacular day to celebrate this event. In Portland, the sun was out and we were warmed to the mid 70's, maybe even higher. I walked around my yard to see what was in bloom and found many beginnings. It was grand.

On a different note, I found this TED lecture by Chris Jordan to be thought provoking. He makes art by symbolizing social issues. Listen, see what you think and leave a comment. I would like to get your take.

Today and Everyday!

I found this on Pinterest today. You gotta love the thought. So I tried.

I vacuumed. Not so much in the amazing category but I did it first and got it out of the way.

I rode my bike.

I hit golf balls.

I picked lemons and grapefruit.

I started my new quilt project.

I made a ridiculously awesome salad and ate it for lunch and dinner.

I read some more in The Power of One. It comes highly recommended by my friend Dawn and she is very familiar with "Best of Stacks".

I enjoyed the hot tub and the night stars and a glass of wine.

Well done! What a day!
Tomorrow it's your turn.

The Real Deal

I have long been a fan of Hillary Clinton. I just really like smart women. Imagine another favorite of mine, Meryl Streep, who introduced Hillary at the Women in the World summit held recently in New York City.  Both are women who have honed their craft, so to speak.

Hillary asks “What does it mean to be a woman in the world?”  “It means never giving up. It means getting up, working hard, and putting a country or a community on your back.” And that is what she does on a regular basis.

Why then do so many women dismiss Hillary so easily. What possible reasons do they offer. Is it because she is Democrat and they are not. Or that she is highly successful. Or that she speaks out. OR simply, that she is a women. Why is it that women are so hard on other women.

Do the women of the world a favor and listen to these words about Hillary. You will be amazed.


And then hear what Hillary has to say. Trust me, it is worth your time.

Renew

Today I am trying to remember that my word for the year is "renew". Golf Cart Dave came as expected. God love you, Dave. Sort of like "Free throw guy". I will come up with my own version for myself. I could have done something else with that time had I known "Garage door guy" would be  a no show. They called after I already waited 3 hours and he was late. RAM will be tomorrows story unless they choose to respond differently than today. That IS a fun story. Well not so much fun on this end.

I will revert to Rachel Snyder and her definition of renew:
Renew your passion for being alive! Visit a museum and renew your love of history. Renew that excitement you used to feel when seeing something Aztec, something Japanese, something from a distant time. Renew your spirit. Take a long walk, a short trip, a week's retreat. Forget to take your appointment book or your reading file. Renew your relationship to your body. Go to the gym, go on a back country ski trip, go get shiatsu, go do yoga. Renew old friendships. Renew that spark that used to live between the two of you. Renew your vows, the promises you made to yourself and others long ago. Start over, start again, start anew. Revive, restore, refresh, replenish, rejuvenate, recharge and renew!

Gotta love that motivation...

My absolute fav for this week....
OH YEAH!

Words of Wisdom

I love it when I learn from my children, which seems to be happening more often than not, lately. In storing some of my middle child's things, I noticed a slip of paper on his bulletin board. It said:

Live simply,

Live efficiently,

Be generous!

He walks the talk. I love that about him. Thanks for the reminder, Nick.

Chimneys that Blow Smoke Rings--How Funny

You all know that I love TED. This topic caught my attention because it mentioned humor and living spaces and creative solutions. Do yourself a favor and listen to it in its entirety. Don't be turned off by it's length. It's better than playing Angry Birds or your other favorite computer game today. Just do it.

Bjarke Ingels' architecture is luxurious, sustainable and community-driven. At TEDxEast he shows us his playful designs, from a factory chimney that blows smoke rings to a ski slope built atop a waste processing plant.

The Passage of Time

My niece will marry this August. She wants to have photos of her grandparents on their wedding day at her wedding and asked me because I am the keeper of most of the photo books. She was blown away when I told her I also had my mother's wedding dress and some bits of lace left from the making of it. Perhaps this will be something old.

When preparing the items for the mail, it gave me pause. It was as though I held something sacred in my hands. My parents married in 1938 which makes both the photo and the lace 72 years old. That's old by today's disposable mentality. I share pictures of both with you here.  The lace is in amazing condition having survived the passage of time quite well.

While it might be odd to share this old but personal photo here, the passage of time makes that possible. The original image was a tiny 2 x 3 inches. I scanned it at a high resolution to grab the details. Obviously this concept was not possible back in the day. 

The passage of time has served my family well.  Quality and technology, you are not such distant cousins!

Use the Good Stuff

I saw this advice recently and it reminded me of a story.

My mother's good china was given to me. I seriously believe she purchased it for a celebration when I made my First Communion in the fifties. We didn't have a lot of money and so it was grocery store stuff but I always loved the happiness of the pattern.

My dad brought it to my house on a visit. I was thrilled but my children were small and I was afraid to use it. So it remained stored in my basement for just the right occasion.

When my family moved to Portland, there was no basement storage. I came to realize that my children had never know their grandmother. She died when I was just 14. These dishes were my memory and would never be theirs.

For these past 14 years, we have used these dishes nearly everyday. For me, it's as if my mama is hanging around the kitchen with me. I am so glad I used "the good stuff.." Really, it's probably always the best choice.

Changing Perspectives

I love this flower that defies the cold and blooms in winter. I am reminded of the Christmas song of German origin:

Lo, how a rose e'er blooming,
From tender stem hath sprung.
Of Jesse's lineage coming,
As men of old have sung;
It came, a flow'ret bright,
Amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.

365-002

I always wonder if this is what sparked the composer's imagination. I have photographed the Christmas Camellia many times but this time from behind. I love the reflection through the leaves.

Changing perspective can be a good thing.

And Another...

But were the shoppers caught by surprise and caught in their tracks. It was nice to see so many who stopped to enjoy in all of the hustle and bustle that is holiday shopping.

Mery Christmas To You

I spotted this on a friends blog and since I love Coldplay, I share it with you here.



Merry Christmas to all of you and to your families. I love you to bits.

Christmas Humor

You gotta love this humor.
Who would have thought this up?
Who would have carried out the plan?
If you haven't noticed, look closely to the left.
One thing is for sure, it gets a lot of attention.
It caught mine.

In the Air Again

What do you notice about these pictures?

Well the first one is rather obvious.When have you been on a margarita plane?  It actually cheered me up when leaving Portland on a rather grey (or is it gray?) day. I am pretty sure I don't really care which way it's spelled. But they did not serve margaritas, d#$@'t.

But check out this next image.....let this just soak in.

There were just 26 of us on this plane and only 16 on the connecting flight. We had to sit in the back to balance the plane's weight. The stewardesses were not so busy and gave us a guided tour of our flight into California. I broke my #1 rule and did not have my camera in my purse right next to me and did not get images of the Three Sisters or Crater Lake from on high. So instead you get to see the backs of these peoples heads and how empty the flight was. LOL

Harry Potter

One of our family's last day of school traditions was to go to lunch and then to the book store to pick up some summer reading material. In 1999, Caite had just finished third grade and her choice was the second Harry Potter book. It seems that her teacher had read the first one out loud to the class. Since I had never heard of Harry Potter, she suggested I get the first book too so that I could understand the story. I did and it soon became a family favorite. We have all--that's all five us--read all seven of the books. On several occasions, Caite and I went to the local borders book store at midnight to pick up our copy. No we did not dress up in character...but maybe we should have. We have also all seen all of the films, many together. Twelve years of family fun. Thank you JKR for giving us Harry.

You gotta love this U-Tube trailer.

Icky Nicky

It poured down rain at Palm Desert on Saturday. Whaaaat is that about.

Sunday shined so we played golf on the Nicholas Private, better known as Icky Nicky. It is a tough course designed by Jack Nicholas. Here is just one of those icky holes...OMG!

Just what do you aim at? haha

11.11.11

What were you doing on this day?

Here is a pic of Rick and I playing golf at Indian Ridge. We were paired with the pro, Becky. What a treat. And just look at this view. Too bad you can't see the sky as it is true blue. Woo hoo!

Farewell, Steve Jobs

I always am especially sad when someone dies whose life is not yet fully lived. So it seems with Steve Jobs.  I offer this quote from a man who has truly changed our world.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

~ Steve Jobs

God Speed!

30 Good Years and 21 too!

On June 26, Rick and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. Where have all of those years gone? We dined at Metro Vino, a relatively new restaurant in the Pearl. It was a quiet Sunday evening and just perfect for us. I wish I had thought to have someone take our picture that eve but I didn't.

Not to be overshadowed by our daughter, who turned 21 the very next day. I remeber so well my OB/Gyn telling me not to have her on or anniversary if we ever wanted to celebrate that again. He was oh so right. LOL

Caite is away for the summer and so we waited a week to celebrate with her.. Portland City Grill, one of our favorites, was the venue of choice. Window tables with spectacular views of the city are the place to be and so we waited a tad bit longer.. We were not disappointed.

I did think to snap a photo of my girl. She's just so darn cute!  Awwwww.......

Happy birthday, Caite. Love you to bits.

Missing June

I have been on  a whirlwind effort  with house projects.

It all started when I had the cedar shake roof cleaned and stained.
That led to a serious need to power wash the deck. I started that project but have you ever noticed that men have a serious need to have power tools in their own hands. What starts with a "let me see that for a minute" ended with me quietly leaving the scene.One for me.

The next project was a powder room redo. It involved stripping wall paper, texturing and painting the walls and then replacing all of the fixtures. I had this work done by Tony, the painter, and Bob, the builder, two wonderful professional contractors.

Then I had the entire landscape in the front of the house removed and replaced.  I don't have before pictures but trust me, it was so overgrown it was scary. I would show you the after but it's raining today for what seems like the millionth day this month.

The next projects are 2 other household bathrooms. The one the kids used over the years has been totally gutted. The tub will be replace with a walk in shower. the vinyl floor with tile and all of the fixtures will be replaced. Parts of the basement bonus room bath are also being replaced. I am going with under mount sinks, CeasarStone counter tops, new fixtures, mirrors and wall paint.

Right now, I have nothing to show. The tear outs are complete and the work begins tomorrow. I can't wait.

I do promise to post photos of the completed projects. I am not big on the befores. They are what I am trying to forget.

Until then, here is something to look at...  Nice-a!

Piece of My Heart

We went to the play One Night with Janis at Portland Center Stage. It is the Janis Joplin story told from the concert stage. Cat Stephani plays Janis Joplin and if you didn't know better, you would think you were seeing Janis live. Stephani is spectacular. She can really belt a throaty, earthy, explosive tune. And, I loved the costumes. The audience sang along to Me and Bobby McGee but my favorite remains Piece of My Heart. Loved it, totally.

So on Mother's Day

I arose at 6:15 AM to drive Drew downtown to run the Cinco de Mayo half marathon. There is no place to put your license or cash or car keys so I was the designated depository.

Hamming it up at the start

I wandered around and treated the morning like a photo shoot, finding some interesting things: flowers blooming, interesting things in windows, graffiti and lots of people.

I heard the holler that the winner was coming and so I rushed to catch a glimpse. Drew was hoping to finish in 2 hours. The winner was estimated to have completed the race in one hour 20ish minutes. I held my place along the route and it wasn't too long before I saw a very red shirt coming my way.

He ended up finishing the race in 1 hour and 51 minutes and with a grin on his face. He doesn't even look like he's working hard.. Running entitled him to 2 beers (at 9:30 in the morning:) I got one of them. HA! We toasted him.

Who Is Ted or is it What...

I was directed to this site today. I have not been there before. This topic is both thought provoking and the film is beautiful. Sit back, give it a go and enjoy!

Should I Stay or Should I Go

Precisely the question at the Rose Garden on Saturday. Down 23 in the 3Q, the crowd was just not sure. After all it was 80ish outside. First time all year for that.

But then Marquis Man started riling up the crowd with "Get Louder" signs. And 6th man did. It was so loud, the players later said they couldn't even call plays to each other.

And then, YESSSSS, the BRoy we all love, began chipping away at the score. With 59 seconds left in the game, he shot the tying bucket and then just a tad later, the winning one. He single handedly left Dallas with their mouths hanging open. Portland went nuts. We love our Brandon.

Internet photo from the BlazerBlog

And in the end, we are glad we chose to stay...

Voices Lecture Finale for this Season

Last week, I had an opportunity to hear Isabella Rossellini speak. She is elegant and graceful. She related stories from her childhood, specifically what it was like being the child of famous parents, Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini. Then, she told stories of her children and what it was like for them, growing up with a mother who was the face of Lancome for 10 years. She is a powerhouse, working in big business and producing movies. She loves her work. It is her life. The people she meets through her work have made a profound impact on who she has become. In the end, we are not all that different. It seems to be that way for each of us.

The warmth of Isabella Rossellini made for a truly enjoyable evening.

What a View!

Rick and I were gifted with some amazing seats to the Blazers vs Spurs game. We were seated just two seats away from Mike and Mike, at the same table and right next to the replay screen they drag out when need be. Got the picture. This is floorside.

These men look big from this vantage point.I took these photos during the pregame warm up. What fun is this. The best was saved for last when Dre threw Batum the ball with nano seconds left on the clock for a dunk and 2 point win. You go, boys.

Love this one. I captured both balls falling through...

Good Day Sunshine...

It's been a long wet winter in Portland. Maybe that is just what we say this time every year when we have run out of sun shine in our memories. I received this comic today and it speaks volumes.

Ta-da...

 

Enjoy your sunshiny day, I hope!

And remember, comments or just a hello, are quite free.

Promise Me

I just finished reading a book titled Promise Me. It is the story of  Susan G. Komen and the foundation which takes her name. Susan's sister, Nancy G. Brinker is the author and for me it is powerful read. It's been awhile since I have had the opportunity to observe big business first hand. This book gave me a glimpse. I was astounded by what the love for a sister, whose life was cut short, could accomplish.

My favorite thought from the book describes the moment when First Lady Betty Ford  informed the press that she had breast cancer, not cancer or women's cancer but breast cancer. It was a conundrum for the press. Prior to this moment, the words were unprintable and unspeakable. Did she expect Walter Cronkite to discuss breasts on the evening news? Yes, she did.

 The author states: That moment was like a glimmer of light shining through a keyhole. And all it takes is  a keyhole to reveal that what looked like a wall is in fact a doorway.

Grab it and read it. You will be impressed.

Blackberry Bramble Scramble

Last Saturday, our neighborhood had it's first Bramble Pull. Several sections of the hood had long been neglected allowing the bramble to grow to 10 feet high in places. It was suffocating the natural vegetation and trees around it. Always short on funds, we chose to host a volunteer day. Amazingly more than 25 people participated and much progress was made. This is one team of truly exhausted people. Those young people carried their weight in well uh bramble...we couldn't have done it without them.

Living on the Light Side -- a different meaning

I just finished reading the book The 100 Thing Challenge by Dave Bruno. I would have linked the book title to Amazon but then the author's challenge to himself was to live for one year with fewer than 100 things. How could I really encourage anyone to buy the book. I got my copy from the library.

Dave Bruno's  purpose in living with so few things was to unhook himself from the intravenous drip of American consumerism. It's a good read though a very difficult task for most. I found myself trying to imagine how I could do this. I can't imagine it. I am pretty sure that I could not reduce my stuff to100 things even within a single category in many cases--clothing, fabric, books ...

One of his thoughts: "when is the moment we stop looking for something of value and start desiring something that we think will make us more valuable ourselves?"  It did give me pause, a chance to consider why I buy things and perhaps make a commitment not to go to the mall. LOL

Would you be able to take this challenge?

On another note, my son, Nick, celebrated his 24th birthday on February 17 and I was remiss to write about it here. He sent me this photo snapped by a newspaper in Asheville, NC, where he lives. He was running a 5K or a 10K. I'm not sure which. He could do the 100 Thing Challenge though he would probably have to buy some things to get to 100. He has not bought into American consumerism. 

You go, Nick, and happy birthday.

Living on the Light Side

The Wildly Funny Internet

So today, I tried to cancel a car reservation that I had made for next week. The original res was made with Orbitz via Alaska Airlines. The car rental was from Budget. Orbitz' cancel link did not work: "They are aware of the problem and will get to it shortly." Should I be grateful?

Next I tried dealing directly with Budget. I canceled the res in their system. I received a notification that I had successfully canceled the car I was to pick up in July, 2015 but needed to return by March, 2013. Oh, OK!
I'm not sure if I should worry until 2013 or 2015...

Just sayin'...

Here is a photo to soothe...

Traci Murphey Designs Blog Blitz

Whoa! Check out this new kit Ring It In by Traci Murphy Designs.

Isn't it just spectacular! You gotta love the colors, so useful for many

celebrations. And what about those masks. Makes you want to go to

Mardi Gras.

Traci gave me a copy of this kit and asked me to use it and write 

an independent review.

The first thing I look at when purchasing a new kit are the papers. 

Traci has included 23 beautiful hand distressed papers in Ring It In. 

I wanted to use as many as I could in my layout. I picked a template 

that would allow me to showcase the papers. I prefer simple layouts 

that help me tell my stories. This kit worked beautifully on many levels.

In addition to all of the papers, there are 10 elements and an alpha,

all sparkly and glittery. Ribbons and swirls and word art and frames...

It's all here.

Wouldn't this kit be amazing in hybrid projects too. I can imagine

making small boxes and bags and tags and...yeah that too. What about

printing a two sided paper so when folded, you get a totally different

view. Oh my!

I bet you wanna know more about Traci. Check her out here.

You can also find her:

At Her Store | On The Team | In The O Gallery |  On Facebook | On Twitter | Her Blog

Whew! She's a busy gal.

Did I mention that there is also a contest...
1. It's a Gallery Crawl: .Love Traci's designs? Ready to try a new designer?

Well keep reading for a chance to win a $20 gifty code to Traci's store.Visit

Traci's designer gallery - http://bit.ly/TraciMurphy-gallery. For every comment

you leave on a layout in the gallery, you'll receive one entry (one per layout) into

the drawing for the $20 gifty code to Traci's store. Deadline: All comments must

be left by 10 p.m. CST Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011. The prize will be awarded

using Random.org by Sunday, Feb. 13. We'll post the winner in Traci's welcome thread.

Here's the scoop:

1.) Grab a spot in this thread: http://bit.ly/TraciMurphy-welcome

2.) Go to the Traci Murphy's Designer Gallery - http://bit.ly/TraciMurphy-gallery -

and start leaving comments on layouts!

3.) After every comment - copy the link to that layout and paste it back in this thread -

http://bit.ly/TraciMurphy-welcome -  by editing your original post! Each post should

hold approximately 100 links before you need to create a new post to continue your

list. Please do not create a new post for each link.

We only ask one thing.....

Please do not copy & paste or leave one word comments (beautiful....gorgeous...

lovely). We want to make sure that the members are receiving genuine comments 

and love. Thanks for understanding!

Bonus - Bonus - Bonus
Earn a bonus entry into the random drawing for each blog you comment on, part of 

the blog blitz announcement. (One entry per blog).Start by leaving a comment  

right here, right now.

And then go grab Ring It In and scrap away.

1.11.11

This is even more fun to write...

I am taking a photography class called Picture Winter at Big Picture Classes, an online site.
My images are posted on my photography blog, Photoworks, under the Picture Winter page. See that choice just under the header and to the right of Home.

My favorite so far is this image. It's prompt is:
                All the Possibilities.                   

For a fiber artist, it speaks volumes.

1.1.11

OMG! I just had to write this. I totally love when the numbers allign.

I had to kiss my Caite good-bye today as she returns to college. For the rest of the first day of this new year, I spent un-decorating. I have company coming on Thursday and need to get Christmas put away. Finish it up, you know.

I am taking an on-line photography class called Picture This: Winter. I think if you can take decent photos in the winter, any other season is a piece of cake. We will see. At any rate, here is my first image. This is a Christmas camellia and is particularly spectacular when nothing else is thinking about blooming in my yard.

I hope your New Year is magnificent and becomes all that you hope it will be, with a few surprises thrown into the mix..